The City of Ottawa is proud to present the Doors Open Ottawa, a free annual architectural event that celebrates our community’s built heritage.
Doors Open Ottawa is excited to be back for our 22nd year to celebrate the rich architecture, culture, and heritage of this great city! Browse the list of buildings where you can filter by category, features and format to plan your visits.
Plan your day with the event guide.
Be sure to check out the Doors Open Ottawa map below, as well as the Doors Open shuttle route, to see what buildings may be in your area!
Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory. The City of Ottawa honours the peoples and land of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation.
The City of Ottawa honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.
During the first full weekend in June, Doors Open Ottawa will be celebrating its 22nd anniversary, and we cordially invite residents and visitors alike to join us as we re-open the doors to some of the city's most beautiful buildings. That’s right…we are thrilled to be returning to a live, in-person event but with the added bonus of enhanced virtual content!
In 2002, the Doors Open concept became a reality when the very first Ottawa event welcomed nearly 80 building participants and 35,000 visitors. Since then, the event continues to expand and evolve with the everchanging times, and this year is no different. Buildings will have the option to participate virtually, in-person, or a hybrid of the two. As a visitor, you will simply have to plan your ‘visits’ accordingly and follow the most current public health policies in place.
Whether you choose a virtual or live experience, you will discover the secrets and stories that lie within some of Ottawa’s most interesting buildings by way of still photography, in-depth descriptions, 3D and/or virtual tours, YouTube videos, in-person guided and self-guided tours, and more…so stay tuned!
On June 1 and 2, join us for the 22nd anniversary celebration of Doors Open Ottawa, and pay homage to our city’s history, culture, and stunning architecture! It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s the perfect way to discover how Canada’s Capital has become the beautiful city it is today. And don't forget…you can follow and share your #DoorsOpenOttawa experience on Facebook(link is external)!
Note that the following buildings participating in Doors Open 2024 require registration, please plan accordingly; the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum, Chaudière Falls, British High Commission, Cancer Research Lab at The Ottawa Hospital, Embassy of Hungary to Canada/Birkett Castle, Embassy of the United States of America, French Embassy in Canada, and the Ingenium Centre.
