Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Toronto!

Are you travelling to Toronto, and unsure of where to go and what to do? Or, do you live here and have out-of-town visitors coming, and want to know where to take them to make sure they have a great time? Toronto is Canada’s biggest city (and the fourth largest metropolitan in North America!), and there’s so much happening that it can be a daunting task to hit the best spots and make the most of your precious time. So, whether you’re a city type, nature lover, culture hound, foodie, thrill-seeker or wanderer, we’ve got ideas for every kind of tourist in our Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Toronto!

(First off, be sure to check out our event calendar and weekend guides for info anytime!)

A One-Day Tour Around Harbourfront

If you only have one day to visit Toronto, stick to the harbour with a full day of activities along the shores of Lake Ontario! Walk around the Harbourfront area and hit up a patio, zip up the CN Tower on a clear weather day, hang with the fishes at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, and check out the historical train cars (for free) at the Toronto Railway Museum (and ride its mini train in the summer).

Then, check out a game by one of our pro teams! Canada’s only MLB baseball team, the Toronto Blue Jays, plays at the Rogers Centre right beside the tower/aquarium complex, and the (NBA basketball) Raptors and (NHL hockey) Maple Leafs play at the Scotiabank Area down the street near Union Station. (Not into sports? How about a show in the nearby Entertainment District or one of the city’s world-class museums? Keep reading for more info below.)

Extra Time? Head Over to the Toronto Islands
If you’re an early riser or have an extra day and want to stay on the water, cross the Toronto Harbour for a relaxing escape from the city to the Toronto Islands (especially in warmer weather). Tear yourself away from the postcard-worthy views of the harbour, and wander around the walking/biking paths, beaches, and playgrounds. A top tip from us locals: avoid the large crowds at the ferry terminal and take a water taxi (in-season), then head back on the ferry for more amazing cityline views!

Culture

Museums
If you’re into museums and galleries, you’re in luck! Along with provincial capital museums such as the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), there’s also special places to learn about the past, including Casa Loma, Toronto Historical Museums (which offer free admission year-round), Hockey Hall of Fame, Aga Khan Museum, and Village at Black Creek. Plus, there’s fun and quirky spots like Little Canada, Museum of Illusions, Bata Shoe Museum, and many more.

Theatre
Did you know that Toronto has the largest English-speaking theatre industry in the world, after only New York City and London?! There’s family-friendly theatre by Young People’s Theatre, Canadian content by Canadian Stage, Broadway-style musicals from Mirvish Productions, and many more.

Concerts
Not only are there many world-class music venues and companies including Toronto Symphony Orchestra, TO Live, but also many touring companies visit regularly such as Cirque du Soleil, Royal Canadian International Circus,

Toronto is often the only Canadian tour stop for many popular international artists, so there’s always plenty of exciting events happening throughout the year at concert halls such as Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall, as well as large venues like Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre and Budweiser Stage Amphitheatre.

Architecture
There are many interesting architectural icons and historical gems to check out, so learn about our city’s past, present and future, with our list of 20 Cool Buildings to Discover in Downtown Toronto.

The Great Outdoors

With the Canadian Shield to the north, and ravines flowing into Lake Ontario in the south, there’s plenty of nature to play in here! In both the city and surrounding areas, families can enjoy various outdoor sports themselves, including hiking, biking and skateboarding, swimming, roller skating, camping, treetop trekking, disc golf, and splashing! In winter, take advantage of snow and ice with tobogganing, skating, downhill skiing and snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snow tubing.

Food

Toronto is known as a foodie city because of our multiculturalism (in fact, sushi pizza and Hawaiian pizza were both invented in Ontario). You can find delicious food all over Toronto, but don’t miss St. Lawrence Market, where you can get a traditional peameal bacon sandwich, pierogies, Montreal bagels, fresh fish, farm-grown produce, and so much more, all in one place!

Neighbourhoods

Delve further into the international flavour of Toronto by exploring its many neighbourhoods, filled with fun, food and festivals throughout the year. There’s Kensington/Chinatown for the foodies and vintage shopper, Queen West and The Annex for the hipster, Yorkville for the fashionista, Beaches in the east and High Park in the west for the nature-lover, and internationally themed areas for even more food and culture (Corso Italia, Little Jamaica, Gerrard India Bazaar, Little Portugal, Greektown, etc. etc.).

Sports

As mentioned, all major sports are represented here in Toronto! Not to mention, there’s also the CFL football’s Argonauts and MLS soccer’s Toronto FC, plus minor leagues, lacrosse, horse racing, and even more sporting events on water and on land.

Thrills and Chills

For the the thrill-seekers, no visit to the GTA is complete without a visit to Canada’s Wonderland, a yearly trip to the Central National Exhibition (CNE), a jaunt over to the Centreville Amusement Park on Centre Island, and in summer, you also cool off at water parks such as Wet n’ Wild Toronto!

Animals

Animal lovers can rejoice because we love our parks and animals here in Toronto. There’s the huge Toronto Zoo, of course, but also free options at the Riverdale Farm and High Park Zoo. Around the GTA and Southern Ontario, you’ll find the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, African Lion Safari, Reptilia, Niagara Butterfly Conservatory, and Safari Niagara.

Day Trips

Once you’ve done everything in the city, it’s time to experience the rest of Southern Ontario! Head down to Niagara Falls to see one of the most impressive waterfalls in the whole world, see classical and contemporary theatre at the Stratford Festival and Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and have many outdoor adventures! The GTA is also home for fertile farmland where you can pick berries, sunflowers, apples and pumpkins in season, and participate in fun farm festivals.