Best Hot Tub Stays in Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough, Ontario, sits on the Trent Severn Waterway in the Kawarthas, and three hotels here offer a hot soak. The Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront by IHG has connected indoor and outdoor pools and a hot tub, the Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn has an indoor pool and a hot tub in creekside gardens, and the Comfort Hotel & Suites has an indoor heated pool and a spa bath. None of them lists a sauna, so I say so clearly. Below, I explain what each offers and how I would choose between them. Check opening hours first.
Peterborough is a Kawarthas city on the Trent Severn Waterway, known for the Peterborough Lift Lock, the Canadian Canoe Museum and a relaxed local pace. For visitors, it offers waterways close at hand, a manageable centre and plenty of outdoor days that end well with a hot soak.
Where to Soak After the Kawarthas
A hot tub is a simple pleasure after a day of walking, paddling or sightseeing, and Peterborough gives you plenty of reasons to be outside. The Lift Lock, the waterway and the canoe museum all invite long days, and a soak at the end is a good reset. The three hotels differ in setting: waterfront, creekside and near a golf club. Choose by the surroundings you prefer, since the soak itself is similar, and check pool hours before you plan around them.
The Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront by IHG sits directly on the Trent Severn Waterway. It has connected indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub and a fitness room, plus several dining venues on site. Rooms have free WiFi and views of the river, the city or the harbour, and the hotel is pet-friendly. It is less than a five-minute drive from central Peterborough. With a rating of 7.6 across 521 reviews, I would choose it for the setting and the connected pools more than for polish. Being on the waterway also gives you river views from the rooms, which makes the hotel pleasant for guests who like watching boats pass.
The Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn sits creekside among tranquil gardens and offers an indoor pool and a hot tub. Rooms are warmly decorated and include flat-screen TVs, small fridges and coffee facilities. The Peterborough Lift Lock is a five-minute drive away, and the Canadian Canoe Museum is 2.2 km from the property. Its rating of 8.4 across 526 reviews is the highest of the three, so I would book it first for a calm stay with a garden setting and easy access to the main sights. The creekside gardens are a quiet place for a short walk before dinner, and the sights nearby make planning a day simple.
The Comfort Hotel & Suites has an indoor heated pool and a spa bath, along with an on-site restaurant and a business centre. It is a four-minute walk from the Kawartha Golf Club, and its rooms are spacious and contemporary, with free WiFi, a microwave, a refrigerator and a coffee maker. The property is pet-friendly. Its rating is 7.9 across 331 reviews. I would choose it for a practical stay with a golfer or a traveller with a pet, who wants a soak and a meal in the same building. A restaurant in the building makes the evening easy, and the business centre helps if you combine a soak with a work trip to Peterborough.
Before you book, confirm the opening hours of the hot tub and the pools, because indoor and outdoor facilities may run on different schedules. If you want the connected indoor and outdoor pools, the Holiday Inn is the only one that lists them. If you want a garden setting, take the Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn. Our editorial advice is to plan one outing a day and keep the soak for the evening. Whichever one you choose, ask for the pool and hot tub rules, such as age limits, towels and closing times, so there are no surprises when you arrive. Peterborough is a good place for a slow evening.
A traveler's takeI would book the Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn for a couple who want creekside gardens and a hot tub close to the Lift Lock, and the Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront by IHG for a stay built around the waterway and the connected pools. Our editorial advice is to confirm pool hours and the pet policy directly. If a spa bath is enough and the golf club matters, the Comfort Hotel & Suites is the practical choice.
4.2Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn
Hot Tub & Sauna · 526 reviewsCreekside hotel with an indoor pool, hot tub, and tranquil gardens
Why guests love itBest Western Plus Otonabee Inn gives families a calm creekside setting in Peterborough, with gardens to wander and an indoor pool and hot tub for any season. Rooms include small fridges and coffee facilities, handy for breakfast snacks or bottles. The Peterborough Lift Lock, a fun stop for children, is a 5-minute drive, and the Canadian Canoe Museum is 2.2 km away. Guests score it 8.4/10 from more than 500 reviews.
4.0Comfort Hotel & Suites
Hot Tub & Sauna · 331 reviewsIndoor heated pool, spa bath, and on-site dining near Kawartha Golf Club
Why guests love itKelsey's Restaurant opens straight off the lobby at the Comfort Hotel & Suites in Peterborough, which makes dinner with children easy, and the indoor heated pool and spa bath fill the evening. Rooms are spacious, with a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee maker and free WiFi. Kawartha Golf Club is a four-minute walk away, and pets are accepted. Guests rate it 7.9 from 331 reviews.
3.8Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront by IHG
Hot Tub & Sauna · 521 reviewsWaterfront hotel with connected pools and dining on the Trent Severn Waterway
Why guests love itHoliday Inn Peterborough Waterfront sits directly on the Trent Severn Waterway, and its connected indoor and outdoor pools are the big draw for children: they can swim inside or out depending on the weather. A hot tub and fitness room add to it, and several dining venues on site make meals easy. Central Peterborough is under 5 minutes by car. Pets are allowed. The 7.6/10 score from over 500 reviews is fair rather than outstanding.
Local tips
- 1Choose the Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront by IHG if you want connected indoor and outdoor pools and a hot tub.
- 2Pick the Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn for creekside gardens and a short drive to the Peterborough Lift Lock.
- 3Remember that none of the three lists a sauna, so a hot tub or spa bath is what you will get.
- 4Ask about pool and hot tub hours when you book, since indoor and outdoor facilities may keep different times.
- 5Visit the Canadian Canoe Museum, 2.2 km from the Best Western, before an evening soak.
- 6If you travel with a pet, confirm the policy at the Holiday Inn or the Comfort Hotel & Suites before booking.