Toronto, located in Ontario, is often called New York’s little sister. A land of immigration where over 150 cultures rub shoulders, Toronto offers incredible cultural, linguistic, and culinary diversity! Between the skyscrapers, the many green spaces, the various sporting events, and the culinary explorations, there’s bound to be something to please you. Discover in this article things to do in the Toronto area.

Must-Try things to do in the Toronto area

Climb to the top of the CN Tower

Standing 553 meters tall, the CN Tower is Toronto’s landmark and dominates the city. With its 360° view, it’s one of the most popular things to do in Toronto area

If you want to see the panoramic view from the top of the CN Tower, you have two options:

• Buy a one-way ticket to go up: C$45
• Eat at 360 Restaurant: you won’t need to buy a ticket to get to the top of the Tower, but you will have to spend at least C$75. All good: a set menu starting at C$75 gets you a starter and main course or main course and dessert. Note: the restaurant “rotates” so you can see the different views of Toronto during your meal. For a romantic atmosphere, I recommend going for dinner, just before sunset.

If you’re a thrill-seeker, it’s possible to “walk” around the 356-meter-high Observatoire de la Tour tower, outdoors attached only by a cable.

Stroll through Kensington Market and discover Chinatown

Situated at the intersection of College Street and Spadina Avenue, Kensington Market is a hipster neighborhood where you’ll find numerous thrift shops, local businesses, street art, and trendy restaurants. In summer, it’s common to see restaurateurs getting out their barbecues and grilling their meat directly on the road while playing music.

After strolling through Kensington Market, I recommend heading back to Spadina Avenue, where you can immerse yourself in a whole new culture: Chinese. In Chinatown, you’ll discover numerous Chinese restaurants and fresh produce markets sold directly on the sidewalk.

A change of scenery is guaranteed.

Take a drink in Distillery District

With its red brick-paved streets and buildings, Distillery District was once home to the Gooderham and Worts whisky distillery.

Renovated in the early 2000s, this pedestrian district is now home to artisan boutiques and restaurants serving a variety of cuisines.

With its romantic setting, the Distillery District is the ideal place for a photo shoot. Indeed, if you visit this district on a summer weekend, you’re likely to come across brides and grooms doing their wedding photo shoots.

Spend an afternoon on Toronto’s islands

Yes, you read that right. In just 10 minutes by ferry, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and find yourself completely (or almost completely) out of place on an island.

Just 5.4 kilometers wide, the Toronto Islands are the perfect place to stroll, picnic, and even swim.

Bonus: you get a breathtaking view of the Toronto skyline.

Ferry fare: C$9.11 (excluding taxes). For more information, I’ve dedicated an entire article to the Toronto Islands.

See a baseball, basketball, and/or hockey game

As you’ll quickly realize, sports play an important role in Toronto. Indeed, it’s quite common to see several televisions in bars broadcasting the latest sporting events.

Even if, like me, you’re not a sports fan and it takes you an hour to understand the rules of the game, the atmosphere in a stadium is incredible.

Grab yourself a hot dog or poutine with a beer and enjoy the show.

• Baseball: late February to September | Tickets start at around C$35 (plus taxes)
• Basketball: October to April | Tickets start at around C$100 (plus taxes)
• Hockey: October to April | Tickets start at around C$100 (plus taxes)

Stroll among the skyscrapers of the Financial District

When considering things to do in the Toronto area, don’t miss out on walking in the Financial District. Indeed, as Canada’s main financial and banking center, the Financial District is home to the majority of Toronto’s skyscrapers.

The district is also home to the PATH, a 30-kilometre underground network running through downtown Toronto.

Visit Old Town

Old Town is located between the Distillery District and the Financial District. I recommend a stroll through the area, including a visit to St Lawrence Market, Toronto’s largest indoor market. It’s the ideal place to discover local produce and also pick up international products that you can’t find anywhere else (if you’re looking for cheese and charcuterie, this is going to be your favorite place).

Just a stone’s throw from St Lawrence Market, you’ll find the historic Gooderham Building. Built in 1892, you’re bound to notice its iron shape and brick color.

Take a cultural excursion to Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

With over 6 million exhibits of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern art, the Royal Ontario Museum is Toronto’s largest museum.

Ready to step back in time? Casa Loma is a bourgeois mansion built in the early 20th century.

ROM  rate: C$27 (plus taxes)

Casa Loma rate: C$45 (plus taxes)

Picnicking in one of Toronto’s parks

Toronto has many green spaces where you can recharge your batteries.

Here’s my selection of Toronto’s two best parks:

• High Park: Toronto’s largest park. High Park offers a wide range of activities, including a zoo and hiking trails. It’s also the most popular place to see the Sakura cherry blossoms in April.
• Riverdale Park East: this park has the particularity of being on a slope, which makes it very popular in winter for tobogganing. It’s also one of Toronto’s best places to watch the sunset.

Good Deal – City Pass

Because we’re always on the lookout for good deals, the City Pass gives you access to the CN Tower and four other activities of your choice: Casa Loma, ROM, Toronto Zoo, Ontario Science Centre, and/or City Cruises Toronto.

Price: C$100.

Where to eat in Toronto?

I’m afraid to disappoint you, but apart from poutine (which comes from Quebec), there are unfortunately no culinary specialties to be discovered in Toronto.

Nevertheless, Toronto is home to a large number of immigrants and boasts a highly diversified culinary palette.

Toronto’s best restaurants

• C’est What: located in Old Town, this basement restaurant/bar offers a wide selection of local beers with an eclectic menu. You’ll be able to try a Butter Chicken Poutine (don’t judge until you’ve tried it).
• El Catrin Destileria: with its huge patio in the Distillery District, El Catrin is the ideal restaurant for a drink and a taste of Mexican specialties (special mention for the guacamole).
• Alma: discover Lebanese flavors in a chic setting.
• Planta: if you’re vegan (and even if you’re not), Planta offers a wide choice of vegan dishes.
• Craft: a classic American pub in the heart of the Financial District, with a wide choice of beers.
• Chubby’s: the best restaurant for a taste of Jamaican cuisine.
• Peter Pan: if you’re looking for brunch, you can go there with your eyes closed.
• JaBistro: Toronto’s best sushi (if you like salmon, I can’t recommend the Salmon Oshizushi enough).
• Afuri Ramen: great ramen in a friendly atmosphere.
• Le Sélect: one of the few French restaurants in Toronto that didn’t disappoint me.
• Daldongnae Korean BBQ: perfect for trying Korean barbecue.
• Gusto 501/101: Italian cuisine with pizzas and pasta (truffle fan? Don’t hesitate to order their truffle pasta).
• BeaverTails: not a restaurant per se, but this is where you’ll find the famous beaver tails.
• Unholy Donuts: greasy, sweet doughnuts just the way we like them.

Practical tips and information

1/ Restaurant prices do not include taxes (13%) or tips (usually between 15 and 20%).

2/ Canadians are accustomed to booking in advance. If you want to have a chance of getting a seat, especially on weekends, I strongly recommend you make a reservation.

Getting around Toronto

Getting to Toronto

Once you’ve arrived at Toronto Airport, you have several options for getting downtown:

• Uber: the fastest way, but also the most expensive. You’ll have to wait for your Uber in a specific part of the airport. Fare: ~C$45
• UP Express: this train connects the airport to Union Station in downtown Toronto. Fare: C$12.35

Getting around Toronto

Toronto is an incredibly dynamic city where you’ll find a multitude of ways to get around. Walking is the best way to discover the city, but if the distances seem too great, here are a few transportation options at your disposal:

• The TTC  (subway, bus, streetcar) is the ideal way to get around Toronto. You can easily pay for your ticket with your credit card, or buy the PRESTO card, which allows you to charge an amount automatically deducted each time you pass through the turnstiles. Ticket price: C$3.3
• If you prefer a more eco-friendly option, Bike Share offers self-service bicycles at an affordable rate. Rate: C$15 for 90 minutes.

Tip – Download City Mapper

To make planning your trip as easy as possible, don’t forget to use the CityMapper application, which shows you all the transport options and their corresponding fares. Just enter the address you want to go to, and you’re ready to go! It’s a must-have app for surviving Toronto.

Fare: free.

Where to sleep in Toronto?

As you may have noticed, Toronto is a very big city! Nevertheless, you can rely on public transport to get around the city easily. So my first piece of advice would be to find accommodation close to a subway station.

Downtown Toronto, in the heart of the city

Downtown is the ideal place to stay in Toronto. It’s bordered by Lake Ontario to the south, Bloor Street to the north, Bathurst Street to the west, and Don Valley Parkway to the east. Here you’ll find most of the city’s attractions, such as the CN Tower, the Financial District, and the Royal Ontario Museum, as well as the must-see skyscrapers and excellent restaurants.

Public transport services in the downtown area are excellent, making it easy to get around. I strongly advise you to find accommodation nearby!

Tip: while downtown is generally safe, there’s one area to avoid: Moss Park, and more specifically the Sherbourne St/Queen St junction.

Midtown, an affordable alternative

Just north of Toronto, near the Eglinton, Davisville, and St Clair subway stations, Midtown is a vibrant neighborhood where you’ll find great restaurants and a shopping mall.

Because it’s slightly further from downtown, prices tend to be more affordable than those in the core. Nevertheless, the nearby metro stations will get you downtown in 20 minutes. Midtown is a good compromise!

When to visit Toronto?

Best time to visit Toronto

With its lively festivals, bustling beaches, leafy parks, and crowded patios, summer (June to September) is the ideal time to visit Toronto.

On the other hand, if you want to enjoy winter sports, winter is your season (from mid-December to February). However, to get the most out of the experience and fully immerse yourself in this Canadian winter, I recommend that you head for Montreal or Quebec City, which have much colder, snowier winters than Toronto.

How long to stay in Toronto?

To enjoy the city without rushing and with enough time to see its major attractions, I recommend that you stay 3 or even 4 days in Toronto. An extra day can be added for a trip to Niagara Falls, 1.5 hours away by car. By the way, I’ve written a 4-day guide listing the activities to be done day by day.

Budget to visit Toronto

The budget is an important element of your trip, and unfortunately, it’s often difficult to get information on it. Below, I’ve provided a budget estimate for the major expense items. Of course, bear in mind that these are estimates and that your budget may change depending on what you want to visit, how you want to get around, and where you want to stay. Prices are per person (except for hotel nights).

Final word

As I write this article, I’ve been living in Toronto for 2 years. It’s a truly exotic city where you’ll always find something to do. If you’re looking for an idea on how to organize your itinerary, I invite you to read this article: Your Perfect 4-Day Trip. I hope this comprehensive guide to what to do, how to get around, and where to sleep in Toronto will help you plan your visit to Toronto with peace of mind. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

La Bise,