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30 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Toronto

Written by Lana Law and Michael Law Updated Dec 23, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author s Michael and Lana Law live in southern Ontario and enjoy frequent trips into Toronto for dining, shopping, and events.

Toronto, the capital of Ontario , is the largest city in Canada and also one of the most diverse. It's home to a dynamic mix of tourist attractions and memorable places to visit, from museums and galleries to the world-famous CN Tower. And, just a short drive away, is Niagara Falls .

You'll find no shortage of things to do, from the vibrant Entertainment District , featuring the latest musicals and fine dining, to the historic Distillery District , home to unique shops and restaurants set in incredibly restored buildings.

Toronto city center is relatively easy to navigate, with many of the top attractions within walking distance of each other, and a subway system to cover longer distances.

If you are visiting Toronto in winter, head indoors to explore the extensive PATH network of underground walkways that connect shopping, entertainment, and attractions. In summer, wander along the beautiful waterfront and enjoy Toronto's best beaches and parks .

For a complete look at how to spend your time and find interesting places to visit, see our list of top tourist attractions in Toronto.

1. The CN Tower

2. visit the royal ontario museum (rom), 3. ripley's aquarium of canada, 4. art gallery of ontario (ago), 5. day trip to niagara falls, 6. catch a show or dine in the entertainment district, 7. see the animals at the toronto zoo, 8. wander through st. lawrence market, 9. dine and shop in the distillery district, 10. tour casa loma, 11. city hall & nathan philips square, 12. shop at cf toronto eaton center, 13. watch the action at yonge dundas square, 14. see the stars at the toronto international film festival (tiff), 15. stroll through kensington market, 16. visit the aga khan museum, 17. enjoy nature at high park, 18. take a trip to toronto islands, 19. ontario science centre, 20. little italy, 21. head to the danforth for a taste of greece, 22. bata shoe museum, 23. harbourfront centre and toronto's waterfront, 24. black creek pioneer village, 25. hockey hall of fame, 26. graffiti alley, 27. rogers centre, 28. visit the cne, 29. go fishing, 30. winterlicious, where to stay in toronto for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to toronto, toronto, canada - climate chart, map of top-rated tourist attractions in toronto.

Highlights : Incredible views over Lake Ontario and the city; high-elevation dining; and a chance to walk outside, 365 meters above the ground.

Toronto's famous landmark, the 553-meter CN Tower , is one of Ontario's must-see attractions and also the most impossible to miss. Towering above the downtown, this Canadian icon can be seen from almost everywhere in the city.

You have the option of simply appreciating the building from the ground, or taking a trip up to one of the observation areas or restaurants for fabulous views over the city and Lake Ontario. The CN Tower, built between 1972 and 1976, was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world, but has long since been surpassed.

The highest viewing area on the CN Tower is from the Sky Pod at 447 meters above the city, with views that, on clear days, extend to Niagara Falls and New York State. Getting here requires taking two elevators.

Below this, at the top of the main elevator is the LookOut level at 346 meters, with floor-to-ceiling windows and the new Glass Floor , which looks down to the original Glass Floor, one floor below, where the Outdoor Sky Terrace is located. As the name suggests, the Glass Floor offers a bird's-eye view directly down over the city.

For those looking for a little more adventure, or perhaps a lot more adventure, there is the " Edge Walk. " This involves a hands-free walk on a 1.5-meter-wide ledge around the outside edge of the main pod, at an elevation of 365 meters. Participants are attached to a safety harness and rope.

Located at 351 meters is the revolving 360 Restaurant , featuring fine dining and some of the best views from a table anywhere in Toronto. 360 is open for lunch and dinner, and visitors who dine here also receive complimentary access to the LookOut and Glass Floor levels of the tower.

Basing yourself in the city center, preferably near the CN Tower, is the best option for exploring Toronto.

Address: 301 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Exceptional collections of art, culture, nature, and science in Canada's largest museum.

The Royal Ontario Museum , known as the ROM, is one of Canada's premier museums and one of the top tourist attractions in Ontario , with an international reputation for excellence.

It houses an outstanding collection, which covers natural history, art, and culture from a great variety of periods from all over the world. It is also well-known for featuring exhibitions from across the globe .

A controversial expansion in 2007 saw the addition of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal , a modern wing featuring glass and sharp angles, added on to a very traditional older building. It's now one of Toronto's most recognizable buildings.

Address: 100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Home to over 20,000 marine mammals and an incredible underwater tunnel.

One of Toronto's newest top attractions is the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada near the base of the CN Tower . This fabulous facility displays all kinds of marine life and is one of the most popular things to do in Toronto for families.

The most impressive feature is the huge underwater tunnel with a moving sidewalk. You can watch the ocean world go by all around you as sharks glide past and sawfish linger on the tunnel roof above. This is a truly serene experience for all ages.

Another unexpected highlight is the jellyfish display, accented with creative lighting. Further on, touch tanks with stingrays and small sharks allow for a hands-on experience. And, for the engineering-minded, the building's open concept also allows for a look at the Life Support System and filtration equipment operating the facility.

Address: 288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : A huge collection of incredible art with a Canadian focus, along with treasured pieces from around the world.

The renowned Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest museums in North America .

The collection of more than 95,000 pieces includes works from around the world, from European masterpieces to contemporary art, but also holds an impressive collection of Canadian Art, including a vast collection of works by the Group of Seven. A series of temporary exhibitions are mounted throughout the year.

The AGO occupies a unique-looking building, with a mix of older and modern architecture, on the west side of the city center. Next to the AGO is the hard-to-miss Ontario College of Art and Design, standing high above the street on stilts designed to look like pencils.

Address: 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : An easy day trip to one of the world's greatest natural wonders.

If you have never been, a quick day trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls is well worth the time. You can be standing on the edge of the falls in just over an hour.

A tour to Niagara Falls from Toronto is an easy way to see the falls if you don't want to drive yourself. Tours offer hotel pickup and drop-off and include a Niagara Cruise, which takes you up close to the wall of water tumbling that is the main Horseshoe Falls.

Tours also stop at some of the key sites in the area, including Whirlpool Rapids, the Floral Clock, and the beautiful little town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Getting from Toronto to Niagara Falls is easier than you might think, with several different options available. A train (Go Train) runs to Niagara Falls from Union Station in summer, from late June to the start of September, as well as the Thanksgiving weekend in October. On weekends you can even take your bike on the train, and enjoy a bike ride along the Niagara Parkway.

If you have enough time, you may also want to consider spending the night at Niagara Falls to explore the downtown area and see the falls lit up at night.

Highlights : One of Toronto's top areas to see the latest shows, grab a meal, or go to a hockey or baseball game.

The Entertainment District in Toronto covers a large area of the city center and includes many of the city's top attractions, like the CN Tower , Scotiabank Arena , Rogers Centre , and many museums.

It's also known for fantastic dining , and most importantly, shows and performances. Most of the action is centered around King Street , between Spadina Avenue and University Avenue.

Toronto's answer to New York's Broadway, the Entertainment District comes to life in the evenings and is a great place for nightlife. This is the place to see major theater productions, including musicals, concerts, and other performing arts.

Some of the most prominent venues in this area are Roy Thomson Hall , home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Alexandra Theatre , which hosts the most current musicals.

Highlights : Canada's largest zoo, daily shows in the summer, and 10 kilometers of walking trails.

The Toronto Zoo has an outstanding and diverse collection, with approximately 5,000 animals. Some of the favorites include pygmy hippos, lions, tigers, giraffes, penguins, orangutans, and many more. The zoo is divided into several sections, each representing a major region of the globe.

Some of the other highlights at the Toronto Zoo include the Gorilla Rainforest; the Tundra Trek, featuring polar bears; and the Great Barrier Reef.

The Discovery Zone is a popular area with families, and during the summer months, a splash pad offers fun in the sun.

The zoo lies on the Rouge River about 40 kilometers northeast of the city center.

Address: 361A Old Finch Road, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Toronto's freshest meats, cheeses, and vegetable stands, all housed in a historical building from 1845.

The St. Lawrence Market houses a variety of vendors selling various food products, flowers, and specialty items. The St. Lawrence Hall was built in Toronto in 1850 and served as a public meeting place and a concert venue.

If you've been shopping or touring nearby, this is an excellent spot to stop in for a bite to eat or to relax with friends over a cup of coffee. In the summer, outdoor patios on elevated spaces allow you to soak up some of the warm sunshine.

The hall was restored in 1967 but has retained much of its old charm. The building provides a unique atmosphere for the market and is also occasionally used for film and television shoots. The interior features a grand staircase and a gas-lit chandelier.

Once you leave St. Lawrence Market, head north (away from the lake) up to Front Street and then head west for a block and a half to check out the architecturally stunning Gooderham building at Church Street. This building framed in front of the towers of downtown Toronto is an iconic picture of the city.

Address: 92 Front Street East, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Historical buildings, trendy restaurants, galleries, and shops, and home to Toronto's best Christmas market.

Toronto's Distillery District is a restored historic area, which has been transformed into a trendy entertainment and shopping district. Charming boutiques, galleries, artists' studios, and restaurants fill the old buildings. This is an interesting place to come during the day or evening and any time of year.

A variety of entertainment events are held here, but one of the most well-known is the annual Toronto Christmas Market . Wooden stalls all decorated for Christmas sell unique gifts; a huge Christmas tree stands in an open square; and cozy outdoor areas are set up, often with couches and large fire pits to gather around.

Restaurants offer outdoor dining despite the cold, with heat lamps and lap blankets. Hot chocolate is always readily available at this time of year.

Highlights : A turn-of-the-century Gothic castle with over 100 rooms, a secret tunnel, and gorgeous gardens with views of Toronto.

Standing in beautifully kept grounds, Casa Loma is an extraordinary building somewhat reminiscent of a medieval castle. It was originally constructed in 1914 for Sir Henry Pellatt, an eccentric Canadian multi-millionaire who was among the first to recognize and exploit the money-making potential of Niagara Falls .

With close to 100 rooms, including three dozen bathrooms, the house is now a museum. Visitors can take a look back in time to a period of European elegance and splendor. Canada's foremost castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and five acres of estate gardens .

Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Unique architecture, summer concerts, a winter skating rink, and the city's famous Toronto sign.

Dominating the spacious Nathan Philips Square with its bronze sculpture, The Archer , by Henry Moore, is the still highly acclaimed new City Hall .

It was designed by the gifted Finnish architect Viljo Revell and built in 1965. City Hall consists of two arc-shaped high-rise blocks, 20 and 27 stories high respectively, wrapped around a lower central building topped by a flattened cupola.

In the square in front of City Hall is a man-made pond, which becomes a popular skating rink in winter and is where the often photographed Toronto sign is located. This is a beautiful area to visit in December, particularly at night, when it's decorated for the Christmas holidays.

Address: 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Downtown Toronto's best mall, home to all the top retailers, plus a good food court.

The huge CF Toronto Eaton Center mall is located at the north end of the Central Business District. With its own subway station, this ultra-modern shopping complex extends over several blocks and is continually being renovated and enlarged.

Strangers can quite easily lose their way in the bewildering maze of department stores, specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafeterias, and snack bars, which crowd the different levels above and below ground.

Eaton Center is connected to the Hudson Bay store via a skywalk and is also a stop on Toronto's subway system.

Address: 220 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : A fun gathering place with huge digital billboards reminiscent of Times Square in New York.

This neon-lit public space is fashioned after New York's Times Square and is a popular gathering spot for Torontonians. The area is complete with seating areas, dancing fountains , and a stage where concerts take place in the summer.

Yonge Dundas Square is best enjoyed in the evening when the flashing neon signs come to life and the place develops a fun vibe. It is by far the best place in the city for people-watching . The surrounding streets are packed with restaurants , many of which have patios.

The square is accessible via Toronto's subway system, or you can park in the large underground parking lot directly beneath the square.

Address: 1 Dundas Street E, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Celebrity spotting and an incredible roster of first-run movies.

One of the highlights on Toronto's annual events calendar is the Toronto International Film Festival . Held each year in early September, this world-famous festival attracts some of the most famous names in film.

You can see a movie or simply hang around and hope to catch a glimpse of someone famous walking by. The weather in Toronto this time of year is still hot. Dining outside in the evening and relaxing on an outdoor patio is a major pastime, as limos drive by and photographers and press are out in full force.

The vibe in Toronto for this eleven-day event is electric. Throngs of people descend on the city. If you want to visit Toronto this time of year, book a hotel well in advance.

Highlights : Eclectic and unusual shops along with restaurants serving authentic international fare.

Kensington Market is an area of Toronto with a bohemian and multicultural feel.

On a typical summer's day, the smell of incense wafts through the air; music from a street-side musician can be heard; and the numerous retailers, who mostly operate out of old two-story brick homes, set up their goods on designated areas of their deck-covered lawns or on the sidewalks. This is a fantastic area for a stroll.

The shops, many of which display colorful murals and street art, sell everything from Tibetan blankets to jewelry, bags, purses, and vintage clothing, and there are even a couple of cheese shops.

Restaurants and coffee shops here offer a multicultural festival of choices that include Jamaican, Mexican, Tibetan, or more basic options like pizza or smoothies. You can also find natural food stores, tattoo shops, and fruit and vegetable stands.

Highlights : A priceless collection of Islamic Art in an architecturally stunning building.

The Aga Khan Museum is one of the best institutions devoted to Islamic Arts in North America. It is housed in a spectacular light-filled modern building with beautiful, peaceful surroundings consisting of large reflecting pools.

The permanent collection was first started in the 1950s by the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and the Princess Catharine Aga Khan. You'll see spectacular items, including manuscripts, ceramics, and textiles, with pieces dating from the 9th right through to the 19th century. The items have been sourced across a wide geographic area from China to Spain.

In addition to the permanent collection, visiting exhibitions are showcased on the museum's second floor.

The museum's restaurant is one of Toronto's top dining destinations .

Address: 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Walking trails, ponds, sports facilities, a pool, a zoo, and beautiful gardens.

High Park is a huge green space with sunken gardens, hanging basket gardens, nature trails, natural ponds, and streams, easily ranking as one of the best parks in Toronto .

This 165-acre country property, originally owned by the Howards, was deeded to the City of Toronto in 1873. This deed came with the stipulation that the park was to remain "for the free use, benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of Toronto and it be called High Park."

Park Attractions: Within the park is the High Park Zoo , home to a number of animals, including bison; reindeer; llamas; wallabies; and Toronto's famous Capybara's, Bonnie and Clyde, who escaped from their enclosure and quickly rose to fame, developing their own social media platforms in 2016.

Other things to do and areas of interest in the park include swimming and wading pools, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a scenic train tour. The grounds also include 19th-century recreated gardens, a Coach House, and the Howards' Tomb.

For a week or 10 days in the spring, the sakura cherry trees burst into bloom and herald the start of warmer weather. This colorful spectacle is beloved by the citizens of Toronto, and it always attracts big crowds. The best place to see the trees is near the duck pond.

Annually, the Canadian Stage Company puts on a performance at the open-air theater in the park during the months of July and August, known as "Shakespeare in High Park."

Address: 1873 Bloor Street W, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Toronto's best beaches, an amusement park for kids, a boardwalk, and a pier.

The ferry trip from Queen's Quay Terminal to the Toronto Islands, about a kilometer offshore, is the prelude to a thoroughly enjoyable outing.

Things to Do: There are lovely walks on the islands, as well as the opportunity for rowing, sailing, swimming, and other outdoor activities.

In summer, the Toronto Islands are the venue for numerous open-air events. In favorable weather, you'll be treated to a stunning view of the Toronto skyline from the ferry terminal on Ward's Island.

If it's hot during your visit—and don't be fooled, it does get hot in Toronto in the summer—the Toronto Islands are home to some of Toronto's best beaches.

They stretch for kilometers along the offshore islands, and the views from the beaches, along with the golden sands and crystal-clear waters, may have you thinking you are in the Caribbean. That is, until you step into the chilly waters of Lake Ontario and are instantly transported back to reality!

The Centreville Amusement Park is located on Centre Island , one of the Toronto Islands, and features a variety of children's rides.

The Toronto Islands Ferry Service runs from Queen's Quay and travels to each of the main Toronto Islands, and tickets can be purchased in advance online .

Highlights : An IMAX OMNIMAX Dome theater and fascinating interactive displays for all ages.

The Ontario Science Center is a family-oriented attraction with many interesting exhibits to entertain children. It occupies a site overlooking the Don Valley, about 10 kilometers northeast of the city center.

Designed by the virtuoso architect Raymond Moriyama, this modern building was completed in 1969. The emphasis is very much on visitor participation, with 12 permanent exhibitions, a planetarium, and an IMAX OMNIMAX Dome theater .

Visitors to the center are brought face to face with the latest developments in technology, telecommunications, optics, biology, physics, space travel and meteorology, and much more, all presented in an absorbing and imaginative way.

Address: 770 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Bustling summer patios, authentic Italian food stores, and a popular annual festival.

Toronto's multicultural mix makes it one of the most livable cities in North America . People from around the world have settled here to make this world-class city their home, and with them, they've brought the best of the old country.

Throughout the city, you'll find a number of ethnic enclaves. One of the more popular is Little Italy. Located roughly in the square lined by Dundas and Harbord Streets and Ossington and Bathurst Avenues, the main retail area of Little Italy exists along Collect Street.

This lively area hums with people strolling up and down the wide sidewalks, past Italian restaurants with popular patios (especially during a European soccer game). As you stroll along, keep an eye out for the statues of famous Italian Canadians along the Italian Walk of Fame.

Little Italy is also a good spot to buy imported food and cooking supplies direct from Italy.

Highlights : Toronto's best collection of Greek restaurants and food stores.

Another one of Toronto's famous ethnic enclaves, The Danforth, or as it's also known, Greektown , is the place to go for a taste of Greece. Running along Danforth Avenue from Chester Avenue through to Dewhurst Boulevard, the area has long been associated with the Greek diaspora.

Take a stroll along Danforth Avenue, and pop into any one of the restaurants, shops, and other retail outlets along the way. Some of the city's best Greek food can be found here. Grab a spot on a patio or, if the weather is cool, step inside and be transported to the warmth of the Greek Islands.

The area is home to the famous and well-loved Taste of the Danforth . Hopefully, you'll find yourself here in mid-August when, for a couple of days, the area becomes a giant outdoor restaurant.

Highlights : The largest collection of shoes in the world, including ones worn by celebrities.

Only 50 percent of the human race understands the need for a shoe museum. Those of the feminine persuasion (in case you hadn't figured it out!), will absolutely love the Bata Shoe Museum and its incredible displays of shoes and over 14,000 other artifacts.

All these and more are part of the world's largest collection of footwear-related items , tracing back over 4,500 years.

The museum has some very unique shoes worn by Indigenous people, 16th-century Italians, and of course, celebrities. The celebrity collection includes Elvis' blue patent loafers, Robert Redford's cowboy boots, Elton John's silver platform boots complete with a monogram, and Queen Victoria's ballroom slippers.

Of particular note for Canadians are Terry Fox's singular running shoe and Karen Kain's ballet slippers.

Address: 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Walking trails along the waterfront, views of the Toronto Islands, an ice rink in the winter.

Toronto, like many other cities along the Great Lakes, has done a good job of making its former industrial waterfront areas accessible to its inhabitants.

Harbourfront Centre itself is a performance venue that provides artistic programming all year long at its 10-acre waterfront campus. Indoor and outdoor stages showcase some of the city's most innovative performances.

The area surrounding Harbourfront is one of the most popular places to access Toronto's waterfront. Wide and scenic walking trails along the seawall extend east and west and are backed by restaurants and shops. Many of Toronto's lake cruises leave from this area. The area surrounding Harbourfront is one of the most popular places to access Toronto's waterfront. Wide and scenic walking trails along the seawall extend east and west and are backed by restaurants and shops. Many of Toronto's lake cruises leave from this area.

Come winter, the area doesn't hibernate, in fact, it remains quite lively, with one of Toronto's most scenic and popular ice-skating rinks .

Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : A recreated village from 1860, costumed interpreters, and a petting zoo.

One of the most popular things to do as a family in Toronto is to step back in time at the Black Creek Pioneer Village . As you walk through the gates, you'll be transported to village life in the 1860s.

It's not just historical buildings, of which you'll find over 40, costumed interpreters go through their daily routine of living life 160 years ago. Kids and grown-ups alike will enjoy interacting with these fun and friendly characters from the past.

In addition to the human participants, animals also get to play their part, too. Over 70 animals live here, and in many cases are happy for a pet or two.

Address: 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Home to the original Stanley Cup, a replica Montreal Canadiens dressing room, and interactive exhibits.

For hockey fans, a trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto is a necessity. This is the place to learn about the all-time hockey greats: the players, the teams, and the games.

It also offers a chance to see the original 1893 Stanley Cup, along with a collection of important memorabilia, and an interactive display allows you to test your own hockey skills.

Be sure to step inside an exact replica of the Montreal Canadiens' dressing room from the Montreal Forum, view a display of 90 painted goalie masks, and check out the incredible collection of hockey cards.

Address: Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario

Highlight : Colorful artwork along the walls of a narrow laneway.

This long alley in Toronto will look familiar to Canadians who have watched the long-running TV comedy series, Rick Mercer Report . This is where he filmed his controversial news rants.

Even if you have never seen this show, this is an incredible area that seems to go on forever. Tourists love coming here, posing in painted doorways and windows, and taking selfies day and night.

Graffiti Alley runs parallel to, and between, Queens Street West and Richmond Street West from Spadina Avenue to Portland Street.

Highlight : A retractable roof allows for the sun and fresh air to flood in during summer baseball games.

Immediately adjacent to the CN Tower is Rogers Centre , a massive domed sports arena and home to the Toronto Blue Jays (MLB). The unique design includes a retractable roof, which slides back, allowing it to be opened in favorable weather.

This mega-structure was completed in 1989 and can accommodate tens of thousands of spectators and is also used as a venue for other major events, including concerts. The center also offers one-hour guided tours with a behind-the-scenes look at the facility.

Attached to Rogers Centre is the Toronto Marriott City Centre Hotel , with rooms that look out over the field. If you are in town to see a game, staying here is an extremely convenient option and a bit of a unique experience.

Address: 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, Ontario

Highlights : Carnival rides, unique foods, midway games, concerts, and an airshow.

When mid to late August rolls around, kids (and some adults) get a bit twitchy in anticipation of the CNE rolling into town. The CNE, also known as the Canadian National Exhibition , is a two-week carnival of craziness that sets up on Toronto's waterfront.

Midway rides, arcade games, and popular musical acts are all part of the heady mix in the hot, humid August weather. In addition to the rides and entertainment, an airshow featuring the Canadian snowbirds, along with other historical planes, also takes place during the same timeframe.

It's not all about entertainment. The CNE is also renowned for its unique fried food offerings . Starting, and still continuing today, Tiny Tom Donuts started the trend that has now evolved (or not, depending on your perspective) to deep-fried butter, deep-fried Red Velvet Oreos, deep-fried corn dogs complete with a pickle, and most recently, deep-fried cheese curds.

Highlights : Easily accessible fishing spots along the shore and charters on Lake Ontario offer the chance to land the "big one."

Toronto, with its enviable lakefront position, is an ideal place to go fishing. Lake Ontario supports a wide assortment of denizens of the deep, including Chinook and coho salmon, rainbow trout, walleye (pickerel), northern pike, sheepshead, perch, and many others.

If you want to head offshore into the deep waters, consider a salmon charter . Although they can be relatively expensive, your captain and first mate will do their best to put you onto the fish.

There's nothing quite like the call of "fish on" and the screaming of fishing line as the fish takes the bait and runs. Depending on the time of year, you could find yourself battling a 30-pound behemoth.

If that's not in your budget, just head to one of the waterfront parks or the Toronto Islands with a casting rod and reel and a bit of bait. You'll definitely catch something, although it won't be as big as the fish caught on a charter. Note that if you're planning on fishing, you need a license, easily purchased online .

Read More: Top-Rated Fishing Lodges in Ontario

Highlight : Discounted multi-course meals at Toronto's best restaurants.

Should you find yourself in Toronto in the depths of winter during the first two weeks of February, don't despair, it's actually a pretty fun place to be. The saving grace for these dark, cold days is the two-week dining festival called Winterlicious .

At this time, over 200 of Toronto's best restaurants come to the rescue of the city's inhabitants and visitors by offering prix fixe (set price) menus for both lunch and dinner. Each menu consists of a starter, a main, and a dessert, and the restaurant usually has a couple of offerings for each.

The hardest part of Winterlicious is figuring out where to go—dining options are as diverse as the city itself, with meals across all cuisine types. Fortunately, the City of Toronto has a website that lists all the options .

The meals offer tremendous value versus what the restaurants would normally charge and are a great way to try out some of the places you've always wanted to go. Beverages are not included, and this is where the restauranteur makes their money back on the discounted food.

Winterlicious has a seasonal counterpart called Summerlicious that follows the same format. This event takes place during the last two weeks of August.

For sightseeing and entertainment, the best place to stay in Toronto is right downtown in the heart of the action. The hotels listed below are all highly rated and in good locations in Toronto's city center, within easy walking distance of many of the main attractions.

Luxury Hotels:

• At the top end of the luxury category is The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto , with a convenient, central location near the Entertainment and Financial Districts.
• The Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto has a great location near the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, and Rogers Center, and offers good views over Lake Ontario.
• Near Eaton Center Shopping Complex and Toronto's famous City Hall and winter skating rink is the Hilton Toronto . The hotel has an indoor/outdoor pool that is open all year long; rooms on the south side of the building have views of the CN Tower.
• The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel is kitty-corner to the Hilton and faces Nathan Phillips Square. It's connected to Eaton Center via the underground PATH system.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• The One King West Hotel & Residence offers very good value with a variety of rooms, some with kitchenettes. The hotel is located in the center of all the action and steps to great restaurants.
• At the top end of the mid-range selection is the Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown on the waterfront. This is a great spot, particularly in summer, near many lakefront restaurants and an extensive waterfront pedestrian area and within walking distance of the CN Tower and other attractions. The hotel also has an outdoor pool.
• North of The Esplanade and within easy walking distance of the Financial District and many attractions is the Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown, an IHG Hotel , another quality mid-range hotel.

Sightseeing:

• If you're looking for a thrilling new perspective on the city skyline, hop aboard a 7-minute helicopter tour over Toronto . During this whirlwind excursion, you'll see top landmarks including the CN Tower, Fort York, and the Canadian National Exhibition grounds. The adventure also includes both a printed and digital souvenir photo.

The best time to visit Toronto is in the summer, during the months of June, July, and August. At this time, the weather is warm and slightly humid, and the city is alive with festivals and celebrations. It's a great time to hit the beach; go camping near town; or enjoy a long, lingering dinner on the patio late into the evening.

September is very pleasant, with summer-like temperatures but without the crowds. You'll also have the added benefit of the Toronto Film Festival.

October finds cooler days and nights and the signs of fall, with leaf color change in the Don Valley and throughout the city's parks.

The spring months of April and May are cool but offer longer days, spring flowers, and blooming cherry trees in High Park.

The winter months of November, December, January, February, and March are cold and snowy. At this time of year, it's best to plan indoor activities.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Places to Visit near Toronto : If you have time to explore areas outside the city, be sure to take a side trip to Niagara Falls , just a 1.5-hour drive away, and check out some other day trip destinations around Toronto . Within easy striking distance are some of Canada's top cities, including Ottawa and Montreal , just four to five hours away by car and easily accessible by train or short flights. For other ideas on what to see and do in the province, see our list of top attractions in Ontario .

Ontario's Outdoors : Between spring and fall, nature lovers may want to enjoy some hiking, canoeing, camping, or relaxing at a lodge in one of the many Ontario parks , or soaking up the outdoors from the comfort of one of Ontario's top fishing lodges .

Canadian Vacation Ideas: If you are coming to Canada for a short or extended vacation and arriving in Toronto, have a look at some of our Canadian itineraries to help plan the rest of your trip, or select a few of the highlights from our list of top tourist attractions in Canada .

More on Canada

Toronto Attractions and Highlights

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These Toronto attractions draw millions of visitors a year and span the modern to the historical and the cultural to the commercial. 

Toronto is a big, bustling multicultural city, with attractions that will appeal to a variety of people: culture lovers, sports lovers, nature lovers, shoppers, foodies and those who like to explore off the beaten track. 

The attractions on this list are the most popular and most visited by tourists, but the city warrants deeper exploration. Just wandering Toronto's best neighborhoods gives you a great sense of the city and its people.

If you're planning to visit a few attractions, the Toronto City Pass offers half price admission and VIP entry.

These attractions are all easily accessible (within a 20-minute walk or 5-15 minute public transit ride away) from Union Station in downtown Toronto.

The Toronto Eaton Centre

TripSavvy / Kristjan Veski 

The  Eaton Centre  is a bright and airy shopping mall in the heart of Toronto's downtown that covers two city blocks and houses more than 230 stores. The stores will appeal to the budget conscious and spendthrifts alike. 

Along with the CN Tower, the Eaton Centre is the most popular tourist attraction in Toronto.

Between 2010 and 2015, the shopping hub has undergone major upgrades and renovations, including the addition of an impressive and diverse food court. 

More than just a place to shop, the four-level, glass domed Eaton Centre is of architectural interest and features a huge Canadian geese mobile, "Flight Stop," designed by artist Michael Snow. 

Erect a disproportionately tall building in the middle of a city and they will come. The CN Tower attracts millions of tourists 364 days of the year for its bird's eye view of Toronto.

At 1,815 feet the CN Tower has lost its title as the tallest free-standing structure in the world, but as of 2015 held rank as the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere and was classified as one of the "Seven Wonders of the Modern World" by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

A glass elevator whisks you to the 1,122 foot high indoor/outdoor observation deck where a portion of the floor is transparent. Instead of buying your admission ticket, you could also make a reservation at the tower's top-floor restaurant, 360 , to get the view, one of the best ways to get the whole experience.

There is really no other way to get such an elevated, panoramic view of Toronto, which is a great perspective on the city, Lake Ontario and surrounding areas. That said, visiting the CN Tower is not inexpensive and it can be very crowded and busy. If this is not your thing, perhaps a quiet drink at the Rooftop Lounge of the Park Hyatt may adequately satisfy your quest for a bird's eye view of the city.

TripSavvy / Brakethrough Media

For history or architecture buffs especially,  Casa Loma  is a fascinating visit but most anyone can appreciate the grandiose home built by wealthy Toronto businessman Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 1900s. Casa Loma is similar to Hearst Castle in California, in that it is one man's ambitious architectural vision. In the case of Casa Loma, Pellat's dream went awry and contributed to his downfall.

Notable for its location proudly overlooking the city, the "House on the Hill" boasted many modern-day conveniences, such as central vac and an elevator. The Casa Loma building also was used as a location shoot for the 2002 movie "Chicago."

Royal Ontario Museum (the ROM)

Even if you don't step inside the  ROM , it's worth checking out the bizarre, jagged glass exterior that tends to either delight or offend passersby.

With more than 40 galleries of art, archaeology and natural science, the ROM offers up a world of interest and fun. The diverse ROM galleries feature one of the world's finest collections of artifacts from China, a more than six-story tall totem pole and much more. A discovery gallery at the ROM and other interactive exhibits mean everyone's senses get a workout and kids stay interested .

Centre Island

TripSavvy / Kristjan Veski

Escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto to lakeside charm. Centre Island is one of a series of small islands that comprise the largest urban car-free community in North America (some service vehicles are permitted). Centre Island, also called Toronto Island, offers a place for recreation and relaxation and features an amusement park, recreation areas, beaches, a yacht club, and restaurants.

Centre Island is a 10-minute ferry ride  away from downtown Toronto. 

The Distillery District

The Distillery Historic District is a great place to spend a few hours if you're in downtown Toronto and​ you want to get away from the usual downtown stuff: there's not a Starbucks or McDonalds in sight. This pedestrian-only village is set amidst fabulous heritage architecture and is devoted to promoting arts and culture. The area also features a wellness center, plenty of cafés, restaurants and pubs.

Walk along Front Street east from Union Station for about 15 minutes. Lots of cute shops and restaurants along the way as well as the St. Lawrence Market, a great, inexpensive lunch spot if it's open. 

Yorkville is a charming anomaly amidst Toronto high rises and shopping malls. Tucked into a pocket of downtown, the quaint Victorian architecture in Yorkville houses dozens of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. The dining and shopping are upscale and the galleries represent some of the finest Canadian and international artists. Many celebrities have been spotted strolling the sidewalks of Yorkville, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Hockey Hall of Fame

You don't have to be a diehard hockey fan to enjoy a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame, which is an outstanding facility, full of interactive exhibits that put kids or adults in the heat of NHL action. The Broadcast Pods let you call the action of some of the most famous hockey games, including the 1972 Canada / Russia series: "Henderson shoots, he scores." Also featured is a replica NHL dressing room (minus the smell), a trophy room, and of course a gift shop.

Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

The AGO houses an impressive collection of more than 40,000 works, making it the 10th largest art museum in North America. The AGO​ is a superb document of Canadian art heritage but also features masterworks from around the world, spanning 100 AD to the present and housed in a stunning Frank Gehry building.

The AGO is in an eclectic part of downtown Toronto adjacent to Chinatown and Baldwin Village, providing an interesting choice of restaurants and shops to peruse before of after your gallery visit. 

TripSavvy / Brakethrough Media

Toronto has the second largest Chinatown in North America. People will find bargains on exotic trinkets, jewelry, clothing and household items. Plus, of course, where there's a bustling Chinatown, there's delicious food, and Toronto's Chinatown is no exception. There are dozens, maybe hundreds, of restaurants serving not just authentic Chinese, but also Vietnamese and other Asian fare. 

Ripley's Aquarium

Canada's largest aquarium  opened in 2013 in Toronto next to the CN Tower.

The aquarium is a 12,500 square-meter (135,000 square-foot) boasting more than 5.7 million liters (1.5 million gallons) of water home to 15,000 animals, including sharks, jellies, rays, and green sea turtles.

The aquarium will not be home to dolphins, seals or other mammals. No doubt some lesson has been learned by the ​Marineland scandal in which the  Niagara Falls  family attraction was called out publicly for its inhumane treatment of its animals—namely the marine mammals.

If you're in Niagara Falls, bypass Marineland, and head straight down the highway for Ripley's Aquarium instead. 

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The 10 Best Things to Do in Ontario

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Tourism report shines light on need for a comprehensive provincial strategy

Click here to read the report

(TORONTO, ONTARIO) - On December 13, 2022, the Tourism Industry of Ontario (TIAO) and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the inaugural State of the Ontario Tourism Industry Report, a blueprint for the growth and recovery of the sector.

Ontario’s tourism industry is a vital contributor to the economy, representing $36 billion of the province’s GDP. While domestic and inbound travel improved in the latter half of 2022, the industry is not expected to recover from the pandemic until 2025.   This report calls for a comprehensive strategy that addresses workforce development, regulatory burdens, infrastructure deficits and regional disparities. Recommendations were informed by two policy roundtables held in the Summer and Fall of 2022, bringing together tourism operators, industry experts, associations, chambers of commerce, and boards of trade from across the province. We would like to thank our Lead Partner, Labatt Canada , and our Supporting Partners, Greater Toronto Airports Authority , Ontario Federation of Agriculture , Ontario Tourism Education Corporation , and Seneca College , for supporting this report.

About the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)

The Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO) works on behalf of its membership, collectively representing the majority of tourism businesses and employees across the province, to take on pressing policy issues that impact Ontario’s tourism industry. TIAO leads the way in government relations on behalf of tourism businesses and operators, destination marketing organizations, regional tourism organizations, and educators. We provide evidence-based policy recommendations to ensure all levels of government understand and address the multifaceted needs of the tourism industry.

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information, please contact:

Michelle Eaton Vice President, Public Affairs, OCC [email protected]| (647) 261-4594

Chris Bloore President and CEO, TIAO [email protected] | 416-906-4045

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Toronto is one of the world's top destinations for business trips

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Toronto Blue Jays fans were captivated by a misidentified private jet flight during the Shohei Ohtani craze in December, just one of thousands of business jets touching down in a city increasingly visited by wealthy movers and shakers.

Toronto has become a top destination for business travellers, evidenced by the constant flow of private jets and commercial flights offering bougie business-class seating to and from the city, as well as a new study from Givetastic that finds Toronto among the most-mentioned locales for business trips based on Instagram hashtag traffic.

The study pulled data from the latest 1,000,000 Instagram posts featuring the hashtag #businesstrip, spanning from October 2022 to February 2024, to formulate lists of the top destinations for business travellers.

While Toronto failed to crack the global top ten, the city registered as the tenth-most-visited North American city — and the only Canadian locale in the global list — for business jet-setters.

Miami proved the #1 North American destination for business travellers based on Givetastic's methodology, also topping the overall global ranking. A total of 12,925 geotagged posts with the #businesstrip hashtag outpaced all other cities.

U.S. cities took nine of the ten spots on the North American list, with Toronto being the only outlier.

A total of 2,750 geotagged posts featuring the hashtag #businesstrip during that 2022-2024 span brings Toronto to 10th place on the list of North American business destinations.

The placement is somewhat underwhelming when weighed against Toronto's population (exceeding all but New York City on the North American list) and its economic importance over many other cities included.

However, it really comes down to the methodology here.

It can be assumed that business travellers visiting sunshine destinations like Miami or Los Angeles and party cities like Las Vegas are more likely to gloat about their travels on Instagram than someone sent to Toronto to close a deal.

So, one should probably take these rankings with a grain of salt shed from the rim of a margarita glass.

Jeremy Gilbert

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Board of Directors

Executive leadership.

Destination Ontario is the lead tourism marketing organization for Ontario, Canada. We market Ontario to travel consumers within Ontario, Canada and around the world. We inspire travellers to make Ontario a must-see destination on their travel list and to return to the beauty of Ontario again and again. Key to our success is working collaboratively with our tourism partners to benefit from shared content, joint partnerships and delivering a visitor-first approach to our marketing.

Established in 1999, Destination Ontario, legally the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation, is an agency of the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.

To generate increased visitation by Ontario, Canadian and international tourists, enhance tourism expenditures in Ontario, and contribute to provincial economic prosperity through impactful marketing and results oriented investment partnerships.

Destination Ontario is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of business leaders who are appointed by Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor in Council based on recommendations from the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Directors, please visit the Government of Ontario’s Public Appointments Secretariat site for more information.

Todd Halpern

Todd Halpern is self employed. His community involvement includes serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and Vice-Chair for UHN. 

Danielle Chretien

Danielle Chretien is a former GIS and remote specialist for Space Imaging, and a former GIS consultant for American Ref-Fuel. Her community involvement includes serving as a volunteer event coordinator for Standing Ovation.

Andrew Galloro

Andrew is the global Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, leading crisis communications, corporate messaging, and executive media relations. Andrew was previously a consultant at the communications firm Navigator and served in communications roles at the federal and provincial government. Andrew sits on the communications committee of the Board of Directors for Wellspring, a national cancer care organization, and is also a long-time volunteer at Casey House, Canada’s first stand-alone hospital for people with HIV/AIDS. 

Jesse Hamilton

Jesse Hamilton is Vice President of Hospitality at Blue Mountain Resort. Prior positions include, Vice President at Freed Hotel and Resorts, and General Manager positions with Deerhurst Resort and East Winds Saint Lucia. Jesse’s community involvement includes serving as Vice-Chair for the Ontario Restaurant Hotel Motel Association.

Cathy Kirkpatrick

Catherine Kirkpatrick is a partner at Alphabet, and a member for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Ontario. Her community involvement includes serving as a board member for Algonquin College. 

Sumeeta Kohli

Sumeeta Kohli is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Glocal Marketing, and an Owner and Operator for Z-teca Mexican Eatery. Her community involvement includes serving as a Chairperson for Panorama India.

Dennis Matthews

Dennis Matthews is the President of Creative Currency, an advertising agency and content studio in Toronto. Dennis leads a team that works with major leaders, brands and causes to tell their story and move public opinion. He was an advertising advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a veteran of numerous political campaigns, and remains a frequent media commentator on advertising, digital and political issues. He was recently recognized as an Adweek Magazine Toronto Brand Star and is a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee of the Michael Garron Hospital. Dennis is also a partner at Enterprise Canada, a national strategic communication firm.

Lauren McDonald

Lauren McDonald is the Director of Digital + Campaign Strategy at Creative Currency, an advertising agency and content studio. She is a former Director of Marketing for the Office of the Premier of Ontario.

Jerry Pribil

Jerry Pribil owns and operates Marienbad Restaurant and Chaucer’s Pub in London, ON. He obtained his MBA at the Universidad Europea in Madrid. Jerry has international executive management experience in hospitality and tourism industry and as a university professor in the United States and Europe, teaching strategic management in hospitality & tourism.

Benjamin Purkiss

Benjamin Purkiss is a Founding Partner of Pendulum Group, a boutique communications firm with a focus on media, design and analysis. He is an award-winning Creative Director with experience in both the public and private sectors within Canada and the United States working alongside global corporations and leaders.

Dr. Jasveen Rattan

Dr. Jasveen Rattan is a consultant who is passionate about helping her clients create responsible initiatives and sustainable solutions for their organizations. She has consulted on community projects, and presented at conferences, in Canada, USA, Grenada, England, Thailand, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Australia. Jasveen’s experiences and educational background is diverse and expands across all sectors, it includes: a Diploma in Hospitality Management (Humber College), a Bachelor of Applied Management in Hospitality and Tourism (University of New Brunswick Saint John), a Master of Arts in Tourism Policy and Planning, and a PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies (University of Waterloo).

Lacey is the Coordinator of Meetings, Conventions and Sports Tourism for The City of Timmins. Her community involvement includes an Auxiliary Constable for the Timmins Police Service, a long serving board member of the Timmins Rock Junior A Hockey Club as well as a level 3 hockey trainer for various teams. 

Rob Taylor has vast travel and tourism industry experience ranging from event operator, industry advocate, consultant, and ministerial advisor. As the former VP of Public Affairs and interim CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) Rob worked closely with Destination Canada on the management of RendezVous Canada, Tourism Town Halls, GoMedia, and TIAC conferences.

Destination Ontario is guided by the executive leadership of a diverse, accomplished and driven group of individuals who collectively support the entire Destination Ontario team.

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Destination Ontario is governed by Ontario Regulation 618/98 under the Development Corporations Act. Its mandate, as provided for in the regulation, is:

• to market Ontario as a travel destination;
• to undertake joint marketing initiatives with the tourism industry;
• to support and assist the marketing efforts of the tourism industry; and
• in cooperation with the tourism industry, the Government of Ontario, other governments and other agencies of governments, to promote Ontario as a travel destination.

The following principles support the mandate:

• Destination Ontario is to lead the marketing of Ontario as a travel destination nationally and internationally;
• Destination Ontario and regional organizations are to work together to market travel within Ontario;
• Destination Ontario is to deliver marketing services that contribute to regional and economic development;
• Destination Ontario is to become a centre of excellence supporting provincial marketing; and
• Destination Ontario is to engage in partnerships to support the above objectives.

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Last updated:  June 12, 2024

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Toronto summer tourism still recovering as international travel lags

New report says 2023 saw tourism reach close to pre-pandemic numbers, but more growth needed this summer.

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Toronto's tourism industry is still in post-pandemic recovery and projecting how the season will look is difficult even as summer officially kicks off, a leading tourism association says. 

Factors like an affordability crisis are causing travellers to book trips with less notice than they used to, making predictions difficult, according to Destination Toronto, an industry association funded in part by the city.

While people used to book trips months in advance, Destination Toronto's CEO Andrew Weir says they're now waiting until they have greater certainty of their financial situation.

One positive is the city is seeing lots of travel from within the country, but after the pandemic decimated tourism, international travel still isn't where it was, says Weir.

"A lot of our major overseas international markets are still not all the way back," he said, adding travel from the United States is also at about three quarters of what it was. 

"Toronto really is dependent on all of those engines firing at full strength and when only some of them are, then it leaves some gaps."

But things have been trending in the right direction. A report released by the Destination Toronto earlier this month said visitor volume in the city in 2023 reached within five per cent of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, while visitor spending was slightly higher than 2019. The higher dollar amount in 2023 was driven up by inflation, the report notes.

Year-over-year visitor growth was about five per cent through the first fourth months of 2024, but Weir says it's been flat through May and June so far. 

"Flat is not good right now because we're still in recovery mode. We need to be in growth mode," Weir said.

In particular, Toronto isn't seeing as many travellers from China as it used to, he says. In 2019, Toronto saw more than 300,000 Chinese visitors, but is now seeing only a quarter of that. 

Weir believes the dip in Chinese travellers can partially be blamed on  diplomatic tensions between Canada and the country. 

Hotels say business is good, tour guides see slump

On top of that, fewer people are booking walking and cycling tours than last year, says Jason Kucherawy, president of the Tourist Guide Association of Toronto.

"Trends in travel change. I think people are looking for more personalized experiences. They're looking for ways to not feel so much like a tourist," he said. 

"A lot more people are just going to cities and relying on Google to get them around and online apps to give them information. But what they're missing out on is that actual connection, the person-to-person connection."

On the hospitality side, things are looking better, according to the Greater Toronto Hotel Association.

Sara Anghel, the association's CEO, said business travel has been lagging a bit but she's confident her industry will see growth this summer with Canada Day coming up, the Canadian National Exhibition in August and the Toronto International Film Festival in September. 

Looking further ahead, there's also something happening in November that should bring lots of business for hotels: Taylor Swift's the Eras tour. 

She said rooms may be hard to find downtown for that event, but people should take advantage of all the hotels in surrounding areas like Markham or Mississauga. 

"We have many, many hotels connected to our public transit," she said. 

Operators outside Toronto struggling

In other parts of the province, tourism operators are still struggling, according to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. 

Claudia Dessanti, the chamber's director of policy, says coming out of the pandemic, the expectation was the industry province-wide wouldn't recover until 2025 and that still looks to be the case. 

"Inflation is a serious concern because the costs for [tourism] operators are going up, but the spending capacity of visitors and the economy is not keeping up," she said. "Last year we did see an uptick in spending, but still the costs are outpacing that. 

• Ontario's tourism sector won't fully recover from pandemic until 2025, report says
• Downtown Toronto's pandemic recovery lags behind other cities, data shows

Another challenge is that the rebound of economic activity has mostly been concentrated to the larger cities, leaving smaller places struggling, she says.

"Ontario is such a diverse province, one thing that we want to always keep front of mind is that the vibrancy of the smaller and rural communities in the province sometimes gets lost in the conversation."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lane Harrison is a journalist with CBC Toronto. Born and raised in Toronto, he previously worked for CBC New Brunswick in Saint John. You can reach him at [email protected]

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36 Hours in Boston

By Jenna Russell July 4, 2024

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By Jenna Russell Photographs by Simon Simard

Jenna Russell is the New England bureau chief for The New York Times and previously reported for The Boston Globe.

In Boston — oft-beset by slush and cynicism — summer brings a deep sigh of relief, as hunched shoulders finally relax and beer gardens pop open like tulips. First-term mayor Michelle Wu, 39, the first woman and person of color elected to lead the city, has brought an ambitious environmental agenda and new ways of looking at the urban landscape . The result is a destination steeped in history, as ever, with reinvented outdoor spaces for drinking, dining and recreating, and more change in the air. Waterfront redevelopment has spread farther and wider, spawning new harbor-adjacent art spaces and breweries, while a forward-looking focus on water transportation means more ferries and water taxis to get you where you’re going, while enjoying sparkling views and salty breezes.

Recommendations

• Fenway Park , the home of the Boston Red Sox and the oldest, smallest ballpark in baseball, offers daily tours full of colorful history.
• Yvonne’s serves elegant food and unusual cocktails, with ingredients that include marshmallow, carrot and salted sage, in a dazzling reinvented space.
• The Boston Harborwalk , a “linear park” stretching more than 40 miles, traces the zigs and zags of Boston’s waterfront.
• The ICA Watershed , a seasonal satellite of Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art, brings free exhibitions to harborside East Boston every summer.
• UnCommon Stage , an outdoor performance space run by Emerson College in partnership with the city, hosts free performances in a beer garden on Boston Common , the country’s oldest public park.
• “ The Embrace ,” a new public sculpture on the Common, celebrates the love between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, who first met as students in Boston.
• The Granary Burying Ground , established in 1660, is the final resting place of the founding fathers Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere (plus Benjamin Franklin’s parents).
• The African Meeting House on Beacon Hill, part of the Museum of African American History , is considered the oldest surviving Black church building in the country.
• The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum explores political history and the mystique of the Kennedy family in an architectural gem on Dorchester Bay.
• Bakey is a bakery with Danish-Israeli roots, across the street from Boston Common.
• Temple Records pays tribute to Japanese listening bars and serves sushi downstairs.
• Time Out Market Boston , a massive food hall near Fenway Park, showcases a range of Boston favorites like lobster rolls and three-way roast beef sandwiches.
• Carmella’s Market is an old-school Italian market in East Boston for giant takeout subs.
• Downeast Cider House offers four-flavor flights of cider in its tap room near the waterfront.
• Tea by the Sea is a spacious harborside cafe offering bubble tea and smoothies.
• The Tall Ship is a floating oyster bar with sunset views in East Boston.
• Rincon Limeno , a neighborhood favorite, has a friendly vibe and authentic Peruvian food.
• Sullivan’s is a summer institution for hot dogs, lobster rolls and ice cream in South Boston.
• Dorchester Brewing has a rooftop deck and tasty smoked meats from M&M BBQ .
• Comfort Kitchen in the Dorchester neighborhood has won accolades for its global comfort food, including okra, plantains, jerk-roasted duck and curried monkfish.
• Music Research Library is a light-filled record store on a quiet street, with a peaceful, library-like ambience and two listening stations.
• Beacon Hill Books & Cafe opened in 2022 but feels like a neighborhood institution, with five floors of books in a charming 19th-century townhouse.
• December Thieves is a Beacon Hill boutique known for unusual jewelry, like rings of polished resin and dangling silver earrings shaped like bare winter branches.
• Yacht Haven Inn & Marina , on Commercial Wharf in the historic North End, has an unrivaled harborside location. The boutique hotel has 10 spacious rooms, some with private decks overlooking the water; you can also rent a slip to berth your boat. Rooms start at around $500.
• The Verb Hotel , next door to Fenway Park, has won a faithful following for its funky take on hospitality, with turntables in every room and a lending library of 1,700 records in the lobby. Breakfast (included) is way above average, with live music and fruit smoothies made to order; the former Howard Johnson’s even has a heated outdoor pool. Rooms start at around $300.
• citizenM , a no-frills budget option, offers a prime Boston location close to historic attractions and the Italian restaurants of the North End, and next door to the TD Garden, home of the Boston Celtics and the Boston Bruins. Rooms start at around $200.
• Boston is compact and largely walkable , though you’ll need other transport to reach some of its most dynamic neighborhoods. Its beleaguered subway system, known as the T , has struggled with delays and breakdowns of late, but remains the cheapest, fastest way to get around in many cases. A CharlieCard can be purchased at any station, and widespread testing of one-tap credit card entry is under way. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, known as the M.B.T.A., also offers a beefed-up summer ferry schedule (Charlestown and East Boston routes $2 to $4 one way).

UnCommon Stage

Kick off the weekend in the oldest city park in the United States, the Boston Common , where a new summer performance space run by Emerson College, UnCommon Stage , features free live music in a beer garden pouring classic drafts from the Boston mainstay Harpoon Brewery . When you’re ready for a stretch, amble over to “The Embrace” and debate the merits of the Common’s newest and most hotly debated public monument , a massive, semi-abstract bronze work paying tribute to the love between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, in the city where they met. Then drop in across the street at Bakey, a fragrant pastry showcase with Danish-Israeli roots, to stock up on chocolate, almond or raspberry babka ($6) for the morning (or a late-night snack).

Downtown Crossing

In the city’s Downtown Crossing shopping district, Temple Place has become a lively restaurant row of late, dense with clever concepts like the Wig Shop , a cocktail lounge tucked behind a storefront that remains a dead ringer for the wig shop it once was. Steps away, the new Temple Records is a tribute to the “listening bars” of 1950s Japan, with a custom sound system and an eclectic collection of vintage vinyl. Sip a pale green Off Minor cocktail (gin, Midori, basil, yuzu, absinthe, $16) and snack on addictive karaage fried chicken ($16) while trying to identify the album in rotation. Hidden one floor below, Sushi@Temple Records feels like a secret hideaway, a 22-seat wooden sushi bar serving tiny cups of sake and delicate cuts of sea urchin, eel, sea trout and caviar (plates from $7 to $25).

For a glimpse of sumptuous old-world Boston, reinvented for a modern audience, there is nothing quite like Yvonne’s , the dimly lit bar and restaurant that occupies the former Locke-Ober, an iconic Boston restaurant that opened in 1875 and endured for 137 years. Once the exclusive hideaway of bluebloods, the grandly appointed space retains its mysterious glamour, with whimsical touches like the portrait of Bill Murray, dressed in epaulets, that hangs above the fireplace in the library bar, and the smoky drama of the Rubicon, a gin, chartreuse and rosemary cocktail ($16) that is briefly set aflame. This is a room to dress up for, to see and be seen in; just don’t forget to try the lobster ricotta dumplings in black truffle butter ($32) and the seared haloumi with orange-blossom honey and crispy chickpeas ($16).

“The Embrace,” the Common’s newest and most hotly debated public monument, pays tribute to the love between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, in the city where they met.

Whatever your level of baseball fandom, a pilgrimage to Fenway Park feels necessary in Boston, whether it’s to watch a Red Sox game or soak up the history of the sport’s oldest, smallest ballpark on a Fenway tour ($25). You’ll get plenty of Yankees trash talk in this hourlong expedition, plus colorful backstories on the Curse of the Bambino and the Green Monster, the towering outfield wall that boasts the oldest manual scoreboard in baseball. If sports aren’t your thing, opt for another neighborhood gem, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum , in a Venetian-style palace. Afterward, stroll a half-mile down Brookline Avenue to the Time Out Market , a cavernous food hall stuffed with local favorites, including Cusser’s three-way roast beef sandwich (with BBQ sauce, mayo and cheese, $13) and butter pecan crullers ($5) from Union Square Donuts .

Disneyland for history buffs lies on Beacon Hill, a short ride from Fenway on the MBTA Green Line. Wander through the Granary Burying Ground , established in 1660, a shady oasis beside busy Tremont Street, to pay respects to the founding fathers Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Paul Revere, all of whom are buried here, along the city’s 2.5-mile-long Freedom Trail . Hike uphill past the Massachusetts State House to find the African Meeting House , the country’s oldest surviving Black church building, and the Museum of African American History ($15). Downhill on Charles Street, browse the unusual and beautiful jewelry at December Thieves , and explore Beacon Hill Books & Cafe , a Tasha Tudor illustration come to life with its steep staircases, reading nooks and fireplaces. Afternoon tea is served on Sundays ($65).

No Boston neighborhood has seen more recent transformation than East Boston, or Eastie, long a home to new immigrants and Logan Airport, and now morphing into a trendy waterfront playground. Change has brought parking woes and identity angst , but also a complex vibrancy. A seasonal ferry ($5 round trip) runs every 30 minutes from Long Wharf, near the New England Aquarium, across Boston Harbor to East Boston, or take the M.B.T.A. Blue Line to Maverick station. Stop by Carmella’s Market, an authentic Italian corner store, for oversize meatball or chicken cutlet subs ($10 to $13) and picnic in Piers Park for the stunning skyline views across the harbor.

Boston’s Institute of Contemporary Art , in the Seaport neighborhood, runs a summer outpost in East Boston called the Watershed (free admission), in a former pipe factory. (A water taxi links the two sites .) An exhibition by the British artist Hew Locke, “ The Procession ,” through Sept. 2, explores memory and identity in an installation of 140 life-size sculptures of masked figures. For post-show contemplation, Downeast Cider House Taproom is steps away, offering four-flavor flights ($15). Or, if the wait there is too long, walk 15 minutes to Tea by the Sea , a spacious waterfront cafe with loungy leather couches, jewel-toned velvet footrests and an extensive menu of bubble teas, smoothies and revelatory delights, including mango coconut milk slush (drinks $5 to $10).

For sunset views and lawn party energy, there is Tall Ship , a floating oyster bar moored at East Boston’s Pier One. A lively seasonal venue favored by a youthful crowd, with cornhole, live music and a water shuttle ($4) to other harborfront hot spots, this is not the East Boston of old. But that neighborhood is still here, too. For dinner, try one of its gems: Rincon Limeno , in Day Square, serves Peruvian food in a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. The ceviche is beloved by locals, but seafood-averse diners will find their own favorites, like the hearty Tacu Tacu ($25), a heaping plate of fried rice-and-bean cake, topped with steak or chicken, perfectly spiced and smothered in sauce. Sip a silky pisco sour on the back patio before catching the train back to your hotel.

People ride a Swan Boat in the Public Garden, adjacent to Boston Common.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Begin at Columbia Point in the Dorchester neighborhood, where the soaring white profile of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum rises above the blue backdrop of Dorchester Bay. Rent bicycles from the BLUEBikes station in front of the Campus Center at the University of Massachusetts Boston ($10 per day; check bikes before you go to make sure they’re working). Slip behind the J.F.K. library to pick up the Boston Harborwalk , a near-continuous, 43-mile “linear park” that traces the city’s waterfront. Pedal along, listening to the waves, the gulls and the planes descending toward Logan Airport; stop to hunt for shells or shards of sea glass at beaches along the trail.

A ride of about four miles takes you to Castle Island, in South Boston , another oceanfront peninsula with walking trails, beaches and a rich military history; free tours of Fort Independence , which dates back to the 1600s, are offered on weekends. No Castle Island idyll is complete without a stop for sweet and salty sustenance at Sullivan’s , a beloved Southie landmark serving burgers, hot dogs, lobster rolls and ice cream since 1951. A public front porch for the city’s summer nights, the scene is equal parts chaotic and laid-back: children shrieking; dogs chasing balls; planes preparing for landing just above your head. Keep one eye on the sly Southie seagulls, who will dive-bomb your French fries ($3.75) when you least expect it.

Beer arrived on the Mayflower, and helped to fuel the American Revolution, so it’s no surprise to find a bevy of neighborhood breweries in Boston. Drop your bikes at the BLUEBikes station on Day Boulevard and catch an Uber to Dorchester Brewing , with its sunny outdoor deck, Skee-Ball and in-house Museum of Bad Art . Don’t resist the juicy brisket sandwich ($15) from the M&M BBQ counter inside the taproom. (Ask for a fork.) More exotic fare, including jerk jackfruit sliders ($13), is a short walk away at Comfort Kitchen , a Black-owned cafe acclaimed for its globally inspired menu.

Have a weekend to explore a destination? We’ve got the perfect travel itinerary.

Colorado Springs: ​​Colorado’s second-largest city, which brims with outdoor activities , is enticing visitors with a new museum and revamped hotels.

Minneapolis: Springtime is best for exploring this Midwestern city’s lakeside trails, robust arts scene and top-notch restaurants .

Maui: The beauty and hospitality of this Hawaiian island, still recovering from last year’s wildfires, remain as vibrant as ever .

Toronto: Savor the diversity of this lakefront city through its hidden bars, small-but-fascinating museums and vibrant restaurants .

Cape Town: Take a food and storytelling tour, cruise one of the world’s most beautiful coastal drives and see contemporary African art in this city with stunning views in every direction .

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