Kitchener

Travel Guide

Guelph which includes a fountain, a statue or sculpture and a city
Kitchener
Kitchener featuring street scenes
Kitchener showing a bridge and a park
Kitchener featuring street scenes
Hundreds of parks, Mennonite pioneer houses and one of the largest Oktoberfests in North America make this city just outside of Toronto worth visiting.

Head southwest through Toronto’s surrounding farmland to reach the extensive twin cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. Kitchener is the southernmost of the pair and features an array of parks, museums and historical sites. Once known as Berlin, Kitchener has a rich German heritage. Visit a heritage German house and try a local pilsner at the city’s fun-filled Oktoberfest.

Kitchener is known for its lush green spaces. Find nearly 220 parks in this leafy city, including golf courses, nature preserves and urban parks. During the winter, ski within the city limits at the Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort.

Victoria Park is Kitchener’s centrally located park. This park dates back to 1896 and its clock tower is one of the city’s essential heritage structures. The tower stood atop the now-demolished old city hall. Visit nearby Kitchener City Hall to see the modern civic building. Take the Iron Horse Trail by foot, bicycle or on horseback from Victoria Park into Waterloo Park, the main park of Kitchener’s twin city.

Learn about the history of Kitchener’s settlement and development at its interesting museums. The Joseph Schneider Haus is a history museum located inside the city’s oldest house, which was built in 1816 by a German Mennonite pioneer. Tour the interior to see period furnishings and German-Canadian folk art in the exhibition space. The Waterloo Region Museum provides details on the rest of Kitchener’s history, including the First Nations people who once lived here and the city’s prosperous manufacturing industry.

Visit Kitchener in October to see the city embrace its German heritage in one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations in North America, attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year. The 9-day festival culminates with Canada’s much-loved Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Drive an hour or take a 3-hour bus ride out of Toronto to reach Kitchener. Surrounded by farmland and dotted with idyllic green spaces, Kitchener is a peaceful respite from urban Toronto.

Where to stay in Kitchener

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Saint Jacobs

You'll enjoy the museums and riverfront in Saint Jacobs. You might want to make time for a stop at St. Jacobs Scoolhouse Theatre or Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario.

Saint Jacobs
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Elmira

Discover the largest Old Order Mennonite community in Canada, with regular buggy sightings and the historic Bandstand in Gore Park. Enjoy the Woolwich Memorial Centre's amenities and explore the Kissing Bridge Trailway for outdoor activities.

Elmira
Kitchener showing signage

Downtown Kitchener

While visiting Downtown Kitchener, you might make a stop by sights like Centre In The Square and Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.

Downtown Kitchener
The old mill ruins in Rockwood Conservation Area I’m sure are popular with wedding and portrait photographers, but can be fun for landscape/stars too!

Rockwood

Travelers like the parks in Rockwood, and Rockwood Conservation Area is a top attraction you might want to visit.

Rockwood
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Centreville Chicopee

If you're spending some time in Centreville Chicopee, Chicopee Tube Park and Chicopee Ski and Summer Resort are top sights worth seeing.

Centreville Chicopee
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Ayr

If you're spending some time in Ayr, Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area is a top sight worth visiting.

Ayr
Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo by IHG
Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo by IHG
4 out of 5
105 King St E, Kitchener, ON
The price is CA $143 per night from Apr. 6 to Apr. 7
CA $143
CA $168 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 6 - Apr 7
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Kitchener. Enjoy free WiFi, room service, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...
8.2/10 Very good! (1,107 reviews)
"Great place to stay"

Reviewed on Apr. 2, 2025

Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo by IHG
Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre
Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre
3 out of 5
700 Hespeler Road, Cambridge, ON
The price is CA $126 per night from Apr. 23 to Apr. 24
CA $126
CA $149 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 23 - Apr 24
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,000 reviews)
"Great place to stay overnight when flying out of Waterloo airport. Nice restaurants, shopping across the road. Easy access from hiway. Clean nice rooms"

Reviewed on Mar. 31, 2025

Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre
Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterloo
Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterloo
3.5 out of 5
110 Erb St W, Waterloo, ON
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is CA $219 per night from Apr. 13 to Apr. 14
CA $219
CA $257 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 13 - Apr 14
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Waterloo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
"I likednit"

Reviewed on Mar. 30, 2025

Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterloo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Residence & Conference Centre - Kitchener Waterloo
Residence & Conference Centre - Kitchener Waterloo
2 out of 5
99 Conestoga College Boulevard, Kitchener, ON
Book a stay at this business-friendly aparthotel in Kitchener. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
7.2/10 Good! (505 reviews)
"It was a good stay."

Reviewed on Oct. 23, 2024

Residence & Conference Centre - Kitchener Waterloo
1960 Mid-Century Modern Nature Retreat
1960 Mid-Century Modern Nature Retreat
Cambridge
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in North Dumfries. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and in-room jetted tubs. Popular attractions St. John's United ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (16 reviews)
A little piece of heaven!
"We loved our stay in this property. The bed, pillows and sheets were very cozy. The jacuzzi bathtub was a nice treat! Now we want one at home too! The property was so serene and beautiful. We loved the view! It was just what we needed to recharge and we are definitely coming back. The owners were ..."

Reviewed on Mar. 16, 2025

1960 Mid-Century Modern Nature Retreat
Elora Gingersnap rental
Elora Gingersnap rental
Elora
Stay at this condo in Elora. Enjoy a garden, an in-room coffeemaker, and in-room fireplaces. Popular attractions Elora Mews Shops and Elora Centre For The Arts ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (19 reviews)
Quaint and comfortable
"This is an excellent property to stay in. The property owner, John, is extremely accessible for communications including clarity regarding checkin and parking instructions.We appeciated John's kindness and uncertainty with respect to potential additional day to stay.We recommend this property and ..."

Reviewed on Mar. 27, 2025

Elora Gingersnap rental
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Kitchener

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
148
5 - Excellent 23%
4 - Good
346
4 - Good 55%
3 - Okay
123
3 - Okay 20%
2 - Disappointing
7
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
6
1 - Terrible 1%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Loved the city's elevated geography, the historic buildings and it's entertaining nightlife. Would love to go back .

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

It's a decent town. It's too bad the city still finds a comic convention with a bad reputation.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Terrible driving in kitchener. Lights are awful. Worse than toronto with 1/4 of the cars.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

I love it i have family's there, so i take a trip some time to see them..

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Nice and safe place to visit. Enjoyed our weekend for Christkringle experience and would love to go back again.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

The party was awesome good music, good people

Cities near Kitchener