Rideau Hall

Tour an historic mansion and expansive landscaped grounds at the official residence and workplace of the governor general - the Crown's representative in Canada. All tours and activities are free!

Take a guided tour of Rideau Hall's beautiful interior to see the state rooms where the governor general welcomes dignitaries, receives ambassadors and heads of state, and presents Canada's highest honours. Admire the Tent Room, a large ballroom decorated in lively red-and-white striped fabric. In summer, learn more about the governor general at the visitor centre and see red-coated soldiers going through their paces during the Ceremonial Guards' Relief of the Sentries.

In the surrounding 32-hectare (79 acre) park, stroll winding paths, see an inukshuk and a totem pole, admire the arc of roses in the garden, watch a cricket game in summer or skate in winter. Enjoy the shade of 10,000 trees, including some 150 planted by VIPs from around the world. Rideau Hall is located just minutes from downtown Ottawa on a road lined with historic buildings, high-end shops and even the Prime Minister's residence. The grounds are open to the public year round, from 8:00 a.m. until an hour before sunset.