Highlights of Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is a hill in Ottawa, Canada’s capital, and the center of Canadian politics. It is home to the Canadian Parliament Buildings, as well as national buildings, statues, and monuments.
It is the center of Canadian federal politics and is known to Canadians as “The Hill.”
Canada’s Parliament has 3 main buildings: the Centre Block, East Block and West Block. The Centre Block contains the Peace Tower, from the top of which you can look out over Ottawa.
The Centre Block was rebuilt after the 1916 fire and forms the heart of the Parliament Buildings, bringing together the Senate and House of Commons chambers, the Library of Parliament, and the Peace Tower.
Centre Block and Peace Tower
This is the Centre Block of the Parliament of Canada. Designed in the Gothic Revival style by John A. Pearson and Jean-Omer Marchand, it was completed in 1927.
Pearson co-founded the architectural firm Darling and Pearson with Frank Darling and others, and worked on designs including Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto.
The architectural and campus highlights of the University of Toronto, including Convocation Hall, are introduced in the article below.
This is the Peace Tower. It is 98 metres tall and was Ottawa's tallest building until 1971.
The Senate and House of Commons Chambers
This is the Senate Chamber, where the Senate of Canada meets. The room is surrounded by enormous paintings depicting scenes from the First World War.
This is the chamber of the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament. Daylight streams in through stained-glass windows reminiscent of a cathedral.
Looking north from the Peace Tower observation point, the view opens all the way to the far bank of the Ottawa River. The Canadian Museum of History is just beyond the Alexandra Bridge. The building in the foreground is the Library of Parliament.
West Block and East Block
This is the West Block of the Parliament of Canada. Its tallest tower is called Mackenzie Tower and appears on the Canadian 5-dollar banknote.
This is the East Block. It preserves, among other things, the office of John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister.
The names of people who served in wars and died are recorded here. They are called the Books of Remembrance.
This monument is called the Centennial Flame. As its name suggests, it was installed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
A view of Parliament Hill from across the Ottawa River.
Projection mapping accentuates the grandeur of the building.
Basic information about Parliament Hill
The information below was checked against official sources on October 11, 2026. Please also check the latest information on the official website when planning your trip.
- 🔗 Official website
- Official materials from the House of Commons of Canada provide information about the parliamentary buildings and their renovation.
Chapter 6: The Parliament Buildings and Grounds - The Physical and Administrative Setting - Procedure and Practice, Fourth Edition, 2025 - ProceduralInfo - House of Commons of Canadawww.ourcommons.ca
- 📍 Location
- Parliament Hill (the south side of the grounds is along Wellington Street).
- 🕒 Access status
- Official materials for 2025 state that the Centre Block and the main Parliament Library building are closed for renovations.
- 💶 Admission
- Guided tours of the West Block and the Senate building are free.
- 🎫 Tickets
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Online reservations are recommended for guided tours. Once you have chosen a preferred date, check the booking page for the operating status and available spaces.
Visitors entering as part of a tour may need to meet requirements for security screening and identity verification. Check the reservation guidance and the instructions for the day of your visit, and allow plenty of time to reach the Visitor Welcome Centre.
- ⏱️ Duration
- Allow about 1 to 2 hours to see the main buildings and monuments from outside, or 2 to 3 hours if combining this with a parliamentary tour. ⚠️ Allow extra time before and after your reserved time for the tour you are taking, security screening, and route changes caused by construction.
Getting to Parliament Hill
Head north from Parliament Station on the O-Train light rail. It is about a 6-minute walk to the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill.
Accessibility
The West Block and Visitor Welcome Centre also accommodate visitors who use wheelchairs or canes. If you would like to use an elevator during your visit, please tell a staff member.
The related guide “【オタワ】観光スポット・グルメ・交通・モデルコースを解説” is currently available only in Japanese.
