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
Kitchener showing signage

Downtown Kitchener

While visiting Downtown Kitchener, you might make a stop by sights like Kitchener Market and Centre In The Square.

Downtown Kitchener
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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
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 Ski and Summer Resort and Chicopee Tube Park are top sights worth seeing.

Centreville Chicopee
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Hespeler

Situated along the Speed River, this industrial-based area offers recreational activities like parks, canoeing, and trails. Explore the Old Town, Fire Hall, Hespeler Library, and Fashion History Museum.

Hespeler
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 $132 per night from May 19 to May 20
CA $132
CA $155 total
includes taxes & fees
May 19 - May 20
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! (1,115 reviews)
"Great staff and service Room was a bit weathered Very small bathroom for four person room"

Reviewed on Apr. 20, 2025

Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo by IHG
Comfort Inn Guelph
Comfort Inn Guelph
2.5 out of 5
480 Silvercreek Pky N, Guelph, ON
The price is CA $135 per night from May 11 to May 12
CA $135
CA $159 total
includes taxes & fees
May 11 - May 12
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Guelph. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,002 reviews)
"I liked the cleaness and the staff attitude and didnt like the breakfast options."

Reviewed on Apr. 25, 2025

Comfort Inn Guelph
Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre
Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre
3 out of 5
700 Hespeler Road, Cambridge, ON
The price is CA $149 per night from May 11 to May 12
CA $149
CA $175 total
includes taxes & fees
May 11 - May 12
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! (1,003 reviews)
"Nice place to stay. Breakfast is good"

Reviewed on Apr. 21, 2025

Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre
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
Belwood Bunkie Escape & Spa minutes away from Elora
Belwood Bunkie Escape & Spa minutes away from Elora
Belwood
Stay at this cabin in Centre Wellington. Enjoy free WiFi, an in-room coffeemaker, and in-room fireplaces. Popular attraction Belwood Lake Conservation Area is ...
Belwood Bunkie Escape & Spa minutes away from Elora
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! (20 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