Best Things To Do in Toronto
As Canada's largest city, Toronto is known for its cosmopolitan population, diverse cultures, and various tourist attractions. From museums to galleries to outdoors, Toronto has all kinds of tourist destinations for every traveller.
However, with so many activities to choose from, it can become incredibly overwhelming to plan your trip. The travel experts at Canadian Train Vacations can help. We've listed the 21 best things to do in Toronto Canada so that you experience the best of this vibrant city without any hassle.
1. Kensington Market
Previously known as the 'Jewish Market', immigrants from various continents have settled here for a century and have been selling items from their respective countries. You'll find this area lined with shops in designated areas selling street art, murals, jewelry, purses, and vintage clothes.
Situated in this market is a variety of grocery stores selling meat, dairy products, poultry, fruits, and vegetables, as well as different restaurants serving various cuisines, and many coffee shops.
Even if you don't indulge in shopping, a walk through the Kensington Market is among the most fun things to do in Toronto.
How to reach here: Take a subway to the Queen's Park station and then board the 506 streetcar to Spadina Ave.
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm, throughout the year except for Christmas and New Year
Fees: Free
Average time required: Up to four hours
2. Skip the Line: Bata Shoe Museum
Considered one of the unusual tourist attractions in Toronto, Bata Shoe Museum showcases footwear dating back to 4,500 years. The museum has the largest collection of shoes anywhere in the world with over 14,000 shoes and related objects. It has footwear from various countries including India, Africa, China, the Middle East and indigenous North America. The museum also has celebrity collections from the likes of Elton John, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Karen Kain, and Queen Victoria
How to reach here: You can take a subway to St. George station. It is only a minute's walk from there.
Timings: Monday-Saturday from 10 am-5 pm and on Sunday from 12 pm-5 pm
Fees: Individual - $14 and Senior - $12
Average time required: Up to two hours
3. Toronto Waterfront and the Harbourfront Centre
Located on the Toronto Waterfront, the Harbourfront Centre is Canada's premier contemporary art centre that hosts more than 4,000 events in theatre, dance, literature, music, and film throughout the year.
Apart from the cultural centre, you'll also find scenic walking trails, ice skating rinks, restaurants, and shops at the Toronto Waterfront.
How to reach here: It is a 13-minute walk from the Union Station subway stop.
Timings: The Harbourfront Centre is open Wednesday - Thursday from 12–6 pm, Friday from 12 pm - 8 pm, Saturday from 10 am - 8 pm and Sunday from 10 am - 6 pm.
Fees: There is no admission to enter the Harbourfront Centre.
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4. Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Among the things to do in downtown Toronto is to visit the Royal Ontario Museum. As Canada's largest museum, it attracts more than 1.3 million visitors per year, making it the most-visited museum in the country. There are more than forty galleries and 18 million items including collections of artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens.
How to reach here: St. George is the closest subway station to the museum's main entrance
Timings: Monday-Sunday from 10 am to 5:30 pm
Fees: Check the website for the most up-to-date pricing.
Best time to visit: Weekdays
Average time required: 3-4 hours
5. Mirvish Theatres
Looking for what to do in Toronto Canada? Catch a live performance at Mirvish Theatres. Among the most renowned theatres in Toronto, you can enjoy all kinds of shows from musicals to comic plays. The company runs four theatres around the city. Each is easily reached by car, transit, or on foot. The most famous is the Royal Alexandra Theatre on King Street West. Built in 1907, it is a historical landmark. You can buy tickets online in advance of your trip, or try for last-minute tickets at the theatre box office.
6. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Among the most popular things to do in Toronto is to visit the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. The aquarium exhibits more than 20,000 exotic sea and freshwater creatures representing over 450 species and holds 1.5 million gallons of marine and freshwater habitats. Their underwater tunnel is the longest one in North America and lets you look up at a variety of aquatic life, including sharks, rays, and turtles.
How to reach here: From Union subway station, walk west on the south side of Front Street, turn left on Lower Simcoe St, then right on Brenmer Blvd.
Timings: 9 am-11 pm, daily
Fees: Check the website for the most up-to-date admission pricing.
Best time to visit: Weekdays
Average time required: Upto 2.5 hours
7. Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museum in Toronto. With five levels to explore, the gallery is home to 90,000 pieces of art from around the world including Canadian indigenous artwork, European masterpieces, and contemporary art. You'll also find art paintings by Rembrandt, Claude Monet, and Van Gogh and a number of works from the Renaissance period.
How to reach here: The St. Patrick station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line is the closest stop to the Art Gallery of Ontario. From there, it's a 5-minute walk.
Timings: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday and 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Fees: $30 for adults (25+)
Best time to visit: Weekdays
Average time required: 2-3 hours
8. Casa Loma
A must-see in Toronto is Casa Loma, a Gothic-styled mansion that was converted into a museum in 1937. It consists of hidden passages, horse stables, sculpted gardens, decorated suites, and wine cellars. The Antique Car Display and the Backstage Celebrity Gallery are the highlights of this castle.
How to reach here: Take the subway to the St. Clair West station and then walk 15 minutes to reach the castle.
Timings: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m
Fees: $40 for adults (18-64), $35 for seniors (65+)
Average time required: 2-3 hours
9. CN Tower
Among the many Toronto tourist attractions, CN Tower stands out as an iconic structure of Toronto's skyline. Standing tall at 1815 feet, it houses observation decks, a revolving restaurant, and an entertainment complex, attracting more than two million tourists every year. One of the best things to do at the CN Tower is to take an elevator to one of the observation decks and watch the sunset along the skyline of Toronto.
How to reach here: Take the subway to Union Station. From there, it is a short walk west along Front Street.
Timings: 9:30 am-9:30 pm
Fees: Check the website for the most up-to-date pricing
Best time to visit: During sunset
Average time required: Up to 2 hours
10. Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame pays tribute to ice hockey, Canada's unofficial national sport. It contains exhibits of players, teams, NHL records and trophies including the Stanley Cup and a ton of information about the history of the sport. While you're here, don't miss out on The Evolution of the Goalie Mask display. This exhibit showcases 90 iconic goalie masks and highlights the story behind each of the destinctive masks.
How to reach here: 5-minute walk from the Union subway station
Timings: 10 am-5 pm
Fees: $25 for adults (18-64), $20 for seniors (65+)
Average time required: 2-3 hours
11. St. Lawrence Market
Recognized once as the world's best food market by National Geographic, St. Lawrence Market is an excellent place for fresh produce and delicious eats in Toronto. With more than two centuries of history, the market is divided into three buildings: North Market, South Market, and St. Lawrence Hall. The North Market hosts weekly farmer's and antique markets, the South Market has 120 vendors selling food items and St. Lawrence Hall houses retail businesses.
How to reach here: 10-minute walk from the Union subway station
Timings: 9 am to 7 pm from Tuesday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 5 p.m on Sunday
Fees: Free
Average time required: 2-3 hours
12. Distillery District
Home to Canada's largest distilling company in the 1800s, the Distillery District is now a pedestrian-only area that has been transformed into an entertainment and shopping district. It draws crowds to its hip indie restaurants, bars, art galleries, music performances, and boutiques. Paved with cobblestone walkways, the Distillery District is one of the best places in Toronto to go for a walk.
How to reach here: It is a mile away from the King subway station
Timings: Monday-Thursday from 10 am - 7 pm, Friday to Saturday from 10 am - 8 pm, and Sunday from 11 am - 7 pm
Fees: Free
Average time required: Up to 2 hours
13. High Park
Toronto's largest public park is a mixed recreational and natural park featuring hiking trails, playgrounds, a zoo, sports facilities, a beautiful lakefront, and a variety of different gardens. The High Park Zoo is home to many animals including bison, llamas, sheep, and yak. You can also rent a bike and ride through the park.
How to reach here: High Park subway station
Timings: Always open
Fees: Free
Best time to visit: Weekdays
14. Edwards Gardens
Edwards Gardens is one of the seventeen gardens housed within the Toronto Botanical Garden. Throughout the park, you'll find many beautiful flower beds and bridges that pass over Wilket Creek. The stone steps and a fountain statue highlight the main area of the garden. It's no wonder Edwards Gardens is a popular destination for weddings and photoshoots.
You'll find many scenic trails to explore here with plenty of sitting arrangements as well. You can also bring your own food and have a picnic here.
How to reach here: Take the #54 or #54A Lawrence East bus eastbound from Eglington Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Line
Timings: 10 am - 8:30 pm
Fees: Free
Best time to visit: Weekdays
Average time required: Up to 3 hours
15. Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a combination of three falls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, located across the USA-Canada border. Out of the three falls, the Horseshoe Falls is considered the best as its the strongest fall in North America and the only one based in Canada.
Some popular things to do in Niagara Falls include taking a boat ride on the falls with Niagara City Cruises by Hornblower. They offer fireworks cruises as well as tunnel under the falls tours.
Details for Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls is a 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Toronto along the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) highway. There are many sight-seeing tours from Toronto.
Timings: Always open
Fees: Varies as per the tour
Best time to visit: June-September
Average time required: One day for all the tours
16. Toronto Harbour Cruise
Booking a Toronto Harbour Cruise is one of the best ways to enjoy the scenic Toronto skylines and islands. You can get the best and most unique views of the city from the water. It's also an excellent opportunity to take some incredible photos! Ask your Canadian Train Vacation travel advisor about adding a boat cruise to your trip itinerary.
17. Morning Bike Tour
Going for a Morning Bike Tour in a group is among the top things to do in Toronto, Canada. You'll cycle through the various neighborhoods, parks, and landmarks in Toronto with a guide leading the tour. During your tour, the guide will provide you lots of indightful information about the city, its culture, and history. There are ample breaks during the ride ensuring that you don't get tired.
18. Toronto Island
Toronto Island is a chain of 15 islands in Lake Ontario, and is considered among the top places to visit in Toronto, Canada. Following a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto, you can enjoy a visit to an amusement park, swimming beaches (including a clothing-optional beach on Hanlan's Point), Gibraltar's lighthouse, and expansive picnic areas on these islands.
In terms of activities, you can indulge in bike riding, paddle a canoe, kayak around the water canals, or simply walk along the islands.
The island also offers an amazing view of the skyline of Toronto.
How to reach here: Catch a ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay St. and Queen's Quay to reach Toronto Island.
Timings: Check the website for the most up-to-date ferry schedule.
Fees: Free, but ferry tickets cost $9.11 for adults and $5.86 for seniors.
Best time to visit: May to September
Average time required: Half a day
19. Epic Sportfishing
One of the top 10 things to do in Toronto is to go for a fishing adventure in Lake Ontario. It's a fun activity for the whole family. Many fishermen catch big trout and salmon in this Great Lake. Going on a guided excursion ensures that you have all the proper equipment and will have a safe and memorable experience.
20. City Sightseeing Tours
A great way to explore Toronto is through a city sightseeing tour. You can go on a boat tour and cruise around Toronto Harbour, or ride on comfortable, open-top double decker buses that can take you to various locations around the city. You can even do a combination of a boat and bus tour! Some destinations on these tours include the iconic Niagara Falls and some of downtown Toronto's most vibrant neighbourhoods. Some tours are also available at night, to experience the city after dark. Knowledgeable guides will join you on each tour to share the history and culture of Toronto.
21. Scarborough Bluffs
The Scarborough Bluffs is an impressive cliff formation that rises from the shores of Lake Ontario and stretches across nine parks. There are plenty of activities you can do here - bike riding, hiking trails, picnic, barbeque, and swimming.
The views of the lake and the cliffs are dramatic all year long.
How to reach here: Take the Brimley Road by car
Timings: Always open
Fees: Free
Best time to visit: Sunrise/sunset during weekdays
Average time required: Up to a day
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days in Toronto is enough?
You can easily spend up to a week in Toronto to experience all the things we have mentioned in this guide.
What should I not miss in Toronto?
If you're short on time, ensure you visit the following places: CN Tower, St. Lawrence Market, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Is Toronto worth visiting?
With iconic landmarks, great outdoors, and bustling culture, Toronto is worth visiting for any traveller.
What month is best to visit Toronto?
June to October are the best months to visit Toronto as the weather is pleasant.
Is Toronto a walkable city?
Toronto is one of the most walkable cities in Canada. It has a very walkable downtown core and an accessible transit system.
Is Toronto expensive?
Yes, Toronto is among the most expensive places in Canada. Hence, it's better to use public transport like the subway, buses, or streetcars to travel around Toronto.
What is Toronto famous for?
Toronto is famous for its skyline i.e. its skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. It is also known for its multicultural people, sports, and outdoors.
What's the best food in Toronto?
Some of the best local food to try in Toronto are: Peameal Bacon Sandwich, Sushi Pizza, Poutine, Nanaimo, Tourtière, Butter tarts and Ketchup chips
About the author: Samantha Edwards is the Content and Social Media Coordinator at Fresh Tracks Canada. A creative storyteller, she enjoys sharing her local expertise with visitors. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, her favourite Canadian destination is Sooke on Vancouver... Read more
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