Best things to do in Ontario, Canada

Canada has many diverse, incredible provinces with plenty to see and do. We share the best things to do in Ontario, so you don’t miss out on these awesome places to visit.

Why Ontario?

With cultural and natural wonders stretching across more than 900,000 square kilometers of the Canadian heartland, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Canada’s most populous province. The license plates don’t lie: Ontario truly is yours to discover, stretching from the Great Lakes to the frigid Hudson Bay, from the Eastern Seaboard to the Great Plains.

Ontario contains six national parks, more than 300 provincial parks, the country’s largest city, and the English-speaking half of the nation’s capital. Here’s a list of four of the best tourist attractions one can find in Ontario.

Best things to do in Ontario

Horseshoe Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake

The seventh-largest waterfall in the world by flow rate, Niagara Falls is a must-see attraction for anyone who lives in or is visiting Ontario. A system of three waterfalls, Horseshoe is the largest of the bunch and the only one that spans the border between Canada and the United States (you can literally cross the border between Niagara Falls and the USA via a bridge). Framed by the picturesque town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, you can wander the shady streets and quaint brick buildings after your trip to the falls is concluded, or pop into the United States to visit the American and Bridal Veil Falls.

From southern Ontario through western New York, close to the Buffalo Area, this area is included. Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and American Falls make up Niagara Falls, which welcomes over 10 million tourists each year. Also noteworthy: Niagara Falls is a doable 90 to 120-minute drive from Toronto if you’re planning to visit Toronto while in Ontario. There are a few bus and train options available to help you get between cities if you won’t be utilizing a car.

Numerous recreational pursuits can be enjoyed at and near the falls, such as ziplining, riding the Niagara SkyWheel, visiting the Skylon Tower, which has a rotating restaurant, and using the Whirlpool Aero Caro cable car.

There are a lot of highly regarded hotels in Niagara Falls, including the Best Western Plus Cairn Croft Hotel, the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, and the Niagara Falls Marriott on the Fall. There are many of reputable hotels available if you want to stay at Niagara Falls for several days.

Great Lakes Coastline

Ontario contains nearly 8,000 kilometers of shoreline along four of the five Great Lakes: Superior, Huron, Erie, and the aptly-named Lake Ontario. Georgian Bay Islands, Bruce Peninsula, Point Pelee, and Pukaskwa National Parks. These make for romantic getaways in Ontario with plenty of Airbnb rentals available along the lake.

All surface area within the 295,200 square mile Great Lakes basin flows into the Great Lakes. Parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are included in it.

You can hike or bike along the waterfronts, kayak, and fish out on the water or stay the night at any number of tent and RV sites within the park system. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife like gray wolves, Canadian lynxes, caribou, and even the elusive moose.

The Great Lakes are renowned for their splendor and the abundance of resources found both inside and outside of them. With more than 3,000 miles of shoreline, the Great Lakes not only influence Michigan’s topography but also its economy, society, and ecology. The combined lakes hold the biggest quantity of fresh water on Earth, 20% or one-fifth of all fresh water on the planet. Through regulatory monitoring and activities that vary from the approval of shore protection structures and dredging operations to the issue of Great Lakes Bottomland Conveyances, EGLE safeguards, preserves, and restores the Great Lakes.

Catch a Game in Toronto’s Entertainment District

Whether you love them—or love to hate them—Toronto’s professional sports teams have some of the most rabid fans in the nation, spurred on by the city’s hard-charging media personalities. The Maple Leafs have been one of the better teams in the NHL this season with a 31-13-8 record. While they haven’t won a playoff series since 2004, the Leafs have the fourth-best odds at bringing home Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2023, listed at or around +1000 at Ontario’s online sportsbooks.

If the Leafs and Jays aren’t in town when you visit The Six, Toronto has 155 other neighborhoods to explore. Some of the best include are in Toronto’s Old Town and the Distillery Historic District, a grouping of six neighborhoods full of quaint shops and restaurants that will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. Elsewhere in the city, Chinatown and Kensington Market provide a great example of the diverse neighborhoods and cultures that make Toronto so unique among the other cities in Canada.

Things to do in Toronto

Ottawa

Split between Ontario and Quebec along the banks of the Ottawa River, Canada has a capital city like no other. During winter one can ice skate between the provinces as the river freezes solid, allowing a bustling—and picturesque—mode of travel. Ottawa’s Parliament Hill is another postcard-worthy destination, set high on a bluff atop the southern riverbanks.

Few sites are more instructive to visit than the capital of the country if you’re eager to learn about Canada’s history in depth.

History buffs should visit Ottawa’s many museums, which provide a wide variety of exhibits. The Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Science and Technology Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, and the Canadian Museum of History are all included in this.

Another lovely location to explore in the nation’s capital on a sunny day is the Rideau Canal. If you’d like to spend a lot of time on the water, cruise cruises are also offered here.

Best places to visit in Canada