About
Ontario is a province in eastern Canada and the country's most populous one. It is the place many visitors first encounter when they arrive in Canada, and it holds two of the country's best-known cities: Toronto and Ottawa.
What the province is known for
Ontario serves as Canada's economic centre, and that shapes much of what a visitor sees. Toronto, the provincial capital, is a large, busy city of businesses, neighbourhoods and cultural life. Ottawa, in the same province, is the federal capital region, so the national government's institutions sit here alongside the city's own streets, parks and museums.
Why you might visit
- Urban travel: Toronto and Ottawa each offer distinct city experiences within one province.
- Government and national life: Ottawa is the seat of federal government, which makes it a natural base for those interested in Canada's public institutions.
- Business and culture: As the economic heart of the country, Ontario draws both working travellers and visitors curious about how the country's economy and cities function.
Because the province is large and its population is concentrated in its major cities, a visit often combines time in one or both of them with trips to smaller towns and the surrounding countryside. Plan your route around the cities you most want to see, and allow travel time between them.
