Check Out These Things to Do in Guelph, Ontario!
As a rural guy born and raised, Eric thinks Guelph, Ontario is a great place to visit! This quaint, rural city boasts a growing tourism scene and offers visitors loads – from festivals and parks to downtown Guelph loaded with bars, restaurants, and more.
We really like Guelph. Eric has been dozens of times – with many friends living there over the years. Recently, he brought Lisa there for the first time on an Ontario weekend adventure and we connected with one of Eric’s best buddies, Cam.
Armed with his local knowledge (and a pair of walking shoes), we explored Guelph properly!
So, from farmers’ markets to Riverside Park and the University of Guelph, here’s our list of things to check out. FYI: Guelph makes a great day trip from Toronto. There are also plenty of things to do in Guelph with children if you’re coming as a family!
Table of Contents
Things to Do in Guelph, Ontario
Okay, now that we have covered the basics things that you should know when travelling to Guelph, let’s dive into the things to do and see!
These are in no particular order – and we didn’t do ALL of these, but we did most of them. Also, be sure to look into details like prices, parking, and hours as they can always change!
Explore Downtown
Once you get to Guelph, there’s no better thing to do than to park downtown and just wander the downtown core.
The centre of Guelph isn’t huge so after a few passes of streets, you’ll come to understand the gridlike blocks and pass every cafes, restaurant, shop, etc that are around!
Market Square is right by City Hall. In the summer, there’s a giant fountain/water feature that is popular for kids to splash in. In the wintertime, it’s a great skating rink that is maintained by the city!
Besides the skating rink, downtown is where you’ll find all the best places for Guelph eats, nightlife, fun, and more.
We could name everything to check out downtown but that would take a while – so we will give you a sample of things in each category.
A great cafe is Eric the Baker (haha), but there’s also The Red Brick Cafe (see up) and a very popular “Harry Potter” Brunch Cafe called Lumos Breakfast House and Chamber of Spirits.
If you want a pub/drinks/bar, check out Baker Street Station (see below), The Albion Hotel, McCabe’s, or Doogie’s.
If food is what you want, go for Crafty Ramen, Baker Street Station (again), or the Western Hotel! If fun is what you’re after, check out The Boardroom (it’s a VERY fun board game place, they serve beer and popcorn)!
See? There are too many places downtown and we haven’t even scratched the surface. You can try out these suggestions and/or read more about Guelph’s bars and pubs here.
Address: Downtown Guelph, Ontario
Wander Royal City Park + River Paths
When you are just south of downtown and right beside the Boathouse (see below) you’ll find the place where the rivers in Guelph – the Speed River and the Eramosa River – meet.
This is a special area in Guelph as there are many parks and walking trails that line the banks.
Fun River Fact: If you follow the Speed River south out of Guelph, you’ll eventually end up in Cambridge and meet up with the Grand River!
One of the main parks in Guelph is Royal City Park. This park runs the length of the Eramosa River to the west as it leaves the downtown area.
The park has trails (parts of the Royal Recreation Trail) as well as live music, a playground area, sports fields, and more.
If you cross the Speed River using the Covered Bridge (seen above), you’ll end up heading to York Road Park.
This long park also has parts of the Royal Recreation Trail which you can follow away from downtown in the other direction from Royal City Park.
You can follow this trail along the Eramosa River all the way to Eramosa River Park (close to Royal City Brewing and the Grotto Climbing Gym mentioned down below).
Finally, if you walk the Speed River north from this area, you’ll be on what’s called the Downtown Trail (becomes the Speed River Trail) and you’ll end up at Riverside Park (mentioned below) and eventually Guelph Lake!
There are lots of river trails to follow and parks to check out so put on your shoes and get active!
Address: 139 Gordon Street, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Indulge At The Boathouse Tearoom
If you want a sweet treat, a cup of tea, a well-made sandwich or wrap, or a scoop of ice cream, then go to the Boathouse.
Located right after a bridge over where the rivers basically meet as you head towards downtown Guelph, you cannot miss the pink house on the right.
Outside, you’ll find seating in the sunshine by the river. Inside, there’s a side for ice cream and a huge side for serving up classic afternoon high tea (on a three-tier tray), a classic cream tea (tea and scone), or smaller eats like wraps, flatbreads, salads, soups, and more.
Since it was hot out, we got ice cream (which was great) – but Eric is a huge fan of chicken Caesar wraps and didn’t realize they had it on the menu! We will be back. You can check their menu here and call to reserve a spot for tea!
Address: 116 Gordon St, Guelph, ON N1H 4H6, Canada
Rent a Canoe/Kayak on the Rivers
In front of the Boathouse, you have the chance to rent a canoe or kayak and take it out on the rivers. It was the morning of a Saturday when we wandered by and there were already people putting on their life jackets and getting ready to hop in a canoe!
For the record, the company renting the boats is called Speed River Paddling. They operate in cash only and their rates for rentals can be found at the very bottom of this page!
Address (outside The Boathouse): 116 Gordon St, Guelph, ON N1H 4H6
Shop the Guelph Farmers’ Market
If you are in Guelph on a Saturday, one of the things that you should definitely check out if the Guelph Farmers’ Market.
It’s one of the oldest running farmers’ markets in Ontario and with such an agricultural and green-oriented city like Guelph, it’s easy to see why.
While the original location and building for the Market was built back in 1827, it moved a handful of times. Today, the Market has been in its spot behind City Hall/Train Station since 1968.
There are dozens of stalls set up inside and outside selling everything from fresh produce to baked goods, flowers, cheeses, you name it! You can check out the official website here.
Address: 2 Gordon St, Guelph, ON N1H 4G7, Canada
Check Out the Basilica of Our Lady
We’re not religious – but any chance to see what’s basically a mini Notre Dame Cathedral and we’re in to check it out. Luckily, Guelph is home to the Basilica of Our Lady!
Opened in 1888, this impressive church can be seen upon the hill as you drive towards downtown. Honestly, we’re used to European churches (Lisa is German, after all) but for Ontario standards this church is gorgeous.
The church is done in a Gothic Revival style – for those of you keen to know the architectural style. We didn’t go in but you can attend mass if that’s your thing. You can also do a virtual tour online if you’re curious to see the inside.
Oh, and you also get great views from up on the hill of downtown – so at the very least, you get some exercise and a photo if you go check it out! You can learn more here.
Address: 28 Norfolk St, Guelph, ON N1H 4H8
Visit the Guelph Civic Museum
Located right beside the massive Basilica on the hill overlooking downtown, the Guelph Civic Museum is another place you might want to check out.
Opened back in 1967 but moved to the renovated Loretto Convent building, this museum is dedicated to cataloguing and showcasing the history of Guelph and life in the surrounding area. As such, they have over 30,000 artefacts in the collection!
They also have rotating exhibits, art shows, and events like live music which might interest you. You can learn more about the Guelph Civic Museum here.
Address: 52 Norfolk St, Guelph, ON N1H 4H8
Explore Riverside Park
Probably one of the most popular parks in all of Guelph is Riverside Park. Where do we even begin?! Aside from lovely green spaces and trails that hug the Speed River, this park has something for kids and the whole family.
There is a concession stand serving up sweet treats and other tasty items that are terrible for you. There’s a carousel and a mini railroad for the kids as well as a disc golf course on the other side of the river.
Eric played with Cam there and it was great. You should give it a try if you are into disc golf!
There are also sports fields scattered around and other garden areas (and a floral clock) with benches along the river.
To get there, you can drive or walk on Woolwich Street until you see the park on your right (from downtown direction). Alternatively, if you are where the rivers meet at Royal City Park, you can simply follow the Speed River trail the whole way to Riverside.
If you walk this path, you will pass the Goldie Mill Ruins – the limestone shell of an 1800s sawmill! We saw it and it was fenced off for safety but still pretty cool. In any case, check out Riverside – you won’t be disappointed.
Address: 709 Woolwich St, Guelph, ON N1H 7G6
Pro Tip: If you are looking for another great park, check out Exhibition Park – it’s closer to downtown than Riverside Park. We had a walkabout with our local buddy and found it quite nice.
Visit the McCrae House
For the history buffs visiting Royal City Park, you’ll notice a small stone cottage nearby and a red gate. Go check it out – that’s the McCrae House!
The house was originally built in 1858 and was later the birthplace of John McCrae. This man was a doctor, who would become a soldier in World War I – and would become most famous for being the author of the poem “In Flanders Fields”… the one about the poppies and the war dead.
We wandered into the grounds – which are lovely – and took a moment to read his famous poem. For Lisa (not growing up in Canada), it was nice to learn about something that is a big deal at Remembrance Day for Canadians.
The house became a place of significant historical importance around 1966 and it was made into a museum to preserve a piece of Canadian history.
It’s technically a National Historic Site of Canada. These days, you can go inside and check it out. The grounds also have various events like tea, music, and art talks. You can learn more here.
Address: 108 Water St, Guelph, ON N1G 1A6
Escape Khronos Gauntlet Escape Rooms
Another top-rated thing to check out if you are looking in the category of “fun” is an escape room. Luckily, Guelph has one that opened right downtown – the Khronos Gauntlet Escape Rooms!
Now, to be clear we’ve done escape rooms but not this exact one so we can’t say how good it is BUT the reviews are absolutely excellent.
They have four rooms of various storylines and honestly, it seems like loads of fun! If you want to book a slot to try to solve some puzzles, check out the website here. (If you go, let us know how it is!)
Address: 50 Cork St E, Guelph, ON N1H 2W7, Canada
Get Lost at The Bookshelf
Described by our local friend as a “wild business”, The Bookshelf has something for everyone. No, seriously.
This shop on Quebec Street is actually a bookstore, a movie theatre, a cafe + bistro next door (Miijidaa), and a bar upstairs that has a salsa night and a pool table!
We went for a wander inside the bookstore part but really want to come back to catch a movie. They even serve beer and wine in the theatre! To learn more, check out the Bookshelf website.
Address: 41 Quebec St, Guelph, ON N1H 2T1, Canada
Wander the Art Gallery of Guelph
If you want to get in a bit of a walk and are interested in art, you could check out the Art Gallery of Guelph. Located right beside the University of Guelph campus (more on that below), this old building houses an impressive gallery.
It was originally opened in 1978 as the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre but got renamed in 2015. We didn’t go inside the day we visited – but we did wander around outside.
Around the whole perimeter of the Gallery, you’ll find what’s called the Donald Forster Sculpture Park. This grassy, wooded area is full of cool, weird, and certainly thought-provoking works – to say the least!
If you want to learn more about the Art Gallery of Guelph, you can do so on their website.
Address: 358 Gordon St, Guelph, ON N1G 1Y1, Canada
Explore the University of Guelph
If you’re up for learning a bit of history, catching a sports game, or just generally feeling like you’re in university again, then check out the University of Guelph.
Founded in 1964, it’s one of the younger universities in Ontario but it’s built up quite the reputation for veterinary medicine, life sciences, agricultural studies, and more.
The campus is quite lively with some older buildings to check out. You can actually do a historical self-guided walking tour of the campus by checking out this itinerary.
Of note, the War Memorial Hall is one of the more beautiful buildings on campus. You can also catch a sports game if it’s during the school year.
The U of Guelph Gryphons play at the nice stadium and Canadian University Football is actually pretty good.
Oh, and if you wander the campus, don’t forget to see The Cannon – a statue of an old war cannon that gets painted by rival schools, student associations, etc.
Address: 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Explore the Arboretum
Technically owned by the University of Guelph, this green space (that is connected to the main campus of the University) is over 400 acres of trees, gardens, trails, wetlands, and more.
The grounds feature many things like sites for research, pavilions, beautifully curated gardens, a Nature Centre, and a disc golf course. Eric has also played this course (with Cam) and it was an absolute blast!
We took a drive out with Cam since Lisa hadn’t seen the grounds before. It was lovely – as you can see from the photos. There were other people wandering about enjoying nature, too. It’s free to park and check out which we love!
They even have little name tags on the trees so that you can learn about the different species.
We’d recommend checking it out if you have the time. You can learn more about The Arboretum here.
Address: 390 College Ave E, Guelph, ON, Canada
Visit a Guelph Brewery
Guelph is a great place to visit if you are into beer (and Ontario craft beer) because there are a number of breweries in Guelph to check out!
The area boasts five major ones: Brothers Brewing, Fixed Gear Brewing, Royal City Brewing, Sleeman Brewery, and Wellington Brewery.
Wellington is actually Canada’s oldest independently owned microbrewery (which is a pretty big deal).
In this post, we’ll talk about two: Royal City and Brothers Brewing. We actually drove to Royal City. It’s a little bit outside the city centre but it’s worth the drive.
Inside, there’s plenty of space for tasting and they even have retail space along the sidewall.
The beer fridges are stocked with cans and larger sizes to take home, so we grabbed a few to enjoy later: an Exhibition IPA and a Hibiscus Saison!
Address for Royal City Brewing Co.:199 Victoria Rd S, Guelph, ON N1E 3J3, Canada
Another great Guelph brewery is Brothers Brewing (shown above) located right downtown. Cam really likes it because they do all beer in-house.
They have a great sour Berliner Weisse that they make fun variants of – agave sour, blueberry sour, peach, lemon, etc.
You can also take bottles to go AND you can even buy people a beer. They write it on the wall and you can claim it later!
In the summer of 2019, the five breweries started an initiative called “Guelph.Beer” and created the “Beer Bus” – a Guelph city bus partnership that takes you to each of the five breweries responsibly!
It ran once each month of the summer but we weren’t in town to do it – and this made Eric really sad. In any case, hopefully, it runs again next year.
Address Brother Brewing Co.: 15 Wyndham St N Unit A, Guelph, ON N1H 4E5, Canada
Cheer on the Guelph Storm
If you’re visiting Guelph between the months of mid-September and April, you’ll be in town for hockey season!
This means that – if you want to take part in a very Canadian pastime – you can go to an OHL hockey game in Guelph!
OHL stands for Ontario Hockey League – a junior league that is pretty good hockey (players basically go from there onto NHL teams, kind of).
In any case, Guelph is home to the Guelph Storm and they were actually OHL Champions in 2019! (That’s a pretty big deal).
The Storm play at the Sleeman Centre Arena which is located close to downtown Guelph so you can go for dinner and then to a Friday night game!
You can check out tickets and learn more about the Sleeman Centre as a venue for other shows on their website.
Address: 50 Woolwich St, Guelph, ON N1H 3T9, Canada
Attend a Great Guelph Festival/Event
Count on Guelph – a tight-knit community – to have loads and loads of events, festivals, and other things happening throughout the year to bring people together and engage the community.
Case and Point: when we visited we accidentally hit the same Saturday as the “Art on the Street” festival!
There were dozens of tents set up downtown each with artists showing and selling their work. It was great to wander through to see the different styles!
So, if you’re in Guelph, check the events calendar because there’s a good chance you’ll hit a local event.
Below are just a handful of the yearly events on the calendar – there are dozens and dozens more covering food to culture, music, and more!
- EatStreet: A Moveable Brunch – Usually First Week Of Each Month
- Art on the Street – June
- Guelph RibFest – August
- Guelph Jazz Fest – September
- … and many more!
Climb at The Grotto Climbing Gym
Located outside the centre, right beside Royal City Brewing, The Grotto Climbing Gym is a huge part of the Guelph community.
Because the city is so active, it makes sense that a climbing gym with top-notch facilities is a popular meeting spot.
The Grotto prides itself on being a place that climbers of any age and skill can participate. They offer all different kinds of indoor climbing from bouldering to lead climbing.
If you want to have a go, The Grotto would be a great place for it! You can learn more about them on their website here.
Address: 199 Victoria Rd S, Guelph, ON N1E 6T9
Things to Do in Guelph, Ontario – Out of Town
So far, we have covered most of the things to do in Guelph downtown. That said, there are a few things/places that you might want to check out just outside of town.
It’s generally just an excuse to name a bunch more conservation areas or parks great for hiking!
Enjoy Guelph Lake + Beach
Officially Guelph Lake Conservation Area, there’s a large lake north of Guelph that you can check out! The lake is actually man-made – they built a damn in 1974 and the water pooled here!
These days, the lake (and surrounding park space and conservation area) is a gathering place for swimming, hiking, fishing, and even camping.
There are two beaches in the area and picnic grounds so it’s a great spot for groups and families with kids.
We drove by on our way out of town and the water looked lovely given that it was a hot day! You can learn more about visiting the Guelph Lake, Beach, and Conservation Area on the Grand River website.
Address: 7743 Conservation Dr, Guelph, Ontario
Hike Starkey Hill Conservation Area
If you aren’t sick of hiking yet, we’ve got another conservation area for you to check out. Located just outside of Guelph, Starkey Hill is 37 hectares of hiking trails.
The best part is the 4-kilometre loop that is actually a bit of a workout even for moderately fit hikers.
In any case, you go for the views. The location of the area outside the city means you get views of Guelph and the surrounding area. Parking is onsite off of Arkell Road, too.
Depending on the season, you might have to bring bug spray – or you can just hike faster! To learn more and plan a visit, check the Grand River website.
Address: 735 Arkell Rd, Puslinch, ON, Canada
Visit the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada
This one is a little out there but it caught Eric’s attention and now he’s obsessed with the idea of going.
There’s a farm outside Guelph called the Donkey Sanctuary of Canada – and they house old, abused, or abandoned donkeys and mules!
The Sanctuary has specific Open Days when you can visit, meet the animals, and learn all about them through “Donkey Talks”.
Since we love animals, we are definitely planning a visit to the Sanctuary on an Open Day – and you bet we will write about it! You can learn more about the Donkey Sanctuary here.
Address: 6981 Conc. 4, Puslinch, ON N0B 2J0
Things to Consider Before Travelling to Guelph
Before you head off to explore Guelph, there are a few things you should consider – from transportation to where you might want to stay a night or two.
How to Get to Guelph
For a small city in Southwestern Ontario, you’ve got quite a few ways to get to Guelph: driving, bus, or train. We have a whole post on how to get from Toronto to Guelph if you’re interested in the details.
Guelph By Car
If you are driving (usually from Toronto), you just take Highway 401 west towards London/Windsor. Then you can take Highway 46 which turns into Gordon Street and takes you RIGHT through downtown.
The other option is to exit north on Highway 6 to head into town. You’ll then have to get off at Wellington Street West to head downtown.
Both are pretty simple – just follow the signs. If you are visiting, a rental car comes in handy about now.
Guelph By Bus
If you want to take the bus, the only option is the GO Bus. You can check the GO schedule.
Guelph By Train
If you want to take the train, again, you have two options: the Go Train (regional Ontario Train) and the ViaRail (Trans-Canada Train).
You can find the GO Train schedule above with the GO Bus and the ViaRail schedule ViaRail schedule. Tip: You can also buy the GO Train ticket through the ViaRail site!
We are writing a whole post on all these options above (car, buses, trains) so stay tuned for that post on travelling to Guelph (from the Toronto area).
Getting Around Guelph
Once you arrive in Guelph, the downtown core is very flat and walkable. However, the area around the University of Guelph and heading towards downtown (and the rivers) is pretty hilly. Most pathways following rivers are also quite flat.
Guelph is a green city so the biking infrastructure is actually much better than in other Ontario towns/cities. You might want to check out Speed River Cycle if you need to rent a bike.
If you plan on using the bus – to access parks or conservation areas further out – it’s $8.00 CAD for a day pass per person. You can learn all about Guelph transit, fares, and find maps on the Guelph website here.
Where To Stay In Guelph
If you plan on staying overnight, you’ve got a few options. There aren’t a TON of accommodations in Guelph but enough choices to find a hotel, inn, or guesthouse that works for you. You can get started looking for accommodations and hotels in Guelph here.
Specifically, the Comfort Inn Guelph is outside of town but a very popular choice. The Delta Hotel and Conference Centre is walkable to the University of Guelph campus and a walk to downtown.
For a quiet stay, the Norfolk Guest House Inn is a lovely guesthouse by the river and a short walk downtown.
Finally, if you want to stay right in downtown Guelph, you might check the Western Hotel and Suites. It has a popular bar/pub/restaurant on the ground floor (which Eric has been to – really good).
And there you have it – just a few things to do in Guelph, Ontario! As we said before, this isn’t everything – but it’s a pretty good list.
We’ll be writing more about visiting Guelph in the future so get in touch if there’s something we should check out!
As always, Keep Exploring, eh?
– E&L
Related Articles
If you’re planning on exploring Guelph (or wondering what else to see in this area of Ontario) for a day or two, you might find these posts helpful for trip planning!
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