Hotels in Stratford, ON — Best Areas, Budget to Luxury

About Stratford

What to know before you book

Stratford is one of Ontario's most perfectly charming small cities — a beautifully preserved Victorian town named after Stratford-upon-Avon, home to the Stratford Festival (one of North America's most celebrated theatre festivals, founded in 1953). The festival runs April through November, attracting over 500,000 visitors annually to a city of just 32,000.

Stratford's restaurant scene is extraordinary for its size — the festival attracts sophisticated audiences who demand excellent dining, resulting in one of Ontario's highest concentrations of acclaimed restaurants per capita. The Avon River through town, Confederation Park, and the elegant Perth County Courthouse add to the city's exceptional character.

CAD $140–320/night

Avg nightly rate

Apr–Nov (festival season)

Best season to visit

CAD

Currency

English

Primary language

Best Neighbourhoods to Stay

Choose your base in Stratford wisely

Downtown / Ontario StreetMain street, Festival Theatre nearby, restaurants, galleries. Core hotel area.

Avon River / Romeo & Juliet BridgeRiverside parks, swans, romantic walks. B&Bs clustered near the theatres.

Huron Street / Highway 7-8Commercial area, some mid-range hotels, highway access.

Hotels by Budget

Budget, mid-range and luxury options in Stratford

🟢

Budget Hotels

CAD $100–170/night

🏨 Comfort Inn Stratford

📍 Ontario Street 💰 ~CAD $110–165 ⭐ ★★★

Budget standard in Stratford. Good highway access, free parking. Festival-season prices apply.

🏨 Holiday Inn Express Stratford

📍 Romeo Street North 💰 ~CAD $130–190 ⭐ ★★★

Free breakfast, reliable chain. Good value for festival-adjacent accommodation.

🔵

Mid-Range Hotels

CAD $160–300/night

🏨 Best Western Plus The Arden Park Hotel

📍 Ontario Street / Downtown 💰 ~CAD $170–270 ⭐ ★★★★

Stratford's most central full-service hotel. Walk to all theatres. Garden patio, good service.

🏨 Victorian Inn on the Park

📍 Ontario Street 💰 ~CAD $160–260 ⭐ ★★★★

Heritage Victorian property on the Avon River park. Charming rooms, excellent festival proximity.

🟣

Luxury Hotels

CAD $280–600+/night

🏨 The Prune Restaurant & Inn

📍 Erie Street 💰 ~CAD $250–450 ⭐ ★★★★★

Stratford's most celebrated boutique property. Exceptional restaurant, beautifully appointed rooms.

🏨 Thirteen restaurant with rooms

📍 Ontario Street 💰 ~CAD $280–500 ⭐ ★★★★★

Luxury boutique accommodation above one of Stratford's most acclaimed restaurants.

Insider Booking Tips

Save money and stress when booking hotels in Stratford

🎯 Stratford Hotel Booking Tips

🎭
Book festival tickets BEFORE hotels — The Stratford Festival (stratfordfestival.ca) releases its season schedule in January. Book theatre tickets first, then find accommodation for those dates. Festival-adjacent summer weekends see hotels sell out 3–6 months ahead.
🦢
Feed the swans on the Avon — Stratford's Avon River is famous for its swans — a gift from the Queen in 1918. The Swan Parade (every May, moving the swans from winter quarters to the river) is a charming annual event. Swans are present throughout festival season.
🍽️
Stratford's restaurant scene is exceptional — For a city of 32,000, Stratford has an extraordinary culinary scene — Bijou, Mercer Hall, Pazzo Ristorante, and The Old Prune are among Ontario's most consistently acclaimed restaurants. Book dinner reservations well ahead on festival weekends.
💰
Off-season prices drop significantly — Stratford hotels in winter (December–March, no festival) are 40–50% cheaper than festival season. The city is charming year-round — an excellent off-season Ontario weekend destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hotels in Stratford, Ontario

❓ What is the Stratford Festival?

The Stratford Festival (founded 1953) is one of North America's most celebrated theatre festivals — running from April through November with 10–14 productions across four theatres. It's particularly known for Shakespeare productions (hence the town's name) but presents a full range of classical and contemporary theatre. Half a million people attend annually, making it one of Canada's largest cultural festivals.

❓ When should I visit Stratford Ontario?

Festival season (April–November) for theatre. June–October for best weather and most dining options. The Festival's spring programme (April–May) has the best hotel availability and lowest prices within festival season. Winter (December–March) sees no festival but charming small-city atmosphere at significantly reduced rates.

Nearby Cities

Also explore hotels in these Canadian cities

Kitchener ON

London ON

Guelph ON

Best Hotels in Stratford, ON

📅 Ready to Book Your Stratford Hotel?