Museum
National Portrait Gallery
J MSome booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra tells the story of Australia through the faces of the people who shaped it, explorers and prime ministers, artists, scientists, sportspeople, activists, and cultural icons. Its collection of portraits, in paint, photography, sculpture, and digital media, ranges from colonial-era figures to contemporary Australians, offering an engaging, human way into the nation's history and identity. The purpose-built gallery, opened in 2008, is a handsome modern building in the Parliamentary Triangle, near the National Gallery of Australia and Lake Burley Griffin.
Entry to the permanent collection is free (special exhibitions may charge), making it an easy and rewarding stop in Canberra's cluster of national institutions. It's accessible, well-curated, and family-friendly, with a café and shop. Allow an hour or two to wander the galleries and meet the faces of Australia.
Don't miss
- Portraits of Australians who shaped the nation
- Works in paint, photography, sculpture, and digital media
- Colonial-era to contemporary figures
- Free entry to the permanent collection
- Its setting in the Parliamentary Triangle
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit National Portrait Gallery
You don't need a tour to visit — entry is free. A tour is worth it if you want transport, a guide, or to combine National Portrait Gallery with nearby sights in one day. That's what these do well.
Cheapest way inGuided National Gallery Tour with Priority Entrance5★ · 24 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$25 per personSee dates →
Best full dayHighlights of Canberra Full Day Tour4.9★ · 461 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$134 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleDC National Archives + National Portrait Gallery - Exclusive Tour5★ · 36 travelers~6 hoursFree cancellationFrom$175 per personSee dates →Good for
How travelers rate it
Know before you go
- The permanent collection is free to visit.
- It's a human, engaging way into Australian history through portraits.
- Combine with the neighbouring National Gallery of Australia.
- There's a café and shop on site.
A bit of history
Australia's National Portrait Gallery grew from a collection first developed in the 1990s and gained its own purpose-built home in Canberra's Parliamentary Triangle in 2008. It collects portraits of Australians who have shaped the nation across all fields of endeavour.
Common questions
What is the National Portrait Gallery?
Canberra's gallery telling Australia's story through portraits of the people who shaped it, from explorers and PMs to artists, scientists, and sporting figures.
Is it free?
Yes, entry to the permanent collection is free, though special exhibitions may charge.
Where is it?
In Canberra's Parliamentary Triangle, near the National Gallery of Australia and Lake Burley Griffin.
How long should I allow?
One to two hours for the galleries; longer if you combine it with the neighbouring national institutions.
More attractions in Canberra
