Ontario Attractions

Selected Travel Guide:		More Ontario Travel Guides:			Adjust Font Size:

View Ontario Photos

Subscribe to Our Newsletter Get exclusive travel deals, trip reviews, and unique adventure travel ideas monthly. We hate spam! Privacy Policy

Casa Loma
City/Region: Toronto
Canada's own castle, Casa Loma, is today owned by the City of Toronto and draws plenty of interest standing in medieval splendor on its hilltop site. The castle was formerly the home of Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt, who engaged the noted architect E J Lennox to help him realise a life-long dream of building a castle. Construction started in 1911 and it took 300 men nearly three years to complete the impressive Casa Loma. Inside visitors can see the magnificent decorated suites, secret passages, and 800ft (244m) long tunnel, while outside it is possible to stroll through the beautiful five-acre estate gardens. Self-guided audio tours are available and the castle is open every day.
Address: 1 Austin Terrace
Phone Number: (416) 923 1171
Email Address: info@casaloma.org
Website: www.casaloma.org
Transport: From Dupont station walk to Spadina Ave and Davenport Rd and climb the Baldwin Steps to the castle
Hours: Daily 9.30am to 5pm
Admission: C$12 (adults), C$6.75 (children); other concessions available

CN Tower
City/Region: Toronto
Standing 1,815ft (553m) high, Toronoto's landmark CN Tower is the world's tallest building, a celebrated icon, an important telecommunications hub and the center of tourism in Toronto. About two million people visit the tower each year to take in the panoramic view and enjoy all its attractions. The tower was built in 1976 by the company Canadian National, who undertook the project simply to prove the strength of Canadian industry and solve the city's communication problems. Since then tourist attractions and facilities have been added, and the revitalized tower opened to the public in 1998, proving a hit with locals and visitors alike. The tower has four look out levels. At the first at 1,122ft (342m) is an outdoor observation deck with a spectacular glass floor; somewhat higher at the next level is an indoor observation deck and the Horizon's café, offering light meals high in the sky; at the 1,150ft (351m) level is a revolving restaurant, which rotates once every 72 minutes, allowing a stunning view of the city below while dining on the award-winning fare; finally comes the top level, at a dizzying 1,465ft (447m), known as the Sky Pod. At the top of the CN Tower visitors stand on the world's highest public observation deck. The tower is situated in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district, on the north shore of Lake Ontario.
Address: 301 Front Street West
Phone Number: (416) 868 6937
Website: www.cntower.ca
Transport: Union Station
Hours: 10am to 10pm daily in season. Phone for other seasonal hours
Admission: Rates vary from C$18.99 to C$31.99 depending on the ticket type

Royal Ontario Museum
City/Region: Toronto
Pride of place in this large and varied museum is held by the golden mosaic ceiling inside the main entrance to the building in Queen's Park, Toronto. The ceiling is adorned with patterns and symbols representing cultures from around the world throughout the ages, and is made from cut squares of imported Venetian glass. The museum consists of three buildings housing 200,000 square feet (18,581 sq m) of galleries and exhibitions. The more than 40 galleries showcase art, archaeology and science exhibits. Among the most popular are dinosaurs, galleries of Chinese Art, a bat cave, a gem and gold room, exhibits about Ancient Egypt and Nubia, and the Samuel European Galleries.
Address: 100 Queen's Park
Phone Number: (416) 586 5549
Website: www.rom.on.ca
Transport: Museum subway station or Avenue bus 5 from Eglington station
Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, late opening until 9.30pm on Friday
Admission: Monday to Friday: C$18 (adults), C$14 (children). C$5 (adults) and C$2 (children) on Fridays from 4.30pm to 9.30pm

Toronto Zoo
City/Region: Toronto
The Toronto Zoo covers 710 acres (287 hectares) and is divided into 'zoogeographic' regions. It features four major tropical indoor pavilions and several smaller indoor viewing areas, plus numerous outdoor exhibits with more than six miles (ten km) of walking trails. The zoo houses more than 5,000 animals representing more than 450 species; it draws more than 1,2 million visitors each year. It is located north of Highway 401 and is easily accessible by public transport.
Address: Meadowvale Road, Scarborough
Phone Number: (416) 392 5900
Email Address: torontozoo@zoo.metrotor.on.ca
Website: www.torontozoo.com
Transport: Rouge Hill GO Train station; 86A Scarborough bus route or 85 Sheppard East bus route
Hours: Daily 9.30am to 4.30pm (January to 11 March, 11 October to December); 9am to 6pm (12 March to 21 May, 7 September to 11 October); 9am to 7.30pm (22 May to 6 September)
Admission: C$20 (adults), C$12 (children); other concessions available

Niagara Falls
City/Region: Toronto
Straddling the Canadian-United States border and sited between the province of Ontario and the US state of New York, the awesome Niagara Falls attracts about 12 million tourists a year. It makes a spectacular day's outing from Toronto. The Niagara River has been flowing for about 12,000 years but the eroded escarpment over which the falls flow today is much older, having been formed during the ice age. The river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale to make it the second largest waterfall on earth, after the Victoria Falls in southern Africa. Apart from appreciating the mighty torrent of the falls itself, perhaps from a spray-filled boat tour, there is plenty more to see and do on the Niagara peninsula, including indulging in some wine-tasting at one of the local wineries; visiting the exotic butterfly conservatory, marvelling at the floral clock in the Niagara Parks Greenhouse; or playing a round of golf on one of the 34 courses that dot the peninsula.
Email Address: npinfo@niagaraparks.com
Website: www.niagaraparks.com
Hours: Different attractions have different opening hours and seasons
Admission: Admission tickets vary from C$7.50 to C$13 depending on which attractions are visited

Parliament Hill
City/Region: Ottawa
Parliament Hill in Ottawa is a place for decision-making, but also a place for people. Visitors can tour the buildings, watch Parliament in action, and enjoy ceremonial spectacles like the Changing of the Guard ceremony. There are three buildings making up Canada's parliament complex. The center block with its distinctive Peace Tower houses the chambers of the House of Commons and the Senate. Visitors can watch either chamber in action, take a tour of the building, and climb the Peace Tower for a view of the capital city region. The historic east block contains the restored offices of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A Macdonald, and other early statesmen. Tours are offered of these historic rooms and visitors can also interact with historical characters from the period. The west block houses the offices of members of parliament and are not open to the public.
Phone Number: (613) 996 0896
Hours: Changing of the Guard daily from 9.45am (June to August)

Canadian Museum of Civilization
City/Region: Ottawa
One of dozens of museums in Canada's capital region, the Museum of Civilization is one of the most fascinating with its artifacts on display including interesting things such as the world's oldest known boat, several mummies, and the story of the 'bog people' of north-western Europe. The museum celebrates the diversity of humankind and showcases the achievements of cultures, past and present, using not only exhibits but live performances, giant screens and animations. The complex incorporates the Canadian Children's Museum, Canadian Postal Museum, an IMAX Theater and a restaurant.
Address: 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau
Phone Number: (819) 776 7000
Website: www.civilization.ca
Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm (May to 9 October); 9am to 5pm (10 October to April). Museum closes at 9pm on Thursdays
Admission: Museum: C$10 (adults), C$4 (children); IMAX: C$9.50 (adults), C$7 (children); Combination: C$17 (adults), C$10 (children). Free on Thursdays 4pm to 9pm, half price on Sundays

Gatineau Park
City/Region: Ottawa
Gatineau Park is a giant wedge of land measuring 140 square miles (363 sq km) to the northwest of Canada's Capital Region. It is a recreational haven for locals and visitors alike, and contains many features of interest. The Luskville Falls are inspiring; the Lusk Cave made of marble can be explored with a hard hat; the King Mountain Trail has 10 observation points and takes an hour to complete; the Mackenzie King Estate, a 231-hectare landscaped space in the heart of the park, was the summer residence of William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada's 10th prime minister.
Address: Gatineau Park Visitor Center, 33 Scott Road, Chelsea
Phone Number: (819) 827 2020

Old Fort William
City/Region: Lake Superior and Thunder Bay
Visitors can travel back in time to 1815 at an authentic duplicate of Old Fort William, the inland headquarters of the North West Company of Montreal, located at Thunder Bay just nine miles (14km) upstream from the site of the original fort on the bank of the Kaministiquia River. The North American fur trade is a part of Canada's colorful past that has been brought to life at the fort, with recreations of the characters, sounds, sights and smells of the operating fort as it would have been almost two centuries ago. The sprawling 20-acre site contains more than 42 fully-equipped historic buildings to be explored, among the assortment of fort inhabitants who include Ojibwa Natives, Scots gentlemen, French Canadian voyagers, craftsmen and farm laborers, dressed in period costume and busy with their daily chores.
Phone Number: (807) 473 2344
Website: www.fwhp.ca
Hours: Daily between 17 May and 13 October from 10am to 5pm (until 6pm from mid-June to August)
Admission: 18 June to 5 September: Adults C$14, Children 6-12 C$10; 21 May 21 to 17 June 17 and 6 September to 10 October: Adults C$12, children 6-12 C$9

Amethyst Mine
City/Region: Lake Superior and Thunder Bay
Ontario's official gemstone, amethyst, is one of the many natural resources found on the north shore of Lake Superior. The colored crystalline silica mineral quartz found in this area comes in beautiful shades, like Precious Purple and Thunder Bay Lavender. Visitors can mine their own amethyst at the Panorama Mine, 35 miles (56km) east of Thunder Bay, which is the site of the largest deposit of amethyst in north America, discovered in 1955. The mine currently produces 40 percent useable amethyst by volume and has a large digging area open to the public that contains 20 percent useable amethyst. All one needs is a bucket and spade to enjoy a mining experience.
Address: East Loon Road
Phone Number: (807) 622 6908 (Amethyst Gift Center)
Email Address: info@amethystmine.com
Website: www.amethystmine.com
Hours: Daily between 15 May and 15 October from 10am to 5pm (until 7pm in July and August)
Admission: C$3

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
City/Region: Lake Superior and Thunder Bay
This 24,400-hectare provincial park is set on a rugged peninsula near Thunder Bay resembling a sleeping giant. Known as the 'park of legends' it was inhabited for 9,000 years by natives who fished and hunted in the rolling, forested terrain dotted with lakes, which is still roamed by lynx and wolf. It is possible to hike to the top of granite cliffs for spectacular views of Lake Superior, or in winter to explore the trails on skis or snowshoes. The park also supports an exceptional mix of plant life, and in a bog in the park's southern end grow two rare orchids, the Adder's Mouth and the Striped Orchid. There are 24 types of orchid growing here altogether, and ferns abound. More than 190 species of bird have been recorded in the park, which is also home to white-tailed deer, red fox, porcupine, moose, bears, wolf and lynx.
Phone Number: (807) 977 2526

Distillery Historic District
City/Region: Toronto
The brick-paved streets of the pedestrianized village have been designated a National Heritage Site, containing the finest collection of Victorian era industrial architecture in North America. The historic Distillery District, spread across 13 acres (5 hectares) in downtown Toronto, is a development dedicated entirely to arts, culture and entertainment with its plethora of art galleries, restaurants, bars and live music venues. Founded in 1832, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery became the largest distillery in the British Empire until it ceased operations in 1990 after 153 years of production, and was opened in 2003 as the pedestrian-only village it is today. It is also a popular film location and its numerous festivals and special events attract thousands of people every month.
Address: Mill Street
Phone Number: (416) 364 1177
Email Address: jb@thedistillerydistrict.com
Website: www.thedistillerydistrict.com
Hours: Monday to Wednesday 11am to 7pm, Thursday and Friday 11am to 9pm, Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm. Hours of restaurants, cafes and shops may vary


Next Page »

Ontario City Guides: Ottawa Guide Toronto Guide
Ontario Community:
Ontario Journals Search Travel Journals Write a Travel Journals	Ontario Photos Search Travel Photos Post your Travel Photos
Join the iExplore Community