Visiting Toronto is an unforgettable experience when traveling to Canada. With more than 27.5 million visitors a year, Toronto is the country’s top tourist destination. This bold and dynamic city offers magnificent attractions, music and events backed by the best sports and convention facilities in Canada.
While the city lacks the charm of Montreal and Vancouver, it is still an amazing city to visit with tons of markets, wonderful art museums, bars and delicious food.
Although Toronto has a higher cost of living than most other Canadian cities, there are many free and low-cost activities that can make this an affordable place to visit. It is also one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Want to know what are the best things to see and do in Toronto? Read on! Here we will tell you everything you need to know to have a good experience when visiting Toronto.
The best things to see and do in Toronto
Toronto is the most important city in Canada, for its population, its role as an economic and financial center. It is located on the shores of Lake Ontario, which gives it an impressive charm.
Its climate is harsh, but bearable. It has cold winters and very hot and humid summers. Among its main advantages are its cosmopolitan character, its lively urban and cultural life and its job opportunities.
On the other hand, Toronto is a multicultural city. If you go out of the downtown, you will find neighborhoods of different communities, with a very authentic character and establishments.
When visiting Toronto you will also have the opportunity to try foods from different parts of the world, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Polish, Portuguese and more. All of them are located within a few kilometers around.
Let’s see the best things to see and do when visiting Toronto:
Visit the CN Tower.
This iconic 550-meter tower is a skyline fixture. You can climb to the top for panoramic views of the city, shopping and 360-degree dining at its restaurant. If the weather permits and you have plenty of extra cash to spend, you can also walk around the outer edge of the tower.
Go to the Art Gallery of Ontario
Known as the AGO, it houses thousands of works of art. It is one of the largest museums in Canada and admission is free on Wednesday evenings.
Visit the Royal Ontario Museum
This museum has thousands of artifacts and specimens in more than 20 exhibits. There’s stuff about dinosaurs, ancient China, native Canadians, medieval Europe, Art Deco, Ancient Egypt, textiles, the world’s largest totem pole and a whole bunch of other stuff. It is the best museum in town.
Spending the day at the beach
The beaches near Lake Ontario are a relaxing way 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.
Visit Toronto Island Park
Spend an inexpensive day at Toronto Island Park and enjoy the beach, play volleyball and dip your feet in their kiddie pool. Also here is the Gibraltar Lighthouse, which has a museum highlighting the history and myths of the area.
Tour the Harborfront Center
This area is a great place to visit during the warm summer months. There is often free admission to Toronto music festivals and concerts.
Bike through the Don Valley
These trails are perfect for any outdoor traveler. They are not far from the city, and the trails vary from easy to very difficult.
Have fun axe throwing
If you’re looking for a unique way to spend the afternoon when visiting Toronto, this is one of them. You can compete against your fellow travelers in an axe-throwing tournament that will make a game of darts look like child’s play.
Visit Kensington Market
This bohemian center offers an eclectic mix of alternative restaurants and stores. It gets quite bustling in the summer and they often have free concerts as well. It’s one of my favorite places to stroll.
Tour the Hockey Hall of Fame when visiting Toronto.
Canadians take two things seriously: field hockey and field hockey. Field hockey is life. Dedicated to the history of their favorite sport, it’s as much a museum as it is a hall of fame.
Visit the St. Lawrence Market and Gallery
This market has endless rows of local delicacies to sample and buy. Go inside the building to check out the gallery. They always have a good collection of art. Admission to both is free.
Indulge in Chinese food
Chinatown in Toronto is gigantic and still retains much of the authenticity that is missing in many other Chinatowns around the world. Definitely visit here and eat some meals, they are delicious and super cheap. This is also the best place to get Asian fruit not normally found in local supermarkets.
Go to the Ontario Science Centre
Lots of hands-on science exhibits, including a rainforest, tornado machine, soundproof tunnel, balance testing machines and more. It also contains Ontario’s only Omnimax movie theater.
Visit the Steam Whistle Brewery
You can take a tour of the brewery, which includes a sampling of their famous pilsner. Tours operate on a first-come, first-served basis on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Take a tour of Casa Loma when visiting Toronto.
This is the former estate of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, an entrepreneur and romantic. Touring this real-life ‘medieval’ castle is incredible. There are four levels to check out through a self-guided multimedia tour.
Meet Canada’s Wonderland
Filled with rides, roller coasters, food, games, stores, theaters, a water park and live shows, this summer attraction is a lot of fun. Be sure to arrive early as the park fills up quickly in the summer.
ALFA