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40 Best Things To Do In Downtown Toronto (Local Guide)

Table of Contents

Looking for the best things to do in Downtown Toronto, Canada?

I’ve got you covered! 

If you are struggling to choose what to do in Toronto, then I don’t blame you – the city is huge! It can be overwhelming to choose what to fit into your Toronto itinerary, especially if you only have limited time to spend in the city. 

I grew up in Toronto and still visit regularly to see my family, so I consider myself an expert on all things Toronto. 

Over the years, I’ve explored the whole city, and now I’ve picked out some of the most fun things to do in Downtown Toronto – so you can make the most of your trip! 

Let’s dive in. 

✅ Get a chance to explore the vibrant city of Toronto with this Private Tour of the City!

Best Things to Do in Downtown Toronto

1. Kensington Market Toronto

Kensington Market is located in the heart of Toronto and is known for having many independent shops, vibrant murals, and delicious food! 

Kensington Market has a fun bohemian vibe and is a great place to shop and eat in downtown Toronto. You can find vintage thrift stores, art galleries, and hole-in-the-wall eateries serving up mouth-watering international cuisine. 

If you visit on the last Sunday of the month (May – October), you will find street parties and festivals at the Kensington Market. 

🍔 Savor the diverse culinary delights of Toronto’s Kensington Market on this flavorful food tour!

2. Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum is the largest museum in Canada. It showcases art, world culture, and natural history. 

The museum hosts a world-class collection of over six million objects and specimens, which are displayed across 40 galleries and exhibition spaces. 

I recommend spending at least 2 or 3 hours here to make the most of your visit.

The museum is the least crowded on weekday afternoons, and tickets cost $26 CAD ($19 USD) for adults and $16 CAD ($12 USD) for children. 

🗿 Visiting the Royal Ontario Museum is one of Toronto’s best tourist destinations! Book your tickets here!

3. CN Tower 

I can’t write about what to do in Downtown Toronto without mentioning the CN Tower! It is the most iconic landmark in the city. 

The CN Tower is a 553.3m high (1,815.3 ft) tower in Downtown Toronto. It once held the record for being the tallest tower in the world, but that title now goes to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai . The CN Tower is still the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

The tower has several observation decks and a revolving restaurant. 

For a unique experience, you can try the edge walk ! This incredible activity lets you walk around the edge of the tower at 116 stories above Toronto with nothing but a harness to secure you! 

🍁 Explore Toronto’s top attractions, including the CN Tower, on this Best of Toronto Tour with a scenic Harbour Cruise.

4. Nathan Phillips Square 

Nathan Phillips Square is a large open square in Downtown Toronto. It is home to the famous Toronto sign, which you have probably seen on social media. 

Taking pictures with the sign is one of the best things to do in Toronto for free. The sign lights up in different colors and looks really cool at night. 

5. Graffiti Alley

Graffiti Alley encompasses three city blocks. It is a great place to wander and admire interesting street art. It’s also an excellent place to get some fun photos and sometimes the location for small street festivals and pop-ups. 

Graffiti Alley is in Toronto’s fashion district, parallel to the trendy stretch of Queen Street West.

6. St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is an iconic food market home to 120 vendors, merchants, and artisans. 

It’s a great place to grab some tasty treats, and you will find everything from fresh pasta to maple syrup crepes and bacon sandwiches. 

The best way to experience the market is to come here on a weekend morning and grab some breakfast before heading off to explore the rest of the city. 

There are also great food tours available that include a visit to St. Lawrence Market. 

7. Art Gallery Of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario has a collection of more than 90,000 works of art. It is among the most well-known and distinguished art museums in North America. 

The museum is huge, and there is a lot to see, so I recommend you set aside at least 2 or 3 hours to appreciate it properly. 

The building itself is really cool, too. So even if you are not a fan of art museums, it is still worth popping by for a photo. 

🎨 Save time and avoid hassle by booking your tickets in advance to one of the most popular Toronto attractions, the Art Gallery of Ontario Here!

8. Take The Ferry To The Toronto Islands

This is one of my favorite activities in Toronto! The Toronto Islands are located in Lake Ontario, just offshore from Downtown Toronto.

Ferries to the Toronto Islands operate year-round out of Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. The average ferry trip takes around 15 minutes one way. 

You can see some incredible city views from the ferry deck, which makes the ferry ride even more worthwhile. 

Spending time on the islands is a fun way to spend an afternoon in Toronto. There are 15 islands, but the most interesting ones are Centre Island, Ward’s Island, and Hanlan’s Point.

9. Distillery District

Toronto’s historic Distillery District is full of brick-lined streets and beautifully restored Victorian-era buildings. It is one of the most hip places to visit in Downtown Toronto. 

The district is closed to traffic and is just a few minutes walk from downtown. 

In the Distillery District, you will find quirky bars and cafes, boutique fashion stores, independent art galleries, and lots of other unique establishments.

🚶 Immerse yourself in Toronto’s rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning architecture with this captivating walking tour of the Distillery District.

10. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Ripley’s Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in Downtown Toronto. 

The aquarium holds around 5.7 million liters (1.25 million gallons) of water and replicates different habitats from around the world. 

The aquarium houses more than 20,000 fish and 450 different species of other sea creatures, so there is plenty to see.

I recommend spending around 3 hours here to give yourself time to see everything. 

11. Hockey Hall Of Fame  

The Hockey Hall Of Fame is one of Toronto’s most popular tourist attractions. 

Canada is famous for ice hockey, and this interactive museum pays tribute to players, teams, memorabilia, and trophies. 

It’s a fun place to spend a couple of hours, especially if you are a big hockey fan!

🏒 Avoid long lines by booking your ticket to the Hockey Hall of Fame in advance! Get a chance to see the greatest collection of artifacts from around the world!

12. Toronto International Film Festival 

The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people every year.

The festival occurs annually at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Downtown Toronto.

Toronto usually schedules the festival for September, which lasts for 11 days. If you are in the city during the festival, you should definitely attend a screening at the festival! 

Tickets are available from the official TIFF website . 

13. The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres

The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres are two theatres vertically stacked on top of each other in Toronto. The Winter Garden Theatre is located seven stories above the Elgin Theatre. They hold the impressive distinction of being the only remaining Edwardian-stacked theatres in the world.

The interiors of the theatres are beautiful, and upstairs, you will find a unique botanical rooftop garden that blooms year-round. 

You can catch a show here or take a guided tour of the theatres on Mondays and Saturdays. 

14. The Eaton Centre 

The Eaton Centre is a large shopping mall in Downtown Toronto. It’s a great place to go if you love to shop and since the entire shopping mall is indoors, it’s one of the best things to do in Downtown Toronto in winter.

There are more than 250 stores and restaurants, making it one of North America’s busiest malls. 

Also, the food court is huge with lots of options, so it’s a good place to come for a cheap lunch. 

15. Second City Comedy Club

If you are looking for fun activities in Toronto for adults, comedy clubs are a great way to spend a night out.

The best comedy club in Downtown Toronto is Second City Comedy Club. 

This comedy club showcases live improv and sketch comedy shows every night. It’s even hosted performances from super-famous comedians like Steve Carell and Tina Fey. 

16. The Harbourfront Centre

The Harbourfront Centre is a beautiful waterfront park in Toronto. It hosts thousands of different cultural events and activities throughout the year. 

It’s also a great place to go in the evening for arguably the best sunset in all of Toronto! 

There are some good food stalls and coffee shops here, too. 

17. HTO Park 

The HTO Park is a park/urban beach right next to the Harbourfront Centre. 

The park includes grassy hills, a long sand beach extending along the water’s edge, stationary yellow shade umbrellas, and lounge chairs. 

As far as beaches go, it’s not the prettiest in the world, but it is a nice place to relax in Toronto on a sunny afternoon. 

18. Bike Along The Martin Goodman Trail

If you are feeling active during your trip to Toronto, consider going for a bike ride along the Martin Goodman Trail. 

The trail is around 30 km (18.6 miles) and stretches along Toronto’s harbourfront. It takes around 2 hours to cycle the entire trail. 

Bike Share Toronto has bike-sharing stations along the trail where you can easily rent a bike for the day. 

19. Rogers Centre

The Rogers Centre is an iconic sports stadium located at the base of the CN Tower. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and hosts many other events throughout the year, including concerts, conventions, circuses, and even monster truck shows! 

There is an in-house hotel and Hard-Rock Cafe within the stadium, so it’s a great place to stay if you are in town for a Blue Jays game. 

20. Watch One Of Toronto’s Local Sports Teams 

If you are a sports fan and are wondering what to do in Downtown Toronto, then why not catch a game? 

Toronto is home to a few different sports teams. The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian NBA team. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the local hockey team, and the Blue Jays are a Major League baseball team.   

Watching a local sports team can be a really fun way to engage with a new city, even if you don’t usually support that team. 

🏒 Get a chance to witness thrilling on-ice action by watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the NHL’s most iconic teams in the heart of Toronto.

21. Watch The National Ballet Of Canada

The National Ballet of Canada was founded in 1951 and is comprised of 70 dancers, plus its own orchestra. They perform classical ballets such as the Nutcracker and Swan Lake while also embracing some newer contemporary ballets. 

You can watch the National Ballet of Canada at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. There is a ticket office here, or you can buy tickets online beforehand. 

22. Roy Thomson Hall

The Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall located in Downtown Toronto in the city’s entertainment district. It’s a great place to watch the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. 

You’ll find a few concerts and symphonies here every week, but even if you don’t end up seeing a show, the building is impressive and worth stopping by to see! 

23. Day Trip To Niagara Falls 

A trip to Niagara Falls is one of the best day trips you can take from Toronto . 

Niagara Falls is just a 90-minute drive from Toronto, and there are several convenient ways to get there . 

Taking a day trip to Niagara Falls is a bucket list item for many people, so if you have never been, take advantage of being so close by and add it to your Toronto itinerary!

🍁 Get a chance to see the famous Niagara Falls up close by going on this Niagara Falls Day Tour from Toronto!

24. Toronto Botanical Garden

The Toronto Botanical Garden has 17 themed gardens spread across 4 acres. 

The gardens are enjoyable to wander around, especially on a sunny afternoon. They provide a great break from the hectic atmosphere of Toronto’s city center. 

The gardens are free to enter, and it is actually easy to find parking nearby. 

25. Casa Loma

Casa Loma is a Gothic-style castle/mansion on a hill overlooking Toronto. 

The castle is a popular place to take photos as it provides a stunning backdrop for pictures. 

Inside the castle, you can explore three floors of beautifully decorated rooms, as well as some exhibits on Canadian history. 

This is one of the nicest castles you will ever find in a big city and showcases an interesting combination of ancient architecture and modern technology.

26. Bata Shoe Museum 

The Bata Shoe Museum is a unique tourist attraction in Toronto. The museum displays over a thousand shoes and related shoe artifacts chosen from a collection of nearly 15,000 objects. 

Fashion buffs will love this museum as it has so much interesting information about the development, style, and fashion lore of shoes. 

You can see everything from French chestnut-crushing boots to bear fur shoes to glamorous designer high heels. 

I recommend spending an hour or two here, as that should be enough time to see everything and read all the information. 

👟 From ancient Egyptian sandals to celebrity stilettos, the Bata Shoe Museum got it all! Book your ticket in advance here!

27. Ontario Science Centre

The Ontario Science Centre is an interactive science museum with over 500 exhibits and live science demonstrations. 

It’s a great place to go during the winter or when it is raining. Kids will also love it here because there is plenty to keep them entertained for a few hours. 

Plan to spend 3 to 4 hours here as there is a lot to see and do! 

28. Toronto Zoo 

Toronto Zoo is home to over 5,000 animals and is one of the most diverse zoos in the world. 

The zoo is committed to wildlife conservation, so you can feel good that your money is going towards conservation projects and protecting animals in the wild. 

There are many animal species from around the world at the Toronto Zoo. You can see bears, pandas, giraffes, monkeys, and many more. You can also book an animal encounter to get up close and personal with the wildlife. 

I recommend spending at least 3 hours here as there is a lot to see. 

29. MZTV Museum Of Television & Archive

The MZTV Museum is the world’s most comprehensive collection of television receivers. Here, you can learn all about the history of the technology behind TV. 

The museum is extremely informative and interactive and has a huge collection of different TVs from the past. 

The ticket price is around $12 CAD (~$9 USD), and the museum also offers guided tours. 

30. High Park 

High Park is a beautiful outdoor space in Toronto with well-maintained gardens, a greenhouse, and a mini-zoo within its grounds. 

The park is located to the west of Downtown Toronto and is a nice place to take a walk and just relax for an hour or two. 

If you are visiting Toronto in the fall, then this is an especially nice place to come and admire the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. 

31. Take A Food Tour

Food tours are walking tours of the city that focus on letting you try a variety of the city’s best eats. Food tours are not only a great way to fill your stomach but are also one of the best ways to explore some hidden gems of the city. 

There is a wide variety of food available in Toronto, as it is one of the world’s most diverse cities and has influences from many different countries.

Some of the best places to experience Toronto’s foodie scene are Chinatown, Kensington Market, Little Italy, St. Lawrence Market, and Little India. 

🥞 Experience the best of Toronto’s Food Scene with this tour! It is my favorite food tour in Toronto!

32. Old Chinatown

Chinatown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Toronto, dating back to 1878. It’s also one of the most cool coolest places in Downtown Toronto. 

Chinatown is a fun place to go on a night out since the street is lit up in neon red, and there are some great karaoke bars to check out! 

Chinatown is also a great place to go when you are hungry. There are some lovely teahouses and lots of excellent restaurants serving authentic noodles and dumplings. 

33. Yoga Space

If you need to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while, then pop into Yoga Space. This downtown yoga studio offers over 60 drop-in classes every week and even has an onsite therapeutic wellness center.

The staff are welcoming, and many of the sessions are suitable for beginners. 

34. Go Bar Hopping

Downtown Toronto has great nightlife, and there are loads of great places to go for a drink. For a fun night out, you can spend an evening bar hopping around some of the city’s hippest cocktail bars. 

Some of the most popular cocktail bars are Bar Chef, Mother Cocktail Bar, The Library Bar, Famous Last Words, and Midnight Market. 

35. Elmwood Spa

Elmwood Spa is an urban oasis in the heart of Downtown Toronto. It’s the perfect place to unwind and relax during your trip. 

The spa offers a range of different treatments, including facials, relaxing massages, and hot stone massages. You’ll also find a swimming pool , whirlpool, and steam room to relax in. 

If you are hungry, there is also a really nice onsite restaurant. 

36. Market 707

Market 707 is a funky little food market made up of old, repurposed shipping containers. Each of the containers is now home to local restaurants and independent businesses. 

You can find everything here, from poutine and grilled cheese sandwiches to unique international dishes like Afghan bean stews!

37. Bicycle Tours

Taking a bike tour of Toronto is a really fun way to explore the city. There are several great bike routes and lots of great tours to choose from. 

I love bike tours as they are a great way to see the city from a different perspective, as well as a good way to get some exercise during your vacation! 

🚲 Have a fun morning bike trip on the Toronto Islands and discover this unique neighborhood with this tour.

38. Helicopter Tour Over Toronto

If you really want to treat yourself, then I recommend taking a helicopter tour over Downtown Toronto . 

Helicopter tours are unique experiences that you will never forget. There’s no doubt that seeing the city’s iconic skyline from the air will probably be the best part of your trip to Toronto. 

Taking a helicopter tour is also one of the best things to do in Toronto Downtown at night, as seeing the city all lit up is simply magical. 

🚁 Soar above Toronto’s iconic skyline and take in breathtaking aerial views on this unforgettable helicopter tour.

39. Yonge-Dundas Square

Yonge-Dundas Square is Toronto’s answer to New York’s Times Square. It’s a busy square in Downtown Toronto with bright lights and big screens. There are even occasional events held here, such as dance performances and art displays. 

You don’t need to spend a lot of time here, but it’s a fun place to hang out for a while and people-watch.

40. Aga Khan Museum

The Aga Khan Museum is located just 15 minutes from Downtown Toronto. The museum is dedicated to Islamic/Persian Art and Muslim culture. 

The building and surrounding grounds are gorgeous and give off calming vibes in contrast to the rest of Downtown Toronto. 

The museum offers guided tours with guides who are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the art. 

FAQs: Best Things To Do In Downtown Toronto

How do i spend a day in downtown toronto.

Depending on your interests and budget, you could spend a day in downtown Toronto exploring museums, biking around the city, shopping at the famous Eaton Centre, taking a food tour of Kensington Market, or taking in the views from the iconic CN Tower. There are so many fun ways to spend your time!

What should I not miss in Toronto?

There are a lot of must-see attractions in Toronto that you shouldn’t miss! These include the iconic CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market, the incredible Art Gallery of Ontario, the Harbourfront Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and so many more. There is a lot to see in Toronto, and there are more than enough unmissable attractions to keep you busy.

What is downtown Toronto known for?

Downtown Toronto is known for its incredible range of attractions, from cultural hotspots like the Distillery District and the Royal Ontario Museum to shopping destinations like the Eaton Centre and Kensington Market. It’s also home to major sports venues, such as the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower.

Wrap-Up: Best Things To Do In Downtown Toronto

There are so many awesome things to do in Downtown Toronto. You could easily spend weeks here and still not get to them all. 

Whether you want to explore museums, eat your way around the city, relax at the waterfront, shop ‘til you drop, or get your adrenaline pumping on the CN Tower’s edge walk, there is something in Toronto to suit everyone! 

When you get hungry after all that sightseeing, be sure to check out the best places to eat in Toronto for all budgets for my top restaurant recommendations!

Read More About Things To Do in Toronto:

• 3 Best Toronto Helicopter Tours for Aerial Views
• Dog Sledding in Toronto: 8 Best Places & Tours
• 15 Best Places to Go Kayaking Near Toronto
• 53 Best Day Trips From Toronto
• The Best Toronto Food Tours: Reviews of the Top 10 for Travellers
• The 12 Best Places to Go Apple Picking Near Toronto
• Ultimate Guide to the Beaches Neighbourhood, Toronto
• Where to Eat in Toronto: For All Budgets
• Visit the Scarborough Bluffs: The Best Hiking Trails & Beaches in Toronto
• 15 Best Hotels in Toronto with Balconies
• How to Get From Toronto to Niagara Falls: 7 Best Ways for an Epic Day Trip
• 21 Best Road Trips in Ontario from Toronto
• 15 Best Hotels in Toronto with Private Hot Tubs
• Best Time to Visit Toronto (from a Canadian)
• Is Toronto Worth Visiting: A Local’s Opinion
• These 5 Christmas Tree Farms Near Toronto Are Dog Friendly

More about Toronto, Canada:

• Is Toronto a Province? A Local Weighs In!
• What is the Cost of Living in Toronto?
• Living in Toronto vs. Chicago: Which is the Better City?
• Living in Toronto vs. Montreal: Which City is Right for You?
• Living in Ottawa vs. Toronto: Which City is Right for You?
• 30 Pros and Cons of Living in Toronto: Beyond the CN Tower
• 55 Fun Facts About Toronto, Canada + Interesting Facts!
• Is It Safe To Drink Tap Water In Toronto?

Canada Travel Planning Guide

🚑  Should I buy Canada travel insurance?

100% YES!  — Canada has “free” healthcare but it’s only for citizens! Foreigners visiting need travel insurance in case anything happens on their visit. I recommend World Nomads – starting at just $5 a day!

💧 Can you drink the water in Canada?

Yes  — In all major cities in Canada, you can drink the tap water. There are very few, rural areas that you can’t. However, you should never drink river or lake water anywhere in the country! I recommend a Brita Water Bottle for long hikes and backcountry camping to stay safe and hydrated.

🚙💨  Is it safe to rent a car in Canada?

Yes  — Renting a car is a necessity in most of Canada! If you want to go on road trips or adventures outside of the major cities, you’ll need to rent a car. ( Read more )

📲  Will my phone work in Canada?

Maybe  — Some American companies work in Canada, but many will not. If your phone doesn’t work in Canada, I recommend getting a Canadian SIM card so you can get around and stay in contact with loved ones. We don’t have a lot of free WIFI in Canada, so you’ll need your phone for maps.

🏩  What’s the best way to book my Canada accommodations?

My go-to for Canadian hotels is Booking.com . For hostels, I use Hostel World . If you want a home-y feeling, check out VRBO (which is cheaper and safer than Airbnb).

Or get free accommodations with Trusted Housesitters!

✈️  What’s the best site to buy Canada flights?

For finding cheap Canadian flights, I recommend  Skyscanner .

🎫  Do I need a visa for Canada?

Likely Not  — US, UK, and EU passport holders don’t need Canadian visas. However, some other countries do ( check here! ). And if you plan to stay for more than 4 weeks (an average tourist visa length), you will need to look into visas to live in Canada.

Nina Clapperton is the founder of Nina Out and About. She has lived in 18 countries in the past 10 years, explored more than 30 countries, and has done most of it solo. A Canadian native, she also shares her favourite things to do in the True North. She helps over 100,000 people per month plan their expat adventures and Canadian trips.

Want to move abroad, but don’t know how to start?

Get an expert’s tips & tricks, pick which country to move to – and do it.

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The uniformly glass-fronted skyscrapers etched across Downtown Toronto ’s skyline trumpet the clout of a city that has discarded the dowdy provincialism of its early years to become an economic powerhouse in its own right. There’s no false modesty here, kicking off with Toronto’s mascot, the CN Tower , whose observation platforms provide panoramic views over the city and its immediate surroundings. From here, it’s a brief stroll to the handsome symmetries of Union Station , which stands on the edge of the Banking District , where striking high-rises march north up Yonge Street as far as Queen Street with one of their number, the Toronto Dominion Centre, holding the delightful Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art . Beyond Queen Street lies the main shopping area, revolving around the enormous Eaton Centre , which is itself a stone’s throw from the neo-Romanesque intricacies of the Old City Hall and the modernism of Nathan Phillips Square . From the square, it’s another short haul to the Art Gallery of Ontario , holding the city’s finest collection of paintings, and another, slightly longer trek west to Fort York , an accurate and intriguing reconstruction of the British outpost established here in 1793.

Art Gallery of Ontario

Distillery District

Rogers Centre (SkyDome)

St lawrence district.

Toronto Dominion Gallery of Inuit Art

The Art Gal lery of Ontario , or AGO , is celebrated both for its extensive collection of Canadian art and its excellent temporary exhibitions. In 2008 it was feted after a thorough revamp in which the architect Frank Gehry (perhaps most famous for Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum) transformed its appearance with a startling glass-and-wood north facade on Dundas Street, and a four-storey titanium-and-glass wing overlooking Grange Park to the south. The end result can be a little confusing, however, and it takes a little time to get oriented. There are six floors : the Concourse Level holds a theatre and learning centre (you may be lucky and catch an exquisite collection of intricate ship models if they’re on view here); Level 1 is largely devoted to European art; Level 2 holds a wonderful collection of Canadian paintings as well as a battery of Henry Moore sculptures; Level 3 offers the Galleria Italia, a soaring, airy, gallery-linking wood-and-glass hall which hosts sculpture exhibits (and an espresso bar, too); Level 4 has a regularly rotated selection of contemporary art, as does Level 5. There is a café, a restaurant, a large gift- and bookshop, and a first-rate programme of guided tours free with admission.

Level 1: the European collection

The AGO possesses an eclectic sample of European fine and applied art , including ivory and alabaster pieces, illuminated manuscripts, exquisite cameos and fine porcelain, much of it the gift of the newspaper tycoon Kenneth Thomson, aka Lord Thomson of Fleet (1923–2006). Early paintings include some rather pedestrian Italian altarpieces, Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s fine Moses Breaking Pharaoh’s Crown , and a strong showing for Dutch painters of the Golden Age, including Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Frans Hals and Jan Van Goyen. Look out also for Rubens ’ exquisite Massacre of the Innocents , a typically stirring canvas from the middle of his career, populated with writhing, muscular figures.

Level 2: Canadian eighteenth- and nineteenth-century painting

Distributed among forty numbered galleries on Level 2, the AGO has the finest collection of Canadian paintings in the world, but it’s not always been shown to best advantage. A recently begun long-term reinstallation initiative should change that, and a plan to incorporate museum loans and pop-up showings by local and Inuit artists should make the gallery a bit more inviting as well. From the eighteenth century , one particular highlight is a curiously unflattering Portrait of Joseph Brant by William Berczy. A Mohawk chief, Brant is shown in a mix of European and native gear, an apt reflection of his twin loyalties. From the early to mid-nineteenth century comes the cheery Passenger Pigeon Hunt by Antoine Plamondon and the bright and breezy The Ocean Bride leaving Halifax Harbour by John O’Brien, who specialized in maritime scenes. Equally enjoyable is the work of the prolific Cornelius Krieghoff. The AGO owns a large sample of Krieghoff’s paintings, including characteristic winter scenes like his The Portage Aux Titres . Look out also for the canvases of one of the era’s most fascinating figures, Paul Kane, notably his Landscape in the Foothills with Buffalo Resting and At Buffalo Pound , where bison are pictured in what looks more like a placid German valley than a North American prairie.

Folksy and/or romanticized country scenes and landscapes ruled the Canadian artistic roost from the 1850s to the early twentieth century . By and large this was pretty routine stuff, but Homer Watson’s glossy Ontario landscapes, with their vigorous paintwork and dynamic compositions, made him a popular and much acclaimed artist – Queen Victoria even purchased one of his paintings, and Oscar Wilde dubbed him “the Canadian Constable”. The AGO possesses several Watson paintings, including the handsome and well-composed canvas The Old Mill , but his Death of Elaine – inspired by a Tennyson poem – is a bizarrely unsuccessful venture into ancient legend, the eponymous maiden looking something like a stick insect.

Level 2: Canada’s Group of Seven

A seminal work, the AGO’s West Wind by Tom Thomson is an iconic rendering of the northern wilderness that is perhaps the most famous of all Canadian paintings. Thomson was the first to approach the wilderness with the determination of an explorer and a sense that it could encapsulate a specifically Canadian identity. A substantial sample of his less familiar (but no less powerful) works are also part of the AGO collection, including the moody A Northern Lake, Maple Saplings, October and the Cubist-influenced Autumn Foliage 1915 . There is also a whole battery of preparatory sketches of lakes and canyons, waterfalls and forests, each small panel displaying the vibrant blotches of colour that characterize Thomson’s work.

One of the most distinctive artists of the Group of Seven was Lawren Harris , whose 1924 Above Lake Superior is also a pivotal work, its clarity of conception, with bare birch stumps framing a dark mountain beneath Art Deco clouds, quite exceptional. Equally stirring is his surreal Lake Superior , one of an army of paintings inspired by the wild, cold landscapes of the lake’s north shore. Harris was also partial to urban street scenes and the AGO has several – including two of Toronto – each painted in a careful pointillist style very different from his wilderness works.

A contemporary of the Group – but not a member – the gifted Emily Carr focused on the Canadian west coast in general, and its dense forests and native villages in particular, as in her dark and haunting Thunderbird and the deep green foliage of both In a Circle and Yellow Moss .

Level 2: the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre

The AGO owns the world’s largest collection of sculptures by Henry Moore (1898–1986), with the emphasis firmly on his plaster casts, alongside a few of his bronzes. Given a whole gallery, the sheer size and volume of Moore’s output is impressive, but it was something of an accident his work ended up here at all. In the 1960s, Moore thought London’s Tate Gallery was going to build a special wing for his work. When the Tate declined, Moore negotiated with the AGO instead, after being persuaded to do so by the gallery’s British representative, Anthony Blunt – the art expert who was famously uncovered as a Soviet spy in 1979.

Levels 4 and 5: contemporary art

Spread over two levels, the AGO’s collection of contemporary art showcases work by European, British and American artists from 1960 onwards. Around two hundred pieces are exhibited and they cover a wide range of media, from painting, sculpture and photography through to film and installation. These displays are changed fairly regularly. Showings of work by American photographer Anne Collier, Canadian painter Stephen Andrews and Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul are a few of the recent temporary exhibitions here.

The artist defeated: Cornelius Krieghoff

Born in Amsterdam, Cornelius Krieghoff trained as an artist in Düsseldorf before emigrating to New York, where, at the age of just 21, he joined the US Army, serving in the Second Seminole War in Florida. Discharged in 1840, Krieghoff immediately re-enlisted, claimed three months’ advance pay and deserted, hot-footing it to Montréal with the French-Canadian woman he had met and married in New York. In Montréal, he picked up his brushes again, but without any commercial success – quite simply no one wanted to buy his paintings. That might have been the end of the matter, but Krieghoff moved to Québec City in 1852 and here he found a ready market for his paintings among the well-heeled officers of the British garrison, who liked his folksy renditions of Québec rural life. This was the start of Krieghoff’s most productive period and over the next eight years he churned out dozens of souvenir pictures – finely detailed, anecdotal scenes that are his best work. In the early 1860s, however – and for reasons that remain obscure – he temporarily packed in painting, returning to Europe for five years before another stint in Québec City, though this time, with the officer corps gone, he failed to sell his work. In 1871, he went to live with his daughter in Chicago and died there the following year, a defeated man.

The Group of Seven

In the autumn of 1912, a commercial artist by the name of Tom Thomson returned from an extended trip to the Mississauga country, north of Georgian Bay, with a bag full of sketches that were to add new momentum to Canadian art. His friends, many of whom were fellow employees of the art firm of Grip Ltd in Toronto, saw Thomson’s naturalistic approach to indigenous subject matter as a pointer away from the influence of Europe, declaring the “northland” as the true Canadian “painter’s country”. World War I and the death of Thomson – who drowned in 1917 – delayed these artists’ ambitions, but in 1920 they formed the Group of Seven . Initially, the group comprised Franklin H. Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A.Y. Jackson, Arthur Lismer, J.E.H. MacDonald, F.H. Varley and Frank Johnston; later, they were joined by A.J. Casson, LeMoine Fitzgerald and Edwin Holgate. Working under the unofficial leadership of Harris , they explored the wilds of Algoma in northern Ontario, travelling around in a converted freight car, and later foraged even further afield, from Newfoundland and Baffin Island to British Columbia.

They were immediately successful, staging forty shows in eleven years, a triumph due in large part to Harris’s many influential contacts. Yet there was also a genuine popular response to the intrepid frontiersman element of their aesthetic. Art was a matter of “taking to the road” and “risking all for the glory of a great adventure”, as they wrote in 1922, while “nature was the measure of a man’s stature”, according to Lismer. Symbolic of struggle against the elements, the Group’s favourite symbol was the lone pine set against the sky, an image whose authenticity was confirmed by reference to the “manly” poetry of Walt Whitman.

The legacy of the Group of Seven was – and perhaps still is – double-edged. On the one hand, they established the autonomy of Canadian art, but on the other their contribution was soon institutionalized, and well into the 1950s it was difficult for Canadian painters to establish an identity that didn’t conform to the Group’s precepts. Despite the Group’s unpopularity among many later painters, Ontario artist Graham Coughtry (1931–99) was, for one, generous: “They are the closest we’ve ever come to having some kind of romantic heroes in Canadian painting.”

To the dismay of many Torontonians, the

has become the city’s symbol. It’s touted on much of the city’s promotional literature, features on thousands of postcards and holiday snaps and has become the obligatory start to most tourist itineraries. From almost anywhere in the city, it’s impossible to miss its slender form poking high above the skyline, reminding some of French novelist Guy de Maupassant’s quip about another famous tower: “I like to lunch at the Eiffel Tower because that’s the only place in Paris I can’t see it.”

Unlikely as it may seem, the celebrity status of the CN Tower was entirely unforeseen, its origins plain and utilitarian. In the 1960s, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) teamed up with the railway conglomerate Canadian National (CN) to propose the construction of a bigger and better transmission antenna. The CBC eventually withdrew from the project, but CN, who owned the land, forged ahead. To the company’s surprise, they found the undertaking stirred intense public interest – so much so that long before the tower was completed, in 1975, it was clear its potential as a tourist sight would be huge: today, broadcasting only accounts for about twenty percent of the tower’s income, with the rest provided by the two million tourists who throng here annually. Come early (especially on school holidays) to avoid the crowds.

Though recently pipped to the post by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the CN Tower was for several decades the tallest freestanding structure in the world , its sleek and elegant structure tapering to a minaret-thin point 553m (1815ft) above the city centre. Details of its construction are provided in a series of photographs on the mezzanine level , just beyond security check-in. The background information is extremely interesting, revealing all sorts of odd facts and figures, though it’s hardly reassuring to know the tower is hit by lightning between sixty and eighty times a year.

The Look Out Level and the Sky Pod

From the foot of the tower, glass-fronted elevators whisk you up the outside of the building to the indoor and outdoor Look Out Level at 346m. The circular galleries here provide wide views over the city and out across Lake Ontario. Certain features stand out, notably the splash of greenery banding the Toronto Islands, the welter of new condominium blocks marauding across the lakeshore, and Will Alsop’s giant table at the Sharp Centre for Design. At this level also is the reinforced glass floor – a vertigo shock that goes some way to justifying the tower’s pricey admittance fee – and 360 The Restaurant , which slowly revolves around the tower, taking 72 minutes to make one revolution. You are, however, still 100m from the top of the tower, with a separate set of lifts to carry visitors up to the Sky Pod , a confined little gallery that doesn’t really justify the extra expense.

is home to Toronto’s most original and diverse arts and entertainment complex, sited in the former

Gooderham and Worts Distillery

, an appealing industrial “village” on Mill Street. This rambling network of over forty brick buildings once constituted the largest distillery in the British Empire. In operation until 1990 the distillery was founded in 1832, when ships could sail into its own jetty, though landfill subsequently marooned it in the lee of the railway lines and the tail end of the Gardiner Expressway.

Since its demise, the distillery has been sympathetically redeveloped by a small group of entrepreneurs, who chose to integrate many of the original features into the revamp – including its quirky walkways and bottle runways – and, with refreshing integrity, to exclude all multinational chains. One of the architectural highlights is the Pure Spirits building, which features French doors and a fancy wrought-iron balcony. Among much else, the complex holds art galleries and artists’ studios, hand-made jewellery stores, designers, a chocolatier, bakeries, shops, a microbrewery and a couple of performance venues.

Modern-day Toronto traces its origins to

, a colonial stockade built in 1793 on the shores of Lake Ontario to bolster British control of the Great Lakes. Since then, landfill has pushed the lakeshore southwards and marooned the fort, which was reconstructed in the 1930s, under the shadow of the (elevated) Gardiner Expressway just to the west of Bathurst Street. Fort York was initially a half-hearted, poorly fortified affair, partly because of a lack of funds, but mainly because it was too remote to command much attention – never mind that the township of York was the capital of Upper Canada. Yet in 1811 a deterioration in Anglo-American relations put it on full alert. There was a sudden flurry of activity as the fort’s ramparts and gun emplacements were strengthened, but the British realized it was still too weak to rebuff the American army that marched on York in 1813 and they decided to withdraw. In a desperate hurry, the British blew up the gunpowder magazine to stop its contents falling into enemy hands, but they underestimated the force of the explosion, killing or wounding ten of their own men in addition to 260 of the advancing enemy, the fatalities including the splendidly named American general Zebulon Montgomery Pike.

After the war, the fort was rebuilt and its garrison made a considerable contribution to the development of Toronto, as York was renamed in 1834. The British army moved out in 1870 and their Canadian replacements stayed for another sixty years; the fort was opened as a museum in 1934. Throughout the year, costumed guides give the low-down on colonial life and free plans of the fort are issued at reception.

The fort ’s carefully restored, thick, earth-and-stone ramparts are low-lying and constructed in a zigzag pattern, both to mitigate against enemy artillery and to provide complementary lines of fire. They enclose a haphazard sequence of log, stone and brick buildings, most notably a couple of well-preserved blockhouses , complete with heavy timbers and snipers’ loopholes. There are also reconstructions of the stone and brick powder magazine , which has 2m-thick walls and spark-proof copper and brass fixtures; the Blue Barracks , the former junior officers’ quarters; and the old officers’ quarters and mess , which hold two original money vaults, hidden away in the cellar. Of the several buildings featuring exhibitions on the fort and its history, the most diverting is the archeological display exhibiting various bits and pieces unearthed at the fort, including buckles, brooches, plates, clay pipes and tunic buttons, and a substantial collection of colonial armaments. The latter includes a rare, cumbersome Gatling gun like the one used against the Métis and a furnace for heating up cannon balls – hence the term “hot shot”.

Next door to the CN Tower stands the

Rogers Centre

, formerly the

, which is home to two major Toronto sports teams – the Blue Jays baseball team and the Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. The stadium seats 53,000 and is used for special events and concerts as well as sports. Opened in 1989, it was the first stadium in the world to have a fully retractable roof, an impressive feat of engineering with four gigantic roof panels mounted on rail tracks taking just twenty minutes to cover the stadium’s three hectares of turf and terrace. The SkyDome was much touted by the city at the time, but the end result is really rather ugly and when the roof is closed the stadium looks like a giant armadillo.

Guided tours

, worth it only if you’re sticking around for a sporting event, last an hour and begin with a fifteen-minute film about the stadium’s construction.

The St Lawrence District , lying just to the east of Yonge Street, between The Esplanade, Adelaide Street East and Frederick Street, is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, enjoying its first period of rapid growth after the War of 1812. In Victorian times, St Lawrence became one of the most fashionable parts of the city, and although it hit the skids thereafter, it was revamped and partly gentrified in the late 1990s.

St Lawrence Market

The St Lawrence District is home to St Lawrence Market , easily the city’s best food and drink market, housed in a capacious red-brick building of 1844. Spread out across the main and lower levels are stalls selling everything from fish and freshly baked bread to international foodstuffs, all sorts of organic edibles and Ontario specialities, including cheese, jellies, jams and fern fiddleheads. The market is at its busiest on Saturday, when you can also drop by the North St Lawrence Market , an authentic farmers’ market (Sat 5am–3pm) temporarily set up adjacent to the main building while its home is being rebuilt on the north side of Front Street.

St Lawrence Hall

St Lawrence Hall is one of Toronto’s most attractive Victorian buildings, a palatial edifice whose columns, pilasters and pediments are surmounted by a dinky little cupola. Dating from 1850, the hall was built as the city’s main meeting place, with oodles of space for balls, public lectures and concerts. Some performances were eminently genteel, others decidedly mawkish – it was here that the “Swedish songbird” Jenny Lind made one of her Canadian appearances – and yet others more urgent, like the anti-slavery rallies of the 1850s. The bad taste award goes to the American showman and circus proprietor P.T. Barnum , one-time mayor of his home town of Bridgeport, Connecticut, and author of the bizarre The Humbugs of the World . It was Barnum who saw the potential of his fellow Bridgeportonian, the diminutive (60cm) Charles Sherwood Stratton, aka Tom Thumb , exhibiting him as a curiosity here in St Lawrence Hall as well as anywhere else that would stump up a few dollars.

St James Anglican Cathedral

The graceful bulk of St James Anglican Cathedral rises high above its immediate surroundings, its yellowish stone fetchingly offset by copper-green roofs and a slender spire. An excellent example of the neo-Gothic style once popular in every corner of the British Empire, the cathedral boasts scores of pointed-arch windows and an abundance of sturdy buttressing. Inside, the nave is supported by elegant high-arched pillars and flanked by an ambitious set of stained glass windows that attempts to trace the path by which Christianity reached Canada from Palestine via England. It’s all a little confusing, but broadly speaking, the less inventive windows depict Biblical scenes, whereas those which focus on English history are the more ingenious. The nave’s stained glass windows were inserted at the end of the nineteenth century, but those of St George’s Chapel , in the southeast corner of the church, were added in 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of George V. They exhibit an enthusiastic loyalty to the British Empire that is echoed in many of the cathedral’s funerary plaques: take, for example, that of a certain Captain John Henry Gamble , who was born in Toronto in 1844 but died on active service in the Khyber Pass in 1879; his stone is in the west transept. Spare a thought also for poor old William Butcher , a native of Suffolk, England, who fell to his death when he was working on the cathedral spire in 1839, aged just 27; his stone is in the main entranceway.

boasts an outstanding collection of over a hundred pieces of Inuit sculpture. Spread over two levels – and beginning in the foyer – the collection is owned by the Toronto Dominion Bank, who commissioned a panel of experts to celebrate Canada’s Centennial in 1965 by collecting the best of postwar Inuit art. All the favourite themes of Inuit sculpture are here, primarily animal and human studies, supplemented by a smattering of metamorphic figures, in which an Inuit adopts the form of an animal, either in full or in part. Other sculptures depict deities, particularly

(or Nuliayuk), the sea goddess. Inuit religious belief was short on theology, but its encyclopedic animism populated the Arctic with spirits and gods, the subject of all manner of Inuit folk tales. Most of the pieces are in soapstone, but there are bone, ivory and caribou-antler pieces too. A free introductory booklet, available from the rack at the start of the gallery, provides the background information.

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This Diverse Canadian City Has Something for Everyone — Including a Booming Food and Beverage Scene

Best Time to Go

Things to know, how to get around, best hotels, best restaurants, things to do, best shopping, neighborhoods to know, apps to download.

What makes your city great? Ask anyone who hails from Toronto and they'll proudly say diversity. With 2.9 million residents from more than 250 ethnic groups, speaking more than 180 languages, it's no surprise that the city's motto is "Diversity, Our Strength".

In recent years, Canada's largest city has experienced a shift in character, output and self-confidence, creating a fascinating and increasingly complex place. This may be due to amazing musical and cultural talents that shoot to international success – most notably Drake and The Weeknd – who help amplify Toronto's cool factor. Or unforgettable sporting moments, such as when the Toronto Raptors won the 2019 NBA Championship, the first NBA finals played outside of the U.S.

This shift is also a sign of maturity due to economic, intellectual, and educational development. The city is known as "Silicon Valley of the North", because of its growing technology hub, and "Hollywood North" because of its strong film and TV industry. The food and beverage scene is also having its own renaissance that will blow your taste buds away, as local chefs and business owners draw inspiration from the multicultural city they've grown up in and reflect this in their food.

Regardless of what spurred Toronto's caterpillar-to-butterfly moment, the city has a unique character and multiethnic voice that you'll experience in no other place. T+L's Toronto City Guide shows you what makes the city interesting, vibrant, fun and so very special.

Eastern Standard Time

Not surprisingly, visiting Toronto during the warmer months of the year (late spring to mid-autumn) is the best time to experience the city. Although winter is cold and can be a pain, there are just as many things to see and do, just make sure to bundle up!

In spring/summer (May to mid-September) an innumerable amount of festivals, events and performances happen every weekend. Notable ones to catch are the Beaches International Jazz Festival , Toronto Caribbean Carnival (known as Caribana), Luminato , Pride , Toronto International Film Festival , and many other neighborhood events that are just as fun and delightful.

Winter activities in the city (December to February) are just as plentiful – just make sure to wear a good winter coat and thermal wear. Some great experiences include Toronto Christmas Market , Toronto Light Festival , Winterlicious , and outdoor ice-skating in public spaces such as The Bentway . This is also a perfect time to explore Toronto's excellent museums and galleries, such as the Bata Shoe Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario , who host a slew of indoor programs and activities for kids and adults.

Currency: Canadian

(Check the current exchange rate )

Canada does not have one or two dollar bills. This currency has been converted into coins; the loonie ($1) and toonie ($2).

In 2012, the Government of Canada phased out the penny from the country's currency system for economic and environmental reasons. As a result, cash payments or cash transactions are rounded up or down to the nearest five-cent increment.

Canadian currency is colorful and pays homage to historical figures and key moments in the country's history. In November 2018, The Bank of Canada released a new vertical $10 bill featuring Viola Desmond, a Canadian civil rights activist and Black businesswoman from Nova Scotia.

Contactless payment: Contactless or tap payment is a common payment system used by Canadians and nearly all retailers in the country. Contactless payments can be made by using major credit or debit cards, and mobile wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

The dollar limit for contactless payment at a point of sale is typically between $100-$250 CAD. If a purchase exceeds this amount, merchants will either require you to sign a receipt or enter a PIN number. Remember that bank fees and currency conversion may apply, check with your financial institution for more details.

Language: English

Calling codes : 011 international call prefix, +1 country calling code

Essential stores : looking for essential toiletries, health products, over-the-counter medicine, a pharmacy or other convenience items? There are a number of retail drug stores in Toronto where you can pick up these items. Look out for Guardian and I.D.A. , Rexall , and Shoppers Drugs Mart (aka: Shoppers) to purchase them.

Directions : for the most part, the development of Toronto's streets is based on a straight line, grid pattern. The benefit of this street system makes it easy to navigate in and around the city. If you lose your bearings while downtown, look at the direction a major road slopes; downward is south, upward is north.

Phrases to know

The Six or The 6ix : a nickname used to describe the City of Toronto, pronounced as "The Six." This was coined by international rapper, singer, and Toronto native Drake who developed the term based on the city's area codes 416 and 647.

The 905 : areas of the suburbs outside of the City of Toronto whose phone area code starts with 905.

Big Smoke, T-Dot, T-O, T.O. and The 416 : alternate nicknames used to describe the City of Toronto.

Double-double : a coffee order with two creams and two sugars. Traditionally, a double-double is used to describe a coffee order from Tim Hortons , an iconic Canadian coffee chain.

Streetcars : Toronto has a network of above-ground streetcars which run throughout the downtown core. They are referred to as "streetcars" not "trams."

Toque : another word for a beanie.

Torontonian : a native or resident of the City of Toronto. When pronouncing this word it is correct to say it phonetically.

Kristjan Veski/Travel + Leisure

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): the TTC is the city's official transit operator, running a network of city buses, streetcars and subways. A single adult fare costs $3.25, a day pass costs $13.50 and children under 12 years of age ride free. Purchase TTC fares at collector booths in subways stations. Bus and streetcar operators do not sell fares or carry change. When exploring Downtown Toronto, factor in approximately 20 -25 minutes of travel time to your destination due to wait and transfer times.

• Stay informed: the TTC has a SMS system where you can receive real-time, route data for the next bus or streetcar arriving at a specific stop, directly to your mobile phone (standard rates apply). To receive arrival times for the next TTC vehicle at your location, text the multi-digit transit stop number to 898882 (TXTTTC).

PRESTO card: a contactless smart card with an automated fare payment feature allows you to use public transit system in and around Toronto such as the TTC, GO Transit and UP Express. PRESTO cards can be bought from fare-vending machines found inside all TTC subway stations. Find out more about PRESTO .

Cycling: cycling is a popular mode of transportation in the city, even in the middle of winter! It's advised that you don't bike on sidewalks; there are dedicated lanes for cycling (protected and painted) that you can use. View the Toronto Cycle Network map to view and plan your route. Also, here are several things to remember when biking in the city:

• Dooring: proceed with caution and pay attention when biking by parked or stopped cars; many cyclists have been accidentally doored by passengers exiting a car, a collision which can result in serious injury.
• TTC streetcar tracks: cycling in and around TTC streetcar tracks can be just as damaging as being doored by a car. Streetcar tracks are indented grooves in the road with embedded metal plates. Bike tires have been known to get caught in streetcar tracks and maneuvering around them can also be hazardous leading to a collision with fellow cyclists

Bike Share Toronto: this is the most widely used public bike-sharing system in the city. Users can purchase a single trip ($3.25), day pass ($7) or a three-day pass ($15) to access more than 6,800 bikes and 600 stations so you can cycle throughout Toronto.

Ride share: popular car-sharing companies such as Lyft and Uber operate in Toronto, and are easily available on demand via their respective mobile apps.

GO Transit (Greater Toronto Transit Authority): is the regional provider for the Greater Toronto Area, operating a network of buses and trains. Traveling on the GO is an easy and comfortable mode of travel from the suburbs to Downtown Toronto and even within the city limits. GO trains and buses are identifiable by their green and white design, and many GO vehicles and stations connect with the TTC, particularly Union Station in Downtown Toronto.

Walking: Toronto is a walkable city with sidewalks everywhere permitting pedestrian safety. Factor in 10-20 minutes of walk time between subway stops, to and from your destination. If you decide to walk the city during the fall, spring or winter time, don footwear that is warm, ideally waterproof and has traction because sidewalks can get icy, slushy or wet.

Taxis: there is rarely a shortage of available taxis in the city. Several major and best-known operators are Beck Taxi , Co-op Cabs and Diamond Taxi .

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ): this airport is situated 16.7 mi (27 km) from downtown and is the main international hub in and out of the city.

Union-Pearson Express (UP Express): this train transports travelers to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Toronto Union Station (downtown) within 25 minutes. It is the most reliable mode of transportation, involving minimal hassle and is highly recommended, especially if you want to avoid the city's notorious traffic jams on local streets and highways.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ): a small regional airport located on Toronto Island in the heart of the city, Billy Bishop serves 20 cities in Canada and the U.S. Billy Bishop Airport is situated at the foot of Bathurst Street and can be accessed via a pedestrian tunnel which runs underneath a portion of Lake Ontario. Another more scenic way to travel to Billy Bishop is to take the 90-second ferry ride that covers 396 ft. (121 m), one of the world's shortest ferry rides.

The Annex Hotel

Address: 296 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, ON M5S 2M7, Canada Phone: +1 647-694-9868 Book Now

The location and character of The Annex Hotel situates you to move and blend in the city like a local. With 24 rooms, it offers guests a hybrid experience of an AirBnb and boutique hotel with a few interesting nuances; there is no room service, no TVs, no phones, no parking-lot, no gym, and no front desk. Check-in is completed online and rooms include iPad Pros, turntables, and a curation of books. Food and beverage offerings on-site include The Annex's lobby bar and café.

Kimpton Saint George

Address: 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V8, Canada Phone: +1 416-968-0010 Book Now

The Kimpton Saint George delivers five-star service, but with the feel of staying at a stylish friend's home. The hotel proudly takes on the personality of the city with many local and loving design touches; from the beautiful art deco furniture to all the in-room art created by local artists. The location of the Kimpton Saint George straddles two contrasting neighborhoods; explore affluent Yorkville to the east or the unpretentious Annex to the west, and when you return from exploring the city eat on-site at The Fortunate Fox , an elevated gastro pub popular with locals.

Bisha Hotel

Address: 80 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 2G3, Canada Phone: (844) 275-1726 Book Now

The striking Bisha Hotel is known for its sumptuous interior and elevated guest experience. This luxury boutique hotel contains a rooftop pool and 96 rooms whose décor is inspired by pop art and cultural icons, such as Andy Warhol. It's also a popular culinary destination with four on-site dining options; the Gatsby-esque lobby bar Mister C. and a café called French Made occupy the first floor; fine dining establishment Akira Back occupies the second floor; and on the 44th floor is KŌST , where you can enjoy an almost 360° view of the city.

The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

Address: 181 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3G7, Canada Phone: +1 416-585-2500 Book Now

The Ritz-Carlton is situated in the heart of Toronto's financial and entertainment districts and is a minute's walk away from many attractions. With stunning views of Lake Ontario and the downtown skyline, this five-star hotel contains more than 260 rooms, updated Club Level guest rooms and suites. The hotel's Spa MyBlend by Clarins is exclusive to North America and on-site dining options include EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace, an urban retreat great for weekend brunch on the patio, and TOCA , an Italian restaurant and home to Canada's only cheese cave in a hotel.

Shangri-La Hotel

Address: 188 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 0A3, Canada Phone: +1 647-788-8888 Book Now

Staying at the Shangri-La Hotel is akin to being whisked away to Asia without the 14-hour airplane ride. Asian décor governs the hotel's 202 rooms and suites – wood furniture accents shaped to replicate old Chinese coins make eye-catching visuals. Make sure to book a treatment at the Miraj Hammam Spa By Caudalie Paris , an oasis of relaxation. There are also plenty of on-site dining options such Bosk , and Momofuko Noodle Bar .

The St. Regis Toronto

Address: 325 Bay St., Toronto, ON M5H 4G3, Canada Phone: +1 416-306-5800 Book Now

In the heart of the city is The St. Regis Toronto, a towering five-star hotel with 65 floors, 134 guest rooms, and 124 suites, plus a spa, fitness center, and indoor pool. The arrival of this hotel brings an elevated level of glamour to the city; from its iconic butler service, Iridium Spa, and iconic rituals, such as its weekend afternoon tea and daily evening champagne sabrage. The hotel's LOUIX LOUIS restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine on the 31st floor. Here, you'll be wowed by its grand two-storey bar which possesses one of the largest dark spirits collections in Canada and is home to the infamous King's Cake dessert, a sublime 13-layer chocolate cake.

The Broadview Hotel

Address: 106 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 2G1, Canada Phone: +1 416-362-8439 Book Now

The Broadview Hotel is an upscale boutique property housed in a 127-year-old Toronto landmark with a colorful history. Now, the hotel is a happening spot with 58 guest rooms outfitted with art deco inspired furnishings, record players and even nipple tassels – an ode to its former persona. The hotel is also a foodie destination with three restaurants on-site: The Civic, Broadview Bistro + Bar and The Rooftop. This property is great for travelers seeking accommodation outside of the immediate downtown core, who want a slower pace.

Omni King Edward Hotel

Address: 37 King St E, Toronto, ON M5C 1E9, Canada Phone: +1 416-863-9700 Book Now

Built in 1903, Toronto's first luxury hotel represents the city's historical past; notable past guests have included Elvis Presley and Elizabeth Taylor. The hotel lobby is designed in an Edwardian baroque style with a nearly two-storey ceiling and portraits of British monarchs – the King Eddy (as it is affectionately called) was awarded 2018 Best Historic Hotels Worldwide Hotel in the Americas . There are a total of 301 luxury guest rooms and suites, ranging in size from deluxe king (300 square feet) to the royal suite (1,800 square feet).

The Drake Hotel

Address: 1150 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3, Canada Phone: +1 416-531-5042 Book Now

The Drake Hotel is one of the most energetic and happening mid-range boutique hotels in the city with a longstanding reputation for its vibrant arts and culture scene – the ideal location for guests who want to be in the thick of things. Rooms range in size from a compact 150 square feet to a cozy 385 square feet designed in a mid-century style. Absent of an on-site gym, the hotel has partnerships with local businesses to offer complimentary yoga and spinning classes. The on-site dining options are well loved by the local community; the Drake Café, Drake Hotel Lounge, and Drake Hotel Sky Yard. The hotel is also home to the Drake Underground , one of the city's premiere small concert venues.

The Anndore House

Address: 15 Charles St E, Toronto, ON M4Y 1S1, Canada Phone: +1 416-924-1222 Book Now

The Anndore House is a stone's throw from restaurants, shops, public transportation, and vibrant neighborhoods. The hotel's design, décor, and amenities take inspiration from the building's 1950s beginnings; it was once the hot spot for many celebrities and jazz musicians of the era. Now, this boutique hotel is cool and contemporary with 113 loft-style rooms and Instagrammable bathroom features. The Anndore House also hosts Crow's Nest Barbershop , a café, and the swanky Constantine Restaurant and Lounge .

Four Seasons Hotel

Address: 60 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON M4W 0A4, Canada Phone: +1 416-964-0411 Book Now

The global flagship hotel for the Four Seasons is in the epicenter of Toronto's posh Yorkville neighborhood. Large in physical presence but intimate on the inside, this 55-storey hotel is family friendly and contains 259 spacious light-filled rooms; upscale toiletries by Le Labo are offered, storage space is plenty, and in-room iPads allow guests to use the Four Seasons Chat, an instant message service. The hotel has a 3,500-square-foot state of the art fitness center, an indoor pool, and a spa with 17 treatment rooms, one of the largest in the city. Dining on-site is exceptional with the presence of Café Boulud , which serves delicious soulful French cuisine.

Address: 1194 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1N2, Canada Phone: +1 647-346-1881 Website

Alma is Latin for "nourishing" or "kind" and the food prepared in this charming 28-seat restaurant embodies its name. Owned and operated by chef Anna Chen, the cuisine is an eclectic mix based on her diverse career and background incorporating Indian, Italian, and Chinese flavors. Everything is created in-house such as pastas, stracciatella cheese, miso, and soy sauces – you are strongly encouraged to order the flatbread which comes piping hot to your table.

Address: 163 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5V 2L6, Canada Phone: +1 416-260-2222 Website

Owned by chef Patrick Kriss, Alo is a contemporary French restaurant that has received many national and international accolades. Two types of dining experiences are offered to guests; the first is in Alo's intimate dining room to experience a blind, tasting menu highlighting seasonal ingredients with optional wine pairings; the second takes place in the adjacent barroom, where you order from an à la carte menu. Alo staff is knowledgeable and attentive to guests' needs, and food is developed to perfection creating a symphony of flavors that awe your taste buds from start to finish. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.

Address: 163 Spadina Ave. 1st Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 2A5, Canada Phone: +1 416-260-3444 Website

Aloette combines haute cuisine with your favorite everyday dishes. Constructed like a passenger train dining car, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner where service is quick, friendly, and the food is consistently delicious. Menu items such as the iceberg wedge salad and burger and fries are classic favorites while seasonal dishes keep this spot fresh. Maximize your gastronomic experience by sharing plates with friends and leave room for dessert – you don't want to miss out on Aloette's to-die-for lemon meringue pie.

Anestis Taverna

Address: 526 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P8, Canada Phone: +1 416-461-1996 Website

Located in the city's Greektown neighborhood (aka: The Danforth), Anestis Taverna's Santorini-inspired décor emits a relaxing atmosphere complimented by a roomy indoor and outdoor space. Specializing in home-cooked Greek food, it's a family-friendly spot with attentive wait staff and an open kitchen concept where you can see cooks prepare classic dishes such as souvlaki and grilled whole fish. Make sure to order the saganaki (flambe Keflotiri cheese) so you can shout "OPA!"

Address: 505 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A5, Canada Phone: +1 647-344-8001 Website

Step into Bar Raval and you're transported into a stunning, Antoni Gaudí-inspired space. This popular day-to-night neighborhood spot is the only Canadian bar to be named to The World's 50 Best Bars 2018 and won Canada's Best Bar three years in a row. Inspired by Spain's dining culture, guests stand around high-top counters, barrels, and the beautiful mahogany wood bar which encourages lively discussions and a gusto eating experience; delectable Spanish tapas and pintxos are served, and other popular menu items include the hamburguesa and basque cheesecake. Reservations are not required.

Beach Hill Smokehouse

Address: 172 Main St, Toronto, ON M4E 2W1, Canada Phone: +1 416-792-8275 Website

Authentic Texas barbecue is a rarity in Toronto; therefore, it's no surprise that food lovers from around the city flock to Beach Hill Smokehouse on a regular basis to taste its delicious dishes. The smoky scent of barbecue hits your nose nearly a block away from the restaurant and inside picnic tables for seating sets the tone for friendly and warm service. It's recommended that you place your orders in advance or arrive early to nab popular menu items such as burnt ends, brisket, ribs, and their well-known Southern mac and cheese.

Address: 604 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1M6, Canada Phone: +1 416-865-1600 Website

Buca Osteria & Enoteca is a long-standing food fixture located in Toronto's popular King West neighborhood. Buca is consistently regarded as one of Canada's top restaurants by critics and diners. Its Italian menu changes regularly due to ingredient seasonality; however, staples which never fail to please the taste buds are the nodini (garlic bread knots), bigoli (duck pasta) and parmigiana di melanzane (fried eggplant with ricotta) – yum!

Address: 169 Niagara St, Toronto, ON M5V 1C9, Canada Phone: +1 416-703-4222 Website

Tucked away on a quiet residential street you'll find one of Canada's best restaurants . Operated by a husband and wife team, Edulis focuses its food philosophy and practice on authenticity and seasonality, emphasizing seafood and vegetables. The coziness and intimacy of the restaurant's space (32 seating capacity), thoughtful servers, and sublime cuisine will charm you. Guests can dine from two choices of set menus, usually five or seven courses. Reservations are accepted one month in advance and are strongly encouraged.

KINKA IZAKAYA

Address: 559 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1Y6, Canada Phone: +1 647-343-1101 Website

Located in The Annex neighborhood, KINKA IZAKAYA is well-known for its electric and energetic atmosphere where you're guaranteed a fun and libatious time in an authentic Japanese pub setting. There's more than sushi on the menu, it has an extensive selection of Japanese pub fare from edamame to karaage (fried chicken), and fusion dishes such as carbonara udon and unagi bibimbap. There is a large selection of Japanese beers and signature cocktails – if you're up for the challenge, ask for the potent samurai bomb, a three-layered alcoholic sake bomb – kanpai!

Address: 92 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z4, Canada Phone: +1 416-537-0134 Website

Heart, soul, and reverence to family history are at the core of La Cubana's identity. Sister and brother, chefs Corinna and Pablo Mozo, modeled the restaurant after their grandfather's luncheonette which operated in the 1940s and 1950s in Cuba. Look no further for Cuban comfort food served with a warm and friendly smile; conch fritters, pressed Cubano sandwiches and the guava BBQ beef short rib plate will satisfy your stomach. Make sure to save room for the house-made buttermilk donuts and key lime bar – both sweets are delicious!

Address: 794 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1V1, Canada Phone: +1 647-350-8999 Website

Owner and chef Craig Wong showcases his Caribbean and Asian heritage in the food created for this fun, lively spot full of swag. Caribbean soul food is an apt description for the mouth-watering dishes on the menu; the award-winning juicy jerk chicken, Jamaican patty double down, O.G. crispy cauliflower, and Chinese pineapple bun burger are all a must-eat.

Address: 478 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1L7, Canada Phone: +1 416-367-0505 Website

Tucked down a quiet laneway is Patria, a Spanish tapas restaurant with a spacious outdoor courtyard patio and even larger indoor dining area with soaring ceilings. The restaurant's menu has an extensive range of choice for brunch and dinner; house marinated olives arrive warm to the table and embutidos (Spanish charcuterie) is mouth watering. Ordering the paella here is a must and requires 45 minutes to cook; choose from several types focusing on seafood and meat flavors, there's even vegetarian paella for those with dietary requirements. Patria also has an extensive Spanish wine list that provides a lovely accompaniment to your meal.

Pizzeria Libretto

Address: 155 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5H 3B7, Canada Phone: +1 416-551-0433 Website

Pizzeria Libretto is one of the most well-known and loved pizza joints in the city, mainly due to the fact that they serve Verace Pizza Napolitana (VPN) , certified Neapolitan style pizza – the first in Toronto. There are several Pizzeria Libretto locations throughout the city, but the restaurant's University Avenue spot is the most central with a bright and airy feel. Everything is made in house and the pizzas are cooked in a wood-burning oven; choose from more than a dozen types, from classic pepperoni to the sweet and savory duck confit pizza.

Rendez-Vous Ethiopian and Eritrean Restaurant

Address: 1408 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1M9, Canada Phone: +1 416-469-2513 Website

Rendez-Vous is one of Toronto's best and longest running Ethiopian restaurants. Since 2001, it has served classic dishes such as shio wot (milled chickpeas) and doro wat (stewed chicken), the national dish of Ethiopia – all are accompanied with injera, a traditional spongy sourdough flatbread that you use to scoop up your meal. One of the special hallmarks of Rendez-Vous is the post-meal coffee ceremony which you can order; servers roast coffee beans table side, which are then ground, brewed, and served in a traditional clay pot accompanied with salted butter popcorn.

Address: 323 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2E9, Canada Phone: +1 416-977-1128

Day or night locals flock to get their dim sum fix at Rol San; this unfussy and classic Chinese restaurant serves delicious food and has been a long-standing fixture in Toronto's Chinatown community. There are two menus you can order from; the dim sum menu has classic items such as shrimp dumplings and BBQ pork buns; the second is a la carte menu, where you have more substantial dishes such as noodles and fried rice.

Art Gallery of Ontario

Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada Phone: +1 416-979-6648 Website

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one the of the largest art museums in North America, containing an impressive collection of 95,000 works; from classic masterpiece paintings to cool contemporary sculptures and photographs. Here, exhibitions are always on the cutting edge, making it a must-visit attraction in the city; take in Canadian art by the iconic Group of Seven or visit Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room - Let's Survive Forever, the first contemporary artwork in Canada to be acquired through a major crowdfunding campaign.

Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8, Canada Phone: NA Website

Casa Loma (Spanish for "Hill House") was a mansion built in 1914 by financier Sir Henry Pellatt to serve as his dream home, a castle-like structure in the heart of the city. Now, it's a cherished heritage landmark that celebrates and captures the richness and romanticism of Toronto's history. Explore three floors filled with elegant European décor, historical artifacts, a classic car collection, a stunning conservatory, and the estate gardens.

Address: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, Canada Phone: +1 416-868-6937 Website

The Toronto skyline is defined by the CN Tower and it's a must-visit attraction where you can take in a stunning, 360° birds' eye view of the city. Riding up the Tower's glass elevator is a fun experience. Daredevils can purchase tickets to partake in the EdgeWalk, strolling the circumference of the Tower's main pod, outdoors and hands-free 1168 feet (116 stories) above ground – this is the first experience of its kind in North America and the world's highest hands-free external walk on a building.

The Distillery District

Founded in 1832, the Godderham & Worts Distillery started as a small windmill and grew into one of the largest distilleries in the British Empire. Now, it is a national historical site and hub for the city's arts and culture scene, serving as the home for artists, art galleries, shops, and restaurants. You'll adore walking the cobblestone streets of this pedestrian-only space and seeing beautiful Victorian buildings, which speak to the history of Toronto and why The Distillery is one of the most filmed locations in the country.

Fort York National Historic Site

Address: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9, Canada Phone: +1 416-392-6907 Website

Fort York National Historic Site is 43 acres of history. Considered the birthplace of Toronto, it's best known for being a crucial battle location during the War of 1812, where British troops defended the city from invading U.S. forces. Today, visitors can explore the grounds year-round to experience guided tours, exhibitions, and seasonal demonstrations, take in amazing views of the city skyline and experience one of the coolest features of the site – the cannon firing, which occurs twice daily.

Graffiti Alley

160 Rush Lane, Toronto, ON

Toronto's Graffiti Alley is an accidental attraction which helped give way to legalized street art in the city in the early 2000s. Building walls that occupy this stretch of Rush Lane from Portland Street to Spadina Avenue are decorated with some of Toronto's most colorful and notable graffiti murals by respected artists. As a result, this area is the hot spot for many music videos, photo shoots, and mini street festivals. The art in Graffiti Alley is constantly changing, so make sure to snap lots of photos while here.

Harbourfront Centre

Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8, Canada Phone: +1 416-973-4000 Website

Harbourfront Centre is a 10-acre site located along the city's stunning lakeshore that serves as the scene for many contemporary arts, community and cultural events. This indoor and outdoor space of theaters and parks, restaurants, and retail stores make it an vibrant area to visit and experience year round. For example, activities and programs such as Dancing on the Pier and Canada Day are very popular. In the summertime, you can paddle boat on Natrel Pond and in the winter, it transforms into Natrel Rink, an outdoor public ice skating space.

St. Lawrence Market

Address: 93 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada Phone: +1 416-392-7219 Website

St. Lawrence Market is a culinary destination of some of the city's best and well-known purveyors of food. The South Market building is a visual fixture in Toronto, housing more than 120 food vendors who provide fresh ingredients to home cooks and professional chefs around the city. This is a food lovers' paradise where you can see, feel, and taste the history of Toronto. Get the famous peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery, lobster rolls from Buster's Sea Cove, and the everything bagel from St. Urbain Bagel.

The Rex Hotel & Jazz Blues Bar

Address: 194 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z1, Canada Phone: +1 416-598-2475 Website

From humble beginnings in the 1980s, this family-owned business is one of the longest running jazz and blues bars in the city, and is considered a musical institution. A casual, comfortable and unpretentious atmosphere, The Rex runs more than 19 shows per week. They continually attract some of the world's finest musicians, who have been known to take the stage for impromptu performances; Wynton Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr. have visited and blessed the bar's audience with their talents.

Royal Ontario Museum

Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada Phone: +1 416-586-8000 Website

Founded in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is one of the pre-eminent museums in North America that is easily identifiable by its Daniel Libeskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, a striking angular glass and steel form exploding from its original heritage structure. With 40 permanent galleries and more than 13 million objects and specimens in its collection, visitors can explore art, artifacts, and cultures from around the world such as South Asian art and ancient Egyptian treasures. The ROM also consistently hosts fascinating exhibitions and hip events, making it one of the city's coolest and most notable attractions.

Address: 28 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5V 0C6, Canada Phone: NA Website

This modular market space transforms a vacant city plot into a vibrant and impressive 100,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor complex. Operating 364 days a year, reclaimed and new shipping containers are used to create spaces for retail stores, food and beverage outlets, community and service experiences run by local and international vendors. A family- and pet-friendly market, explore unique vendors such as Belgian Moon Brewery and self-service sneaker customization studio Mack House .

TIFF Bell LightBox

Address: 350 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3X5, Canada Phone: +1 416-599-2033 Website

Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, TIFF Bell Lightbox is home to the world-renowned Toronto International Film Festival. Five floors and six first-rate movie theaters host and celebrate international and Canadian films, panel discussions, exhibitions, and programs for all ages year-round. Free, weekly guided tours of the building are offered to the public, where you can explore the architecture, history, and inner workings of this state-of-the-art facility. Also housed in the TIFF Bell Lightbox is the Film Reference Library , TIFF gift shop and two restaurants.

Toronto City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square

Address: 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N1, Canada Phone: +1 416-392-2489 Website

Toronto City Hall is the location of the city's municipal government and is also an iconic landmark building of two curved towers with a saucer-like structure at the base. In front of City Hill sits Nathan Phillips Square, an outdoor community space that serves as the site for many events, festivals, and celebrations year-round. These sites, plus the iconic Toronto sign, make a lively area filled with constant activity and a great photo backdrop. During the summer, the Nathan Phillips Square reflecting pool is a popular water feature and during the winter, it turns into a free outdoor ice-skating rink.

CF Toronto Eaton Centre

Address: 220 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 2H1, Canada Phone: +1 416-598-8560 Website

The CF Toronto Eaton Centre is a premiere shopping destination that houses more than 250 restaurants, retailers, and services. Locally known as the Eaton Centre, this shopping mall spans 2,167,000 square feet and is a hub of activity. Explore offerings from Canadian-based stores such as Indigo Books & Music and Roots, as well as global brands like Apple and H&M. Picturesque features of the Eaton Centre to capture on camera are its soaring glass ceiling; Michael Snow's iconic Flight Stop geese, a permanent sculptural installation; and the futuristic pedestrian bridge, a floor to ceiling glass structure with spiraling angles.

Address: 18 Distillery Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4, Canada Phone: +1 647-498-6827 Website

Cult brand DECIEM has taken the world by storm with its vast array of affordable skincare and beauty products, such as The Ordinary and Hylamide. While visiting the home city of this industry-changing company, you must stop in its store in The Distillery District, which is a whopping 6,186 square feet. This beautifully minimalistic and spacious shop has a welcoming store team who can answer product- and skin-related questions, and with more than 160 products from DECIEM's seven current in-house brands available for purchase you have to stock up!

Address: 190 Richmond St E Floor 2, Toronto, ON M5A 1P1, Canada Phone: +1 416-901-1195 Website

For the latest in men's streetwear designs head to HAVEN, located in a light-filled 1,500-square-foot space with soaring ceilings. HAVEN carries approximately 50 labels – many are exclusive to the store – and prides itself on being the purveyors of coveted Japanese brands such as Sakai, Neighborhood, and WTAPS. This is also the site for some of the latest and hottest sneaker releases in the city; drop dates for coveted shoes like Yeezys are announced on the HAVEN Instagram account , along with details for purchase.

Helen + Hildegard

Address: 1174 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J5, Canada Phone: +1 647-348-1833 Website

Helen + Hildegard is a herbal apothecary and artisanal beauty shop founded by Sonya D'Cunha. The store's name pays tribute to D'Cunha's grandmothers, who used their knowledge of plant medicine to care for themselves and their families. Helen + Hildegard's shelves are stocked with many contemporary bath, body, and skincare products, including locally loved brands such as Da Lish Cosmetics and Province Apothecary. The selection of items in store is so plentiful that you'll happily get lost exploring.

Hudson's Bay Queen Street Toronto

Address: 176 Yonge Street, 37 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5C 2L7, Canada Phone: +1 416-861-9111 Website

The Hudson's Bay Company is Canada's longest running department store and North America's oldest company. Its flagship Hudson's Bay Queen Street store is housed in an historical building comprised of eight floors that carry men's and women's apparel, beauty and home products, a food hall, restaurants and a vast 12,000-square-foot women's shoe department. Visit their HBC Stripes shop on the lower level to take a piece of Canadian history home with you; check out their multi-stripe products or purchase the iconic HBC point blanket, whose origins date back to 1780 and is a world renowned item symbolizing the company and Canadian history.

Address: 1191 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1X3, Canada Phone: +1 647-352-1191 Website

Saudade is an exquisite lifestyle and home store located in Toronto's Little Portugal neighborhood, which celebrates Portuguese design and artisanal crafts. Within this store, you'll discover a highly curated range of classic and contemporary Portuguese products such as terracotta pottery, trinkets, woven rugs, and bath and body care – some which are so unique and lovely that you'll find it difficult to leave without purchasing a piece to take home with you.

Address: 215 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 2C7, Canada Phone: +1 416-532-0334 Website

Owner Jeffrey Barber has been running Canada's largest independent record store, as well as buying and selling LPs, CDs, and DVDs, since 2001. Sonic Boom is a sprawling 12,000-square-foot space covering two floors of seemingly unending crates of vinyl records from every musical artist and genre imaginable, from Metallica to Thelonious Monk. This place is so well known that it's not uncommon to bump into legendary musicians, such as Elton John and Nile Rodgers, digging through the crates.

Spacing Store

Address: 401 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8, Canada Phone: +1 416-644-1017 Website

Spacing Store is an off-shoot of its namesake magazine Spacing . This city-themed gift shop is a great alternative if you're looking to purchase Toronto-centric items that aren't the typical tourist souvenirs. Here, you'll find a cool and interesting array of paraphernalia such as apparel, books, gifts, and more that highlight the city's complex history, culture, and idiosyncrasies by local artists and brands.

Address: 883 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1G5, Canada Phone: +1 416-366-8973 Website

Founded by Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm, Type Books is one of Toronto's most beloved independent bookstores. Step inside and you immediately feel that this is not only a bookstore but a welcoming community space which carries an eclectic selection of contemporary fiction and non-fiction books, small press titles, art, design, and travel books. At the back is an adorable children's section with many interesting and progressive titles that you can share and read to your little ones.

Address: 7 St Thomas St Unit 101, Toronto, ON M5S 2B7, Canada Phone: +1 437-777-9358 Website

WDLT117 is a highly curated luxury lifestyle concept store found off the beaten path in the city's Yorkville neighborhood. The store derives its name from the word "wanderlust" and gives a nod to the heritage building it resides in, combined with its modern physical address. Inside you'll find a bright and sleek space selling homeware, apparel, shoes, and accessories for women and men by international brands rarely found elsewhere in Toronto, such as Inneraum and Palomar.

The diversity of Toronto's over 250 ethnic groups is reflected in its multitude of neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive look and feel. This is where you can experience cultures from around the world. Ask any Torontonian what their favorite neighborhoods are and they'll excitedly relay an unending list of places to enjoy the best Jamaican patty or where you can shop for great vintage finds. Peruse our curated list of some of the best neighborhoods in the city to visit.

The Annex: Bordering the University of Toronto's St. George campus, The Annex is a lively area populated by students and grand homes. Along its main stretch of Bloor Street West, experience affordable, friendly, and locally run businesses, cafes, and indie retail stores. An abundance of casual bars and diverse restaurants is at your fingertips, from sushi to pizza, where you'll be spoiled for choice. For entertainment, check out Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema , the world's largest documentary cinema, and Lee's Palace , a rock concert hall that is a city institution.

Chinatown: A hub of activity day or night with sidewalk markets, innumerable Canadian souvenirs shops and Asian restaurants. During Lunar New Year, Chinatown is extra festive as the community celebrates this occasion with lion dances along the street and inside Dragon City Mall . Also in the neighborhood is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) , one of the largest art museums in North America.

Kensington Market: Next door to Chinatown, this bohemian village within the city contains an eclectic mix of cafes, vintage stores, and food markets largely untouched by the modern changes of time. Pedestrian Sundays are a popular event, taking place on the last Sunday of the month (from May to October), where the streets are closed to vehicle traffic and are teeming with music and activity. Make sure you snap a picture of the Kensington Market Garden Car, a local attraction and public art piece permanently parked at Augusta Ave and Oxford Street for more than 10 years.

Entertainment District: This was the epicenter of Toronto's club district between the 1990s and early 2000s, but has largely gentrified to accommodate businesses and condo dwellers. The area still retains a few nightclubs but is mostly known for its selection of restaurants, bars, and thriving concert and live theatre venues such as Roy Thompson Hall , Princess of Wales Theatre , and the TIFF Bell Lightbox where you can catch a show or watch some of the world's most acclaimed films.

King Street West: Formerly an area populated with industrial buildings and warehouses, King Street West has transformed into a bustling hub of popular bars, a thriving club scene, and cool shops, such as local favs SOMA Chocolatemaker and SPin Toronto . This stretch of coolness extends for approximately 1.2 miles from Spadina to Strachan Avenue.

Little Italy: This area along College Street West is lined with quaint restaurants and outdoor cafes surrounded by beautiful tree-lined streets with Edwardian period homes. Dine and explore at your leisure during the day – Café Diplomatico is a long-time community staple. At night the neighborhood turns into a lively hot spot with El Convento Rico , a Latin nightclub and drag show venue, and Revival Bar , a popular club and event space.

Old Town Toronto: The founding neighborhood of Toronto (originally named the Town of York) has the largest concentration of 19th century buildings in the province. This area has a wealth of local history, great restaurants and bars, and a thriving arts scene. Points of interest to take in are the photogenic Gooderham Building (locally known as the Flatiron Building), Berczy Park dog fountain, and Sugar Beach. Satisfy your taste buds at St. Lawrence Market , a world-renowned culinary haven, and stroll through the historic Distillery District , one of Canada's premiere arts and culture destinations.

West Queen West: Day or night this westerly area along Queen Street West is home to a multitude of cool bars, vintage shops, and a diverse selection of locally run businesses. Two of the city's beloved boutique hotels are found here – The Drake and Gladstone – as well as the ubiquitous Trinity Bellwoods Park , a popular spot to hang and partake in local community events. The vibe here is hip, young, and active – couple that with the above-mentioned points of interest and you immediately understand why Vogue named West Queen West one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world .

Yorkville: During the 1960s, this was a relaxed bohemian enclave, but is now an affluent and sophisticated area – Drake is known to frequent Yorkville and during the Toronto International Film Festival it teems with celebrities. Many upscale restaurants and international luxury retailers are found here, as well as long-time local purveyors of class Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew . Yorkville is also a cultural destination where within a few hundred feet you can visit the Bata Shoe Museum , Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art , Royal Ontario Museum , and Royal Conservatory of Music .

Toronto Islands: Hop on a ferry and get away to the Toronto Islands , a group of 15 interconnected islands that sit in Lake Ontario. It offers a relaxing respite for individuals and families from the bustling vibe of the downtown core. Take a dip at its beaches (note that Hanlan's Point is a clothing-optional beach), rent sports and water equipment, enjoy a picnic, play at Centreville Amusement Park , or experience the quaintness of the 150-year-old community living year-round in cottage-style residences.

In Toronto you'll experience all four seasons of the year to Mother Nature's maximum. Here, winter (December to February) means a lot of snow, wet rain, icy conditions and wind chill so intense it makes the city feel colder than Mars . Spring time (March to May) is highly variable with warmer temperatures, periods of snow and frequent rainfall. Summer (June to August) has hot sunny days with extreme humidity and periodic thunderstorms. Autumn (September to November) starts off warm with cooler nights and signals the start of gorgeous fall colors, expect periodic thunderstorms.

January: 32°F - 19°F February: 32°F - 21°F March: 39°F - 28°F April: 54°F - 39°F May: 64°F - 50°F June: 75°F - 59°F July: 81°F - 64°F August: 79°F - 63°F September: 70°F - 55°F October: 57°F - 45°F November: 45°F - 36°F December: 36°F - 27°F

PBSC: this is the official app for Bike Share Toronto. Use it to plan your bike route, locate bike stations, track and check bike inventory at nearby docks around the city. iPhone | Android

Green P Parking: official mobile app for the Toronto Parking Authority. Use it to pay fees for street parking and city owned lots. iPhone | Android

Transit App: an all in one, real time transit app that tracks the arrival and location of TTC vehicles. You can also use this app to map bike routes in the city and check the inventory of Bike Share Toronto docks. iPhone | Android

UP Express Mobile App: access service information, purchase tickets and view schedules for the UP Express when travelling to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Union Station in Downtown, Toronto. iPhone | Android

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24 Best Things to Do in Toronto

By Stefanie Waldek

Given that Toronto is Canada’s most populous (and diverse) city, it should come as little surprise that there is a lot to do in town. Whether you’re looking to dive into the city's vast number of museums , take in nature in its parks, or sample the varied cuisines of Toronto's 250-plus ethnic groups, there is plenty to fill any itinerary. Our recommendation? Take it all in bit by bit. There’s always another chance to come back and see more.

Read our complete Toronto travel guide here .

Toronto Music Garden Arrow

This urban garden located in Toronto’s Harbourfront neighborhood is very accessible to tourists walking around downtown—and it has great views of the CN Tower. As for the garden itself: Yo-Yo Ma, the cello maestro, can put “landscape architect” on his resume after having collaborated on the Toronto Music Garden with professional landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy. For the project, the duo physically interpreted and manifested Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, the first of the composer’s six suites for unaccompanied cello, as a garden, using the piece’s six dance movements (Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuet, and Gigue) to create different sections of the green space. At the center is the Gigue (or Jig) section, a grassy amphitheater with a stage beneath a weeping willow tree where free classical music concerts are held each summer.

Art Gallery of Ontario Arrow

Established in 1900, the Art Gallery of Ontario has more than 90,000 items in its encyclopedic collection, which spans the last 2,000 years. Of particular note are its collections of Canadian and Indigenous art, though it also has notable works by European masters like Rembrandt, Auguste Rodin, and Pablo Picasso. The museum underwent a $276 million renovation by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry in 2008, his first work in his native city, doubling its exhibition space.

Harbourfront Centre Arrow

In 1972, the Canadian government began a massive revitalization project in Toronto to boost both local, national, and international tourism, transforming 100 acres of industrial waterfront into cultural, educational, and recreational attractions. Overseeing the operation was the Harbourfront Corporation, which became the Harbourfront Centre nonprofit in 1991. The organization was tasked with organizing cultural programming in the neighborhood—more specifically, in a 10-acre area right on the water—which is still its primary function today. And it’s quite successful: In non-pandemic years, Harbourfront Centre’s myriad venues and public spaces would host some 4,000 events each year, from summer writing festivals to the performing arts to art and architecture exhibitions, drawing in more than 17 million visitors. In the winter, there's even an ice skating rink.

Casa Loma Arrow

Canada might not be known for its castles, but Toronto is home to an unusual one that has become a beloved tourist attraction. Casa Loma is a 98-room château built by Canadian businessman Sir Henry Mill Pellatt in 1914, who went bankrupt shortly after completing his beloved home. Casa Loma now serves as a museum and a popular filming location, most notably serving as Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngers in X-Men. Do the self-guided tour, which you can fly through at a clip, providing the place isn't packed; it can be tricky to rush past the crowds during busier times, especially in some of the smaller spaces, tunnels, and towers. Must-sees include secret passageways, gardens, and an underground pool.

Harrison Pierce

Alex Erdekian

Charlie Hobbs

St. Lawrence Market Arrow

St. Lawrence Market is perhaps the most famous market in Toronto, and locals regularly shop its stalls for produce, meats, cheeses, and more. While the focus of your trip should be browsing the dozens of food stalls, it’s interesting to take a look at its architecture, too. Though the current main building was erected in 1902, part of the Old City Hall, which dates to 1845, was incorporated into it. There’s also The Market Kitchen, a cooking school and event space where you can take culinary classes or partake in special hands-on dinners that include shopping the market for ingredients.

Hockey Hall of Fame Arrow

If there’s anything Canadians are known for, it’s hockey. The sport is the most popular in the country, so it’s no surprise that its most populous city is home to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Established in 1943, the non-profit organization has been inducting legendary players and other hockey professionals to its ranks every year since 1945. Today, the Hall of Fame also functions as a museum and houses the Stanley Cup. The museum is a must-take pilgrimage for all hockey lovers, though its gift shop deserves a stop, too: Pick up a wide array of themed merch, from authentic NHL and Hall of Fame apparel to souvenirs, novelty items, and all manner of presents for the hockey fans in your life.

Kensington Market Arrow

Kensington Market is not actually a market, but a food-centric neighborhood in downtown Toronto. While the city at large is known for its diverse population, there’s perhaps no better place to witness that multiculturalism in such a concentrated area than here. Whatever type of food you’re in the mood for, from Ethiopian to Vietnamese to Jamaican, there’s probably a restaurant, grocery store, or hole-in-the-wall for it. Some favorites include Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos for stellar tacos and NU Bügel for Montreal-style bagels with Venezuelan toppings. Beyond all the food, there are also vintage shops, independent boutiques, and artists’ studios tucked into Victorian-style houses all throughout the neighborhood.

High Park Arrow

Toronto’s largest public park has 400 acres that range from manicured lawns to themed gardens to untouched nature. In addition to the greenery, there are a number of interactive activities, including a zoo, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, ice skating rinks (or frozen ponds in winter), a dog run, and playgrounds. It’s a park designed for all Torontonians and visitors to use however they best see fit, whether for leisure, sport, or fitness.

Allan Gardens Conservatory Arrow

History, architecture, and plant life collide at Allan Gardens Conservatory, a park with a series of connected Victorian-era greenhouses in the center of Toronto with 16,000 square feet of space to hold its botanical collection. Though the Toronto Horticultural Society inaugurated a garden on the site in 1858, the central Palm House, designed by architect Robert McCallum, opened in 1910. Subsequent additions have expanded the gardens’ holdings to include a tropical house, an orchid house, a temperate house, an arid house, and a children’s conservatory. Because the gardens are enclosed and protected from the cold, they’re open 365 days a year. There’s also an (outdoor) arboretum with 55 species of trees, providing lovely green space for Torontonians. Catch the three seasonal floral shows for a multicolored spectacle: the Spring Hydrangea Show, the Fall Chrysanthemum Show, and the Winter Flower Show.

Aga Khan Museum Arrow

Set in a 17-acre park, the elegant Aga Khan Museum, designed by architect Fumihiko Maki and opened in 2014, is the first museum in North America dedicated to Islamic art. The Aga Khan Museum is named after the spiritual leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims, who funded the project with the mission to share the artistic and scientific contributions of global Muslim communities with the world. While the museum has a 1,000-piece permanent collection, it also hosts rotating exhibitions and special events; one notable recent exhibit addressed the role of female citizens of Saudi Arabia (and featured an installation made from women’s travel documents), while another—inspired by the 2003 destruction of the library at the University of Baghdad’s College of Fine Arts—featured an ever-evolving installation of books that were later donated to the college.

Bata Shoe Museum Arrow

When Sonja Bata began traveling the world in the 1940s, she didn’t collect postcards or trinkets: she collected shoes. Three decades later, she established the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation to create a permanent home for her collection and to promote its growth. The current museum, which opened in 1995, houses nearly 15,000 shoes and related objects spanning 4,500 years of shoe-making history, so there's plenty to see.

CN Tower Arrow

Toronto’s most iconic landmark is the 1,815-foot CN Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the world from 1976, when it was built, to 2007. While the tower does serve a purpose—its 335-foot antenna is used to broadcast television, radio, and cell signals—it’s also the most popular attraction in the city. The concrete megastructure is home to a number of observation decks, a restaurant with the highest wine cellar in the world (at 1,151 feet), and the EdgeWalk, a thrilling attraction that lets visitors walk outside the structure at 1,168 feet above street level. Tickets are required, with different packages providing different experiences.

TIFF Bell Lightbox Arrow

TIFF Bell Lightbox is not only the headquarters of the annual Toronto International Film Festival, but it’s also the city’s premier movie theater and entertainment complex, open to the public. Built in 2010, the modern facilities include five state-of-the-art cinemas, a restaurant, classrooms, a film reference library, gallery space, and a members’ lounge. Outside of the 10-day festival in September, TIFF Bell Lightbox screens new releases and runs thematic film programming year-round, focusing on anything from classic blockbusters to foreign indie films.

Toronto Islands Arrow

The Toronto Islands, located just offshore from downtown Toronto, are an 820-acre car-free haven. While 600 people live on the islands, the majority of visitors are day-trippers who come to enjoy the beaches, parks, gardens, yacht clubs, cafés, and a small amusement park for children. Seasonal activities include kayaking, picnicking, barbecuing, and outdoor yoga classes.

Tour Guys: Toronto Graffiti Tour Arrow

If you’re looking to learn about graffiti and street art rather than just snap selfies, look no further than the Tour Guys' casual yet informative walking tours throughout Toronto. On the Graffiti Tour, your small group (no more than 12 people) will head down Graffiti Alley, a hotspot for street artists. The guides do much more than point out highlights along the way. They dive into the history of the medium, explain technical terms, discuss current players in the Toronto scene, and talk about the legality of the art form.

Royal Ontario Museum Arrow

If you’re looking for a one-stop shop of a museum, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is your best bet. Originally established in 1912 as collection of five museums dedicated to archaeology, paleontology, mineralogy, zoology, and geology, ROM has since consolidated its efforts, covering everything from natural and cultural history to fine arts and design within the same massive space. It’s not often you can find dinosaur bones and fashion exhibitions within the same space. Be sure to spend a few minutes lingering outside the Queen's Park entrance, too, to best appreciate starchitect Daniel Libeskind's geometric marvel of a structure, dubbed the "Michael Lee-Chin Crystal," part of a multi-million dollar expansion to the museum, unveiled in 2007.

Bruce Bell Tours Arrow

Actor, comedian, historian, and proud Torontonian Bruce Bell leads this highly entertaining one-man show, which is a perfect excursion for those who don’t love cookie-cutter tours. You’ll meet your small group at the St. Lawrence Market—be sure to make reservations in advance—and travel on foot around the bustling building and the surrounding Old Town neighborhood.

Distillery District Arrow

A collection of 47 19th-century buildings that once comprised the Gooderham & Worts Distillery is now a major dining, shopping, and cultural hub in Toronto aptly called the Distillery District. Strolling through the neighborhood’s brick-paved pedestrian streets, visitors might feel as if they’ve been transported to Victorian-era Canada—the craftspeople who restored the old structures kept true to the original construction materials as much as possible. And while there are still breweries and distilleries here (including the Spirit of York Distillery and the Mill St. Brew Pub ), there are also restaurants, local-owned boutiques, and art galleries.

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14 Awesome Things To Do In Downtown Toronto In 48hrs

Last Updated on November 17, 2022 by Leyla Kazim

In this blog post I will share some of the awesome things you can see, do and eat during a weekend in Toronto. I’m talking about packing in a lot of very cool things to do in downtown Toronto into a short 24 or 48 hour period. I managed 7 stops each day! Exploring this city is the perfect travel hack if you happen to find yourself in the midst of a Toronto weekend during a stopover.

My focus is on things to do in downtown Toronto. Because if you’ve got limited time in the city, I’m guessing you want to spend as little of it as possible staring at the inside of a subway carriage.

This was only my second time in Canada (I explored Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula a few years ago) – I absolutely loved Toronto!

I was so impressed with the culture, people and food scene. And I even had one of the best Thai meals I’ve ever had here – more on that later.

Myself and my videographer Ricardo (from I Can Film That ) created a video from this trip. It highlights all the places I visited and things I did during my Toronto weekend.

From the historic and gut-busting St. Lawrence Market, to the bohemian and multi-cultural vibes of Kensington Market Toronto. And so much more in between.

Hit play below – I hope you enjoy it!

You’ll also find links to the exact points in the video that each entry on this list relates to – look out for the grey boxes.

A real highlight for me were the people of Toronto – so damn lovely. I felt like I could have become friends with everyone I met.

And I’ve been told the rest of the country is even more friendly than Toronto..!

Canada is such a huge place and I’m now desperate to explore more of it. Where would you guys suggest I head to next? (food and nature are my jam, in case you didn’t already know).

Do let me know in the comments under this post 😊

Day 1 in Toronto

1) start the morning exploring kensington market toronto.

Kensington Market Toronto is a maze of narrow streets and alleyways and one of the city’s most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods .

It’s the ideal place for some retail therapy as well as to eat, full of indie retailers, vintage boutiques, art spaces, and speciality food shops and eateries.

Be sure to spend a good couple of hours wandering the streets, many of them lined with colourful Victorian houses.

I’d highly recommend starting with breakfast at Egg Bae . Partly because it’s one of the few places open in Kensington Market Toronto before 11am. But also because it’s the spot in the city dedicated to made-from-scratch gourmet egg sandwiches. And they are great .

They make their own egg brioche buns, sauces, sausage patties, cured bacon – all of it. On weekends expect queues out the door most of the day, and for good reason.

Then for your Kensington Market Toronto caffeine fix, head on over to Scandi-inspired FIKA café . The clean and bright space is a great place to escape, with a feature wall decorated with the pages of old books.

Their speciality drink is a cardamom spiced latte, available hot or iced. But their classic coffees are fantastic too. Don’t forget to order one of their cinnamon buns which are made on site and are excellent.

They also have a terrace out the front bathed in morning sunshine if the weather happens to be on your side.

Watch the terrific egg buns in the video here and my lovely coffee stop here – complete with cat encounter!

2) Swing by the Royal Ontario Museum and marvel at its crystal-like architecture

This is one of the largest museums in North America, and the largest in Canada. It’s home to art, world culture and natural history from around the world.

But what I particularly love about the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) , is the architecture of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal section, completed in 2007.

It looks as though it’s been forged by earth-shattering tectonic forces, like the creation of a mountain!

I also adore the juxtaposition of the metal-clad volumes alongside the brick of the old part of the Royal Ontario Museum building.

In my opinion, it’s a masterpiece. But I found it very interesting that it was met with a lot of criticism when first unveiled. I guess you can’t please everyone!

Take a look at the gloriously pointy and shiny ROM in the video here – if I were a magpie I’d snap this right up

3) Bag an excellent pasta lunch on select days of the week at Famiglia Baldassarre

OK, perhaps this entry doesn’t officially qualify as one of the best things to do in downtown Toronto. We’re talking about a Dovercourt Village location, just to the west of downtown, if we’re being precise.

But it really is just too good to leave off this list, so bear with me.

Famiglia Baldassarre might be better known as a wholesale fresh pasta retailer. They make – by hand – 27 traditional types of fresh pasta for some of Toronto’s best restaurants.

But luckily for hungry punters like you and I, they also turn into a restaurant for a two-hour lunch service four days a week.

There are typically only two pasta shapes with two sauce options on the menu from 12pm – 2pm, Tuesday to Friday. But almost 20 are retailed on the same days from 12pm – 5pm.

Luckily for me, my favourite ever Italian pasta dish was on the day I visited during my Toronto weekend – all hail the mighty carbonara.

You can either join the queue for a prized seat in the indoor dining area, which can accomodate a modest 10. Or bag a table outside which is considered the take away option, where your pasta will be served in a box.

Either way, be sure to also order some of their 16-month D.O.P. parma crudo, practically transparent. Fatty, buttery and absolutely glorious. Cash only, so be armed with some notes.

Watch the pasta making – and eating – action in the video here ; can you identify the pasta dish I ordered?

4) Head up the iconic CN Tower during your Toronto weekend and try to time it with clear skies and sunset

Images of the CN Tower were the ones I most strongly associated with Toronto before I visited. It’s arguably the most iconic building in Canada.

It’s a communications spire and a marvel of 1970s engineering. Riding one of the glass elevators up what was once the world’s highest freestanding structure is one of those things that has to be done during a weekend in Toronto.

I would very much recommend doing so around sunset on whichever day is forecasted to have the clearest skies during your Toronto weekend. The 360 degree vista from the top is totally astounding. But if it’s foggy or cloudy, you’ll be disappointed.

You can gaze over the cityscape and Lake Ontario, spot Niagra Falls in the far distance, and even helicopters flying below you.

If you’re a bit of a thrill seeker and have spare $195 jangling in your pocket, you can also do the EdgeWalk . It’s a 20 minute outdoor walk around the unbounded perimeter of the main pod (356m) and I have to admit, it looks bloody awesome.

Next time…

Watch my journey up to the 114th floor of the CN Tower in the video here – I hope you’re not afraid of heights!

5) A weekend in Toronto isn’t complete without a visit to Nathan Phillips Square to see the city’s name up in lights

If you want a photo opp that lets everyone know exactly where you are, Nathan Phillips Square is the place.

This vibrant space is at the heart of the city and hosts a variety of events throughout the year. It’s particularly well known for its giant and illuminated ‘TORONTO’ sign.

From the end of November right through winter, the square becomes a magical ice skating rink. And it’s absolutely free to use.

Watch me “ice skate” in the video here – I use the term very loosely…

6) Pop into buzzing Bar Raval for a pre-dinner cocktail and some tapas, one of the unmissable things to do in downtown Toronto

I really enjoyed Bar Raval, and it came recommended by many for good reason.

I found it smaller than online images taken with wide lenses suggest. But I adored the sweeping wooden curves of the interiors, inspired by famous spanish architect Antoni Gaudi’s creations in Barcelona.

Which makes perfect sense, because this is a Spanish bar. Expect a perpetually changing menu of tapas and pintxos, a casual atmosphere and mostly standing room.

Carve yourself some space at the bar and get chatting to the mixologists who will suggest something delicious.

Take a look at the awesome interiors and mixology in Bar Raval in the video here

7) Punctuate your weekend in Toronto with great South East Asian food at Pinky’s Ca Phe

A short walk from Bar Raval you’ll find Pinky’s Ca Phe with a real off-the-radar vibe.

It’s intimate, dimly lit, decked out in cool kitsch decor and plays some banging beats. This is so my kind of dinner spot.

Here you’ll find a tight menu of small plates with Vietnamese and South East Asian flavours, perfect for sharing.

Expect the likes of tiger’s milk ceviche, mango papaya salad, lemongrass chicken banh mi, beef curry claypot and more.

Take a look at just how cool this little dining gem is in the video here

Day 2 in Toronto

8) wander the length of the vibrant graffiti alley, one of the less obvious things to do in downtown toronto.

If murals, street art and graffiti are your thing, then you’re going to love your weekend in Toronto.

There are several spots across the city where you can appreciate its outdoor art scene. But few are better than Graffiti Alley.

It’s home to some of the city’s most iconic pieces and is easily the most photographed. Plus, it’s always changing with new creations going up all the time.

The beginning of Graffiti Alley starts at the corner of Rush Lane and Portland Street, then walk east. Give yourself a good half hour here.

Head straight to this colourful street in the video here

9) Join a gut-busting food tour of St. Lawrence Market, previously named the best food market in the world

National Geographic Magazine has previously named St. Lawrence Market as the best food market in the world – a huge claim!

Older than Canada itself, the historic market in Toronto’s Old Town dates back to 1803 and is an excellent place to spend a few hours grazing. Especially if it’s a bad weather day.

You’ll find a myriad of restaurants, artisan food producers, art exhibits and cooking classes, all jostling for your attention. Expect to rub shoulders with fellow shoppers on the weekends when it gets really busy.

It can be a little daunting figuring out which stalls in St. Lawrence Market are best placed to treat your tastebuds. So  I’d recommend taking an excellent food tour with Toronto Food Tours .

These guys will guide you towards the best eats. There is a lot of food involved on this tour; do not be tempted to eat beforehand!

I’ve written an article for Expedia about some of the tasty treats you can expect to cover on the tour in St. Lawrence Market. You can read it [here].

Watch me eat my way through several excellent food stalls in the video here – I pretty much had to roll back to the hotel

10) Allocate a good chunk of your Toronto weekend to wandering around the Art Gallery of Ontario

With a collection of more than 90,000 works of art, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is amongst the most distinguished art museums in North America.

The striking architecture by Frank Gehry is visible from many angles around the neighbourhood. Inside, you’ll find several permanent collections as well as rotating exhibits of masterpieces by the greats.

It’s one of the city’s biggest cultural centres and paying a visit is one of the many great things to do in downtown Toronto.

If you’re a fan of Yayoi Kusama and her immersive installations as much as I am, you’ll be pleased to know her INFINITY MIRRORED ROOM  – LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER is a permanent fixture.

The gallery is also host to all sorts of events. A life drawing class had just wrapped up beneath the beautiful central staircase when I popped in.

Watch my reaction to Yayoi Kusama’s “Infinity Mirrored Room” installation in the video here

11) Hop on a short ferry to Ward’s Island during your weekend in Toronto for the most spectacular views of the city skyline

This is 100% one of the most worthwhile things to do in downtown Toronto, especially if you’re into your photography.

We almost didn’t catch this ferry as the weather wasn’t looking great. But then the skies cleared right on time – it was meant to be.

The Toronto Islands are an archipelago of 15 small islands (3 main ones) in Lake Ontario. A short 15 minute ferry ride from downtown will get you over to them.

They are inter-connected and full of tree-filled picnic spots, car-free streets, quaint old cottages and beachfront attractions.

But what I think is the best thing about taking this ferry is the view back onto the city from across the water – it is worth the trip alone. It is absolutely magnificent – check out the main image of this blog post!

Head to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal between Bay Street and Yonge Street on Queens Way. The winter ferry service is to Ward’s Island only. You can check the ferry schedules for more information.

Take a look at these incredible views back onto the city in the video here – I’m not sure they can be beat!

12) Just a few blocks from St. Lawrence Market you’ll find the Distillery District, and it can’t be missed

Toronto’s restored Distillery District features the continent’s best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture. It has a real sense of old world magic about it, especially during the winter.

The pedestrian-only neighbourhood – within walking distance from St. Lawrence Market – is set in quaint 19th century buildings that once housed a large whiskey distillery.

The cobblestone streets lined with hip indie restaurants, bars and artisan boutiques draw big crowds. There is a really good vibe here.

I popped in for a peruse around the lovely eco shops and a hot cocktail to warm the cockles!

The Distillery District also plays host to the Toronto Light Festival , offering a visual journey and playful adventure throughout the walking streets.

You can check it out from mid January to the end of February.

Take a look at how beautiful The Distillery District is by night in the video here

13) Prepare yourself for some cocktail magic at the immersive BarChef

It’s dark as night inside BarChef , the space illuminated only by candles and a few dim spotlights. It takes your eyes a little while to adjust to the light levels.

But there is a reason for this visual sensory deprivation; to focus your attention on the magic of the cocktail mastery.

The really theatrical drinks are assembled in the kitchen, with finishing touches applied in the bar. These masterpieces are eye-wateringly expensive. But the ceremony and detail that goes into them are totally worth a Toronto weekend blowout.

If your funds are a little more muted, you’ll be pleased to know they offer classic drinks too. Price points for these are more fitting to the rest of the city’s high end bars.

Whatever you order, this place is a really unique experience and the service is absolutely on point. Allow yourself a good hour here, ideally more.

Marvel at the theatre of the cocktails at BarChef in the video here – stay a while and really immerse yourself in it!

14) One of the unmissable things to do in downtown Toronto is eat at Kiin – it was the best Thai meal I’ve had for ages

Within walking distance from BarChef you will find the excellent Kiin , where I had one of the best Thai meals I’ve had in some time.

Eating here, in my opinion, has to be towards the top of your list of things to do in downtown Toronto.

Intensely flavoured sea salt-crusted whole sea bream flakes were scooped into lettuce wraps, topped with a terrific green chili sauce.

And the grilled pork jowl with tamarind dressing, roasted rice, mint, roasted red chilli and Thai kale was utterly glorious.

I can’t wait to return for another weekend in Toronto, if only to eat here again.

Watch my reaction to the excellent meal at Kiin in the video here – when your dinner is so good you start singing…

Have you ever, or would you like to spend a weekend in Toronto? Did you know St. Lawrence Market has previously been voted the best food market in the world? Would you add anything to this list of awesome things to do in downtown Toronto? What would your ideal Toronto weekend look like? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Expedia UK and See Toronto Now . All views, text and images remain my own, as always. What a wonderful opportunity it was to discover all the cool things to do in downtown Toronto – it was a pleasure exploring this new (to me!) and wonderful city.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

Hungry for more North American travel inspiration?

• How to spend 3 days in the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland’s East coast
• 17 awesome things to do in New York in winter
• The 10 best restaurants on Florida’s Emerald Coast
• How to spend 24 hours in the best Tampa Bay restaurants
• 8 mega things you probably don’t know about Tampa Bay in Florida
• 4 of the best Cuban sandwiches in Tampa Bay Florida
• 10 places to eat in downtown St Petersburg in Florida

Mexico and The Caribbean

• 9 incredible things to do in Jamaica
• A mini guide to Mexico City’s best street food

Spending most of my time either eating or travelling. Constantly in awe of nature and on a mission to seek the joy in every moment. Please feel free to leave a comment below, I love hearing from you all!

Find me on: Web | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

10 Comments

You must visit Vancouver Island in BC. Start in Victoria and head north to the tip of the island at San Jose Bay. You will think you’re the first footprints to touch the sand up there.

aww thanks for the tip Sandra, sounds lovely!

You like nature then Vancouver is a must. Can ride a boat golf and ski in same day. Tons of food options also.

Totally adding it to my list Bob, thank you!

Fantastic post, thanks a lot for sharing this as it comes with a lot of details and has been very helpful

I’m so pleased you think so Bob – thank you!

I would also recommend to rent a bike and ride along the lake on lakeshore! Its a pretty long trail and goes all the way into the city, from the east or west end.

A great recommendation Nat, thank you!

Really enjoyed reading this – people tend to show you Niagara Falls and not much else.

That’s so nice to hear Cherryl, thanks so much 🙂

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Toronto: a shopper’s paradise

Things to do

Toronto is the place to add new items to your wardrobe, or to replace it entirely. This shopper’s paradise is full of boutiques and shops, running the range of luxury brands to vintage finds and everything in between.

Here’s a quick guide to shopping in Toronto that might just help you stumble upon your next favorite outfit.

Top stops for high-end fashion

Are you the first person in your circle to know about -- and wear -- the latest fashion trends? Toronto is full of luxury fashion boutiques that will keep you ahead of the pack. Rather than try and name them all, these are the main streets and neighborhoods that draw in passionate shoppers year-round.

Bloor-Yorkville External Link Title is sometimes dubbed the "Mink Mile," which tell you a lot about the kinds of clothing you'll find here. Tiffany, Chanel, D&G, Herm?s and more world-class designer boutiques line Bloor Street, earning the area comparisons to Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive. This is where the fashionable come to play.

When Vogue Magazine names you the second coolest neighborhood in the world, you're bound to become a fashion destination. This was the honor given to West Queen West External Link Title , where new clothing boutiques seem to pop up every day. In addition to browsing for upscale outfits, pay a visit to Fresh Collective External Link Title to see what independent Toronto designers are bringing to the table.

From the queen we move to the king. King West Fashion District External Link Title is housed in what was once the center of Toronto's textile industry. Appropriately, the former factories and industrial buildings have been inhabited by clothing outlets and retailers. This is the place to find local specialties, leather and bridal outlets.

Finally, The Distillery District External Link Title , once home to the famous Gooderham and Worts Distillery, is now a pedestrian-only village with dozens of designer boutiques. GOTSTYLE, Gentil Uomo and Blossom Lounge are just a few of the stores that will make it hard to close your suitcase on the way home.

Hunting for vintage finds

The words "back in style" are overheard so often in fashion circles, it's no wonder vintage shops are so popular. If you like to make the old new again, here are a few places you might want to browse.

Prada, Chanel, Gucci... these are the brands you'll be trying on at Thrill of the Find External Link Title . Collector Mireille Watson has gathered thousands of quality pieces from major European labels into this awesome boutique. The same high end designers also stock the shelves of I miss you vintage External Link Title , a boutique that specializes in vintage couture and all major runway labels.

If vintage to you can include items from the late 19th century, you may want to pay Gadabout External Link Title a visit. Sifting through bins and racks, you'll come across really old curiosities mixed in with more modern clothing and accessories.

Rachel Sheehan, the owner of Penny Arcade Vintage External Link Title , hand selects and restores each piece of clothing in the store. The intensive selection process makes for a boutique filled with pure gems for the aspiring '70s rock icon in your entourage. 

And if you like browsing as much as you like buying, head to the Black Market Vintage External Link Title . In this 7,000-square-foot warehouse, everything -- yes everything -- is $10 or less. You might also want to check out one of Toronto's many flea markets External Link Title , which are full of vintage finds if you don't mind the hunt.

A day at the mall

Like any major city, Toronto has its fair share of malls, each with its own character and crowd.

Toronto Eaton Centre External Link Title might be the most iconic shopping hub in the city. Located right in the heart of downtown, this beautiful landmark is home to around 200 retailers. From Abercrombie to Zara, the Eaton Centre has it all.

Yorkville Village External Link Title , in Toronto's upscale Bloor-Yorkville district, isn't your typical neighborhood mall. Loitering teenagers are replaced with trendy professionals hunting down contemporary brands in boutiques like NANNI, Ofelia and Jacadi.

Do you love to shop outlets? Toronto Premium Outlets External Link Title , a bit outside the city's core, is full of great deals that make it worth the drive. Over 80 stores, including Kate Spade, Hugo Boss and Burberry, sell their goods at prices anywhere from 25 to 65 percent lower than normal.

And if you really don't mind traveling for a deal, you can also head to Mississauga's Dixie Outlet Mall External Link Title , the largest enclosed outlet mall in the country, about 30 minutes from downtown Toronto. Over 135 stores will be there to greet you.

Want more on shopping in Toronto? Visit the Tourism Toronto website.

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25+ Spectacular Things to Do in Downtown Toronto

Your Guide to Downtown and the Most Amazing Things to Do in Toronto

It’s easy to feel lost amid the dazzling high rises of city’s downtown core, especially once you realize seeing the CN Tower on the horizon doesn’t always mean that way is south… Lucky for you, here’s our complete guide to making heads and tails of things to do in Toronto. Get your feet on the ground and soak in the culture of the city’s top attractions, hottest nightlife, and striking performing arts venues – or, keep your head in the clouds with some elevated  dining options. Either way, you’re in for a beautiful experience.

If you want to leave the downtown core and explore off the beaten path, check out Leslieville in the East and Trinity Bellwoods in the West for more alternative ways to get to know the city. These hot summer tips , however, will take you all around town.

1. Catch a movie at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

The Lightbox is the permanent home of the Toronto International Film Festival . Year-round, it’s a movie theatre where you can watch some of the most salient new films from both local and international filmmakers, starring both new faces and familiar actors, instead of big blockbuster movies. They also regularly screen old classics , such as Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which is being shown on 70mm film. The building takes up an entire city block and contains the Film Reference Library, the CIBC Canadian Film Gallery, with its innovative movie-related exhibitions, and Luma, a fine dining restaurant serving Canadian fare . When festival season comes around in September though… it’s a whole other ball game. The building becomes ground zero for spotting and rubbing shoulders with some of the hottest celebs in the film industry. website

2. Have dinner at one of the city’s best restaurants

a. Fine Dining

Downtown Toronto is ripe with amazing dinner options and fine dining staples such as Canoe . It’s known for its creative Canadian dishes  and, located on the 54th floor of the TD Bank tower, it has one of the best views of the city . If you like being high up, we also recommend Kōst on the 44th floor of the Bisha Hotel for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Then, there’s  Alo , which was voted Best Restaurant in the country by Canada’s 100 Best for two years now. However, to really make an educated decision about where to dine, check out our guide to downtown’s finest restaurants .

b. Quicker Bites

If eating isn’t gonna be the main event of your evening and you’re looking for more affordable options , these places blur the line between a takeout counter and a restaurant, just get ready to sit on a stool for the evening. First, Planta Burger is the more casual spin off of trendy vegan restaurant Planta, and makes for a good lunch or early dinner. If you’re staying out later, try WVRST – a beer and cider hall that also has an incredible selection of specialty sausages (including vegan options), the best fries, and even raclette. Wilbur Mexicana , meanwhile, specializes in salsa and has a whole selection, made fresh in house daily, that you can sample with your tacos. Or, for excellent northern Thai fare and cocktails, check out Pai .

3. Take the Beyond Kensington Market Toronto Food Tour

Take your experience of Downtown Toronto to a more human scale. Full of immigrant communities, family-owned restaurants and mom & pop shops, there’s life in every corner of these urban cultural hubs. The The Byond Kensington Market Toronto Food Tour is a 3 hour long walking tour led by a knowledgeable and passionate guide who weaves local history with personal anecdotes and recommendations. At 7 different tasting locations you’ll have the chance to try a wide variety unique culinary delights  such as dumplings, Dan Dan noodles, fish & chips, a Caribbean specialty and more. Not only will you get a taste of these diverse culinary traditions, but you’ll get to explore the area’s hidden corners and unique architecture, which has been painted, sculpted and otherwise decorated by the area’s creative minds. Learn more about this food tour

Bonus! Get 20% off with promo code : SPRINGSUMMER

4. Go underwater at Ripley’s Aquarium

It’s one of the city’s newest attractions, having only opened its doors at the end of 2013, but Ripley’s Aquarium has quickly become an impressive classic. It has ten galleries , each portraying a different habitat or theme, 450 species, and over 20,000 animals. You’ll get to travel through the Dangerous Lagoon, the largest tank in the exhibit, as  several species of sharks and rays  swim over your head. Then, you can also appreciate the elegant jellyfish , lit up with a stunning colour changing display. website

5. Feast on fine foods from the St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market is a major farmers’ market with over 100 vendors selling everything such as fresh local produce on the weekends, lots of cheese, meat and inedible things too like artisanally made clothing, jewellery, and even antiques. It’s easy to wander around and see where the sights, smells and sounds take you, but there’s one spot not to miss. While you’re there, you have to try the peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery. It’s a rule. Not really, of course, but it was even announced by Mayor John Tory that the sandwich is Toronto’s signature dish. website

6. Spend a night at the city’s hottest bars

a. For Beer Lovers

If craft beer calls your name, you’re in luck with these tap-filled spaces. First off, there’s Bar Hop . That’s the name of a bar, but the activity’s not a bad idea either… At Bar Hop you’ll find an impressive 36 craft beers on tap , as well as over 100 bottles that include special and private imports. It’s a cozy, approachable place, and the kitchen’s open until 1am , too! Meanwhile,  King Taps  is an urban sports bar with elevated food, including amazing pizza , in the heart of the financial district. There, you’ll find over 50 beers on tap and a spectacular patio, all spread out over 2 impressive floors.

b. For a Little Adventure

If you’re trying to get away from it all, without straying far, try the recently opened Goldie . It’s a two-story cocktail bar and lounge located in a converted townhouse. It has a menu of refined tapas and draws its inspiration from the 70s and 80s. Touches like wood panelled walls give the whole space an intimate feel. Then, on the other end of the spectrum is the unpretentious yet legendary Horseshoe Tavern . You’ll find a relaxed atmosphere, a pool table, and a back room music venue that features both local and touring musicians, brining the underground right to the heart of the city.

c. For Connoisseurs

Downtown Toronto is home to a couple of bars that have made it onto Canada’s 100 Best list of the 50 Best Bars, so you can count on the fact that they have a stamp of approval from industry experts. First there’s  Rush Lane & Co. at #28. They take mixology seriously, making creative and meticulously crafted cocktails . They even test the pH levels of their citrus juice in their lab to ensure the right consistency. Then, rounding the list out at #40 is BarChef just across the street. This dimly lit, intimate space also specializes in lavish cocktails , served in vintage glassware. They have a stunning amount of homemade bitters lining the shelves to make their modernist takes on what drinks can be. The food and even drink plating looks like a Japanese zen garden, serving up both elegance and taste in everything they do. 

7. Lose yourself to the theatre

Toronto has a rich, exciting and diverse theatre industry featuring everything from Broadway shows like “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Wicked”, to more funny shows like “Dee Snider’s Rock & Roll Christmas Tale,” a rock opera for the holiday season created by and starring the Twisted Sister lead singer. Mirvish is the big player on the scene – it’s a theatre production company that owns and operates the stunning Royal Alexandra, Princess of Wales, Ed Mirvish and CAA theatres, all in downtown. You’ll also find some hilarious drag at Ross Petty’s family-friendly comedies, such as Peter Pan, which show at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre. For complete theatre listings and tickets visit the independently run Toronto Theatre guide.

8. Elevate yourself at the CN Tower

Alright, lets address the elephant on the skyline: the CN Tower, the world’s tallest free standing structure for 32 years from 1975–2007. It towers over the city, defining its skyline and enticing tourists. Check out its glass floor and look down at the city from the 342 metre (1,122 foot) high viewing platform, eat dinner at 360, the tower’s revolving restaurant that gives panoramic Views of the city, or test your fear factor by stepping out into the wind on the EdgeWalk . If you’re not enticed by the attractions, turn your trip to the tower into a charitable one by participating in the stair climb for the WWF or United Way , and mount its 1,776 steps. You’ll get a t-shirt with your time (try and beat mine at 18:52), pride, and a lot of street cred. website

9. Explore the vibrant communities within downtown Toronto

Your experience of downtown Toronto doesn’t need to be all glass and skyscrapers – the district also includes several smaller communities that are closer to the ground and incredibly pedestrian friendly . To soak in a whole lot of culture, spend a day exploring the shops of bustling Kensington Market and Chinatown, travel back in time on a visit to the Distillery District , or discover the residential haven of Cabbagetown . They’re all a decently short walk from even the deepest part of Toronto’s concrete jungle.

10. Shop ‘till you drop at the Eaton Centre

If you want the ultimate urban shopping experience , this is where to go. It’s clean, modern, and has impressive high arched glass ceilings and several floors of stores spanning everything from common chains to high-end boutiques. The centre stretches the distance between Dundas and Queen subway stations and is a monument in its own right. You could get lost all day going from store to store and not get bored with the incredible variety . Also, the food court is really good. There a lot of options that serve food that is above your average food court nosh. As you walk around, look up and see if you can spot geese flying just under the roof. website

11. Laugh until your stomach hurts with The  Second City

This premier comedy club is a Toronto institution that makes for the perfect evening out. Laugh out loud all night at some inventive and engaging comedy sets, that sometimes even push the boundaries of the art, as you enjoy some food and drinks from the bar. They’ve worked with some huge names in the comedy industry such as Tina Fay, Amy Poehler, Bill Murray, Joan Rivers, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell, among many others. If you’re from the city, maybe even think about taking their classes, such as their famous improvisation lessons – they have options for all skill levels and, beyond comedy, they’ll even help you in a bunch of different areas of your life. website

12. Get drinks with a view

These bars are the perfect places to look out from as you get your party on. For a coveted view of the water,  The Goodman Pub and Kitchen is your go-to. With its huge waterfront patio , mix of contemporary and traditional pub food and extensive list of beers , this place is fun, friendly, accessible and picturesque. Similarly, it isn’t too glamorous, but The Porch is a rooftop classic – the whole bar is just a big patio. You’re sure to find all the trendy young adults in the city taking photos with the skyline as a backdrop along with their drinks, served in fun plastic buckets. But if buckets aren’t your thing they also do weekend brunch!

13. See the masterpieces of the Art Gallery of Ontario

Its facade, among other renovations, is one of renowned architect Frank Gehry’s more restrained designs. Sleek and elegant, The Art Gallery of Ontario is a striking monument committed to celebrating creative ingenuity, sailing like a crystal ship through the city. Over the years, the gallery has been know for outstanding major exhibitions such as Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Now’s The Time in 2015, Guillermo del Toro’s At Home with Monsters in 2017 and Yayoi Kusama’s stunning Infiniti Mirrors in 2018. The museum also has a striking permanent collection of works from throughout the world , and throughout time, with a particularly impressive collection of 20th century Canadian Art.  website

And if you’re more into history , check out the Royal Ontario Museum up at Bloor Street. It also features a striking glass addition to its original architecture and has dinosaur bones on display, among other natural and cultural treasures .

14. Make your way down to the waterfront

a. The Harbourfront Centre

This place is a cultural hub on the waterfront. There is always something going on in the summer. With no shortage of programming, when you visit chances are you’ll find some kind of find food, art or music festival in progress, or you can simply dine and have a beer with a view over the water . You can also rent boats or check out  The Power Plant contemporary art gallery. In the winter, the artificial pond there becomes one of the best skating rinks in the city. website

b. Relax in the sand of an urban beach

Right next to The Harbourfront Centre (just across some fun, wavy boardwalks) you’ll find little HTO Park with its grassy hills and a sandbox style beach . There’s no swimming allowed, but there are plenty of yellow umbrellas to relax under . It’s the perfect spot for spending an easy summer day by the water. Similarly, there’s Sugar Beach . It’ closer to the east end of things (at Lower Jarvis) and spotted with cotton candy pink umbrellas.

c. Bike along the Martin Goodman Trail

The trail is actually a series of bike paths (or rollerblade paths if that’s your thing) that stretches along the whole waterfront of Toronto, making for some spectacularly scenic cycling . Just look for the distinct green and blue lines down the centre. For a serious ride use Sugar Beach as a starting point – although the path does continue a bit farther east to Cherry Beach, too – and head west for about half an hour. You’ll be able to easily cross downtown . On the way, you’ll also traverse some lush parks and wind up at the scenic Sheldon Lookout , located at the mouth of the Humber River.

15. Catch a ferry to the Toronto Islands

If you’re looking for things to do in Toronto, maybe expand your horizons and travel offshore while you’re already by the water. Bring your bike over to Ward’s Island for some more scenic bike paths. You can also rent bikes on Centre Island, including tandem bikes and 2 or 4 seater quadricicles. Otherwise, you’ll find Centreville – an amusement park for kids , a petting zoo, a haunted and historic lighthouse, a hedge maze, a splash park and a clothing optional beach – as well as one where it’s mandatory! The islands are the perfect place to spend a whole day with the family or get away from the city for an exciting date. website

16. Hear the music at a legendary concert hall

The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall is a not-for-profit charity that runs two spectacular concert halls in Downtown Toronto. While the more historic Massey Hall is about to undergo an extensive 2 year long revitalization, they’ve still got some amazing shows lined up with internationally renowned musicians . The more contemporary Roy Thomson Hall meanwhile, is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra , and an impressively large electric organ, which makes a powerful, sweeping musical experience. The venue also hosting free shows by amazing international artists all summer long on its patio. website

17. Class it up with high tea at the Shangri-La Hotel

You don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the refined elegance of the Shangri-La’s lobby lounge. While it’s just as comfy as any living room, you won’t find any Cheeto stains here. Instead, you’ll find a business casual atmosphere with an Asian-inspired menu, a selection of 68 teas, and a five-volume compendium of drinks including wines, cocktails and spirits. If you make reservations for high tea , between 2 and 6pm, you’ll get your choice of tea from their library, as well as a stunning 3 tier array of bite-size treats, finger sandwiches and amazing scones, all accompanied by live music on the piano. website

18. Hit the clubs around King St. West

On the other hand, if you’re gonna want to dance or really let loose on a night out, the King Street West area is the place for you. It’s the main avenue for the club scene in Toronto, as it passes through both the Fashion and Entertainment Districts. The stretch is home to local party favourites such as Uniun Nightclub on Adelaide, which is practically a Toronto institution with its stylish industrial decor and state-of-the-art sound and LED lighting systems . You’ll also find hot spots like sophisticated Orchid Nightclub , or art-based club/lounge Everleigh .

19. Catch a game with your favourite Toronto team

Toronto’s home to some pretty cool sports teams. First off there’s the Raptors . They have the tall order of representing the whole in the NBA since they’re the only Canadian team , but they do pretty will with their iconic slogan “We The North,” which has recently been usurped by “North Over Everything.” When they’re in the off season for winter, the Maple Leafs take over their Air Canada Centre home (soon to be called the Scotiabank Arena) and turn it into an ice rink. Now, the Leafs are not exactly known for winning… but we love them anyway. Meanwhile, over at the Rogers Centre , originally named the SkyDome for its retractable roof, you’ll find the Blue Jays pitching some real competition in the world of baseball.

20. Get coffee at Dineen like a real Torontonian

Dineen is definitely downtown’s most prominent coffee shop. It occupies the corner of a historic building from which it draws inspiration. At its prime Yonge and Temperance location, you’ll find everyone from businessmen in suits, to freelancers, to tourists enjoying their unique coffee roasts . With a spacious interior and floor to ceiling windows, it’s a good thing there’s a lot of light. The interior decoration is stunning from the hand painted tile floors to the red leather banquet and the ornamental flourishes. Check out Dineen for sandwiches, pastries and Toronto coffee culture at its finest. website

21. Be dazzled by a ballet or opera performance

The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts was specifically designed to be the home of the  Canadian Opera Company and the performance venue for The National Ballet of Canada . It integrates these traditional performing arts into the fabric of the city with its stunning glass facade. While opera may sound like it’s for old people, the COC puts on contemporary and engaging performances such as La Bohème , a story that’s sure to tug at your heart strings about young free spirits in 19th century Paris navigating love, poverty and loss. For ballet, you’ll find a range of work including Physical Thinking, which shows examples from William Forsythe’s provocative ‘anti-ballet’ oeuvre, as well as beautifully done renditions of classic stories from A Midsummer Night’s Dream , to Alice in Wonderland and the annual holiday classic, The Nutcracker .

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10 Best Things to Do in Downtown Toronto

By: Author Jessica Lam

Posted on Published: September 12, 2021  - Last updated: December 24, 2023

Categories Ontario , Things to Do in Toronto

Looking for the best things to do in downtown Toronto ?

Whether you’re looking for cool activities to do with friends or just have a solo date by yourself, there are plenty of fun things to do in downtown Toronto.

Here are some of the best activities and most fun things to do in downtown Toronto!

Be sure to also follow me on Instagram and TikTok – I share a lot more content on those platforms that don’t make it to the blog!

Hotels in Toronto

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay while you’re in Toronto, these are some great options:

• Annex Hotel : a contemporary 3-star hotel in the Annex with bright and airy rooms.
• Yorkville Royal Sonesta : this chic 4-star hotel in the Yorkville neighbourhood offers up stunning views of the skyline.
• Bisha Hotel : a cool 4-star hotel in the Entertainment District with a swanky rooftop restaurant and pool offering up CN Tower views.
• Radisson Blu : a modern 4-star hotel along the Harbourfront with a rooftop pool and a close-up view of the CN Tower.
• Broadview Hotel : a historical 4-star hotel in Toronto’s east end, housed in a Victorian-era building with elegantly modern rooms.
• Fairmont Royal York : a luxurious 5-star hotel right by Union Station , newly renovated but still retaining most of its original features. The Queen is known to stay here!

You can also check out my post on the best boutique hotels in Toronto if you’re looking for a more unique stay!

More things to do in Toronto

If you’re looking for even more fun things to do in Toronto, you might enjoy these posts:

• Bored and looking for more things to do? Peep out these free things to do in Toronto or rainy day activities in Toronto .
• Into more active activities? Try out one of these awesome water activities in Toronto !
• Searching for cute date ideas in Toronto? Check out my date ideas during winter , summer , or fall , or my Valentine’s Day date ideas .
• Looking for more seasonal activities? Check out my posts on things to do in Toronto during the winter , spring , or summer .
• Visiting during the holidays? Here are festive things to do in Toronto !

Or, check out some local tours if you’re looking to do even more fun and unique activities, like these ones:

• Downtown Toronto bike tour : explore the best of downtown Toronto via bike on a guided 3.5 hour tour, which takes you through Chinatown, City Hall, and the Entertainment District.
• Distillery District walking tour : meander through the Distillery District on a guided 1-hour walking tour and learn about the history behind this super cute historical neighbourhood.
• Kensington Market food tour : taste your way through one of Toronto’s most diverse neighbourhoods on this 2.5 hour tour.

Best things to do in downtown Toronto

• Go food tasting at St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Toronto, and it’s even a favourite spot for many locals to visit.

It’s the oldest market in Toronto, and it’s home to all kinds of different food shops and vendors.

Grab authentic Montreal bagels from St. Urbain Bagel, then taste authentic perogies from European Delight!

You can also enjoy whatever you get on the outdoor patio if it’s not cold or rainy outside.

You can either grab tickets to a guided group food tasting tour around St. Lawrence Market, or you can meander around and explore yourselves!

There are also plenty of incredible restaurants in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood , also known as Old Town Toronto (the oldest neighbourhood in Toronto!)

LOCATION: 93 Front St E, Toronto, ON

• Walk through the Distillery District

The Distillery District is a designated World Heritage Site, and it’s also one of the cutest neighbourhoods in Toronto.

It’s a historic pedestrian-only neighbourhood filled with restaurants, shops, art galleries, and so much more to explore!

I have blog posts all about things to do in the Distillery District and the best restaurants in the Distillery District .

If you’re interested in doing guided tours to learn more about the history of the Distillery District, you can also do a fun guided walking tour !

And if you’re into spooky things, you can go on the Haunted Night Walking Tour , where you can hear creepy stories about the neighbourhood’s past.

LOCATION: The Distillery District, Toronto, ON

• Explore Kensington Market

Kensington Market is one of my fave neighbourhoods in Toronto – there are so many cool shops and amazing food spots!

Many different ethnic groups have lived here over the decades, which is why you’ll see so many different ethnic stores in the area!

Check out the best things to do in Kensington Market , the best vintage stores in Kensington Market , or the best coffee shops in Kensington Market .

If you’re looking to do fun guided tours in the area, I’d definitely recommend checking out this Canadian food tour in Kensington Market , or this 2-hour Kensington Market and Chinatown walking tour .

LOCATION: Kensington Market, Toronto, ON

• Take photos at Graffiti Alley

Graffiti Alley isn’t an official tourist spot in Toronto, but it’s very much populated by tourists and locals alike.

It’s basically a whole alley full of colourful murals and graffiti, and it makes for epic photos!

I love coming back here every now and then to check out new pieces that might have popped up!

I’ve also got a blog post all about cool Toronto murals to check out if you’re looking for more.

LOCATION: Rush Lane (between Portland St. & Spadina Ave.), Toronto, ON

• Check out art at the Art Gallery of Ontario

I think the AGO is one of those places you can go to a gazillion times without getting bored (maybe unless you’re an OCAD student).

The top floor is my favourite, because the exhibits are always changing!

You can get a free AGO pass if you’re 25 and under, which gives you access to exhibitions year-round.

Otherwise, you can snag tickets to the AGO online !

If you’re looking for even more fun free activities, check out my post on free things to do in Toronto !

LOCATION: 317 Dundas St. West, Toronto, ON

• Wander around the Royal Ontario Museum

Fun fact: the ROM is actually the largest museum in all of Canada, as well as one of the largest in North America.

You could spend a whole day wandering around the entire museum, or just spend a few hours if you’re doing a quick trip to Toronto!

The dinosaur exhibit is one of the best exhibits to see at the museum, and they also have special exhibits every so often.

You can buy your tickets to the ROM online .

LOCATION: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON

• Watch a Toronto Blue Jays game

In the mood for a lil’ sports?

The Toronto Blue Jays start their season every spring, and they have games all throughout the summer.

What I love about Jays games is that they’re actually affordable, so even non-sports fans (like me lol) are willing to actually go out to watch a game.

It’s always super nice when the roof is off, but if it’s rainy or gloomy, the roof will be closed!

LOCATION: 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON

• Visit Ripley’s Aquarium

Ripley’s Aquarium is one of the most fun places to visit in Toronto.

I’ve been several times since they opened, and I always have an awesome time exploring and discovering things I never noticed before.

The jellyfish room is my favourite spot in the entire aquarium!

Grab your tickets online and spend a couple of hours exploring the aquarium.

LOCATION: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON

• Do the EdgeWalk at the CN Tower

I’ve been to the CN Tower many times in my life, but I never tried the EdgeWalk until a few years ago.

Basically, you get to dangle off the edge of the CN Tower, and it’s a thrilling experience.

You also get to go to the top of the CN Tower for free with your EdgeWalk ticket, which is pretty sweet.

LOCATION: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON

• Wander around the Toronto Islands

The Toronto Islands are a nice little escape from the city, without actually leaving the city.

There are plenty of fun things to do on the Toronto Islands , and you can spend a whole day just exploring around the different islands!

Go stand-up paddle boarding (one of the best water activities in Toronto ), swimming (at the nude beach ), or just chill and have a picnic on the beach.

If you’re interested in doing a guided tour, you can also do a fun 3.5 hour bike tour of the Toronto Islands , where you get to ride all around the islands and learn about the island’s 200 year history.

It also includes your ferry tickets, bicycle and helmet, plus water and snacks, which makes life a little easier!

LOCATION: Toronto Islands, Toronto, ON

Best things to do in downtown Toronto:

These were some of the best and most fun things to do in downtown Toronto, whether you’re looking for cool activities to do with friends, or just have a nice solo date!

What are the best things to do in downtown Toronto in your opinion? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram !

Be sure to keep up with me on  Instagram , TikTok ,  Twitter , Facebook , and  Pinterest  if you aren’t already!

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36 Hours in Toronto

By Ingrid K. Williams April 11, 2024

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By Ingrid K. Williams Photographs by Eugen Sakhnenko

Locals may insist (politely, of course) that Toronto doesn’t belong atop any traveler’s wish list, but don’t fall for that Canadian modesty. Proudly multicultural with an outstanding art scene, fantastic food and a patchwork of diverse neighborhoods to explore, this sprawling city — Canada’s most populous — has more to offer than one could possibly digest in a single weekend. But that’s enough time to sample the local smorgasbord, from the many new restaurants and shops to the latest art exhibitions and a newly revitalized landmark theater. Anyone in town for Hot Docs , North America’s biggest documentary festival, which begins on April 25, will find plenty of reasons to roam beyond the downtown core, from the beaches in the east to drinking and dining hotspots that have sprouted in some unexpected places in the west.

Recommendations

• Trillium Park , west of Toronto’s inner harbor, is relatively crowd-free despite having an outstanding view of the downtown skyline.
• Sunny’s Chinese , a popular restaurant hidden inside a mini-mall in the Kensington Market neighborhood, serves fun plates like Hong Kong-style French toast with black-sesame jam.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto is currently hosting “Greater Toronto Art 2024,” the second installment of its triennial.
• Cry Baby Gallery is an art space with a cocktail bar hidden behind a curtain in the back.
• Massey Hall , a landmark theater, reopened in 2021 after a three-year renovation and modernization project.
• Evergreen Brick Works is a cultural community center with a popular year-round farmers’ market.
• The Gardiner Museum is dedicated to the artistry and craft of ceramics.
• The Philosopher’s Walk winds through the leafy St. George campus of the University of Toronto.
• The Bata Shoe Museum has an unexpectedly fascinating exhibit exploring the history of what we put on our feet.
• The Beach (also called the Beaches), on the eastern edge of the city, is a neighborhood abutting Lake Ontario with sandy shorelines and a wood-plank boardwalk.
• The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is a sprawling gallery surrounded by acres of pristine woodland.
• Zaal Art Gallery has paintings, sculptures and fashion from contemporary Iranian artists.
• Patois is a festive restaurant serving Caribbean-Asian dishes like jerk chicken chow mein.
• Bad Attitude Bread is a plant-based bakery with specialties like vegan Cheddar biscuits with Old Bay seasoning.
• Milky’s , a cool cafe, brews up specialty drinks like a spiced maple syrup latte.
• Taverne Bernhardt’s is a cozy neighborhood bistro featuring local produce and rotisserie-style chicken.
• Bowie , a vibey bar beneath a laundromat, offers great people-watching behind an unmarked entrance.
• Bathurst Local is a laid-back bar with a maze of private karaoke rooms.
• White Lily Diner is an all-day restaurant serving comfort food, with produce supplied by its own Ontario farm.
• Easy Tiger Goods is a sunny boutique that sells cute made-in-Toronto ceramics.
• Issues Magazine Shop stocks rare print titles.
• Etc Home , a home décor shop, sells hand-crocheted coasters, embroidered tote bags and more.
• A solid option downtown, the Ace Hotel opened in 2022 in a newly constructed building designed by the Toronto firm Shim-Sutcliffe Architects. Beyond the lobby framed by soaring concrete arches, the hotel features 123 cozy guest rooms as well as a restaurant and a rooftop lounge. Rooms start at around 499 Canadian dollars, or around $367.
• In the trendy West Queen West area, the Drake Hotel is a longtime favorite for its cultural events, concerts and art-filled interiors. With the addition of a new five-story wing, which opened in 2021, the property now has 51 rooms in addition to a popular lounge, cafe and rooftop terrace. Rooms start at around 360 dollars.
• On vibrant Dundas Street West in Little Portugal is the family-run Ode , which opened in 2021 with eight private guest rooms, each designed in collaboration with a different local artist. Rooms start at 260 dollars.
• Look for a short-term rental in the Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood, which is surrounded by great restaurants, shops, bars, bakeries, breweries and the popular Trinity Bellwoods Park .
• It's easy to get around Toronto by public transportation — there are subways , buses and streetcars — and on foot . You can also find taxis and use ride-hailing apps , including Lyft and Uber, and there are bike-share stations throughout the city (a day pass is 15 dollars). From Toronto Pearson International Airport, the UP Express train takes 25 minutes to arrive at Union Station downtown. Even closer is Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, a regional hub on the Toronto Islands that is connected to downtown by ferry and a pedestrian tunnel.

Trillium Park

Trillium Park , which opened in 2017 just west of Toronto’s inner harbor, remains relatively uncrowded despite having an outstanding view of the skyline. From Queens Quay West, it’s an easy half-hour walk to the park along the popular Martin Goodman Trail. Or rent a bicycle from one of the many bike-share stations and pedal along the lakeshore. After admiring the view of the iconic CN Tower across the water, head back toward downtown, stopping at nearby Inukshuk Park , with its 30-foot-high Inuit stone formation, and at the Toronto Music Garden, a grassy waterfront park where live performances take place during the summer.

Down the hallway of a nondescript mini-mall, a small handwritten sign on a door indicates you’ve found Sunny’s Chinese . Since opening in the eclectic Kensington Market neighborhood in 2022, this buzzy spot has packed its mint green booths with crowds hankering for a spicy, family-style feast. On a recent visit, highlights included the spinach-and-chrysanthemum-stem salad (12 Canadian dollars, or about $9), fiery dan dan noodles (19 dollars), and what a server said “pays our rent”: the sublime Hong Kong-style French toast layered with black-sesame jam and oolong-infused condensed milk (14 dollars). Couldn’t nab a reservation? Try for a last-minute table at nearby Patois , a festive Caribbean-Asian restaurant with a flaky Jamaican-patty sandwich (12 dollars) and jerk chicken chow mein (27 dollars).

Massey Hall

In 2021, Torontonians applauded the reopening of Massey Hall , a landmark theater, after a three-year renovation and modernization project. For over a century, this downtown concert hall has hosted top international performers, including Charlie Parker, Aretha Franklin, Gordon Lightfoot and Jon Batiste. The revitalized theater is now part of a larger performing arts complex, the Allied Music Centre , with a new music venue and recording studios in an adjacent building. But one thing that hasn’t changed: the famously excellent acoustics. To hear for yourself, check the calendar for upcoming events, which include concerts by the Black Crowes, the indie-rock group Waxahatchee and the Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn.

Grange Park, just south of the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Saturday farmers’ market at Evergreen Brick Works

A former quarry and brick factory have been repurposed as Evergreen Brick Works , a cultural community center northeast of downtown. People flock here on Saturdays for the year-round farmers’ market, which reflects the diversity of the city itself. In addition to the usual market stalls — local cheeses, produce, fish, meat and bread — many vendors sell prepared foods that include Persian baklava , Swedish pastries and Tibetan momos (try the beef ones doused with hot sauce; 11.50 dollars for five). Seating is available between the historic brick kilns, but in fair weather, grab your food to go and explore the trails snaking through the surrounding forested ravines.

Many visitors prioritize the best-known museums, but that would mean missing niche standouts like the Gardiner Museum , which specializes in the artistry and craft of ceramics. Inside, explore ancient figures from Mesoamerican cultures and contemporary sculptural vases depicting polar animals by the Inuit ceramicist Roger Aksadjuak (admission, 15 dollars). Afterward, stroll along the Philosopher’s Walk, a nearby path through the leafy St. George campus of the University of Toronto. Then continue to the Bata Shoe Museum , another oft-overlooked institution, where an unexpectedly fascinating, two-floor exhibit traces the history of what we put on our feet (admission, 14 dollars).

Issues Magazine Shop

Little Portugal is packed with quirky independent shops and galleries, many conveniently clustered along Dundas Street West. Start at Easy Tiger Goods , a sunny boutique that sells pastel taper candles and cute made-in-Toronto ceramics. Peruse the rare print titles at Issues Magazine Shop , then shop for hand-crocheted coasters and embroidered tote bags at Etc Home . Consider investing in an artwork at Zaal Art Gallery , a cavernous space that opened last October showcasing paintings, photographs, sculptures and fashion from contemporary Iranian artists. Later, continue farther down the street to Bad Attitude Bread , a vegan bakery, for an Old Bay-seasoned Cheddar-flavored biscuit (5 dollars), and to Milky’s , a cool cafe nearby, for a spiced maple syrup latte (6.50 dollars).

An excellent primer on what’s happening in the city’s art scene is now on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto , in a former factory building in the Lower Junction Triangle neighborhood. The current exhibition, “Greater Toronto Art 2024,” is the second installment of the museum’s triennial and features a range of artworks, performances and installations, including photographs by the American-born artist June Clark of her adopted home of Toronto in the 1970s and ’80s; a site-specific greenhouse installed by the Brooklyn-based Canadian artist Lotus L. Kang; and a series of sculptural drawings, traced from an heirloom Persian rug, from the Iraqi-born Canadian artist Sukaina Kubba (through July 28; admission, 14 dollars).

Roast chicken and local produce are the winning formula at Taverne Bernhardt’s , a cozy neighborhood bistro on a quiet lane south of Dundas Street West, where date-night couples sip wine at the pewter-topped bar and groups of friends encircle tables along a soft leather banquette. The short seasonal menu recently included tender roasted carrots with herbs and tahini (20 dollars), in addition to the crisp-skinned, rotisserie-style chicken served on a platter with thick-cut fries, coleslaw and pickles, toasted sesame-seed buns, and a side of gravy (37 dollars). And for dessert, there’s a heaping swirl of soft serve in changing flavors, like Earl Grey (14 dollars).

Exploring Toronto’s nightlife could mean ice bathing at Othership , a sociable sauna downtown, or sipping a white stout at Blood Brothers Brewing in the revitalized northwestern warehouse district. But you needn’t venture that far after dinner to find appealing options, if you know where to look. It’s a short walk from Bernhardt’s to Cry Baby Gallery , a white-walled art space where a curtain in the back hides a moody cocktail bar serving spicy mezcal margaritas (the best is the passion-fruit version, 20 dollars). Even closer is Bowie , a vibey, mirrored lounge that opened last year beneath a laundromat. It offers great people-watching and pink Paloma cocktails (16 dollars), and is accessible via an unmarked entrance (down the alley, below the neon bow-tied mouse sign). Later, visit Bathurst Local , where a laid-back bar leads to a maze of private karaoke rooms, each more colorful than the last.

People strolling in the trendy West Queen West area.

The ocean may be hundreds of miles away, but you can still start the day with a walk on the beach. On the east side of the city, an easy streetcar ride from downtown, the neighborhood abutting Lake Ontario is known as the Beaches (or the Beach, depending on whom you ask ) because of its long, sandy shoreline. Head down to the water to join locals walking their dogs through the sand. From the easternmost edge, it’s a leisurely half-hour promenade along the wood-plank boardwalk to Woodbine Beach, the widest stretch of sand lapped by the lake’s calm waves.

When hunger strikes, hop back on the streetcar headed west to the White Lily Diner , an all-day restaurant in the Riverside neighborhood serving its own brand of comfort food. One must-order is the cheesy patty melt, served with poblano relish on house-made bread (23.25 dollars), which comes with a side salad of crisp greens from the restaurant’s own White Lily Farms , northeast of the city. This snug locale has only five counter seats and seven Dijon yellow booths, so there’s often a wait. But I’d happily queue for even a single bite of the fluffy buttermilk griddle cakes with maple syrup (16.25 dollars).

McMichael Canadian Art Collection

Yes, it’s a trek to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection , a sprawling gallery surrounded by acres of pristine woodland, about 17 miles northwest of downtown. But there’s no prettier place to become acquainted with some of Canada’s most influential artists: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, a collective of landscape painters who rose to fame in the early 20th century with their romantic depictions of Canadian nature. Admire the rural landscape paintings, including glacial mountains by Lawren Harris and placid lakes by A.J. Casson. Then visit galleries dedicated to contemporary Canadian works, including those by Inuit and First Nations artists, such as the brilliantly colorful paintings of Norval Morrisseau . Not keen on splurging for a car ride? There’s an equally edifying collection of Canadian art — minus the sylvan setting — at the Art Gallery of Ontario downtown (admission to the McMichael, 20 dollars; to the AGO, 30 dollars). (The AGO is temporarily closed because of a workers’ strike.)

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Top Shopping Districts in Toronto

The city's major shopping neighbourhoods are made for hours of browsing with fabulous stores side-by-side within walking distance from each other. For these shopping trips, it's best to park your car or bike nearby since you surely won't leave empty-handed.

Find luxe labels along Bloor Street West in glitzy-glam Bloor-Yorkville. The Westside serves locally designed and generally hip finds while the emerging design area of King Street East, in the heart of historic Old Town, promises the latest in high-end design and art-inspired wares.

Explore Shopping Districts

Shopping in the distillery district.

From cobblestone streets to industrial-era buildings, it’s easy to see where Old Town Toronto...

Shopping on King Street East

Shopping on queen west.

Queen West is home to some of the city’s most cutting-edge boutiques among the art galleries...

Shopping on King West

Toronto’s King Street is aptly named. Once populated primarily by warehouses and industrial...

Shopping in Bloor-Yorkville

It won’t take you long to realize why Bloor-Yorkville is known as Toronto’s Fifth...

Forbes Travel Guide Stories

Your Toronto Luxury Shopping Guide By Correspondent Gizelle Lau

November 2, 2016

Saks Fifth Avenue Photo Courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue

The shops along Bloor St. W., which is affectionately called Toronto ’s “Mink Mile” in Yorkville, give visitors and locals alike a few lavish reasons to visit Toronto. This year alone, though, many large designer shops have decided to make the city their home as well. Here are the high-end highlights.

Saks Fifth Avenue Earlier this year, Saks Fifth Avenue opened not one, but two locations in Toronto at the downtown CF Toronto Eaton Centre and just west of the downtown core at CF Sherway Gardens . As you know, the luxury department store made its mark offering top-tier brands, designer fashion, men’s sportswear and an extensive range of products from Dior, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Alexander McQueen and many more.

The Toronto installations are no different. Each location also features the first-of-its-kind Saks Food Hall by Pusateri’s, a premium dining experience with food stations, high-end grocery, specialty products, and restaurants like the Latin-inspired Leña restaurant at the Toronto Eaton Centre and Beaumont Kitchen at Sherway Gardens.

Toronto Eaton Centre, Photo Courtesy of The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited

Nordstrom American department store Nordstrom had its grand opening in the city this September at the Toronto Eaton Centre. The 220,000-square-foot, three-level store curates specialty fashion from many of the best brands, from Marchesa to Madewell, offering elevated customer service in the form of a concierge, free two-hour, same-day delivery in downtown Toronto, private shopping suites and a men’s clubhouse (flat-screen TV, local beer and styling services). A second Nordstrom location opened at Yorkdale Shopping Centre on October 21.

Uniqlo Another September debut, Japanese casual designer Uniqlo opened a 28,000-square-foot space that extends two stories at the Toronto Eaton Centre. Opening day saw shoppers lining up at 4 a.m. to be the first to pick from the popular brand, which has more than 1,000 shops worldwide. This comes a couple of years after the opening of Muji, a Japanese home goods and fashion store, just down the street from the Toronto Eaton Centre.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Photo Courtesy of Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Yorkdale Shopping Centre First built in the 1960s, Yorkdale Shopping Centre has since had major expansions, becoming one of the largest luxury shopping centers in Canada. Expansions that debuted on October 18 brought the brand behemoth to a total of 1.8 million square feet of retail space. Located north of the downtown core, Yorkdale’s new wing features the aforementioned Nordstrom and Uniqlo, in addition to exciting labels such as Mackage (a Canadian fashion designer), Strellson and Samsung, adding to the current roster of upscale retailers like Versace, Bulgari and Gucci.

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The Best Shopping in Downtown Toronto

Toronto is a city known for its culture, warm hospitality, a multitude of delicious cuisines and of course, great shopping. No matter what corner of the city you’re searching for great finds on, you’re guaranteed to stumble-upon something fabulous. Luckily for us, the downtown Toronto hotel located at Yonge and King Streets , and our guests, we’re steps away from Toronto’s prime shopping…

Toronto Eaton Centre

One of Toronto’s most iconic malls, the Eaton Centre , is no more than a 10-minute walk from One King West Hotel & Residence and is home to over 250+ best-in-class retailers, restaurants and services. With the more recent introduction of Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue , the Eaton Centre has become the shopping destination of the city. But if you’re aiming to have a more budget-friendly shopping spree, this mall, located at the corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets, features an array of shops ranging in price. Plus, if you get hungry, the Urban Eatery located in the lower level of the mall is a one-stop-shop for delicious eats to satiate any and all cravings. Travelling to the Eaton Centre via subway? Hop off at either Dundas or Queen Stations and you’ll find yourself at either end of the mall!

Distillery District

As our downtown Toronto hotel, One King West Hotel & Residence , is an Ontario Heritage-designated building, we can’t help but admire the other historic establishments of the city and The Distillery District continues to be one of our favourites. Not only does it feel like you’ve stepped back in time while roaming the cobble-stone streets of this district, the many diverse and eclectic shops make it a prime shopping destination in downtown Toronto. Looking for the latest fashion trends? Head to Gotstyle for a wardrobe upgrade. If you’re into the neat and nifty finds of Distillery District , we suggest Blackbird Vintage Finds . Depending on when you want to go, parking may prove difficult so if you can get there by transit we highly recommend it! From One King West Hotel & Residence, hop on the 504 King St. streetcar heading East for about 8 minutes, get off at Cherry Street and walk South a couple blocks.

Bloor Street & Yorkville

The Bloor Street and Yorkville area is known for the more prestigious and high-end shopping of downtown Toronto. Holt Renfrew , Gucci and Kate Spade are among the many swanky stores that you’ll walk by when strolling through this district. It’s no wonder this is a hot spot to ‘star-gaze’ when the Toronto International Film Festival comes around in September! Heading here from One King West Hotel & Residence means a brief subway ride North on Line 1, getting off at Bloor station and heading West on Bloor Street to come across the prime shops.

Queen Street West

Queen Street West is notably more different than the downtown Toronto shopping districts mentioned previously. It’s a vibrant neighbourhood with a mix of great shops, beautiful art and some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. To paint a picture of this area in case you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting quite yet, in 2014, Vogue named Queen Street West the second-hippest district in the world. Visiting this area from One King West Hotel & Residence ? We suggest getting on the subway at King Station, heading South, hopping-off at Osgoode Station and walking West. The main shopping district can be found between Simcoe and Bathurst Streets.

Shop ‘Til You Drop! Then Go Immediately to Bed…

Have a mini getaway at our downtown Toronto hotel so you’re close to all of the action happening in the city. One King West Hotel & Residence offers the perfect home-away-from-home setting where you can unwind after a day of shopping. After a long day of shopping, how amazing would it be to have to only travel no more than 20 minutes there and back and knowing that you have a luxurious and welcoming suite waiting for you? VERY amazing. Head here to browse our modern home-inspired suites.

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As the commercial centre of Canada, Toronto is home to myriad shopping options. Both established international labels and up-and-coming domestic brands regularly funnel in with flagship locations, bringing fresh appeal to a city already famed for its creative scene. Whether you’re looking for high-end designer goods, down-to-earth vintage fashion or one-of-a-kind pieces that put your love for Canada on full display, you’ll find it all in Toronto.

1. Eaton Centre

Named for Timothy Eaton, founder of Canada’s premier (now defunct) department store, Toronto’s main downtown mall, Eaton Centre, has it all. Four floors of high-end shops include splashy Canadian-born international brands such as Lululemon, Roots and Canada Goose, mixed with local labels, such as Ovo , Drake’s fashion house, and upscale womenswear retailer Aritzia . Across a skybridge sits Hudson’s Bay Company , the mid-range department store and Canadian institution that traces its heritage back to the 17th century fur trade.

2. Yorkville-Bloor

The Yorkville-Bloor district is Canada’s answer to New York ’s Fifth Avenue. On the bustling Bloor Street, you’ll find all the luxury brands, as well as Holt Renfrew , a retail landmark of this upscale neighbourhood. Comparable to Lane Crawford or Nordstrom, this premium department store also stocks a sprinkling of local labels, like winterwear brand Moose Knuckles .

Lovers of all things sparkly can head to the jewellery retailer and designer Birks , whose 9,000sq ft flagship store is located at the prestigious Bay and Bloor intersection. Over at the hip and trendy Yorkville Village, you’ll discover a range of boutique shops, including Over the Rainbow , a family-owned boutique specialising in denim.

Credit: Roberto Machado Noa/Getty Images

3. Queen and Dundas West

The streets on the northern and southern borders of Trinity Bellwoods Park both have a range of shopping options for the younger set. Queen West showcases some of Canada’s rising retail brands, including Vancouver leisure wear specialists Reigning Champ and Frank and Oak , a Quebec-based retailer known for minimalist essentials. There’s also The Latest Scoop , a multi-brand store that pushes an evolving collection of jewellery, homeware and gifts.

Over on the less densely populated Dundas West , you’ll find more affordable retailers like everyday jeweller Mejuri , speciality purveyors selling everything from skateboards and sneakers to Japanese designer brands, and thrift shops like Black Diamond Vintage .

Credit: Arpad Benedek/Getty Images

4. Kensington Market

If you’re looking for more of a boho-chic shopping experience, skip to the western edge of Chinatown and explore the charming, ramshackle Kensington Market . The arty alcove is home to the city’s best collection of vintage shops. Courage My Love draws visitors with rows of cowboy boots on its front steps, backed by racks of hard-to-finds and upcycled collections. Lost Boys Vintage dishes out faded band tees, iconic movie merch and broken-in Carhartt jackets, while Urban Catwalk offers dizzying racks of army fatigues, sports jerseys, Hawaiian shirts and everything in between. For a slightly more curated experience, Flamingo has shelves of denim, sportswear and higher-end labels.

5. Distillery District

Set in the 19th-century buildings that once housed whiskey makers Gooderham and Worts, the Distillery District is now home to Toronto’s creative businesses. Arty types will enjoy wandering the cobblestoned, gallery-lined walkways and perusing the range of independent shops. Check out the brightly coloured, outlandishly designed footwear at John Fluevog Shoes and the impressively extensive array of high-end stationery at Toronto Pen Shoppe . The sportily inclined should head to Peace Collective , purveyors of well- made essentials embroidered with pithy city slogans and local team logos.

6. St. Lawrence Market

On the eastern edge of the downtown core is the handsome, high-arched St. Lawrence Market , which dates to 1803. Here, you’ll find rows of family-run cheesemongers, fishmongers, butchers and artisanal shops selling everything from local mustards ( Kozlik’s ) to gravlax ( Mike’s Fish Market ) and Montreal-style bagels ( St. Urbain Bagel ). Plan your visit to the market at lunchtime and pick up the famous peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery . The market is due to move across the street to a newly constructed building in 2024, so try to catch it at its original site if you’re visiting this year.

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Latest facelift at Canada’s largest hotel part of nearly $60-million investment

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At Little Canada, the excellent attraction in downtown Toronto that displays Canadian landmarks in miniature form, Toronto’s Chelsea Hotel is tiny (surprise, surprise), joined by pint-sized replicas of the Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena and City Hall.

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Chelsea Hotel, Toronto's massive changes worth checking into Back to video

Walk a few minutes north from the Yonge-Dundas Square-area attraction, however, and the actual hotel — including those other landmarks — gets a whole lot bigger.

How big? We were shocked to learn that the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto is Canada’s largest hotel, with 1,590 rooms. The property, with an address on Gerrard St. W. but also accessible from Yonge, Bay and Elm Sts. and steps from the Eaton Centre, can at times feel somewhat hidden in plain view, its footprint disguised by the surrounding and connected infrastructure.

Although the hotel is massive, our recent two-night stay felt cozy, the main lobby area was easy to navigate and the general surroundings unrushed despite being in the beating heart of the downtown core.

The Chelsea Hotel, Toronto measures up and should be viewed as a fine accommodation choice for everyone thanks to its location, approachable mid-scale pricing and noticeable service with a smile.

“Do they know you?” my wife asked me as the staff at the lobby-level Elm Street Bar & Lounge enthusiastically wished us a good night following our superb dinner. No, they do not, I replied. (If I was a celebrity, I’d be a Z-lister.) They were just being friendly, as was repeated by all staff throughout our stay.

“We’re known as the friendliest hotel in Toronto,” said Tracy Ford, the hotel’s director of public relations.

The Chelsea could soon be known as the most extensively renovated hotel in the city. Following a $25-million facelift completed in 2023 — upgrades to 600 guestrooms in the Executive Tower, hotel corridors, elevators, restaurants and wi-fi — greater transformation is on deck.

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The hotel, owned by the Langham Hospitality Group, will pump nearly $60 million into renovating 993 guestrooms in the Chelsea Tower, which translates to two-thirds of the rooms. The lobby, meeting and banquet areas will also get a glow-up and a new lobby bar is also in the works.

The coming improvements will inject some new life into the property ahead of its 50th anniversary, having first opened on Oct. 15, 1975, while complimenting the recently completed upgrades.

Before the latest announcement, the 2023 project was its most extensive since 2013, the year it shed the Delta Chelsea name. Executive Tower rooms now feature modern carpeting and wood and marble finishings along with amenities including Nespresso machines, 50-inch flatscreen TVs, in-room safe, electric kettle, mini-fridges and, in most cases, private balconies (a rarity among downtown Toronto hotels).

The new-look Elm Street Bar & Lounge has doubled in size. We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating that the consistent quality and overall value at hotel restaurants, as evidenced once more at Elm Street, is worthy of anyone’s consideration before opting to leave the property to dine elsewhere. We enjoyed the chicken Caesar salad and tomahawk pork chop for dinner, and chicken and waffles, avocado toast and eggs benny for breakfast.

The neigbhouring Market Garden Restaurant offers buffet and on-the-go options.

Families will appreciate the Family Fun Zone, Kid Centre and 33 Teen Lounge as well as the heated indoor pool and waterslide — the only such slide offered downtown — while adults can access the top-floor heated indoor pool, hot tub and fitness facility.

Every hotel has a highlight, and for me, Chelsea’s fast, reliable, complimentary wi-fi stole the show, allowing me to work without a single technological hiccup from our executive room on the 24th floor. The hotel invested $2.3 million in wi-fi upgrades as part of the 2023 improvements.

Even the rewards program has received a facelift. The Langham Hospitality Group announced in March the launch of Brilliant by Langham, available across 30 participating hotels, including Chelsea.

While it’s the biggest hotel in Canada, guests of this hotel should come away impressed by the attention to little details.

For more information, visit chelseatoronto.com .

ALL ABOUT CHELSEA HOTEL, TORONTO

— 1,590 rooms — 3 restaurants and lounges — Toronto’s only 130-foot indoor waterslide — Complimentary wi-fi — ‘Show Your Key & Save’ program, allowing guests to access exclusive discounts to various attractions — EarthCheck Gold certified hotel property, recognizing commitment to environmental and social responsibility — Longtime partner of SickKids, with more than $1 million raised for SickKids Foundation — For past two years, has donated $1 per stay in December to Daily Bread Food Bank

SIMPLY SPA-CTACULAR

Guests at the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto who are eager to relax can find the ultimate urban escape next door at the Elmwood Spa.

Located at 18 Elm St. in what was originally Toronto’s first YWCA, the spa has been operating for more than 40 years as a go-to place for city dwellers and visitors from elsewhere looking to leave their stress at the door.

My wife and I enjoyed the Exotic Escape package, which includes a 50-minute couples massage, water therapies and a three-course dinner at Bangkok Garden, which is said to be Toronto’s first Thai restaurant. Be sure to try the spring rolls and, of course, the pad Thai.

It’s one of two restaurants on the property, which also includes a juice bar, 34 treatment rooms (all named after shades of blue as part of the overall water theme), and a swimming pool, whirlpool and steam rooms.

For more information on the spa, visit elmwoodspa.com . For restaurant details, visit bangkokgarden.ca .

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

Visitors to Little Canada are in for a big surprise.

We weren’t sure what to expect when we checked out the attraction, located at 10 Dundas. St. E., just a few minutes by foot from the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto, but we came away wowed.

Little Canada is an immersive journey that takes guests through Canada on a miniature scale. There’s a day-to-night cycle that displays each area in a new light, including the impressive tiny Rogers Centre and Canada Day mini fireworks show at Parliament Hill in Little Ottawa.

We found it interesting to keep an eye out for various landmarks we’ve visited across the country and take a stroll down memory lane as we located them.

Be sure to look for Maurice the Moose as you venture through Little Niagara, Little East Coast and beyond.

For more information, visit little-canada.ca .

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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