Visiting Burlington
Welcome to Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario between Toronto & Niagara Falls, beautiful Burlington awaits you.
Travelling to Burlington
Burlington is conveniently located next to major highways that easily connect to the Greater Toronto Area, the Niagara Region and Kitchener/Waterloo and within 45 minutes of 4 major international airports: Toronto Pearson, Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo and Buffalo.
Getting to Burlington is easy! Go Transit and Via Rail also provide service to Burlington and beyond. In the City use Burlington Transit and we are also a cycle-friendly community.
Need help getting here?
Visitor Information Centre: 414 Locust Street, Burlington, Ontario, L7S 1T7
Phone: 905.634.5594
Toll-Free: 1.877.499.9989
Fax: 905.634.7220
E-mail: info@tourismburlington.com
Border Crossing
Make sure you carry proper identification for yourself and any children travelling with you to assist in confirming your legal right or authorization to enter Canada upon your arrival. Click here for information about required border crossing identification including travelling with minors. This website shows the estimated wait times for reaching the primary inspection booth. Click here to apply for a Canadian Passport.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a Canadian visa entry requirement for travellers from countries that currently do not need a visa for entry (US citizens excluded). This requirement came into effect on November 9, 2016.
NEXUS is designed to speed up border crossings for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States (U.S.). It is jointly run by the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Review the Canadian Border Services Agency for further information about NEXUS passes.
An Enhanced Ontario Drivers License (EDL) is an upgrade to an Ontario driver’s license that acts as a travel document between Canada and the United States of America when travelling by road or water.
The importation of certain goods is restricted or prohibited in Canada. To avoid the possibility of penalties, including seizure or prosecution, make sure you have the information you require before attempting to import items into Canada. Despite the fact that cannabis (marijuana) is legal and regulated in Canada, it remains illegal to take cannabis across Canada’s national borders, whether you are entering or leaving Canada. For more information, consult cannabis (marijuana) legalization.
When you return to Canada, you may qualify for a personal exemption. This allows you to bring goods of a certain value into the country without paying regular duties and taxes, except for a minimum duty that may apply to some tobacco products.
For information regarding visas and entry requirements for Canada, contact Immigration Canada at 1.888.242.2100 (in Canada). From outside Canada, please contact the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission, or consulate in your region.
Travel Tips
Electricity
Outlets and voltage (110 volts) are the same as in the United States. Small appliances such as hair dryers, irons, razors, etc. can be used in Canada. For those from other countries, adapters are required for electrical appliances. The frequency of the electrical current in Canada is 60 Hz.
Food & Beverages
An extensive variety of cuisine is available in Burlington including fine dining, casual, and family-friendly restaurants. In Ontario, alcohol can only be sold in retail establishments designated by the provincial government including Beer, LCBO and selected grocery stores. Minors under the age of 19 are not permitted to consume, sell or purchase alcohol.
Holidays
There are 10 statutory holidays and one civic holiday celebrated annually in Ontario. Generally, banks and some businesses remain closed. Theatres, restaurants, and corner grocery stores remain open for business as usual. In some tourist areas shops remain open.
Language
Canada has two official languages – English and French. English is the predominant language in Ontario.
Metric Measures & Metric Equivalents
Canada follows the International Metric System. Temperatures, rainfall measures, distance, weights, and velocity are expressed in metric units. Distance is measured in kilometres.
Newspapers
Residents of Burlington stay informed through a variety of daily and weekly newspapers that service a wide range of cultural interests. The weekly newspaper is the Burlington Post. Many residents also subscribe to the Hamilton Spectator a daily paper, which covers the Hamilton, Halton and Niagara areas. For local business information, the Globe and Mail and National Post provide national and international news on a daily basis.
Phones
There are a number of different telephone area codes for the province of Ontario. Dialling requires 10-digit phone numbers, so ensure you include the correct area code in front of the local number you are dialling.
A recorded message will play if you have dialled a long-distance number and will provide redialing instructions. Phone calls to some areas of Hamilton, Toronto and Niagara are long-distance, but most businesses have either toll-free or local-call numbers.
If you’re calling from within Canada or the United States, direct dialling is 1. area code. phone.number (e.g. 1.905.634.5594). If you’re calling from outside North America, you can dial directly to Ontario numbers. Simply use the international access code 00 if you’re calling from countries in Europe and 0011 if you’re calling from Australia. Then dial our country code 1, the area code and the number. (e.g. 00.1.905.634.5594).
Cell Phone Use & Driving
Ontario law prohibits the use of cell phones and other handheld devices while driving. Hands-free use is permitted.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted by law in public buildings, on public transit, in shopping malls, and in restaurants, patios, pubs, nightclubs and casinos. Please smoke in designated areas only.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking or having lighted tobacco in a motor vehicle while a person under 16 years old is present. For more information, contact your Public Health Unit or call the INFOline toll-free at 1-866-396-1760 or a smoke-free website.
Cannabis is now legal in Canada and each province has different processes. In Ontario, the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation, operates the Ontario Cannabis Store, a Crown corporation that is currently the sole legal retailer of recreational cannabis in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Time Zone
Ontario is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone. Daylight Savings Time is in effect from 0200hr on the second Sunday in March until 0200hr on the first Sunday in November.
Tipping
Some properties and hotels include tips or gratuities for tour groups to simplify bookkeeping. This will usually include gratuities for housekeeping, bell service and food service. If meals are included in the price, customary gratuity will be calculated at 15 percent.
What to Wear
In Burlington, we enjoy all four seasons and smart casual clothes will see you through most situations. Refer to the Weather Channel for the current forecast.
Summer
Burlington enjoys warm, summers. June to August daytime high temperatures range from 24-27º Celsius (75-80º F). Evenings can be cool, especially by the lake, so it’s best to pack a light jacket and sweater.
Fall
Autumn can often be mild with summer-like weather stretching into September. Usually, by October, the air turns crisp and leaves start falling. Bring warm, waterproof clothing if visiting this time of year and expect to see spectacular foliage!
Winter
Our winters can be cold and fairly wet with snowfall from November to March, and temperatures average from -1º to -10º Celsius (30 to – 14ºF). To stay cozy and dry, you’ll need winter apparel. Waterproof footwear is always a good idea.
Spring
Spring arrives in April when you’ll see early crocuses and daffodils popping up, followed by lots of spring blossoms. Pack lighter clothing along with a warm spring jacket, sweater and umbrella for the spring showers.
Visitors with Disabilities
Burlington strives to be an accessible city for travellers with special needs. Visitors with disabilities can take charge of their travel needs by consulting The Canadian Travel Agencies guide for those with special requirements and for Accessibility standards in Ontario.
Venue Accessibility Rating
Tourism Burlington in partnership with the City of Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee (BAAC) has adopted the following accessibility rating symbols and definitions to assist people with disabilities to find venues that best suit their needs. This accessibility rating system has been adapted from the City of Vancouver’s “Accessible Vancouver” program. Venues that display these icons have undertaken a site audit by members of the BAAC. Not all attractions, restaurants or hotels have been rated at this time, but we are diligently working towards that goal.
| Wheelchair Accessibility – Partially Accessible (PA) Business has no physical barriers limiting entry into the business; however, barriers are present in or around the business limiting access for people using wheelchairs, scooters and other personal mobility devices. For example, the property could lack power door operators at the entrance and/or washrooms. |
| Wheelchair Accessibility – Fully Accessible (FA) Business has no physical barriers into or around the building, or to key amenities and services, which would limit access for people using wheelchairs, scooters and other personal mobility devices. For example, power door operators provided at the entrance and at washrooms, clear circulation, and furnishings can be reconfigured to suit needs. |
| Vision Accessibility (VA) Business has appropriate emergency alarms and offers communication material in alternate formats accessible for people with vision loss. For example, materials offered in Braille and large print, adjustable lighting levels and good colour contrast throughout the facility. |
| Hearing Accessibility (HA) Business has appropriate emergency alarms and is aware of the communication needs of people with hearing loss. For example, flashing alarms, adjustable lighting levels, and adjustable audio levels. |
