Hotels & visiting tips
Hotels
Visiting tips
Visiting other schools
Hotels
The following hotels are within a reasonable driving distance of the University, and some are right on campus! Most hotels are on a major bus route as well.
Extend your visit and check out some of Kitchener-Waterloo's local attractions.
| Location | Reservations | Distance to campus |
| Guest Rooms at St. Paul's University of Waterloo | 1-866-885-1465, ext. 203 | 0 km |
| Waterloo Residences* University of Waterloo | 519-884-5400 or 1-800-565-5410 | 0 km |
| Comfort Inn Waterloo 190 Weber Street North Waterloo, ON | 1-519-747-9400 | 3 km |
| Waterloo Inn 475 King Street North Waterloo, ON | 1-800-361-4708 | 4 km |
| Destination Inn 547 King Street North Waterloo, ON | 519-884-0100 or 1-866-222-9175 | 5 km |
| Boardwalk Homes 1292 & 1297 Countrystone Dr. Kitchener, ON (off University Avenue W) | 1 519 591-9323 or 519 888 4567 ext 31123 info@boardwalkhomes.ca | 5 km |
| Walper Terrace Hotel 1 King Street West Kitchener, ON | 1-800-265-8749 service@walper.com | 6 km |
| Delta Kitchener 105 King Street East Kitchener, ON | 519-569-4586 or 1-800-483-7812 reservations@deltakitchener.com | 6 km |
| Best Western, St. Jacob's 50 Benjamin Road Waterloo, ON | 1-800-972-5371 | 7 km |
| Howard Johnson Kitchener 1333 Weber Street East Kitchener, ON | 1-800-446-4656 or 519-893-1234 | 10.5 km |
| Radisson Hotel Kitchener 2690 King Street East Kitchener, ON | 1-800-333-3333 | 11 km |
| Best Western Plus Kitchener 2899 King Street East Kitchener, ON | 1-866-373-4910 sales@bestwesternpluskitchener.ca | 11 km |
Holiday Inn Kitchener | 1-866-375-8240 or 519-894-8529 Get the University of Waterloo discounted rate | 11 km |
| Homewood Suites by Hilton 800 Jamieson Parkway Cambridge, ON | 1-519-651-2888
| 27.5 km |
*Available May through August only.
Visiting tips
Before you arrive
To get the most out of your visit to Waterloo, check out these tips and suggestions:
- Book your visit in advance so that we can accommodate any special requests
- Wear comfortable shoes – it's a 1-hour walking tour
- Check the weather so you'll be dressed comfortably for the day
- Review the directions to campus and print a campus map, if needed
- Bring $4 change for parking.
- Consider staying overnight and visiting other schools or local attractions
- Arrive 10 minutes early so you can check in at the Visitors Centre and use the washroom or grab a snack before your tour starts
Ask lots of questions
Your tour guide will be happy to answer your questions, so don't be shy, ask away!
We recommend preparing a list in advance so that you'll know what you want to ask when you arrive. Here are some examples to get you started:
- Why did you decide to come to Waterloo?
- What do you like best about your program?
- What do you like best about Waterloo?
- What residence did you live in in your first year?
- What did you find the most challenging during your first year here?
- What is the most important thing you’ve learned so far?
- What is a WatCard and where can I use it?
- Do I need to bring my own computer?
- What is ResNet?
- How large will my classes be?
- What is the social life like at Waterloo?
- What activities can I get involved in on and off campus?
Places to eat
You'll have plenty of options when it comes time to choose a place to eat!
If you'd like to sample the on-campus fare, try one of Waterloo's 17 on-campus eateries or drop by one of the many student-run coffee & doughnut shops (C&D).
If you're looking for more familiar items, a short walk to the University Plaza will provide you with options such as East Side Mario's, Harvey's, Subway, Mongolian Grill, Pita Factory, and more.
Not sure where to eat? Just ask us when you arrive and we'll tell you more about each option and help you pick a location that will be close to where you're going!
Visiting other schools
Waterloo is conveniently located in the heart of southwestern Ontario. The following universities are considered nearby:
- Wilfrid Laurier University – 2 km from Waterloo
- University of Guelph – 33 km from Waterloo
- McMaster University – 60 km from Waterloo
- University of Western Ontario – 112 km from Waterloo
Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, and York University are also relatively close (within 115 km of Waterloo); however, they may take longer to reach, depending on the traffic.
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