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From the thundering Niagara Falls to some of Canada’s prettiest cities, those looking for places to visit in Ontario are spoiled for choice!
Ontario is the most populous province in Canada, as well as the location of the nation’s capital, Ottawa and the country’s most populous city of Toronto. There are just as many natural wonders to see in Ontario as there are cities though, so today we’ll be covering them all.
In this post, we’ll be sharing our top picks for places to visit in Ontario, including the most stunning cities, national parks, lakes and islands.
We hope you enjoy learning about this varied region and be sure to let us know in the comments which Ontario must-sees we should add to our list!
Toronto
Let’s start with ‘the 6ix’ – we’re talking of course about the most populous city in Canada, and one of the best places to visit in Ontario for those in search of dynamic city life and excitement: Toronto.
Known for its vibrant diversity and multiculturalism, Toronto attracts upwards of 43 million tourists each year, making it one of the most visited places in the entire country… and rightly so. Toronto is home to a tasty food scene, many exciting museums and art galleries, plus a dynamic events calendar filled with festivals and fun cultural events.
Beyond its status as a hub of culture and film/TV production, Toronto is famous for both its many skyscrapers as well as its lovely waterside location. Seeing the skyline from the water of Lake Ontario is perhaps only topped by seeing the city from above in the CN Tower’s observation deck or revolving restaurant.
Other must-see Toronto attractions include the 3D Toronto sign (pictured below), the Hockey Hall of Fame and Casa Loma, a literal castle in the middle of the city!
Of course, the beauty of this city is that there’s a little something for everyone, no matter their taste, so be sure to put this dazzling city at the top of your list of must-visit Ontario places.
Ottawa
As the capital city of Canada, Ottawa is definitely one of the most important places to visit in Ontario if you’re interested in history and politics.
One of the most famous sites in Ottawa is Parliament Hill, which is home to a number of important and beautiful buildings as well as the Peace Tower (pictured below) with its clock and bell.
Fun fact: there are building height restrictions in Ottawa so that the buildings here are visible from most parts of the city.
Of course, this is also where lots of fun events take place, including festivals in summer and fireworks on Canada Day.
Just below Parliament Hill is the historic Rideau Canal, which helps to make Ottawa such a beautiful city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are walking paths beside the canal and plenty of options for boating in summer, while in winter the canal becomes one of the longest and largest skating rinks in the world!
Other must-sees while visiting Ottawa include the gothic Fairmont Chateau Laurier, one of the most impressive hotels we’ve ever seen, and the National Gallery of Canada which has a very distinctive façade of glass walls that almost resemble a cathedral.
Niagara Falls
Spanning the border between Canada and the US, the mighty waters of Niagara Falls are easily one of the most visited Ontario tourist attractions, and for good reason.
There are three main waterfalls within the Niagara Gorge, which spans the border between Canada and the USA. Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three, located right on the border, although it’s often referred to as the Canadian Falls. The two smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls are located within the Niagara River on the American side of the border.
The Canadian town of Niagara Falls makes an ideal base for seeing one of the most powerful and beautiful waterfalls in the world. Boat cruises can take visitors up close to the falls, but it’s also possible to enjoy stunning views on the Canadian side from Queen Victoria Park and Skylon Tower.
Algonquin Provincial Park
The natural sights found inside make Algonquin Provincial Park one of the most popular tourist places in Ontario, especially for spotting wildlife.
First established in 1893, this is the oldest provincial park in the whole of Canada, with a mix of northern coniferous forests and southern deciduous forests which creates a lot of diversity in flora and fauna. Some of the most exciting wild animals visitors might spot include moose, wolves, foxes, black bears, deer and beavers.
There are many camping sites within Algonquin Provincial Park, with opportunities for fishing, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and hiking all year round.
And for visitors hoping to learn more, the Algonquin Visitor Centre and Algonquin Logging Museum are both interesting spots to learn more about the park, its history, and its inhabitants.
Fathom Five National Marine Park
The Fathom Five National Marine Park is a marine conservation area located in the Georgian Bay section of Lake Huron and is a really fun place to explore.
There are many shipwrecks in the waters of Fathom Five, which make it a popular location for scuba diving. Visitors can also see some of these sights without getting wet by joining a glass-bottomed boat cruise from Tobermory, which is the main jumping-off point for exploring the marine park.
Within the waters of Fathom Five National Marine Park there are also some pretty islands, particularly Flowerpot Island with its iconic cliff stacks (pictured below) but more on that in the next section. It’s definitely worth stopping off at the visitor’s center in Tobermory to learn more about the marine park, the town of Tobermory and neighboring Bruce Peninsula National Park.
Flowerpot Island
Flowerpot Island is part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park and one of many downright nice places to visit in Ontario!
There are only two of the “flower pot” stacks the island was named for still standing, as the third one fell down in 1903… but trust us when we say they’re still worth the trip and visit!
These rock pillars are the soft remains of a sea cliff which was eroded by wind, rain and waves over the years – even retaining some trees growing on top.
Many people flock to Flowerpot Island in the summer to enjoy camping, hiking, swimming, exploring caves, visiting a historic light station and spotting rare plants. The island can only be reached by boat from nearby Tobermory, so it makes for an idyllic ‘back to nature’ vacation. It’s also the only island within the marine park with camping sites and hiking trails.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
Right next door to Tobermory and the Fathom Five National Marine Park is another one of the greatest Ontario places to visit: the Bruce Peninsula National Park.
Tobermory and the Fathom Five Park are both located at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, but a visit to either one should definitely be combined with exploring some of the beautiful spots within the Bruce Peninsula National Park. At 156 square kilometres, this is one of the largest protected areas in southern Ontario, and the main part of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve.
Inside this park are numerous hiking trails and campsites, with varied habitats providing homes to bears, rare reptiles like the massasauga rattlesnake, coyotes, deer, red foxes and porcupines.
There are also many incredible natural rock formations, like The Grotto, a natural sea cave that’s very popular in summer (you have to make reservations for four hour parking slots!) and Indian Head Cove, an inlet next to the Grotto. Both these spots feature stunning blue water that’s a delight to swim in or just take some photos.
Point Pelee National Park
Another gorgeous national park to visit in Ontario is the Point Pelee National Park, located on the southernmost tip of Canada as it extends into Lake Erie on the US border.
Point Pelee was the first national park established in Canada for conservation in 1918.
The climate in Point Pelee is notably warmer than other parts of Canada, since it extends so far south into Lake Erie.
Because of this, the park is home to many flora and fauna species that are rare in Canada, plus it’s located on two ‘flyways’ where hundreds of different bird species migrate or breed each year.
One of the most interesting things about Point Pelee National Park is that it contains six different habitats: beach, cedar, savanna, dry forest, wet forest, and freshwater marsh, making it an ideal place to visit year-round.
For instance, if you visit in autumn you might get to see flocks of vivid Monarch butterflies while spring and autumn are the times to see migrating birds. Either way, this is one Ontario destination to put on your bucket list.
Lake Superior
As the largest lake in North America, Lake Superior is one of the best places to go in Ontario for a variety of enjoyable activities.
Along with being the largest of North America’s Great Lakes, Lake Superior is also the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area) and third-largest in the world by water volume. The border between Canada and the United States of America is in the middle of the lake, so both sides are popular destinations for citizens of either country.
On the Ontario side, the city of Thunder Bay is an excellent stepping-off point to explore the lake, although there are numerous smaller towns along the lake to enjoy, as well as some islands within the Canadian half of the lake itself.
All along the Ontario side of Lake Superior are spectacular waterfalls, beautiful beaches, rocky cliffs and national parks. The entire area is popular for camping, fishing, hiking, canoeing and getting close to nature. Little wonder why it’s considered one of the top places to visit in Ontario for nature lovers.
Scarborough Bluffs
Scarborough Bluffs is a long cliff area located just outside Toronto which features some pretty stunning scenery.
There are nine parks within the Scarborough Bluffs escarpment, which offer visitors spectacular views of the cliffs themselves or the Toronto waterfront and Lake Ontario. Bluffer’s Park is probably the most popular as it’s the only park which also contains a swimming beach.
Most of the parks are located atop the cliffs, the highest point of which rises 90 metres (300 ft) above the shoreline. Sylvan Park and East Point Park also contain trails to the waterside. This 15 kilometer (9.3 mile) area is one of the best spots to head outside of Toronto for walking, jogging and enjoying the views, perhaps with a picnic.
You can also go sailing or paddle boarding in the lake in order to see the cliffs from more of a distance.
Ouimet Canyon
Not far from the city of Thunder Bay on Lake Superior is the amazing Ouimet Canyon, a 100 meter (330 feet) deep, 150 meter (490 feet) wide and 2,000 meter (2 kilometer; 1.2 mile) long gorge.
Ouimet Canyon can only be accessed during the day, as it’s part of the Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park, which doesn’t have any camping facilities, but it’s still well worth a visit as a day trip, to see the panoramic views of the cliffs dropping down into the canyon below.
There are two lookout platforms connected by trails and a boardwalk. Along with the stunning views, visitors may get to see rare alpine flowers on the ground and peregrine falcons soaring in the sky above. Do note that the park is only open between May – October and stick to the marked trails as it can be dangerous otherwise!
Georgian Bay
One of the most popular vacation spots in Ontario is Georgian Bay, particularly with people who own charming island cottages that can only be accessed by water!
This is the bay that lies directly east of the Bruce Peninsula (along with Tobermory and the Fathom Five National Marine Park, which we’ve already discussed) but there are lots of places to experience the bay from the eastern side too.
All along the eastern edge of the bay are small islands, collectively known as the Thirty Thousand Islands, which are also part of the Georgian Bay Littoral, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The coastline of Georgian Bay contains windswept pines, majestic towering cliffs and endless beaches with crystal-clear waters.
The Georgian Bay Coastal Route is an excellent way to explore all the lighthouses, towns, beaches and other attractions which line this beautiful bay.
Pukaskwa National Park
One of the best places to explore on the Canadian shores of Lake Superior is Pukaskwa National Park.
Pukaskwa is the largest National Park bordering Lake Superior, and covers an area of 1,878 square kilometers (725 square miles), including the longest undeveloped shoreline on all of the Great Lakes. Highway 627 provides the only road access into the park, leading to the Hattie Cove Campground and Pukaskwa National Park Visitor Center.
Visitors can also stay at backcountry campsites while hiking the Coastal Hiking Trail, which includes opportunities to admire spectacular scenery at Horseshoe Bay, the White River Suspension Bridge and Hook Falls. The almost completely untouched park is also home to animals including black bears, timber wolves, lynx, beavers, moose, otters and peregrine falcons.
Hamilton
If you are looking for cool places to visit in Ontario, particularly if you’re interested in seeing the filming locations of popular TV shows like The Umbrella Academy, then head to the city of Hamilton.
Just 58 kilometers (36 miles) southwest of Toronto, Hamilton is located on the Niagara Escarpment, meaning it’s home to many picturesque waterfalls like Albion Falls and Buttermilk Falls, while also being a short trip from the famous Niagara Falls (about a 50-minute drive).
Other attractions in Hamilton include the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and the ship museum of HMCS Haida which was nicknamed Canada’s “fightingest” ship for its record of sinking the most enemy ships during WWII. There’s also Dundurn Castle, a gorgeous manor house in Hamilton worth a visit, and of course the famous Royal Botanical Gardens.
Did We Miss Any of Your Favourite Places to Visit in Ontario?
Let us know on the comments so we can add more amazing spots to our list!