What are The Best things to do and see in Canada's largest city?
When we talk about Canada, generally, the first cities that come to mind are Montreal, Quebec, and if need be Vancouver. But do we really know Toronto? Usually, tourists only visit Toronto for a few hours and then go directly to the famous Niagara Falls. But visiting Toronto reveals much more than that, and it's much more than just a passing city: even if this city is located in the English-speaking part of the country, it remains the fourth most pleasant city to live in the world, behind Vancouver, Melbourne and Vienna. But what to do in Toronto? What to see? Come and visit Toronto, this city like no other, ostie d'calice !
Read also: The 25 most beautiful places to visit in Canada
1. The Queen Street West neighborhood
Photo credit: Flickr - Naomi
Surely one of the favorite neighborhoods of tourists but especially locals. Come for a walk and discover its terraces, restaurants, shops of all kinds, street art. Especially in summer, it's the place to be !
2. The Toronto Islands (or Toronto Islands )
Crédit photo: Flickr – Josh Evnin
When you get off at Union Station and you want to reach Queens Quay, you will have to cross the bridge and go along the highway but if you walk by the lake, the landscape will appear magical. To get to the Toronto Islands, you will then have to take the ferry to Queens Quay: the crossing takes 15 minutes and you will be able to benefit from an unimaginable panorama with the famous skyline of Toronto. A unique, magical moment. Toronto Islands is an archipelago of small islands that protect the Port of Toronto. There are many activities to relax there on beautiful spring and summer days.
3. The CN tower
Crédit photo: Flickr – Rupert Taylor-Price
Can we talk about Toronto without surely mentioning its most emblematic monument, namely the CN tower? With its 181 floors, this elevator tower will transport you to the 114th floor of the world's largest freestanding structure in… 58 seconds. Thanks to its fully glazed bay, the elevator offers you a breathtaking view with a breathtaking panorama. On a clear day, it is even possible to see up to the border with the USA! For those with nerves of steel, you can try walking on the glass floor.
4. The Eaton Center
Crédit photo: Flickr – Geoff Stearns
For shopping aficionados, the Eaton Center is the best place in the world; this is simply the largest shopping center downtown where you will be able to find all the major US networks and nearly 300 shops. In December, you must at all costs discover the magical decorations of the shopping center which is called here a "mall". Finally, to extend the magic of this extraordinary space, exit by the north side of the Eaton Center and you will fall on Dundas Square, the mini Times Square in Toronto. It is then that you will realize that you are in North America and that everything is necessarily bigger, more imposing.
5. China Town
Photo credit: Wikimedia - chensiyuan
Like all major cities, Toronto also has its Chinatown, its famous China Town. It is certainly less impressive than that of New York but once you have set foot in this universe, you will feel completely disoriented, as if transported to a new region of the world. It is obviously here that you will find the best Chinese restaurants but it is above all a perfect place for those who want to buy vegetables and fruits at unbeatable prices.
6. Le Distillery District
Photo credit: Flickr - Jason Baker
It is a historic district of Toronto: in the 19th century was the Gooderham & Worts distillery . Today, this district brings together the largest collection of Victorian style buildings in all of North America and 10 streets classified as historical heritage of Canada.
7. Le quartier Bloor & Bathurst
Photo credit: Flickr - Gary J. Wood
A very nice neighborhood if you want to find a place to eat. Try the excellent New Generation Sushi restaurant and pack a bento for unforgettable flavors. For those who like to discover new typical places, why not be tempted by Guu Sakabar , a Japanese tapas bar that transports you to a 100% Japanese atmosphere. Finally, for those who love vintage, who listen to their music with vinyls, go to the Sonic Boom shop , you risk staying there for a few hours.
8. The Loma House
Photo credit: Flickr - paul bica
This medieval castle, which was finished only in 1914, can be recognized several kilometers around because it overlooks the city center from a hill. This castle was the home of Sir Henry Pellatt who was a renowned financier and industrialist in Toronto but also around the world in business. Following a financial ruin, he had to give up his fantastic house of 98 rooms. To discover without further delay to understand the excess of such a man!
9. Le Royal Ontario Museum
Crédit photo: Flickr – The City of Toronto
Also called ROM, it is one of the largest museums in all of North America. It is a natural history museum that contains a very impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons. Chinese and Japanese works are also very present. Curiosity: the museum turns, on Friday evening, into a gigantic dancefloor… who wants to dance in the middle of the T-Rex? This weekly event is called “Friday Night Live” .
10. Market St Lawrence ( St. Lawrence Market )
Crédit photo: Wikimedia - Taxiarchos228
This market, even if it is not very important, is very original because you can find there shops of all kinds like a fishmonger, a cheese maker, a pork butcher but also grocery stores, bakeries or a shop specializing in the sale of different kinds of mustard. A clean place where the presentation of food suggests a certain taste for gourmets and gourmands.
11. The Art Gallery of Ontario
Photo credit: Wikimedia - John
By the diversity it offers this museum is recognized by all art lovers. Founded in 1900, it now has up to 79,000 works, including remarkable pieces of Canadian art. In addition to the paintings of the Group of Seven (Canadian painters of the early 20th century), which are a national treasure, the museum offers paintings by Tintoretto, Van Gogh, Picasso and even Henry Moore. The architect Franck Gehry designed the main renovations.
12. The Kensington Market district
Photo credit: Wikimedia - Josephers
An essential place where you will find all the sores of the city. A hippie-chic neighborhood where it is good to walk, a multi-cultural district, one of the oldest and best known, in the center of the city.
13. Niagara Falls
Crédit photo: Flickr – Daniel Peckham
You can't miss one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world! With its large whistling arcs, the downpours that crash on the cliffs at least 20 stories high, the Falls represent a fantastic, dazzling spectacle. Note that the fall on the Canadian side is 188 meters high and is called "horseshoe", it is the most powerful of the three cataracts that make up Niagara Falls.
Other ideas for visits to Toronto
- Go to a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game at the Air Canada Center
- In winter, go skating on one of the 50 outdoor rinks. The most famous is on Nathan Philips Square
- To go out and enjoy the nightlife, go to the Entertainment District on weekend evenings
- For children, there is the Toronto Zoo with pandas among others
- Go for a walk and have a picnic in High Park
Read also: 1O Must See National Parks in Canada
Toronto: How to get there? Where to stay?
First of all, if you are leaving from Montreal , know that the Montreal-Toronto train is the best way to travel between the two largest cities in Canada.
To find the cheapest airfare for Toronto, use Skyscanner's flight comparator .
Where to stay in Toronto? There is no lack of choice! The city is gigantic but some districts are to be privileged like the Distillery District or Kensington Market.