Hamilton, Ontario Travel and Things to Do Guide

In Hamilton, visitors can find a blend of the best of what Canada has to offer – rolling green spaces and a vibrant urban scene. Thanks to the prime location, Hamilton is also one of the most accessible cities in Canada, a mere one-hour drive from the Niagara Falls U.S./Canada border and an hour-and-fifteen-minute drive from Buffalo, NY. Hamilton is also conveniently reached by air with the Hamilton International Airport offering service to more than 60 destinations worldwide. For visitors coming from east of the city, Hamilton is connected to Toronto by the GO Train system.

Planning events in Hamilton is a unique experience. Three separate venues have combined forces to provide meeting planners with a broad spectrum of space including the Copps Coliseum, Hamilton Place and the Hamilton Convention Centre. Operating as Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities, this organization is sure to meet the needs of any event with its flexible space and hassle-free services.

The Hamilton Convention Centre boasts 50,000 square meters of meeting space and amenities such as in-house catering capable of providing a first-class dining experience for up to 1,400 guests. The convention center's sister venue, Copps Coliseum, which has hosted sporting events, tradeshows, film festivals and more, has seating for up to 19,000 people. Hamilton Place, an internationally acclaimed theater with outstanding acoustic capabilities, is well appointed for presentations, ceremonies and meetings.

An abundant number of smaller venues are peppered throughout the city as well, offering a unique and distinctive change of scenery for meeting and event guests. Invite up to 1,500 guests to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's hangar, where they can dine amidst antique airplanes from Canada's past. Take your reception outdoors at one of the various venues at the Royal Botanical Gardens, which can accommodate up to 500 people amongst its lush plant life. Or, stay close to the city's roots at the harbour with a relaxing private charter for up to 150 people on the Hamilton Harbour Queen. Planners may also wish to take advantage of Hamilton's vibrant art scene, which has gained recognition in media such as national paper The Globe and Mail. The Downtown Arts Centre offers several spaces for events, from its 300-seat theater to its large, flexible Art Gallery.

Because of its strategic location on Lake Ontario, the smallest of the Great Lakes, the Port of Hamilton is Canada's busiest Great Lakes port and is a key component in the strength of the city's manufacturing sector. The area's largest employers include US Steel Canada and Arcelor Mittal Dofasco, Inc. McMaster University, considered to be one of the top 5 post-secondary schools in the country, is also in Hamilton.