Get to know Canada’s diverse eastern province of Ontario in autumn where welcoming Canadians, amazing wilderness, cultural cities, stunning sightseeing and outdoor adventures offer all the experiences you expect, plus many unexpected ones.
Embrace radical openness in Canada with open spaces, open minds and open hearts on an autumn adventure through Ontario’s thrilling multicultural cities, rural heartland and epic natural wonders.
Radical Openness reflects the storytelling heart of Canada, where travellers can connect directly with welcoming locals, diverse communities and the pristine natural environment for an enriching and unforgettable travel experience that is uniquely Canadian in context.
Discover more about Ontario in autumn and go beyond Niagara Falls in winter with Niagara Parks horticulturalist Charles Hunter.
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Air Canada flies direct from Australia to Vancouver and then onwards to Toronto and the Canadian capital, Ottawa, in Ontario and other Canadian cities via its domestic network. You can also fly nonstop to Vancouver with Qantas from Australia.
It’s also easy to get around Canada by road and rail, so you can explore beyond the urban gateways. Car hire is easily accessible from Toronto and Ottawa.
If you’d prefer someone else to take the wheel so you can drink in the Ontario autumn views, take the slow travel route on the four-day VIA Rail The Canadian sleeper train between Vancouver and Toronto.
Why you’ll fall for Ontario in autumn
Autumn in Ontario is when the cities, towns, parks and attractions come out to play, naturally adorned in fall foliage with plenty of daylight and crisp weather, making it pleasant to get around and be outdoors.
Visitors to Ontario during the fall months will find an abundance of things to do from cultural experiences to natural attractions, minus the peak summer season crowds.
Don’t forget your annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass for admission to more than 80 sites for 12 months and check individual park access info before you go.
Toronto
Ontario’s largest city is also its most multicultural with 240-odd official and unofficial neighbourhoods that are home to around 250 different ethnicities. Toronto is also steeped in history with a revitalised Old Town made up of six neighbourhoods with new restaurants and shops in centuries-old buildings.
The nearby Distillery District also features historical buildings now housing performance venues, boutique shops and cafes, while the Entertainment District has the CN Tower, Toronto’s biggest (and tallest) attraction. For sports fans, a trip to Scotiabank Arena downtown is a must for Toronto Raptors and Maple Leafs games.
As the first Canadian city to have a Michelin Guide, Toronto is deserving of its foodie status with 18 starred eateries to try. Visit the historic St Lawrence Market in Old Town and sample Indigenous culture and culinary traditions at Tea-N-Bannock for starters.
Ottawa
There’s more to Ottawa than just being Canada’s refined capital city – it’s a beacon for world-class cultural, art and history institutions. It houses seven national museums, including the National Gallery of Canada and Canadian Museum of Nature.
It also knows how to make the most of its manmade and natural attributes, whether that’s ice-skating outdoors on UNESCO World Heritage Site Rideau Canal in winter or alfresco yoga at Parliament Hill in summer. Visit the historic Byward Market Neighbourhood, where more than 175 stands fill this food, shopping and entertainment hub.
Ottawa also has more than 800km of recreational paths for DIY exploration or discover how the nation’s historical, social and cultural issues are expressed through the city’s architecture, landscape, monuments and art on a downtown Indigenous walking tour.
Niagara
Niagara Falls, a thundering curtain cascade, can be explored in myriad ways. Enjoy the view of the 13-storey-high Horseshoe Falls from the Journey Behind the Falls observation deck, go on a helicopter experience or take a Niagara City Cruises tour to get close to the spray. The interactive Niagara Parks Power Station is an excellent example of regenerative tourism, with unique views as a bonus. Canada’s largest observation wheel, the Niagara SkyWheel, also offers a bird’s-eye view.
The Niagara region is equally beguiling away from its main attraction with hiking paths among prehistoric rock formations at the lush Niagara Glen, overlooking the Niagara River Whirlpool, for Ontario in autumn immersion. For a deeper connection to the land, download the self-guided Rekindling All Our Relations Indigenous audio tour of the Niagara Glen.
1000 Islands
In Eastern Ontario, sparkling waters and gorgeous forests await you in the picturesque 1000 Islands region. Dotted along the St. Lawrence River, this famous archipelago is actually home to more than 1,800 islands. It’s best explored on a cruise, with a helicopter tour for another perspective.
Known as Maitoana, meaning “garden of the Great Spirit”, to Indigenous peoples, 1000 Islands harbours lush isles, tiny beaches, fifth- and sixth-generation cottages and even a palatial mansion, Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay, perfect to show off the best of Ontario in autumn.
Canadian Canoe Museum
With 250,000 lakes and countless rivers, the canoe has been incredibly important in Ontario’s history, so it’s no surprise that there’s a museum dedicated to canoes and kayaks. It’s housed in a brand-new building in Peterborough (midway between Toronto and Ottawa). Extensive collaboration with the local Indigenous community is evident throughout the exhibits, and visitors can canoe on site.
Prince Edward County
Three hours’ away from both Ottawa and Toronto by car, Prince Edward County offers a rural respite and beach retreat on Lake Ontario. This pretty-as-a-picture location is also a prime food and wine region with 36-plus local wineries, artisan cheese stops and friendly providores and farms galore.
It’s the place to kick back along country roads and stop in at vineyards and beaches at your leisure, staying in the lakeside idyll of Wellington for art galleries and boutique souvenir shopping.
Fast facts about Ontario in autumn:
- How to get there: Air Canada flies direct from Australia to Vancouver with domestic flights available to Toronto, Ontario’s largest city, and Canada’s capital city, Ottawa. You can also fly nonstop to Vancouver with Qantas or with one stop in Auckland through Air New Zealand or via Nadi with Fiji Airways.
- When to go: September, October and November for Ontario in autumn.
- Did you know? Ontario comes from the Iroquois word, kanadario, which means “sparkling water” – apt for a province with more than 250,000 shimmering lakes.
- Another First Nations fact: Indigenous Peoples have called Ontario home for generations and the province has Canada’s largest Indigenous population, including 133 First Nations communities.
- A falls fact: Niagara Falls is North America’s most famous attraction and a top tourist drawcard for the province. We may be biased, but the best view is from the Canadian side.
Wintry festivities in Ontario
After maxing out on Ontario in autumn, visit from November to February to experience a winter wonderland with festivals that celebrate all the magic of the festive and snow season. From mid-November through to January, Canada’s largest – and free – light spectacular, the Winter Festival of Lights, illuminates the Niagara Falls area with more than three million glittering lights.
For foodies, visit in late January to early February for the annual Winterlicious festival, spotlighting Toronto’s world-renowned culinary scene with tempting three-course menus from 220 top restaurants.
And across three weeks in February, Winterlude takes over Ottawa for a city-wide celebration that includes ice-sculpting contests, ice-skating on Rideau Canal, outdoor hockey, tube sliding and much more.
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