15 Best Things to Do in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada)

Toronto’s largest suburb, Mississauga is Canada’s sixth most populated city. It sits to the west of Toronto on the shores of Lake Ontario, spanning for over 280 square kilometres.

Although Mississauga was only established as a city in 1974, it dates back to the 1600s when European settlers arrived. It later became a town, followed by having city status, but due to its history, it is home to plenty of historic sites. It is also home to Lester B. Pearson International Airport, which is Canada’s largest and busiest air hub. Today Mississauga is still growing and is fast becoming a major business centre. It also has a thriving arts community, shopping centres, recreational areas and quant villages.

Lets explore the best things to do in Mississauga:

1. Explore a historic village

Port Credit is a village that sits right along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. It is a lovely village that dates back to 1720, with its core being a heritage conservation district.

Often referred to as the ‘Village on the Lake’, Port Credit features an old town atmosphere that is filled with beautiful architecture, lovely parks and a lakefront marina. It also boasts over 25 kilometres of walkways and trails.

The marina is a top class marina that can dock ships as long as 45 feet. It also hosts the Port Credit In-Water Boat Show and the Waterfront Festival.

2. Visit a mansion

The Adamson Estate is actually located in Port Credit. It was built as a private home and farmland in 1809, but today it is open to the public.

The main building on the estate is a lovely Flemish architecture house. There is also an ancient barn onsite, as well as a pet cemetery.

A great feature of the property are its eastern white pine trees, which have been on the estate since it was built.

3. Go for a long walk

The Waterfront Trail extends from Cornwall all the way to Niagara-on-the-lake, passing though Mississauga along the way. In total, the trail is over 740 kilometres long.

The section of the trail that runs through Mississauga sits along the lakefront in Port Credit. It passes through both residential and commercial areas.

The trail is a great place for walking, cycling, skateboarding and inline skating. If you have time, you can head east along the trail into Toronto, or go west to Oakville.

4. Wander around Streetsville

This quaint neighbourhood keeps its small town charm, what with its historic buildings and cityscape. Streetsville has a tight-knit community, though visitors are always welcomed.

The area is known for its festivals, which include the Bread and Honey Festival in June, a Canada Day celebration on July 1st and December’s Santa Claus Parade.

Wandering along the streets of Streetsville is a great way to spend an afternoon. There are numerous boutiques, family-run restaurants, local shops and impressive houses just waiting to be found.

5. Have fun at an arcade

Playdium is a massive entertainment complex that is home to an arcade and other attractions. It is situated on 11 acres of land right in Mississauga’s city centre.

The indoor area at Playdium consists of over 12,000 square metres of fun that includes a massive arcade, simulated rides, a laser maze and a couple of restaurants. Outside is an 18-hole miniature golf course, a baseball dome and one of the longest Go-Kart tracks in Canada.

The best way to enjoy the arcade is to purchase a two-hour or four-hour unlimited playing card. There are also family packages available. Tickets for outdoor activities are separate.

6. Defy the law of gravity

iFly is a cylindrical diameter vertical tube with a diameter of more than four metres that sits nearly 14 metres above the ground. Come here and fly in the tube, defying gravity.

Air passes beneath you at 175 kilometres an hour, which lifts you right off the ground. This will then give you the feeling as if you are skydiving.

iFly is extremely safe and great for the whole family. Feel what it is like to free fall from a plane without being more than two metres off the ground.

7. Look at art

If you are an art lover, be sure to check out the Art Gallery of Mississauga (AGM). The gallery opened in 1987 and is divided into four gallery spaces.

There are exhibitions taking place all year at the art gallery, as well as having a permanent collection that displays art from national and regional artists. There are over 500 works of art in its collection.

The gallery also hosts events, like lectures, workshops and live performances. It also holds regular yoga classes and children’s art classes.

8. Play a round of golf

There are two main golf courses in Mississauga; BraeBen Golf Course and Lakeview Golf Course. The BraeBen Golf Course features a 9-hole and championship 18-hole course, while Lakeview Golf Course is an 18-hole course.

BraeBen Golf Course is a 72 par course with 18 challenging holes. The course is a total of 6,415 yards through a dramatic landscape. Its 9-hole academy course is great for beginners.

Lakeview Golf Course has been open since 1907 and is one of the finest courses in Ontario. It features an 18-hole championship course that has twice hosted the Canada Open.

9. Shop in one of the country’s largest malls

Square One Shopping Centre is Ontario’s largest shopping mall, and the second largest in all of Canada. It has over 160,000 square metres of retail space and over 360 shops and services.

The massive shopping mall is right in Downtown Mississauga and is home to the city’s main bus network terminal. It is also accessible by Highway.

There are five anchor stores within the mall as well as 13 coffee shops, two supermarkets and around 65 places to eat. This is in addition to its plethora of shops and services.

10. Enjoy an elegant meal

Port Credit’s The Waterside Inn is home to an elegant restaurant that serves exceptional food on fine china plates. Enjoy a meal while using sparkling silver cutlery with crisp linen tablecloths and serviettes.

Dishes are expertly cooked and presented, with only the finest ingredients being used. It is an award-winning restaurant with not only great food, but also a fabulous wine list.

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Still, its Sunday brunch is one of the finest in the city.

11. Spend a day at the park

There are literally over 350 parks in Mississauga of various sizes. Some are small parks with trees and benches, while others are larger green spaces that have recreational facilities.

One of the best parks in the city is the Jack Darling Memorial Park. The park sits along the waterfront and is home to an off-leash dog park, tennis courts and two massive picnic areas.

Jack Darling Memorial Park is also home to a lovely beach where swimming, paddling, windsurfing and kayaking can be enjoyed. If you would prefer to stay on land, there are also several walking trails.

12. Visit a waterfall

There is a secret waterfall in Mississauga that is accessible by a walking trial; Wahoosh Falls. It is not a large waterfall, but it is a serene one, as it is surrounded by nature.

Wahoosh Falls sits over Mullet Creek, emptying into the Credit River. There are actually two small waterfalls in the ravine.

The ravine sits right behind University of Toronto Mississauga and is accessible by a number of pathways. It is a lovely walk to the waterfalls, where numerous trees and plants can be seen.

13. Have fun in an amusement park

Fantasy Fair is the largest indoor amusement park in Ontario. It is located in the Woodbine Shopping Centre, not too far from the airport.

There are 12 full-size rides and attractions in Fantasy Fair, including a carousel, a Ferris wheel, a climbing wall and bumper cars. There is also a play area for the young ones and a simulator ride for the older kids.

You can easily spend an entire day here! Finishing it off with a bite at the food court or strolling around the attached shopping mall.

14. Go fishing

This can, of course, only be done at certain times of the year. Both the Credit River and Lake Ontario are great places to go fishing.

The Credit River is a gem, home to Chinook salmon, steelhead, pink and Atlantic salmon. Or head to the marina in Port Credit and get a private charter around Lake Ontario, where you can catch Chinook salmon and Rainbow trout.

It is also possible to charter a private yacht for a leisure cruise around the lake. This is great for a special celebration, or just to enjoy a pleasant afternoon.

15. Head to the races

Although Woodbine Racetrack is technically not in Mississauga, it is just outside of it in neighbouring Toronto. The racetrack has been open since 1956 and has both thoroughbred and standardbred horse races.

Major stakes thoroughbred races are held year round at the racetrack. It is also home to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

After betting on the races, head to the slots or try your luck at blackjack, roulette or baccarat. There are also numerous restaurants, bars and lounges onsite, so you could literally spend an entire day and evening here.