If you don’t already know, Mississauga is one of the biggest cities in Canada, located just outside of downtown Toronto, and is where you can find Toronto Pearson International Airport. Mississauga is, however, so much more than a typical airport town.

We’ve showed you plenty of Toronto’s hottest attractions, but now we’re going to show you why we recommend planning an overnight layover or a pre-departure stay right in Mississauga.  Claudia grew up in Mississauga so she knows the city quite well, but is still fascinated by how many things there are to do!!

Right now, Visit Mississauga is offering a $100 visa gift card and a $20 gift card to Square One shopping center when you book at least two nights in a local hotel through their It Pays to Stay progam. If you pick up a MySauga Pass like we did, you can also enjoy plenty of discounts and free offerings around the city. Believe me, we took full advantage of these passes on our most recent trip to Mississauga. Let’s get into it!

where to stay in mississauga

Since the onset of COVID-19, the Toronto Pearson airport has been a bit of a circus. The last thing you want is to get stuck in traffic en route and wind up missing your flight due to the crazy long check-in process. This is one of many reasons why we decided to stay at the modern, upscale Sheraton Gateway hotel. Our spacious room was on the Club Level, which gives you access to a private lounge with a full bar, comfortable seating area, complimentary breakfast, along with all-day snacks and beverages. From our room, we had a direct view of the tarmac, where you can while away the day just watching the planes fly in and out of Pearson.

Things to do in mississauga

Last time we were in town, we rented jet skis from Port Credit Adventure Rentals and loved the experience. We were eager to see what else they had in store. This time, we decided to go with a tandem bike, which made for the perfect date and was 15% off with our MySauga pass. For a relaxing afternoon vibe, we highly recommend riding along the gorgeous waterfront and grabbing a drink in Port Credit.

We also checked out the K1 Go Karting location in Mississauga, which was so much fun (except for the fact that I lost the race to Kaan). We did two sets of two laps each, which was just enough to satisfy our inner adrenaline junkies. This fun excursion was also included in our MySauga pass.

What many travelers don’t realize about Mississauga, is that it is home to many great exhibitions and events. We were lucky enough to visit during the last few weeks of A Million Sunflowers, which is a gorgeous attraction just off the main road, and is exactly what it sounds like. Tons of sunflowers decorate My Lakeview Village with gorgeous views of the waterfront. This is a great place for a photo op, and can be accessed for free, 24/7 while the flowers are still in bloom.

Another exhibition that everyone is talking about in Mississauga is World of Barbie. Here you can wander through a massive building completely filled with all of Barbie's favorite rooms and activities. I, like many, decided to go the whole nine yards and wear an over-the-top, pink dress just like Barbie herself. This was perfect for getting some fun, aesthetic photos. This unforgettable experience is also great for kids if you are traveling with the whole family.

To wind down before our next flight out of Pearson, a trip to Trend Sassy Med Spa was an absolute must. Kaan and I were able to book some amazing hydrafacials here (you know we are obsessed with them) for a super reasonable price.

where to eat in Mississauga

Mississauga is home to a ton of amazing eateries that run the gamut from themed cafes to fine dining. Our first stop was El Mariachi. This taco joint has a fun atmosphere and delicious Mexican food at affordable prices. The best part is that it’s located in Streetsville, which is one of Mississauga’s most trendy neighborhoods. In this area, you also have Cagneys Steakhouse, which offers a fine dining experience complete with oysters on the half shell, handcrafted cocktails, and of course, incredible steak that is always cooked to perfection.

Another place where you are guaranteed some incredible dining options is Square One shopping centre. I worked at the Earls restaurant location in this mall for years before Kaan and I started our worldwide adventures together. Of course, we had to pay my old place of work a visit and grabbed one of their famous Caesars. Later, we headed to a Turkish restaurant called Mado, which we were looking forward to trying long before they opened. The lunch here was well worth the wait.

One of the hottest places to go at Square One right now is Alaia Cafe. This unique spot is covered in pink decor with matching food and drinks. This is the perfect place to get a cute shot for Instagram and try some fun menu items like their rose lattes, unicorn bomb spritzers, and cotton candy doughnuts. We had a lot of fun taking pictures and trying all the goodies here.

For a unique, lively experience, head out to Mississauga’s Celebration Square which is marked with year-round events and activities to do for couples and families. We went to check out the Latin Food Fest in the Square One parking lot. Here you can find plenty of food trucks and mini events all set up right outside of the mall. Of course, while we were here, we also made a point of strolling through the mall and perusing their hundreds of shops.

A trip to Mississauga is made even better with the MySauga pass. We were so happy with all of the fun activities we were able to try at discounted rates. As proud Canadians, you know we’ll be back to Mississauga time and time again!