Toronto is a progressive city and one of the main financial centers of Canada.
Nearly 75% of its trade is with its neighbor country, the United States.
In Toronto, you can discover world-class theater, shopping, and fine dining restaurants.
The walkways are clean and the locals are warm and cordial.
One of the best places to begin to learn more about this city is at the top of the CN Tower, which until 2007 was the tallest freestanding building in the Western Hemisphere.
Best time to visit Toronto?
The ideal times to visit Toronto are from March through May, and September through November.
The top traveler season happens during the spring: the avenues and commercial centers are filled with tourists and locals who attend the numerous social and cultural events around the city.
As the thermometer soars higher, so do the prices of hotel accommodations.
If you want to enjoy a budget vacation, spend your holiday during the winter season in Toronto.
During the spring and fall seasons, you can also enjoy lower prices without the chilly climate of winter.
Top things to do in Toronto
Discover these top things to do when in the city of Toronto:
Toronto Island Park
Take the ferry to the Toronto Island Park, the best place to admire the panorama of the city.
The island is only 15 minutes away from the city center.
You will find an amusement park for children, the beach for those who want to swim, jogging areas, bicycle paths, farms, and meadows and theme parks for picnics.
The place is truly an oasis of tranquility because there are no cars and you can walk freely through the beautiful gardens and manicured flower beds.
You can also visit the small coves where luxury boats are moored.
The ferry is always full of people with young children who go to visit the theaters with children’s shows, and see the various attractions of the island.
Obviously, it is advisable to choose a day with good weather, and plan to stay at least half a day to experience all of the fun features.
Travel tip;
the weather changes quickly depending on your location on the island;
it goes from hot to cold with the wind beating at various points so wear warm clothing.
The island park is a slice of paradise from which you can observe the Toronto skyline.
What else to do in Toronto?
CN Tower
At the CN Tower, you will be able to see all the impressive views of Toronto.
On the one hand, you can see the waters reaching into the distant expanse of Lake Ontario (in good weather you can even see Niagara Falls).
You can see the Toronto Island Park and a small airport, and watch the landing and takeoff of any aircraft from the tower.
On the other hand, you can view the whole city itself, with its tall buildings closer to the lake and the numerous small houses down below.
The elevator will impress you too, with its glass doors — and there is a glass floor on the lookout.
Don’t miss this gorgeous view of the entire region of Ontario. The tower is located in the heart of the city, and is also very nice place to go in the evening when the whole city is covered in lights.
The tower also has a restaurant where you can have a good view of the city while you dine. During the summer season you can take especially wonderful pictures here.
Must do places in Toronto
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is an amazing combination of old and modern architecture, and this is noticeable even from the street.
It is an interesting museum with many exhibits for children. Kids will love the dinosaurs and animals, especially the area where they can interact with the animals themselves and listen to the explanations of the staff.
The museum is very big so it takes at least three hours to visit. Equip yourself with a map in order not to miss any work and not get lost.
Do not miss the show on Mesopotamia. It is a surprising and beautiful structure that stands about a mile from the center.
Another truly interesting feature is the section on the life of the American Indians and the Inuit.
Also worth seeing is the part with historical artifacts about Asia (you can see a tomb from the Ming dynasty in China, completely rebuilt inside the museum.
The best part is the section devoted to dinosaurs and skeletons of animals during the Ice Age. The exterior of the museum is equally interesting.
St. Lawrence Market
One of the interesting activities in Toronto is to observe the aspects of daily life. The St. Lawrence Market not only shows a cross-section of a Canadian’s life, it is at the same time multi-ethnic and colorful.
Canada is so popular you can find everything and almost all types of nationalities here.
There is a wide range of organic and international food, so you have a great opportunity to explore and taste new things.
Within the nice enclosure and architecture of the building, all sorts of goods are on display: fish, meat, cheese, wine, bread, and many other items.
The prices are not extremely popular but the merchandise is of excellent quality.
There are products coming from all sides of Canada and the USA.
Canadians are very proud of this market because it is so vast, tidy and clean, and the staff and sellers are all friendly.
If you’re hungry, there are restaurants for all budgets and for all palates.
Fun things to do in Toronto
Art Gallery of Ontario
The interior and exterior architecture of the Art Gallery of Ontario is gorgeous and captivating. The atmosphere is very modern and the wooden staircase is really interesting.
In the basement, there is a workshop for kids where they can draw in many ways with the instructors who explain their art.
The structure is very attractive with installations in wood that are really valuable.
It’s a cross between a museum and an elegant art gallery that is truly modern and contemporary — not to be missed for those who like this genre.
The restaurant interior is minimalist with dishes that are very well prepared and served by its friendly staff.
It contains very interesting impressionist works.
You will also see sculptures by Rodin: ‘The Thinker’ and ‘Adam,’ both intense works done by the consummate artist.
In addition to a temporary exhibition of Picasso, you can also find numerous paintings of Canadian landscapes with and without snow or small wooden houses.
Take this tour with a guide to avoid getting lost in the corridors and rooms that all look similar.
Princess of Wales Theatre
Toronto has a theatrical scene that is as good as Broadway in New York;
mainly between spring and summer there are always several big productions being presented.
The Princess of Wales Theatre is very famous, with a nostalgic air and elegance.
For music and art lovers, this is undoubtedly a mandatory visit.
With a large seating area and good acoustics it is a very nice place to visit with family and friends.
The theater is accessible for handicapped and disabled persons.
You can watch performance of “Anything Goes”, “Lion King”, “Les Miserables”, “Last Confession”, etc.
all presented by excellent singers, dancers, and actors at their best.
This is Broadway quality at a fair and reasonable price.
High Park
High Park is a green oasis in the heart of the city that can be easily reached by streetcar.
You cannot imagine that there would be such a large park in the middle of the big city.
There are many animals to see (squirrels, geese and birds) and the park overlooks Lake Ontario, offering beautiful views.
The place is not to be missed for a stroll with family or friends, or even an afternoon picnic.
There is a mini-zoo with farm animals for children, and many play areas.
The trees lining the trails provide enough shade to make walking, skating, rollerblading, biking and jogging an enjoyable activity.
It is a park with over 400 acres.
In winter it is still beautiful because it becomes covered in white snow and the lake begins to freeze;
from January you can skate on it.
The park is very relaxing as only nature sounds are heard;
it is well maintained and offers a great diversity of plants and types of flowers;
and it is also ideal for fishing.
More places to see in Toronto
Casa Loma
The Casa Loma is an opulent villa from the 20s, with interiors decorated in the style of the era.
The garden and all the furniture show the significance of that period.
It is a castle whose construction began in 1911;
about 300 workers were hired but it anyway took three years to complete.
For the modern times, it looks very avant-garde, especially the hydraulic system in the bathrooms.
The interior decoration is equally stunning.
Beyond the entrance fee you must also pay for the parking space, but you will really a enjoy this interpretation of a medieval castle.
Externally the gardens are truly a sight, when you get to the interiors you will be impressed by the great attention to detail and the intricate decorations you can find.
The site can be easily accessed.
There is a metro station nearby and then you just go up a little step to reach the entrance gate.
The rooms are well maintained and furnished.
Do not fail to climb the tower where you can see the wooden structure of the roof and have a view of the CN tower and the Toronto skyline.
Distillery Historic District
At the Distillery Historic District , all the buildings are made of the red brick that is typical of this area.
Stroll through the memories of a famous distillery and admire the new artwork.
It is an old distillery that has been restored and transformed into a charming neighborhood that has craft shops, bars, pubs etc.
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So it is suitable both for an afternoon stroll and for those who want to have a really nice dinner with live music.
The whole property is lovely and kept in very good condition.
Aside from finding the coolest places to eat and drink, you can also find a nice ice cream shop that features some of Canada’s best ice cream.
The place is very nice and quiet;
on weekends there are organized themed exhibitions or flea markets (antiques, food, crafts, and souvenirs) that are very picturesque and quaint.
Hockey Hall of Fame
For lovers of hockey, the national sport in Canada, a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame is a must.
It has lots of unique hockey memorabilia, photos, and reconstructions in cinema and in 3D of the historic game with Vancouver for the coveted hockey award, the Stanley Cup.
On a tour you have the possibility to play “hockeybalilla” and watch some additional memorable games on video.
Even if you are not fans of the sport, a short visit is suggested to get an idea of its history.
The attraction is located in an elegant building built in the late 1800’s, and once inside you will come across all sorts of hockey heirlooms.
You will see a reconstructed dressing room with authentic equipment; walls with topics dedicated to historic franchises in the NHL; posters of the Original Montreal Canadian team (the hockey team for excellence), the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and the home favorites — the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Fun for the young and old is also assured thanks to simulators and actual sports commentary of the game, in which every guest for a second can feel like a true hockey champion.
