Waterloo travel guide

Waterloo Tourism | Waterloo Guide

You're Going to Love Waterloo

With a population of 97 475, Waterloo is a must-see destination in Ontario, Canada. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Waterloo has to offer.

Where to Eat in Waterloo

If you’re looking for affordable options, The Bauer Kitchen (187 King St.) and Loloan Lobby Bar (14 Princess St W) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Wildcraft (425 King Street North) and Sole Restaurant (83 Erb Street West Building Two) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Waterloo.

When to visit Waterloo

Waterloo in February
Estimated hotel price
$123
1 night at 3-star hotel
Waterloo in February
Estimated hotel price
$123
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Waterloo

Plane

When flying to Waterloo, you’ll arrive at Toronto Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF), which is located 11 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Waterloo from the United States departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 59m.

Train

VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Waterloo, followed by UP Express. The train journey from Waterloo to Burlington takes 0h 39m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about $33 for a 2h 30m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Waterloo is to pick up a car rental from Toronto, which is about 94 km from Waterloo. You’ll find branches of Economy Rent a Car and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Toronto.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Waterloo, including Bus, Rider Express and OurBus. From London, the bus ride to Waterloo takes 209 km and will cost you around $33. From Kingston, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 233 km. Waterloo’s bus station is located 2.7 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Waterloo, you’ll arrive at Toronto Kitchener-Waterloo (YKF), which is located 11 km from the city center. The shortest flight to Waterloo from the United States departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 59m.

Train

VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Waterloo, followed by UP Express. The train journey from Waterloo to Burlington takes 0h 39m and costs around $15 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from London, expect to pay about $33 for a 2h 30m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Waterloo is to pick up a car rental from Toronto, which is about 94 km from Waterloo. You’ll find branches of Economy Rent a Car and Routes Car & Truck Rentals, among others, in Toronto.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Waterloo, including Bus, Rider Express and OurBus. From London, the bus ride to Waterloo takes 209 km and will cost you around $33. From Kingston, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 233 km. Waterloo’s bus station is located 2.7 km from the city center.

Airports near Waterloo

Airlines serving Waterloo

Lufthansa
Good (4,620 reviews)
KLM
Good (847 reviews)
SWISS
Good (928 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,460 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,601 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,292 reviews)
Air France
Good (973 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,549 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (476 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,936 reviews)
Emirates
Good (2,125 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,482 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,741 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (878 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (833 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,161 reviews)
LOT
Good (682 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (915 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Waterloo

Average rates range from around $126 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $105 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Waterloo

Most booked hotels in Waterloo

Homewood Suites By Hilton Waterloo/St. Jacobs
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 413 reviews)
$119+
The Walper Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 390 reviews)
$157+
Courtyard by Marriott Waterloo St. Jacobs
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 293 reviews)
$113+
Delta Hotels by Marriott Waterloo
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 352 reviews)
$181+
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Waterloo - St. Jacobs Area
2 stars
Good (7.9, 767 reviews)
$116+
Crowne Plaza Kitchener-Waterloo
3 stars
Good (7.6, 1184 reviews)
$130+

Renting a car in Waterloo

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $31 per day, on average, or $93 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Waterloo is the Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch at 379 Weber St. N., which is 2 km from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 6% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $5.41 per gallon in Waterloo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $64.96 and $86.61. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Full-size (Ford Expedition or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Rio or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Waterloo costs $31 per day, on average, or $93 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Budget, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Waterloo is the Enterprise Rent-A-Car branch at 379 Weber St. N., which is 2 km from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 6% cheaper than airport locations in Waterloo.

Expect to pay $5.41 per gallon in Waterloo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $64.96 and $86.61. The most frequently booked car type in Waterloo is Full-size (Ford Expedition or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Rio or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.