Burlington

Royal Botanical Gardens in early August

Burlington is a city of 190,000 people (2021) in Ontario, Canada which lies across Burlington Bay from Hamilton. It's on the north shore of Lake Ontario, a 45-minute drive from Toronto and Niagara.

The city's waterfront features dining, water play, skating and model boating. Downtown, next to the lake, are many homes owned by middle to upper-class families, and many expensive homes of millionaires living in Burlington. Enjoy unique shopping, exquisite dining, the world-renowned Royal Botanical Gardens, museums, art galleries, golf courses, scenic hiking and biking trails and lively festivals such as Sound of Music and Canada's Largest Ribfest.

Understand

History

Before pioneer settlement in the 19th century, the area was covered by the primeval forest that stretched between the provincial capital of (York now Toronto) and the town of Hamilton, and was home to various First Nations peoples. In 1792, John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor of Upper Canada, named the western end of Lake Ontario "Burlington Bay" after the town of Bridlington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. By the time land beside the bay was deeded to Captain Joseph Brant at the turn of the 19th century, the name "Burlington" was already in common use. With the completion of the local survey after the War of 1812, the land was opened for settlement. Early farmers prospered in the Burlington area because of the fertile soil and moderate temperatures. Produce from the farms was shipped out via the bustling docks of the lakeside villages of Port Nelson and Wellington Square, and to Brown's Wharf in the nearby village of Port Flamborough (which was to become Aldershot). Lumber taken from the surrounding forests also competed for space on the busy docks. However, in the latter half of the 19th century, increased wheat production from Western Canada convinced local farmers to switch to fruit and vegetable production.

In 1874, Wellington Square and Port Nelson were incorporated into the Village of Burlington. However, the arrival of large steamships on the Great Lakes made the small docks of the local ports obsolete, and the increased use of railway to ship goods marked the end of the commercial wharves.

As more settlers arrived and cleared the land, cash crops replaced subsistence farming. Gradually, mixed farming and market gardens became the dominant form of agriculture, and in the early 20th century the area was declared the Garden of Canada. The first peaches grown in Canada were cultivated in the Grindstone Creek watershed in the city's south-west part. Today over forty percent of the Grindstone Creek watershed is still devoted to farms, orchards and nurseries.

Following the Second World War, cheap electricity from nearby Niagara Falls and better transportation access due to the new (1939) Queen Elizabeth Way encouraged light industry and families to move to Burlington. The population skyrocketed as new homes were built.

Climate

The climate is moderated by its proximity to Lake Ontario. Monthly mean temperatures range from 22.3 °C (72.1 °F) in July to −4.2 °C (24.4 °F) in January. The average annual precipitation is 878 millimetres (34.6 in) of rain and 109 centimetres (43 in) of snow.

Although it shares the temperate climate found in Southern Ontario, its proximity to Lake Ontario moderates winter temperatures and it also benefits from a sheltering effect of the Niagara Escarpment, allowing the most northerly tracts of Carolinian forest to thrive on the Escarpment that runs through western sections of city.

Visitor Information

• Tourism Burlington
• Destination Ontario: Burlington
• City of Burlington
• 1 Burlington Visitor Information Centre, 414 Locust St, ☏ +1 905-634-5594, toll-free: +1-877-499-9989. Tu-Sa 9AM-4PM. (updated Feb 2023)

Get in

By plane

• The Hamilton International Airport is the local airport which is just 30 minutes from Burlington. it is serviced by WestJet.
• Mississauga's Toronto Pearson International Airport is located a short driving distance from Burlington, around 45 or more minutes.
• Niagara Falls International Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport are each located about an hour's drive away, across the international border in, respectively, Niagara Falls and Cheektowaga (a Buffalo suburb). If you're coming from the U.S., flying into one of these airports usually presents considerable savings over arriving in Toronto (or even Hamilton).

By car

• Burlington is easily accessible by highways 403, 407, and QEW.

By train

See also: Rail travel in Canada

• Amtrak, ☏ +1-215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Jul 2022) Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.
• GO Transit, ☏ +1 416-869-3200, toll-free: +1-888-438-6646. GO Transit operates regular train service to and from Toronto, and supports the Presto card for fare payment.  
• VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates many intercity trains across Canada. (updated Apr 2022) Operates the following route to Burlington, stopping at Aldershot GO Station:
  • Between Windsor and Toronto including stops in Chatham, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington, and Oakville. Operates multiple times daily.

Burlington has three railway stations:

• 1 Aldershot GO Station (Aldershot station), 1199 Waterdown Rd. Served by Amtrak, GO Transit trains & buses, VIA Rail Canada trains. (updated Feb 2019)
• 2 Burlington GO Station, 2101 Fairview St. Burlington GO station, serving GO Transit trains, lies about 2KM north of downtown Burlington. Connecting GO Transit buses loop on the south side of the station, while connecting Burlington Transit buses loop on its north side. (updated May 2019)
• 3 Appleby GO Station, 5111 Fairview St. Served by GO Transit trains; more useful for residents than visitors. (updated Feb 2019)

By bus

• GO Transit. Bus service from Toronto, Waterloo, Guelph, Hamilton, Brantford, Niagara Falls, and St. Catharines. (updated Apr 2023)
• Onex Bus. Bus service from Toronto and Niagara Falls. (updated Apr 2023)

Get around

By public transportation

Burlington Transit, ☏ +1 905-639-0550. Burlington Transit is the transit authority for the City of Burlington. Most buses run on a 30-minute schedule, although some routes run more frequently during rush hour and/or less frequently on weekends or evenings. Fares: Cash $3.50; Presto card $2.75 for adults (20-64) and $1.90 for youths (13-19) (they can ride fare free on weekday evenings and all-day on weekends when they tap-on with a valid youth Presto Card); Seniors ages 65+ ride fare free all-day everyday when they tap-on with a valid senior Presto Card. Children ages 0-12 also ride fare-free all-day everyday when they tap-on with a valid child Presto card or with an accompanying adult. Riders may also pay by tapping a credit/debit card on the Presto reader in which case the cash fare will be charged. (updated Jul 2024)

Burlington Transit bus routes 1/1X run from Burlington GO Station stopping at the Royal Botanical Gardens and continuing onto downtown Hamilton (King and James streets). Route 1X also makes a stop at Aldershot GO Station; however, route 1X has no evening, weekend or holiday service. Bus routes 3 and 5 run from Burlington GO Station to Downtown Burlington.

If transferring from GO Transit (GO) to Burlington Transit (BT) to complete a trip, you BT fare will be free. For Presto and credit/debit card holders, just tap your card on both transit systems to get the free BT fare. With Presto or credit/debit cards the free fare is also available to transfer from BT to GO, with the BT fare being refunded to your card at the end of the trip. If transferring from GO to BT without a Presto card, the fare is free if you show your GO ticket to the BT bus driver.

A fare allows for 2 hours of travel on Burlington Transit including changing BT buses, or transferring to connecting Oakville Transit and/or Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) buses in Hamilton. If paying by cash, ask for a "transfer" to use as a receipt. For Presto and credit/debit card users, transfer info is automatically stored on your card when you tap on.

By car

The best way to get around Burlington is by car. Arterial roads are spaced about 2 km (1.25 miles) apart, and generally run on a 45 degree angle to the compass points. Main roads running northeast to southwest are (from southernmost to northernmost) Lakeshore Road (former Highway 2), New Street, Plains Road/Fairview Street, the Queen Elizabeth Way/Highway 403 (a controlled-access highway), Upper Middle Road, and Dundas Street (former Highway 5). Main roads running northwest to southeast are (from easternmost to westernmost) Burloak Drive, Appleby Line, Walkers Line, Guelph Line, Brant Street, King Road, and Waterdown Road.

By bike or on foot

Burlington is a pedestrian- and cycling-friendly city, although, as the city is somewhat sprawling, walking or cycling is sometimes impractical. There are several long-distance walking and cycling trails in Burlington, including the Waterfront Trail, a 23-km-long paved trail that offers beautiful views of Burlington's waterfront. In Burlington, you may ride your bicycle on sidewalks, except in the downtown core.

See

• 1 Art Gallery of Burlington, 1333 Lakeshore Rd (at Nelson Ave). Canadian contemporary art, ceramics. 
• 2 Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust St (at Elgin St). Performance and exhibit venue. 
• 3 Ireland House Museum, 2168 Guelph Line. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Su 1-4PM. Heritage farmhouse of the Ireland family preserved as a museum. (updated May 2019)
• 4 Joseph Brant Museum, 1240 North Shore Blvd E. A museum dedicated to Joseph Brant, a Mohawk military and political leader who sided with the British during the American Revolution.  

• Royal Botanical Gardens, ☏ +1 905-527-1158, toll-free: +1-800-694-4769. Jan-Apr 10AM-5PM, May-Aug 10AM-8PM with some seasonal variations by park. Canada's largest botanical garden is comprised of four separate parks containing gardens and natural areas, spread out over 900 hectares. There is an RBG-run shuttle bus on summer weekends between the RBG parks. The four parks span a distance of over 3 km, and this excludes walking in each park. The admission price allows access to all four parks for the day. Here are the parks listed east to west. Adult $18, senior/student $15, child $10, family $40. (updated Mar 2019)
  • 5 RBG Centre & Hendrie Park, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington (Burlington Transit Bus 1/1X to "RBG" stop). The main park; cafe in the RBG centre and a teahouse in Hendrie Park. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 6 Laking Garden, 1260 Spring Gardens Rd, Burlington (1 km west of the RBG Centre). (updated Jun 2019)
  • 7 Rock Garden, 1185 York Blvd, Waterdown (1 km west of Laking Garden, Burlington Transit Bus 1/1X to "Valley Inn" or "Rock Garden" stop). Cafe on-site. (updated Jun 2019)
  • 8 Arboretum, 16 Old Guelph Rd, Waterdown (1 km west of Rock Garden, via Old Guelph Rd). The largest of the four parks with a Nature interpretation Centre. (updated Jun 2019)
• 9 Freeman Station (Burlington Junction Railway Station), 3023 Fairview St (east side of Central Fire Station). Check website for dates open. The City of Burlington purchased this former railway station (built in 1906) for preservation, and had it moved from its original location. (updated Jun 2019)

Parks

There are 115 parks and 325 ha of parkland within the city. A complete list of parks can be found here

• 10 Spencer Smith Park (Waterfront at Downtown Burlington), 1400 Lakeshore Rd. This waterfront park features: Naval War Memorial, Brant Street Pier, Terry Fox Monument, Lady of the Lake Bronze Sculpture, Japanese Garden. It is also a venue for annual events. (updated Feb 2019)
• 11 The Beachway, 1100 Lakeshore Rd. Sandy beach, playground, concession stands, trails. 
• 12 Central Park, 2299 New St. Park for community activities. Features: Bandshell, labyrinth, community garden, Rotary Memorial Forest, playgrounds. 
• 13 Kerncliff Park, 2198 Kerns Rd. A former quarry, Kerncliff Park is located on the Niagara escarpment and features a natural stone backdrop, wooden bridge over a marsh, nature trails and views of the city and Lake Ontario. 
• 14 LaSalle Park, 50 North Shore Blvd. The park features waterfront area, trails, open green space and a replica of a historic pavilion. 

Waterdown

Adminstratively part of Hamilton, but closer to Burlington.

• 15 Smokey Hollow Waterfall (Great Falls), 80 Mill St S, Waterdown (just south of the railway overpass). A picturesque 10 m (33 ft) waterfall in Waterdown with a viewing platform. Can be quite striking in winter after it has frozen. This is also the location of the former industrial community of Smokey Hollow, remnants of which can be found around the site. (updated Dec 2019)

• 16 Historic architecture in Waterdown (at and near the intersection of Mill St & Dundas St). There are many beautiful old stone buildings in Waterdown. Mill Street is a good place to start. (updated Jun 2017)

Do

A great time to visit Burlington is in the summer, when numerous free festivals are held.

• 1 Discovery Landing (Spencer's at the Waterfront). A 14,200 square foot landmark building that faces out to the lake and offers prime storm and weather watching views. Designed by Baird Sampson Nuert it has given residents and visitors a unique place to discover, celebrate, play, and relax by our lake. Discovery Landing is open all day, daily and features The Observatory, Spencer's on the Waterfront, the Bite Café, and an information area to provide information on the park. Discovery Landing overlooks the Rotary Centennial Pond, a 10,000 square-foot year-round water feature. In the spring, summer and fall it is a reflective pool ideal for model sail boating and in winter it will have free ice-skating on an artificial ice surface. 
• Hike the Bruce Trail. A portion of the Bruce Trail, the hiking trail that runs along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory runs through Burlington. The Burlington portion of the trail starts near the intersection of Highway 6 and Mountain Brow Rd., skirts the escarpment before reaching Snake Rd., and then takes a winding path that isn't always easy to follow (if you find yourself in a cemetery near a convent, you've gone the wrong way), but leads to a few beautiful waterfalls just before entering Waterdown. East of Waterdown, the trail then runs through Kerncliff Park, crosses Dundas St., then runs for several miles through rural Burlington before entering Milton. 
• 2 Mount Nemo, 5317 Guelph Line (North of Dundas St). Several moderate loops for hiking provide scenic lookouts from the Niagara Escarpment, and connect to the Bruce Trail. Crevices and old growth cedar trees define the top of the cliff. Reservations are required. Adults $9.75, Children $6.76, Seniors $7.75. (updated Feb 2023)

Festivals

• Canada's Largest Ribfest, Spencer Smith Park. Labour Day weekend. Music, crafts and some of the best rib makers in North America. 
• Sound of Music Festival, downtown, waterfront, ☏ +1 905-333-6364, info@soundofmusic.ca. Proclaimed as Canada's largest free music festival. Five day free music festival on several stages. Jazz, folk, rock, pop, country, blues, latin, celtic. Parade, carnival, marketplace, family zone and downtown streetfest. Held on Father's Day weekend in early June. 

Events

• During December, you can walk through an extensive Christmas lights display downtown at Spencer Smith Park. Showing the Eiffel Tower and various large displays of lights, this is the time when you can enjoy the beauty of Christmas.
• On July 1, you can celebrate Canada Day in Spencer Smith Park and gather with dozens of others to wave the Canadian flag with pride and music.

Buy

• 1 Mapleview Shopping Centre, 900 Maple Ave. Shopping centre with more than 150 stores. (updated Feb 2019)
• 2 Burlington Mall, 777 Guelph Line. Shopping centre. (updated Feb 2019)
• 3 Burlington Downtown, Brant Street (between Baldwin St and Lakeshore Rd). Many small shops, restaurants, cafés, and boutiques in an old town setting. (updated Feb 2019)

Eat

There are many great dining establishments in Burlington. The restaurants below are just a few of over 200 establishments.

Budget

• 1 Easterbrook's Hotdog Stand, 694 Spring Gardens Rd (near Royal Botanical Gardens), ☏ +1 905-527-9679. 10AM–10PM (summer), 10AM–8PM (winter). Well-known for its footlong hotdogs (note that a "regular" hotdog here is a footlong) its ice cream and milkshakes are also good. The restaurant has been located at this location since 1930 and features a retro atmosphere. 
• 2 The Sunshine Doughnut Co., 439 Brock Ave, ☏ +1 905-632-2300. Tu-Fr 8AM-4PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM (while doughnuts last). Small batch doughnuts in a variety of flavours. (updated Feb 2023)

Mid-range

• 3 West Plains Bistro, 133 Plains Rd, ☏ +1 905 333-9449. 
• 4 Son of a Peach Pizzeria, 2049 Pine St (Village Square), ☏ +1 905-632-4040. Tu-Th 11:30AM-9PM, F Sa 11:30AM-10PM, Su 11:30AM-8PM. Sourdough-style pizza crust with locally sourced ingredients for toppings, such as house-made sausage, pears or wild honey. (updated Feb 2023)

Splurge

• 5 Earls, 900 Maple Ave (Mapleview Mall), ☏ +1 905 631-1212. 
• 6 Turtle Jack's Muskoka Grill, 900 Maple Ave (across from Earls at the Mapleview Mall), ☏ +1 289 288-0484. 11AM-2AM. There is also another location at 4155 Fairview Street. 
• 7 The Carriage House, 2101 Old Lakeshore Rd, ☏ +1 905 634-7723. 
• 8 The Dickens (Charles Dickens Pub), 423 Elizabeth St, ☏ +1 905 333-4991. 
• 9 Downtown Bistro & Grill (Ivanka's Downtown Bistro), 441 Elizabeth St, ☏ +1 905 639-7577. 
• 10 The Martini House, 437 Elizabeth St, ☏ +1 905 333-9553. 
• 11 Paradiso Restaurant, 2041 Pine St, ☏ +1 905 639-1176. 
• 12 Pepperwood Bistro, 1455 Lakeshore Rd, ☏ +1 905 333-6999. 
• 13 SB Prime, 380 Brant St, ☏ +1 905 634-6275. 
• 14 Siam Dish Thai Cuisine, 1477 Lakeshore Rd, ☏ +1 905 632-2525. 

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Comfort Inn, 3290 South Service Rd, ☏ +1 905 639-1700. Business and fitness centres, breakfast included. From $125. (updated Dec 2023)
• 2 Best Western, 2412 Queensway Dr, ☏ +1 905-639-2700. Beside the highways to Hamilton, Niagara, and Toronto. Hot breakfast included. Indoor pool. Double from $140. (updated Dec 2023)

Mid-range

• 3 Hilton Garden Inn, 985 Syscon Road East, ☏ +1 905 631-7000. On-site restaurant, pool and fitness facilities. Double from $154. (updated Dec 2023)
• 4 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 975 Syscon Rd, ☏ +1 905 631-8300. Hot breakfast included. King from $179. (updated Dec 2023)
• 5 Quality Hotel, 950 Walkers Line, ☏ +1 905 639-9290. Hot breakfast included. On-site restaurant. Indoor pool and sauna. Double from $143. (updated Dec 2023)
• 6 Holiday Inn, 3063 South Service Rd, ☏ +1 905 639-4443. Double from $153. (updated Dec 2023)

Splurge

• 7 The Waterfront Hotel Downtown, 2020 Lakeshore Rd, ☏ +1 905 681-5410. Breakfast included. Business and fitness facilities available, including pool. Pet friendly. Guest laundry. On-site restaurant with room service. Double queen from $179. (updated Dec 2023)

Go next

• Guelph — north of Burlington, in Southwestern Ontario, known for its university, limestone architecture, and a walkable downtown with small shops, restaurants and lively bars.
• Hamilton — south of Burlington, and historically a heavy manufacturing centre, Hamilton's skyline viewed from Burlington looks like a collection of smokestacks and highway bridges. At the west end of the bay, Hamilton's downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods are home to a growing art, music, and food scene. On the edge of downtown, the Niagara Escarpment provides a variety of parks, hiking trails, and waterfalls.
• Niagara Peninsula — to the east of Hamilton, between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Some of Ontario's best farmland is found here, and the unique climate make the peninsula one of Canada's wine regions. The Welland Canal in Thorold is an impressive engineering feat that tells part of the story of great lakes shipping. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a well-preserved colonial-style town with many connections to the War of 1812. Of course, Niagara Falls at the end of the peninsula, is the Canadian side of the famous waterfall. The city hosts visitors and honeymooners seeking a glimpse of the gorge, but also offers dining, sights, events and entertainment around the clock, all year long.

Routes through Burlington

London ← Brantford ←	W  E	→ Oakville → Toronto
Toronto ← Oakville ←	W  E	→ Grimsby → Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls ← Hamilton ←	W  E	→ Oakville → Toronto
London ← Hamilton ←	W  E	→ Oakville → Brampton
ENDS at ←	W  E	→ Oakville → Markham
Toronto ← Oakville ←	N  S	→ Hamilton → Niagara Falls