Attractions in Ontario & Great Lakes
Big cities, bigger waterfalls, and endless lakes 🏙️🌊🎢
Showing 100 attractions · Sorted by importance
African Lion Safari
📍 Hamilton
🐄 FarmAn expansive drive-through wildlife park where families can see lions, giraffes, and rhinos roaming in large habitats alongside farm animal interaction areas.
Algonquin Provincial Park
📍 Whitney
🌲 NatureCanada's oldest provincial park, renowned for its vast network of interconnected lakes and world-class canoeing and wildlife viewing.
Art Gallery of Ontario
📍 Toronto
🖼 Art GalleryOne of North America's most prominent art museums, featuring a vast collection of Canadian and European masterworks in a building redesigned by Frank Gehry.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
📍 Tobermory
⛱ BeachFamous for its dramatic limestone cliffs and the crystal-clear 'Grotto' sea cave on the shores of Georgian Bay.
Bruce Trail
📍 Queenston
🥾 Hiking & Cycling890km challenging multi-week trek following the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston to Tobermory. It is Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath. Equipment: Bruce Trail Conservancy (brucetrail.org)
Calypso Theme Waterpark
📍 Limoges
🌊 Water ParkCanada's largest themed water park features over 35 slides, the country's biggest wave pool, and extensive interactive water play areas.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
📍 Ottawa
🔬 ScienceA highly interactive museum showcasing Canada's innovation history with massive steam locomotives, a wearable tech lab, and the famous Crazy Kitchen.
Canada's Wonderland
📍 Vaughan
🎢 Theme ParkCanada's premier theme park featuring over 200 attractions, including world-class roller coasters and a 20-acre water park.
Canadian Museum of Nature
📍 Ottawa
🔬 ScienceHoused in a historic castle-like building, this museum offers world-class fossil galleries and immersive displays of Canada's diverse wildlife.
Casa Loma
📍 Toronto
🏰 CastleA majestic Gothic Revival castle featuring secret passages, lush gardens, and sweeping city views that fascinate all ages.
Clifton Hill
📍 Niagara Falls
🎢 Theme ParkA world-famous entertainment district in Niagara Falls featuring the Niagara SkyWheel, giant arcades, and themed museums.
CN Tower
📍 Toronto
🏛 LandmarkThis iconic telecommunications tower offers breathtaking views and a world-famous glass floor for an unforgettable family experience.
Fallsview Indoor Waterpark
📍 Niagara Falls
🌊 Water ParkA massive indoor facility offering year-round water fun with 16 slides, a large wave pool, and views overlooking the Niagara Falls area.
Fort Henry National Historic Site
📍 Kingston
🏰 CastleA massive 19th-century limestone fortress offering dynamic military demonstrations and panoramic views of Lake Ontario.
Great Lakes Waterfront Trail
📍 Toronto
🥾 Hiking & Cycling3,600km easy-to-moderate cycling route connecting 155 communities along the shores of the Great Lakes. The Toronto section is largely paved and flat. Bike rental: Toronto Bicycle Tours (torontobicycletours.com)
Horseshoe Falls
📍 Niagara Falls
🏛 LandmarkExperience the sheer power of the world's most famous waterfall with its massive curtain of mist and roaring cascades.
La Cloche Silhouette Trail
📍 Killarney
🥾 Hiking & Cycling78km expert-level loop through the Killarney wilderness, typically taking 7-10 days with 3,000m elevation gain. Famous for its white quartzite ridges. Outfitting: Killarney Outfitters (killarneyoutfitters.com)
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
📍 Vaughan
🖼 Art GalleryA unique gallery set in a scenic woodland, exclusively dedicated to the art of Canada, including the famous Group of Seven and Indigenous artists.
Mount St. Louis Moonstone
📍 Coldwater
⛷ Ski Resort229-382m elevation, 36 runs, 20km pistes, Dec-Mar season, 3 terrain parks and one of Canada's largest high-speed lift systems.
National Gallery of Canada
📍 Ottawa
🖼 Art GalleryThe nation's flagship art museum, home to the largest collection of Canadian and Indigenous art, housed in an iconic glass-and-granite architectural masterpiece.
Parliament Hill
📍 Ottawa
🏰 CastleThe historic heart of Canadian democracy, boasting stunning Neo-Gothic architecture and the iconic Peace Tower overlooking the Ottawa River.
Point Pelee National Park
📍 Leamington
⛱ BeachCanada's southernmost tip offers a unique triangular sand spit that extends deep into Lake Erie, ideal for birdwatching and beach walks.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
📍 Toronto
🐠 AquariumA massive downtown facility featuring North America's longest underwater viewing tunnel and over 20,000 exotic sea creatures.
Royal Botanical Gardens
📍 Burlington
🌿 GardenCanada's largest botanical garden features over 2,400 acres of nature sanctuaries and world-class cultivated displays including the historic Rock Garden.
Royal Ontario Museum
📍 Toronto
🔬 ScienceOne of North America's largest museums featuring a world-class collection of dinosaur skeletons, natural history specimens, and global cultures.
Sandbanks Provincial Park
📍 Picton
⛱ BeachHome to the world's largest baymouth barrier dune system, featuring massive sandy hills and shallow, child-friendly waters.
Science North
📍 Sudbury
🔬 ScienceA unique science center built into ancient rock, featuring two snowflake-shaped buildings connected by a rock tunnel and exhibits on Great Lakes ecology.
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
📍 Thunder Bay
🏔 Scenic ViewDramatic mesa formations on the Sibley Peninsula that resemble a giant lying on his back in Lake Superior.
Splash Works
📍 Vaughan
🌊 Water ParkLocated within Canada's Wonderland, this 20-acre water park offers massive wave pools, high-speed plummet slides, and a lazy river.
The Distillery District
📍 Toronto
🏘 Town / VillageA historic pedestrian-only village set within a perfectly preserved collection of Victorian Industrial architecture, now home to arts and culture.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
📍 Toronto
🎭 EventSeptember, 11 days, one of the world's most prestigious film festivals attracting over 480,000 visitors annually. Features hundreds of international film premieres, red carpet events, and 'TIFF Kids' screenings specifically designed for family audiences.
Toronto Zoo
📍 Toronto
🦁 ZooCanada's largest zoo features over 5,000 animals across seven zoogeographic regions and a popular discovery zone.
Upper Canada Village
📍 Morrisburg
🏰 CastleA massive 1860s living history site showcasing rural life with operational mills, heritage trades, and traditional livestock farming.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
📍 Wasaga Beach
⛱ BeachKnown as the longest freshwater beach in the world, this park offers 14 kilometers of sandy shoreline perfect for swimming and sunbathing.
Blue Mountain Resort
📍 The Blue Mountains
⛷ Ski Resort230-450m elevation, 43 runs, 29km pistes, Dec-Apr season, 3 terrain parks and extensive night skiing on the Niagara Escarpment.
Georgian Bay Coastal Route
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip1,350km paved loop (5-7 days) circumnavigating Georgian Bay. Includes the Bruce Peninsula, a ferry crossing on the MS Chi-Cheemaun to Manitoulin Island, and the white quartzite mountains of Killarney.
Grand Bend Beach
📍 Grand Bend
⛱ BeachA vibrant Blue Flag certified beach on Lake Huron known for its festive atmosphere, sunsets, and extensive sandy area.
Highway 60 (Algonquin Park Corridor)
📍 Huntsville
🚗 Road Trip56km paved road (1 hour) through the heart of Algonquin Provincial Park. Renowned for moose spotting, vibrant autumn colors, and access to numerous trailheads and the Algonquin Visitor Centre.
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens
📍 Niagara Falls
🌿 GardenEstablished in 1936, these 40 hectares of beautifully maintained gardens offer a peaceful retreat featuring the world-famous Butterfly Conservatory.
Niagara Parkway
📍 Niagara-on-the-Lake
🚗 Road Trip55km paved scenic road (1-2 hours) described by Winston Churchill as the 'prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world.' Highlights include the Floral Clock, Butterfly Conservatory, and views of Niagara Falls.
Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
📍 The Blue Mountains
🧗 AdventureA multi-activity nature park featuring a suspension bridge with Georgian Bay views and ancient limestone caves to explore.
Wet'n'Wild Toronto
📍 Brampton
🌊 Water ParkA major tropical-themed water park featuring high-intensity thrill slides, a half-million gallon wave pool, and dedicated kids' play zones.
WildPlay Whirlpool Adventure Course
📍 Niagara Falls
🧗 AdventureAn obstacle-packed high ropes course and zipline experience located directly on the edge of the dramatic Niagara River gorge.
Allan Gardens Conservatory
📍 Toronto
🌿 GardenA historic landmark featuring six greenhouses, including a majestic Victorian cast-iron palm house filled with exotic plants from around the globe.
Art Gallery of Hamilton
📍 Hamilton
🖼 Art GalleryThe oldest and largest public art museum in southwestern Ontario, offering a diverse permanent collection of over 10,000 historic and contemporary works.
Bird Kingdom
📍 Niagara Falls
🦁 ZooThe world's largest free-flying indoor aviary featuring tropical birds, reptiles, and a multi-level rainforest habitat.
Black Creek Pioneer Village
📍 Toronto
🐄 FarmA detailed recreation of an 1860s Ontario village with authentic heritage buildings, costumed interpreters, and period farm animals.
Bon Echo Provincial Park
📍 Cloyne
🏔 Scenic ViewHome to the massive Mazinaw Rock, featuring over 260 Indigenous pictographs and breathtaking cliff views.
Butterfly Conservatory
📍 Niagara Falls
🦁 ZooA climate-controlled glass dome housing over 2,000 colorful tropical butterflies fluttering amid lush greenery and waterfalls.
Calabogie Peaks
📍 Calabogie
⛷ Ski Resort154-392m elevation, 24 runs, 8km pistes, Dec-Mar season, features the highest vertical drop in Ontario at 238m and views of Calabogie Lake.
Centreville Amusement Park
📍 Toronto
🎢 Theme ParkA vintage-themed amusement park located on Toronto's Centre Island, offering over 30 family-friendly rides and a charming miniature train.
Dundurn Castle
📍 Hamilton
🏰 CastleA magnificent 40-room Italianate villa that provides a window into the 19th-century life of a prominent Canadian politician.
Fathom Five National Marine Park
📍 Tobermory
🌲 NatureCanada's first national marine park, famous for its preserved shipwrecks, lighthouse heritage, and unique Flowerpot Island rock formations.
Fort George National Historic Site
📍 Niagara-on-the-Lake
🏰 CastleA reconstructed War of 1812 military post where families can explore wooden barracks and watch musket demonstrations.
Fort William Historical Park
📍 Thunder Bay
🏘 Town / VillageOne of the largest living history attractions in North America, reconstructing the 1816 inland headquarters of the North West Company.
Horseshoe Resort
📍 Barrie
⛷ Ski Resort315-406m elevation, 29 runs, 6km pistes, Dec-Mar season, 29 groomed runs, snow tubing park, and nearby cross-country skiing facilities.
Killarney Provincial Park
📍 Killarney
🌲 NatureAn iconic wilderness park showcasing the white quartzite ridges of the La Cloche Mountains and deep sapphire lakes.
Lake Superior Provincial Park
📍 Wawa
🌲 NatureA rugged park on the world's largest freshwater lake, featuring dramatic cliffs, the Agawa Rock pictographs, and sweeping coastal views.
Niagara Parks Power Station
📍 Niagara Falls
🔬 ScienceA decommissioned hydroelectric plant turned science attraction where visitors explore the history of electricity and descend 180 feet to a tunnel viewing the falls.
Ottawa Art Gallery
📍 Ottawa
🖼 Art GalleryA stunning, modern cultural space that highlights the vibrant art of the Ottawa-Gatineau region within a multi-story glass-walled facility.
Parkwood Estate Gardens
📍 Oshawa
🌿 GardenThe former home of auto baron Samuel McLaughlin features exquisite formal gardens including Italianate, Japanese, and English styles on a grand scale.
Pinery Provincial Park
📍 Grand Bend
⛱ BeachProtects an extremely rare oak savanna ecosystem and features 10 kilometers of sandy beaches on the shore of Lake Huron.
Rideau Trail
📍 Kingston
🥾 Hiking & Cycling387km moderate long-distance trail connecting Kingston and Ottawa. Passes through diverse terrain including the Frontenac Arch Biosphere. Typical end-to-end takes 2-3 weeks. Equipment: Trailhead Kingston (trailheadkingston.ca)
Riverdale Farm
📍 Toronto
🐄 FarmA charming historic farm in the heart of downtown Toronto featuring heirloom breeds and traditional Victorian-era farm buildings.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
📍 Midland
🏰 CastleA meticulously reconstructed 17th-century French Jesuit mission that brings early Canadian colonial history to life.
Sauble Beach
📍 Sauble Beach
⛱ BeachVoted one of Canada's best beaches, this eleven-kilometer stretch of sand offers warm, shallow water and retro beach town charm.
Scarborough Bluffs
📍 Toronto
🏔 Scenic ViewTowering white clay cliffs overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Ontario, featuring parks and a sandy beach.
Searchmont Resort
📍 Searchmont
⛷ Ski Resort233-488m elevation, 26 runs, 10km pistes, Dec-Apr season, 214m vertical drop with glade skiing and terrain parks in Northern Ontario.
Terry Fox Memorial and Lookout
📍 Thunder Bay
🏛 LandmarkThis poignant monument honors a national hero while offering spectacular panoramic views of Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant.
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery
📍 Toronto
🖼 Art GalleryA leading non-collecting public gallery located in a historic former powerhouse, showcasing cutting-edge contemporary art from around the globe.
Thousand Islands National Park
📍 Mallorytown
🌲 NatureA scenic archipelago on the Saint Lawrence River featuring granite islands, lush forests, and diverse river ecosystems.
Toronto Botanical Garden
📍 Toronto
🌿 GardenLocated within Edwards Gardens, this site features 17 themed contemporary urban gardens designed to educate and inspire plant enthusiasts of all ages.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival
📍 Toronto
🎭 EventLate July to early August, 3-week duration, North America's largest cultural festival with over 1.2 million annual visitors. Celebrates Caribbean culture with the Grand Parade, vibrant costumes, and the 'Junior Carnival' event specifically for children to participate.
Winterlude
📍 Ottawa
🎭 EventFebruary, 3-week duration, a world-famous winter festival attracting 600,000 visitors. Home to the Rideau Canal Skateway (the world's largest naturally frozen rink), massive ice sculpture competitions, and the Snowflake Kingdom, a giant snow playground for children.
Woodbine Beach
📍 Toronto
⛱ BeachThe city's most popular destination for lakefront recreation, offering volleyball courts and a wide boardwalk on Lake Ontario.
Aquatarium at Tall Ships Landing
📍 Brockville
🐠 AquariumAn interactive discovery center featuring river otters and native fish species from the 1000 Islands and St. Lawrence River ecosystems.
Coastal Hiking Trail
📍 Hattie Cove
🥾 Hiking & Cycling60km challenging point-to-point trek in Pukaskwa National Park along Lake Superior's wild shore. Typically takes 5-7 days. Features suspension bridges and rugged terrain. Outfitting: Naturally Superior Adventures (naturallysuperior.com)
Cup and Saucer Trail
📍 Bidwell
🥾 Hiking & Cycling12km moderate to challenging day hike on Manitoulin Island featuring the highest point on the island with 70m cliffs. Offers panoramic views of the North Channel. Requires 3-4 hours.
Dynamic Earth
📍 Sudbury
🔬 ScienceAn interactive earth sciences center featuring an underground mine tour and the famous Big Nickel, focused on geology and mining heritage.
Eagle Canyon Adventures
📍 Dorion
🧗 AdventureHome to Canada's longest suspension footbridge and a massive zipline across a deep canyon near Lake Superior.
Loyalist Parkway (Highway 33)
📍 Trenton
🚗 Road Trip95km paved historic route (2 hours) along Lake Ontario. Passes through Prince Edward County's wine country, Sandbanks Provincial Park, and utilizes the free Glenora Ferry to reach Kingston.
Niagara River Recreation Trail
📍 Fort Erie
🥾 Hiking & Cycling53km easy paved cycling path running parallel to the Niagara River from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Passes Niagara Falls and several historic sites. Bike rental: Zoom Leisure Bikes (zoomleisure.com)
Safari Niagara
📍 Fort Erie
🐄 FarmA massive 150-acre nature park featuring hundreds of exotic and domestic animals, interactive educational tours, and family splash pads.
Thousand Islands Parkway
📍 Gananoque
🚗 Road Trip40km paved parkway (45 minutes) running parallel to the St. Lawrence River. Offers multiple scenic overlooks of the 1000 Islands, access to boat tours, and a separate paved cycling path.
Treetop Trekking Huntsville
📍 Huntsville
🧗 AdventureAn expansive aerial adventure park in the heart of Muskoka offering forest ziplining and canopy trekking for all ages.
Treetop Trekking Stouffville
📍 Whitchurch-Stouffville
🧗 AdventureA massive aerial park near Toronto featuring extreme zip lines and a timber-trek obstacle course set in the Bruce's Mill Conservation Area.
Western Uplands Backpacking Trail
📍 Algonquin Park
🥾 Hiking & Cycling32km to 88km loops of challenging backcountry hiking through rugged highland terrain. Features steep ridges and numerous interior lakes. Elevation gain varies by loop. Outfitting: Algonquin Outfitters (algonquinoutfitters.com)
Cheltenham Badlands
📍 Caledon
🏔 Scenic ViewA striking landscape of hummocky red shale ridges formed by erosion, viewed from an accessible boardwalk.
Dominion Arboretum
📍 Ottawa
🌿 GardenCanada's oldest arboretum covers 26 hectares and displays a wide range of established trees and shrubs in a scenic setting near the Rideau Canal.
Old Fort Erie
📍 Fort Erie
🏰 CastleThe site of Canada's bloodiest battlefield, this reconstructed fort offers immersive history tours near the mouth of the Niagara River.
Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park
📍 Dorion
🏔 Scenic ViewA massive gorge featuring 100-metre high cliffs and arctic plants on the canyon floor, accessible via viewing platforms.
Pukaskwa National Park
📍 Marathon
🌲 NatureThe only wilderness national park in Ontario on the shores of Lake Superior, featuring the rugged Coastal Hiking Trail and suspension bridge.
The Crack Trail
📍 Killarney
🥾 Hiking & Cycling6km challenging day hike famous for a massive deep crevice in the white quartzite rock. Offers the most iconic view in Killarney Provincial Park. 4 hours duration, 200m elevation gain.
Hidden Valley Highlands
📍 Huntsville
⛷ Ski Resort289-389m elevation, 12 runs, 5km pistes, Dec-Mar season, Muskoka's primary ski destination with groomed trails and a family-friendly terrain park.
Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park
📍 Orono
🦁 ZooA wildlife park specializing in rare and endangered big cats, offering guided feeding tours and educational programs.
Riverview Park and Zoo
📍 Peterborough
🦁 ZooA well-maintained 55-acre park and zoo offering diverse animal exhibits, a miniature train, and a large playground.
