Discover Mississauga: Lakefront, Skyline, and Diversity
Travel guide · editorialMississauga is Canada's seventh-largest city, yet many people know it only as the home of Pearson Airport. If you take a side trip here on your way to Toronto, you'll discover a harbor on Lake Ontario, curvy high-rises, and a restaurant scene that brings together cuisines from around the world.
A City Grown Together from Villages
The name goes back to the Mississaugas, an Anishinaabe people who lived along the Credit River and ceded the area to the British Crown in the early 19th century. For a long time, the area was shaped by small villages such as Port Credit, Streetsville, Cooksville, Malton, and Erindale. It wasn't until 1974 that they were merged into the City of Mississauga, which has grown rapidly ever since. The name became known worldwide in 1979, when a derailed freight train carrying chlorine gas triggered one of the largest evacuations in North American history. More than 200,000 people had to leave their homes, and no one died. Longtime mayor Hazel McCallion, who led the city from 1978 to 2014, left a lasting mark on Mississauga.
Sights in Mississauga
The downtown area around the Square One shopping center, one of the largest in Canada, has grown into a landscape of high-rises. The Absolute World Towers, two curvy residential towers nicknamed the "Marilyn Monroe Towers" for their shape, are especially striking. In summer, Celebration Square in front of City Hall hosts concerts, movie nights, and festivals, and in winter you can go ice skating there. On the lakeshore lies Port Credit, with its marina, lighthouse, parks, and restaurants. Streetsville has preserved a historic main street lined with brick buildings. Hiking trails along the Credit River lead through forests, such as in Erindale Park, and the Riverwood estate offers gardens and a taste of nature in the middle of the city.
Eating in Mississauga
Mississauga's restaurants reflect its immigration history: More than half of the residents were born outside Canada. In neighborhoods like Cooksville and along Dundas Street, you'll find Pakistani, Indian, Filipino, Arab, and Polish restaurants, while Erin Mills and Churchill Meadows are home to shawarma joints and dessert cafés. Port Credit draws visitors with seafood, pubs, and waterfront patios. Many locals swear by the biryani and kebab restaurants in the east of the city, around Applewood and Dixie.
Leisure and Nightlife
Mississauga is a family-friendly city with plenty of parks and sports facilities. Green spaces such as Lakefront Promenade and Jack Darling Park line the shore of Lake Ontario and are ideal for bike rides. In summer, events include the Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival in Port Credit and the Carassauga Festival, where cultures from around the world showcase their food and music. Nightlife is concentrated in Port Credit and the city center, though most people head to Toronto for a night out. If you enjoy nature, visit Rattray Marsh in the fall, a wetland right on the lake with boardwalks, birdlife, and brilliant foliage.
Getting There and Best Time to Visit
Toronto Pearson Airport is located in the northeast of the city. MiWay buses and GO Transit commuter trains connect Mississauga with Toronto, and the train ride to Union Station takes about half an hour. The new light rail line on Hurontario Street is intended to improve public transit. The best time to visit is between May and October, when the lakefront and festivals are at their best. Winters are cold and snowy.