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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Stratford
Stratford, Ontario
Go for one night if you have a Festival ticket; two nights if you want the river walk and a day trip. Without a show, Stratford is a half-day stop.
Stratford is a small city in Perth County, about 1.5 hours west of Toronto by car, built around the Stratford Festival — North America's largest classical repertory theatre, running April to October. Outside show season the town is quiet: the Avon River park, a few galleries and the museum carry a short visit. Most travellers come for a performance, sleep downtown, and leave the next morning.
- Country
- Canada
- Local name
- Stratford, Ontario
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (Festival season, warm); late Sep–Oct for fall colour
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, −10 °C (14 °F) nights, most theatres dark)Jan–Feb (cold, 14 °F (−10 °C) nights, most theatres dark)
- 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 $90–140 excl. bed · Mid $150–230 excl. bed · High $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, 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 and pastry | $5–9 |
| Pub main (burger, pasta, pizza) | $17–27 |
| Splurge dinner main | $44–60 |
| Draught beer in a pub | $8–10 |
| In-town taxi flat rate | $10–15 |
| Museum adult entry | $10 |
| Festival theatre tour | $15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YYZ · Toronto Pearson International
- No rail link to Stratford; Stratford Airporter shuttle, about 2 h, or drive Highway 401 to Kitchener then Highways 7/8.
- YKF · Region of Waterloo International (Kitchener)
- Closest airport; about 45 min by car. Check onward bus or taxi options.
- YXU · London International
- About 1 h by car; PC Connect and FlixBus run from London.
Typical fares
- Stratford Airporter, YYZ to Stratford
- $129 for one person, about 2 h
- VIA Rail Stratford to Toronto
- about $30–60, about 2 h (check)
- GO Transit Stratford to Toronto
- about $20–25 e-ticket, about 2 h 40 min (check)
- In-town taxi flat rate
- $10–15
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable: downtown to the Festival Theatre is about 15 minutes on foot along the river. Stratford Transit runs six routes Monday–Saturday roughly 8:00–22:00 from the Downie Street terminal; Sunday service is on-demand by phone or app. Taxis are plentiful and charge a flat in-town rate. A car helps for the museum and day trips.The centre is walkable: downtown to the Festival Theatre is about 15 minutes on foot along the river. Stratford Transit runs six routes Monday–Saturday roughly 8:00 AM–10:00 PM from the Downie Street terminal; Sunday service is on-demand by phone or app. Taxis are plentiful and charge a flat in-town rate. A car helps for the museum and day trips.
See and do
Known for
- Stratford Festival theatre
- Avon River park and swans
- Perth County pork and brewing
- Justin Bieber's hometown
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| St. Marys | VIA Rail from Stratford station, about 15 min, or 20 min by car on Highway 7 | About 45 min |
| Wildwood Conservation Area | Car west on Highway 7, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| London, Ontario | FlixBus or PC Connect from Stratford, or 1 h by car on Highway 7 | 1.5–2 h |
| Toronto | GO Transit train, about 2 h 40 min, or VIA Rail; limited daily departures | About 3 h |
Sleep
- Downtown core (Ontario, Downie and Wellington streets)
- Walk to the Avon, Studio and Tom Patterson theatres and to most restaurants. Book early for Festival weekends.
- Near the Festival Theatre (Queen Street / Lakeside Drive)
- Quietest for the main stage; 10–15 min walk to downtown.
- Highway 8 and Ontario Street strip
- Motels and chain hotels with parking; 20–30 min walk or a short taxi to the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Excuse me | Excuse me |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the theatre? | Where is the theatre? |
| A table for two, please | A table for two, please |
| 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
- Festival tickets sell out months ahead for popular titles: book on the official Festival site, not resale.
- Pre-theatre dinner tables fill from about 17:30: reserve.
- GO Transit trains between Toronto and Stratford run limited weekday and weekend trips, and Stratford station has no Presto readers or ticket machines — buy an e-ticket on your phone before boarding.
- Winter nights drop below −10 °C and pavements ice over; most Festival venues are dark from November to March.
Stratford is a low-crime small city; the real risks are winter ice, deer and cyclists on the river paths at dusk, and driving Highway 7/8 after a late show. Keep to lit streets downtown at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Stratford yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Stratford Festival theatre
- Avon River park and swans
- Perth County pork and brewing
- Justin Bieber's hometown
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 Stratford — official site: www.city.stratford.on.ca/
- Destination Stratford — visitor information: visitstratford.ca/
- Stratford Festival — official site: www.stratfordfestival.ca/
- VIA Rail — Stratford station: www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/ontario/Stratford
- GO Transit: www.gotransit.com/
- FlixBus: www.flixbus.com/home
- PC Connect transit: www.stratford.ca/en/live-here/pc-connect-transit.aspx
- Wikivoyage: Stratford (Ontario), revision 5331306 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5331306
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
StratfordStratford, Ontario
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies in Stratford; the US consulate-general is in Toronto. Most countries' missions are in Ottawa, with consulates in Toronto.
English is the working language; no phrasebook needed. Tipping 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/stratford-ontario). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.