Top Things to do in Hamilton
The 10 Best Things to do in Hamilton, Canada
The next time you're driving to Toronto or Niagara Falls, stop in Hamilton, where tourist traffic isn't quite so rampant. The Niagara Escarpment provides spectacular scenery, with beautiful trails and waterfalls. Visit nearby farms, orchards and vineyards, or plan your trip to coincide with Hamilton's lively fall fairs.
Restaurants in Hamilton
1. Dundurn Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 679 reviews
Experience a guided tour of this 40-room Italianate-style villa built in the 1830's on Burlington Heights; the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British in 1813.
Reviewed By Kaz5904
Great guided tour of this "castle" - knowledgeable guide and the house was beautifully set up as a museum. We came out with a real understanding of life at the time. Thoroughly recommend!
2. HMCS Haida National Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 434 reviews
The last Tribal Destroyer in the world, HMCS HAIDA is Canada’s most famous warship. She inspires countless adults and children and draw visitors from Ontario, across North America and from around the globe. This WWII Tribal Class destroyer is now a floating memorial and naval museum.
Reviewed By amclay9 - Toronto, Canada
This is a great place to spend an hour or two, the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable and some were even sailors on the ship in the past (shoutout to Andy for the navigation lesson). The ship is huge and every time you turn around it seems like there is something new to explore.
3. Waterfalls of Hamilton
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 396 reviews
Reviewed By Experience_Seeker87 - Palm Bay, United States
After Niagara Falls we wanted to continue our adventures! We came across these waterfalls after a couple minutes of research. You must have a car to get to these places. Also, keep in mind the grass/dirt; it will gets muddy at times. There are some hiking trails if you’re interested. If you stay in Downtown Toronto (on vacation) I highly suggest checking this place out.
4. Gage Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 189 reviews
Reviewed By J1e2n3n4y - Burlington, Canada
Gage Park is a really lovely place - it has a great splash pad for kids, flowerbeds, architectural features, paths, and large grassy areas. I'd totally recommend a stop by! There's a beautiful tropical greenhouse as well with plants from around the world.
5. Bayfront Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 281 reviews
Reviewed By marleenv860 - Hamilton, Canada
Free parking, a great public park area with beautiful views and paved walking paths that circle around. You can walk, bike, roller blade etc. In the summer you can use the boat ramp or take kayaks or paddle board in the water in the mostly calm area in the bay of Lake Ontario. Watch the ducks, geese and birds, also lots of plants along the way, there are benches to rest and picnic tables available
6. Devil's Punchbowl Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 258 reviews
The Devil’s Punchbowl is one of the Niagara Escarpment’s most amazing sights, created at the end of the last ice age by huge melt-water rivers that plunged over the Stoney Creek Escarpment, thus carving the Punchbowl and gorge. From the bottom of the falls, one can see the many different coloured rock layers of the Escarpment. The Punchbowl is the only area where one can view such a large vertical display of Ordovician and Silurian stratified rock. Some of the layers include Queenston Formation red shale, Cabot Head grey shale, limestone and shale dolomite. There is a spectacular view of Stoney Creek and Hamilton Harbour from the lookout, not to mention the view down into the seemingly bottomless gorge.
Reviewed By RestlessSoulFoodie
Devil’s Punchbowl Trail is a scenic albeit difficult, short, uphill trek. Good footwear and an aversion to heights is a must! Across the road, the Dofasco Trail, which extends for kilometres, is a more flat footed, easygoing, less challenging trail where one can enjoy the outdoor beauty of farmland. The Bruce Trail which borders the below the Punchbowl is also a option. While in the area be sure to take in a panoramic view of Stoney Creek at the Look Out. Overall a great outing outside the city!
7. Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 362 reviews
From the escarpment brow, noted for its panoramas, to the forested depths of the gorge below, the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area exhibits the physical features which have made the Niagara Escarpment one of Ontario's most spectacular geological formations. This significant natural area contains two beautiful waterfalls: Webster and Tew Falls. Webster is a magnificent tiered waterfall and Tew, which towers at 41 metres, is only a few metres shorter than Niagara Falls. Both offer spectacular vistas of the gorge.
Reviewed By silverbrook - London, Canada
Spencer Gorge Conservation Area is a very busy part of the Hamilton Conservation Authority's parks that gives you access to two different and beautiful waterfalls (Tew's Falls and Webster's Falls) as well as some spectacular views of the gorge and surrounding area from Dundas Peak. Because this area has become so popular and to help preserve the park, HCA has mandated that on weekends and holidays visitors must utilize shuttle buses that will transport guests from parking areas at nearby Christie Lake Conservation Area to Spencer Gorge Conservation Area. There is a $10 fee for parking as well as a $5 per person fee to enter. Once you are parked at Christie Lake Conservation Area, you need to get a wristband from a little hut near the shuttle bus stops so you can hop on. You can also pick up a map of the Spencer Gorge/Webster's Falls Conservation Area. There are two stops on the shuttle - one that gives you access to Tew's Falls and Dundas Peak and a second stop that gives you access to Webster's Falls. Considering the sheer volumes of people that were visiting the area when our group came up for a hike, I must say that this shuttle transportation ran fairly smoothly and justified the meager $5 cost to ride. I cannot image where all of the people would have parked or how much of a traffic jam would have been caused if people had tried to park in the falls parking areas or on surrounding streets - it would be chaotic and dangerous. There are also hefty fines for those who choose to take their chances and park there anyways and skip the shuttles. The scenery in Spencer Gorge Conservation Area was spectacular mid-fall when we made it up to hike in the area. The amount of people also visiting was bitter-sweet - it was nice to see so many people outside enjoying nature, but it was also kind of sad because many of the paths felt more like sidewalks in Toronto, rather than a stroll through nature. I found almost everyone was polite and took turns on the observation decks as well as at the other vantage points so that it was usually just a short wait before you could step up and enjoy an unimpeded view of the falls or the gorge. I found the pathways to be well marked, fairly well kept and wide enough to allow for hikers in both directions. There were areas that were fenced off for safety along the paths and near the falls, sometimes obstructing clear views of the falls in their entirety, such as with Webster's Falls. I was surprised to see the lack of barriers at Dundas Peak. There was a little stone structure a couple of feet high at the top, but people could, and did, easily step around to stand or sit precariously on the edge of the cliff. The views from this vantage point were absolutely stunning, but again you had to wait for a few minutes to try to get a shot without several other heads also enjoying the same views. If you were to visit during the off-season or through the week, you might have better luck with the area not being quite as busy.
8. Fifty Point Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By ArnoldPics - Hamilton, Canada
Enjoy a family day hike - a lot of space great view. Clear paths along the water way but has an entry fee.
9. Christie Lake Conservation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By cynthiaB983 - Hamilton, Canada
My favourite birthday was here. A canoe ride on the little lake and a walk in the woods where a bevy of white butterflies fluttered around us. We picnicked in one of the pavilions. The rest room was clean. It was perfect.
10. Tews Falls
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 232 reviews
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the overwhelming popularity of Dundas Peak & Tew Falls and Webster Falls, HCA has instituted online reservable parking in 2-hour time slots. From Sept. 19 – Nov. 15, 2020, all visitors, including HCA passholders, will be required to make a reservation prior to their visit. This change to a mandatory reservation will manage visitor numbers and will assist with physical distancing and provide a safe and enjoyable visit. It will also allow visitors to travel with the peace of mind, knowing that their parking space is held for them. No access will be permitted into the area until September 19. Reservations may be be made up to a week prior to your visit. Reservations are made for 2-hour blocks, starting at 9 AM, 12 PM and 3 PM. Arrival times will be staggered in 15 minute intervals. This system will be in place seven days a week, both weekdays and weekends, until November 15, 2020.
Reviewed By silverbrook - London, Canada
Tew's Falls is a ribbon waterfall in the Hamilton area that is 41 metres in height, making it the tallest waterfall in Hamilton and shorter than Niagara Falls by 11 metres. It is located in the Spencer Gorge Conservation Area, which is part of the Hamilton Conservation Authority. On weekends from Easter to Halloween, to see these falls, you must take the waterfalls shuttle from a parking area at Christie Lake. The cost for this is $10 for parking and $5 per person. The shuttles run every 15-30 min or so and drop you off a short walk from one of the observation platforms. There are two main observation platforms that allow you to see the entire waterfall and take some great photos. Because of the beauty of the area, it can be quite busy and we saw a bridal party having a photo shoot on one of the platforms during our visit. The path from the shuttle stop to the first observation platform is an easy hike and approximately 150 meters away. The next platform is not too much farther up the trail and also has some great views of the falls. You can follow the trail on a moderate half hour hike all the way to Dundas Peak for some amazing view of Hamilton and Dundas and surrounding area. In the off season and through the week, you can find parking a little closer to the falls themselves and not have to take the shuttle from Christie Lake. Autumn is a beautiful time to visit for those who enjoy the fall colours, but these falls would be lovely any time of year.
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