Hamilton itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Hamilton, day by day: Webster's Falls, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Dundurn Castle, HMCS Haida and the Art Gallery of Hamilton first, then the Cathedral Basilica, Bayfront Park, Gage Park, the Devil's Punch Bowl and Albion Falls with a second day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Hamilton in 1 day
Day 1
Webster's Falls
Wide curtain waterfall in the Spencer Gorge near Dundas, with a stone bridge and a park above it.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Canada's largest botanical garden, around Cootes Paradise, with themed gardens, a rose garden, arboretum and nature trails.
Dundurn Castle
Italianate villa of the 1830s built for Sir Allan MacNab, shown on guided tours with its kitchens and gardens.
HMCS Haida
Second World War Tribal-class destroyer, the last of its kind, now a Parks Canada museum ship moored at Pier 9 on Hamilton Harbour.
Art Gallery of Hamilton
One of Ontario's largest public art galleries, downtown on King Street West, with Canadian and European art.
Hamilton in 2 days
Day 1
Webster's Falls
Wide curtain waterfall in the Spencer Gorge near Dundas, with a stone bridge and a park above it.
Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King
Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral of 1933 on King Street West, with tall spires and fine stained glass.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Canada's largest botanical garden, around Cootes Paradise, with themed gardens, a rose garden, arboretum and nature trails.
Dundurn Castle
Italianate villa of the 1830s built for Sir Allan MacNab, shown on guided tours with its kitchens and gardens.
Art Gallery of Hamilton
One of Ontario's largest public art galleries, downtown on King Street West, with Canadian and European art.
Bayfront Park
Waterfront park on Hamilton Harbour north-west of downtown, with open lawns and paved paths on the Hamilton Waterfront Trail.
Day 2
HMCS Haida
Second World War Tribal-class destroyer, the last of its kind, now a Parks Canada museum ship moored at Pier 9 on Hamilton Harbour.
Gage Park
City park in east Hamilton with formal gardens, a fountain, a bandshell and a tropical greenhouse, known for its autumn chrysanthemum show.
Devil's Punch Bowl
Deep escarpment gorge in Stoney Creek with a ribbon waterfall, a lookout over the city and a large cross.
Albion Falls
Cascade waterfall on Red Hill Creek in the east of the city, seen from a viewing platform by the parking area.
Watch: Hamilton
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Hamilton
May to October is the best time, with spring the best for the waterfalls and late September to October for autumn colours on the escarpment. Summer is warm and humid, and winter is cold and snowy, with icy trails. The Supercrawl arts and music festival on James Street North takes place in September.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Hamilton on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Hamilton on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Hamilton on GetYourGuide
- From the airport: a private transfer in Hamilton with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Canada from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Hamilton
- Hamilton has over a hundred waterfalls on the Niagara Escarpment; most flow best in spring and after rain, and some are little more than a trickle in late summer.
- Webster's Falls and other busy conservation areas may need a parking or entry reservation on weekends and holidays; check before going.
- Dundurn Castle is a city-run historic house shown by guided tour on limited opening days; check before planning a visit.
- Stay on marked trails near the falls; the escarpment edges are steep and closed areas are fenced for safety.
- HMCS Haida, a Second World War destroyer, is a Parks Canada site at Pier 9 on the harbour, open for visits in the warmer months.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Albion Falls: Rick Cordeiro, Public domain
- Art Gallery of Hamilton: Jeff Hitchcock from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Bayfront Park: Nhl4hamilton, Public domain
- Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King: Jfvoll, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Devil's Punch Bowl: Nhl4hamilton | Chit-Chat, Public domain
- Dundurn Castle: Nhl4hamilton (Rick Cordeiro), Public domain
- Gage Park: LED BodyBuilding, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HMCS Haida: Balcer~commonswiki, CC BY 2.5
- Royal Botanical Gardens: unknown author, Public domain
- Webster's Falls: paul (dex) bica from toronto, canada, CC BY 2.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
