Hamilton is a major city in southern Ontario, Canada, set on the western shore of Lake Ontario. It is a place of industry and of learning, and visitors come to see both sides of it.
A city shaped by steel
Hamilton is known for its steel industry, which has given it some of its best-known nicknames: Steel City, Steeltown, and The Hammer. For a visitor, the steel heritage is part of the character of the place, shown in the working landscape along the waterfront and in the way the city describes itself.
A university town
The city is also home to McMaster University, which adds a lively student presence and a steady flow of talks, events and campus life. A visit here can mix the industrial with the academic, with the university grounds offering a calmer pace than the city's working districts.
What a visit offers
- A look at a major southern Ontario city with a strong industrial identity
- The lakeside setting on the western shore of Lake Ontario
- The university atmosphere that McMaster brings to the city
Hamilton suits visitors interested in urban life, industrial history and the contrast between a steel city and a campus town. Plan your time around the areas that interest you most, and check local sources for current details on what is open to visit.
