The 14 things to do in Toronto

Visit Toronto: What are the best things to do and see in Canada's largest city?

When we speak of Canada, generally, the first cities that come to mind are Montreal, Quebec, and the Greater Vancouver. But do we really know Toronto? Usually, tourists only visit Toronto for a few hours and then go directly to the famous Niagara Falls. But visiting Toronto reveals much more than that, and it’s much more than just a passing city: although this city is in the English-speaking part of the country, it remains the fourth most enjoyable city to live in the world, behind Vancouver, Melbourne and Vienna. But what about Toronto? What to see? Come and visit Toronto, this city not like others, ostie d’calice !

1. Queen Street West

Probably one of the favorite neighborhoods of tourists but mostly of the inhabitants. Come for a walk and discover its terraces, restaurants, all kinds of shops, street art. Especially during the summer period, it is the place to be !

2. The islands of Toronto (or Toronto Islands)

When you descend to Union Station and wish to reach Queens Quay, you will have to cross the bridge and walk the highway but if you walk along the lake, the landscape will appear fair. To get to the islands of Toronto, you will have to take the ferry to Queens Quay: the crossing lasts 15 minutes and you will be able to enjoy an unimaginable panorama with the famous Toronto skyline. A unique, magical moment. Toronto Islands is an archipelago of small islands that protect the Port of Toronto. There are many activities to relax during the beautiful spring and summer days.

3. The CN Tower

Can we talk about Toronto without evokeing its most emblematic monument, namely the CN Tower? With its 181 floors, this lift tower transports you to the 114th floor of the world’s largest self-porting structure in the space of... 58 seconds. The lift offers you, thanks to its fully glazed bay, a breathtaking view with a vertiginous panorama. In clear time, it is even possible to see to the border with the USA! For those with steel nerves, you can try to walk on the glass floor.

4. The Eaton Centre

For shopping aficionados, the Eaton Centre is the best place in the world; it is simply the largest shopping center downtown where you will be able to find all the major American chains and nearly 300 stores. In December, it is necessary to discover at all costs the fairytale decorations of the shopping mall that are called a "mall". Finally, to prolong the magic of this unusual space, exit the north side of the Eaton Centre and you will fall on the Dundas Square, Toronto's mini Times Square. This is when you will realize that you are in North America and that everything is necessarily bigger, larger.

5. China Town

Like all major cities, Toronto also has its Chinese quarter, its famous China Town. It is certainly less impressive than that of New York, but once you have set foot in this universe, you will feel completely overwhelmed, as transported in a new region of the world. It’s obviously here that you’re going to find the best Chinese restaurants but it’s especially a perfect place for those who want to buy vegetables and fruit at competitive prices.

6. The Distillery District

It is a historic district of Toronto: in the 19th century, the distillery was Gooderham & Worts . Today, this neighbourhood is home to the largest collection of Victorian-style buildings across North America and 10 streets classified as Canada’s historic heritage.

7. Bloor & Bathurst

A very nice neighborhood if you want to find a place to eat. Try the excellent restaurant New Generation Sushi and take a bento that will provide you with unforgettable flavours. For those who love to discover new typical places, why not be tempted by the Guu Sakabar , a Japanese tapas bar that transports you in a 100% Japanese atmosphere. Finally, for those who love vintage, who listen to their music with vinyl, go to the shop Sonic Boom , you may stay there for a few hours.

8. La Casa Loma

This medieval castle which was completed only in 1914 is recognized several kilometers in the round because it overlooks the city centre from a hill. This castle was the home of Sir Henry Pellatt who was a recognized financial and industrialist in Toronto but also around the world on business. After a financial ruin, he had to give up his fantastic house of 98 pieces. To discover without further delay to understand the demeasure of such a man!

9. The Royal Ontario Museum

Also called ROM, it is one of the largest museums in North America. It is a natural history museum that contains a very impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons. Chinese and Japanese works are also very present. Curiosity: The museum turns on Friday night into a gigantic dancefloor... who wants to dance in the middle of the T-Rex? This weekly event is called the « Friday Night Live » .

10. The St Lawrence Market (St. Lawrence Market)

This market, even if it is not very important, is very original because you can find shops of all kinds like a fishery, a cheese shop, a charcutier but also groceries, bakeries or a shop specialized in the sale of different kinds of mustard. A clean place where the presentation of foods makes for a certain taste for gourmets and gourmets.

11. Ontario Museum of Fine Arts

By the diversity it offers this museum is recognized by all art lovers. Founded in 1900, it now has up to 79,000 works, including outstanding Canadian art pieces. In addition to the paintings of the Group of Seven (Canadian painters from the early 20th century) which are a national treasure, the museum offers paintings of Tintoret, Van Gogh, Picasso and Henry Moore. It was the architect Franck Gehry who designed the main renovations.

12. Kensington Market

A must-see place where you will find all the bobos in the city. A hippie-chic neighborhood where it’s good to walk, a multicultural neighbourhood, one of the oldest and most famous, in the centre of the city.

13. The Niagara Falls

No way to miss one of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world! With its large whistling arcs, the water trombs that come to crash on the high cliffs of at least 20 floors, the Falls represent a fantastic, dazzling spectacle. It should be noted that the fall on the Canadian side is 188 metres tall and is named “horse iron”, the most powerful of the three cataracts that make up the Niagara Falls. Note that it is possible to visit the Niagara Falls with a trip from New York .

14. Other ideas for visits to Toronto

• Go to Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Game Air Canada Centre
• In winter, go skating on one of the 50 outdoor ice rinks. The most famous is on Nathan Philips Square
• To get out and enjoy the nightlife, go to the Entertainment District on weekend evenings
• For children, there is the Toronto Zoo with pandas among others
• Go for a walk and picnic in High Park

Toronto: How to get there? Where to stay?

First, if you leave Montreal , you should know that the Montreal-Toronto train is the best way to travel between Canada's two largest cities.

From France, and in particular from Paris, you will need an average of ten hours for a flight to Toronto. Toronto International Airport, Pearson International, is located 30 km from downtown. Count about 30 minutes to reach downtown by taxi or by bus. It is also possible to land at Toronto Island Airport if you arrive by a daily flight. To search for the cheapest flights to Toronto, don’t hesitate to use the flight comparison Ulysses .

Where to stay in Toronto? There's no choice! The city is gigantic, but a few neighbourhoods have to be preferred as the Distillery District or Kensington Market. To find a cheap hotel in Toronto, search our website Compare hotels .

Have you visited Toronto?

Main photo credit: Flickr – Dennis Jarvis