Parliament Hill - the center of Canadian democracy - an iconic landmark in Ottawa!

I have to admit, I'm not a big fan of the Gothic Revival style. I feel it tries hard to look old but in fact it doesn't, not when you have seen many gothic structures especially in Europe. However, the sheer size and significance of the parliament buildings make them truly magnificent.

The complex is quite picturesque, although I believe some of the open grass areas could be better maintained and upgraded to something more impactful, considering this is the heart of Canadian democracy. I certainly did not appreciate the asphalt roads and concrete paths as they do not fit the theme of the complex. The ongoing reconstruction work had an impact on my visit, I am not going to lie, as the Central Block was closed for renovations, and the cranes hindered the skyline. The fence also restricted access to certain areas, but it did feature informative diagrams and pictures explaining the democratic system in Canada which I appreciated a lot. Despite my complaints, I had a great time strolling around, taking pictures, and admiring the buildings. It was undoubtedly a highlight of my visit to Ottawa.

One notable addition to the visit was witnessing the Guards' change on the East Lawn of Parliament Hill, which occurs daily (around 9:30-ish AM) from late June to late August. It was a great addition to the experience. There were no street vendors within the complex, but many can be found on Wellington Street.

The tours:

The Parliament building often referred to as the Central Block is not accessible at the moment (as well as the Library that's inside), and will not be for a very long time due to undergoing reconstructions that are supposed to last until 2031! However, the House of Commons (West Block), East Block and the Senate all offer public tours that are free of charge! Best is to reserve them online in advance as the slots get booked out quickly, however if there is nothing available online, try your luck in person anyway (the ticket office is located between the West Block and the Central Block). We walked in early in the morning and were able to get tickets for all 3 guided tours on the very same day! They apparently keep some of the tickets for walk-ins, which is very thoughtful!

All tours were interesting and informative performed by very enthusiastic guides - Kennedy, Bia and Sasha were awesome young adults making our experience unforgettable! I'd say the House of Commons tour was the most interesting for me, especially thanks to the modern twist of the building and the fact you can visit the main auditorium where the members of parliament sit, followed by the Senate tour which is temporarily located in a former train station. I liked a lot that each tour was small in size - no more than 10 visitors per tour (some of the rooms, especially the ones on East Block can accommodate only a few people) - therefore very enjoyable and efficient. As all the buildings are functional offices, and on a weekday you might meet a senator or MP, the security is quite strict, similar to airport style security, so no need to mention to leave dangerous objects behind. Visitors are encouraged to take as many pictures as possible, but taking videos is not allowed. Toilets were clean everywhere and I enjoyed looking through the gift store in the West Block a lot.

All in all the tours did surpass my expectations and I am glad I got to see them all. Visited on a Monday, July 2023