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 Kitchener City Hall and Centre In The Square.

Downtown Kitchener
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East Galt

While there might not be top attractions in East Galt, you can explore the larger area and discover places like McDougall Cottage and Southworks Outlet Mall.

East Galt
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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Ayr

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

Ayr
Quality Inn

Quality Inn

2.5 out of 5
2899 King St E, Kitchener, ON
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is CA $104 per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
CA $104
CA $122 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Kitchener. Enjoy free parking, a 24-hour front desk, and a business center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,306 reviews)
"Vety good service"

Reviewed on Jul. 13, 2025

Quality Inn
Comfort Inn Cambridge

Comfort Inn Cambridge

2.5 out of 5
220 Holiday Inn Dr, Cambridge, ON
The price is CA $127 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
CA $127
CA $149 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Cambridge. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,006 reviews)
"Room was clean, bed was comfy, breakfast was ok...not great but ok."

Reviewed on Jul. 4, 2025

Comfort Inn Cambridge
Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre

Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre

3 out of 5
700 Hespeler Road, Cambridge, ON
The price is CA $139 per night from Jul 20 to Jul 21
CA $139
CA $163 total
Jul 20 - Jul 21
includes taxes & fees
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! (1,062 reviews)
"They cleaned our room without leaving towels but the room was clean."

Reviewed on Jul. 14, 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! (532 reviews)
"as said it was ok ! The elevators need to be replaced!"

Reviewed on Jun. 6, 2025

Residence & Conference Centre - Kitchener Waterloo
Beautiful Bungalow on Grand River in Fergus.

Beautiful Bungalow on Grand River in Fergus.

Fergus
Stay at this vacation home in Centre Wellington. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Belwood Lake Conservation Area and Elora ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (8 reviews)
"The grounds were lovely and created a great deal of privacy and serenity. Accommodations were clean and comfortable and the kitchen was well equipped. The location, close to Ferguson, made getting to shops and interesting restaurants quite easy. We would definitely return and plan to stay ..."

Reviewed on Jul. 4, 2025

Beautiful Bungalow on Grand River in Fergus.
Metcalfe Suites - Vintage Meadow

Metcalfe Suites - Vintage Meadow

Elora
Stay at this apartment in Elora. Enjoy free WiFi, an in-room coffeemaker, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Elora Mews Shops and Elora Centre For The ...
10/10 Exceptional! (1 review)
"It was very nicely decorated and nice and quiet. The only other thing we’d say is that we weren’t big fans of the stairs going up. I think the intense heat over the weekend didn’t help. Plus of course we’re on the older side so the stairs were a challenge for sure."

Reviewed on Jun. 23, 2025

Metcalfe Suites - Vintage Meadow
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