tourism rates toronto

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Tourism research statistics

Learn about the provincial, national and international travel statistics that impact Ontario’s tourism industry.

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The ministry’s tourism research unit gathers and analyzes provincial, national, and international travel statistics for government and public use.

For any questions, or if you need this information in another format, please contact [email protected] . Within five business days, we will:

• acknowledge your request
• let you know when we can provide you with the content

Current performance

This data shows how busy the tourism industry is in Ontario. The percentage change columns show the difference over the same time period from the previous year.

International border crossings footnote 1 [1]

Hotel statistics, ontario short-term rental statistics footnote 3 [3], exchange rates footnote 4 [4], other statistics, tourism quick facts.

Learn how the Ontario tourism industry compares to the world.

World tourism overview footnote 7 [7]

• As a percent of world GDP : 6.7%
• As a percent of world GDP : 10.4%
• As a percent of world employment: 10.1%
• As a percent of world exports: 6.6%
• As a percent of total personal spending: 8.7%

Ontario’s tourism overview footnote 7 [7]

• As a percent of provincial GDP : 4.3%
• As a percent of provincial GDP : 4.1%
• As a percent of provincial employment: 5.2%
• As a percent of provincial labour income: 4.5%
• As a percent of provincial revenues: 3.9%
• Municipal tourism tax revenues footnote d [d]  ( CDN $B ) : 1.5
• Federal tourism tax revenues footnote d [d]  ( CDN $B ) : 6.1
• As a percent of Ontario's total international exports: 2.5%
• As a percent of total personal spending: 7.4%

Key sources of Ontario’s tourism income footnote 7 [7]

Share of tourism spending in ontario by key visitor groups footnote 7 [7], canadian and ontario travellers compared to other countries footnote 7 [7], economic impact of tourism.

This provides an overview of the tourism industry’s contribution to the Ontario economy.

Tourism regional economic impact model ( TREIM )

TREIM modules can help you learn more about the economic impact of tourism in Ontario, including:

• visitor spending
• operational expenses
• investment expenditures
• convention centre activity

Historical statistics

For further explanation of terms used in the tables, please see the concepts and definitions section .

All data is available as an Excel ( XLSX ) file.

Inbound visits and spending

• United States visits
• Overseas visits
• United States spending
• Overseas spending

Outbound visits and spending

• Total visits by destination
• Overnight visits by destination
• Total expenditures by destination
• Overnight expenditures by destination

Tourism receipts and economic impact

• Ontario's tourism receipts by origin
• Ontario's tourism receipts by item
• The economic impact of Ontario's tourism receipts
• The economic impact of visitor spending in Ontario

Travel accounts and price indexes

• International tourism account
• Interprovincial travel account
• Travel price index and Consumer price index
• Accommodation
• Hotel occupancy rates, average daily rate and revenue per available room

Tourism-related establishments and employment

• Number of tourism-related businesses
• Tourism-related businesses
• Arts, entertainment and recreation
• Food and beverage
• Transportation
• Travel services
• Ontario's employment by industry

Tourism receipts

Tourism receipts are used to calculate the overall impact of tourism spending on Ontario’s GDP , jobs and taxes.

They include spending from:

• visitors coming to Ontario as a destination
• travellers passing through or leaving the province on their way to other destinations

How we got the numbers

The data for calculating tourism receipts comes from several Statistics Canada surveys (National Travel Survey, Visitor Travel Survey and Travel Arrangement Survey).

Ontario's tourism receipts

This table lists tourism receipts for the last 10 years and the annual percentage changes compared to the previous year.

The 10-year average is 10.1%.

For more information, see Ontario’s Tourism Receipts by Origin .

Concepts and definitions

Border crossings (frontier counts).

Statistics Canada’s frontier counts provide statistics on the total number of non-residents entering Canada or residents returning to Canada through Ontario’s international ports of entry.

The international border crossings to Ontario are not equal to Statistics Canada’s Visitor Travel Survey estimates of the international tourist visits to Ontario. Border crossings measure all international travellers entering Ontario for any purpose and any duration, as opposed to tourist entries only. Similarly, border crossings do not provide information such as visitors to Ontario who enter Canada through other provincial ports.

Border crossings are used only as an indicator of current performance. Tourist visits in Ontario come from two surveys conducted by Statistics Canada: the National Travel Survey and the Visitor Travel Survey.

The impact on jobs, Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ) and taxes associated with the spending of travellers in an area. Not all of the impacts are retained within the area of spending since part of these benefits will leak out into other regions in the form of imports.

The economic impact of tourism in Ontario is estimated by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model ( TREIM ). TREIM estimates the economic impact ( e.g. , jobs, GDP , taxes) of visitor and business spending on the provincial and local economies.

The definition of tourism follows that adopted by the World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Statistical Commission:  the activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes.

Domestic trip

A domestic trip is defined as travel to a Canadian destination and originating in Canada.

Domestic trips qualifying as “touristic”

In Canada, for a domestic trip to be part of tourism it has to be an out-of-town trip (an overnight trip or a same day trip of a distance that is 40 km and over). The trip may have been taken for any reason except for:

• routine travel that is a regular part of a job
• commuting to school
• moving (or helping someone move) to a new residence (or school)
• regular household or grocery shopping
• regular medical or dental appointments or check-ups
• regular attendance at religious observances/ services
• attendance at funerals
• trips for various regular chores

International trip

An international trip is taken by an international traveller arriving in Canada whose country of residence is a country other than Canada who is cleared through a Canadian Border Services Agency point of entry on a visit for any reason except: immigrants, former residents, military personnel, diplomats and dependants, and crews ( i.e. , persons engaged in the operation of a transport).

Person visit

Tourist visit taken by a traveller either travelling alone or travelling as part of a group. All persons on a trip may visit more than one area. A visit in an area constitutes a person visit in that area. The total of person visits to Ontario’s tourism regions are greater than the person visits to the province since more than one tourism region may be visited during a provincial visit.

Tourism receipts include the spending of visitors in Ontario as well as the spending of Canadian residents in Ontario for trips that take them outside the province with no corresponding visit in Ontario. Tourism receipts also include the commissions and fees earned by the travel arrangements businesses that are in Ontario.

Tourism front-line businesses or tourism-related industries

The businesses or industries that sell products and services directly to travellers, for example: accommodation, food and beverage, arts, entertainment and recreation, travel services and transportation enterprises. Although these industries or businesses supply the goods and services consumed by travellers, they also supply goods and services consumed by non-travellers. As such, not all of these businesses’ or industries’ revenues and jobs are attributable to tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism Culture and Sport, consistent with Statistics Canada’s Provincial and Territorial Tourism Satellite Account , classifies the following industries at NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) 6-digit level as the tourism-related industries. The North American Industry Classification System was developed in 1997 by the three North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) trading partners to classify businesses throughout the three countries according to their activities and appears in Statistics Canada's products. NAICS Canada 2017 consists of 20 sectors, 102 subsectors, 324 industry groups, 718 industries and 928 national industries. The relevant ones for tourism are:

NAICS : Accommodation

• NAICS 721111 - Hotels
• NAICS 721112 - Motor Hotels
• NAICS 721113 - Resorts
• NAICS 721114 - Motels
• NAICS 721120 - Casino Hotels
• NAICS 721191 - Bed and Breakfast
• NAICS 721192 - Housekeeping Cottages and Cabins
• NAICS 721198 - All Other Traveller Accommodation
• NAICS 721211 - RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Campgrounds
• NAICS 721212 - Hunting and Fishing Camps
• NAICS 721213 - Recreational (except hunting and fishing) and Vacation Camps

NAICS : Food & beverage services

• NAICS 722511 - Full-Service Restaurants
• NAICS 722512 - Limited-Service Eating Places
• NAICS 722410 - Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)

NAICS : Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

• NAICS 512130 - Motion Picture and Video Exhibition
• NAICS 711111 - Theatre (except musical) Companies
• NAICS 711112 - Musical Theatre and Opera Companies
• NAICS 711120 - Dance Companies
• NAICS 711130 - Musical Groups and Artists
• NAICS 711190 - Other Performing Arts Companies
• NAICS 711213 - Horse Race Tracks
• NAICS 711214 - Other racing facilities and related activities
• NAICS 711215 - Independent athletes performing before a paying audience
• NAICS 711217 - Sports teams and clubs performing before a paying audience
• NAICS 711311 - Live Theatres and Other Performing Arts Presenters with Facilities
• NAICS 711319 - Sports Stadiums and Other Presenters with Facilities
• NAICS 711321 - Performing Arts Promoters (Presenters) without Facilities
• NAICS 711322 - Festivals without Facilities
• NAICS 711329 - Sports Presenters and Other Presenters without Facilities
• NAICS 711511 - Independent Visual Artists and Artisans
• NAICS 711512 - Independent Actors, Comedians and Performers
• NAICS 711513 - Independent Writers and Authors
• NAICS 712111 - Non-Commercial Art Museums and Galleries
• NAICS 712115 - History and Science Museums
• NAICS 712119 - Museums (except Art Museums and Galleries)
• NAICS 712120 - Historic and Heritage Sites
• NAICS 712130 - Zoos and Botanical Gardens
• NAICS 712190 - Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions
• NAICS 713110 - Amusement and Theme Parks
• NAICS 713120 - Amusement Arcades
• NAICS 713210 - Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
• NAICS 713291 - Lotteries
• NAICS 713299 - All Other Gambling Industries
• NAICS 713910 - Golf Courses and Country Clubs
• NAICS 713920 - Skiing Facilities
• NAICS 713930 - Marinas
• NAICS 713950 - Bowling Centres
• NAICS 713999 - All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries

NAICS : Transportation

• NAICS 481110 - Scheduled Air Transportation
• NAICS 481214 - Non-Scheduled Chartered Air Transportation
• NAICS 481215 - Non-Scheduled Specialty flying Services
• NAICS 482112 - Short-haul Freight Rail Transportation
• NAICS 482113 - Mainline Freight Rail Transportation
• NAICS 482114 - Passenger Rail Transportation
• NAICS 483115 - Deep Sea, Coastal and Great Lakes Water Transportation (except by ferries)
• NAICS 483116 - Deep Sea, Coastal and Great Lakes Water Transportation by Ferries
• NAICS 483213 - Inland Water Transportation (except by ferries)
• NAICS 483214 - Inland Water Transportation by Ferries
• NAICS 485110 - Urban Transit Systems
• NAICS 485210 - Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
• NAICS 485310 - Taxi Service
• NAICS 485320 - Limousine Service
• NAICS 485410 - School and Employee Bus Transportation
• NAICS 485510 - Charter Bus Industry
• NAICS 485990 - Other Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation
• NAICS 487110 - Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land
• NAICS 487210 - Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water
• NAICS 487990 - Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other
• NAICS 532111 - Passenger Car Rental
• NAICS 532120 - Truck, Utility Trailer and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing

NAICS : Travel Services

• NAICS 561510 - Travel Agencies
• NAICS 561520 - Tour Operators
• NAICS 561590 - Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services

Travel price index

An indicator that measures the inflation rate of the cost of purchasing travel-related goods and services in Ontario (for example, accommodation, transportation, food/beverage, recreation, etc. ).

The Ontario Travel Price Index is based on the travel-related components of Ontario’s Consumer Price Index ( CPI ) released monthly by Statistics Canada. To derive the Travel Price Index, the prices of these components are weighted and aggregated according to their proportions in the total tourism expenditures in Ontario.

Visitor spending (expenditures)

Visitor spending includes what visitors to Ontario spend while travelling in the province, including spending by Ontario residents on trip expenses at the point of origin (for example, taxi to the airport). As well, the fares purchased from Canadian carriers are included in the international visitor spending in Ontario when the province of entry and/or exit is Ontario.

• footnote [1] Back to paragraph ^ Source: Statistics Canada
• footnote [a] Back to paragraph ^ Percentage change over same period of previous year.
• footnote [b] Back to paragraph ^ Change in percentage points
• footnote [3] Back to paragraph ^ Lighthouse (formerly Transparent)
• footnote [4] Back to paragraph ^ Source: Bank of Canada
• footnote [5] Back to paragraph ^ Sources: Statistics Canada and Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
• footnote [c] Back to paragraph ^ Includes Accommodations, Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, Food & Beverage, Transportation, Travel Services
• footnote [6] Back to paragraph ^ Source: Ministry of Energy
• footnote [7] Back to paragraph ^ Sources: World Travel & Tourism Council; Tourism Economics; Statistics Canada’s National Travel Survey and Visitor Travel Survey; Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries.
• footnote [d] Back to paragraph ^ These tax revenues resulting from the total impact of tourism receipts in Ontario.

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

A Travel Guide for How to Visit Toronto on a Budget

TripSavvy / Brakethrough Media

 Visiting Toronto is like visiting several dozen nations without unpacking your bags. This thoroughly cosmopolitan city offers the sights and flavors of countries on every continent. This travel guide will show you how to visit Canada's largest urban area without spending too much money.

When to Visit

Winters are harsh, but Torontonians are too busy to shiver. Most tourists visit in the summer months when prices peak. Consider a trip in the fall, when foliage is spectacular. Prices have fallen by that time, and crowds thin out at the major attractions. If you plan a Spring trip, keep in mind that mild weather sometimes does not arrive until late May. You'll be searching for airfares to and from Canada's busiest airport.

Where to Eat

Toronto is one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. Here you can find restaurants featuring food from almost any point on the compass. Many travelers rave about the authenticity of the offerings from eastern Europe and Asia. It's one of the few cities where, with very little effort, you can dine on a new and striking ethnic specialty every night of your stay.

Where to Stay

As you search for a room , consider that most of the world's major hotel chains have multiple locations here, with most concentrated near the airport in Malton or in the downtown area. Some budget travelers prefer to snag Priceline deals on the larger hotels along Younge Street, because they can then walk to a lot of major attractions, the subway, and dining.

Getting Around

The Toronto Transit Commission operates a network of buses, streetcars and subway trains. It's a clean, efficient network that would be the envy of most major cities. Check out the passes they offer if you'll be in the city more than a few days. Be aware that routes are extended during the summer months to popular destinations such as Exhibition Place, Ontario Place, and Toronto Zoo. If you decide to explore the vast Toronto suburbs, you'll need to rent a car.

Toronto Attractions and Nightlife

Toronto's club scene is active and changes quickly. It's best to check local listings after arrival. The theatre district frequently hosts Broadway-quality productions, but you'll also find "off-Broadway" class shows of high quality. Sports fans can take a guided tour of Rogers Centre. The tour is reasonably priced, but don't expect the same at Rogers Centre hotels and restaurants, especially if an event is scheduled. Also expensive: a trip to the top of CN Tower, once the world's tallest free-standing structure.

Culture Sampling

Chinatown has become the generic place name of a wide area along Spadina Ave and along Dundas St. West. Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese immigrants sell native specialties in restaurants and markets. Toronto has two "Little Italy" sections: One along College Street and one to the northwest in Woodbridge. If you choose College, you can stroll into "Little Portugal," too. See how easy it is to sample the world's finest cuisine during a Toronto visit?

More Toronto Tips

• For a major splurge, consider taking High Tea. The Fairmont Royal York Hotel will serve you the traditional British mid-afternoon treat, complete with pastries and shortbreads. It will cost you about as much as a moderately-priced dinner somewhere, but the upscale experience is something you'll remember longer than an average meal. The Royal York has been serving high tea for generations, so trust them to give you an authentic experience.
• Look at ToTix for half-priced theater tickets. Much like their counterparts in New York and London, ToTix offers deeply discounted tickets for day-of-show performances. Toronto's version is at the southeast corner of Young-Dundas Square. Sales are done in-person only. Tip: Be careful about waiting hours in line to save money on anything. The time you spend is valuable, too.
• Check out Saint Lawrence Market. Here is an Old Toronto locale (east of downtown near Wellington and Front Streets, subway to Union Station or King Street) that will inspire those interested in European architecture and charm. The St. Lawrence Market website says Food and Wine Magazine named St. Lawrence one of the world's Top 25 Markets. Taking in the sights is free; enjoying the trendy bistros nearby is not!
• One more market: Kensington. This place will take you back in time. Sample old-world pastry at one storefront, buy vintage tailored clothing a few doors away. Narrow streets and friendly faces abound. Even if you don't buy a thing, visiting Kensington market is an authentic Toronto experience you won't soon forget.
• Rail options for Canada begin here. Few places in the country offer rail travel opportunities that rival what you'll find in Toronto. Union Station is located adjacent to the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. It was once the crossroads of Canada, and it still offers some intriguing trips. How about a jaunt to Moose Jaw? You'll probably be more interested in inter-city options: Via Rail Canada can whisk you to downtown Montreal  in less than five hours for about $100 CDN one-way. Expect to pay more during prime travel times.

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Billy Bishop Airport, also Known as Toronto Island Airport

Tourists are returning to Toronto, but the industry still hasn't fully recovered from pandemic: report

Destination toronto says visitor numbers are still lagging, even as tourists spent more money overall in 2023.

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The nearly nine million people who visited Toronto last year spent more than visitors did in pre-pandemic years, but a new report says the city's tourism industry is still in recovery.

Visitors spent about $7 billion in the city last year, according to a report on the visitor economy released Monday by Destination Toronto, which is the official marketing organization for the city's tourism industry. 

That's more than the $6.7 billion tourists spent in 2019, before COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns crippled the tourism industry.

But that dollar figure is slightly misleading, says Destination Toronto executive vice-president Andrew Weir.

"That increase that we see in spending, a lot of it is inflationary," Weir said. "The visitation hasn't fully rebounded yet."

The report finds that, despite recent progress, the city's tourism industry still has a way to go before fully recovering.

International visitors slow to return

The 8.95 million people who visited the city last year was less than the 9.56 million who visited in 2019, according to the report.

The report found that international visitor numbers are still far behind what they were pre-pandemic. For instance, the number of visitors from China — Toronto's largest overseas tourist market — was 24 per cent what it was before 2020, according to the report.

Frédéric Dimanche, director of Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said those numbers are consistent with international tourism numbers.

"To me, there is not much surprise," Dimanche said.

Dimanche says rising inflation, hefty consumer debt and uncertain international relations are all contributing to a slow return to international travel even though most pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

• Ontario's tourism sector won't fully recover from pandemic until 2025, report says
• After a 'bloodbath' of a year, Toronto tourism association looks ahead to recovery

Across the world, the Middle East is the only region where the number of international tourist arrivals in 2023 exceeded 2019 arrivals, according to the United Nations' latest statistics.

Instead, domestic travel is making up far more of Toronto's tourist numbers than in pre-pandemic years, with the report finding 71 per cent of visitors last year came from within Canada.

Still, Weir says the main findings are positive.

"We're definitely on a recovery trajectory," he said.

Tourism starting to feel normal again: insiders

Jason Kucherawy, who runs a walking-tour business in Toronto, agrees that things have been getting better.

He says while the number of visitors hasn't recovered, he felt like 2023 was the first regular tourism season he'd seen in years.

"It felt as though we had kind of woken up from a dream that this pandemic had happened," he said. "I say a dream — more of a nightmare."

Kucherawy says he was happy to be guiding large tours through bustling crowds again, but business is still tough.

"We really need the help of Torontonians to get out and enjoy the attractions, to take walking tours and bicycle tours and food tours, and really get to know their city to make up for the shortfall that we're seeing in international visitors," he said.

The Destination Toronto report also found a slower return in demand for hotels and other tourist accommodations, as well as corporate meetings and conferences, as new communications technology make business travel less necessary.

• Downtown Toronto's pandemic recovery lags behind other cities, data shows

Andrew Siegwart, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), says debt is another challenge for many small businesses, as government loans given out during lockdowns come due .

Overall, he agrees the industry is on the upswing.

"We're definitely seeing those returns … which is really motivating for the industry," he said. 

"At the same time, I think it's giving us all in the industry time to assess some of the challenges that still remain and focus on them as a result. So things like the labour supply still not bouncing back, rising business costs, the increase in cost of living for consumers and housing."

TIAO reported in 2022 that the tourism industry likely wouldn't fully recover from the pandemic until 2025. Siegwart says the Destination Toronto report remains consistent with that prediction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ethan Lang is a reporter for CBC Toronto. Ethan has also worked in Whitehorse, where he covered the Yukon Legislative Assembly, and Halifax, where he wrote on housing and forestry for the Halifax Examiner.

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Cost of a Trip to Toronto, ON, CA & the Cheapest Time to Visit Toronto

The average price of a 7-day trip to Toronto is $1,543 for a solo traveler, $2,771 for a couple, and $5,195 for a family of 4 . Toronto hotels range from $62 to $388 per night with an average of $146, while most vacation rentals will cost $210 to $450 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport ( YTZ ) are between $599 and $980 per person for economy flights and $1,880 to $3,075 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $52 to $90 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Toronto, ON, CA

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to YTZ and stay in a Toronto hotel:

• August 6th to February 11th (except the week of December 17th)

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Toronto is usually early September .

Average Toronto Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Toronto for a week is $1,328-$2,219 ($190-$317 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $52 to $90 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $418 to $833 for economy

Lodging : $91 to $126 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $95 to $116 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Toronto for a week is $2,472-$3,976 ($353-$568 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $104 to $180 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $836 to $1,666 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Toronto for a week is $3,986-$7,364 ($569-$1,052 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $208 to $360 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,672 to $3,332 for economy

Lodging : $182 to $252 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $143 to $186 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Toronto

How cheap can you make a vacation to Toronto? The cheapest trip to Toronto is about $124 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $42 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $52.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Toronto for a week is $866-$1,650 ($124-$236 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $28 to $55 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $52 to $62 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $42 to $72 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Toronto for a week is $1,480-$2,868 ($211-$410 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $56 to $110 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Toronto for a week is $2,810-$5,616 ($401-$802 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $112 to $220 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $104 to $124 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $59 to $101 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is very difficult to travel to Toronto cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Toronto Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Toronto.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Toronto for a week is $2,730-$8,276 ($390-$1,182 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $99 to $171 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $999 to $1,949 for first class

Lodging : $173 to $388 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $450 to $855 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Toronto for a week is $4,422-$11,422 ($632-$1,632 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $198 to $342 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,998 to $3,898 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Toronto for a week is $8,844-$20,792 ($1,263-$2,970 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $396 to $684 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $3,996 to $7,796 for first class

Lodging : $346 to $776 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $630 to $1,368 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Toronto Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Toronto is much higher than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Toronto due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Toronto Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Toronto hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Toronto.

Flight Costs to Toronto

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $980 average in early to mid June to a low of $599 in early September. Median flight price is $616. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Toronto our data includes 103 originating airports, and 50 airlines. The area has more variance in price compared with other locations. Flying to Toronto from an airport like Shevchenko ( SCO ) in Aktau (Kazakhstan) for an average $5,087 trip fare will obviously cost a lot more than from an airport like Sault Ste. Marie ( YAM ) in Sault Ste. Marie (Canada) at an average of just $236.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Tuesday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Tuesday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Toronto, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $382, so you can easily save about 64% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Toronto can easily cost $410 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $28 per person. Private tours can cost $830 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Toronto Guides

Travel costs nearby.

• Downtown Toronto, ON, CA
• Yorkville, ON, CA
• Little Portugal, ON, CA
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The Best Times to Visit Toronto, According to Local Experts

Local experts weigh in on when to visit Toronto for beautiful weather, lower prices, and more.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

Canada’s most cosmopolitan city, Toronto is a cultural hub with museums, street art, diverse neighborhoods, incredible food, and a litany of must-see attractions. Naturally, a destination with so much to offer and such a vibrant atmosphere attracts travelers from near and far throughout the year. Like many other major urban areas around the world (like Amsterdam, Paris, and New York), Toronto never shuts down. However, it does go through periods of increased tourism and quieter months, something to consider when planning a trip. For example, if you enjoy sunny strolls around the waterfront and are fine with crowds, summer might be the perfect time to book, while travelers who don’t mind bundling up in order to explore solo would be better suited to visit in January or February. 

Kristjan Veski/Travel + Leisure

With the help of concierges at two of the top luxury hotels in the city, we've broken down the best times to visit Toronto for great weather, outdoor adventure, fewer crowds, and more. To get started, here are the main tourist seasons in Toronto:

• High Season: June to September
• Shoulder Season: April to May and October to November
• Low Season: December to February

Related: T+L’s Guide to Toronto 

Katrin Ray Shumakov/Getty Images

Best Times to Visit Toronto for Smaller Crowds 

“Crowds tend to be slightly smaller during March break, when many families go on holiday, and into April. It’s a nice time to visit as there’s still unique Canadian-focused programming like the Maple Festival near the waterfront,” says Ronaldo Breton, chef concierge at The Hazelton Hotel , a member of Leading Hotels of the World. Because the seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors extend into the spring, sports fans might even be able to catch a game while in town.

Best Times to Visit Toronto for Good Weather 

To enjoy pleasant weather without the peak-season crowds, visit during early or late summer. According to Harry Hollywood, chef concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto , the best months for beautiful weather are June and September, which tend to be mild and pleasant for walking around. Those are also great times for taking advantage of outdoor dining and joining in the seasonal festivities, whether that’s Toronto's International Jazz Festival in late June or the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in early September.

BrakeThrough Media/Travel + Leisure

Best Times to Visit Toronto for Lower Prices 

On a budget? The best time to visit Toronto for lower prices is from December to February. Hollywood encourages travelers to plan ahead to score some excellent deals on airfare and luxury hotels. Despite the more reasonable rates, these months are still really exciting with winter markets and outdoor skating — just make sure you pack plenty of layers to stay warm during this chilly time of year. 

Related: Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Cities in Canada of 2023

Best Time to Visit for a Day Trip to the Toronto Islands 

Summer is both the best and busiest time for a day trip to the Toronto Islands with several ferries and taxi boats available for seamless transport from the city. “Families in particular love Centre Island because it has beaches, an amusement park, food stalls, and bike rentals to cycle around and explore in the beautiful weather,” explains Breton. 

Jason Tang/Getty Images

Worst Time to Visit Toronto

February tends to be the coldest month — with temperatures that drop below freezing — so it’s not really prime for walking around. Travelers who do plan to visit during this time of year should bring warm clothes and plan on filling their itineraries with indoor activities, such as visiting the Royal Ontario Museum. 

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Toronto Travel Guide

Last Updated: August 30, 2023

With half of its 3 million population (6 million if you count the greater metro area) born outside of Canada and over 160 languages spoken in the city, Toronto is often considered to be the most multicultural city in the world. It offers tons of diversity and culture, with not only a Chinatown and Little Italy, but Greektown, Koreatown, Little India, Little Poland, Little Portugal, Little Malta, and more.

There are plenty of free and cheap activities that can make this an affordable place to visit too. The more I visit, the more I love it.

This travel guide to Toronto can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this incredible city.

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Toronto

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Toronto

1. Visit the CN Tower

This iconic 550-meter (1,804-foot) tower is a fixture of Toronto’s skyline. Built in 1975, it was the world’s tallest free-standing tower from 1975-2007 (when the Burj Khalifa surpassed it). You can head up to the top to get spectacular panoramic views of the city and enjoy 360-degree views if the weather is good, and if you’re feeling daring, take the circular, hands-free edge walk 116 stories above Toronto. For a unique splurge meal with a view, their 360-degree rotating restaurant has two-course meals for 75 CAD and three courses for 90 CAD. Tickets cost 43 CAD.

2. Tour the Art Gallery of Ontario

Established in 1900, the AGO is home to almost 100,000 items in its permanent collection. It’s one of the biggest museums in Canada, with a rotating calendar of temporary exhibits as well as an artist-in-residence program. Admission is 25 CAD, except for Wednesday nights from 6pm-9pm when admission is free. Visitors 25 and under always enter free too. Get your skip-the-line tickets here .

3. Wander the Royal Ontario Museum

Home to over 6 million items and 40 different galleries, the ROM has exhibits on dinosaurs, ancient China, indigenous Canadians, Medieval Europe, Ancient Egypt, and much more. It’s the best museum in the city and fun for adults and kids alike. They have rotating exhibitions of photography, prints, modern art, and unique themes like the T-Rex exhibit. Tickets are 26 CAD .

4. Spend a day at the beach

The beaches of Lake Ontario are a relaxing place to spend the day during the summer. You can stroll along the boardwalk, eat at one of the many restaurants, or rent a boat and head out on the lake. The best beaches include Woodbine (Toronto’s most popular), as well as Canada’s famous nude beach, Hanlan’s Point, which is reachable by Hanlan’s Point ferry. For something more sporty, Cherry Beach, is the place for kitesurfing, kayaking, windsurfing, etc., and is reachable by bus. Lastly, Sunnyside beach is popular for picnics, stand-up paddle boarding, and its many cafes.

5. Enjoy Toronto Island Park

Spend an inexpensive day at Toronto Island Park and enjoy the city views, hang out on the beach, play volleyball, or picnic. Take a stroll down the boardwalk with its beautiful scenery of Lake Ontario, Thompson Park, and Ward’s Island Beach. Or take advantage of other activities like bird watching, boating, fishing, swimming, gardens, and hiking. There is also a small amusement park that’s great for kids. A return ferry ticket is 8.70 CAD, which can only be purchased online (the ride is just 10-15 minutes). Check ferry schedules as they are seasonal.

Other Things to See and Do in Toronto

1. take a free walking tour.

The first thing I do in a new city is to take a free walking tour. It’s the best way to see the main sights and connect with a local guide who can answer all my questions. Tour Guys offer 90-minute free tours that cover the main downtown sights and give you a solid introduction to the city. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end! If you’d rather do a bike tour, 3.5-hour tours with Toronto Bicycle Tours cost 63 CAD.

2. Enjoy the Harbourfront Centre

This cultural hub is a great spot to visit during the warm summer months. Located on the water at Queens Quay, it hosts over 4,000 events a year, including many free festivals and concerts. Check their website to see what’s happening during your visit. There are also a couple of free art galleries with rotating exhibits (Artport and The Power Plant) and in the winter, they create an outdoor skating rink here too.

3. Bike the Don Valley

These trails are perfect for any outdoorsy travelers. The trails range from easy to very hard and are accessible from the city (beginning at the intersection of Lakeshore Blvd and Cherry St.). While on the trails, you’ll not only enjoy being in an urban green space but you’ll also be treated to a mini art gallery of ever-changing outdoor art installations. If you’re not into biking, there are also walking and running trails. Check out the park map to plan your route .

4. Go ax throwing

If you’re looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon, the city has a couple of different ax-throwing venues, such as BATL, where you can book a timeslot and then compete against your friends in an ax-throwing competition. Think of it like bowling, but with throwing axes. You don’t need to bring your own ax (but you can) and you can also bring your own drinks too! It’s a fun way to spend a couple of hours. One hour costs 30 CAD per person.

5. Wander Kensington Market

One of the oldest and most well-known neighborhoods in the city, this bohemian and multicultural hub offers an eclectic mix of alternative restaurants, street food stalls, and unique shops. There are often free concerts and festivals here during the summer too. It’s one of my favorite places to wander around ( you can take a tour around the area too ). Don’t miss Bunner’s Bakeshop if you have a sweet tooth!

6. See the Hockey Hall of Fame

Canadians take two things seriously: hockey and hockey. Opened in 1943, this museum is dedicated to the history of their favorite sport. It is both a museum and a hall of fame, full of memorabilia, artifacts, and even an interactive game where you can test your slapshot against a virtual goalie. Admission is 25 CAD.

7. Explore St. Lawrence Market and Gallery

Originally established in the early 19th century, this historic public market has endless rows of local treats to taste and buy. . There are three different sections: the North Market, South Market, and St. Lawrence Hall. With over 100 vendors, the markets have everything from bakers, butchers, artisans, produce stalls, and on Sundays, there’s an antique market with over 80 antique dealers. Food tours are available as well . The Market Gallery is located on the second floor above the markets and inside you can learn about the evolution of the city via historical documents, film, photography, and artifacts. Admission to both is free.

8. Eat Chinese food

Toronto’s Chinese community is one of the largest in the city, making up over 12.5% of Toronto’s population. As a result, Chinatown in Toronto is gigantic and still retains a lot of the authenticity that’s missing in many other Chinatowns around the world. After the original Chinatown was demolished in the 1950s to make way for government buildings, the local Chinese population relocated to the intersection of Spadina and Dundas Street West. Definitely visit and eat a few meals — they are delicious and super cheap. For tasty eats, don’t miss Mother’s Dumplings, Happy Lamb Hot Pot, and Red Room.

9. Visit the Ontario Science Center

This interactive museum is perfect for anyone traveling with kids. There’s an indoor rainforest, tornado machine, soundproof tunnel, balance testing machines, planetarium, tons of interactive exhibits, and so much more. There’s also an IMAX Dome which plays educational films. Admission is 22 CAD.

10. Tour the Steam Whistle Brewery

Steam Whistle Brewing is an award-winning independent brewery located in the historic John Street Roundhouse (previously a steam locomotive repair facility), near the Rogers Center and CN Tower. The brewery offers tours for 20 CAD (which includes a sample of their beer). Tours operate on a first-come, first-served basis and can be booked in advance on their website. There is even an art gallery on-site, showcasing local artists. Check out the Steam Whistle Biergarten and Taproom and enjoy a beer and some tasty food like burgers, pasta, fish and chips, or their Steam Whistle brined chicken with gravy.

11. See Casa Loma

Constructed between 1911-1914, Casa Loma is the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, an entrepreneur and soldier. Touring this real-life ‘medieval’ castle is awesome. There are four levels to check out through a self-guided tour. Highlights include an indoor conservatory with its own fountain, and the Oak Room, an ornate drawing room with tons of wood paneling that took over three years to complete. They also host an amazing haunted house here every Halloween. Admission is 40 CAD ( get your tickets in advance here .)

12. Enjoy Canada’s Wonderland

Filled with rides, roller coasters, food, games, shops, theaters, a water park, and live shows, this is the largest amusement park in Canada and loads of fun. Located just 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the city, you’ll want to arrive early as the park fills up quickly in the summer! Tickets start at 29.99 CAD.

13. Catch a ball game

Toronto’s major league baseball team, the Blue Jays, have been doing quite well in recent years and their fan base has exploded. Last-minute tickets can be found online with prices for their spring training starting at 25 CAD. Located right downtown and on the waterfront, this is a great activity for sports fans.

14. Attend Word on the Street

Every September, Queen’s Park is host to Canada’s largest annual outdoor book and magazine festival. You can browse through hundreds of books, magazines, and literary exhibitor booths. There are also readings from famous authors like Margaret Atwood and David Suzuki. Admission is free.

15. See the Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto plays host to the stars every September, so if you’re in town be sure to grab tickets — there’s a good chance you’ll see some great films and you might just bump into a celebrity too! With almost 500,000 visitors, this is one of the largest film festivals in the world. Screenings cost 20-30 CAD, with discussions, workshops, and other events to attend as well. The festival has lots of volunteer opportunities available as well.

16. Gorge at Summerlicious & Winterlicious

Every summer and winter, the city’s best restaurants take part in a massive prix-fixe food festival. Over 200 restaurants take part, with plates starting at 23 CAD for a multi-course meal. It’s an amazing way to sample the city’s best dishes on a budget!

  For more information on other cities in Canada, check out these guides:

• Calgary Travel Guide
• Montreal Travel Guide
• Nova Scotia Travel Guide
• Ottawa Travel Guide
• Quebec City Travel Guide
• Vancouver Travel Guide
• Vancouver Island Travel Guide

Toronto Travel Costs

Hostels – Toronto only has a few hostels. Dorms with 6-8 beds cost between 30-45 CAD per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard, and most hostels have self-catering facilities to cook your own food. A couple of hostels include free breakfast. Private rooms begin at 75-90 CAD per night.

Hotels – Budget two-star hotels start at 115-125 CAD per night. These usually include free Wi-Fi and basic amenities like a TV, coffee/tea maker, and occasionally a continental breakfast.

Airbnb is widely available in the city, with private rooms starting at 60 CAD per night, though they average closer to 100 CAD. For an entire home or apartment, expect to pay at least 140-180 CAD per night.

Food – The food here is a collage of dishes from other cultures, owing to the country’s diverse history of immigration. There’s a lively Chinatown, a Little Italy, Little Tokyo, Little Portugal, and much more. If there is a cuisine you’re craving, you can find it here. The city is also a hub for vegan and vegetarian fare, with much of it centered in Vegandale (a stretch of Queen Street with a host of vegan places). Be sure to sample some of Canada’s famous staples like poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds), beaver tails (fried dough with maple syrup), Canadian bacon, and the oddly tasty ketchup chips.

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is about 20 CAD for something like a burger and fries. A quick hot dog or sausage on the street (which are incredibly popular) costs 3-4 CAD. A three-course meal with a drink is at least 50 CAD.

McDonald’s (and other fast food) costs around 13 CAD for a combo meal. A medium pizza is 15-20 CAD while Chinese food costs 9-15 CAD for a main dish.

Beer is around 7 CAD while a latte/cappuccino is around 4.75 CAD. Bottled water costs 2 CAD.

If you cook for yourself, you can spend around 50-65 CAD on groceries per week, which includes basic staples like bread, veggies, rice, pasta, and some meat.

Some of my favorite restaurants include Bar Chef (high-end, innovative cocktail bar) and Planta Yorkville (upscale and plant-based).

Backpacking Toronto Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of 70 CAD per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook all your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do mostly free activities like relaxing at the beach and taking free walking tours.

On a mid-range budget of 160 CAD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb or hostel room, eat out more, have a few drinks, take the occasional taxi, and do more paid activities like visiting the ROM or the CN Tower.

On a “luxury” budget of 325 CAD or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car or take more taxis to get around, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury, though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CAD.

Toronto Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Toronto is one of the most expensive cities in the country. However, like any big city, there are plenty of ways to save. Here are some tips to keep you from breaking the bank when you visit Toronto:

• Get a City Pass – Tourists can purchase a City Pass for 82.91 CAD that includes admission to the CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, the Toronto Zoo, and more. You’ll save a ton if you’re planning to visit most of these attractions.
• Stay with a local – Toronto doesn’t have many hostels (and the hostels aren’t super cheap either) so try to Couchsurf with a local to save money. It’s a great way to learn more about the city and get insider tips from a local.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe and clean.
• Eat street food – You can find cheap hot dogs for around 3-4 CAD all around the downtown core. Fill up on them if you’re on a budget.
• Skip the taxis – Taxis and rideshares in Toronto are expensive. Stick to the TTC (public transportation), which can get you anywhere you need to go.
• Visit the AGO on Wednesdays – The Art Gallery of Ontario is free on Wednesday evenings. If you want to visit, be sure to visit then to save money.
• Get a PRESTO card – This public transportation card costs 6 CAD but it offers discounts on rides as well as the ability to get a day pass (13.50 CAD), which saves you a ton if you plan on exploring the whole city.

Where to Stay in Toronto

Toronto doesn’t have a ton of hostels. Here are two suggested places to stay:

• The Only Backpacker’s Inn
• The Parkdale Hostellerie

How to Get Around Toronto

Public transportation – Toronto has a comprehensive system of buses, trams, and subways that link the entire city called the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). Cash fares are 3.25 CAD or 3.20 CAD if you have a reloadable PRESTO card. You can purchase a day pass for 13.50 CAD with a PRESTO card as well (the card costs 6 CAD).

The TTC also manages the bus to Pearson Airport, which takes around 45-65 minutes from downtown and costs 3.25 (regular fare). There is also an express train to the airport called the UP Express. It costs 12.35 CAD and takes 25 minutes from downtown.

Taxi – Taxis in Toronto are expensive, starting at 4.44 CAD and costing an additional 1.75 CAD per kilometer. With traffic being relatively slow in the city, it’s best to skip the taxis.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Toronto.

Bicycle – Bike Share Toronto offers daily passes for 7 CAD and 72-hour passes for 15 CAD. They have over 7,185 bikes spread across 630 stations around the city. You can buy a pass via their app .

Car Rental – Car rentals can be found for as little as 30 CAD per day. However, unless you’re planning to head out of the city, I would skip the car rental. Parking is expensive and you don’t need a car to get around.

When to Go to Toronto

Toronto is busiest in the summer, with June-August being the most popular time to visit. The beaches are open, there are tons of events and festivals, and the weather is hot (bordering on stifling due to the humidity). Expect daily averages around 27°C (80°F) though the humidity can make that feel well over 30°C (87°F).

Winters in Toronto are cold, windy, and snowy. It’s not a good time to visit if you want to do lots of outdoor activities, but you’ll avoid the crowds and flights are cheaper as well. Expect daily highs around -7°C (19°F) though it’s common to experience dips to -20°C (-4°F) as well.

Both early fall and late spring are excellent times to visit. The weather is warm, you can do all the outdoor exploration you want, and there aren’t many tourists around. Accommodation is the most plentiful and affordable around this time too and there are lots of farmer’s markets happening as well.

How to Stay Safe in Toronto

Toronto is very safe and you’re unlikely to have any problems while you’re here (it’s actually ranked as one of the safest cities in North America). Your greatest risk is a petty crime like pickpocketing. Just make sure you aren’t flashing your valuables around and that you keep an eye on your wallet when on crowded public transportation.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions you take anywhere apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). For more information, check out one of the many solo female travel blogs in the city.

While no areas are off-limits, travelers might want to avoid walking around alone at night in the areas around Regent Park and Jane & Finch as you’re likely to have more petty crime in those areas late at night.

Scams are rare here, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about the common travel scams to avoid right here.

If you’re traveling in the winter, be careful as severe winter storms can occur. Conversely, in the summer, the city can get sweltering. Be sure to stay hydrated when walking around as the humidity can be taxing.

When in doubt, always trust your instincts. If a taxi driver seems shady, get out. If your hotel or accommodation is seedier than you thought, go somewhere else. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, in case of an emergency.

The number for emergency services is 911.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Toronto Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Canada Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more information? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Canada travel and continue planning your trip:

Where to Stay in Quebec City: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Toronto: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

How to Road Trip the Yukon on a Budget

How to See Alberta: A 10-Day Suggested Driving Itinerary

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What’s New 2022

Toronto Steps Into Summer

It’s the city’s traditional high season and it is celebrating with newly opened hotels and restaurants and a revived live-performance scene.

By Michael Kaminer

Canada’s biggest city and North America’s fourth-largest metropolis, Toronto received more than 27.5 million visitors annually before the pandemic, making it Canada’s top tourism destination, according to Destination Toronto , the city’s tourism-marketing arm.

As travel rebounds, Canadian tourists are predominating, with traffic from the United States just starting to return and overseas visitors still scant, according to data from the agency. Summer is typically high season; this may be the last year to take advantage of Toronto in warm weather before the city gets swamped again.

More than 5,100 restaurants closed across the province of Ontario during the pandemic, says Restaurants Canada, a national trade organization. But this omnivorous city’s food scene has roared back to life. In May, Michelin chose Toronto as the first Canadian city to get its own guide.

“The vibrancy and diversity is still intact,” said Scott Beck, Destination Toronto’s president and chief executive. “Everything that makes our food scene so unique in North America is still there. The diversity in arts and culture is still there.”

And yes, cannabis stores mushroomed through the pandemic, but “they’re a nonevent,” Mr. Beck said. “Cannabis is legal across the country. Toronto’s not Amsterdam.”

Eating and drinking

The buzziest eateries usually open on Toronto’s bohemian fringes. But alluring restaurants have now sprouted in the downtown core. “The weekend-warrior demand for social dining and entertaining is coming back in a real way,” said Hanif Harji, the chief executive of Scale Hospitality, which operates 14 restaurants. “There’s a buzz on the streets again.”

Mr. Harji’s Bar Chica , open since April, hides behind an unmarked door next to a King Street West condo tower. On a recent Thursday night, the high-ceilinged room throbbed with what felt like pre-Covid energy. The chef Ted Corrado tweaks traditional tapas with Canadian provisions; think British Columbia spot-prawn ceviche, or Canadian-beef chimichurris with Ontario ramps (tapas range from 9 to 24 Canadian dollars, or about $7 to $18). In August Mr. Harji will open Miss Likklemore’s , a Caribbean spot in King West Village. Come fall, Scale and the Montreal chef Antonio Park will open AP, a fine-dining spot atop the Eataly outpost in Yorkville.

Also in Yorkville, the chef Rob Rossi’s Ligurian menu at Osteria Giulia is drawing well-dressed locals who feast on traditional flatbreads, salumi and pastas (entrees from 32 to 75 Canadian dollars). Open since October, it remains the neighborhood’s hottest table. Around the corner, Adrak employs a team of chefs who each specialize in a regional Indian cooking style; the unconventional menu includes smoked salmon with pommery mustard (entrees from 29 to 60 Canadian dollars).

Toronto offers endless options for all kinds of Asian food. A talked-about new spot is Cà Phê Rang , opened south of Chinatown by veterans of the French mainstay Le Select Bistro. A deceptively simple menu yields extravagantly seasoned surprises like halloumi banh mi, shiitake escabeche spring rolls and housemade praline-peanut dipping sauce (entrees from 15 to 20 Canadian dollars).

At Yorkville’s northern edge, Mimi Chinese heads back to the future in a neon-lit room of red velvet banquettes staffed by bow-tied servers. The menu spans Southern China’s provinces, from Guangdong-inspired raw yellowtail kingfish to charred cabbage from Shaanxi. It opened in October, and remains a tough ticket (entrees from 26 to 88 Canadian dollars).

Smorgasburg , the Brooklyn-born open-air food market, will debut its first international edition on Toronto’s waterfront Queen’s Quay on July 23; it runs for eight Saturdays, showcasing local vendors. In the west-side Annex neighborhood, the new Superfresh night market showcases “Asian-led and owned” food and drink vendors in a 4,000-square-foot hall “in the style of an alleyway in Asia,” according to organizers.

With commercial rents soaring, condos sprouting everywhere and space at a premium, nightlife has yet to catch up with food service. “We’re getting a lot of restaurants, which is great. The challenge is finding a place to dance,” said Michael Nyarkoh, the community marketing manager at the new Ace Hotel Toronto.

Back onstage

Closed for renovations three years ago, 127-year-old Massey Hall reopened in November with red velvet seats, splendidly restored stained glass, full accessibility and a crystalline sound system. Its return held special significance for this music-mad city. “Massey Hall was built a year after Carnegie Hall, and the Torontonian dream for a band is to play there,” said Kevin Drew, a founder of the Toronto band Broken Social Scene , which played its first Massey Hall gig in April. The $146 million restoration “did an incredible job of keeping the ghosts and the warmth,” he said. Canadian music royalty from Oscar Peterson to Rush have played the hall, whose packed 2022 slate includes the soul legend Mavis Staples and the alt-country star Orville Peck.

Toronto’s live-theater scene, one of the continent’s largest, is stirring back to life after pandemic closures. For the first time since 2019, the Toronto Fringe Festival, which ends on July 17, has brought back live performances. At the big Broadway-style houses, splashy openings include Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , which opened in May; and Singin’ in the Rain (opens Sept. 23). In February, Hamilton returns. Tickets range from about 99 to 260 Canadian dollars.

On indie stages, intriguing work includes the suburban drama “Detroit” at the east-end Coal Mine Theat er (through Aug. 7); the world premiere of Erin Shields’ Shakespeare prequel “Queen Goneril” at Soulpepper (opens Aug. 25); and the Kafka-inspired “Cockroach” at Tarragon (opens Sept. 13). Tickets at these theaters range from 25 to 60 Canadian dollars.

Arts and images

After nearly two years of online shows and stop-start openings, Toronto’s museums have returned with powerhouse lineups. In June, the Art Gallery of Ontario debuted the sweeping exhibition “Faith and Fortune: Art Across the Global Spanish Empire” (through Oct. 10), with 200 works spanning four centuries and three continents. More intimate shows by the Canadian artists Ken Lum and Ed Pien explore personal histories through images and text. A few blocks north, the Royal Ontario Museum opens the Harry Potter-related “Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature,” exploring what the museum calls “the intersection of natural history and pop culture” (through Jan. 2, 2023).

A few blocks west, the Bata Shoe Museum launches “Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks,” showcasing high-tech designs like Nike’s self-lacing MAGS and a Zaha Hadid/Rem Koolhaas collaboration (through October 2023). The fabulous Gardiner Museum , one of North America’s only museums dedicated to ceramics, is featuring “Sharif Bey: Colonial Ruptures,” with African-inspired icons by the Syracuse-based artist (through Aug. 28). And the four-year-old Museum of Contemporary Art , in a converted west-end car factory, offers two knockout shows: “Land of Dream,” haunting portraits by New York-based Shirin Neshat, and “Summer,” the first solo exhibition by the conceptualist artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres who died in 1996 (both through July 31).

New hotels by the handful

This is turning out to be a banner year for hotel openings. Canada’s first Ace Hotel will open this summer on a quiet cul-de-sac between busy Queen and King streets. Toronto’s Shim-Sutcliffe Architects have designed a curvy modernist facade whose soaring concrete interiors house Alder, a Mediterranean-inflected restaurant from the Toronto celebrity chef Patrick Kriss (rates from 349 Canadian dollars a night).

With the closing of a huge Hudson’s Bay department store in March, the intersection of Yonge and Bloor streets has felt bleak. The mood should brighten this month with Toronto’s first W Hotel , on the northeast side. Formerly a dour Marriott, the 254-room W tweaks its Brutalist concrete building with riotous color and copious greenery. On tap: An airy street-level cafe, a 5,000-square-foot tapas-and-champagne bar and an enormous rooftop lounge apparently inspired by Yves St. Laurent’s Marrakesh villa (rates from 475 Canadian dollars a night).

The 1 Hotel brand, from the former Starwood chairman Barry Sternlicht, made its Toronto debut last August on the Entertainment District’s western edge. Promising “sustainable luxury” — and boasting 3,000 plants — the 112-room hotel was the only Canadian contender on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2022 Hot List (rates from 530 Canadian dollars a night).

Queen Street West’s 19-room Drake Hotel isn’t exactly new — it opened in 1890, and was refreshed in 2004 — but its 32-room Modern Wing just debuted in a sleek, compact building next door. This is the kind of property with a full-time art curator, color-saturated interiors by the innovative DesignAgency and live music in the basement. Its windowed restaurant offers great sidewalk viewing (rates from 379 Canadian dollars a night).

On the site of the former Pilkington Glass Factory near the Entertainment District, the Robert De Niro-backed Nobu brand will open its first mixed-use development in 2023, with a hotel, 650 residences and a Nobu restaurant. The Toronto architect Stephen Teeple has compared his perforated black building design to a tuning fork .

52 Places for a Changed World

The 2022 list highlights places around the globe where travelers can be part of the solution.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places for a Changed World for 2022.

An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to a cafe at the W Hotel. It is on the street level, not in the lobby. It also misstated the number of rooms at the Drake Hotel’s Modern Wing. There are 32, not 42. It also included outdated information about theater openings. The run of “Jesus Christ Superstar” has been canceled, it will not open Aug. 10.

An earlier version of this article misidentified the artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres. He was a conceptualist artist, he was not a co-founder of General Idea, the queer collective.

How we handle corrections

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

Places To Visit In Toronto – Top 35+ Toronto Attractions

If you are looking for places to visit in Toronto, we got your back! Toronto is all about art, culture, multicultural experiences, food, green urban spaces, museums, sports, and friendly locals (like us, eh). So what’s not to love?

As you know, Road Trip Ontario is based in Toronto and locals (one of us born and bred), we’ve put together the top places to visit in Toronto + hidden gems. A whopping 35+ of the best Toronto attractions to familiarize you with the city we call home.

Usually, we plan day trips and weekend getaways from Toronto –– but whether you’re a Canadian, a local Torontonian, here for a game, a concert, a show or a tourist passing through, you’ll find that there’s so much to discover in this city. Oh, and once you’ve explored everything on this list, why not consider an epic day trip from Toronto ?

Toronto History

• Toronto, the most densely populated city in Canada and the capital of Ontario, has gained a reputation for being the nation’s most renowned city. This may be why many of us Torontonians believe that Toronto is Canada.
• Despite its immense size, acclaim, and the sentiment of its residents, Toronto is not the capital of Canada – that honour is reserved for Ottawa, where the country’s federal government is based.
• The name Toronto has a long history, dating back to 1675 when it appeared on maps as a water channel between Lake Simcoe and Couchiching. Over time, the name made its way south to a fort on the banks of the Humber River known as Fort Toronto. This was the first settlement in the area and ultimately lent its name to the modern city of Toronto.
• The Mohawk people referred to the channel connecting Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching as “Tkaronto,” meaning “where there are trees standing in the water”. This channel, now known as “The Narrows,” has been documented since 1615, when Samuel de Champlain recorded it.
• If you want to sound like a local, don’t pronounce the second “T” like “Turonno”

Getting To Toronto

Toronto has two international airports: Toronto Pearson International and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Toronto Pearson is Canada’s busiest airport and offers connections to each continent.

The quickest and most budget-friendly way of travelling from the airport to Toronto is with the UP Express (Union-Pearson Express), which departs from Terminal 1. Alternatively, you could take a taxi, Uber, or public transportation.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is minutes from Toronto’s downtown core and located on the Toronto Islands. Travellers can take a brief ferry or walk through the underground tunnel under Lake Ontario. Both Porter Airlines and Air Canada offer flights from this airport.

You can get to Toronto by train from other parts of Ontario and neighbouring provinces using GO Transit, VIA Rail, and AMTRAK + VIA Rail if coming from the USA.

Driving to Toronto from nearby areas is easy, with Highways 2, 401, 407, and the Queen Elizabeth Way + Gardner Expressway. Additionally, if you wish to cross the border, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, and Windsor are the closest points of entry.

Situated between two Toronto Subway Stations and accessible through the underground PATH, the Gray Coach Terminal, now known as the Toronto Coach Terminal, is the city’s central hub for Coach Canada, Greyhound Canada, and Ontario Northland bus lines.

Getting Around Toronto

Full disclosure, it takes an hour to get from Toronto to Toronto by car in any direction. Our 5th season is construction. Driving is a nightmare as great and necessary as construction is for a continuously growing city. The best way to get around Toronto is by walking, biking, or using the streetcar (tram) and subway (train).

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) which operates the city’s trains, buses and streetcars, offers Day Passes – available at all subway stations. This allows unlimited rides on all TTC transit within 24 hours. This pass is especially affordable for those who plan to make a few trips during their stay.

For those who want to explore the city in style, Bike Share has several bike stations scattered around the city so visitors can explore the city quickly and effectively.

Hop-on-hop-off-bus

An efficient and popular way to see many of the city’s attractions is on one of the many sightseeing tours like the hop-on-hop-off bus tour , which provides tourists with an inexpensive and convenient way of visiting Toronto’s most popular attractions.

Many tour operators offer narrated tours in languages other than English, including Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Japanese, to mention a few.

Top Things to See in Toronto (Day 1)

Before we get started, Toronto is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. It is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

Like most of our itineraries, we use the CN Tower as our starting point. Since Toronto is a big city, we’ll logistically divide destinations based on their proximity to each other, from the CN Tower, and what you can fit within a day.

1. CN Tower (The most popular of all places to visit in Toronto)

Wanting to get a birds-eye view of Toronto? Then head on over to the famous CN Tower. Standing at 553.3 meters high, it’s the tallest free-standing building in the Western Hemisphere and the ninth tallest in the world.  

While this Toronto tourist attraction can be seen from almost anywhere in the downtown area, the best view is definitely from the Sky Pod. At 447 meters high, you’ll be able to see as far as Niagara Falls on a clear day. If you’re looking for a more death-defying experience, stroll along the 365-meter-high “Edge Walk.” 

 After the sightseeing, why not grab a bite to eat at the 360-degree revolving restaurant?

2. Rogers Centre

Rogers Centre (aka SkyDome, its former name that most of us still call it) is a multi-purpose stadium home to the Toronto Blue Jays. Opened in 1989, this iconic stadium is the world’s first fully retractable roof stadium and is a symbol of Toronto’s sporty side.

The Rogers Centre has hosted numerous major events, including the 1993 World Series and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Many cultural and musical events occur annually if a game isn’t on.

3. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

In downtown Toronto, near the CN Tower, sits the underwater world that is Ripley’s Aquarium. With over 20 000 marine and freshwater specimens, there is no shortage of mesmerizing water animals to spot. 

The underwater tunnel is the perfect place to observe these creatures – you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to an entirely different world. There are also interactive displays, touch tanks and many other educational opportunities, making the Ripley Aquarium one of the must-see places in Toronto for families.

4. Toronto Railway Museum

Toronto Railway Museum is a great place to discover the history of Toronto’s railroads and railway industry. The museum has two permanent exhibitions – one is dedicated to the Railways of Toronto, and the other is to the Working Railway.

It also features many interesting displays, including a 1940s Pullman Station, a railway post office, and collections of artifacts from the days of steam.

5. Steam Whistle Biergärten

Steam Whistle Biergärten, located in the historic Roundhouse Park, offers a wide selection of Steam Whistle’s craft beer, local spirits and delicious eats. The 20,000-square-foot courtyard with a giant fireplace and plenty of seating is open daily from May to October and hosts various events throughout the summer months.

The beer selection includes house-made lagers, IPAs, ciders and more. It also has a full bar offering wine and cocktails. In addition, there is a selection of food items such as wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, salads and more.

6. Amsterdam Brewhouse

Amsterdam BrewHouse is a great and popular beer-inspired place to visit in Toronto that’s located by the lake and offers stunning views of Lake Ontario. Amsterdam Brewhouse has a wide selection of craft beers, wines, and spirits and an array of delicious food options to pair it with.

With up to 15 different beers on tap, including some hard-to-find seasonal specialties. Amsterdam Brewhouse has a great atmosphere and, during the summer, can have long lineups of people trying to get in, making it one of the most popular places to visit in Toronto.

7. Harbourfront Centre

Harbourfront Centre is a non-profit cultural organization and landmark on Toronto’s waterfront founded in 1972. The Centre presents over 4,000 events year-round with access to leading Canadian and international artists in music, theatre, dance, literature, visual arts, family programming and more.

With four galleries, a craft & design store, a public promenade, an outdoor stage and several outdoor sites for festivals and special events, there is a good chance that something will be happening during your visit.

Things To See In Toronto | East Of The CN Tower

8. scotiabank arena.

Scotiabank Arena, formerly known as the Air Canada Centre, is an indoor arena home to the Toronto Raptors (2019 world champions! “WE THE NORTH!”) and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The arena is owned and operated by the Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment business division, which also owns both teams.

9. Fairmont Royal York

The Fairmont Royal York is a historic, AAA/CAA four-diamond luxury hotel and is one of the city’s iconic landmarks. The hotel has over 1,000 rooms and suites and offers various services and amenities, including upscale dining, meeting and banquet facilities, a fitness centre and spa, salon services, and event spaces.

10. Hockey Hall of Fame

Speaking of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canadians love their sport – especially ice hockey! If you are a fan of this sport or want to learn more about it, you must head to the Hockey Hall of Fame. This museum holds all types of memorabilia – from players’ jerseys and kits to the famous Stanley Cup. 

Coming to this museum is one of the best things to do in Toronto with kids. Besides browsing the exhibitions, you can test your ice hockey skills. This hall of fame offers interactive games where you can shoot pucks at a digital goalie – or try and be the goalie if you’re up for it. And yes, you can try these games out even if you’re an adult.

11. Gooderham Building (Flatiron Building) + Berczy Park

The Gooderham Building and Berczy Park are two awesome downtown landmarks en route to St. Lawrence Market and The Distillery District. The Gooderham Building, commonly known as the Flatiron Building, is a notable Victorian Era building in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood that has existed since 1892.

Behind the Flatiron Building is Berczy Park, which is on this list simply because it has the coolest 2-tiered fountain with dog and cat sculptures.

12. The Cathedral Church of St. James

The Cathedral Church of St. James is the oldest Anglican church in Toronto. Established in 1797, it was the first Anglican church in Upper Canada and served as the original seat of the diocese of Toronto.

The building is an example of Gothic Revival architecture, built from local stone in the 1830s and features a 137-foot-high tower and spire, making it a prominent landmark in the city.

13. St. Lawrence Market

This public market on the southwest corner of Front and Lower Jarvis Street is filled with vendors. The sights, smell, and grand interior contribute to a charming atmosphere. If you find yourself in St Lawrence Market, sample some delicious foods or treat yourself (or a friend) to a gift or two. 

This spot is a Toronto must-do, even if you’re just visiting Toronto for the weekend.

14. Distillery District

Whether you love a craft beer, a glass of wine or good old G&T, you’ll find it in this industrial Toronto neighbourhood. Taking a segway tour is a great way to explore the area. But if you’re planning on sampling some (boozy) goods, then a walking tour might be the smarter option. 

Distillery District is known for its hip, broody atmosphere, which makes it the perfect place for a host of events. During the warmer months, there’s the Music City Summer series and a weekly Sunday market. Otherwise, there’s a host of boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes waiting to be discovered.

Toronto Places To Visit | North Of The CN Tower (Day 2)

King street.

From the CN Tower, we head North to King Street. Within the downtown core, King Street is a major cultural and entertainment hub (Entertainment District). It contains many shops, restaurants, bars, clubs, live theatres, movie theatres, concert halls, the Toronto International Film Festival and other businesses.

15. Roy Thomson Hall

Roy Thomson Hall is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and hosts many other performances and special events throughout the year. The acoustics and architecture of the hall have made it a popular venue for both classical and popular music acts, as well as comedy and stage performances.

Canadian architect Arthur Erickson designed the building, which can seat 2 630 and was completed in 1982.

16. Princess of Wales Theatre

The historic Princess of Wales Theatre is a 1,000-seat theatre built in 1893 and is the oldest in Canada. Canadian impresario George William Ross originally owned the building, but Mirvish Productions owns it.

Although the theatre was originally built as a vaudeville house –– This type of light entertainment was popular from the mid-1890s to the early 1930s and comprised a range of performers, including magicians, acrobats, comedians, trained animals, jugglers, singers, and dancers, each act lasting for approximately 10-15 minutes)

It has since hosted numerous theatrical productions, concerts and events and is one of the most renowned theatres in the city.

17. TIFF Bell Lightbox

TIFF Bell Lightbox is an entertainment venue, the headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival, and a multi-screen cinema complex with five screens. It opened on September 12, 2010, as the permanent home of the Toronto International Film Festival.

When the TIFF isn’t taking over Toronto in September, The TIFF Bell Lightbox also features regular film screenings, lectures, discussions, festivals, workshops, and year-round installations.

The complex includes two restaurants, a lounge, galleries, a gift shop, and learning and rental spaces.

Queen Street

As we continue north, we hit Queen Street at the centre of the Fashion District. It is one of the busiest streets in the downtown area, lined with an eclectic mix of stores, from high-end fashion boutiques, thrift shops, bars and restaurants.

18. Campbell House Museum

Campbell House Museum houses various artifacts relating to Sir William Campbell’s and his family’s lives. The museum is not only a beautiful historical landmark with a grandiose Georgian-style home; it was built in 1822 by William Campbell, one of Toronto’s foremost architects and builders.

The museum offers a variety of tours, where you can explore the house and learn about its history. In addition, many events and programs are held throughout the year that offers educational and interactive activities.

It is also rumoured that the house may also be haunted.

19. Osgoode Hall

Osgoode Hall is an iconic building in the heart of Toronto built in 1829. The first Law Society of Upper Canada initially occupied it, but today it serves as a historic landmark and museum.

The building is Neo-Classical architecture, with two large towers on either side of the main entrance. The building’s facade is adorned with several sculptural details, such as the figure of Lady Justice above the entrance and the grand pillars that flank the entranceway.

Visitors are welcomed with a majestic grand staircase leading up to the main entrance.

20. Toronto City Hall + Toronto Sign + Nathan Phillips Square

If you ever wondered where to find that multi-coloured ‘Toronto’ sign you’ve seen on social media? Well, Nathan Phillips Square is where you’ll find it! But that’s not the only reason to visit Toronto’s urban plaza.

This square hosts several events throughout the year, such as a New Year’s Eve party and the Cavalcade of Lights Festival. Located in the center, you’ll find a sizable, man-made pond (in the summer) that doubles as an ice skating rink in the winter months.

21. Toronto Old City Hall

Toronto Old City Hall is an architectural landmark built from 1889 to 1899 and was once the home of the city’s municipal government for nearly a century. The building is one of Canada’s most prominent examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and is a National Historic.

22. Eaton Centre 

The Eaton Centre is the city’s only mega shopping destination. With 230 national and international retailers, it offers shoppers an abundance of shopping opportunities and entertainment options. In addition, the Eaton Centre caters to its visitors with various dining selections.

23. Yonge-Dundas Square

Yonge-Dundas Square is an iconic landmark in Toronto, comparable to the iconic Times Square in New York City –– but on a smaller scale. The area is always bustling with tourists and locals, enjoying the open space and eclectic atmosphere. The vivid LCDs illuminate the square and capture the electrifying energy of downtown Toronto.

24. Little Canada

Don’t let the miniature size of the Little Canada exhibits discourage you from visiting – the amount of detail and work they have included in each little location is incredible! From the parliament buildings in Little Ottawa to the Little Bay of Fundy with its own tide schedule, much attention has been paid to each element they have included.

Except for the CN Tower, the exhibits are built on a standard train model scale of 1:87. Its impressive size in real life is mirrored in the Little Canada world, where they had to adopt a 1:160 scale to fit in the building.

If you fall in love with the display, you can even leave yourself in the Little Canada world! Using the Littlization Station, a 360-degree photo is taken to create a Little Me replica reflecting every aspect of you and your appearance on the day of your visit. This includes your hairstyle, the clothing you’re wearing, and even your pose.  The final ¾” Little Me can be placed in the exhibit of your choice or have a miniature version of yourself made to display at home.

Learn more here: Discover Little Canada: Travel The Nation Coast To Coast Right In The Heart of Toronto

25. Art Gallery of Ontario

Calling all art lovers. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO for short) and its 95 000 art piece collections are calling your name! From contemporary art to Renaissance masterpieces, you’ll get to admire various artworks from across the globe. 

When you’re not ambling through the galleries, you can partake in one of the interesting workshops and grab a bite to eat at the AGO Bistro.

26. Graffiti Alley

This is a Toronto must-see for tourists and locals alike. Running parallel to Queens Street West and Richmond Street West lies an alleyway with a kaleidoscope of colours. This is the place to go if you want to see a more alternative side of the art scene!

27. Kensington Market

Mixed in with Chinatown, Kensington Market is a historic, bustling, eclectic and diverse community home to immigrants and locals for more than 100 years. The area is full of colourful shops, cafes, restaurants, and markets of all kinds, making it one of the city’s most vibrant and interesting places to explore.

This is one of our favourite spots in the city and a great place to find unique original items, whether new or used and grab a bite or a beer at Kensington Brewery.

Toronto Attractions | Further North Of The CN Tower (Day 3)

28. university of toronto campus.

If you want a Harry Potter-type experience, start the day at the University of Toronto Campus.

In 1827, King’s College was established, making it the first university of higher learning in Upper Canada. The University of Toronto is home to twelve distinct colleges, with two satellite campuses in Scarborough and Mississauga.

29. Royal Ontario Museum

At first glance, the Royal Ontario Museum presents a contradictory sight. Jutting out from the building’s midsection is the museum’s most recent addition – an architectural masterpiece resembling a crystalline structure made of glass and aluminum. On either side stands the original museum’s walls which were done in Italianate and Neo-Romanesque architecture. 

Once you step through the front doors, you’ll be transported into a natural history, art and culture world. Ever seen an Egyptian sarcophagus or a real-life meteorite collection? You can see that and so much more at this must-see attraction in Toronto.

30. Yorkville

Recently named one of the hippest and most vibrant neighbourhoods in Toronto, Yorkville is known as a quiet, posh residential area which has evolved into one of Toronto’s trendiest hotspots. From high-end boutiques to outdoor art and trendy cafes and eateries.

One of the most popular and iconic spots in Yorkville is the Mink Mile. This stretch of Bloor Street is lined with some of the most luxurious stores in Toronto, such as Coach, Burberry, and Harry Rosen.

31. Bata Shoe Museum

At the Bata Shoe Museum, you can explore their unique collection of more than 13,000 shoes and footwear-related artifacts. The museum is home to some of the world’s oldest and most unusual footwear.

From ancient Egyptian sandals to modern high-heeled stilettos, you can learn about the history of shoe making and its social importance. With interactive displays to guided tours with experienced curators, this is a great stop for shoe and fashion enthusiasts.

32. Casa Loma (One of the top Toronto Attractions)

Ever dreamed of building your own ostentatious, medieval-style castle? Perhaps you won’t get to do it in this lifetime, but you can certainly imagine what it would be like during a tour of Casa Loma. 

This 98-bedroom castle was built in the early 1900s for Sir Henry Pellatt , a Canadian multi-millionaire. When you’re not exploring the secret passageways, towers and decorated suites, you can stroll about the sprawling 5-acre garden.

Places To Go In Toronto | East Of The CN Tower

33. fort york national historic site.

Fort York National Historic Site is home to the nation’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. It was established as long ago as 1793 to protect the harbour from an American invasion.

The fort is open to the public seven days a week and offers a variety of activities, including guided tours, educational programs and interactive exhibits. During the summer months, regular re-enactments of battles take place in and around the fort, allowing visitors to experience a piece of history first-hand.

34. BMO Field

BMO Field, located at Exhibition Place in Toronto, is home to the Toronto Football Club (Toronto FC) and the Toronto Argonauts (CFL). With 30,000 people, the field can host other large-scale events, such as outdoor concerts.

35. The Exhibition Place, aka The Ex

The Ex is an age-old summertime attraction in Toronto and is the largest fair in all of Canada. it covers 200 acres of land with over 800 exhibitions and games, including bowling, bumper cars, carnival rides, video arcades, and so much more

They also have classic fair food like cotton candy, candied apples, popcorn, and extreme food items such as fried crickets or hotdog-flavoured ice cream.

Where To Go In Toronto | South Of The CN Tower

36. toronto islands.

Where to go in Toronto? Well, all you have to do is look out at the small cluster of islands off the shore of downtown Toronto. This small archipelago is one of North America’s largest urban car-free communities (well, besides the handful of service vehicles).

There are plenty of things to do while visiting the Toronto Islands, such as rowing, sailing, cycling and walking. During the summer, the Toronto Islands host many outdoor events like music festivals. There’s also the Centreville Amusement Park if you’re looking for some exhilarating fun. 

While you can easily tour the islands on your own, taking a guided bike or boat tour of the Toronto harbour and several islands is a great way to ensure you don’t miss out on anything. When you’re on any islands, look back at the mainland – on clear days, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of the Toronto skyline.

More Time In Toronto, More Toronto Attractions (Day 4 and Beyond)

37. allan gardens – toronto botanical garden.

With almost four acres of land and 17 gardens the size of cities, there’s plenty to be seen. There are also numerous trails to meander along – you could easily spend an entire day amongst the flowers. 

The Toronto Botanical Garden is run by a non-profit organization that aims to educate and inspire visitors through its wonderfully designed garden spaces. You should pop into the seasonal cafe for a sweet treat when you’re not admiring the flowers. 

38. Ontario Science Centre 

The Ontario Science Centre is one of the must-do Toronto activities – it’s bubbling with curiosity, inspiration and creativity. Be prepared; a lot is going on at this Toronto attraction. 

You’ll be able to interact with exhibits, get hands-on with science experiments or observe a live presentation. If your kid wants to become an astronaut or scientist one day, send them on over to the impressive KidSpark – a place of fun and learning. 

Over and above this, there are several outdoor displays too! You’ll never have a dull moment at this attraction.

39. Rouge National Urban Park

This is a great place to go in Toronto if you want to escape the city bustle. With no entrance fees and only an hour’s drive sitting between you and this Toronto must-see, what’s stopping you from enjoying this tranquil spot? 

This urban national park boasts an array of animal species and terrains. You can sunbathe on the beaches of Lake Ontario, paddle along the river, or explore the dense forests. Other activities include camping, hiking along the trails, fishing in the marshland and learning about some of Canada’s oldest known indigenous sites. 

If you’re looking to get further away from the city, consider heading further north, where you can hike in Huntsville or spend the weekend camping .

Where To Stay In Toronto + Map

Final thoughts: top toronto places to visit.

When it comes to top places to visit, you can see why Toronto should be top of the list. This city is truly fantastic and has something for everyone – whether you’re a foodie, sports enthusiast or art lover. We might be a tad biased, but we truly want you to love our city as much as we do.

If you know of any other hidden gems in Toronto and think they should be included in this list, drop a comment below – We’d love to hear from you!

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• Tourism share of gross domestic product - Canada (Fourth quarter 2023) 1.58%

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Air passenger traffic and aircraft itinerant movements at Canadian airports

The interactive Dashboard for Air Travel is based on estimates from the Airport Activity Survey and the Aircraft Movement Statistics Survey. The Airport Activity Survey collects data on passengers enplaned and deplaned and cargo loaded and unloaded at Canadian airports. The Aircraft Movement Statistics Survey collects data on aircraft movements in Canada. Transportation Statistics: Interactive Dashboard

Canadian Tourism Activity Tracker

The Canadian Tourism Activity Tracker was an experimental product designed in 2021 to assess recovery of tourism activity in Canada. As currently designed, the Tracker has fulfilled this purpose and will no longer be updated after the December 2022 release.

About the Tourism Statistics Program

The Tourism Statistics Program produces detailed statistics on travellers travelling to, from and within Canada, as well as information on travellers' characteristics and spending. The program also provides information to the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts which produces data on travel and tourism expenditures, employment and gross domestic product.

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Toronto, ON

Vacation packages, multicultural mecca, toronto is the most populous city in canada and the capital city of the province of ontario..

Toronto is recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. From arts and museums to fashion to nightlife to major league sports, Toronto is a vibrant city that has something for everyone. Year-round, there are exhibitions like Ripley’s Aquarium, Canada’s Wonderland, the Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, the Ontario Science Centre… the list goes on and on.

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Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario, is a major Canadian city along Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore. It's a dynamic metropolis with a core of soaring skyscrapers, all dwarfed by the iconic, free-standing CN Tower. Toronto also has many green spaces, from the orderly oval of Queen’s Park to 400-acre High Park and its trails, sports facilities and zoo.

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• To make it easier to replace your passport if it’s lost or stolen, in addition to your passport, take a photocopy of your passport information page (keeping it separate from your actual passport).
• Carry only a limited amount of cash, just enough for gratuities and incidental purchases. Major credit cards are widely accepted and can be replaced if lost or stolen.
• Always lock your hotel room door (including patio and balcony door on any level of the building) and use the peephole before opening the door.
• Store your valuables (such as cash, credit cards and airline tickets) in the hotel’s in-room safe or front desk safety deposit box.
• If you must carry valuables on your person, do so in a pouch or money belt concealed under your clothing. Purses and backpacks can be easy targets for thieves.
• For complete and current safety and security information, including travelers' tips, public announcements, travel advisories and more, please visit the website of the U.S. Department of State at www.travel.state.gov.
• December through February: 37° to 33° (Winter)
• March through May: 41° to 66° (Spring)
• June through August: 76° to 80° (Summer)
• September through November: 73° to 47° (Autumn)

Top Experiences

CN Tower : Defining the Toronto skyline, the CN Tower is Canada's most recognizable and celebrated icon. Standing at 553 m (1,815 ft), the CN Tower (290 Bremner Blvd.) is the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere and one of Toronto's most popular attractions for tourists and locals of all ages alike

PATH – Toronto’s Downtown Pedestrian Walkway : The PATH is a mostly underground pedestrian walkway network in downtown Toronto that spans more than 30 kilometres of restaurants, shopping, services and entertainment. The walkway facilitates pedestrian linkages to public transit, accommodating more than 200,000 business-day commuters as well as tourists and residents. The PATH provides an important contribution to the economic viability of the city’s downtown core.

Royal Ontario Museum : The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of art, world culture and natural history. It is one of the largest museums in North America and the largest in Canada.

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada : Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is a public aquarium. Ripley's aquariums are known for their shark exhibits that feature 10-foot sharks and two of the longest underwater tunnels in the world. It is located in downtown Toronto, just southeast of the CN Tower.

Hockey Hall of Fame : The Hockey Hall of Fame is a museum and hall of fame located in Toronto. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup.

Casa Loma : Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival castle-style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto, that is now a historic house museum and landmark. It was constructed from 1911 to 1914 as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt. The architect was E. J. Lennox, who designed several other city landmarks.

Ontario Science Centre : One of Ontario's most significant cultural attractions—more than a destination, the Science Centre is a space where visitors of all ages can learn through play and discover ways to think like a scientist every day.

Canada’s Wonderland : Canada's Wonderland, formerly known as Paramount Canada's Wonderland, is a 134-hectare amusement park located in Vaughan, Ontario, a municipality within the Greater Toronto Area. With more than 200 attractions across approximately 300 acres, including 77 rides, 18 roller coasters, Splash Works, world-class entertainment and special events, Canada's Wonderland is the country's premier amusement park.

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Tourism Statistics in Canada

• Updated: March 13, 2024
• Canadian Statistics

Many industries were hit hard by the global COVID pandemic, but the hardest hit industry was the tourism industry. The ban on travel directly affected airlines, cruise lines, accommodation services, tourist attractions, and food services.

It also had an indirect impact on other industries such as retail when visiting shoppers didn’t bring in extra revenue. Some areas, such as the South Shore area in Nova Scotia, were hit harder than others because many local businesses rely on the revenue brought in by tourists.

In this article, we have collected data on how the pandemic affected the tourist industry. We have also included statistics from the first quarter of 2022 to see what has been happening with the number of tourists in Canada since travel bans were lifted.

Tourism Statistics for Canadians

Canada recorded 32 million tourists in 2019 with Toronto and Vancouver the two most popular destinations among international tourists.

• The number of jobs in tourism-dependent industries fell from 2.1 million in 2019 to 1.6 million by the end of 2020.
• Post-pandemic, the tourist industry has struggled to find staff and at the end of the first quarter of 2022, there were 170,000 unfilled jobs in tourism.
• The revenues from the aviation industry fell by 89.9% from April to December 2020.

The tourism spending in the first quarter of 2022 was 34.2% below the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

• The GDP from tourism increased by 11.9% in the final quarter of 2021.
• Spending by Canadians was 85.8% of the total tourism spending in the first quarter of 2022.

There were 315,400 overseas tourists in Canada in May 2022.

• There were almost ten times more trips to Canada made by US residents in May 2022 compared to the year before and almost twelve times the number of overseas visitors.
• There were seven times as many trips to the United States by Canadian residents in May 2022 compared to the previous May.
• 593,200 Canadians flew to the United States in May 2022, which represents 73.6% of the trips by air recorded in May 2019. Overseas flights returned to 67.2% of the pre-pandemic levels in May 2019.
• 44% of Canadians feel confident welcoming tourists from overseas to their area, while 70% are happy to welcome tourists from other parts of Canada.

84% of Canadians believe tourism is important to the Canadian economy.

Before the Pandemic

In 2019, before COVID forced countries around the world to close their borders, Canada recorded a total of 32 million tourists, the ninth-highest number in the world. However, when looking at the number of tourists in relation to the population, Canada is 49th in the world with 0.85 tourists per resident. It ranked number one in North America.

Toronto and Vancouver were the most popular destinations in Canada among international travellers. In 2019, Toronto ranked 53rd and Vancouver 68th among the world’s most popular cities with 4.74 million and 3.4 million tourists respectively.

In 2019, there were 2.1 million jobs in the tourism-dependent industries and there were 232,000 tourism establishments.

During the Pandemic

Initially, in the first quarter of 2020, only 187,000 jobs were lost in the industry, but as the pandemic forced the borders to stay closed for much longer than initially thought, the second quarter of 2020 saw 581,000 jobs lost. By the end of 2020, there were 1.6 million jobs in the tourism-dependent industries.

The number of active tourism businesses fell by 9.9% in December 2020 compared to January 2020. This was over three times the overall contraction of the Canadian economy, which was 3.1% during the same period.

The aviation industry was one of the hardest hit, with the revenues from April to December 2020 declined by 89.9%. In the same period, accommodation revenues from hotel stays fell by 71.2%. Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver recorded the lowest occupancies in Canada and saw the biggest revenue drop at 90.8% representing a loss of $2.3 billion across the three cities.

Post Pandemic

In the first quarter of 2022, tourism’s share of the gross domestic product in Canada was 1.3% of the total. The gross domestic product from tourism was up by 0.9% and it was the fourth consecutive quarterly increase. Tourism spending increased by 50.7% in the last four quarters, but in the first quarter of 2022, it was still 34.2% below the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

The growth in the first quarter was largely due to an increase in tourism spending by Canadians during domestic trips. This was up 2.9% compared to the final quarter of 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, tourism spending by international tourists was down by 6.9% compared to the final quarter of 2021. However, there had been a large increase in the number of overnight visitors from the United States and overseas in the final quarter of 2021 especially during the Christmas holidays.

The tourism sector has been steadily adding back over half a million jobs and the number of jobs in the tourist industry went up by a further 0.8% in the first quarter of 2022. However, the industry has struggled to fill these jobs and there were still 170,000 jobs unfilled by the end of the quarter.

Closer look at the tourism spending increases

GDP: The GDP from tourism increased by 11.9% in the final quarter of 2021. It was followed by a more modest increase of 0.9% in the first quarter of 2022. The biggest contribution to the tourism GDP came from the transportation services at 2.9%.

Employment: The number of jobs attributed to tourism has been steadily rising since travel restrictions were relaxed. The number of jobs rose by 4.8% in the fourth quarter of 2021 and by a further 0.8% in the first quarter of 2022. Travel services were the largest contributor with a 10.2% increase followed by transportation services (2.6%).

Domestic Tourism Spending: The amount Canadians spend on travel increased by 2.9% in the first quarter of 2022. The main contributors towards the increase were passenger air transport, and pre-trip expenses such as camping equipment, recreational vehicles and crafts and activities equipment. Spending by Canadians was 85.8% of the total tourism spending in the first quarter of 2022.

International Tourism Spending: Spending by international tourists was up by 116.4% in the last quarter of 2021. However, it well by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2022. The biggest contributor to the decline in the first quarter of 2022 was passenger air transport at 11.4% followed by accommodation services at 4.8%.

Tourism Statistics for May 2022

In May 2022, the number of international tourists in Canada continued to rise but was still not at the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. There were almost twelve times as many trips to Canada from overseas countries in May 2022 compared to May 2021. It was still less than half of the trips in May 2019. There were 315,400 overseas tourists in Canada in May 2022.

There were almost ten times more trips to Canada made by residents of the United States in May 2022 compared to the year before. The number of trips represented more than half (52.1%) of the trips taken in May 2019.

The number of visits from US residents in May 2022 was over 1.1 million compared to May 2021 when there were 113,500 trips made by US residents. In May 2019, there were 2.1 million trips to Canada from the United States.

Out of the American arrivals recorded in May 2022, 692,000 were by automobile and 43.7% of the trips were day trips. In May 2021, there were 105,000 trips by automobiles and 1.4 million in May 2019.

Visitor numbers from major markets in Europe and Asia continued to grow. In May 2021, there were 7,100 European visitors to Canada compared to 164,000 in May 2022. Trips to Canada from Asia went up from 8,500 to 72,700 during the same period.

The table below shows the numbers of overnight trips before the pandemic in May 2019 and post-pandemic in May 2021 and May 2022 and the year-on-year differences. We can see from the table that the numbers travelling from France and Mexico have recovered the best while travel from China, Japan and South Korea has been the slowest to recover.

Travelling abroad by Canadians

At the same time as travel to Canada increased again, Canadians started to travel more to the United States and overseas. In May 2022, there were 2.2 million trips to the United States by Canadian residents. In May 2021 there were 311,800 trips to the United States by Canadian residents, so the number of trips a year later was around seven times higher.

The majority of the trips, 1.6 million were by automobile and 58.5% of all trips were one-day trips. The number of Canadians travelling to the United States by air in May 2022 edged closer to the pre-pandemic levels. The 593,200 flights to the United States in May 2022 represented 73.6% of the trips recorded in May 2019. In contrast, only 28,200 Canadians were flying to the United States in May 2021.

The number of Canadians who resumed overseas travel has risen sharply from May 2021 until May 2022. In the previous May, there were only 51,400 overseas trips made by Canadians compared to 652,400 this May. The flights taken in May 2022 represent 67.2% of the flights taken in May 2019 and it was the highest monthly recovery so far.

Canadian views on travel and tourism

Since the return to a more normal life, Canadians are readier to welcome both Canadian and international visitors. 70% of Canadians welcome visitors from other parts of Canada, 48% are happy to welcome visitors from the United States and 44% felt happy to receive tourists from overseas.

In a survey on the importance of tourism to the Canadian economy, 84% of Canadians believe it is important. 82% said they believe Canadians travelling domestically is important for the economy, while 79% of the people responding to the survey said overseas tourists are important to the economy.

The travel industry is expected to reach its pre-pandemic levels by 2024 or by 2025 at the latest. While more people’s confidence in the safety of travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels, the growth can be slowed down by geopolitical events such as the war in Ukraine.

Conclusions

The global pandemic hit the tourist industry the hardest, and it has been slower to recover from the pandemic than other industries. However, as the confidence to travel continues to grow, the numbers have been increasing and are slowly getting closer to pre-pandemic levels.

Foreign tourism from France and Mexico has been quickest to recover, though still lacking behind pre-pandemic levels. The number of arrivals from Asian countries such as China, Japan and South Korea has been slow to pick up again.

Most Canadians see the tourist industry as important for the Canadian economy and the number of Canadians who feel happy to welcome tourists into their towns and cities is steadily increasing.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Post-pandemic, the tourist industry has struggled to find staff and at the end of the first quarter of 2022 there were 170,000 unfilled jobs in tourism.

Do Canadians feel tourism is an important part of the economy?

How many overseas tourists are in canada, is the tourism industry growing in canada after the start of the pandemic.

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As Canadians, we grew tired of the tariff battles with the US and unfair practices of other partners. In July 2018, we decided to do something about it, starting to compile a list of products and services available in Canada so you can rest easy knowing your dollars are having their maximum impact in the Canadian economy.

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Tourism Week: What Powered by Tourism means here in Toronto

A q&a with scott beck, ceo of destination toronto, in support of 2023 tourism week, on how travel supports a vibrant toronto economy..

“ Tourism Week is an annual invitation for all tourism partners to come together to champion and promote Canada’s destinations, tourism businesses, and employees – from coast to coast to coast. After more than two devastating years for tourism, border restrictions have finally been removed. The rebuilding of Canada’s visitor economy is now underway, but there’s a long way to go before tourism reclaims being the $105-billion economic powerhouse it was pre-pandemic. That’s why this year’s theme is CANADA: Powered by Tourism!” - The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)

Terminal editor Kathy Motton chatted with Scott Beck, CEO at Destination Toronto, to discuss how visitors help power Toronto’s economy.  

KM: Happy Tourism Week! Let’s start with the theme, Powered by Tourism. How do you interpret it, and how is Toronto powered by tourism?

SB: Powered by Tourism expresses the very real and impactful nature of tourism’s role in sustaining a strong vibrant regional economy. A strong visitor economy is important to everyone who lives in Toronto, whether or not they work in tourism or hospitality. During the pandemic, more people than ever became aware of the repercussions of having no visitors in our community. In our neighbourhoods there were fewer customers and less opportunities to ensure our favourite spots remained open for business. We are more attuned to the vibrancy that visitors bring to the city and the economic impact that comes from having external money stimulate local spending. 

“Visitors feel welcome here because they can see themselves here. This diversity of perspectives encourages originality and innovation and is reflected in our culture, food, festivals and even business innovation.”

Toronto’s reputation as a great place to visit is closely connected to its reputation as a great place to live and work. Cities held in this respect are more likely to be chosen for a company’s new office or research facility and can help attract thought leaders and support investment and growth in other economic sectors. The economic impact from tourism goes beyond visitor spending, and in 2022 it totalled $6.6 billion. This economic impact extends beyond Canada’s most visited gateway city. International visitors take longer trips and are more likely to visit multiple destinations, with 16% of spending by Toronto regional visitors occurring outside of the Toronto region.   

KM: Beyond economic impact, is there anything different about the theme, Powered by Tourism, when thinking about welcoming visitors to Toronto?

SB: Visitors contribute to the diversity and inclusivity ethos that is intrinsic to Toronto and its people. With over 53% of Torontonians born outside of Canada, the city is as diverse as the people who visit. Visitors feel welcome here because they can see themselves here. This diversity of perspectives encourages originality and innovation and is reflected in our culture, food, festivals and even business innovation. And the more international visitors who experience and feel accepted by those who live here, the deeper that inclusivity roots into our collective ethos as a place that welcomes. 

“Over 90% of our guests are not from Toronto and 80% of our guests are not from Canada. We host the world to share what it is like when the world calls Toronto home.” -Jusep Sim, CEO (Chief Epicurean Officer), Chopsticks+Forks

KM: It’s the first calendar year post-covid without any restrictions; what does this mean for Toronto and our community?

SB: First and foremost it means we are open for business! We’re at a completely different place today compared to this time last year when omicron impacted indoor activities like dining and theatre, and so many businesses were still operating with severe restrictions. While we’ve come a long way, the tourism and hospitality industry has a long way to go. As the hardest hit industry, we will also be the slowest to fully recover. Our industry  is not expected to be back to pre-pandemic levels of impact until 2025, and is dependent on the full return of meetings and conventions, and the return of key international markets like China. 

“If anything good came out of the pandemic, it’s that our industry is working together better than ever before. We’ve learned that aligning in advocacy and working jointly to promote our destination can help us recover faster and ensure greater business outcomes in international markets.”

Although not all markets are fully back, having visitors here and seeing the return of the vibrancy Toronto is known for is encouraging. We are expecting a busy meetings, events and conventions year, with over $600 million in economic impact already confirmed for 2023. The overall impact means busy hotels, restaurants, theatres, shopping centres, attractions and more. And as we’ve already discussed, a vibrant city is good for everyone who lives, works and plays here.  

KM: As you look forward, what do you hope we can accomplish as a tourism community?

SB: If anything good came out of the pandemic, it’s that our industry is working together better than ever before. We’ve learned that aligning in advocacy and working jointly to promote our destination can help us recover faster and ensure greater business outcomes in international markets. Collaborations like Toronto Inc and Travel. Innovate. Canada. and working with partners at TIAC and TIAO , ensure stronger, more aligned messaging that can have greater economic impact for both our city and country. More of this type of coordination and partnerships will positively impact the entire ecosystem.

Kathy Motton

Senior Communications Manager

27 Toronto Tourist Attractions That You Shouldn’t Miss

Links in this article may earn us a little money if you book/ order stuff. More here

These are Some of the Top Toronto Tourist Attractions!

Want to explore Toronto like a local? You got an Ontario boy right here at Ontario Away! Not only did Eric grow up north of Toronto, but we’ve lived and worked in Toronto in the past.

With family living there now, we go back very regularly. And boy, have we had some amazing adventures in Toronto.

From visiting the iconic CN Tower, venturing to the Toronto Islands, and exploring some of Toronto’s coolest neighbourhoods – like Kensington Market -, there is no shortage of things to see and do when you’re visiting the city.

So, to make it easy, our guide covers some of the best and most well-known tourist attractions that visitors should check out. If you want to play tourist, we’ve got you covered!

Toronto Quick Guide

Best Time to Visit:  Summer for “patio season” in nice weather, fall for colours and nice temperature, but plenty of indoor/outdoor activities in winter!

Getting Around:  Toronto is relatively flat but sprawling. The TTC (buses, streetcars, and subway) is very useful for travelling distances.

Top Things to Do:  CN Tower , Royal Ontario Museum , the historic Distillery District , St. Lawrence Market for food!

Where to Stay:   One King West Hotel and Residence for a popular, upscale hotel downtown, Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre for a classic option, and Ace Hotel Toronto for a boutique hotel also close to Downtown.

Table of Contents

Top Toronto Tourist Attractions

Let’s dive into the top attractions around Toronto! You’ll notice that they are in no particular geographical order. That said, we did our best to give you the general locations/directions.

Address: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9

The Canadian National Tower (also commonly known as the CN Tower) is like the crown jewel of the Toronto skyline.

Built back in the 1970s, the CN Tower was at one point the tallest man-made structure! Standing 533 metres tall, the views from the top are absolutely incredible. You can see for many miles and even into the United States (on a good day)!

Once you take one of the speedy elevators to the main deck, there is lots to do up there! There is a famous glass floor for those brave enough to walk on. The view down to the ground is pretty dizzying.

There is a restaurant up there – 360 Restaurant – that is known for serving high-class dishes with local ingredients. The coolest part? The restaurant does a full rotation every hour, so you truly get views all over the city!

The CN Tower is known for the Edge Walk – a thrill-seeker experience where you hang off the edge of the outside of the building.

Lastly, you can take the elevator to the Sky Pod – one level higher for views of the city. Comes at an entry cost, though, so plan accordingly! Here is the official website for the CN Tower .

Our Tip: To make the most of your day in Toronto, you can hop on a guided Toronto evening experience to catch the sunset from atop the CN Tower.

The Distillery District

Location: Google Maps

Do you like beer, history, good food, and great photo spots? Great – it sounds like a visit to the Distillery District is for you!

Located to the east of downtown, this old industrial area was once home to many distilleries in the city – hence the name!

These days, the odd distillery still exists and is mixed in among the many shops, restaurants, coffee places, and breweries that have moved in!

You can do a Distillery District walking tour to learn about the rich history of the red-brick factories.

Pro Tip: If beer is what you are into, Toronto has a crazy vibrant beer scene. You can check it out on a  Beer and History Tour of the city. The good news? You’ll end up in the Distillery District!

The Distillery District is full of interesting art installations that draw crowds and make for great photographs. In the winter, the District is home to amazing light displays and a winter wonderland of Christmas market stalls (shown above in the photo).

The District is also home to one of our favourite classic breweries – Mill Street, known for its Signature Mill Street Organic Beer. During the warmer months, you can even sit outside and have a flight of beer for a great price!

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Kensington Market

Address for “The Garden Car”: 232 Augusta Ave #254, Toronto, ON M5T 2L7

You might have heard people talk about this hip and alternative area that you should walk through. It’s likely Kensington Market they’re referring to – and you should definitely check it out. 

Kensington is located to the west of Spadina Avenue, north of downtown, between College and Dundas Streets. It’s close to Chinatown if you want to see that too – we mention it below!

This urban jungle of graffiti, cool clothing shops, amazing restaurants, and markets, almost certainly has something for everyone.

Pro Tip: Kensington is a uniquely old and multicultural neighbourhood with a fascinating immigrant history about it. So it can be great to learn more about the history of Kensington Market on a guided tour !

You don’t even have to look for anything – just a wander through to experience the neighbourhood is enough.

You can’t miss things like the “Garden Car” – you’ll know it when you see it. Trust us.

Royal Ontario Museum

Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6

The Royal Ontario Museum (the ROM, for short) is located at Bloor Street and Avenue Road and has a history of displaying just a little bit of everything!

This makes sense – the ROM is the largest (and most visited) museum in Canada and one of the largest in North America.

Get your ROM Entry Ticket here .

With around 6 million pieces, the numerous galleries and exhibits feature things from spiders to art, culture to dinosaurs, and Rome!

Eric went as a kid years ago and remembers having an amazing time at the Royal Ontario Museum ! If you are getting there by subway, you can get off at – you guessed it – Museum Station!

Bata Shoe Museum

Address: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7

Do you like shoes? Like, do you really like shoes? Would a museum full of shoes make you happy? If so, the BATA Shoe Museum might be the place for you!

Located on Bloor Street just north of downtown, the museum has done an amazing job of collecting and showcasing footwear from all around the world.

We’ve never been but walked by many many times and always thought it looked super interesting. If you want to visit, get your BATA Shoe Museum entrance ticket .

“The Toronto Sign” at Nathan Phillips Square

Address: 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N1

Travelling to Toronto and wanting to snap a photo as a souvenir? Of course, you do!

Head north from Lake Ontario to Nathan Phillips Square. Located on Queen Street West just west of Yonge, it’s here that you’ll find Toronto City Hall and the famous “Toronto Sign”.

During the day, the sign is often themed for various festivals or occasions. At night – it’s all lit up! Nathan Phillips Square is quite the gathering spot in the city. At New Year’s, the square is filled with concert stages and party-goers – Eric has even been a few times.

In the winter, the fountain you see in front of the sign turns into an ice skating rink which is free to use (but it costs a few dollars for skate rentals).

There are street food trucks and lots of tourist buses parked here since it’s a great place to start any Toronto sightseeing adventure.

To get your bearings and to learn all about Toronto’s busy core, try out a 2-Hour Guided Downtown Walking tour .

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Address: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9

As a newer attraction to the city’s line-up of awesome things to do, Ripley’s Aquarium has certainly made a splash in a short amount of time. See what we did there? Gotta love our aquarium puns!

The Aquarium is home to the longest underwater glass tunnel in North America – it extends through the “Dangerous Lagoon”. This is where you come face-to-face with some scary predators like sharks and eels.

In all, there are 9 different galleries and over 400 species to check out. You are sure to find something you enjoy! The place is so popular – they recommend visiting before 10 am or after 3 pm to beat the crowds.

If you are planning a visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and know which day, consider a Ripley’s Aquarium “After Hours” ticket that is valid for a night visit after 7:00 pm. Crowds can be smaller and admission is actually reduced from the daily fare.

Fort York National Historic Site

Address: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9

Are you into learning about Toronto’s role in military history? Want to learn about how we beat the United States in the War of 1812?

That’s a true story – and you can learn all about it at Fort York. The grounds are located to the west of downtown – pinched between the Lake and Liberty Village under the Gardiner Expressway.

The historic site is actually one of the largest collections of 1812 wartime buildings. They even have cannon firings and daily tours that run frequently.

Some of the park’s grounds are free to roam through, but the exhibits and museums require admission. To learn more about visiting Fort York and the exhibits, visit the official Fort York website .

St. Lawrence Market

Address: 93 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C3

St. Lawrence Market is definitely a must-see when visiting the city. We went to the Market “playing tourist” when Lisa was visiting before she moved to Canada and it was an amazing experience.

The current building where it is located was opened in 1902! Inside, there are two floors – the main floor stretches the length of the main hall and the lower floor is just a portion of the length.

You’ll find an assortment of fresh produce, fresh meats and seafood, cheeses, prepared food, wine, trinkets, you name it!

There are samples at various counters and places to grab a bite to eat, so you definitely shouldn’t leave hungry.

You can experience the Market (and all our yummy food like Peameal bacon and butter tarts) on a Canadian Food Discovery tour !

If you are looking for very touristy Canadian souvenirs, there is also a place to buy them here.

Pro Tip:  The Market is located just to the east of downtown on Front Street – and you can check out  The Gooderham Building  for a great photo.

The Gooderham is that historic red-brick flatiron building at the intersection of Wellington Street and Front Street!

Steam Whistle Brewing & Biergarten

Address: 255 Bremner Blvd STALL 6, Toronto, ON M5V 3M9

All aboard the Steam train… to Steamwhistle! Located very close to Ripley’s Aquarium, the CN Tower, and the Rogers Centre, Steamwhistle has been a tourist magnet and popular brand in Toronto and Canada for two decades.

Founded back in 1998, Steamwhistle finds its home in the Roundhouse – an old red-brick railway repair depot used back in the day.

These days, you can tour the brewery or just belly up to the bar in their Tap Room or Biergarten for a pint of the classic pilsner that has made them one of the best-known beers in Canada.

To check out the brewery or to book a tour, check out the official website of Steamwhistle .

The Toronto Islands

Address for Ferry Terminal: 11 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2H3

Looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto? Check out the Toronto Islands – that might help!

Located in Lake Ontario just off the shore across from downtown, “the Islands” as they are known are popular for their beaches, walking trails, and the historic Centreville Amusement Park.

We visited the Islands one beautiful summer day and had a wonderful day walking, eating, relaxing on the beach, and just taking in the views.

Lots of people explored the area by bike – and there’s a really popular guided bike tour that helps you get the most out of your visit.

Interesting fact: The Islands themselves actually have residents.

There is a ferry that leaves from the Ferry Terminal located on Queens Quay between Yonge and Bay Street. You can check out the Toronto Island ferry schedule here.

Alternatively, if you want a smaller tour of the harbour and surrounding islands, check out this Toronto Harbour boat cruise . You have to get off on the islands so the tour doubles as a water taxi – with amazing photos of the skyline!

Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8

It’s a house? It’s a castle? No, it’s Casa Loma ! Built in the early 1900s and located in Toronto’s midtown, Casa Loma is a top tourist attraction for so many reasons.

This Gothic dream home was built by a wealthy Toronto businessman – Sir Henry Pellatt. After decades of history, the estate is now owned by the city and revered for its many art pieces and rich history.

Get your Entry Ticket for Toronto’s famous Casa Loma !

Due to the grand size of the estate and gardens, Casa Loma is also the place for many events, festivals, and even weddings throughout the year.

If you are visiting, you can buy a ticket to enter and hop on a guided tour to learn all about one of Toronto’s most famous attractions.

Hockey Hall of Fame

Address: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8

You can’t go to Canada and not discover the rich history of hockey! To do this, you should take a trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame .

Located right downtown on Front Street, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a great attraction that is one part museum, part exhibit, part interactive games area, and much more.

Get your Hockey Hall of Fame ticket in advance here .

Eric has been there many times over the years since it was always a great place for a school to plan a field trip to. That said, there is plenty to do for adults as well. We just recently went with friends visiting Toronto (late 2023) and it was an absolute blast.

Not only can you test out your hockey skills in the interactive zones, but there’s a 3-D movie, tons of hockey memorabilia to see (like Crosby’s 2010 “Golden Goal” mitts and stick), and even a mock sports broadcaster booth.

The coolest part is – of course – the trophy hall where you will be able to see (and take a photo with) the current Stanley Cup (one of the oldest sport trophies in an organized league worldwide), the old versions of the cup, and all the other important trophies handed out each year in the NHL.

Hockey is a huge part of Canadian culture, so a stop is definitely worth your time if you’re interested. We had an absolute blast when we visited!

Dundas Square

Address: 1 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5B 2R8

If you are looking for “Times Square” but for Toronto – Dundas Square is it. From the street performers to the lights at night, the corner near Yonge and Dundas is a great place to experience Toronto in full swing in the evening.

Besides malls and restaurants, there isn’t much to do there, but you might want to pass through to snap a few photos in the evening!

It’s probably good to mention that the southwest corner is where you enter the Eaton Centre – a top attraction, but not good enough for its own place on the list.

It’s just a very nice mall that is pretty big and features some very popular shops. There are fountains and at Christmas, they have a tree and giant reindeer!

Scotiabank Arena – formerly Air Canada Centre

Address: 40 Bay St., Toronto, ON M5J 2X2

If you are into sports, Toronto is an amazing sports city with very passionate fans across the professional leagues.

At the Scotiabank Arena (formerly called the Air Canada Centre) the Toronto Maple Leafs play ice hockey and the Toronto Raptors play basketball. The Arena is located closer to the water, just south of Union Station.

Leafs tickets can be quite expensive but are definitely worth the experience of watching professional-level hockey in Canada. Raptors tickets can be less expensive if you don’t mind sitting higher up in the stands!

Even watching the game at one of the sports bars nearby is an experience worthy of a visitor to Toronto! Here is the Scotiabank Arena website if you want to check out ticket availability and prices.

Art Gallery of Ontario

Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4

Located on Dundas Street West between Spadina and University Avenue, the Art Gallery of Ontario (or AGO , for short) is definitely an art lover’s paradise.

Featuring 95,000 works over 45,000 sq metres of space, this makes the AGO one of the largest galleries in all of North America.

The AGO was originally founded in the year 1900. Over the years, it has expanded to its current size and number of galleries.

The AGO hosts exhibitions and has many permanent galleries featuring everything from Canadian artwork to African sculptures to Baroque-era paintings. 

You can purchase a ticket for admission in advance . Keep in mind that the AGO is closed on Mondays!

Location: 43°39’10.6″N 79°23’52.3″W

There are many amazing Chinatowns around the world (San Francisco, for example) – and Chinatown in Toronto is no exception!

If you want to experience Toronto’s Chinatown, head over to Spadina between College Street and Queen Street West.

You’ll find open-air shops with all sorts of goods, amazing restaurants (with really good dim sum), and other places to grab sweet treats.

Chinatown itself is a neat experience and conveniently placed along Spadina. This makes it easy to wander through on the way to another attraction.

Toronto is a city that prides itself on its multiculturalism and ethnic diversity, so check it out!

Tip: Explore both Chinatown and Kensington Market on a guided tour !

Rogers Centre

Address: 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 1J1

Still thinking about sports? How about catching a baseball game? The Blue Jays play at the Rogers Centre – physically located at the base of the CN Tower.

The Jays are the only Canadian team playing in Major League Baseball, so if you’re in Toronto anytime from April to September, Toronto is your only chance to catch baseball north of the border!

The nice thing about Jays games is that the summer weather means a great time out in the sunshine.

The other great thing about tickets at the Rogers Centre is that that they are still relatively inexpensive. You can go to a game for cheap and enjoy the game from decent seats!

Unlike at Scotiabank Arena, you can show up on game day, wait in line, and get tickets! It’s a franchise that isn’t too expensive yet (cough, the Leafs). Here’s the website for Jays tickets .

Woodbine Beach

Address: 1675 Lake Shore Blvd E, Toronto, ON M4L 3W6

Ah, Woodbine Beach – what can we say? It’s “home”. The beach is located in the neighbourhood called “The Beaches”.

The Beaches is in the city’s east end – and it’s actually where we lived when we lived in Toronto!

Woodbine Beach is a massive (and massively popular) sandy and rocky beach with access to swimming in Lake Ontario.

There is a boardwalk that runs for kilometres through Ashbridge’s Bay, other walking trails, parks, dog beaches, and wooded areas.

As for things to do, the summertime is busy with paddleboard renters, swimming, sunbathing, a few patios, and beach volleyball. The autumn is great for fall strolls along Lake Ontario.

The neighbourhood area along Queen Street East is full of restaurants, bars, and shops that you should check out.

It’s funny – the Beaches is where we worked on and grew our other travel site –  Penguin and Pia  – in its early days. How times have changed!

Queen Street West

Queen Street West is certainly where you can get some shopping done!

Located – you guessed it – along Queen Street West west of Yonge Street and extending well past Bathurst Street, Queen Street is also home to many amazing restaurants, hip bars and pubs, and coffee shops.

One of our favourite ramen places is on Queen Street West and Lisa misses it dearly from when we used to go for ramen lunch! Mmmm, noodles.

Harbourfront Centre

Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8

If you are looking for things to do down near the waterfront, head to the Harbourfront Centre ! The Centre itself is actually an area of the pier described as a “cultural hub”.

This means that there are walking paths, performance stages, exhibits, restaurants, coffee shops, and much more.

There is always something going on down at the Harbourfront Centre. You can get great photos down by the lake, and the proximity to Amsterdam Brewhouse is also nice!

University of Toronto

Address: 27 King’s College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S

As one of the oldest universities in all of Canada and the oldest in Ontario, the University of Toronto has a great reputation on the world stage for academics.

Founded in 1827, the main campus (St. George Campus) is often like stepping into a time capsule.

This university has a huge main campus that sprawls for blocks and blocks between College Street and Bloor Street.

You can walk through, hop on a campus tour, and you might even find football going on at their Varsity Stadium!

Attractions Located Outside of Toronto

While this article is mainly about Toronto tourist attractions that are mainly located downtown or very close by, there are also a handful of awesome attractions that you might be interested in that are a bit further away! So, here are five.

We want to make it clear: these are NOT located in downtown Toronto. It would be in your best interest to have a car to reach these attractions given their distance.

That said, you can definitely consider some of these as a day or weekend trip in Ontario  if you’re up for it!

Toronto Zoo

Address: 2000 Meadowvale Rd, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7

Located out in the north end of Scarborough, the Toronto Zoo is renowned for its number of species – over 5,000!

The zoo itself is divided into 7 “areas” that showcase all different climates/regions where animal groups exist in the wild.

The Toronto Zoo was originally opened in the 1970s and today enjoys very high visitor numbers because of its commitment to research and ecological sustainability.

You can learn more about directions and admission prices at the official website of the Toronto Zoo .

Scarborough Bluffs

Address: 50 Bluffers Park, Scarborough, ON M1M 3W3

If Woodbine Beach and the parks in that area weren’t enough, you could drive out to Scarborough (east of the city).

Along the water’s edge, you’ll find large white cliffs – these are the Scarborough Bluffs. In the summer, the cliffs attract many visitors to the nearby parks and beaches.

In particular, you can plan a visit by heading to Scarborough Bluffs Park Beach or Bluffer’s Park Beach.

Canada’s Wonderland

Address: 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive, Maple, ON L6A 1S6

Canada’s Wonderland is the biggest and best amusement park in the country.

Located about 40 minutes north of downtown Toronto, Wonderland features roller coasters that crack numerous top 10 lists in the world for height or speed, among other things.

Just Google “Leviathan” – it’s the tallest in Canada and the 9th tallest in the world!

Eric grew up about 20 minutes north of Wonderland and so as a kid (and as a teenager, too) he would go to Wonderland on summer evenings when the crowds had died down.

You can also go in the spring or fall at reduced hours. These days, the place is busy and expensive – but definitely worth it if you like thrills and decent attractions.

Check out the official website for Canada’s Wonderland !

Ontario Science Centre

Address: 770 Don Mills Rd., North York, ON M3C 1T3

Want to be entertained and learn a little bit, too? The Ontario Science Centre is where you should go!

Located to the northeast of the city along the Don Valley Parkway in North York, the Science Centre is known for its featured exhibits, interactive science displays, and an IMAX theatre.

They even have a rainforest area that is climate controlled to help grow different plants to discuss ecology.

All in all, the Science Centre is a great way to kill a few hours or entertain the kids if you want more ideas! Check out the official website of the Ontario Science Centre for directions and prices!

Niagara Falls

Address for Table Rock Welcome Centre: 6650 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T2

Let’s be clear – Niagara Falls shouldn’t be on this list because it’s not “just a 45 minutes drive” from Toronto like the others. Niagara Falls is about 2.5 hours from downtown Toronto, depending on traffic.

So, if you want to explore Niagara Falls, you can go on a Niagara Falls day trip from Toronto  to make things easy if you don’t plan on heading down on your own.

We’ve written a whole guide on things to do in Niagara Falls, Canada as well as where to stay in Niagara Falls (including hotels for the best “Fallsview”)!

Things to Consider When Visiting Toronto

If you’re planning a visit to Toronto, here are a few other details you might want to know about before you arrive.

Best Time to Visit Toronto

The best time to visit Toronto will definitely vary based on what you want to see and do. The summer months are the warmest and when the famous “patio season” in Toronto is in full swing.

The shoulder months – like May – are cooler but definitely good for visiting. The fall can be tricky: September and October can be warm, but it may already be quite cold.

In this case, a few layers and a cup of coffee will have you enjoying the cool lake air with no problem.

The winter in Toronto is actually fine for a visit. Sure, it can be chilly – but, historically, the city doesn’t get as much snow as the surrounding areas.

There are plenty of indoor activities, such as museums, and there is outdoor skating across the city (especially in Nathan Phillips Square).

Getting Around Toronto

Since there is so much to see and do in Toronto, doing it all will take some planning.

While the city is basically all flat and walkable, the distances between attractions can be a little daunting.

You can hop on the TTC ( Toronto Transit ) and use the streetcars, buses, and subway lines to get around.

You might consider buying a Presto card (the rechargeable card you just tap) and just loading it with money at a machine.

Where to Stay in Toronto

If you’re visiting the city, there’s a good chance you need a place to sleep. Luckily, Toronto is packed with different accommodation styles – including many, many hotels.

Toronto accommodation can be on the pricey side, but choosing a location right Downtown (or close to Downtown) is definitely worth it.

The amount of time and money you’d spend on transit just to stay in a cheaper location farther from the more central areas (Downtown, Yonge-Bloor, Queen Street West, etc.) just isn’t worth it, in our opinion – especially if you’re only visiting for a few days.

⇒ Get started searching for Accommodations in Toronto here .

Toronto is home to many neighbourhoods that are good areas to stay. You should read our detailed guide on where to stay in Toronto if you want to learn more.

If you just want the spark notes for accommodations, One King West Hotel and Residence is a popular, upscale hotel located right in the heart of downtown.

Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre is a classic chain option in/close to The Village, while the Ace Hotel Toronto is a boutique hotel close to the intersection at Queen-Spadina.

If you want a cozier style of accommodation, the Margie Townhome Suites is a nice guesthouse option.

For a longer stay, an aparthotel like Yonge Suites Furnished Apartments is centrally located and close to top attractions!

Toronto Sightseeing Tours

Speaking of getting around, planning what to see and how to get there can be a little overwhelming.

Luckily, Toronto is a diverse city with lots of different tours that show off its different sides. Here are some great ideas for Toronto tours that might interest you for your trip.

Popular Toronto Tours

• Toronto Biking Tour
• Downtown Toronto Walking Tour
• Toronto Harbour & Islands Boat Cruise
• Ultimate Toronto Day Tour

Related Articles

Oh, and if you planning an entire Toronto visit or you are looking for other places to visit in Ontario – we’ve got lots more about the city and the province!

• Our One Day in Toronto Itinerary
• 17 Day Trip from Toronto (+ How to Get There)
• 9 of our Favourite Coffee Shops in Toronto
• Great Bars in Downtown Toronto !
• Our Toronto Accommodation & Area Guide
• Great Ice Cream Across Toronto

And there you have it – some of the best Toronto tourist attractions out there! Obviously, there are a few things that we didn’t mention – but those “hidden gems” are for another post.

Toronto is an amazing city, a place we also call home, and a welcoming city for people of all backgrounds, colours, and languages!

We hope that you will have an amazing time exploring Toronto when you visit! Have you been before? What did you get to see or what did you miss? Get in touch and let us know!

As always, Keep Exploring, eh? – E&L

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Eric Wychopen

Hi, we're Eric and Lisa - an Ontario-born Canadian and a German! After settling in Ontario together, we realized that there is lots more to explore in this beautiful Canadian province! On Ontario Away, we as well as local contributors cover everything from cities and hikes to wineries, attractions, accommodations, and more.

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Is Toronto Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Canada : Safety by City

• Mississauga
• Niagara Falls
• Quebec City
• Thunder Bay

Even though it is not the capital city of Canada, it is its most famous and most populous city, for sure.

Toronto, the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario, is located on Lake Ontario.

Besides being a great place for immigrants to come and live here, Toronto is a center for music, theater, film, and television production.

The headquarters of the main Canadian television networks such as CBC, CTV, City, Global, The Sports Network and Sportsnet are located in Toronto.

Business, arts, and culture are some of the attractions in Toronto.

The Royal Ontario Museum, The Toronto Zoo, The Art Gallery of Ontario and The Gardiner Museum of ceramic art are only some of the features that attract tourists from all over the world who seek education and knowledge.

• Warnings & Dangers in Toronto

OVERALL RISK: LOW

Toronto is the least dangerous city in North America and among the top safest cities in the world. However, like any other big city, some crime problems exist and some areas should be avoided by tourists.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Driving in Canada is relatively safe, although tourists are advised to use public transportation and taxis when touring the city. There are no reported risks in terms of transport and taxis in Toronto.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Toronto is relatively safe in terms of pickpocketing. However, some records of pickpocketing were made in restaurants and cafés, so tourists need to be careful to minimize the probability of theft.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Natural disasters are not strange to Canadians, as one of the most geographically diverse countries in the world. Possible disasters are tornadoes, snowstorms, and floods, depending on the region, but the risk level in Toronto is low.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

As most of the major cities in Canada, Toronto is considered a safe city when mugging and kidnapping risks are concerned. Nevertheless, awareness of your surroundings is necessary.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

An act of terrorism could occur in Canada since it can never be predicted. This means that tourists need to be constantly vigilant.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

Unlike other Canadian cities, where scam risks are unlikely and not reported, Toronto has certain reported risk, especially via the Internet, when tourists buy tickets online. Pay attention to the website where you enter your credit card information, because some of them might not be secure.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The general crime rate in Toronto is very low and the city has a reputation as one of the safest major cities in North America so it is very welcoming for women travelers. Since women travel for countless reasons, often alone, when it comes to security women face greater obstacles, so they should not be on the street after dark, especially around Parliament and Jarvis Streets.

• So... How Safe Is Toronto Really?

Taking into consideration the fact that Toronto is a cosmopolitan and populous city, it is expected that the crime rate is at a high level.

However, the great thing about it is that people are walking around, both during the day and night, which makes Toronto quite safe.

One of the longest streets in the city, and at the same time risky one, in terms that it can take you to unsafe parts of the city at night is Yonge Street.

On the other hand, there is Yorkville where there are luxurious shops, restaurants, and the city’s best attractions.

Thus, this is considered the safest part of the city.

The Entertainment District, as its name says, is full of nightclubs and restaurants and this area can be risky after midnight because of the drunk people that are coming out of the bars.

Canada’s tourism infrastructure is fantastic and the police are reliable, so tourists can feel relaxed once in Toronto.

So if you want to see plenty of beauty, do not worry about safety.

Just take your camera and prepare for real visual pleasure.

• How Does Toronto Compare?
• Useful Information

Since there is a difference among the citizens of certain countries and their necessity for a visa when entering Canada, the best way is to visit sites and get informed about your own country. An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is required and costs CAD 7.

The Canadian dollar is the official currency of Canada. The best way of paying is by using a credit card. If you decide to exchange money, banks and exchange offices are the safest solution. Most stores would change your money, but they will choose the exchange rate which could not be suitable.

The city of Toronto has a humid continental climate which includes warm summers and cold winters. Winter months can be very cold, with an average temperature below 0 °C, and sometimes it can fall to −25 °C. During the summer, warm temperatures are usually between 20 and 30 °C. However, the weather cannot be predicted since it changes from day to day in all seasons.

Toronto Pearson International Airport, officially named Lester B. Pearson International Airport, is the busiest Canadian airport that is used not only by the travelers that come to Toronto but also to all other major cities in Canada. It is 22.5 km away from the city center. Some other smaller airports of Toronto are Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport, and Toronto/Downsview Airport.

Travel Insurance

It is always advisable that travelers acquire a travel insurance policy in case of emergency medical expenses and lost, damaged or stolen private possessions.

Toronto Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Canada - Safety by City

Explore toronto.

• 14 Things to Do in Toronto With Kids
• 16 Pros and Cons of Living in Toronto, Canada
• Best Hostels in Toronto for Backpackers
• Top Stay-Like-A-Local Airbnbs in Hogtown, Toronto
• Where to Next?

37 Reviews on Toronto

Toronto the safe.

Toronto Is not safer than when I migrated to this country. The news of gun violence increase every day, I remember in the few years after I came to Canada I could hear of the occasional shooting but nothing like what we’re seeing now. Ok I also have to factor that when I came I was also comparing my native country to this one and that my main focus was not necessarily the news of the day because I had to worry about providing food and shelter to my family and that is why I don’t say when I came, but after three years of living here one can definitely asses what the situation was before and more than 10 years after. In short and as like politicians like to say, Toronto is still a safe city but compared to what? That’s the problem I don’t like to compare or your lowering your bar conveniently. The current ford government is not helping either. Public safety starts with comprehensive programs for youth and families in need.

I have lived in Toronto my entire life and never seen a gun or heard a gunshot.

Lived in Toronto for 4 years from 2010 to 2014 during my undergraduate. Personally didn’t like it because I don’t like concrete jungles and unnatural environments but hey those are just my preferences. Came back to live there for the last 4 months of 2019 and the stuff I saw and experienced took a toll on my mental health. Saw so much street crime and encountered the scum of the earth in this city. Towards the end of my stay I actually felt that one day I would leave my apartment and not come back alive. I think my fear is somewhat justified due to recent events such as targeted killing on rapper Houdini in broad daylight in Toronto during which innocent bystanders were also hurt. On top of that to make things worse, there was a full on gang war at his vigil. I mean I come from Supposedly one of the most dangerous, overcrowded and worst cities in the world, Karachi, there is a lot of street crime there but people only rob, murder and do other horrible things and get hurt if they are seriously involved in that world. On the other hand I feel that in Toronto there could scums and psychos anywhere who would kill you over a petty matter, accidentally or due to collateral damage in these stupid situations. I would think that as a city etc Toronto beats Karachi in terms of development infrastructure etc but in terms of safety Toronto is probably just as bad as Karachi and that police/law enforcement should do more and be harsh on criminals of these horrible crimes to set an example for anyone thinking of causing trouble in the city. But hey that’s just my opinion. Sorry if I offended anyone who hold Toronto close to their heart.

did u really just compare toronto to karachi and say it was similar in terms of safety? lol

Yes… YES HE DID. HOW CAN YOU TAKE A GUY LIKE THIS SERIOUSLY. KARACHI HAS SO MUCH CRIME THAT PEOPLE DONT EVEN REPORT IT PLUS WHO ARE THEY GOING TO REPORT IT TOO. THE SO CALLED POLICE FORCE THAT MAKE MORE MONEY ON BRIBES THEN SALARY PLUS IF YOU ARE NOT FROM THE RIGHT RELIGION THE COPS WILL JUST BEAT YOU AND CALL YOU A CHEWRAA

Where do you live that you hear “occasional” shootings. I have been in Toronto over 50 years and have never heard one my entire life. There are bad areas in every city, possibly you just happen to live in one.

Harassment conspiracy

I’ve been in Toronto for three years. I came in during Covid. Been stuck here ever since. Kidnapped by Shaunna Kelly and Trista Prince. Whom are the dictators. This is the stuff you won’t see or here. But evil ways are dressed in a business suit and a half organized mom. Theives for the most part. Enablers of sorrow. Difficult with all companies which are directly influenced by these two women. Don’t come here. Stay away. Even the police didn’t do shit for me. Now Shaunna wants a lawyer. For what she stole everything from me. In process of reclaiming my life. Good luck and best wishes.

I was born in Toronto and lived there for nearly 15 years of my life. I moved to the US with my father after my mother passed away and we still go back once a year to visit. It is just as good as it was, if not better from when I grew up there. A lively city full of diverse love.

Toronto is one of those places that shocks you to be as safe as it is. It is a major city so there will always be crime but in comparison to a place like New York City, you can consider this place safer than your grandma’s backyard. LOL! But seriously, if you are thinking of going, go. It is great!

Toronto is a beautiful place. Have you ever seen WolfieRaps? in youtube? ask him and you’ll know.

Love this city

I’m 52, born and raised in Toronto, live right downtown and I too have never heard a gun shot. I’ve never felt unsafe walking home at anytime, never. People are friendly, beautiful waterfront, great restaurants and attractions. I love Toronto (as will you), I think its one of the most underrated cities in the world.

Was a good and safe city once...

I’m 50 and was born in Toronto. The city that I grew up in sadly no longer exists. As one of the previous reviews stated, Toronto has become as bad as Karachi (maybe even worse) in many, many areas of the city. Shootings, stabbings, muggings, and crime in general occur constantly, and are not even widely reported anymore. Crime in Toronto has skyrocketed as the demographics of the city continue to change. There are many large areas in the city that can now be considered slums, filled with marginalized people who have no income other than social assistance, and live in poorly maintained government housing. As the government continues to settle the majority of new Canadian immigrants into Toronto, the existing population is continuing to leave the city in droves. Foreign buyers have caused real estate values to reach levels that only the wealthy can afford, which only quickens the exit of working class people from the city. I feel very sad reflecting upon what Toronto has become today. It is quickly becoming the “Detroit” of Canada…

200% accurate. you took the words from my mouth. And I am ONE OF THOSE planning to leave as soon as I can . I never thought I would move to the suburbs but this communist government has forced me to do so. I only wish Trudeau and Tory and Ford lived and worked on the streets of Toronto to experience the every day problems. Tourism will suffer. I am embarrassed at my city right now. I have to step over homeless on every corner. Tory needs to be fired.

The intentional(planned by those who run Canukistan) troubles coming… you want to get as far away from the replacements as possible; It might well come down to your survival!

Robert, have not been to Toronto in years and am looking forward to visiting, when possible, for the first time in years. I know nothing is the way it was but my perspective is interesting. I live across The Lake and can tell you that the crime rate in Rochester (population 200,000) is worse than in your large city. Toronto’s population is comparable to Chicago, which tells me a lot.

Not surprising.

As expected from a 50 year old man living in Toronto for majority of his life lmao

If you come to live here, enjoy worrying about your loved ones everytime they leave the house.

no self respect for Toronto

Homeless scattered on sidewalks, sleeping right downtown on the streets, sidewalks in parks..gangs shooting downtown and idiots missing and hitting innocent people. Hired kills offered to street gangs to do the dirty job of mafia….condos mushrooming and only rich foreign asians can afford thanks to mommy and daddy’s financing, no sense of community, every culture sticks to their own, also no white people left and we’re being called racist as soon as we open our mouths…apparently we have ‘white privilege’. Please sign me up. where is that white privilege that you speak of, i would love to have some. Meanwhile some black folks I know have houses. I still can’t afford one. Not in Toronto. It’s full of garbage also. Smells bad often. No greenery. No parks. Very dirty. Im one of those that is soon moving to the suburbs as well…..Good Luck Toronto. Tory Should be Fired.

No need to announce your exit. Good riddance to getting rid of self pitying trash.

She is exaggerating but overall correct.

“only rich foreign asians can afford” because “only douche landowning whites” kept exploiting the market and selling their worthless lands or randown housing for ever more profit in exchange for that easy money.

Toronto is a very very very safe and well managed city.

The paranoid agoraphobes who think Toronto is more dangerous than Karachi are hilarious trolls planted by some competitive city. Anyone reading should ignore these comments altogether. They are not legitimate or are written by people with more irrational fears than sense. I have lived in downtown Toronto, in lively Kensington Market for thirty years. I go out at all times of day and late at night and nothing ever happens except the occasional person asking you politely for money. I had a dinner party recently and as some of the single women left at 2 am, I suggested walking them to the streetcar stop and they all without fail laughed at the absurdity of such an unnecessary gesture. It’s perfectly safe.

Yup, the only real issue are a few drunkards and WEIRD WEATHER CYCLES, but the rest is all good

UGH people in the city are drunk an there is a lot of fires ive seen. as an american i dont feel safe in toronto. but better visit montreal.

Worst city in Canada.

I wasn’t sure about this sites safety index… So I looked up Toronto, an area I know somewhat well… Clearly I can’t trust the results here..

The last of my family moved out of Toronto AREA* about 3 years ago. Multiculturalism doing it’s thing (destruction).

I wouldn’t spend 6months in Toronto if you offered me $150k.

It is NOT the worst city in canada and it is not very unsafe but the roads can be unsafe

Please explain how multiculturalism is bad, please do.

Just go sit in any Toronto hospital and watch the pure Sh&t show of people just trying to get an X-ray done. People standing in line while every 3rd person has to request a translator… while you wait for the translator you can alway watch the side show of people trying to fill in forms who can’t speak English or French but that’s ok because they have brought 5 family members with them to fill up the ER while waiting for gramma’s ankle X-ray. The last public Health audit for Toronto found that lack of a common language cost Ont tax payers over 150 million per year and then that does not cover any of the medical mistakes made again due to language. Let’s not even talk about seniors who have not paid a dime in taxes yet draining medical resources from tax paying Canadians of every colour and religion.

wtf are you talking about

You may see all these reviews talking bout drugs and shootings, just remember, you are allowed to keep a gun if you have a permit. And if sus activities are detected, you will lose ur permit

Wow, some folks here are warped. I’ve lived here for the entirety of my 41 years. I’ve also traveled the world. Toronto is very safe, despite some (mostly gang-related) crime. As for the tools who don’t like other cultures, feel free to leave. Go live your miserable lives somewhere else.

Facts were spoken

Safe and lively

Lived here for 14 years. We travel extensively around the world and there are very few cities as safe as it is in Toronto. Have partied late night walked through many different streets in downtown and mid-town the only annoyance would be a few druggies/drunks asking for money or a cigarette. A polite no to them comes with a “have a good night” response.

Guns & noise

Overpriced, unsafe, noisy. This city is overrated with extreme white collar crime as well as gun violence.

I can say having lived in Toronto my entire life, I have never walked around day or night fearing for my safety. Any city with a large population can have sporadic crime. Compared to comparable cities in the world, all Canadian cities would rank amongst the safest.

I was born in Toronto and still live here. Never had a problem with crime, or being out late at night. You couldn’t pay enough to leave Toronto.

Used to feel a little safer...

I used to feel a lot safer about public transit in the city ( I worked down town for years). Lately there have been a lot of weird things going on on the TTC and Subway – stabbings, attacks etc. Then there’s the crazy things like a group of young girls (teens) who knifed a homeless man to death. Or the gang related violence happening in some parts of the city. Even car jackings (I remember recently that hockey player who got his car stolen at gunpoint while out on a movie date with his gf) Now like any big city, you’re going to get sketchy areas and those that are perfectly fine. I’m not saying that midday in yorkville you’re going to get a brawl or someone threatening you with a knife, but as time goes on I’ve realized I feel less unwaveringly safe on the streets of Toronto, and just a little more cautious/tense. Especially when it’s dark, or I’m alone for whatever reason.

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