About Toronto
Toronto is truly an amazing city. It has many things to offer to its visitors that you shouldn’t miss out. Hence we collected the top 15 things to do in this beautiful Canadian city. If have only a short time there, it can be your useful guide. Check this out, here comes our Toronto Bucket List!
What to visit in & around Toronto
CN Tower
The CN Tower is a 553.3 m-high communications and observation tower located in the downtown of Toronto. They completed in 1976. Its name “CN” originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower.
The CN Tower held the record for the world’s tallest free-standing structure for 32 years, from 1976 until 2007, when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa. Also, it was the world’s tallest tower until 2009 when it was surpassed by the Canton Tower. It is currently the ninth tallest free-standing structure in the world and remains the tallest free-standing structure on land in the Western Hemisphere.
In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. CN Tower is a signature icon of Toronto’s skyline and attracts more than two million international visitors annually. Also, it houses several observation decks, a revolving restaurant at some 351 metres, and an entertainment complex.
Toronto Islands
The famous Toronto Islands are a chain of 15 small islands in Lake Ontario, south of the city. Actually, Toronto Islands separate Toronto from the rest of Lake Ontario. The islands are home to the Toronto Island Park, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, several private yacht clubs, a public marina, the Centreville Amusement Park and several public beaches.
The island community is the largest urban car-free community in North America. All access to the Islands is by water, by City of Toronto ferries operating all year from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street or privately operated water taxis during the months of May to September.
The Toronto Islands are a popular tourist and recreational destination. Bicycles are accommodated on the ferries at no charge and can be rented at Centre Island. Canoes, kayaks, paddle boats and stand up paddle boards are also available for rental from May to September. Also, during the winter months people access the lagoons and Toronto Harbour from the islands for ice skating when conditions permit.
Eaton Center
The Toronto Eaton Centre is actually a shopping mall and office complex. It is owned and managed by Cadillac Fairview. It was named after the Eaton’s department store chain that once anchored it before the chain became defunct in the late 1990s.
The Toronto Eaton Centre attracts the most visitors of any of Toronto’s tourist attractions. Why? Well, it is North America’s busiest shopping mall, due to extensive transit access, its downtown location and tourist traffic. The mall has over 230 stores and restaurants. With 48,969,858 visitors in 2015 alone, the Toronto Eaton Centre sees more annual visitors than either of the two busiest malls in the United States (Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, and Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, Hawaii), or Central Park in New York City.
Waterfront
The Toronto Waterfront is the lakeshore of Lake Ontario. It spans 46 kilometres between the mouth of Etobicoke Creek in the west and the Rouge River in the east. It provides us with amazing views on the lake, you can bike, walk along, paddle in the lake, or just spend the day in one its numerous parks. The Etobicoke section of the lakeshore is mainly privately owned with parklands and public lands. While, the east of the Portlands begins the well-known Beaches area of Toronto. This part of the city is named after the series of four connected beaches that lie along this section of the lakeshore.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma (Spanish for “Hill House”) is a Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in midtown. Today it functions as a historic house museum and landmark. They constructed it from 1911 to 1914 as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt. The architect was E. J. Lennox, who designed several other city landmarks. Casa Loma sits at an elevation of 140 metres above sea level, and 66 metres above Lake Ontario.
Due to its unique architectural character in Toronto, Casa Loma has been a popular filming location for movies and television. It is also a popular venue for wedding ceremonies, and Casa Loma can be rented in the evenings after the museum closes to the public.
Graffiti Alley
Graffiti Alley in Toronto is a fantastic place to see murals, and an important location in the history of Toronto’s legal street art scene. It’s a popular spot to view some of the best examples of Toronto’s vibrant street art and mural culture. Today, Graffiti Alley is a popular backdrop for photoshoots, as well as a place to see works by iconic artists. It has served as the venue for small street festivals, a set for music videos, and for a time, had a restaurant named after it.
Princess of Wales Theatre
The Princess of Wales Theatre is a 2,000-seat live theatre on King Street West, in Toronto’s Entertainment District. The theatre’s name has a triple meaning: it honours Diana, Princess of Wales, with whose consent the theatre was named. Also, it links the building to its sister theatre, the Royal Alexandra, one block to the east, also named – with Royal assent – for a former Princess of Wales. Besides that it recalls the Princess Theatre, Toronto’s first “first-class legitimate” playhouse, that stood three blocks to the east until 1931.
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. It attracts more than one million visitors every year, making the ROM the most-visited museum in Canada. Also, the Museum subway station is named after the ROM and, since a 2008 renovation, is decorated to resemble the institution’s collection.
Established on 16 April 1912 and opened on 19 March 1914, the museum has maintained close relations with the University of Toronto throughout its history, often sharing expertise and resources. The museum was under the direct control and management of the University of Toronto until 1968, when it became an independent. Today, the museum is Canada’s largest field-research institution, with research and conservation activities around the world.
Little Canada
Little Canada is a celebration of all things coming from Canada. It’s a unique journey of discovery through the sights and sounds of our great country in miniature scale. Yes, in a miniature scale. A place that will unleash your childlike sense of wonder, discovery, and curiosity. You can read about their amazing mission, exhibitions and ongoing activities here.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame is a must-see even if you are not a fan of NHL. The Hockey Hall of Fame is a museum about the history of ice hockey. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League (NHL) records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup.
The first class of honoured members they announced in 1945, before the Hall of Fame had a permanent location. It moved to Toronto in 1958 after the NHL withdrew its support for the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston, Ontario, due to funding issues. The hall changed its place in 1993, and is now in Downtown Toronto, inside Brookfield Place, and a historic Bank of Montreal building.
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is a stunning piece of natural beauty that you cannot miss, and actually most likely you won’t, as the city of Toronto faces the lake. The lake is the main drinking water source for almost half of Ontario’s population, as well as for some Americans in New York state. Also it is one of the most ecologically significant attractions in Toronto, with 150 different species of fish. It has beautiful clear and blue water. The lakeside and the green parks around just makes it super romantic in any season.
Bata Shoes Museum
The Bata Shoes Museum‘s building we can find in downtown Toronto. The museum’s collection of footwear originated from the personal collections of Sonja Bata, started in the mid-1940s. In 1979, Bata provided an endowment to create the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation. With the aim of having the collection professional, and to establish a shoe museum to house, store, and exhibit the collection. The foundation exhibited the collection to the public for the first time in 1992, although it did not open a permanent facility for its museum until May 1995.
The museum’s permanent collection includes over 13,000 shoes, and other footwear related items dating back 4,500 years; providing the museum with the largest collection of footwear in the world. Items in the museum’s collection are either in storage, or placed on display in its permanent exhibition. Also, the museum hosts and organizes a number of temporary and travelling exhibitions, and outreach programs.
Niagara Falls
The best ever views you can get about Niagara Falls is actually from the plane, when you are flying above into the direction of Toronto. Once you’re close – be prepared for crazy amount of people and crowd on both sides.
The best time to visit Niagara Falls is June to August. Summer is peak season, and with a good reason. Mists and breezes from the waterfalls can make the area feel cooler. You’ll spend more money and face more crowds, but visiting in summer will allow you take full advantage of the weather and attractions.
Plus, the free Discover Niagara Shuttle is in full operation during the summer season, making it easy to get from one attraction to another. Spring and fall welcome fewer tourists thanks to the plummeting temps, but there are a few advantages to each season. Fall constitutes harvest season at local wineries, while spring’s warming temperatures usher in colourful blooms at the botanical gardens. Winter sees below-freezing temperatures, causing many attractions, such as the Maid of the Mist boat tours, to shut down. However, the frigid climate does drive down hotel rates.
Best experiences in Toronto
Where to stay in Toronto
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