It was a rainy weekend when we headed out to Ottawa, the very next day after landing in Toronto.

It was July 1 – Canada Day – and the streets were full of people dressed in red and white. Basically, everything you would not expect outside a Parliament was there: food trucks, people dressed as superheroes, soap bubbles floating through the air, street artists and a rock band playing on a stage.

And somewhere in the middle of all this was Parliament Hill.

I had imagined Parliament to be a rather serious place. Imposing, perhaps. Lots of politicians, security and stern-looking buildings. Instead, the first impression was almost magical.

Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Parliament Hill is the symbolic heart of Canada and one of the most recognisable landmarks in Ottawa. And it is quite spectacular.

The buildings are designed in the Gothic Revival style, with towers, pointed arches, stone carvings and an abundance of architectural details. When I first saw them, my immediate thought was that they looked like something straight out of Harry Potter.

I would have expected a Parliament to be solid and white – like, uhmm… The White House. Instead, it had rows upon rows of windows, innumerable little towers sticking into the sky, a dramatic stone facade and, rising above everything else, the magnificent Peace Tower.

It was quite unlike what I’d expected a Parliament building to look like.

The grounds were especially lively because we happened to be there on Canada Day. We couldn’t really tell how huge Parliament Hill actually was because of the hordes of people and a stage being set up right in the middle for A ROCK BAND! But somehow, that made it even more fun.

There were food trucks, people wandering around in red and white, children running about, street performers and all sorts of things you wouldn’t normally associate with the grounds of a country’s Parliament. Today, you can still explore the grounds and monuments independently, although the visitor experience inside Parliament is quite different from what it was when I visited.

What to see on Parliament Hill

There is much more to Parliament Hill than the famous Peace Tower. When we walked around, we came across statues ranging from former Prime Ministers to people and events important to Canadian history. There are monuments and architectural details everywhere, and I found myself constantly stopping to look at things I hadn’t noticed a few minutes earlier.

One of my favourites were these two old ladies enjoying their tea. Would be apt around Indian Parliament too, don’t you think? I liked that Parliament Hill didn’t feel like one enormous building that you simply photographed and left. The grounds themselves had plenty to discover.

The Centennial Flame

The Centennial Flame was lit in 1967 to commemorate 100 years of Canadian Confederation. It burns in front of Parliament and is surrounded by the coats of arms of Canada’s provinces and territories.

What I remember noticing was how often these emblems appeared throughout Parliament Hill. They weren’t confined to one obvious display. They turned up on doors, ceilings, plaques and all sorts of architectural details. Once you started looking for them, you began seeing them everywhere. It’s the sort of detail you don’t necessarily notice when looking at photographs of Parliament Hill, but once you’re there, you realise just how much thought has gone into the place.

Inside the Canadian Parliament

When I travelled to Ottawa, visitors could tour the historic Centre Block, including the Senate and House of Commons. We walked through the long corridors and stared in awe at the stately interiors. There was something wonderfully old-world about it. It wasn’t just a government building. It felt almost like a giant piece of history that happened to still be in use.

But Centre Block is now closed for a major rehabilitation project, so don’t rely on old travel information saying you can simply walk in and tour the original chambers.

The House of Commons currently operates from West Block, where visitors can take a free guided tour. The Senate is housed in the beautifully restored Senate of Canada Building, Ottawa’s former railway station.

There is also Parliament: The Immersive Experience, which gives visitors a multimedia look at Parliament while Centre Block undergoes its enormous restoration. So if you’re visiting Ottawa now, check the official visitor information before you go rather than assuming the experience will be the same as the one I had.

And this is one of those occasions where I think it’s particularly important for a travel blog like mine to make that distinction. The memories in this article are mine. The practical information below have been updated for today’s traveller.

The Library of Parliament

The Library was one of my favourite parts of the old Parliament tour. I mean, it’s hard not to love it.

The elaborate Gothic Revival architecture, intricate woodwork and circular arrangement of bookshelves make it look almost like something from a fantasy novel. It was exactly the kind of place I’d happily disappear into with a book for an entire afternoon. It’s the kind of library where you half expected a secret passage to appear behind one of the bookshelves.

Unfortunately, you cannot currently walk into the historic Library of Parliament as I did. The Library forms part of Centre Block, which is closed to visitors during the ongoing rehabilitation project. 

The Memorial Chamber

Another room that stayed with me was the Memorial Chamber. The marble walls were inscribed with beautiful poems in honour of the soldiers. There were Books of Remembrance for the First World War, Second World War, the Korean War and other conflicts.

Essentially, it is a solemn space dedicated to Canadians who died in military service. There are more than 118,000 names across the books. When the Centre Block was open, a page in each book was turned every morning at 11 a.m. 

After the grandeur of the rest of Parliament, the Memorial Chamber felt completely different.

Much quieter. Much more sobering. It was one of those places where you instinctively lowered your voice.

The Memorial Chamber is part of Centre Block and is therefore currently inaccessible while the building is being renovated. The Books of Remembrance are being displayed in the Parliament Welcome Centre during the rehabilitation.

The Peace Tower

If there is one structure that immediately says Canadian Parliament, it is the Peace Tower. Standing 92.2 metres high, it dominates Parliament Hill and is probably one of the most recognisable landmarks in Canada. The tower was dedicated in 1927 as a memorial to Canada’s war dead. When I visited, the Peace Tower gave us a fabulous view of the grounds and surrounding buildings.

And then there was the carillon. The Peace Tower Carillon has 53 bells of different sizes and sounds, from a gigantic bell weighing more than 10,000 kilograms to much smaller bells. I remember being fascinated by the fact that they could play tunes rather than simply chime. Apparently, the bells could play everything from Super Mario to the Star Wars theme song.

How cool is that!!!!

The Peace Tower is currently part of Centre Block’s rehabilitation, so visitors cannot access it in the same way they could when I visited. The carillon is also undergoing restoration as part of the larger project.

Changing of the Guard at Parliament Hill

This was another highlight of our Ottawa trip.

The next morning, we rushed out to see the Changing of the Guard.

When we visited, the ceremony began at 10 a.m., with the Governor General’s Foot Guards in their red coats and the Canadian Grenadier Guards in their distinctive green kilts. Brass instruments played, the pipes came out and the soldiers marched onto Parliament Hill with the Parliament buildings as their backdrop. It was wonderfully theatrical.

The whole thing was executed with such precision that it was impossible not to stand there and watch.

The ceremony dates back to 1959 and has become one of Ottawa’s best-known summer traditions. The Changing of the Guard returned to Parliament Hill in 2025 and continues as part of the summer ceremonial programme, although the exact dates and format can vary.

So if you’re planning your trip around it, check the current schedule rather than assuming that it happens every day throughout the year.

My tips for watching the Changing of the Guard

If you’re going specifically to watch the ceremony, arrive early and grab a good spot. We rushed there and I’m glad we did. With the crowds, being a little early made a difference. I’d also give yourself extra time if you’re visiting around Canada Day or another major celebration. Parliament Hill can get extremely busy. Don’t just stand directly in front of Parliament Hill. The procession and surrounding streets can also offer interesting vantage points.

And yes, get your photographs with the soldiers if the circumstances allow it. Just remember that they’re there for ceremonial duty, so don’t expect them to move around for photographs once they’ve taken their positions.

The exact arrangements can change, though, so follow the instructions of the ceremonial staff on the day.

Parliament Hill today: what has changed since my visit?

If you’re planning a trip to Ottawa based on older articles – including mine – this section is important.

Centre Block is currently closed for a major rehabilitation project.

That means the historic interiors I experienced, including the original House of Commons, Senate, Library of Parliament, Memorial Chamber and Peace Tower access, are not available to visitors in the same way today.

But that doesn’t mean Parliament Hill is closed. Far from it.

You can still explore the grounds and monuments, and Parliament continues to offer visitor experiences in the buildings currently being used by the House of Commons and Senate. The West Block houses the House of Commons, while the Senate operates from the Senate of Canada Building. Free guided tours are available, although availability and reservation requirements can change.

There is also Parliament: The Immersive Experience, which offers a multimedia way of exploring Parliament while Centre Block is being restored. The rehabilitation of Centre Block is a massive heritage project in itself. The aim isn’t simply to repair an old building but to preserve its historic architecture while making it suitable for modern parliamentary use.

So, if anything, Ottawa has given visitors a slightly different reason to be interested in Parliament. You’re seeing a very old building in the middle of an enormous transformation.

Is Parliament Hill worth visiting in Ottawa?

Absolutely.Even if you aren’t particularly interested in politics.

For me, Parliament Hill wasn’t really about politics at all. It was the architecture, the history, the little details and the feeling of being somewhere that has played such a huge role in the story of Canada.

And I loved how different it felt from what I’d imagined.

It wasn’t stuffy or intimidating. On the day we visited, it was full of music, food, people and colour.

And then, inside, there were quiet rooms, memorials, books filled with names and centuries of history. That contrast is probably what I remember most.

What to do around Parliament Hill

If you’re spending a day in Ottawa, don’t make Parliament Hill your only stop. It’s centrally located, so you can easily combine it with several other attractions.

Depending on how much time you have, you could add:

Rideau Canal

Walk along the Rideau Canal after visiting Parliament Hill. The canal runs through the heart of Ottawa and is one of the city’s defining landmarks. In winter, the canal becomes a giant skating rink, while in summer it is a much more relaxed place for a walk.

ByWard Market

Head towards ByWard Market for food, shops, cafés and the more lively side of Ottawa. It’s a nice contrast to the formality of Parliament Hill.

National War Memorial

The National War Memorial is close to Parliament Hill and is particularly meaningful if you’re interested in Canada’s military history. It also fits naturally with the Memorial Chamber and the war-related history you’ll encounter around Parliament.

Canadian Museum of History

Cross the Ottawa River into Gatineau, Quebec, for the Canadian Museum of History. One of the best things about visiting from this side of the river is the view back towards Parliament Hill. If you enjoy photographing architecture, this is worth the short trip across.

Ottawa River

And if you have time, spend a little while along the Ottawa River. The views back towards Parliament Hill are particularly beautiful, and after spending hours looking at the building from close quarters, it’s interesting to see it from across the water.

Visiting Parliament Hill in Ottawa: What you need to know

Where is Parliament Hill?
Parliament Hill is in downtown Ottawa, Ontario.

Can you go inside Parliament?
Yes, but the visitor experience is currently different from what it was when I visited. Centre Block is closed for rehabilitation. Visitors can currently take guided tours of the House of Commons in West Block and the Senate of Canada Building, as well as visit Parliament: The Immersive Experience.

Are Parliament tours free?
The guided House of Commons tour is currently free and lasts approximately 40 minutes. Advance reservations are recommended.

Do you need tickets?
Yes, for the guided tours. Availability can vary, and same-day tickets may not be available.

How early should you arrive?
Give yourself time for registration and security screening. If you’ve booked a tour, follow the arrival time given with your reservation rather than turning up at the last minute.

Can you visit Parliament Hill without taking a tour?
Yes. You can explore the grounds and monuments independently.

Can you see the Peace Tower?
You can see the Peace Tower from Parliament Hill, but access to areas of Centre Block is affected by the ongoing rehabilitation project. Check the current visitor information before your trip.

Is the Changing of the Guard still held?
Yes, the ceremony returned to Parliament Hill and remains part of Ottawa’s summer ceremonial traditions. Check the current year’s schedule before visiting.

I hope you found this post helpful! Read my blog post on the churches of Notre Dame and 10 cool things to do in Toronto in winter. Oh, and if you’re into food, hop over to Langdon Hall in Waterloo for one of the finest meals you’ll ever have!