Barrie travel guide
Barrie Tourism | Barrie Guide
You're Going to Love Barrie
With a population of 182,041, Barrie is a must-see destination in Ontario, Canada. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Barrie has to offer.
What to do in Barrie
Top activities & attractions in Barrie
Where to Eat in Barrie
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Farmhouse (268 Bradford Street) and Common Good Cafe (85 Bayfield St) are great picks.
When to visit Barrie
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Barrie in July, when the average temperature is 21 °C, and the highest can go up to 26 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -12 °C, with an average temperature of -8 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 94 mm. In contrast, March is usually the driest month of the year in Barrie, with an average rainfall of 58 mm.
How to Get to Barrie
Plane
Although Barrie doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ), which is located 80 km from Barrie. Toronto Pearson Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, Air France, Avianca and other airlines departing from Canada. The shortest domestic flight to Barrie departs from Abbotsford and takes around 4h 10m.
Train
VIA Rail Canada is the most popular train carrier serving Barrie, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Barrie to London takes 3h 44m and costs around C$ 41 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Ottawa, expect to pay about C$ 55 for a 4h 02m trip. The train station in Barrie is called Barrie South, and is located 6 km from the city centre.
Car
Another option to get to Barrie is to pick up a car rental from Toronto, which is about 86 km from Barrie. You’ll find branches of Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Economy Rent a Car, among others, in Toronto.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Barrie, including FlixBus, Trailways and Greyhound. From Buffalo, the bus ride to Barrie takes 266 km and will cost you around C$ 89. From Kingston, the ticket costs about C$ 81 for a journey of 282 km. The most popular bus station is Barrie Downtown Barrie Terminal, located 2.4 km from downtown Barrie. Barrie Allandale Waterfront Go is also a commonly used station, and is 3 km from the city centre.
Airlines serving Barrie
Where to stay in Barrie
Average rates range from around C$ 147 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to C$ 303 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Barrie and Super 8 by Wyndham Barrie.
Where to stay in popular areas of Barrie
Most booked hotels in Barrie
Renting a car in Barrie
Renting a car in Barrie costs C$ 80 per day, on average, or C$ 239 if you want to rent it for 3 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 43% more expensive than at Toronto Pearson Intl.
Expect to pay C$ 1.73 per litre in Barrie (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between C$ 20.71 and C$ 27.61. The most frequently booked car type in Barrie is Full-size (Dodge Durango or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Standard rental cars (Mazda Mazda6 or similar) are, on average, 59% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.