Toronto Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget mealCA$18.00≈ $12.72
- Mid-range mealCA$40.00≈ $28.26
- CappuccinoCA$4.50≈ $3.18
- Domestic beerCA$8.00≈ $5.65
- Taxi (per km)CA$2.20≈ $1.55
- Public transport ticketCA$3.35≈ $2.37
- Museum entryCA$23.00≈ $16.25
- Mid-range hotel (night)CA$250.00≈ $176.64
Food & Drink
- St. Lawrence Market vendorsMarket/Canadian · $
A historic market hall famous for the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery and dozens of specialty food stalls.
- CanoeContemporary Canadian · $$$$
A fine-dining restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower known for refined Canadian cuisine and skyline views.
- Pai Northern Thai KitchenThai · $$
A popular, always-busy downtown restaurant serving northern Thai dishes like khao soi.
- Bar IsabelSpanish · $$$
An acclaimed Spanish tapas restaurant on College Street known for its late-night atmosphere and creative small plates.
- AloFrench · $$$$
One of Toronto's top fine-dining rooms, known for French-inspired tasting menus in an intimate loft space.
- TerroniItalian · $$
A well-loved Italian chain known for thin-crust pizza and rustic Southern Italian dishes, with several Toronto locations.
- Banh Mi BoysVietnamese fusion · $
A casual Kensington Market spot known for Vietnamese-Asian fusion sandwiches and tacos.
- Rebel Nightclub
A large waterfront nightclub and concert venue hosting major DJs and touring artists.
- The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar
A longtime downtown institution for live jazz, with performances nearly every night.
- BarChef
An acclaimed cocktail bar on Queen Street West known for theatrical, ingredient-driven drinks.
- Poutini's House of Poutine
Not nightlife itself, but a beloved late-night stop near Queen West bars for poutine after a night out.
Culture & History
- Royal Ontario Museum
Canada's largest museum of natural history and world cultures, recognizable for its angular Daniel Libeskind crystal extension.
- Art Gallery of Ontario
A major art museum redesigned by Frank Gehry, holding significant collections of Canadian and European art plus works by Group of Seven painters.
- Bata Shoe Museum
A quirky, specialized museum devoted entirely to footwear history from ancient sandals to celebrity shoes.
- Hockey Hall of Fame
Housed partly in a historic bank building downtown, celebrating the history of hockey with the actual Stanley Cup on display.
- TIFF Bell Lightbox
The year-round home of the Toronto International Film Festival, screening arthouse, retrospective, and festival films.
- The Revue Cinema
One of Toronto's oldest operating cinemas, a repertory theater in Roncesvalles showing classic and independent films.
- Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
One of the world's most prestigious film festivals, drawing major premieres and stars to downtown theaters.
- Caribana (Toronto Caribbean Carnival)
North America's largest Caribbean festival, with a massive parade along the lakeshore.
Nature & Outdoors
- Centre Island Beach
A sandy beach on the Toronto Islands reached by ferry, with skyline views back toward downtown.
- Woodbine Beach
A long sandy Lake Ontario beach in the Beaches neighborhood with a boardwalk and volleyball courts.
- High Park waterfall (Grenadier Pond area)
Not a major waterfall city, though Toronto is a common base for day trips to Niagara Falls about 130 km away.
Active & Fun
- GoodLife Fitness Yonge and Bloor
A flagship location of Canada's largest gym chain in the central Yonge-Bloor area.
- Sunnyside Park outdoor pool (Gus Ryder Pool)
A large outdoor lakeside pool along the Lake Ontario boardwalk near High Park.
- Canada's Wonderland
Canada's largest amusement park, located in nearby Vaughan, with numerous roller coasters and a water park.