Things to Do in Mississauga last updated: January 18th, 2022
Mississauga is Canada’s sixth-largest city and is about 30 km from Toronto. It is situated right on the beautiful waterfront of Lake Ontario. Mississauga often gens grouped into Toronto as it is part of the GTA. In fact, Canada’s busiest airport- Toronto Pearson International Airport- is found here in Malton, a suburb of Mississauga, along with the headquarters of many Canadian and multinational corporations. It is Toronto’s ‘out-of-town’ central business district and is visited by large numbers of business travelers each year.
While downtown Toronto gets all the fame, there is plenty to see and do in Mississauga as well. It has an abundance of beautiful parks and some interesting historic neighborhoods, and the lake is great for fishing, swimming, kayaking, or yachting. There is world-class shopping throughout Mississauga and the Square One Shopping Centre is the largest shopping center in Ontario and the second largest shopping center in Canada. The Living Arts Centre showcases performances of local, national, and international artists and entertainers and intriguing art exhibits.
Continue reading to find out the top 10 things to do in Mississauga.
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Things to Do in Mississauga
Below are the top 10 things to do in Mississauga!
For Culture, Visit Mississauga Celebration Square
Mississauga Celebration Square is a popular award-winning square right in the middle of the business district. It is an outdoor public square, urban park, and event venue and is the cultural hub of the area. It showcases the achievements of noteworthy residents of the area in Mississauga Legends Row.
The impressive Art Gallery of Mississauga is just behind the square and the Living Arts Centre home to Mississauga’s vibrant performance and the theatre arts community is nearby. The Central Library and the very big Square One Shopping Centre are also close.
Mississauga Celebration Square is located at 300 City Centre Dr, Mississauga. The Square hosts hundreds of free events such as festivals, concerts, movies, and fitness classes, and has a skating rink in winter.
Take a Historic Walking Tour in Quaint & Quirky Streetsville
Streetsville is a beautiful old-style village neighborhood with a lot of history. It’s in a beautiful setting of historic shops, restaurants, and stunning houses, and there are plenty of walking trails. It has a really quaint and quirky atmosphere. There are plenty of festivals in Streetsville and there is live music, yoga, and salsa dancing in the square in the summer. In June there is the famous Bread and Honey Festival with carnival rides, and free, delicious local bread and honey.
Village on the Lake and Port Credit
Port Credit is located at the mouth of the Credit River. It is known as the ‘Village on The Lake’ and it has its own unique atmosphere, partly created by the historical charm of homes in Old Port Credit Village dating back to the mid-1800s and an iconic working lighthouse.
It’s a popular destination for shopping and has an excellent selection of restaurants. There are plenty of park benches along the pier for a great view of the lighthouse and watching the sailboats, ducks, and stand-up paddleboarders.
The Saturday morning farmers market is well worth a visit for live music, local produce, and tasty treats! If you like a lively festival get along to the Mississauga Waterfront Festival in June, Mississauga Ribfest in July, Busker Fest in August, and the Southside Shuffle Blues or the Jazz Festival in September.
Lakefront Promenade Park – The Largest Waterfront Park
There are over 500 gorgeous parks, gardens, and trails in Mississauga. Lakeside Promenade Park has a 31.6 km stretch of water frontage with a sea wall, walkways, boardwalks, a sand beach, baseball diamonds, outdoor gym equipment, a splash pad and play area, and plenty of places to relax. It’s perfect for walkers or bikers. It spreads over 100 acres. You might get to see some swans and colorful boats on the lake.
See Cherry Blossoms at Kariya Park
In the spring the cherry blossoms and magnolia trees bloom in the small, serene, Japanese Garden that is Kariya Park. Kariya Park is only a few minutes from Square One and is named after Mississauga’s sister city, Kariya, Japan, which has its own Mississauga Park with a replica of Mississauga’s City Hall. The gardens have a lovely assortment of floral arrangements in different Japanese styles, along with an enchanting water feature. A large brass bell stands at the entrance to this zen garden.
Jack Darling Memorial Park
Jack Darling Memorial Park is on the Ontario lakeshore in Mississauga’s lakeshore boulevard west area. It has a spectacular distant city view, especially at night of the Toronto skyline and the CN Tower. The beach is very popular in the summer. There’s a spray pad in the summer and tobogganing on the hill in winter.
The park is on the waterfront with picnic areas, tennis courts, and it has a unique native tallgrass prairie. Less than 3 percent of Ontario’s tallgrass prairies remain but Mississauga has two tallgrass prairies and one is at Jack Darling Memorial. Tallgrass prairies are very important to some rare plant species and are home to many pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
For Nature Lovers – Rattray Marsh Conservation Area
From the Jack Darling Memorial Park, you can also access walking trails of the wooded marshland Rattray Marsh Conservation Area. This is a nature lover’s dream! There is a pedestrian boardwalk that overlooks a natural wetland and is great for birdwatchers who will be on the lookout for the resident herons. There are also beautiful wildflowers and a wide variety of trees including ash, oak, and willows. Wildlife enthusiasts might spot deer, foxes, beavers, rabbits, turtles, or snakes. It is a very pleasant park with, barbeques, picnic areas, playgrounds, and sand beaches.
More Nature at the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens
This large park donated to the community by Dr. Joseph Brueckner has one of Canada’s largest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas and in June the peonies and roses are also in bloom. It offers a wide array of flower gardens, walking trails, and lake and beach vistas. Between May and late June is the best time to catch the flowers in full bloom.
Visit One of the Many Beautiful Parks
From small green spaces to large destination parks, there are over 500 parks in Mississauga, each offering a unique experience. Two of the other very popular parks are- The Riverwood Conservancy- Beautiful trails with many birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. Easy walking and peaceful. And Erindale Park- the Credit river runs through this park and it’s an excellent spot for flyfishing and wading and catching salmon in the fall. It has several hiking trails and a large picnic area.
Visit Canada’s Only Indoor Ski Slope
If you’ve never tried skiing or snowboarding before, Alpine Indoor is a fast and economical place to learn. If you are a skier or snowboarder, it’s also a great place to get some practice in the summer before you get out on the mountains for some serious snowboarding or skiing. Alpine Indoor is located at 915 Matheson Blvd. East, Mississauga.
Where to Eat and Drink in Mississauga, Ontario
With its long history and diverse population, there is an abundance and a wide range of cafes and restaurants throughout the city. There is a particularly interesting history of tea drinking in Mississauga! At the Tea Room in historic Streetsville Village, you can experience a traditional English High Tea. In a sauna at the South-Western Bathhouse and Tea Room, you can have a traditional Russian-style tea. At the Lotus Tea House, you can try oolong tea with dried roses.
Goodfellas Wood Oven Pizza: For an excellent authentic pizza and delicious bruschetta, this is definitely the place to go! 4411 Highway 7, Woodbridge, Vaughan, Ontario
Lionheart British Pub & Restaurant: Great atmosphere, warm & friendly service. Pub offering upscale bar bites & British fare, plus weekend live music & tabletop TVs for sports. 3221 Derry Rd W, Mississauga
Piatto Bistro: A fine-dining Italian restaurant. Cozy, yet elegant. Uses the freshest locally, seasonally-sourced ingredients. The menu features a balance of traditional and inventive Italian cuisine. Located in the heart of Erindale Village, Mississauga.
Clarkson Mediterranean Bistro: Nice little bistro on Lakeshore Rd serving tasty Mediterranean food with a beautiful terrace in front of the restaurant. A massive menu. Recommend the blackened salmon and the butter and lemon sauce is incredible. 1731 Lakeshore Rd W, Mississauga.
Fired Up: A stylish rustic environment with live Latin American music. Thoughtfully sourced wood-grilled meats, plus seafood & burgers. 89 Lakeshore Rd E, Mississauga.
How to Get to Mississagua
As an extension of Canada’s biggest city, there are plenty of ways for getting to Mississauga, Ontario.
Getting to Mississaga by Car
Mississauga is just a 30 to 40-minute drive from downtown Toronto. It is only 90 minutes from the US border and a 90-minute drive to Niagara Falls.
Getting to Mississauga by Bus
The Mississauga Transitway is a dedicated east-west bus-only roadway. It is a bus rapid transit system in Mississauga which is made up of a series of purpose-built bus-only roadways. MiWay is the primary operator along the Mississauga Transitway with MiWay’s routes connecting with GO Transit commuter rail and intercity buses.
Getting to Mississagua by Train
Train travel is such a relaxing way to travel! Trains from Mississauga to Toronto start at Port Credit Go and will take you to the magnificent Union Station in Toronto. The trip is 16 miles and costs around 9 USD.
Getting to Mississauga by Plane
If you’re arriving in Mississauga from overseas, you’ll probably arrive via Toronto Pearson International Airport- Canada’s largest and busiest airport which is about 10 km from Mississauga’s city center. To get to Mississauga city center from the airport you can take a 15-minute taxi ride (C$35-45). Uber and Lyft operate here or you can catch the 30 minute Midway bus (C$10) from either terminal 1 or 3.
Getting Around Mississauga
The Mississauga City Centre can easily be explored on foot. It covers 1.2 sq km with many attractions such as The Art Gallery of Mississauga, the Living Arts Centre, and the huge Square One Shopping Centre.
MiLocal operates the local bus networks in Mississauga. They cover the entire city and also connect Mississauga to Toronto. Taxis, Uber, and Lyft are all available in the city.
Weather in Mississauga (Best Time to Visit)
Average temperatures range from -5°C in winter to 22°C in summer. The ‘shoulder seasons’ of April-May and September-October are the best times to visit. You will avoid the busy peak season crowds (June to August) and the weather is pleasant. January and February are the best months if it’s snowy and you’re after winter weather activities.
Holidays: Canada’s important public holidays are New Year’s Day (Jan 1); Good Friday and Easter Monday (Mar or Apr); Victoria Day (the Mon preceding May 25); St-Jean-Baptiste Day, Québec’s own “national” day (June 24); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (first Mon in Sept); Canadian Thanksgiving Day (second Mon in Oct); and Christmas (Dec 25).
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Denise Revoy says
Mississauga is a stop I make when going up north or if I have an appointment downtown Toronto
I have learned a lot about the parks and places to visit in this article
Jean says
Good article. This information goes a long way to helping people decide whether or not they want to visit.