Ontario is Canada's most populous province, pairing the Great Lakes, Niagara Falls and forested cottage country with the cultural energy of Toronto and Ottawa. Renting a luxury villa in Ontario gives you a private lakeside or city base, concierge support and space to explore the outdoors in comfort.
- Private lakefront villas across Muskoka and cottage country with docks and water access
- Niagara Falls, wine country and the Great Lakes within easy reach
- Toronto and Ottawa for world-class dining, culture and festivals
- Year-round appeal, from summer on the water to winter snow pursuits
- Concierge service and direct booking on every Smiling House stay
No villas to show yet for Ontario.
Ontario in pictures
Events not to miss in Ontario
- January
Niagara Icewine Festival
Niagara-on-the-Lake and the wineries of the peninsula celebrate Canada's signature frozen-grape wine with tastings, galas and outdoor bars carved from ice. A glamorous reason to embrace the Canadian winter.
- April to October
Stratford Festival
North America's largest classical repertory theatre stages Shakespeare and modern works across a months-long season in the town of Stratford. Book performances alongside a countryside villa stay.
- Mid-August to Labour Day
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)
Toronto's beloved end-of-summer fair brings midway rides, air shows and famously inventive food to the lakeshore. A Canadian tradition since 1879.
- September
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
One of the world's most influential film festivals fills Toronto with premieres, stars and public screenings for ten days. Accommodation across the city books out, so villas within reach of downtown go early.
Ontario through the seasons
- Winter (December – March)
Icewine, skating and snowy escapes
Skate on frozen lakes, ski Blue Mountain and toast the Icewine Festival in Niagara. Muskoka cottages with saunas and fireplaces make winter a destination in itself.
- Spring (April – May)
Maple syrup and Niagara in bloom
Sugar shacks boil the maple harvest, Niagara's orchards blossom and the Stratford theatre season opens. A gentle, uncrowded time to tour the province.
- Summer (June – August)
Muskoka lakes and cottage-country living
Ontario's lake country comes alive with boating, swimming off private docks and long northern evenings. Waterfront villas in Muskoka and Kawartha define the Canadian summer.
- Autumn (September – November)
Fall colour and festival season
Algonquin and Muskoka blaze red and gold, TIFF energises Toronto and Niagara brings in the grape harvest. Leaf-peeping from a lakeside villa is the season's great pleasure.
The Area
Ontario sits at the heart of Canada and is the country's most populated province, yet its sheer scale leaves room to breathe. The landscape ranges from the shores of the Great Lakes and the thundering cascades of Niagara Falls to the granite, pine and lake-laced wilderness of cottage country further north. Provincial parks such as Algonquin protect vast tracts of forest, paddling routes and wildlife. This is a destination for those drawn to the outdoors, where a day on the water or the trails gives way to evenings in the cities. A luxury villa here serves as a private retreat between adventures, often set on a quiet lake or within reach of urban culture.
Where to Stay
The choice of base depends on the trip you want. Muskoka and the wider cottage-country lakes are the classic setting for a luxury villa in Ontario, offering private docks, boathouses and direct water frontage a couple of hours north of Toronto. For city access and arts, a stay near Toronto puts galleries, theatre and dining on the doorstep. The Niagara region suits visitors drawn to the falls and the surrounding wine country, while Ottawa appeals to those exploring the capital's museums and waterways. Smiling House offers a curated collection of luxury villas across these areas, each paired with concierge support to arrange transfers, provisioning and local experiences.
Things to Do
Ontario rewards the active traveller. Niagara Falls remains the headline sight, best paired with a tour of the nearby vineyards and tasting rooms. Cottage country invites swimming, kayaking, sailing and fishing in summer, with hiking and canoe routes through Algonquin's interior. Toronto offers the CN Tower, leading museums and a calendar of major events, while Ottawa adds Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal, which becomes the world's largest skating rink in winter. Family draws include Canada's Wonderland amusement park. In the colder months, snowshoeing, skiing and ice fishing extend the appeal, making Ontario a genuine year-round destination.
Dining and Nightlife
Ontario's table reflects its multicultural cities. Farm-to-table kitchens build menus around local produce, lake fish and Niagara wines, while Toronto's neighbourhoods serve cuisines from every corner of the world alongside refined fine dining. Beyond the plate, the cities keep a lively pace after dark. Toronto and Ottawa carry bars, live-music rooms, clubs and quiet lounges, and Niagara Falls adds casinos and waterfront entertainment. The cultural calendar runs deep too, from the Toronto International Film Festival and the Canadian National Exhibition to Ottawa's Winterlude with its ice sculptures. A villa stay lets you return to calm and privacy when the evening is done.
When to Visit
Summer, from June to early September, is peak season in Ontario, when the lakes warm for swimming and boating and cottage country comes alive. Late September and October bring spectacular autumn colour across the forests and quieter trails, ideal for hiking. Winter has its own draw: January to March suits skiing, snowshoeing, skating the Rideau Canal and Ottawa's Winterlude festival. Spring is the most changeable season but rewards visitors with fewer crowds. Choose your timing to match the experience, whether that is a lakeside villa in high summer or a snug winter base near the snow.