This bustling city located in the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle serves as a center for cutting-edge ideas, drawing in students and scholars from all around the world.
It’s also rich in cultural diversity and offers a vibrant combination of art galleries, boutique shopping, and the great outdoors.
If you’re looking for an active way to explore the city, there are dozens of hiking trails that wind through the public parks and scenic countryside, as well as opportunities for canoeing on Silver Lake.
One of Waterloo’s most unique attractions is the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery – the only gallery in the country exclusively dedicated to showcasing Canadian artworks made from these mediums.
Waterloo is also known for its culinary delights, which include artisanal cocktails and contemporary dishes inspired by international flavors.
And if you happen to visit during the month of October, it’ll be hard to miss the annual Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest – the largest celebration of its kind that’s held outside of Germany.
If this sounds like the kind of place you’d like to visit, keep reading for a comprehensive list of everything there is to do here so you can plan your trip accordingly
The 32 Most Popular Things To Do In Waterloo, Canada
32. Sunfish Lake
4.8
(6 reviews)
Credit: Firry Floyd, License, Wikimedia commons
31. Health Valley Trail
4.6
(8 reviews)
Credit: vivek puthran, Google Maps
30. Silver Lake
4.5
(8 reviews)
Credit: Unknown author, License, Wikimedia commons
29. Waterloo First Korean Presbyterian Church | 워터루제일한인장로교회
4.5
(11 reviews)
Credit: Waterloo First Korean Presbyterian Church | 워터루제일한인장로교회, Google Maps
Location: 289 Lincoln Road Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 616 9116
Web Address: http://waterlookorean.com/
28. Paradise Lake
4.5
(14 reviews)
27. Musagetes Trailway at RIM Park on the Walter Bean Grand River Trail
4.7
(16 reviews)
Credit: Renata Kuss, Google Maps
Location: Park Road Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 741 2345
26. Brubacher House
4.2
(34 reviews)
Credit: Ian Furst, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 200 University Ave W Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 886 3855
Web Address: https://uwaterloo.ca/brubacher-house
25. City of Waterloo Museum
4.1
(41 reviews)
Credit: Unknown author, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 550 King Street North Conestoga Mall Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 885 8828
Web Address: http://waterloo.ca/museum
24. Peter Russell Rock Garden
4.7
(41 reviews)
Credit: Joseph Petrik, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 200 University Ave W Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 888 4567
Web Address: http://earth.uwaterloo.ca/outreach/rock-garden
23. Columbia Lake
4.4
(48 reviews)
Credit: Ryan Hodnett, License, Wikimedia commons
22. Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario
4.3
(79 reviews)
Credit: Ursula Stalder, Google Maps
Location: 1441 King Street N Street Jacobs ON
21. Kitchener City Hall
4.3
(115 reviews)
Credit: user:Radagast, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 200 King Street W Kitchener ON
Tel: 519 741 2345
Web Address: http://kitchener.ca/
20. The Mennonite Story
4.5
(125 reviews)
Credit: The Mennonite Story, Google Maps
Location: Log House at Street Jacobs Farmers Market Farmers Market Road Street Jacobs ON
Tel: 519 664 3518
Web Address: http://mennonitestory.com/
19. Clair Lake Park
4.4
(139 reviews)
Credit: ali shaikh, Google Maps
Location: Shakespeare Dr Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 886 2310
Web Address: http://waterloo.ca/
18. West-side Trails
4.5
(150 reviews)
Credit: Shawn Turner, Google Maps
Location: 594 Sundew Dr Waterloo ON
Web Address: http://waterloo.ca/en/gettingactive/westsidetrails.asp
17. Hillside Park
4.4
(174 reviews)
Credit: Trevor Heywood, Google Maps
Location: 352 Marsland Dr Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 886 2310
16. The Hydrocut
4.8
(175 reviews)
Credit: Decades of decay Ontario, Google Maps
Location: 1522 Glasgow Street Waterloo ON
Web Address: http://thehydrocut.ca/
15. St. Jacobs & Aberfoyle Model Railway
4.7
(222 reviews)
Credit: St. Jacobs & Aberfoyle Model Railway, Google Maps
Location: 1440 King Street N Building 3 Street Jacobs ON
Tel: 519 664 3737
Web Address: http://stjacobsmodelrailway.com/
14. Earth Sciences Museum
4.6
(273 reviews)
Credit: Zack Carter, Google Maps
Location: 200 University Ave W Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 888 4567
13. Eby Farmstead-Animal Farm
4.3
(334 reviews)
Location: 5504 Laurel Trail Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 886 1550
Web Address: http://waterloo.ca/en/gettingactive/ebyfarmstead.asp
12. Breithaupt Park
4.4
(707 reviews)
Credit: Jeff Gingerich, Google Maps
Location: 806 Union Street Kitchener ON
Web Address: https://kitchener.ca/en/in-your-neighbourhood/breithaupt.aspx
11. Adventure Rooms Canada | Escape Rooms Kitchener
4.7
(948 reviews)
Credit: Adventure Rooms Canada | Escape Rooms Kitchener, Google Maps
Location: 283 Duke Street W #102 Kitchener ON
Tel: 844 766 6372
Web Address: https://adventurerooms.ca/
10. Funvilla Kitchener
4.4
(960 reviews)
Credit: Funvilla Kitchener, Google Maps
Location: 335 Gage Ave Kitchener ON
Tel: 519 208 3600
Web Address: https://funvilla.ca/kitchener-waterloo
9. Kiwanis Park and Pool
4.4
(990 reviews)
Credit: Marcel Gagne, Google Maps
Location: 1000 Kiwanis Park Dr Kitchener ON
Tel: 519 741 2200- -3485
Web Address: http://kitchener.ca/kiwanis/
Our Top picks
8. Woodside National Historic Site
4.4
(135 reviews)
Credit: Woodside National Historic Site, Google Maps
Location: 528 Wellington Street N Kitchener ON
Tel: 519 571 5684
Web Address: https://pc.gc.ca/woodside
7. Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery
4.6
(315 reviews)
Credit: Laurel L. Russwurm, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 25 Caroline Street N Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 746 1882
Web Address: http://theclayandglass.ca/
6. Waterloo Central Railway
4.4
(459 reviews)
Credit: Laurel L. Russwurm, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 50 Isabella Street Street Jacobs ON
Tel: 888 899 2757
Web Address: http://waterloocentralrailway.com/
5. West Montrose Covered Bridge (Kissing Bridge)
4.5
(953 reviews)
Credit: Mustang Joe, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 1 Covered Bridge Dr West Montrose ON
Tel: 519 669 1647
Web Address: http://historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx
4. THEMUSEUM
4.5
(1,186 reviews)
Credit: Mohammad Jangda, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 10 King Street W Kitchener ON
Tel: 519 749 9387
Web Address: http://themuseum.ca/
3. Laurel Creek Conservation Area
4.4
(1,240 reviews)
Credit: Douglas Wilhelm Harder, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 625 Westmount Road N Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 884 6620
Web Address: https://grandriver.ca/en/outdoor-recreation/Laurel-Creek.aspx
2. Waterloo Park
4.6
(4,614 reviews)
Credit: Saud, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 100 Father David Bauer Dr Waterloo ON
Tel: 519 725 0511
Web Address: https://waterloo.ca/en/things-to-do/waterloo-park.aspx
1. St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market
4.6
(14,272 reviews)
Credit: Ben Babcock, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 878 Weber Street N Woolwich ON
Tel: 519 747 1830
Web Address: http://stjacobsmarket.com/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Waterloo, Canada! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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