A complete guide to Toronto, Canada, covering the CN Tower, diverse neighborhoods from Kensington Market to Distillery District, world-class museums, waterfront attractions, and one of the most multicultural food scenes on the planet.
At 553 meters, this was the world's tallest freestanding structure for over 30 years. The main observation deck (346m) costs CAD 43. The Glass Floor and SkyPod (447m) offer additional thrills. EdgeWalk (CAD 225) lets you walk hands-free on the outside ledge. Book online to avoid the queue. Clear days give views across Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls.
Visit the main observation deck
Walk on the Glass Floor
Explore the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Canada's largest museum of natural history and world cultures, with over 13 million objects across 40 galleries. The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal entrance is an architectural landmark. Highlights include the dinosaur gallery, Egyptian mummies, and Indigenous Canadian collections. Admission CAD 23. Free on the third Tuesday of every month. Allow 3-4 hours.
See the dinosaur gallery
Visit the Egyptian and Indigenous collections
Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
One of the largest art museums in North America, redesigned by Frank Gehry in 2008. Strong collections of Canadian art (Group of Seven), European art, and contemporary works. The Galleria Italia, a stunning glass and wood corridor, is free to walk through. General admission CAD 25, free on Wednesday evenings (6-9 PM).
Explore the Distillery District
A beautifully preserved Victorian industrial site converted into a pedestrian village of galleries, restaurants, craft breweries, and boutiques. The cobblestone streets and old brick buildings create a photogenic atmosphere. Free to enter and walk around. In December, the district hosts a popular Christmas market.
Neighborhoods
Browse Kensington Market
A bohemian neighborhood of vintage shops, international food vendors, street art, and cafes in Victorian-era houses. Pedestrian Sundays (last Sunday of the month, May-October) close the streets to cars. Seven Lives tacos, Nu Bugel, and Rasta Pasta are beloved local spots. The market reflects Toronto's multicultural identity better than almost anywhere else in the city.
Browse the vintage shops and street art
Eat at the international food vendors
Explore Chinatown
One of the largest Chinatowns in North America, centered on Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. Dim sum restaurants, herbal medicine shops, bakeries, and fruit stands line both streets. Mother's Dumplings and Swatow are local institutions. The area is busiest on weekend mornings and especially lively during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Walk through the St. Lawrence Market neighborhood
The south market building (Saturday farmers market, voted the world's best food market by National Geographic) has been a gathering place since 1803. Peameal bacon sandwiches from Carousel Bakery are a Toronto institution. The weekday market in the main hall has over 120 vendors selling specialty foods, cheeses, and fresh produce.
Discover the Graffiti Alley (Rush Lane)
A kilometer-long alley running from Spadina to Portland Street, completely covered in vibrant, ever-changing street art. The murals are commissioned and regularly updated, making it one of the best legal graffiti walls in Canada. Free to walk through at any time. Start from the Queen West end for the most concentrated artwork.
Waterfront and Islands
Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands
A 15-minute ferry ride from the Jack Layton Terminal to this car-free island park in the harbor. Centre Island has a small amusement park and beaches. Ward's Island has a charming residential community with tiny cottages. The skyline view from the islands is the classic Toronto photograph. Ferries cost CAD 8.50 round trip and run every 15-30 minutes.
Visit Centre Island beach
Walk to Ward's Island for skyline views
Walk the Harbourfront and Queens Quay
The revitalized waterfront stretches along Queens Quay with public art, patios, and the Harbourfront Centre (free galleries and performances). In summer, outdoor concerts and festivals are frequent. In winter, the Natrel Rink offers free ice skating. The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery is always free. A pleasant walk connecting the CN Tower area to the Distillery District.
Visit Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Located at the base of the CN Tower, this aquarium features a 97-meter underwater tunnel with sharks, rays, and sea turtles swimming overhead. Over 20,000 marine animals across multiple themed galleries. Admission CAD 39.98 (cheaper online). The jellyfish gallery is mesmerizing. Opens at 9 AM; arrive early on weekends to avoid long waits.
Food and Culture
Eat your way through Toronto's diverse food scene
Toronto's multiculturalism makes it one of the best food cities in North America. Little India (Gerrard Street), Greektown (Danforth), Little Italy (College Street), and Koreatown (Bloor West) each offer authentic cuisine. A peameal bacon sandwich from St. Lawrence Market, a butter tart from any bakery, and a poutine from Smoke's are essential Toronto tastes.
Try a peameal bacon sandwich at St. Lawrence Market
Explore the restaurants along the Danforth (Greektown)
Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame
A must for hockey fans, housed in a grand former bank building on Front Street. See the Stanley Cup, interactive shooting and goaltending games, and memorabilia from over a century of hockey history. Admission CAD 22. Even non-hockey fans enjoy the interactive exhibits. Located near Union Station.
Explore Queen Street West
Toronto's creative corridor stretching from University Avenue to Dufferin Street, with independent boutiques, record shops, galleries, cafes, and some of the city's best restaurants. The strip around Ossington Avenue has become a dining hotspot. Drake Hotel and Gladstone Hotel anchor the western end with regular art shows and live music.
Attend a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre
Catching a baseball game at the Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome) is a classic Toronto summer experience. The retractable roof opens on nice days with the CN Tower looming right beside the stadium. Tickets start from CAD 15-25. The surrounding Bremner Boulevard area has pre-game bars and restaurants. Season runs April through September.
Day Trips
Day trip to Niagara Falls
Just 90 minutes south of Toronto by car. The Canadian side offers the best views of both the Horseshoe Falls and American Falls. The Hornblower boat cruise (CAD 32) takes you into the mist at the base. The Journey Behind the Falls (CAD 21) lets you stand behind the water curtain. GO Transit buses run from Toronto on summer weekends. Avoid the tourist trap restaurants on Clifton Hill.
Take the Hornblower boat cruise
Walk along the Niagara Parkway
Visit the Niagara wine region
The Niagara Peninsula is Canada's premier wine region, famous for ice wine but also producing excellent Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Riesling. Over 100 wineries offer tastings, many with restaurants and vineyard views. Inniskillin, Tawse, and Pearl Morissette are standouts. Combine with a Niagara Falls visit for a full day trip.
Explore the Scarborough Bluffs
Dramatic 65-meter limestone cliffs stretching 14 km along the Lake Ontario shoreline, just 30 minutes east of downtown by transit. Bluffers Park at the base has a beach and marina. The Scarborough Bluffs Park at the top offers viewpoints over the lake. A surprisingly dramatic landscape within city limits. Free access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do I need in Toronto?
Three to four days covers the main attractions, several neighborhoods, and the food scene. Add a day for a Niagara Falls trip. Two days works for highlights (CN Tower, ROM, a couple of neighborhoods) but misses the depth that makes Toronto special. The city rewards slow neighborhood exploration more than checking off major sights.
When is the best time to visit Toronto?
June through September offers warm weather (20-30°C), outdoor festivals (TIFF in September, Caribana in August, Pride in June), and the Toronto Islands at their best. October brings stunning fall foliage. Winter (December-March) is cold (-5 to -10°C) but the holiday markets, indoor attractions, and lower hotel prices have appeal. April and May can be unpredictable weather-wise.
Is Toronto expensive?
Toronto is one of Canada's most expensive cities, but more affordable than New York or London. Budget CAD 15-30 for a meal, CAD 3.35 for a TTC transit fare (day pass CAD 13.50), and CAD 150-250 for mid-range hotels. Save money by eating at food courts and ethnic neighborhoods, using transit instead of taxis, and visiting free attractions (Graffiti Alley, neighborhoods, AGO on Wednesday evenings).
How do I get around Toronto?
The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) operates subways, buses, and streetcars covering the entire city. A single fare (CAD 3.35) allows free transfers for 2 hours. The PATH network connects 30 km of underground walkways in the financial district. For the Toronto Islands, take the ferry from Jack Layton Terminal. Uber and Lyft operate throughout the city. Downtown is very walkable.