If you’re looking for things to do in Sudbury, you’ve come to the right place.
Located 400 kilometres north of Toronto and officially known as Greater Sudbury, this city of lakes has a population of approximately 170,000 people and was traditionally known as a mining town, including the Canadian Copper company, which was founded in 1886, and has since merged to become the Nickel Company of Canada. The city still has 10 mines, and as you may have guessed, many of the town’s attractions are related to mining, such as the impressive Science North, Dynamic Earth, and the famous Big Nickel.
However, it’s not just mining. Sudbury has more than 330 lakes, a variety of parks, and nature reserves, and is a city with some great restaurants and interesting activities. It has become a very popular place to visit in Northern Ontario.
We’ve now been there twice and even brought our 1-year-old twin girls, whom also had a blast. Whether you’re combining it as part of an Ontario road trip or just visiting the city on its own, these are the top 19 things to do in Sudbury!
1. Science North
Allow plenty of time to visit Science North. Opened in 1984, this is Canada’s second-largest science centre and a fascinating interactive museum within two large snowflake-shaped buildings joined together by a rock tunnel that passes through a geological fault line formed over a billion years ago. Science North has a host of engaging and interactive exhibits spread across four levels that are fun for the whole family. There is an IMAX theatre, a butterfly gallery, a digital planetarium, and a Special Exhibits Hall. On each floor, there are “Bluecoats” scientists full of amazing information, and educational tips to answer your questions.
There are also many interactive exhivits, which makes it so much fun for kids and adults. Our babies got to touch their first snake while we got to try a robotic arm and learn some CPR. Had we not had the babies with us, we would have loved to see the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon exhibit in the planetarium. This was a special event at the time but goes to show the variety of things you can experience here. If you’re thinking of spending the whole day at Science North, consider purchasing the passport ticket option, which allows access to all attractions located on-site, including the planetarium, IMAX theatre, and Dynamic Earth.
2. Discover Sudbury’s Mining Heritage at Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth is an earth sciences centre and is also operated by Science North. It’s an interactive science museum established in 2003 that focuses on the city’s mining history. Dynamic Earth has a wide variety of displays and exhibits where the kids can learn how to mine, climb a mineral wall, look at diamonds, and identify different minerals. There are gold panning experiences and displays of fossils and meteorites. Plus, you can go on an underground tour of the mines that takes them deep into the earth and displays the work done by the miners over the years, as well as the technological changes that have taken place. The babies were too young this time around, so I went alone and thought it was a great experience. In addition, there is also a giant sandpit complete with manually operated diggers, and huge mining machinery they can climb around.
3. Look in Awe at the Big Nickel (World’s Biggest Coin)
Half of Canada’s nickel production is in Ontario and most of it comes from Sudbury! In 1967, as part of the Canada Centennial celebrations, the world’s biggest coin, a 9 metre tall (30 feet) 5-cent Canadian coin (aka the “Big Nickel”) was erected on the grounds of the Dynamic Earth Science Museum and represents the efforts of Sudbury nickel miners. It’s a not-to-be-missed photo opportunity while you’re visiting Sudbury.
4. See the Superstack – The Second Largest Freestanding Chimney on the Planet
Another great photo opportunity if you make it to Sudbury soon is the Superstack, which towers over everything and is visible from almost anywhere in the city. In fact, it’s not only the tallest chimney in Canada but is the second tallest freestanding chimney on the planet!
The chimney stands tall at 380 metres (1,250 feet). This is about the same height as the Empire State Building. It was built in 1970 to transfer waste gases away from the nickel smelting operation and the city. It is no longer in use and will be demolished soon.
5. See Canada’s Largest Mural
A former deserted hospital in Sudbury was becoming an eyesore, so in 2019 as part of the Up Here Festival, the famed L.A. street and graffiti artist, RISK, painted over it to add some colour and bring it back to life while creating the largest mural in Canada.
The 74,000 square feet piece of art took RISK and his 5-person crew (plus 24 local people), 860 gallons of paint, 1500+ volunteer hours, three lifts, and one crane to create. It’s no longer being promoted due to the state of the building but it’s still an amazing sight to see and is right next to Bell Park.
6. Visit Bell Park
Alongside Canada’s largest mural on the shores of Ramsey Lake and just a few minutes from Science North is the sprawling urban Bell Park with its 2 km stretch of boardwalk, good-sized summer patrolled beach, a children’s playground, plenty of picnic spots in gazebos and gardens, and an amphitheatre where some of the city’s festivals and outdoor concerts are held, such as the Sudbury Summerfest in August, and the Northern Lights Festival Boréal music festival in July. Bell Park also features a number of sculptures celebrating the city’s mining heritage.
We loved walking along the boardwalk and admiring the stunning views of the lake. There’s even a really nice outdoor gym for those looking to get a decent workout.
7. Explore the Trails of Kivi Park
Kivi Park is a 450-acre sport and outdoor activity park located in the south end of Sudbury, overlooking Long Lake. It is perfect for year-round outdoor adventure and recreation for all ages and abilities with its extensive trails, recreational spaces, soccer fields, basketball court and lakes.
The 55.7 km Trail Network has been established for snowshoeing, classic and skate cross-country skiing, fat biking, mountain biking, hiking, and dog walking. You’ll even find a one-km skate path through the forest in the wintertime, which is lit up at night.
In addition, there’s also Crowley Lake on the southern side of the park, which provides access to canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and hiking. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are available to rent for a fun day on the water. If you’re up for the adventure, it takes approximately one hour to walk there within the park or you can drive the dirt road to get there in less than 10 minutes. It’s a truly beautiful lake that even has a portage route to another lake, adding another fun element for a day of canoeing.
8. Enjoy a Show at YES Theatre and the Refettorio
During our recent visit to Sudbury, we had the pleasure of watching Peter Pan at the Refettorio, an outdoor theatre in downtown Sudbury. Put on by YES Theatre, it was very entertaining. While Peter Pan might not be on when you get to Sudbury, YES Theatre is always putting on some sort of show as they are Northern Ontario’s premiere destination for unforgettable theatrical experiences. From Broadway musicals and hit plays to concerts and new works, YES Theatre is a great place to catch a show.
9. Enjoy Another Show with the Sudbury Performance Group
As amazing as YES Theatre is, they’re not the only performing group in town. There’s also the Sudbury Performance Group, which is Sudbury’s newest performing arts company focusing on stand-up comedy, music, and theatre. They present Broadway musicals, hilarious dinner theatre productions, stand-up comedy by some of North America’s funniest comics and live local converts all year round.
10. Explore the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Lake Laurentian Conservation Area is only a 10-minute drive from downtown and stretches from Lake Ramsey to the Southeast Bypass. This 2,400-acre conservation area is filled with lakes, trails, and wildlife. It has a huge network of hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails and is a nature lovers’ paradise with its man-made lake and pond, scenic lookouts, self-guided nature trail, multiple wetland areas, and high bird populations.
In winter, there are trails specifically groomed for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, and in the summer, the trails are lined with plenty of blueberry and raspberry plants just ripe for the picking.
However, keep in mind that Lake Laurentian does not rent out canoes, kayaks or SUPs. There are some kayaks and canoes that they lend out, but you might want to hire one in advance or bring your own with you. Either way, this is a great way to potentially see beavers, turtles, Great Blue Herons, and loads of other creatures enjoying the rocky cliffs, marshlands, and forests of the Lake Laurentian Conservation area.
11. Witness the Impressive Onaping Falls
Just a 30-minute drive west of Sudbury is the stunning waterfall created where the Onaping River drops 55 metres over a sheer cliff to the riverbed below. It is particularly impressive in autumn (early to mid-October) when the fall colours are at their peak.
At the visitor centre, you can see displays about the geology of the area and pick up a trail guide. A flat one km walk from the visitor’s centre takes you to the A.Y. Jackson Lookout where a bridge offers superb views of the falls. From here you have the option of another two km of trail through dense forests.
In addition, there are some lovely places around here to go camping in Ontario.
12. Wander around the Art Gallery of Sudbury
The Art Gallery of Sudbury is housed in a turn-of-the-century mansion that was once the home of the lumber baron William Joseph Bell. It opened in 1967 as a project to celebrate Canada’s centennial and was originally called the Laurentian University Museum and Art Centre.
The Art Gallery of Sudbury is an easy walk from downtown and houses an impressive permanent collection of more than 2,000 artworks from across Canada featuring works by local, regional, provincial, and national artists.
The collection includes pieces by Group of Seven artists A.Y. Jackson and Franklin Carmichael, as well as examples from First Nations and local artists. There are educational seminars, lectures, workshops, and visiting art exhibits are also held here.
13. Visit the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre
The Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre are located at Capreol, a 30-minute drive north of downtown Sudbury and gives a fascinating look back to the railroads that helped link Northern Ontario to the booming south. It has done an excellent job of preserving and showcasing the history of railroads in and around Greater Sudbury.
The indoor displays include costumes and a large model railway layout that are displayed in the Victorian-era former home of the superintendent of the region’s railways, and in the town’s old fire station and local jail.
The outdoor area showcases numerous railcars and fascinating engines. There is a railcar that was once a mobile classroom and is complete with desks, woodstoves, and sleeping quarters. There are antique locomotives including a 1919 Westinghouse Electric locomotive, a 1944 U-1-f Class MLW 4-8-4 steam locomotive, an 1899 caboose, and a slag pot car.
14. Stop by the Anderson Farm Museum
The Anderson Farm Museum is a 57,000-square-metre historic dairy farm that was once owned by Finnish immigrants Frank Anderson and Gretta Anderson and was one of the largest dairy farms in the Sudbury area during the 1920s and 1930s.
15. Part at the Up Here Festival
If you can time your visit to coincide with the Up Here Festival in August, we highly recommend it. Up Here is an independent urban art & emerging music festival. They bring together dozens of muralists, musicians, and installation artists to transform downtown Sudbury into an urban art gallery.
Since we had little babies with us, we weren’t able to enjoy the late-evening concerts, which sounded amazing, but we did partake in the family-friendly activities that happen on the closed-off Durham Street, including day-time concerts, a local craft market, food trucks, children’s activities, and more.
Another thing we did and highly recommend is the Walking Mural Tour, which takes you around the city to see and learn about the incredible art pieces found on the side of many buildings.
16. Find the Murals
Speaking of murals, it’s not like you have to be in Sudbury during the Up Here Festival to see them. They’re always around, so take a scoot around town and check them out. In fact, we highly recommend you check out the Up Here Website to do your own self-guided mural tour.
17. Tantalize your Tastebuds at Crosscut Distillery
We always love to check out a local brewery or distillery when visiting a new place and Crosscut Distillery really impressed us. They have such an incredible array of one-of-a-kind spirits, including vodka, gin, aquavit, whisky, moonshine and liqueurs. We highly recommend trying a flight so you can sample five of the liqueurs that you fancy the most. Our favourites include the Salted Caramel Moonshine and the Cinnamon Moonshine. However, the Chocolate Habanero Liqueur was also pretty tasty. Other samples we’d love to try next time include Smoked Jalapeno Vodka, Dill Pickle Vodka, Haskap Rhubard Gin, and many more. You can also grab some light bites or even pick up everything you need to make cocktails at home.
18. Enjoy the Winter in Sudbury
If you’re visiting Sudbury in the winter months, there is plenty for you to do. There are two downhill ski facilities and they all have ski rentals. The ski runs are well-maintained and night skiing is available.
There is also an abundance of trails if you prefer to cross-country ski, including the 10-kilometre Naughton Ski Trails that run through a pretty forest. Sudbury also has one of the largest systems of groomed snowmobile trails in the world with over 1,200 kilometres of trails that connect the city with surrounding communities and offer some magnificent scenery too!
19. Stuff Your Belly at the Many Delicious Restaurants
Another great part about visiting Sudbury is the array of outstanding restaurants. If you want a list of them all, check out our guide to the best restaurants in Sudbury. Some of them include The Kouzzina, Tucos Taco Lounge, the Laughing Buddha, Respect is Burning Supperclub, Beni’s Rise & Shine, and so much more. Lovers of Italian food will especially love Sudbury as there are more Italian restaurants per capita than we’ve ever seen.
Looking for More Things to Do in Ontario?
While Sudbury offers a lot, Ontario is a massive province with so many amazing things to do. For more ideas of things to do in Ontario, check out these travel guides below.
Looking forward to visiting Nina’s Way
Lots of good info! Thanks!