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City in Ontario, Canada
Photo: Laurel L. Russwurm from Canada, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, Ontario, is one of three neighbouring cities, together with Kitchener, and Cambridge, forming a tightly-integrated metro area within the larger Region of Waterloo in Southwestern Ontario. Waterloo (population 121,000 in 2022) is known internationally for its two universities: Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Waterloo.
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a Victorian garden, a beautiful lake adjacent to a replica grist mill, several sports fields, picnic areas, trails, and more.
Started by a $100-million donation by local entrepreneur, Mike Lazaridis, founder and co-CEO of Research in Motion (RIM). The institute presents several free lectures that are open to the public (usually held at Waterloo Collegiate Institute on Hazel Street) and also hosts the occasional concert (admission usually around $20). The ticket office is at the Old Post Office.
The collection is small enough to be seen in an hour.
This three-storey heritage building was built in 1912, and is a landmark due to its tower. Constructed in the Romanesque style of Canadian Federal Post Offices, the building has sandstone cladding on the ground floor and red-brick cladding for the upper two floors.
Artifacts from local history.
The station was built for the Grand Truck Railway in 1910 and was closed to passengers in 1934. This one-storey, buff-brick building is in the Romanesque style with cut stone around windows, doors and the outside corners. The railway track beside the station is still active and used for overnight freight trains. The station building has been used as a retail shop.
former Waterloo Central Railway station
Waterloo's tourist information center is in a quaint railway station that was once used by the Waterloo Central Railway, a tourist operation that runs from the Ion Northfield station to St. Jacobs and Elmira. The WCR had to abandon running to this station to make way for the Ion light rail line.
Together with Kitchener, Waterloo hosts this Bavarian festival, held annually in October. It is the largest in the world outside of Munich, Germany. The following two Festhalle are located in Waterloo: Heidelberg Haus (at the Moses Springer Community Centre), and Ruedesheimer Garten (at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, 101 Father David Bauer Dr.). As well, there is a free Oktoberfest Luncheon at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex the day before Oktoberfest starts, family-friendly activities on King Street in Uptown Waterloo on the first Saturday of Oktoberfest, and the Oktoberfest parade (which occurs on the Thanksgiving Monday) passes through Waterloo.
This conservation area, centred around a reservoir, offers camping, as well as a beach and other water activities. Trails are available for hiking as well as cross country skiing during the winter.
Waterloo's largest and most modern community centre and sports complex is host to many recreational youth and adult sports leagues and contains: 4 Olympic sized ice pads used for organized team activities as well as public free skates, 1 large indoor turf field which can be divided into 3 fields for recreational soccer, 2 NBA size Gymnasiums, 700 person banquet hall, several meeting rooms and a food services facility. Most of the above facilities can be divided to serve a larger number of teams or groups. Several organizations use the facilities for trade shows and special events such as career fairs. The property is on 500 acres of land which includes the Grey Silo golf course and several trails and outdoor sports fields.
Held every year in July, Waterloo funds a free jazz concert showing various styles and talent throughout jazz.
Held annually in late August. "Canada's premier busking carnival" brings acrobats, comedians, magicians and fire breathers to Uptown Waterloo for four days.
An open-air event and gathering space at the corner of King Street N. and Willis Way in the heart of Uptown. Year round programs include festivals, markets, concerts, activities such as Yoga, Tai Chi and Ballroom dancing.
Beginner lessons start at 8:30PM & live music goes on until 11PM.
Indian food. The naan is very good there, they prepare it on the side of their clay oven. The butter chicken is amazing. The decor is bland, but the food is good. Around $10 for the curry dishes, and it comes with either naan or basmati rice.
Quick place to grab Chinese eats near University of Waterloo.
A wonderful vegetarian restaurant with great atmosphere. They make wonderful martinis and have a great selection of wines and beer as well. They also have live entertainment some nights. Right across the street from Princess Cinema.
893-0543. At Ennio's you will find authentic Italian cooking at its best. The love of fine cuisine!
All-you-can-eat sushi.
Offers updated versions of classic Italian and Canadian cuisine.
Upscale dining with live jazz every Wednesday through Saturday night.
"No live entertainment; one TV." Ethel's serves up Mexican and roadhouse fare in a cool retro-chrome-diner atmosphere. Don't be intimidated by the surly-sounding menu; the staff and patrons here tend to be a personable, if outlandish, bunch. Entrees $5-10.
Uptown restaurant rebuilt from an old hotel. The restaurant boasts great food and serves locally-brewed beer from the Lion's Brewery. Divided into sections including a cafe, restaurant, bar and 'The Jazz Room' so there's always something for everyone. All are worth checking out, especially The Jazz Room, a not-for-profit organization showcasing local and not-so-local musicians.
Boasts best wings in Waterloo since 1982.
A great venue for a plethora of bands. Past performances include The Sadies, Hawksley Workman, Cowboy Junkies, Hollerado and Snow Patrol. DJ Charless is a must-see. Affordable and great atmosphere.
former Destination Inn
Wilfrid Laurier University rents out empty residence rooms in the summer under the name "Hotel Laurier". Single rooms come in as low as $40 per night; there are reduced rates for weekly or monthly stays, and further discounts for seniors, groups, and WLU staff and students. The address is for reception; lodging may be elsewhere in the area. Accommodations are available May to August only.
Waterloo's largest shopping mall. At the northern terminus of the ION LRT (ION Conestoga Station).
Waterloo's city centre contains a large number of unique shops.
Consists primarily of upscale stores.
A commercial development over one kilometre along the western edge of Waterloo. Contains many of the larger big-box stores. Free Parking, accessible via GRT routes 4 and 29.
By intercity bus
By plane
Toronto Pearson Airport provides flights to and from a large number of destinations, and is located approximately 1 hour away from Waterloo by car in good traffic conditions.
By train
Kitchener Railway Station, near Downtown Kitchener, hosts VIA Rail and GO Transit trains.
By public transportation
ION light rail (route 301) connects Kitchener to Waterloo; in Waterloo it serves the following major destinations from north to south:
By taxi
There are three taxi companies that serve Waterloo and the surrounding area:
By ride hailing
By bicycle and by foot
Waterloo is reasonably bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly, so travelling by bicycle or on foot is reasonable for shorter trips.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Breslau · Regional · YKF
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Articles and travel topics about Waterloo (Ontario) and Canada.
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