Barrie - Orillia Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Collingwood featuring heritage architecture, a small town or village and street scenes
Barrie - Orillia
Barrie - Orillia featuring a bay or harbour
Barrie - Orillia
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park which includes a beach
The large and small lakes, quiet wooded areas, sophisticated dining and great festivals of these two Ontario cities provide excellent vacation opportunities.

Just a short drive apart, the two cities of the Barrie-Orillia region on Lake Simcoe offer your choice of exciting or relaxing vacation activities. Visit pretty parks with miles of walking trails throughout Ontario’s Lake Country. Enjoy varied watersports on the lakes.

Find a small lake or a quiet bay on Lake Simcoe or Lake Couchiching to kayak, canoe, learn how to stand-up paddleboard or simply relax on a beach. Jet Ski or rent a motorboat to explore the open waters. Fish for perch, bass and lake trout by boat, from shore or inside a winter ice-fishing shack.

For a great multiday walk, follow roughly 60 miles (100 kilometers) of the Trans Canada Trail between Barrie and Orillia by way of Midland. Hike the region to see spring wildflowers and fall foliage. Cross-country ski, snowshoe and even dogsled in winter.

Both cities have preserved historic buildings. In Orillia, see dinner and a show at the Opera House, built in 1895. Learn about Ontario history from early First Nations people through the War of 1812 to modern times on one of several self-guided Heritage Barrie Walking Tours. After your tour, have a meal at one of the more than 500 restaurants of Barrie-Orillia, from casual to fine dining and ethnic food.

While Barrie is significantly larger than Orillia, both cities have extensive festival schedules throughout the year. Come for Orillia’s winter carnival, spring perch festival or autumn jazz festival. Wander through downtown all summer to see the Streets Alive! artwork by local artists, featuring a common structural foundation and amazingly diverse execution. Barrie’s summer Kempenfest offers arts and crafts, music, antiques and kids’ events. Winter brings a tree-lighting celebration and Santa Claus parade.

Drive north from TorontoOpens in a new window for about 1 hour to reach Barrie and another 30 minutes northeast to arrive in Orillia. Build your vacation around one or more of the popular festivals and travel between the cities to fully appreciate this beautiful part of the province.

Where to stay in Barrie - Orillia

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Gilford

Gilford might not have many top sights, but Holland Marsh and Big Cedar Golf Club are two attractions nearby that you can check out.

Gilford
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Colling Woodlands

When in Colling Woodlands, you can plan a visit to Blue Mountain Ski Resort and Cranberry Resort Golf Course, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Colling Woodlands
Monte Carlo Inn Barrie Suites
Monte Carlo Inn Barrie Suites
3 out of 5
81 Hart Dr, Barrie, ON
The price is AU$133 per night from 18 Feb to 19 Feb
AU$133
includes taxes & fees
18 Feb - 19 Feb
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Barrie. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,773 reviews)
"Convenient close off the highway. Right price. Friendly staff."

Reviewed on 14 Feb. 2025

Monte Carlo Inn Barrie Suites
Travelodge by Wyndham Barrie
Travelodge by Wyndham Barrie
2 out of 5
300 Bayfield St, Barrie, ON
The price is AU$90 per night from 16 Mar to 17 Mar
AU$90
includes taxes & fees
16 Mar - 17 Mar
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Barrie. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,219 reviews)
"Perfect location for what i needed"

Reviewed on 14 Feb. 2025

Travelodge by Wyndham Barrie
Super 8 by Wyndham Barrie South
Super 8 by Wyndham Barrie South
2 out of 5
441 Bryne Drive, Barrie, ON
The price is AU$96 per night from 2 Mar to 3 Mar
AU$96
includes taxes & fees
2 Mar - 3 Mar
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Barrie. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
7.4/10 Good! (1,313 reviews)
"Desk clerk so sweet room very clean easy check in"

Reviewed on 10 Feb. 2025

Super 8 by Wyndham Barrie South
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Parkside House
Parkside House
3.5 out of 5
15 Parkside Dr, Barrie, ON
Stay at this 3.5-star apartment in Barrie. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a garden. Popular attractions Mady Centre for the Performing Arts and Splashon ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (285 reviews)
Excellent value for a wonderful place!
"This was an amazing stay. This was tbe best, highest rated, cheapest property in the area. I booked it last minute due to weather and the owners were professional, considerate, prompt, helpful, and thorough. The place was great! So much larger and nicer than a hotel. Really big, private, comfortable, ..."

Reviewed on 13 Feb. 2025

Parkside House
The yellow cottage - rustic renovated at the core of Wasaga beach
The yellow cottage - rustic renovated at the core of Wasaga beach
Wasaga Beach
Stay at this cottage in Wasaga Beach. Enjoy an in-room coffeemaker, in-room fireplaces, and air conditioning. Popular attractions Skull Island Adventure Golf ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (15 reviews)
"It was very nice "Back to 70's" kind of charming cottage. Owner and care taker were very nice. Just a problem was shower. It seems couldn't run hot and cold water same time. I struggled quite long time but only choice I got was shower in icy cold water or burning hot water. Every thing else was good ..."

Reviewed on 20 Jan. 2025

The yellow cottage - rustic renovated at the core of Wasaga beach
6 Bedroom Executive Cottage near Innisfil Beach - Special Winter Discount 20-35%
6 Bedroom Executive Cottage near Innisfil Beach - Special Winter Discount 20-35%
Alcona
Book a stay at this ski cottage in Innisfil. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and ski-in/ski-out access. Popular attractions Big Cedar Golf Club and Fox Island are ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (75 reviews)
Family fishing trip
"We found the home perfect for our family, the six bedrooms and large couches and dining table plus a fantastic kitchen really made it easy to relax cook and enjoy each others company. We were totally pleased with Kaleem’s home and his acssesability for questions"

Reviewed on 22 Jan. 2025

6 Bedroom Executive Cottage near Innisfil Beach - Special Winter Discount 20-35%
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Cities near Barrie - Orillia