A cross between London and New York City (but with friendlier people), Toronto is a bustling metropolis home to roughly 3 million people. Located on the banks of Lake Ontario, the city is a must-visit for anyone planning a trip to Canada. 

Historically and culturally rich, Toronto has a lot to offer visitors, whether you’re there for a short city break or a longer stay. There are dozens of diverse neighbourhoods to explore, striking architecture to admire (from historic buildings to futuristic skyscrapers), world-class museums, beautiful parks, and a food scene that showcases how multicultural Toronto is. There is so much to do here that it can be hard for first time visitors to plan. In this post, I’d like to share lots of fun ideas on how to keep yourself entertained in one of Canada’s very best cities.

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What to do and see in Toronto, Canada

Head up the CN Tower

You can’t visit Toronto without getting up close to one of Canada’s most iconic landmarks! Standing more than 550 meters tall, the CN Tower was the tallest free-stranding structure in the world until 2007, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. For around $30 USD/€28, you can head up to the observation deck for great views out over the city and surrounding area. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Buffalo, New York! If you are a thrillseeker, you can also strap yourself into a harness and do the hands-free EdgeWalk 116 stories above street level (gulp!). 

Stroll around the Distillery District

I’m a sucker for cute, old historic areas that have been given a new lease of life, and the Distillery District is just that. Founded in the 1830s, and once the largest distillery in the world, the Distillery District is now a pedestrianised cultural hub. It is lined with picturesque, red brick buildings, and houses art galleries, restaurants, shops, cafés, bars, a beer hall and gin distillery, as well as exhibits of artefacts from its heyday. It is a great place to spend a couple of hours while soaking up the charming atmosphere.

Get up close and personal with Niagara Falls

One of the biggest draws of Toronto is its proximity to Niagara Falls, located on the U.S/Canada border. It can be reached within two hours by public transport from Union Station, making it an easy day trip from Toronto. Niagara Falls actually consists of three different waterfalls, but the main event is Horseshoe Falls. This breathtaking force of nature is on the Canadian side of the border and is a real sight to behold.

While the natural beauty of the falls is undeniable in the summer months, don’t hesitate to visit in winter. The low temperatures during this period can cause the falls to freeze over, giving them a truly magical aesthetic (that’s right, Toronto can get so cold that giant waterfalls freeze!). 

Try some local produce at St Lawrence Market

Visiting a big market is always a fun way to explore a city, and St Lawrence Market doesn’t disappoint. One of the oldest markets in Toronto, this sprawling complex is home to more than 100 vendors selling high-quality fresh produce like fruit, vegetables, meat, and fish. There are also plenty of restaurants and food stalls so make sure you bring your appetite with you. If you arrive at breakfast time, head to the famous Carousal Bakery for their signature peameal bacon roll. You can find plenty of small boutiques and artisan stalls at St Lawrence Market. Around the corner of the market, you can also find the iconic Gooderham Building. 

Embrace your inner hipster at Kensington Market

Rather than an actual market hall, Kensington Market is a vibrant, diverse, and eclectic “boho” neighbourhood. Located in downtown Toronto, this district dates to the 1800s and was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006. Rows of cute Victorian-era townhouses line the streets, which are now home to cool vintage shops, trendy cafés, bars, upmarket grocery stores, art spaces, cheese mongers, and fantastic places to eat. You’ll also find lots of quirky installations and creative street art. 

Sample some craft beers

Hop lovers will feel right at home in Toronto as there is a thriving craft beer scene there. Microbreweries and taprooms can be found all over the city, offering excellent brews made using locally-sourced ingredients, so treat yourself to a pub crawl and find your favourite brewery (one of mine is Bandit Brewery, and not just for their cute branding). For something a bit touristy but nonetheless fun, you could visit the Steam Whistle brewery near the CN Tower for a tour and tasting. Another enjoyable beer-related activity to do in Toronto is to visit one of the LCBOs. These giant alcohol stores stock an enormous amount of beers, wines, and liquors. 

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city

Other than maple syrup and its incredibly polite citizens, Canada is probably best known for its stunning nature and scenery. Even in a city full of skyscrapers and freeways, there are still plenty of serene green spaces to enjoy around Toronto. One of the nicest places I’ve visited is the beautiful Scarborough Bluffs, which lies around an hour east of downtown and can be reached by car or TTC bus #12. This picturesque lakeside park contains hiking trails, towering white cliffs, several beaches and gardens. There are also plenty of animals to spot here, such as herons, woodpeckers, and even coyotes. 

Explore Toronto’s street art scene

Like in many urban areas, there is an abundance of graffiti and street art to be found in Toronto. One of the most interesting and easy to find places to check some out is Rush Lane. Better known as Grafiti Alley, this colourful, three-block passage between Spadina Avenue and Portland Street has been taken over by street artists. There you can find an ever-changing canvas of vibrant old school tags, incredible murals, and social commentaries on issues affecting the local community.  

Photograph some spectacular views

Everyone likes a skyline view and there are some great ones to be found in Toronto. For some of the very best views, head to Toronto Island. Here you can get great panoramic shots of the city from several angles. These are especially pretty at night when all the buildings light up and reflect off the lake. However, there are other spots that don’t require a boat ride and give equally impressive views, such as at Polson Pier.

Catch the ferry to Toronto Island

While there is plenty to do on the mainland, a visit across the lake to Toronto Island is a perfect way to spend half a day. Once a peninsula, Toronto Island is now a large leisure island with cycle lanes, boat rentals, beaches (including a nudist one), peaceful parks and an amusement park. It even has an airport! Toronto Island can be reached by ferry from the harbourfront for around $7 USD/€6.60 return. Boats depart every 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the route and drop-off point.

Enjoy Toronto’s fantastic food scene

As one of the most multicultural cities in the world, Toronto has a huge variety of food options for hungry visitors. You can find almost any cuisine you can imagine throughout the city’s diverse neighbourhoods. Some places I recommend are Bar Raval (Spanish), Hanmoto (Japanese), Barque Smokehouse (BBQ), Chica’s Chicken (Nashville fried chicken), and El Rey Mezcal Bar (Mexican). Be sure to also grab a delicious Polish hotdog (with ALL the toppings!) from one of the many carts dotted around Downtown. Of course, while you’re in Toronto, make sure to try a nice big plate of poutine, Canada’s national dish. 

Watch a sports game

Toronto is home to several major sporting teams, making it a great place to go and see a live game. For ice hockey fans, there is the Toronto Maple Leafs (the second most successful NHL team ever!), for the NBA they have the Toronto Raptors, football there is Toronto FC, and for those who like sitting around drinking beer for a few hours in the sun, there is the Blue Jays baseball team. Tickets can be hard to come by (especially for the big games) so make sure to try and book well in advance. If you’re a hockey fan and can’t get tickets to a game, you could visit the Hockey Hall of Fame Downtown. 

Visit one of North America’s only castles

Those who enjoy marveling at opulent palaces on their holidays should take a trip to Casa Loma, a gothic revival castle perched atop a hill overlooking Downtown Toronto. Built in 1914 as an obscenely extravagant residence for a financier, it is today a museum and historic heritage site. At around $30 USD/€28 a ticket, it’s certainly not the cheapest attraction, but this gives you access to the castle and its many impressive rooms, as well as the five acre gardens that surround it. There are also escape rooms to do on the grounds for an additional cost. We did a very fun one based on the Murdoch Mysteries (a Canadian TV detective show), set in the Victorian era. 

Hang out with dinosaurs at the Royal Ontario Museum

This enormous museum (the largest in Canada) houses more than 13 million items from around the world, spread across 40 galleries and exhibition spaces which cover natural history, art, and world cultures. You can find skeletons of dinosaurs like the T.Rex, prehistoric mammals, Ancient Egyptian tombs and mummies, beautiful artefacts from Ancient Rome and Greece, and much, much more. Be sure to check out the Daphne Cockwell Gallery to learn about the Indigenous peoples of North America’s art and heritage too. With such a huge amount to see here, expect to spend at least 2 hours in this museum. Tickets cost around $20 USD/€18.70 and can be purchased in advance. 

Admire the architecture in Cabbagetown

First established in the 1840s, Cabbagetown is believed to have gotten its adorable name from the cabbages Irish settlers grew in their front gardens. Today, it is known for its collection of beautifully preserved Victoran-era houses. In fact, Cabbagetown is apparently the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in all of North America! There are numerous styles of housing to admire here, such as Bay and Gable and Gothic Revival, as well as some that have had snazzy modern renovations, making this neighbourhood a must-visit for architecture lovers. 

Get creative at Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

This impressive art gallery downtown houses a collection of almost 100,000 works, from European masterpieces to striking modern art. While AGO has a wide range of works from world renowned artists like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Andy Warhol, you should also seek out the works of Canadian artists you may not be familiar with. Some pieces I was particularly drawn to (possible pun intended) were by Lawren S Harris, a member of the Canadian art movement called the Group of Seven. There are also works from First Nations to marvel at, as well as a cool spiral staircase designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry. Tickets cost around $20 USD/€18.70 and can be purchased in advance.

Go ice skating

If you are in Toronto during the colder months, you can join in on one of Canada’s favourite pastimes: ice skating. There are plenty of rinks dotted around the city centre during this period, such as at Nathan Phillips Square and outside Union Station. Don’t be put off by the fact that all Canadians seem to be Olympic level skaters. Just get out there and have fun. When the temperatures are especially cold for a long period, it is even possible to head out for a skate on Lake Ontario.

Have more time in Canada?

Explore Canada’s oldest provincial park

If you happen to be in Toronto for more than a few days, there are some other adventures to be had slightly further afield. 

As mentioned earlier, there are some lovely areas of nature found in and around Toronto, but for something even more special head north to Algonquin Park. Roughly the same size as the U.S. state of Delaware, Algonquin Park is full of hemlock, yellow birch, and sugar maple forests, as well as thousands of lakes, making it a perfect getaway for nature lovers. This is especially the case in autumn, when the colours here really pop. There are places to camp and activities to do like hiking, canoeing, and swimming. It takes around 5 hours to get there (whether by car or public transport) making a day trip from Toronto somewhat possible. However, I would strongly advise staying overnight. 

Visit French Canada

A direct train from Union Station will take you to Montréal (the largest city in Canada’s Québec province) in around 5 hours. There is a lot to do in this cool, chilled out city, such as exploring the charming cobblestoned streets of Old Montréal, sampling some delicious maple syrup-based goodies, and eating at fantastic French-influenced restaurants. Québec is also where poutine originated, and there are dozens of places to try this messy, tasty dish. If you have even more time, you could travel a few hours further east to beautiful Québec City.

This province is beautiful all year round, but it is unbelievably cute during the Christmas period. Temperatures can drop to around -30 degrees Celsius during this time, so pack accordingly! If you’re travelling by train, you can get great value fares from viarail if you book in advance.

I hope this blog post has given you lots of ideas about how to spend your time in Toronto (or inspired you to book a flight there!). If you have other recommendations, or any questions, please leave a comment.

Ciao for now

Izzie the Curious Sparrow