Sudbury (Ontario)
Understand
Sudbury's weather is typical of locations on the Canadian Shield, with hot summers and cold winters. The city is particularly renowned for its outdoor recreation opportunities, with summer and winter activities being quite popular. The city has a somewhat unfair and outdated reputation as an environmental wasteland, due to past environmental damage from the local mining industry, but various environmental reclamation projects since the 1970s have given many parts of the city a rugged natural beauty that capitalizes on the region's many lakes, forests and rocky hills.
International visitors to Sudbury will feel right at home. The city is home to vibrant Italian, Finnish, Ukrainian, French, Polish and Aboriginal communities. You can expect to hear many of these languages being spoken regularly, though almost all residents speak English as well. Because Sudbury is officially bilingual, all city services are available in French and English. Road signs and street names are also posted in both official languages. The city celebrates its multicultural heritage on the Bridge of Nations, a downtown structure featuring the flags of every nation represented among the city's population.
Get in
By plane
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phone: +1 705-693-2514address: 5000 Air Terminal Drive, GarsonThe Greater Sudbury Airport is served by Air Canada Express, which provides six daily flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport (), and Bearskin Airlines, which operates flights from Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Kapuskasing, Thunder Bay, North Bay and Timmins. Connecting flights to other communities can be made at any of these other airports. Porter Airlines is now offering flights from the Billy Bishop Toronto Island Airport ().
By train
Sudbury is served by VIA Rail service, through the Sudbury Junction and Capreol rail stations.
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By car
Sudbury is served by three major provincial highways.
- Highway 17 leads west to Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and western Canada, and east to North Bay, Ottawa and the province of Quebec. A 20-km stretch of Highway 17 within the city boundaries is freeway, but Sudbury has no freeway connections to other communities.
- Highway 69 leads south to Parry Sound, where it becomes the Highway 400 freeway to Toronto. (Highway 400 will eventually extend all the way to Sudbury; however, as of March 2018 the construction is delayed.)
- Highway 144 leads north to Timmins.
Some quiet roads are in poor shape, however much effort has been put into repairing them.By bus
Sudbury is served by Ontario Northland connections to North Bay, Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Toronto. Sudbury is Greyhound's northern terminus - express service to Toronto, and service to Ottawa with connections to Montreal and points east.
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Get around
Greater Sudbury Transit offers bus service within the city, operating from a central downtown terminal. The urban core of the city is served by lines that generally operate on the half hour during peak travel times, and on the hour late at night and on Sundays. More remote areas of the city are not served as frequently, but some bus service is available.
You can take the bus from one end of town to the other (about 60 km) for $2.80. Multi-ride passes are also available, in addition to unlimited 31-day passes.
See
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phone: +1 705 523-4629address: 100 Ramsey Lake RdA science education centre built atop an ancient earthquake fault on the shore of Lake Ramsey. Its distinctive snowflake shape has become one of Sudbury's famous landmarks. Features include an IMAX theatre, a butterfly gallery, a robotics lab, and interactive exhibits on geology, animal biology and other areas of science.
- The grounds of Science North are also home to the William Ramsey, a boat which offers cruise tours of the beautiful Lake Ramsey, which was once the world's largest lake contained entirely within the boundaries of a single city. (It lost this status in 2001, when the newly merged city of Greater Sudbury enclosed a larger lake.)
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phone: +1 705 523-4629address: 122 Big Nickel Mine RdAn earth sciences exhibition, operated by Science North on a separate site. It is home to the Big Nickel, Sudbury's most famous landmark.
Bell ParkA park and amphitheatre on the shore of Lake Ramsey. It is connected by a lakefront boardwalk to the Science North grounds.
- Pioneer heritage museums in the city show how Northern Ontario's earliest settlers lived. These include the Flour Mill Heritage Museum, the Copper Cliff Museum, the Anderson Farm Museum, the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre and the Capreol Prescott Museum.
Ecotourism
Sudbury is a ruggedly beautiful city, with many forests, lakes and rocky hills throughout the area.
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A.Y. Jackson Scenic Lookout
phone: +1 705 855-3326Named for the Canadian "Group of Seven" artist, provides a spectacular view of High Falls on the Onaping River off Highway 144, 43 km northwest of downtown Sudbury. There is also a travel information centre and a picnic area. -
phone: +1 705 521-6587A popular wilderness retreat just east of the city.
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Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
phone: +1 705 674-3271A large parkland area in the south end of the city, with 55km of hiking, jogging, biking and ski trails for exploration.
Culture
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Art Gallery of Sudbury
phone: +1 705 674-3271address: 251 John StPresents regular exhibitions of historical and contemporary Canadian art. -
La Galerie du Nouvel Ontario
phone: +1 705 673-4927address: 174 Elgin StreetPresents contemporary and experimental Canadian art, with a special focus on French Canadian artists. -
Sudbury Symphony Orchestra
phone: +1 705 674-8381Performs concerts throughout the year. -
Sudbury Theatre Centre
phone: +1 705 674-8381address: Shaughnessy StreetPresents comedy and drama, including works by Canadian playwrights, throughout the year. CinéfestAn annual film festival, the fourth largest in Canada, which presents a program of over 100 films each September.
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Le Théâtre du Nouvel Ontario
phone: +1 705 525-5606Presents comedy and drama by franco-ontarian and Québécois playwrights throughout the year. -
Northern Lights Festival Boréal
phone: +1 705 674-5512An annual festival of folk, blues and rock music each July in Bell Park. -
Centre franco-ontarien de folklore
phone: +1 705 675-8986address: 1169 Dollard StThe world's largest collection of Franco-Ontarian books, documents and cultural heritage. -
address: 40 Eyre Street Sudbury, Ontario
Do
Fun in the Sun: Sudbury is a city of lakes, in fact holding over 300 lakes within its borders, including Lake Wanapitei, the largest city-contained lake in the world, and Lake Ramsey, the central lake within the city. No matter where in town you happen to be, it's never more than a short walk to a beach. The City of Greater Sudbury has five supervised beaches with professional lifeguards during the summer, but there are uncountable smaller beaches with nothing but sand and water.
Watersports: Fishing is a popular activity in the summer. Species of trout, splake, pike, pickerel, muskie and bass can be found in most of Sudbury's lakes. Be sure to inquire about seasons and licenses before heading out on the water. Some lakes (especially the urban lakes) have strict guidelines for operating watercraft. Be sure to ask about them before launching a boat.
Snowmobiling: Sudbury has one of the largest systems of groomed trails in the world. The Sudbury Trail Plan connects to the trail systems of other communities, creating a network of 1300 km of trails. Contact the Sudbury Trail Plan Association for more information, as they are considered the authority on trail closures, maintenance, and the monitoring of lake ice.
Hiking: The Trans-Canada Trail runs through Sudbury. The trail twists along the shores of Junction Creek through much of the city. Put on some good shoes and stroll through Sudbury's "urban wilderness".
Enjoy the View: Huge rocky hills cut through Sudbury, dividing the city into its boroughs. These hills remain largely undeveloped to this day. One can hike to the top of these "mountains" and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Geology buffs can scour the black bedrock for shatter cones: the remnants of a meteorite impact millions of years ago which created the Sudbury Basin.
Golfing: Greater Sudbury offers a wide selection of 9- and 18-hole golf courses including Blackstone Golf Course +1-800-440-2887, Buck Ridge Golf Course +1 705-853-2825, Lively Golf and Country Club +1 705-692-5502, Pine Grove Golf Course +1 705-560-1090, Timberwolf Golf Club +1-877-689-8853 and Twin Stacks Golf Course +1 705-694-2131.
Winter Sports: Winters are very long in Sudbury, but they certainly aren't boring. Be sure to try some of the following winter activities:
- Skiing: There are three downhill skiing facilities in Sudbury; Adanac Ski Center, Capreol Ski Hill and Lively Ski Hill. Ski rentals are available at all four locations. If cross-country is more your style, the 23 km Naughton Ski Trails run through a quiet forest. The tracks are groomed regularly and the trail is illuminated at night. Call the Walden Ski Club for passes. There are numerous other groomed ski trails in and around town as well.
- Ice Fishing: Fishing is not limited to the summer. All you need is a hook, some fishing line and an ice auger to enjoy this popular winter pastime. There is usually enough ice on Sudbury lakes to support a truck, so don't worry about falling through the ice! Be sure to enquire about licenses before heading out. Local bait shops can issue temporary fishing permits. Ice fishing huts must be off of the ice by March 1st.
- Skating: Science North has cleared and polished an ice skating surface from their grounds to the Bell Park beach area (about 1.5 km). Use of this ice surface is free of charge. There are numerous hockey rinks and skating ovals in and around town, so grab your hockey sticks and try to join a game!
Other things to do:
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phone: +1 705 897-6302address: 3316 St Laurent St. (on Valley View Rd) Street, West ChelmsfordPlay 63 custom holes and choose any combination.
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address: FoleyetFly-In fishing on remote Northern Ontario lakes for great fishing in remote outpost cabins.
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phone: +1 705-983-4255address: AzildaSudbury Aviation operates ten northern fly-in fishing camps north of Sudbury Ontario for the ultimate outdoor experience.
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address: 400 Bonin Road, Chelmsford
Learn
Sudbury is home to three major postsecondary institutions.
- Laurentian University is a bilingual university which offers primarily undergraduate programs, although some graduate degrees are available as well. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine, shared between Laurentian and Thunder Bay's Lakehead University, opened in September 2005.
- Cambrian College is an English college of applied arts and technology.
- Collège Boréal is a French college of applied arts and technology with several satellite campuses in other Ontario communities.
Buy
Sudbury is Northern Ontario's major retail centre. Shopping areas include the Rainbow Value Centre, the Rio-Can Power Centre on the Kingsway, the New Sudbury Centre at the corner of Barrydowne and Lasalle +1 705-566-9080 and the Southridge Mall at Regent and Paris Streets. There are also many "big box" stores on Notre Dame between downtown Sudbury and the North End.
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The Mogensen Moccasin Company Trading Post and Pow Wow
address: 819 Hwy 17 East, Wahnapitae
Eat
Downtown
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Alexandria's
address: 211 Shaughnessy St -
The Doghouse
address: 212 Romanet Ln -
Frank's Delicatessen
address: 112 Durham St -
Gonga's Grill
address: 233 Brady St -
Gus's
address: 336 Elm St -
Harmony Café
address: 140 Durham St -
The Hourglass
address: 183 Cedar St The Laughing BuddhaSee the listing under "Drink"
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Nibblers
address: 70 Young St -
address: 259 Elm St
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Pasta e Vino
address: 118 Paris St -
Peddlers Pub
address: 63 Cedar St PestosRamada Inn, Rainbow Value Centre
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Respect is Burning
address: 82 Durham StGreat (mostly Italian) food with an individual twist in a lively setting. -
Sapporo Ichibang
address: 79 Cedar St -
Spencer's Bistro
phone: +1 705 674-1737address: 117 Elm St -
Stella's
address: 11 Cedar St -
Tower Café
address: 30 Cedar St Wacky WingsSee the listing under "Drink"
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Williams Coffee Pub
address: 43 Elm St
New Sudbury/The Kingsway
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Apollo's Restaurant & Tavern
address: 844 The KingswayFamily run Greek restaurant, great food, quieter, more romantic setting. -
Café Korea
address: 798 Lasalle Blvd -
Gonga's Grill
address: 467 Falconbridge Rd -
Herc's
address: 875 Notre Dame Ave -
Jak's Diner
address: 1100 Barrydowne Rd -
Kings Buffet
address: 1051 The KingswayChinese food a la carte or from the buffet Laura Fratelli's
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Little India
address: 893 Notre Dame Ave -
M.I.C. Real Canadian Eatery
address: Falconbridge RoadAnother very popular sports bar -
Mr. Prime Rib
address: 777 Barrydowne Rd -
Orient
address: 480 Barrydowne Rd -
Osaka Sushi
address: 1899 Lasalle BlvdAll-you-can-eat sushi -
Pat & Mario's
address: 1463 Lasalle BlvdItalian restaurant with great food -
Sun Wah
address: 1540 Lasalle Blvd -
Teklenburg's
address: 1893 Lasalle Blvd
South End/Four Corners
Buzzy Brown'sSports bar with good food.
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Culpeppers
address: 1835 Regent Street S -
Eddie's
address: 1769 Regent St. S -
Gloria's
address: 469 Bouchard St -
Grumblers
address: 1620 Regent Street S -
Indian Summer
address: 1543 Paris StAuthentic Indian cuisine to eat in or take away. Landing'sSituated in Science North (see the listing under "See"). Fine dining with wonderful views over Ramsay Lake.
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Peking Gazebo
address: 1716 Regent St. S -
Ristorante Verdicchio
phone: +1 705 523-2794address: 1351D Kelly Lake RdFine Italian dining, well worth the splurge for special occasions. Reservations recommended. -
Tommy's Not Here
phone: +1 705 522-2822address: 1889 Regent StPossibly the finest dining in town, reservations recommended. A little more expensive than the chain restaurants, but definitely worth it. -
Umai Sushi
address: 1875 Paris St
Drink
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1500 Pub
address: 1500 Regent Street SouthLocated in the South End, the 1500 Pub features a huge outdoor patio, billiards, live bands and Karaoke nights. There is a motel attached so you don't have to walk home intoxicated! -
phone: +1 705 522-7891address: 2120 Regent Street SouthLocated in the South End Dooly's is a great place to go shoot some pool, or play foosball and have a few drinks with your friends. There is also a private pool table which you can rent with some friends and listen to the music you want to.
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address: 194 Elgin StA great place to relax with some great friends and great foods. Hidden gem, beautiful patio, excellent food
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Peddler's Pub
address: 63 Cedar StWidely regarded as Sudbury's best pub, Peddler's is located right downtown. An excellent selection of imported beer awaits you in this Irish-style pub. -
Rhythm & Cues
phone: +1 705 525-1117address: 1855 Lasalle BlvdGreat, vibrant venue on the prominent Lasalle Boulevard in New Sudbury. Play pool, select your favourite songs on the rockin' jukebox, or just relax and talk with friends. Rhythm & Cues is the Place To Be! -
phone: +1 705 692-4203address: 11 White Rd
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address: 93 Durham St.The place to go dancing on a Saturday night. Arrive early to avoid line ups.
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phone: +1 705 566-3601address: 225 Falconbridge RdUpscale nightclub popular Friday & Saturday Nights. Friday features a variety of themes while Saturday nights feature a hugely popular dance party with up to 5 DJs that keep the crowd dancing on 2 different dancefloors. Sudbury's largest outdoor patio bar in season.
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The Towne House
address: 206 Elgin StFeel like rocking out to local talent? The Towne House Tavern is where you're most likely to find Northern Ontario's best bands, as well as touring indie rock bands. -
Wacky Wings
address: 187 Shaughnessy StA classic sports bar with a log cabin interior. Gather here for all major sports events on TV. Over 100 flavours of wings. -
phone: +1 705 673-3873address: 54 Elgin StHome of Sudburys only LGBT bar and night life. Frequented by the non-LGBT community as well Zig's provides its customers with many unique drinks and delightful staff. Most up to date and dance-able music than any other bar, Zig's is accepting of all who enter.
Sleep
Budget
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Belmont Inn
phone: +1 705-673-1131address: 340 York St -
Canadiana Motel
phone: +1 705-674-7585address: 965 Lorne St -
Carol Campsite
address: 2388 Richard Lake Dr -
Four Sisters Motel
phone: +1 705-670-0071address: 1077 Lorne St -
Moonlight Inn & Suites Motel
address: 350 Moonlight Ave -
Red Carpet Inn
phone: +1-800-318-3356address: 450 Regional #55 Road, Lively -
Vacationland Campground & Marina
address: 2306 Nepewassi Lake Rd, Estaire -
Village Inn
address: 1005 Regional Rd 55, Lively
Mid-range
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Best Western Downtown Sudbury
address: 151 Larch St -
Comfort Inn
phone: +1 705-522-1101address: 2171 Regent St South -
Comfort Inn East
phone: +1 705-560-4502address: 440 Second Ave -
Days Inn
phone: +1 705-674-7517address: 117 Elm St -
Hampton Inn
phone: +1 705-523-5200address: 2270 Regent St -
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
phone: +1 705-675-5602address: 50 Brady St -
Knights Inn
phone: +1 705-674-4203address: 1145 Lorne StMotel -
phone: +1 705-566-0321address: 350 Moonlight AveValue & Comfort.
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Quality Inn & Conference Centre
address: 390 Elgin St -
Rocky's Lake Wanapitei
phone: +1 705-858-0500address: Lot 2, Wahnapitae First Nation, Capreol -
Sportsman's Lodge & Wilderness Resort
address: 240 Kukagami Lake Rd, Wahnapitae -
Super 8 Hotel
phone: +1 705-522-7600address: 1956 Regent St -
Uncle Jack's Log Cabin
address: 4735 Kasten Lake Rd
Splurge
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phone: +1 705-566-3601address: 225 Falconbridge Rd
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phone: +1 705-522-5010address: 1672 South Lane Road
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Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott
phone: +1 705 560-0111address: 490 Barrydowne Rd -
Holiday Inn Sudbury
phone: +1 705-522-3000address: 1696 Regent Street S -
phone: +1 705-674-2442address: 259 Elm St
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Radisson Hotel Sudbury
address: 85 Ste. Anne Rd -
Travelodge Hotel
phone: +1 705-522-1100address: 1401 Paris St -
Travelway Inn
phone: +1 705-522-1122address: 1200 Paris St
Go next
Via Rail operates the Lake Superior train from Downtown Sudbury to White River. The train runs through isolated and pristine wilderness in Northern Ontario. You can request a special stop and get out in the middle of nowhere for your hunting and camping pleasure. Just catch the train on its way back to return. The fare is $55 one way for an adult, and the train departs 3 times weekly. Contact Via Rail for details.