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Sprawling on the west bank of the Grand River, Kitchener is a laid-back city in the lowlands of Ontario’s southwest. It was settled by German Mennonites in the early 19th century around the village of Doon, with many of the homes built by their children still standing today. Aside from its rich European heritage, Kitchener is a lively urban hub, with great museums and a colorful farmers’ market to explore.
In this guide, we’ll introduce the top things to see and do when visiting Kitchener, including popular attractions and hidden gems. The city’s diverse accommodation options can be found at holiday rental platforms such as Rentola, providing you with a comfortable and convenient base for exploring the city. Not only can you find apartments in the Downtown area and suburban abodes but also spacious homes near Kitchener’s recreational parks.
TheMuseum
With a focus on art and science, TheMuseum is an interactive and hands-on facility designed for kids both big and small. If you’ve ever wanted to graffiti a wall or dance atop a grand piano (without getting in trouble), then you’ve come to the right place. You can create your own sounds or direct an animation film before getting up close to tropical fish in the huge tank. Not to miss is the Sol LeWitt Art Installation, which was inspired by cracking ice. In addition to its permanent exhibitions, TheMuseum regularly hosts temporary displays and special events to coincide with the holidays.
Doon Heritage Village
On the southern outskirts of Kitchener is the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, which serves as the entrance to the open-air exhibits of the Doon Heritage Village. Set across 24 hectares, it recreates life in the area in 1914, with beautifully restored buildings that have been relocated from across the Waterloo Region. In addition to a historic post office, a tailor’s, and a blacksmith shop, there’s a railway station from the Grand Trunk. Coincide your visit with a demonstration of historic crafts or vintage games that were popular during the World War I period.
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
For more than 50 years, the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery has been showcasing the creativity of the region through changing exhibitions and an extensive permanent collection. Numbering more than 4,300 works, this includes paintings, sculptures, and graphic designs by both Canadian and international artists that reflect contemporary issues or inspire us to better understand ourselves. In addition to browsing the current exhibitions, you can attend one of the art-oriented programs designed for adults and children alike.
Chicopee Ski & Summer Resort
Whether you’re visiting Kitchener in the summer or the wintertime, you’ll find opportunities to get active at Chicopee. It first opened to punters in 1934 and has been going strong ever since, with everything from alpine skiing to rock climbing and disc golf on offer. During the snow season, you can learn to ski and snowboard or have fun in the tubing park, with the area receiving around 133 centimeters of snow each year. Once it melts, the resort becomes a hub for mountain biking and hiking, as well as boasting a ropes course and a BMX track.
Victoria Park
On the edge of Downtown Kitchener is Victoria Park, which opened to the public a year before Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee (1897). As the city’s oldest park, it hosts many events and festivities, as well as providing a setting for the weekly Saturday Parkrun. In Victoria Park, you’ll find leafy walking trails, a historic bandstand, and a lakefront boathouse, as well as a 1920s pavilion and a clock tower that once sat atop the Kitchener City Hall. You can let the kids run loose in the children’s playground, cool off at the splash bed or simply relax on a bench and watch the world go by.
Schneider Haus National Historic Site
On the edge of Victoria Park is this 1816-built residence that is now open to the public as a living history museum. Designated as a National Historic Site, Schneider Haus is the city’s oldest dwelling (from when it was known as “Berlin”) and is named after its former owners, Joseph and Barbara Schneider. Costumed guides help to bring the site’s history to life, with guided tours available to explore the period-furnished rooms of its two-story frame house. Also forming part of the property are a bakehouse, a summer kitchen, and an orchard, as well as a garden landscaped as it would have appeared in the 19th century.
Kitchener Market
One of Ontario’s best farmers’ markets takes place in Kitchener each Saturday, with everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to locally reared meats and baked goods for sale. It hosts around 80 different vendors, as well as live music performances and family-friendly events. Sample the artisan cheeses and local honey, pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers, or grab a ready-to-go bite to eat. The Kitchener Market takes place between 7 am and 2 pm on Saturdays throughout the year, with a mid-week market also held on Wednesdays during July and August.
Huron Natural Area
Encompassing more than 100 hectares, this picturesque green space lies to the south of Kitchener and is popular with hikers and photography enthusiasts. It’s not only a great place to stretch your legs but also learn about Kitchener’s natural and cultural heritage, with Native Americans inhabiting the area for hundreds of years. Boardwalks wind between its scenic streams, forests, and flower-filled meadows on the banks of Strasburg Creek.
How To Get To Kitchener
Region of Waterloo International Airport is around 15 minutes drive from the center of Kitchener and has flights to destinations across Canada. Regular trains connect to the Kitchener railway station from Toronto, which is around 1.5 hours by road. Inter-city buses are also available from Hamilton, Guelph, and London. A network of public buses connects most of the city’s attractions, although the Downtown area can easily be explored on foot.
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