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Windsor (Ontario) - city in Essex County, Ontario, Canada

Windsor is a mid-sized Canadian city on the southwest tip of Ontario. It's an extremely multicultural city with over 20% of its population having been born outside of Canada. The city's rich cultural background is evident in its Middle Eastern, Italian, and Asian neighbourhoods. Just across the Detroit River from Detroit and the American border, it's one of the very few places where you have to go south to enter Canada. Its main waterfront park stretches about 5 km, from the 1929 Ambassador suspension bridge past the contemporary Windsor Sculpture Park. It ends near the 1894 Italianate Canadian Club Heritage Centre, which recalls when Windsor was a source for liquor smuggled to the Prohibition-era states.

Understand

The Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival celebrates Canada's Canada Day and the American Independence Founded as a French agricultural settlement in 1748, Windsor has grown into a multi-cultural city of just over 210,000 people. Reflecting its American neighbour across the Detroit River, it has a strong connection with the automobile industry, with Chrysler's Canadian headquarters based in the city. The riverside area of Windsor has been developed into a lush area of parkland that offers spectacular views of the Detroit skyline, and is the city's most well-known feature.

The 1981 Journey song "Don't Stop Believin'" mentions a boy "born and raised in south Detroit", which would be Windsor. Songwriter Steve Perry has said "I tried north Detroit, I tried east and west and it didn't sing, but south Detroit sounded so beautiful. I loved the way it sounded, only to find out later it's actually Canada."

Culture

Even if you spend a day in Windsor you'll notice that it's a very multi-cultural city, especially for its small town feel. Right off the bat, visitors will hear English, French, Arabic and Italian. Near the east side of the downtown area is the North African/Middle Eastern neighbourhoods with a large Lebanese community. Southeast of the downtown area is the Via Italia neighbourhood, with numerous Italian restaurants and shops. West of the downtown area is an area with strong Asian influences.

Climate

The city has quite a wide range in climate conditions, with average temperatures hovering around -6°C (21°F) in January, while in July the average temperature is around 28 °C (82 °F). The late summer is the best time to visit the city, though it can be humid and sultry.

Windsor's weather breaks the most records, in more categories, in both averages and extremes, than any other Canadian regions. Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada, yet mid-western, while surrounded by the Great Lakes. Some of these records measure heat, humidity, precipitation, lightning, variances, mild winters, etc. For specifics details see: climate.weather.gc.ca

Visitor information

Get in

By plane

By train

By car

Canada's busiest highway, the 401, is a major artery which begins in Windsor and follows the beaten-path Windsor-Quebec corridor, and becomes Autoroute 20 in Quebec. Highway 401 carries the bulk of the traffic between Canada's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal.

Windsor is also easily accessible by crossing the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel or the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit. For more information about the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge and immigration/customs please see the From the United States section.

From Buffalo, Windsor is a sneaky shortcut which lops about a hundred miles off the trip to Detroit compared to a domestic route through Ohio. Unfortunately, much of the time saved is lost dealing with strange Customs on both sides. Take QEW from the Buffalo Peace Bridge to Hamilton, then take the 403 west to join the 401.

By bus

From the United States

The Ambassador Bridge crosses from Detroit to Windsor over the Detroit River. U.S. and Canadian citizens are required to present a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's licence, or trusted traveller card when crossing the U.S.-Canada border. For more detailed identification requirements, visit Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). (See the 'Get in' section of the main Canada article for entry requirements for citizens of other countries.) Although it is efficient for an international border, this is the busiest crossing between the two countries, and is not as quick and casual as it once was.

There are two ways to get to Windsor from Detroit:

  • Ambassador Bridge, 42.302231°, -83.066948°. Bridge traffic can be congested, due to the high number of 18-wheelers. Expect wait times of 30 minutes. Toll per passenger car: $4.75 (C$ or US$) 2022-09-26
  • Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, 42.315758°, -83.036681°. Every time traffic backs up in the tunnel the tunnel is shut down until traffic congestion is eased, which can sometimes take quite a while. A "tunnel bus" connects downtown Detroit with Windsor, which may reduce parking costs; the customs and immigrations process can be quite lengthy for bus riders since everyone on the bus must disembark and be cleared through customs. Toll per passenger car: $4.50 (C$ or US$) 2022-09-26
  • Construction of a third bridge, the future Gordie Howe International Bridge between Brighton Beach (Windsor) and Delray (Detroit), began in 2018. The Windsor-Essex Parkway, an extension of Highway 401 which opened in 2015, will connect directly to the new bridge - which is not expected to be completed until 2024. In the meantime, all traffic from Detroit lands not directly on the motorway but on Windsor surface streets (Ontario highways 3 and 3B), leading to substantial delays at the border.

Pedestrians cannot walk across the bridge or through the tunnel; they must use the tunnel bus. Bicyclists are prohibited from using the bridge and the tunnel, but (since 2017) can use the bike rack of the tunnel bus. One can also disassemble the bike and put it in a bike bag, which can be brought on the bus.

  • Tunnel Bus, 300 Chatham Street West (Windsor International Transit Terminal), 42.317685°, -83.04302°, +1 519-944-4111. Local Windsor city bus route through downtown Detroit, including Cobo Center/Arena, Joe Louis Arena, Rosa Parks Transit Center, Campus Martius and Hart Plaza. Additional sport stadium stops during Detroit major league home games and special events. $7.50/person (C$ or US$) 2022-10-04 A Windsor-Detroit ferry crossing exists, but primarily serves truck traffic (including hazardous material) which cannot use the tunnel.

An alternative to crossing at Windsor-Detroit is the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia-Port Huron, an hour from Windsor-Detroit by motorcar.

Get around

The majority of the hotels and entertainment are concentrated in the downtown area, so walking and reasonable cabs may be good options.

By car

Windsor is a city that was built for the car, or rather, a city built on building cars, thus earning the nicknames the 'Automotive Capital of Canada' or 'Motor City Canada' in addition to 'Rose City' branding (despite not particularly featuring more roses than other cities across Southern Ontario). If you are going to get around the entire city, not just the downtown area and immediate neighbouring districts, your best option would be to rent a car.

By public transportation

Transit Windsor, +1 519-944-4111, tw@citywindsor.ca​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​. An inexpensive transit system, the transit operates routes such as the Ottawa 4 or Transway 1C lines. 2022-09-26

By taxi

By ride hailing

See

  • Ford City, 42.3113°, -82.9908°. The birthplace of the Canadian Ford Motor Company. The district is home to a wide variety of architectural examples, including four byzantine styled Orthodox churches built by immigrants, who came to work for the Ford Company. Several buildings have murals depicting the history and transformation of the Ford Company and Ford City.
  • Little Italy, Erie Street, 42.313222°, -83.021767°, +1 519-962-5105. Little Italy, or "Via Italia", as it is affectionately called, is home to many Italian families and businesses. It is known for its restaurants and clothing boutiques, along Erie Street, from Moy Avenue in the east to Goyeau Avenue to the west. 2018-09-12
  • Old Sandwich Town, 42.302035°, -83.075522°. Established in 1797, it is considered one of the oldest, most historically significant settlements in Ontario. It has been the site of several important events in Ontario's history. Many historic buildings remain in Old Sandwich Town and the area hosts an annual festival to celebrate its heritage. The area is now a neighbourhood of the city of Windsor. 2017-06-02
  • Pillette Village (Pillette Road Village or Pillette Vintage Village), 4400 to 4900 Wyandotte East and 200 to 800 Pillette Road, 42.326312°, -82.980197°, info@pillettevillage.com. A small community between historic Walkerville and their hipsters to the west and the sleepy Olde Riverside suburbs to the east. Most of the commercial buildings from George Avenue to Thompson Boulevard are on Wyandotte Street or Pillette Road spreading outward from that intersection, leading up to the spectacular Coventry Gardens & Reaume Park, just a block away. Pillette Village features several restaurants and several vintage stores, unique enterprises, convenience, bowling, and common franchises (McDonald's, Subway, Shoppers, etc.) and utilities. Free parking except Wyandotte Street has parking meters 2018-09-12
  • Walkerville, 42.310700°, -83.015500°. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker, owner and producer of Canadian Club Whisky. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ (originally called 'Walker's Town') that would be the envy of both the region and the continent. He established a distillery on the Detroit River, diversifying the business by growing grain, milling flour, and raising cattle and hogs. Later, the town supported other major industries, notably automotive manufacturing. 2017-06-02

Historical

An Underground Railroad to Freedom monument, facing north-northwest from up Windsor's Civic Esplanade with the Detroit skyline distant across the river, from Pitt Street East, between Goyeau Street and McDougall Street, by the casino at a corner of The Colosseum.

Museums

Gambling

  • Caesars Windsor (Windsor Casino), 377 Riverside Drive East (overlooking the Detroit river & Skyline), 42.3204°, -83.0338°, +1 519-258-7878, info@casinowindsor.com. Very large casino and popular among residents and tourists because the Canadian government does not tax any winnings. The casino exchanges US dollars to Canadian dollars at a low rate (it is therefore advised to exchange your money elsewhere). Absolutely no one under 19 is allowed on the casino floor; however, those under 19 are allowed to stay in the Augustus (new) Tower. Those who are under 22 will need to show an additional piece of identification (such as a school ID or a debit card) upon entering.

Do

The Peace Fountain in Windsor's Reaume Park/Coventry Gardens facing west-northwest across the Pillette "Dock" and Detroit River to Belle Isle and a distant Detroit skyline. Related Wikipedia article: Parks in Windsor, Ontario

  • Adventure Bay Family Water Park, 401 Pitt St W, 42.3172986°, -83.0466859°, +1 519-974-2782. 2017-06-02

  • Coventry Gardens & Reaume Park (Pillette Park), Pillette Road & Riverside Drive East, 42.3288°, -82.9811°. A showplace and tourist attraction, Reaume Park and Coventry Gardens includes the Pillette Dock (a favourite fishing spot) with a grand northern view of the Detroit skyline and its largest park, Belle Isle, as the spectacular Charles Brooks Peace Fountain floats on the Detroit River spouting water in the air from April to October with radiant coloured evening illuminations. Coventry Gardens is elegantly maintained, with hanging gardens, trees, flowerbeds, tarmac and brick paths, and this park also contains a restaurant and restroom, but bicycles are not allowed in the park, due to its large attendance of pedestrians and tight curves. free + free parking + free overflow parking 2018-09-12

  • Devonwood Bike Trail, 42.2925°, -82.9825°. 13.4 km free 2018-09-15

  • Dieppe Gardens, Riverside Drive & Ouellette Avenue, 42.319841°, -83.041194°. At the northern-most base of Ouellette Ave., Windsor's centermost street, overlooking the Detroit River and skyline. free 2018-09-15

  • Ganatchio Trail. Stretching from Windsor into Tecumseh, provides an excellent way for bikers, roller bladers, or the casual pedestrian to enjoy the afternoon. free 2018-09-15

  • Grand Marais Trail, Grand Marais Road (Central Windsor). 11.3 km free 2018-09-15

  • Little River Extension (Little River Bike Trail or Little River Parkway). 7.5 km free 2018-09-15

  • Peche Island City Park, Mouth of Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, 42.346346°, -82.926590°. Only accessible by boat, this island park is fun for picnics and exploration, at the mouth of Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. free 2018-09-15

  • Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Gardens in Jackson Park, Tecumseh Road East & Ouellette Avenue, 42.295594°, -83.022789°. free 2018-09-15

  • Riverfront Bike Trail (The Roy A. Battagello River Walk Bike Trail), Riverside Drive East (all along the north waterfront of Windsor). 5.17 km free 2018-09-15

  • Russell Street Neighbourhood Trail, Old Sandwich Town (West Windsor). 16.6 km free 2018-09-15

  • Springz Trampoline and Amusement Park, 2411 Dougall Ave, 42.2888642°, -83.0276686°, +1 519-250-1111. 2017-06-02

  • Willistead Park (Willistead Manor), 42.317673°, -83.009786°. Willistead Park is located in the Walkerville neighbourhood, just east of downtown Windsor. The park contains the old Willistead Manor, a mansion built from 1904 to 1906. Most of the houses that border the park across the streets are stylized in industrial revolution-England style, with rounded windows and row-houses with steep roofs. Every year, this park hosts "Art In The Park", in June, a large and very popular arts and crafts show. 2018-09-15 A seagull sculpture in Windsor's Odette Sculpture Park with a distant Ambassador Bridge crossing the river to Detroit, facing west-northwest.

  • Windsor Sculpture Park (Odette Sculpture Park), Riverside Drive West (from the Ambassador Bridge to Church Street north Windsor's chain of parks sprawling between Riverside Drive West and the Detroit River), 42.309472°, -83.071446°. Touted as a "museum without walls" Windsor Sculpture Park is a 3.5-km park with over 30 sculptures dotting the park. All along Windsor's southern banks of the Detroit River from the base of the Ambassador Bridge (starting in Assumption Park at Huron Church Road) blending into Centennial Park on to Church Street where the park further continues as Dieppe Gardens at Ouellette Avenue and even further along Riverside Drive East. The park features large-scale contemporary sculptures for public viewing. There are 32 sculptures in the park, and the collection continues to develop every year through private donations. Admission: free, parking: metered 2018-09-15

  • Zap Zone Fun Center, 1665 Lauzon Rd, 42.3180926°, -82.9347378°, +1 519-974-5768. M-Th noon-10PM, F noon-11PM, Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-8PM. Go for laser tag, glow golf, balladium and bumper cars.

Festivals

  • Windsorite Festival Listing. 2017-06-02
  • Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival. An enormous celebration of both Canada's Canada Day, held on July 1st, and America's Independence Day, held on July 4th. The festival, which began in 1959, evolved into the current pair of events (Windsor Summer Fest and Detroit River Days) in 2007.
  • Windsor International Film Festival. Also has a summer series on Thursday evenings.
  • Windsor Emancipation Celebration Festival, Festival Plaza - 370 Riverside Drive East (overlooking the Detroit River and skyline), 42.321493°, -83.0358697°, info@emancipationday.ca. An enormous celebration of Freedom, held on the first weekend in August Emancipation Celebration was once the largest outdoor celebration of its kind in all of North America. It boasted colourful parades that made its way from the riverfront into Jackson Park celebration grounds, Miss Sepia Pageants, talent contest, concerts, family reunion picnics and community wide barbecues. In fact these cross-border celebrations drew the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. George Washington Carver, Jesse Owens, Diana Ross, Joe Louis, Eleanor Roosevelt and many other world renowned dignitaries annually to appear as guest speakers or simply to join the revelry of freedom. At its peak Emancipation celebration had over 250,000 in attendance. Free/$5 for concerts/shows
  • Bluesfest. four days, mid-July. Promotes not only the blues genre, but local and international artists. Four-day pass: $50, otherwise $20-25 per day
  • Pridefest Windsor-Essex, +1 226-348-3378. LGBT parade to Riverfront Festival Plaza, early August.

Music & theatre

Music scene

Windsor's underground music scene is blooming with talented musicians creating music genres such as rock, indie, metal, soul and more. Every single day there's a show being put on by the determined booking agents and venues alike who love this city. The scene in Windsor is tightly-knit, like a big family. It creates this home-like feeling, as most of the people who have left only miss the concerts. The venues in Windsor set the stage for gorgeous concerts to be brought down from all over the world!

Sports

Learn

Buy

Shopping in Windsor can be a treat particularly due to the abundance of ethnic stores littered about Windsor. There's a store to suit everyone's need, including the American cigar aficionado, who will be delighted to realize that due to Canada's cozier relations with Cuba than America's, Cuban cigars are widely available for purchase. Purchasing a Cuban cigar or Cuban products in Windsor, even if consumed on Canadian soil, is considered by U.S. government to be a violation of the U.S. embargo and you may be subject to hefty fines or jail time if caught. In practice, however, this might not be a big problem, as thousands of Americans travel to Cuba illegally every year with no problem.

Eat

Windsor is known for being one of the great food places in Canada, with much of its reputation owing to the many ethnic restaurants in the city ranging from Italian, Lebanese, Chinese (Cantonese/Szechuan), Thai, Indian, Greek, African (Ethiopian/Somalian), Caribbean, as well as other specialties such as vegetarian/vegan restaurants.

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Pelee Island Winery is always a great vintage.

Drink

| | | | style="background:#00A0FF;color:white;text-align:center;" | Ethanol tourism | | style="text-align:center;" | 86px<br>The Ontario Wine Route logo. | | style="background:#00A0FF;color:white;font-size:88%;padding:5px;" | Several breweries and distilleries – most notably Canadian Club – were established in the Windsor/Essex County area due to "dry laws" during the American prohibition experiment. Today, a significant part of Windsor's tourism is still directly related to alcohol, with Ontario's lower drinking age (and more liberal "exotic dance" regulations) drawing countless 19- and 20-year-old Americans over the border for legal drinks. |

Bars & grills

Pubs & clubs

Breweries & distilleries

Hiram Walker's Canadian Club whisky headquarters is a Canadian cultural heritage monument. Canadian Club Classic aged whisky.

Sleep

Budget: $110 or less, mid-range: $111 - 140, splurge: $141 or more (standard double room).

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

Stay safe

Downtown Windsor is safe and very lively, even late at night. The biggest danger is getting into a confrontation with an intoxicated person when the clubs close for the night. The usual precautions should be taken, such as, travel in groups, mind your own business, etc. However, the downtown core is usually well policed, so you should have no real problems.

Beginning late into the evening touts will roam the streets offering free admission to bars, clubs, and strip joints. While for the most part touts operate individually you may be approached by two or more touts. Standard precautions should be taken when considering following a tout to a strange location or to a bar that you've never been to before. If you feel uncomfortable walk away.

Unlike most mid-sized Canadian cities the custom in Windsor is similar to bigger cities like Toronto or Montreal in that drivers will not stop for pedestrians crossing a street who are not crossing at a marked traffic intersection (i.e. jaywalking). Jaywalking is specifically legal in Windsor but at the pedestrian's own risk. Windsor does not have stand-alone pedestrian activated crosswalks. Additionally, Windsor drivers tend to be quite aggressive. Windsorites drive similarly to the aggressive (but quick and efficient) Detroit or US East Coast style rather than the more laid back Canadian style. If you like to drive slowly and cautiously you may find yourself getting honked at, yelled at, given the finger, tailgated, etc.

Cope

Religious services

Private clubs & societies

Nearby

Belle River

Harrow

Lasalle

  • Lasalle Strawberry Festival (Lasalle Strawberry Fest), Gil Maure Park, Front Road at Laurier Drive, LaSalle (the Lasalle Strawberry Fest admission gates are off Front Road at: Laurier Drive beside parking lot (Main Gate 1) or Front Road at Huron Street (Gate 2)), 42.2377341°, -83.1046411°. Summer: runs both days from 5PM to 1AM. $5 per person, Persons over 65 or under 6 get in free 2017-06-02

Tecumseh

  • Taste of Tecumseh Festival (Taste of Tecumseh), Lakewood Park, Riverside Drive East, Tecumseh (drive down Riverside Drive East until you arrive at the circular mid-road chicane at the Manning Road intersection), 42.326386°, -82.866957°. Summer - June 14-15, 2019 - runs both days from 5PM to 1AM. The Taste of Tecumseh Festival takes place at Lakewood Park. This two day event features delectable tastes and unique talents, all at a beautiful waterfront setting nestled on Lake St. Clair in the Town of Tecumseh, Ontario. Sample culinary delights, taste a variety of distinctive award-winning wines, get hoppy with craft beer, and enjoy live entertainment from talented performers. $15 2018-09-16
  • Tecumseh Corn Festival (Tecumseh Corn Fest), 600 Lacasse Blvd (on the Lacasse Park baseball field), 42.322148°, -82.8836687°, +1 519-735-4756 x421, cornfest@tecumseh.ca. Summer - August. $3 daily admission collected at festival entrance gates; children 0-12 free, seniors 65+ free 2018-09-16

Go next

The Detroit skyline across the Detroit River from Windsor.

For a more quaint experience, Essex County and Pelee Island can be of interest offering many sight-seeing experiences such as wine tours (Colio Wines & Pelee Island Winery) and Point Pelee National Park, which is a 40 minute drive from Windsor to Leamington along Highway 3. About 30 minutes away along the waterfront, Amherstburg is the home of historic Fort Malden. Nearby is Bois Blanc Island, an abandoned amusement park which used to be popular among Detroit visitors.

Windsor is the southernmost major city in Canada. Detroit is just across the river and offers museums and cultural attractions, most notably the Detroit Institute of Arts, Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, and the Detroit Zoo. Beyond Windsor/Detroit, a car ride can take you to many close cities in the United States, such as Ann Arbor, Toledo, Lansing, Cleveland, or Columbus. Chicago is a 4- to 5-hour drive west from Windsor.

Further out on the Windsor-Quebec corridor lies London, a 2-hour drive, while Toronto is a 4-hour drive northeast from Windsor. Also from Windsor, a 9- or 10-hour drive northeast give or take may bring you to Montréal or Ottawa, Canada's capital city.

Windsor

citywindsor.cacitywindsor.ca/Pages/Home.aspx
Postal code:N8NN8RN8SN8TN8VN8WN8XN8YN9AN9BN9CN9EN9GN9HN9JN9KN8PDate Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/TorontoPopulation:217,188Coordinates:42.32, -83.04

Ontario

Primary administrative division

Canada

canada.ca
Population:37.1 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (CAD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50