Ontario attractions

A concentrated cluster of grand government buildings overlooking the Ottawa River, Parliament Hill is the centerpiece of Downtown Ottawa. At the heart of the complex is Centre Block, a neo-Gothic riot of greening copper turrets, stone-carved gargoyles, and pointed arches built around a soaring central campanile (bell tower) known as the Peace Tower. Parliament Hill is not just a pretty sight; it’s also home to Canada’s most important democratic institutions, including the Library of Parliament and the chambers of the House of Commons and the Senate.

Built between 1826 and 1832 to offer secure passage for British ships from Montreal, the Rideau Canal—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is an engineering masterpiece. It extends for 126 miles (202 kilometers) between Ottawa and Kingston. Ottawa’s most visited stretch lures boaters, cyclists, and strollers in summer, and ice skaters in winter.

Located in downtown Toronto at the base of the CN Tower, the Rogers Centre is a sports and entertainment complex that is home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. The Rogers Centre is a great place to catch a Major League Baseball (MLB) game or other event held under its fully retractable roof—the first of its kind in the world.

A sacred site for Canadians—for whom ice hockey is a national obsession—the Hockey Hall of Fame holds a treasure trove of memorabilia, including the original Stanley Cup. Housed inside a grand 19th-century Bank of Montreal building, it also features interactive games including a virtual shoot-out where visitors can test their skills.

Regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake—or NOTL, as the locals call it—sits at the meeting point of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario. A stone’s throw from the US–Canadian border, the lakefront town is a popular destination for day trips and weekend getaways, beloved for its striking 19th-century buildings, award-winning wineries, and the Shaw Festival theater company.

Table Rock Welcome Centre—beside Horseshoe Falls—is the place where most visitors start their Niagara Falls adventures. This retail and observation center provides visitor information, ticket sales for nearby attractions, and access to observation platforms that overlook the falls. You can also dine here at the Table Rock House Restaurant, visit casual dining spots at the Table Rock Market, or shop for souvenirs at the Table Rock Shop.

Lake Ontario, the 14th-largest lake in the world but the smallest of the five Great Lakes, is divided in half by the U.S.-Canadian border. Its shores are home to two popular Canadian destinations: Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Known for its islands, beaches, wildlife, and waterfront trails, this beautiful body of water offers something for everyone.

Just across the river from downtown Ottawa, Gatineau Park—a 139-square-mile (361-square-kilometer) swath of lake and wood-dotted parkland—offers nature escapes near the city. With a vast network of hiking, cycling, and cross-country ski trails, as well as lakes, waterfalls, and swimming beaches, it’s a veritable outdoor playground.

In downtown Toronto, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada houses approximately 16,000 water-bound species from across the world. The displays are arranged by region, and visitors can explore the tropical Rainbow Reef, check out the Dangerous Lagoon shark tank, and learn more about the marine life found in the waters around Canada.

Just offshore from downtown Toronto, the Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands beside Lake Ontario that feel a world away from the buzz and high-rise skyline of Toronto. Once part of a single peninsula, the islands were separated from the mainland by violent storms in the 19th century. Today, visitors come here to enjoy sandy beaches, car-free areas, and beautiful parklands that are ideal for walking, cycling, or having a picnic.

Looking more at home in Europe than it does in Ontario, Canada, this faux medieval castle was a filming location forChicago andX-Men. Built for an eccentric businessman between 1911 and 1914, Casa Loma (literally House on a Hill) features a pastiche of old-world styles that include turrets, Tudor-style chimneys, underground tunnels, and secret passages.

Arching across the Niagara River gorge, the Rainbow Bridge links Niagara Falls in New York on the US side with Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. Built in 1940, the historic bridge serves as one of the most scenic border crossings between the two countries. Traverse it on foot, by bike, or by vehicle for dramatic views of Niagara Falls—just be sure to have your passport and valid travel documentation with you.

Canada’s Wonderland, located just north of Toronto, Ontario, is the largest amusement park in the country. With 16 of the world’s top roller coasters and more than 200 attractions, including thrill rides, a water park, live shows, and several children’s areas, Canada’s Wonderland is a popular destination for visiting and local families.

The family-owned Reif Estate Winery is one of the oldest wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake area. Located on the banks of the Niagara River, and not far from Lake Ontario, it’s in an attractive setting, with views across the river to the United States. The estate offers wine and food tastings and events, including some more unusual wine events that mix good food, drink, and fun.

Fort York was constructed in 1793 by the British Army and Canadian militia troops for the defense of York (now Toronto). Today it’s a National Historic Site with Canada’s largest group of original War of 1812 structures. Explore the stone and wood barracks used during the 1813 Battle of York, when the U.S. invaded and destroyed the fort.

The Scotiabank Arena (formerly the Air Canada Centre) is Toronto’s major concert and professional sports venue. The facility clocks in at 650,000 square feet (60,387 square meters) and seats nearly 20,000 event-goers. The adjacent Maple Leaf Square hosts a variety of shops and restaurants, plus a hotel and condominiums.

Ottawa’s historic food-focused ByWard Market houses hundreds of vendors hawking farm-raised meat, fresh produce, and arts and crafts. Hungry visitors and locals alike flock to this social and shopping hub, where takeout vendors sell ready-to-eat goodies and sit-down eateries offer prime seats for patrons to take in all the market action.

A small recreation area in Toronto on the shore of Lake Ontario, Sugar Beach is not the place for a dip as swimming is prohibited. Its sandy shores are just fine for relaxing on a sunny day under the shade of a pink patio umbrella. Visitors have views of cargo ships and the Redpath Sugar Refinery, which inspired the name.

Designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie, Ottawa’s glass-and-granite National Gallery of Canada (Musée des Beaux-Arts du Canada) showcases an exquisite art collection. As well as an extensive display of European and Canadian art including an assortment of indigenous artworks, the museum also houses the reconstructed 19th-century Rideau Street Convent Chapel.

New City Hall, which replaced Old City Hall in 1965 to accommodate a rapidly growing city, is the current seat of Toronto’s municipal government. Designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, winner of the city’s international competition, Toronto City Hall is comprised of two curved towers as well as Nathan Phillips Square, Canada’s largest public square.

The eight Ottawa Locks regulate the flow of the city’s signature Rideau Canal as it flows south from the Ottawa River. The hand-cranked locks provide a gradient of 24 meters (79 feet) on the canal, which runs for more than 124 miles (200 kilometers) from Ottawa to Kingston, a stunning example of 19th-century ingenuity and engineering.

The CF Toronto Eaton Centre is Toronto’s most popular attraction and the busiest shopping mall in North America. At more than 2 million square feet (200,000 square meters), the Eaton Centre features a glass galleria ceiling, a food court, and 235 stores, including Hudson’s Bay flagship location.

In addition to being the governor general of Canada’s official residence and the meeting place for foreign dignitaries visiting Ottawa, Rideau Hall is a serene green space beloved by locals and travelers alike. The manicured grounds contain a vast lawn, rose garden, private greenhouse, and more than 10,000 trees—some planted by famous visitors.

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Peller Estates Winery is one of the oldest in the area, as it was first established in the 1920s by a Hungarian immigrant. The award-winning winery specializes in riesling, chardonnay, and ice wine, a special variety of wine produced in the harsh winter climate of this region of the Great Lakes. Wine lovers shouldn’t miss the estate while traveling to the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada.

Queen’s Quay Terminal is a residential, entertainment, and shopping center on the harborfront of Toronto, Ontario. Built as a warehouse facility in the 1920s, the terminal was revitalized in the 1980s as a multipurpose complex featuring upscale shops and restaurants. The lakeside setting offers views of the Toronto Islands.

The oldest landmark in Toronto, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is also one of the earliest lighthouses built on the Great Lakes. Though what was once a critical navigational beacon is no longer operational, visitors still enjoy viewing and taking photos of the 1808 lighthouse. The inside only opens for special events.

St. Catharines is a vibrant city on Lake Ontario just northwest of Niagara Falls, known for its lakefront, parks, and vineyards. As a focal point of the 1850s abolition movement, St. Catharines is an important landmark in Black Canadian history. Its rich arts and culture scene also draws visitors from around the Niagara region and beyond.

Dating back to the 1840s, Ottawa Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is the oldest church in Canada’s capital. The Gothic Revival structure is full of eye-catching design details, from its two shimmering, silver tin-covered steeples to the interior’s soaring vaults and star-studded blue ceiling.

The Canadian War Museum is an architecturally unique building showcasing the history of Canada’s past conflicts. Honoring those who have served the country and putting focus on the topics of regeneration and building a better future, this Ottawa museum is home to themed exhibits, historical artifacts, military tools, weapons, and vehicles.

Previously known as the Canadian Museum of Civilization, this cutting-edge museum—just five minutes from downtown Ottawa—underwent a name change and a significant overhaul between 2013 and 2017. The museum’s high-tech exhibitions now tell the history of Canada and its peoples, from the earliest human inhabitants to the present day.