Greater Sudbury is Northern Ontario’s largest city, where the rugged Canadian Shield, countless lakes and a proud mining heritage create a destination that blends urban attractions with easy access to nature. Visit world-class science museums, stroll through Bell Park, discover colourful murals or explore scenic hiking trails.
Our guide highlights the best things to do in one day, with an itinerary and map to help you plan your visit.
Table of Contents
One-Day Sudbury Itinerary
Greater Sudbury is the perfect place to spend a day or two.
- Visit a world-class science museum, Dynamic Earth or Science North.
- See the Big Nickel and discover reminders of Sudbury’s mining heritage.
- Stroll through Bell Park around Lake Ramsey.
- Discover Sudbury’s colourful murals and Art Gallery.
On a second day, visit the A.Y. Jackson Lookout at Onaphing Falls and hike or bike the excellent Sudbury Trail network. Learn about the railroad’s role in local development at the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum.
Sudbury Attractions Map
Science & Mining: The Story Beneath Sudbury
Sudbury’s story begins over a billion years ago when a massive meteorite impact created the mineral-rich basin that shaped the region’s future. Today, the city’s mining heritage is brought to life through interactive museums and landmarks that reveal how the geology transformed Sudbury into one of the world’s leading mining centres.
Dynamic Earth
This hands-on science museum, highlights the earth sciences and the evolution of the mining industry which played such a major role in Sudbury’s history.
Learn about rock, mineral and fossil identification and much more. Discover the importance of the meteorite impact in this area close to 2 billion years ago.
Take a tour of Dynamic Earth’s demonstration mine, located 7 storeys underground. Find out about the conditions that the miners had to face in Sudbury’s first mines and what has changed in the mining industry over the years since.
The Dynamic Earth webpage has hours, ticket and exhibit information. Spend at least 2 hours here.
Be sure to walk the paths around Dynamic Earth to The Big Nickel. There are information panels with details about the local rocks and the geologic processes that have left their marks over millennia.
The Big Nickel
Completed in 1964, the Big Nickel is a 9-metre diameter replica of a 1951 Canadian nickel, reportedly the world’s largest coin. It weighs 13,000 kilograms. Nickel remains one of the most produced metals from Sudbury’s mines.
Science North
Science North is one of Canada’s leading science centres, bringing science to life through interactive exhibits exploring the natural world, technology and the forces that shape our planet. The Sudbury attraction features a planetarium, IMAX theatre, butterfly gallery and hands-on displays that make science engaging for visitors of all ages.
The impressive complex covers four floors in two snowflake-shaped buildings at the southwest corner of Ramsay Lake.
Visit the Science North webpage for a full schedule of shows and exhibits. Spend at least 2 hours.
Sudbury Geological Tours
For those interested in the geology of the area, a number of self-guided Geo Tours have been created by the Ontario government. To download detailed pdfs, visit the Greater Sudbury Geotours webpage.
Parks, Lakes & Outdoor Adventures
With hundreds of lakes, forests and exposed rock landscapes nearby, Sudbury is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Bell Park
Bell Park, Sudbury’s largest park, has are multi-use paths, an amphitheatre, playground facilities, two gazebos and a beach. On the western shore of Lake Ramsey it was named in honour of William Joseph Bell, a local lumber baron.
Walk the 2-kilometre Jim Gordon Walkway. The boardwalk stretches from Science North to Elizabeth Street along the edge of Ramsay Lake.
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
Tucked away above Ramsey Lake, the Grotto offers one of Sudbury’s most peaceful green spaces, with walking paths, gardens and panoramic lake views. It is a bit of quiet nature in the heart of Sudbury.
Pathways meander through its five acres filled with flower gardens, benches, statues and plaques celebrating the world’s religions.
Sudbury Trails
Surrounded by the forests, lakes and rugged landscapes of the Canadian Shield, Sudbury offers excellent hiking and cycling trails for all abilities. The Rainbow Routes website provides trail details and maps.
Kivi Park, 11 kilometres south of Sudbury, has a 55-kilometre network of maintained hiking, mountain biking, fat biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails for all levels.
A.Y. Jackson Lookout
The A.Y. Jackson Lookout is located just 30 minutes west of Sudbury. Enjoy views of the impressive High Falls on the Onaping River. A local favourite, this cascade plunges 55 metres. Hike the 1-km riverside trail to the bridge over the falls. A 2-km loop trail begins at the bridge. It is challenging, rugged terrain.
A.Y. Jackson, a founding member of the Canadian “Group of Seven” painters, visited the Onaping River to paint in 1953. There is a welcome centre and a picnic area as well as the lookout and trails.
Arts, Culture & Local Heritage
Today Sudbury is much more than its mining roots, with a growing arts scene and attractions that preserve the stories of the communities that built Northern Ontario.
Up Here Murals & Festival
The popular Up Here mural festival has put Sudbury on the outdoor arts map. With more than 50 murals painted around the city, it has transformed local building walls into colourful works of art. The now-abandoned St. Joseph’s Hospital building became one of Canada’s largest outdoor murals as part of the festival, with new murals added annually.
For a list of the murals visit the Up Here festival website.
Art Gallery of Sudbury
Sudbury’s growing arts scene is showcased through the Art Gallery of Sudbury, where exhibitions highlight regional, national and Indigenous artists while sharing the stories and creativity of Northern Ontario. The gallery provides art education and engages its visitors with its permanent collection and temporary exhibits.
For information, hours and directions, visit the Art Gallery‘s website.
Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre
The railroad was an important part Sudbury’s lumbering and mining history. This museum, located 30 minutes north of Sudbury, has a number of exhibits about this time in Sudbury history and the role of the railroad.
Learn about tools and equipment used. There is a model train layout and a locomotive simulator to experience. Visit the 1916 museum house and enjoy a treat in its tea room. In Prescott Park, see one of the last steam engines used.
For more information, hours and directions, visit the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum website.
Accommodations in Sudbury
Here are the best-rated accommodations for your stay in Sudbury.
- Radisson Hotel — Central hotel with indoor pool and Italian restaurant.
- Moonlight Inn and Suites — Budget-friendly inn near Moonlight Beach
- Days Inn by Wyndham & Conference Centre — Downtown hotel with hot breakfast
Find more Sudbury hotels on Booking.com >>
Explore All of our Northern Ontario Road Trip Guides
Discover our complete series of detailed Northern Ontario guides to help you plan your perfect road trip.
Main Article: Northern Ontario Road Trips
Part 1: Road Trip: Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie – Lake Huron’s North Channel and coastal towns
Part 2: Road Trip: Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay – Lake Superior’s windswept north shore and wilderness parks
Part 3: Road Trip: North Bay to Thunder Bay – Boreal forests, lakes, and remote northern towns
Part 4: Sudbury – Mining heritage, nickel city, Science North (You’re reading this guide now!)
Part 5: Manitoulin Island – Freshwater island, steep cliffs, waterfalls, and Indigenous heritage
Part 6: Sault Ste Marie – Locks, industrial waterfront, Bushplane Heritage Centre, and Algoma art
Part 7: Thunder Bay – Fort William history, waterfalls, and waterfront activities
Part 8: Sleeping Giant Hike – Headland hike to panoramic viewpoint of Lake Superior
Part 9: North Bay – Lake Nipissing waterfront and gateway to the north
Part 10: Cobalt – Silver rush mining heritage in this historic town
Part 11: Timmins – Gold mining heritage and outdoor activities
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