Toronto – The Big City of Canada
The city of Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. Surrounding the city is a metropolitan area housing nearly a quarter of Canada's population. This metropolis is the second largest in the Great Lakes region, after Chicago. Toronto is a city with plenty to see and do. The CN Tower, the tallest tower in the entire western world, is the symbol of the city. The tower overlooks the Harbourfront, which was formerly the city's transportation hub and is now packed with major tourist attractions. Downtown Toronto is also full of attractions. Around the central Nathan Phillips Square are historic buildings, modern skyscrapers, excellent museums, and bustling ethnic neighborhoods. Queen Street is the main shopping thoroughfare, and just by the square is the enormous Eaton Centre, providing a perfect spot for strolling and shopping.
How many days do you need for a trip to Toronto?
For a trip to Toronto, it's recommended to dedicate between two to three full days.
During your trip to Toronto, finding accommodation in the city center is a must.
Click here to check availability and prices in Toronto hotels…
18 Must-See and Do Things in Toronto
- All attractions at the height of the CN Tower – the main observation deck, the SkyPod, the EdgeWalk, and to top it off, lunch at the revolving 360 Restaurant
- Lunch and tastings at St. Lawrence Market
- A Blue Jays baseball game at Rogers Centre or a Maple Leafs hockey or Raptors basketball game at Scotiabank Arena
- Ice skating or Christmas tree lighting in winter at Nathan Phillips Square
- The stunning modern design of Toronto City Hall buildings
- The impressive vintage design of the Toronto Old City Hall
- Fun shopping at Queen Street West
- Shopping at the massive Eaton Centre mall
- View of downtown and the CN Tower from Toronto's Harbourfront
- Quality films at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
- Rub shoulders with national Canadian heroes at the Hockey Hall of Fame
- High-level European art at the Art Gallery of Ontario
- All the province's treasures at the Royal Ontario Museum
- The stunning structure of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- The grandiose Casa Loma and its vintage car collection
- Trendy cafes at the Village of Yorkville Park
- Relaxing in the summer at the Beaches district and shopping on Queen Street East
- The polar animals at the Toronto Zoo
Click here for all the information on touring Toronto's Harbourfront…
Click here for a free guided tour of downtown Toronto…
Click here for a day trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls…
Click here for Toronto's Hop-On Hop-Off bus…
What is Toronto?
Toronto is the biggest city in Canada (the fourth largest among US and Canadian cities combined, after New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago). The city is home to almost three million residents, with nearly seven million in the metropolitan area.
- The large metropolis stretches along the northern shore of Lake Ontario
- This is the main metropolitan area of the Canadian mini megalopolis known as the Golden Horseshoe. This massive urban stretch extends along Lake Ontario from Niagara Falls to Oshawa, housing almost ten million people (about a quarter of Canada's entire population).
- Toronto is the capital of Ontario province and the most important transportation, cultural, financial, and industrial center of Canada. It's a city whose residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life and it ranks among the best cities to live and visit in the entire world.
Click here to purchase online tickets to Casa Loma
Toronto was founded in 1793 as York and three years later was declared the capital of the province. York was captured by the Americans about twenty years later in 1813 (during the War of 1812) and was mostly destroyed. In response, the British destroyed Washington DC.
- It was only in 1834 that York was declared a city and changed its name to Toronto
- Toronto quickly developed after gaining self-governance from Britain in 1867 and became Canada's largest city by the late 19th century
- It was a destination for immigrants from all over Europe, and after World War II, also a destination for immigrants from around the world
- The city has many ethnic communities throughout the metropolitan area, making it a cosmopolitan city
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Toronto Art Gallery…
Map of Toronto
How to get to Toronto?
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Canada's largest and main airport is located west of downtown Toronto, in the city of Mississauga. This airport is well-connected with all major airports in the USA and Canada, as well as major airports in Europe (and essentially the entire world). You can easily reach Toronto with direct flights from Air Canada from a wide range of airports in Europe, East Asia, and South America.
This is the main hub of Air Canada and has two terminals – Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 1 serves Air Canada flights and other international airlines of the Star Alliance. The terminals are connected by a monorail line called Terminal Link. The airport is conveniently connected by a bus line to the Kipling subway station on Line 2, the Green Bloor–Danforth line.
Click here for finding deals and good prices for flights to Toronto…
How to get to Toronto by car?
Usually, those who arrive in Toronto by car travel from the Niagara Falls direction, where they cross the border from the USA to Canada. The drive from Niagara Falls to Toronto is on the Queen Elizabeth Way, the highway that crosses the Golden Horseshoe, the vast urban region surrounding the western edge of Lake Ontario.
Toronto's connection with other sites in eastern Canada, such as Ottawa the capital or Montreal, is via Ontario Highway 401 or the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway. This highway continues westward to the Canadian border city Windsor, which is part of the Detroit metropolitan area.
Public Transportation in Toronto
The Toronto Subway
The Toronto subway is a pretty decent underground system that lets you get around the city easily, in combination with the tram system. The subway mainly serves the metropolitan commuting movement and conveniently connects all the outer boroughs and suburbs to the city center. The system is operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
The system began operations in the mid-1950s, and currently has three lines, though honestly, only Line 1, the yellow one (Line 1 Yonge–University), is relevant for traveling downtown. This line creates a sort of loop within downtown, ending at Union Station, with stations along the main avenues of Yonge and University.
North of Queen's Park, the yellow line intersects with the green line (Line 2 Bloor–Danforth), completing a ring around all the city's main sites.
Toronto streetcar system
Toronto's tram lines are a fantastic way to get around parts of downtown. The system started operating in the 1860s and is considered one of the busiest and best in North American cities. There are tram trains along a large part of the avenues and main streets of downtown Toronto and the Harbourfront. These lines conveniently intersect with the downtown subway loop (Line 1, the Yellow Line) and Line 2 (the Green Line) that crosses north of downtown Toronto.
Click here for the updated map of the subway and tram systems in Toronto…
When is the best time to visit Toronto?
Although it's Canada, and the winter weather is definitely harsh, Toronto is a city to visit year-round. Toronto has four distinct seasons, each with its own pros and cons.
- Summer in Toronto is the best season to visit. The city is warm to hot in the summer, with occasional rain that doesn't really affect your trip.
- Spring in Toronto is also a great season for touring the city and its surroundings. March is still cold to freezing, while May is already warm and especially pleasant. In late spring, there are many sunny hours, you can feel the snow melting, and there's a fun feeling of the city waking up from the Canadian winter slumber.
- Autumn in Toronto is fantastic for sightseeing, especially if you're planning to head out of the city to the countryside or make your way to Niagara Falls. The entire area enjoys the orange and yellow hues of the fall foliage, and the warm summer weather quickly cools to a particularly pleasant and wistful atmosphere. From November, snow begins, and autumn also brings rainy days.
- Winter in Toronto, like all of Canada, can be very harsh. Despite being icy and sometimes snowy, the city is well-prepared for winter, allowing easy mobility and a fun Christmas atmosphere to enjoy your visit. Toronto also has large spaces sheltered from snow and cold (not like Montreal's underground city but still), making this the season to experience the city as its residents do.
Click here for the full Toronto downtown food tour…
Everything you need to know about lodging and hotels in Toronto
Toronto is a city with a friendly and fun downtown (like most Canadian cities) and most accommodations are right in the city center. You can divide the lodging areas in downtown Toronto into two:
- At the Harbourfront near the CN Tower
- In downtown Toronto near the Eaton Center and Nathan Phillips Square
Click here to find a place in the heart of Toronto…
The whole area of downtown Toronto is filled with numerous urban hotels, from small three-star hotels to luxury five-star hotels. The city center also has a large number of big business hotels with four stars from top American (and Canadian) chains.
- There is a cluster of luxury hotels just east of the CN Tower, including the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel opposite Union Station, the luxurious Intercontinental, and the Ritz-Carlton near Roy Thomson Hall
- There are also luxury hotels near Nathan Phillips Square like the Shangri-La and the St. Regis.
Three and four-star hotels in downtown are usually located in tall towers, sometimes occupying several floors in a tower and sometimes the entire building in some four-star hotels. These are fantastic urban hotels, offering a stunning city view experience.
Overall, the hotel standards in Toronto (and generally in Canada) are high to nearly perfect. It's hard to go wrong with hotels even in the city center, but it's always better to go with well-known chains.
Near Pearson International Airport, there is a massive cluster of large business hotels of four-star quality, and of course many motels.
- If you're coming to Toronto by car, it's a good idea to stay near the airport, where prices are generally more affordable, and travel to the city with public transportation.
- The motels near the airport include all the familiar chains, such as Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and more, as well as roadside inns like Best Western, Hampton Inn, mostly along Ontario Highway 401 (Macdonald-Cartier Freeway).
Click here to check availability and prices at hotels near Toronto Pearson International Airport…
Map of Accommodation Areas in Toronto
How to plan a travel itinerary in Toronto?
Most visitors who come to Toronto arrive in the city, explore it, and then take off back home. The city serves as the main gateway to the notable towns and attractions of what is known as the Canadian Great Lakes region. This area is like a large peninsula between Toronto in the east and Detroit in the west, surrounded by three of the Great Lakes – Ontario to the east, Erie to the south, and Huron to the north. It's one of the most densely populated regions in Canada, featuring several cities and places worth visiting such as the Bruce Peninsula, Manitoulin Island, London, Kitchener, and more.
Click here for itinerary planning in Toronto and expert consultation…
The number one travel destination, and generally the leading day trip from Toronto, is of course Niagara Falls, just a one and a half hour drive from downtown.
Click here for a day tour from Toronto to Niagara Falls (+ cruise and lunch)…
Toronto can also be combined with a larger tour of Eastern Canada. This tour includes what is known as the Thousand Islands, the small islands in the Saint Lawrence River from Lake Ontario to the city of Brockville. This is a leading tourist destination in Canada from which you can continue to Quebec City, Montreal, or Ottawa.
Click here to purchase online tickets for the Royal Ontario Museum…
Tour Itinerary in Toronto
The tour route in the city itself is relatively simple and focuses on a geographically small area. It is recommended to start the city tour at the Harbourfront, especially concerning the CN Tower.
Click here for a night tour in Toronto + ascent of the CN Tower for a dazzling light-filled view…
- You can climb the observation deck or explore other attractions on the tower, and you can reach Toronto Islands for a breathtaking view of the tower
- Near the tower, you'll also find Ripley's Aquarium of Canada and the Toronto Railway Museum at Roundhouse Park
- From the tower, be sure to head into Old Toronto, where you'll find the Hockey Hall of Fame, the TIFF Bell Lightbox (the city's major film festival venue), and the Toronto Dominion Centre complex
- If you’re hungry, you can also hop over to St. Lawrence Market
- Continue a bit north in downtown Toronto to the city's heart – Nathan Phillips Square. The square hosts a line-up of significant sites such as the rounded towers of the new City Hall, the impressive old City Hall building, the massive Eaton Centre shopping complex, and the vibrant shopping street Queen Street West
- On Queen Street West, continue westward towards the Kensington-Chinatown district, where you’ll find the Art Gallery of Ontario
- From the gallery, continue on foot along Dundas Street West, the heart of Chinatown, and veer into Kensington Market
- From Kensington, head north to the University of Toronto campus and from there to Queen's Park, home of the Legislative Assembly
- North of the park is the Royal Ontario Museum, and next to it is the unique Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art
- A little further north is the Village of Yorkville Park, the heart of the trendy Yorkville neighborhood
- Heading north brings you to the giant Casa Loma castle
- On a city tour, you can also specially visit Toronto's large zoo, the Science Center, and the Black Creek Pioneer Village
Click here for a beer tasting tour at all the unique spots in downtown Toronto…
Harbourfront and Toronto's Entertainment District
The CN Tower is now the undisputed symbol of the city of Toronto. This giant TV tower is the tallest structure in the Western world and a top tourist destination that has transformed Toronto's harborfront from a dull area to the heart of the city's attractions. Besides the stunning view of the lake, the tower offers plenty of tourist attractions at its top.
Below the giant tower, you'll find more attractions like Canada's aquarium and the massive Rogers Centre. To the south, the beautiful promenade along the lake, and to the north, Toronto's Entertainment District, packed with attractions, fascinating skyscrapers, theaters, and lively streets.
What are Toronto's Harbourfront and Entertainment District?
Toronto's Harbourfront was once a dull transportation hub enjoying the charming waterfront of Lake Ontario. In the 1960s, the city of Toronto decided to invest in the area and transform it into a tourist destination. The area of train depots and countless rail lines was cleared, making way for modern buildings and green spaces.
- With the completion of the CN Tower in 1976 (built as a television tower), the entire area became Toronto's most popular tourist destination
- The CN Tower became a symbol of the modern city and the unrivaled ruler of the skyline above Lake Ontario
- The entire Harbourfront was transformed into a space of parks and promenades, providing easy access to marinas or an enjoyable lakeside stroll
- Alongside the CN Tower, other important attractions were built, such as Rogers Centre (originally called SkyDome) and the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, the giant aquarium that has become a very popular tourist destination
Toronto's Entertainment District actually starts from the CN Tower and stretches north to an area known as Old Town Toronto. This is part of the city's historical center and features some old buildings (by Canadian standards).
- The district is vibrant with streets sheltered by the financial district towers, theaters, large urban hotels, restaurants, and shops
- The district is the base for the Toronto Film Festival, held in the city every September
- The district is also home to the Hockey Hall of Fame, which has become a beloved local attraction, mainly due to Canadians' fanatical admiration for the winter sport
- To the east, the St. Lawrence Market is one of the liveliest places in downtown Toronto and a particularly fun spot for lunch
Click here for a sailing trip to the Harbourfront and a guided tour of Toronto's skyline…
Downtown Toronto and the Districts Around Queen's Park
Nathan Phillips Square is the heart of downtown Toronto. This beautiful square is the commercial and municipal core of Ontario's capital. Beyond the handsome city hall buildings, Queen Street West, a beloved shopping street, extends from the square. To the west of the central square lies the Art Gallery of Ontario, which opens up to the vibrant Chinatown-Kensington area, the heart of cosmopolitan Toronto.
To the north, within the University of Toronto campus and Queen's Park, lies an important academic area together with the political center – the Ontario Legislative Building. The unusual Casa Loma palace, north of the park in Midtown, complements the tourist-friendly area of central Toronto.
What are Downtown Toronto and the neighborhoods around Queen's Park?
The walk through Old Toronto conveniently connects with the Harbourfront and the CN Tower. Old Toronto is the all-encompassing name for the city center, but the real center of the city (before the tourist center of gravity began to climb the towering giant just a bit south) is what’s known as Downtown.
- In the heart of Downtown stands Nathan Phillips Square, considered the ground zero of central Toronto. The square is the city’s municipal center, where the two modern City Hall towers stand alongside the stunning old City Hall.
- The square is also Toronto's shopping and commerce hub. Near the square is the Eaton Centre, one of the largest malls in North America. From the square, Queen West, Toronto's number one shopping street, heads westward.
West of Downtown lies Toronto's cultural and ethnic center.
- In the Kensington-Chinatown area lies the wonderful collection of the provincial art gallery, housed in a building that's as much an artistic gem.
- Nearby, Chinatown and Kensington Market are urban areas blending residents from around the globe and bustling streets filled with locals and tourists enjoying some of the city's best restaurants.
North of Chinatown is Ontario's governmental and academic center, surrounding Queen's Park.
- The provincial parliament building overlooks the beautiful park, right next to the prestigious University of Toronto campus.
- Around the park, you'll find a range of special museums, including large ones like the Royal Ontario Museum and smaller ones with unique collections, such as the Bata Shoe Museum and the Gardiner Museum for ceramics and pottery.
- A short walk away is the trendy Yorkville neighborhood.
In the northern part of the city, you'll also find Casa Loma, the giant castle from the early 20th century, which has become a must-see destination in the city.
Attractions in Greater Toronto
The Beaches
The Beaches is one of the prettiest and most tranquil neighborhoods in Toronto. The area is located east of downtown with its centerpiece being the elegant shopping strip of Queen Street East (not to be confused with Queen Street West shopping in downtown). It's a district of parks, laid-back residential areas, stylish shops, and of course, beaches. From the yacht docks at Woodbine Beach to Silver Birch Beach, these popular swimming beaches offer lifeguard services in the summer.
The charming Kew Gardens cross the borough from Queen Street East to the Boardwalk, a thin trail that runs along the beaches for almost three kilometers. These beaches are the main recreational areas for locals during the summer months, including the Scarborough Bluffs beaches to the east. In Scarborough's nature park, you'll find beautiful sandstone cliffs.
Toronto Zoo
Toronto Zoo is located at the eastern edge of the city. It's considered one of the world's most visitor-friendly zoos, not just for visitors but especially for the animals residing in it. This is a zoo with a strong emphasis on conservation and sustainability values, where the animals live in environments designed to mimic their natural habitats as closely as possible.
The zoo opened to the public in 1974 and has since become one of the favorite attractions for local children. It is a northern-style zoo featuring displays of all the polar stars like polar bears, moose, and local caribou. The zoo also houses pandas and a wide variety of fascinating animals.
Address: Meadowvale Rd. 2000, Toronto
Click here for the latest operating hours of the zoo…
Black Creek Pioneer Village
Black Creek Pioneer Village is an open-air museum aimed at preserving the traditional architecture and crafts of Ontario Province. The open-air museum features about forty 19th-century buildings collected from all over Ontario, preserving artifacts, machinery, and more.
Actors in period costumes operate within the buildings, simulating the ancient crafts. The museum offers a very local experience, but tourists can also connect with it and see both the rare preservation character and enjoy the 19th-century Canadian village experience. The village is located in the Black Creek district in the north of the city.
Address: Murray Ross Pkwy. 1000, Toronto
Click here for the latest operating hours of the museum…
Sports Events and Teams in Toronto
Toronto is a Canadian city with an American orientation and boasts a wealth of entertainment we call professional sports. It’s the largest city in Canada and rightfully holds significant representation in all the American professional leagues. The city has an NBA basketball team, an MLB baseball team, and an NHL hockey team. These teams range from decent to really good, and all have won championship titles in their respective leagues.
The city also has a very popular professional football team, the Toronto Argonauts. The Argonauts are considered the oldest professional sports team in North America, founded in 1873. Although they play in the Canadian CFL league, they are regarded as one of the city's favorites. The city is also home to Toronto Football Club, which has also won the MLS championship.
Basketball in Toronto
The Toronto Raptors
The Toronto basketball team in the NBA is one of the most fun attractions for professional sports fans in the city. The team plays at Scotiabank Arena in the Harbourfront, which is also the home stadium for the Maple Leafs, formerly known as the Air Canada Centre. It's a short walk from the CN Tower. The arena seats 20,000 spectators, and it's wise to get tickets well in advance because they are in demand, especially for playoff games.
The Raptors were established in 1993, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's initiative to expand into Canada. In 2001, the Grizzlies left Vancouver and moved to Memphis (thriving under the leadership of the Spanish Gasol brothers), leaving the Raptors as the sole representatives of Canada in the league. Surprisingly, in recent years, the team has been very successful, recruiting serious stars, and even managed to surprise the Golden State Warriors to win the championship in 2019.
Home Stadium Address: 40 Bay St., Toronto. Get off at Union Station if you're coming via the yellow line 1 subway or the tram system.
Click here for Raptors game tickets on the NBA site…
Baseball in Toronto
The Toronto Blue Jays
Just as the Raptors are Canada's sole representative in the NBA, the Blue Jays are the only Canadian team in the professional MLB baseball league (after the Expos from Montreal moved to Washington, D.C.). The team joined the league in 1977 and even won the World Series twice in a row in 1992-1993. Since then, the Blue Jays, named after the blue jay bird, have been an average team, but their games attract crowds and the team is much loved in the city.
The Blue Jays play at the beloved and enclosed Rogers Centre, right at the foot of the CN Tower. The stadium seats 50,000 people and securing tickets for the games is generally not a problem. On beautiful days when the stadium roof is open, it offers a stunning view of the CN Tower.
Home stadium address: One Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Spadina Ave at Bremner Blvd tram stop, or Union metro station on line 1, the Yellow Line.
Click here to purchase entrance tickets online for a Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre…
Hockey in Toronto
The Toronto Maple Leafs
In the NBA or MLB, it often feels like the Canadian teams are the outsiders, but in the NHL hockey league, the Canadian teams are the hosts. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the second most decorated team in professional ice sports, with 13 Stanley Cup victories (their fierce rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, have 24). The Maple Leafs are one of the Original Six, the six teams that founded the professional league in 1917. The league itself was founded in Montreal and hockey is much more associated with the seven Canadian teams than with the other 25 American teams.
The Maple Leafs are one of the most popular teams in Toronto and all of Canada. They share hosting duties with the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena in Harbourfront. In the past twenty years, the team has been much less dominant than it was before and struggles to reach the playoffs. It's considered a fairly average team despite the many titles it has won in the past.
Home Stadium Address: 40 Bay St., Toronto. Get off at Union Station if you're coming via the yellow line 1 subway or the tram system.
Click here for online ticket purchasing for Toronto Maple Leafs games…
