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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough
Give Peterborough one full day and one night: the Lift Lock, the Canoe Museum and downtown are a day; two nights only if you add the Kawarthas lakes.
Peterborough is the hub of the Kawarthas, about 1 h 30 min by car northeast of Toronto, with a walkable downtown, the world's highest hydraulic lift lock and the Canadian Canoe Museum. It works as a one-night stop on the way to the Kawartha Lakes, or a day trip from Toronto. Two nights let you add Lakefield, Buckhorn or Stoney Lake.
- Country
- Canada
- Local name
- Peterborough
- Best months
- Jun–Sep for the canal, fountain and boat cruises; late Sep–early Oct for fall colour
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, snow, some attractions closed); mid-Oct to mid-May for canal and cruise operations
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$90–140 excl. bed · Mid C$150–230 excl. bed · High C$250+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire and ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2–5 |
| Deli sandwich or lunch main | C$12–20 |
| Pub main (burger, fish and chips) | C$18–30 |
| Draught beer in a pub | C$7–9 |
| Peterborough Transit single fare | C$3.50 exact change (check) |
| Canadian Canoe Museum adult admission | C$20 + HST (check) |
| Liftlock sightseeing cruise, adult | C$26.50 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YYZ · Toronto Pearson International
- About 150 km west; no direct rail link, so a car, bus or shuttle is needed.About 93 mi west; no direct rail link, so a car, bus or shuttle is needed.
- YPQ · Peterborough Airport
- No scheduled flights.
Typical fares
- GO bus Oshawa → Peterborough
- C$14.30, about 1 h 10 min (check)
- GO train + bus, Toronto → Peterborough
- about C$19.10 combined (check)
- Taxi across downtown
- C$10–15 (check)
Get around
Downtown is walkable. Peterborough Transit buses run every 30–60 min on most routes, with reduced weekend service and no weekend service on some routes; single fare $3.50 exact change, day pass $13 for two adults (2026 estimate). Taxis are hard to hail downtown, so call ahead. Bike paths run through Jackson Park and along the Trent River to Trent University and Lakefield. A car is best for the Kawarthas.
See and do
Known for
- Peterborough Lift Lock
- Canadian Canoe Museum
- Trent-Severn Waterway
- Kawarthas gateway
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lakefield and Buckhorn | Drive north on Highway 28, about 20 min to Lakefield and 45 min to Buckhorn | About 1 h to Buckhorn |
| Bobcaygeon | Drive north on Highway 36, about 50 min | About 1 h |
| Fenelon Falls | Drive north on Highway 121, about 1 h | About 1 h 10 min |
| Lindsay | Drive west on Highway 7, about 45 min | About 50 min |
Sleep
- Downtown (George St and Hunter St)
- Walk to restaurants, Market Hall and Little Lake; the best base without a car.
- Little Lake waterfront
- Hotels on George St N with lake views, a short walk from downtown.
- Lansdowne St (Highway 7 corridor)
- Chain hotels with parking; a drive to downtown and the Lift Lock.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Sorry |
| The bill, please | The bill, please |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the washroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Peterborough has an ongoing opioid and housing crisis; expect visible street drug use in parts of downtown, especially after dark.
- Do not leave valuables in a parked car.
- Winter driving: snow tires and a scraper are the norm from November to March.
- Some attractions and boat cruises operate only from mid-May to mid-October: check dates before you build a day around them.
Peterborough is generally safe for visitors, but downtown has a visible opioid and housing crisis: keep your wits after dark, do not leave bags in the car, and call 911 for emergencies.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Peterborough, Ontario yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Peterborough Lift Lock
- Canadian Canoe Museum
- Trent-Severn Waterway
- Kawarthas gateway
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Peterborough: www.peterborough.ca/
- Peterborough Transit: www.peterborough.ca/en/city-services/transit.aspx
- GO Transit: www.gotransit.com/
- Canadian Canoe Museum: canoemuseum.ca/
- Lang Pioneer Village Museum: www.langpioneervillage.ca/
- Riverview Park & Zoo: www.peterboroughutilities.ca/Park_and_Zoo
- Wikivoyage: Peterborough (Ontario), revision 5309954 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5309954
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Peterborough, OntarioPeterborough
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire and ambulance911
No embassies in Peterborough; the US consulate general is in Toronto, and most other countries have embassies in Ottawa.
Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/peterborough-ontario). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.