10 Best Things To Do In Waterloo, Canada

1. Grand Valley Trails

If you are in Waterloo and would like to spend a nice day outside, spend some time with nature, watch some wildlife or simply relax, Grand Valley is a very pretty place to go, by yourself or with a whole group. They offer a wide variety of trails - simple and shorter or those longer and more demanding. You can find the Hike Rating System on their web page to find the best trail for yourself. Sometimes they also organize special events and group hikes where everybody is welcome.

Grand Valley Trails

Address: 1418, 1982 Alps Rd, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S5, Canada

Website: GVTA

2. Kissing Bridge Trailway

For those who want to discover real Ontario, its rivers, and wetlands, I highly recommend Kissing Bridge Trailway. Don’t worry, the name is just a name. The trailway goes through southern Ontario along the former railway. Thanks to the stone surface for most of the way it has a very wide variety of uses, including hiking, biking, running and also walking with strollers or wheelchairs. The trailway has its name from the Kissing Bridge, the last covered bridge in Ontario.

Kissing Bridge Trailway

Address: Covered Bridge Drive | Woolwich, Waterloo, Ontario N0B 2V0, Canada

Website: Kissing Bridge Trailway

3. Summer Campfires at Waterloo Public Square

Do you like campfires? Gathering with friends around the fire, listening to good music, singing, having beer or some cold coke? What if I told you that during the summer in Waterloo you don’t have to look for a secluded piece of forest, you can do it in the middle of the town, in Waterloo Public Square! Just get a blanket, warm hoodie, some food and drinks and together with a group of friends or family head Uptown and enjoy the fire and good music played by some local bands. You can check the schedule on their webpage.

Summer Campfires

Address: Waterloo Public Square - 75 King Street South

Website: Schedule

4. Acoustic Noon concerts

If you like live music and spending time with friends, having a picnic outside, in fresh air, then you definitely have to check out Acoustic Noon concerts in Waterloo Public Square. All concerts, like the name says, are acoustic and you can see many good local artists playing very interesting music. The concerts are in the summer, every Friday from noon to 1.30 pm. It’s a perfect opportunity to spend some time in a group of people you like, enjoying music, food and the outdoors. You can see all the artists on the webpage.

Acoustic Noon concerts

Address: Waterloo Public Square - 75 King Street South

Website: Acoustic Noon concerts

5. Art Market

For all of you who like art, enjoy spending time among like-minded people, watching interesting paintings, sculptures and listening to music - go check out the Art Market. The pop up market features crafters and artists from the Waterloo area, who sell a lot of hand-crafted goods, that are sometimes functional, sometimes decorative. The market is open every last Friday of the month, from May to September and is free to enter for everyone.

Art Market

Address: Waterloo Public Square - 75 King Street South

Website: Art Market

6. Train Station Thursdays

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

I keep saying - Friday, Friday, but that’s not the only day when Waterloo’s alive. There is always something to do on Thursdays too! Especially for those who like eating interesting food and enjoy spending time among colorful food trucks and a wide variety of smells. But that’s not all of it. There will be music, walking tours, art and much more for everybody to participate in. Check out the schedule for food trucks on the webpage. Train Station Thursdays operate from 10 am to 2 pm every Thursday, from June to August.

Train Station Thursdays

Address: 10 Father David Bauer Dr, Waterloo, ON N2L, Canada

Website: Train Station Thursdays

7. City of Waterloo Museum

If you’d like to draw some knowledge about a history of the city and the area, you should go visit City of Waterloo Museum. They have some interesting exhibits that will help you understand and celebrate the city’s past as well as they’ll show you events from the entire country and the world that had an influence on local history. 2017 was the year of Canada’s 150th birthday, that’s why there were many exhibitions in the museum to celebrate people and culture.

City of Waterloo Museum

Address: Conestoga Mall at 550 King St. N., Waterloo, Canada

Website: City of Waterloo Museum

8. Mount Hope Cemetery

All of us need a little quiet time sometimes. But also sometimes we don’t want to run away from people. That’s why cemeteries sometimes are a good getaway. You can enjoy the silence, contemplate about the past and the present. Mount Hope Cemetery is a pretty old place, dated to the mid 1800s. There are a couple of historic monuments there. For example, you can look for some symbols on the old graves, like a hand pointing upwards, or the anchor. Both symbolize hope.

Mount Hope Cemetery

Address: 83 Roger St, Waterloo, ON N2J 4A8, Canada

Website: Mount Hope Cemetery

9. Adult Recreation Centre

When there’s bad weather sometimes, there should be a place to go not only for children but also for adults, and Waterloo has a place like that - ARC. There are many interesting programs in the centre, both for adults and seniors. The centre is open Mondays to Friday, 8.30 am- 4.30 pm.

Adult Recreation Centre

Address: 185 King St S, Waterloo, ON N2J 1P7, Canada

Website: Adult Recreation Centre

10. Waterloo Park

Need a place for a picnic, frisbee game or nature watching? Waterloo Park has a very long history and is called the city’s jewel. It has 45 hectares (111 acres) of parkland with many uses, both active and passive. The park also continuously grows; management of the park works on building a new promenade throughout the trees.

Waterloo Park

Address: 50 Young St W, Waterloo, ON N2L 2Z4, Canada

Website: Waterloo Park

Nature, art and food

Waterloo is a very interesting city, that especially cultivates the culture and art, including crafts and music. But there are also other things to do there, so no one should be bored during their trip to that part of Ontario.