Ontario, CanadaT.O.
Toronto
Toronto is a big lakeside city made of many neighbourhoods, with food from nearly everywhere and a tower you can see from the highway. It is the natural starting point for Niagara, Ottawa and cottage country.
- Best months
- May to Oct
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Train
- Not confirmed
- Bus
- Not confirmed
Photo by Jochem Raat on Unsplash
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Best months
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May, a good time to go
- June, a good time to go
- July, a good time to go
- August, a good time to go
- September, a good time to go
- October, a good time to go
- November
- December
Known as
- Big city
- Lake town
- Food city
- Arts city
- Music city
Getting there
- Highway / road trip
- Commercial airport
- Local public transit
- Ferry
Train and bus
- Train
- Not confirmed
- Bus
- Not confirmed
People
2,794,356
in the city, 6,202,225 in the metro area
Languages
English
Toronto sits on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario, and its skyline, led by the CN Tower, rises right beside the water. It is a very big city, and it feels like several towns knitted together. Neighbourhoods such as Kensington Market, the Danforth and Little Italy each have their own food, shops and languages, and many residents were born abroad. The city is clean and easy to navigate by transit. Downtown has glass towers and old brick lanes, and a short ferry ride away the Toronto Islands offer quiet beaches and a view back at the skyline.
Many visitors begin with the CN Tower, then walk to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada and the Harbourfront on the lake. The Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario are the major museums, and Casa Loma is a hilltop castle for a half day. The Hockey Hall of Fame is downtown, and Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena host the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and Raptors. The Distillery District has Victorian factories turned into galleries and cafes. For green space, take a ferry to the Toronto Islands, or walk the trails of High Park and the Scarborough Bluffs.
Toronto eats well, mostly because of its immigrant communities. Chinatown on Spadina, Greektown on the Danforth, Little India on Gerrard and the Korean strip on Bloor all deserve a meal. Jamaican patties and roti are easy to find, and the peameal bacon sandwich at St. Lawrence Market is a local ritual. Butter tarts are the classic sweet. Queen Street West and Ossington have cocktail bars and live music venues, while the Entertainment District has theatres and clubs. The craft beer and coffee scene is deep, too, and reservations help on weekend nights.
The Entertainment District and the Financial District are the most convenient for first-time visitors, close to Union Station and the lakefront. Yorkville is polished and quieter, with upscale hotels and shops. Queen West and Kensington Market suit those who like street life and vintage stores. The Annex is a leafy area near the university with cafes and bookshops. The TTC subway, streetcars and buses reach almost everywhere, and a day pass covers a lot of ground. Downtown driving is slow and parking is hard to find, so leave the car outside the core if you can.
Late spring through early autumn is the easy time, with patios open and festivals in the parks. September is a favourite because the weather is mild and the film festival brings energy. July and August are warm and humid. Winters are cold and snowy, though the underground PATH walkway links many downtown buildings, so you can stay warm between stops. Plan three days to see the main sights, take the island ferry and eat well. Add one more if you want a quick day trip outside the city. Book hotels early for festival weeks.
Toronto is the hub of southern Ontario. Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake are about an hour and a half away, and the wine country between them is a good drive. VIA Rail trains run from Union Station to Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston and London, and highway 401 follows the same corridor. Cottage country in Muskoka and Algonquin Park lies to the north. Buffalo is just over the border to the southeast, and Detroit is about four hours to the southwest, which makes Toronto a smooth link to the United States. Both Niagara and Hamilton work as day trips.
Highlights
- CN Tower
A broadcast tower with a glass-floor observation level and a view of Lake Ontario.
- Royal Ontario Museum
A large museum of natural history and world cultures.
- St. Lawrence Market
A historic food market known for the peameal bacon sandwich.
- Toronto Islands
A ferry ride to car-free islands with beaches and bike paths.
- Distillery District
Restored Victorian industrial buildings, now a pedestrian area of galleries and cafes.
- Kensington Market
A bohemian area of vintage shops, food stalls and street art.
- Art Gallery of Ontario
A major art museum with Canadian works and a Frank Gehry facade.
- Casa Loma
A hilltop Gothic Revival castle with gardens.
Neighborhoods
- Entertainment District
Theatres, clubs, big venues and the CN Tower, all within a short walk.
- Kensington Market
A creative area of vintage clothing shops, produce stalls and snack counters.
- Yorkville
A polished area of upscale shops, museums and hotels near the university.
- Distillery District
A pedestrian-only area of restored factory buildings.
- Queen West
A long street of independent shops, bars and music venues.
- The Danforth
Greektown's main strip, with tavernas and patios, east of downtown.
Getting around
The TTC subway, streetcars and buses cover the city, and the UP Express train links the airport to Union Station. Downtown is walkable, and the PATH underground network helps in winter.
Scores
Very good
- Rated by Route By Design.
- Crime Severity Index around 59 for the metro area; the Canadian figure is about 78. Source: Statistics Canada Crime Severity Index, 2024 (metro area).
- The other scores are estimated from the city’s size, attractions and transport links.
Where to stay
- Camping nearby
- Some
- Hostels
- Yes
Showing 1 to 6 of 10
RV parksCamp Wabikon48 Delhi Av, Toronto, ON RV parksCedar Beach Resort15014 Ninth Line, Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON RV parksCredivale - Daiva RV Resorts14158 Mississauga Rd, Caledon, ON RV parksGrangeways RV Park & Family Campground9700 3rd Concession, Uxbridge, ON RV parksHeidi's Campground3982 ON-11, Oro-Medonte, ON HotelsPod-Inn Hotel237 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON HostelsQueen Nest Hotel650 1/2 Queen St W, Toronto, ON HostelsSaint Lawrence Residences and Suites135 Jarvis St, Toronto, ON HostelsThe Clarence Park7 Clarence Square, Toronto, ON HostelsToronto Travellers Home588 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
Things to do
Showing 1 to 6 of 84
Museums & galleriesAGO - Art Gallery of Ontario317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON Family activitiesAlbert Crosland Park Wading Pool14 Fuller Ave, Toronto, ON Family activitiesAlex Duff Memorial Pool779 Crawford St, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsAllan Gardens160 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsAllan Gardens Dog Park121 Carlton St., Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesArcadia Earth Toronto486 Front St W Bldg C, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesArt Gallery of Ontario stadiumsBMO Field170 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON EntertainmentBackroom Comedy Club814 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsBamboo Forest160 College St, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesBarbara Edwards Contemporary315 King St W, Toronto, ON climbing gymsBasecamp Climbing677 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON Family activitiesBrick Labs Inc.41 Scarsdale Rd Unit 12, Toronto, ON Sightseeing & toursCN Tower casinosCNE Casino195 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesCampbell House Museum160 Queen St W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsCasa Loma casinosCasino at Great Canadian Toronto555 Rexdale Blvd, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsCentennial Park Conservatory151 Elmcrest Rd, Toronto, ON Family activitiesChamelea Science126 Limestone Crescent Unit 2, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsCherry BeachToronto, ON stadiumsCoca-Cola Coliseum45 Manitoba Dr, Toronto, ON EntertainmentComedy Bar945 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsCoronation Park711 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsCow ParkTD Centre, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesCry Baby Gallery x Tacit111 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesDesign Exchange234 Bay St, Toronto, ON Sightseeing & toursDistillery District Parks & outdoorsEdwards Gardens755 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto, ON ActivitiesEnigma Escape Room130 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON ActivitiesEscape Manor383 King St W, Toronto, ON climbing gymsEthos Climbing128 Queens Quay E, Toronto, ON Family activitiesFairmount Park Wading Pool1725 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsGibraltar Point Beach425 Lakeshore Ave, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsHanlan's Point BeachLakeshore Ave, Toronto, ON zoos aquariumsHappy Rolph's Animal Farm650 Read Rd, St Catharines, ON Family activitiesHigh Park Children's Garden and Teaching Kitchen105 Colborne Lodge Dr, Toronto, ON zoos aquariumsHigh Park Zoo1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON EntertainmentHorseshoe Tavern370 Queen St W, Toronto, ON EntertainmentHot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema506 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsHumber Arboretum205 Humber College Blvd, Toronto, ON EntertainmentImagine Cinemas Carlton20 Carlton St., Toronto, ON EntertainmentImagine Cinemas Market Square80 Front St E, Toronto, ON climbing gymsJoe Rockhead's Indoor Rock Climbing29 Fraser Ave, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesLighthouse Immersive1 Yonge St, Toronto, ON EntertainmentLittle Italy Comedy Club622 College St, Toronto, ON EntertainmentMassey Hall178 Victoria St, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsMutts in the 6ix277 Front St W, Toronto, ON ToursMy Niagara Tours60 York St, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsNathan Phillips Square100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON ToursNiagara Falls Tours Toronto Zoom Tours325 Front St W Ste 2064, Toronto, ON Sightseeing & toursOld City Hall60 Queen St W, Toronto, ON Family activitiesOntario Science Centre235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON Sightseeing & toursOsgoode Hall130 Queen St W, Toronto, ON Family activitiesPam McConnell Aquatic Centre640 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON EntertainmentPhoenix Concert Theatre410 Sherbourne St, Toronto, ON zoos aquariumsReptilia2501 Rutherford Rd, Vaughan, ON zoos aquariumsRipley's Aquarium of Canada288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON stadiumsRogers Centre1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON ActivitiesRoundabout Canada Escape Room330 Yonge St, Toronto, ON EntertainmentRoy Thomson Hall60 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesRoyal Ontario Museum stadiumsScotiabank Arena40 Bay St, Toronto, ON EntertainmentScotiabank Theatre Toronto259 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsSimcoe Park240 Front St W, Toronto, ON Sightseeing & toursSpadina Museum285 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsSt. Patricks Market Square14 St Patricks Square, Toronto, ON Family activitiesStanley Park Outdoor Pool76 Walnut Ave, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsSugar BeachToronto, ON Parks & outdoorsSunnyside BeachToronto, ON EntertainmentThe Cameron House408 Queen St W, Toronto, ON climbing gymsThe Rock Oasis Inc.388 Carlaw Ave, Toronto, ON EntertainmentThe Royal608 College St, Toronto, ON EntertainmentThe Second City Toronto110 Harbour St, Toronto, ON ActivitiesTime Zone Escapes33 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON ToursToronto Bicycle Tours275 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON climbing gymsToronto Climbing Academy11 Curity Ave, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsToronto Islands zoos aquariumsToronto Zoo2000 Meadowvale Rd, Toronto, ON stadiumsVarsity Stadium299 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON Museums & galleriesVerno Art Studios120 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON Parks & outdoorsWard's Island BeachWard's Island Beach, 17 Lakeshore Ave, Toronto, ON EntertainmentYuk Yuks Comedy Club224 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON Family activitiesZoe's Story Labs3440 Yonge St, Toronto, ON
Food & dining
Showing 1 to 6 of 42
Breweries & wineries3 Brewers275 Yonge St, Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsAllan Gardens Farmers' Market19 Horticultural Ave, Toronto, ON Bakeries & dessertsAsters Patisserie181 Bay St., Toronto, ON NightclubsBaby's563 Queen St W, Toronto, ON Cafés & coffeeBalzac's Coffee10 Market St., Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsBarb's24 Trinity Square, Toronto, ON Bakeries & dessertsBeaverTails145 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON Bars & pubsBeertown Public House - Toronto125 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesBellwoods Brewery124 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesBickford Brewing Company292a Harbord St, Toronto, ON RestaurantsByblos11 Duncan St, Toronto, ON RestaurantsCactus Club Cafe77 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON Bars & pubsCharlotte's Room212 King St W, Toronto, ON RestaurantsChefs Hall111 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON NightclubsDPRTMNT473 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON Bakeries & dessertsDanish Pastry House200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON Cafés & coffeeDineen Coffee Co.140 Yonge St, Toronto, ON Bars & pubsDublin Calling250 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON RestaurantsJaBistro222 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsKensington Market Breweries & wineriesKindred134 Peter St, Toronto, ON Bars & pubsKing Taps First Canadian Place100 King St W, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesLeft Field Brewery40 Hanna Ave, Toronto, ON Cafés & coffeeLibrary Coffee281 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON NightclubsLost and Found577 King St W, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesMacedo Winery1381 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON Bakeries & dessertsMillie Desserts451 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON NightclubsMomentos Toronto180 Pearl St, Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsMoss Park Market260 Queen St E, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesNickel 9 Distillery90 Cawthra Ave, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesReid's Distillery32 Logan Ave, Toronto, ON Bakeries & dessertsSoft Dough Co. Bakery & Catering (Online order only)335 Queen St W, Toronto, ON Breweries & wineriesSpirit of York12 Trinity St, Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsSt. Lawrence Market Breweries & wineriesSteam Whistle Brewing255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON NightclubsThe Fifth Social Club225 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON RestaurantsThe Keg165 York St, Toronto, ON Bars & pubsThe Porch250 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON Cafés & coffeeThor Espresso Bar180 John St, Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsTrinity Bellwoods Park985 R Dundas St W, Toronto, ON Cafés & coffeeVersus Coffee70 Adelaide St E, Toronto, ON Markets & food hallsWellington Market486 Front St W Lower Ground Level, Toronto, ON
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Work remotely
Toronto scores 6.9 out of 10 for remote work (good), in the top 5% of the cities we score.
6 places
CoworkingDanforth Creative Commons259 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON - Fast wifi
- Private desks
CoworkingEast Room - King East507 King St E, Toronto, ON - Fast wifi
- Meeting rooms
Cafés & coffeeBalzac's Coffee10 Market St., Toronto, ON - Fast wifi
CoworkingHuddle Sharespace104 Crockford Blvd, Toronto, ON - Fast wifi
CoworkingLAUFT - King East95 King St E, Toronto, ON - Fast wifi
CoworkingMerge Spaces2229 Kingston Rd, Toronto, ON - Fast wifi
All work spots in Toronto → Talk about working remotely here →
Where to next from Toronto
Pick a city to see how far it is and how to get there, then add it to your route. Choose how many miles out to look, up to 200.
36 cities within 100 mi of Toronto by road.
Zoom with the buttons, or hold ctrl while you scroll. Our cities are the markers; other towns on the map are for reference only.
Pick a city on the map to see how far it is and add it to a route.
All 36 cities within 100 mi, with travel times
- Mississauga Ontarioabout 17 mi · about 28 min by car · estimated
- Vaughan Ontarioabout 17 mi · about 28 min by car · estimated
- Markham Ontarioabout 18 mi · about 29 min by car · estimated
- Richmond Hill Ontarioabout 20 mi · about 32 min by car · estimated
- Pickering Ontarioabout 24 mi · about 39 min by car · estimated
- Brampton Ontarioabout 25 mi · about 40 min by car · estimated
- Oakville Ontarioabout 27 mi · about 43 min by car · estimated
- Oshawa Ontarioabout 39 mi · about 44 min by car · estimated
- Burlington Ontarioabout 39 mi · about 44 min by car · estimated
- Ajax Ontarioabout 28 mi · about 45 min by car · estimated
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontarioabout 40 mi · about 45 min by car · estimated
- Caledon Ontarioabout 41 mi · about 46 min by car · estimated
- St. Catharines Ontarioabout 44 mi · about 49 min by car · estimated
- Aurora Ontarioabout 31 mi · about 50 min by car · estimated
- Hamilton Ontarioabout 46 mi · about 52 min by car · estimated
- Milton Ontarioabout 33 mi · about 53 min by car · estimated
- Whitby Ontarioabout 34 mi · about 54 min by car · estimated
- Halton Hills Ontarioabout 34 mi · about 55 min by car · estimated
- Newmarket Ontarioabout 35 mi · about 57 min by car · estimated
- Niagara Falls Ontarioabout 52 mi · about 59 min by car · estimated
- Clarington Ontarioabout 53 mi · about 1 h by car · estimated
- Guelph Ontarioabout 54 mi · about 1 h 1 min by car · estimated
- Welland Ontarioabout 58 mi · about 1 h 7 min by car · estimated
- Cambridge Ontarioabout 63 mi · about 1 h 12 min by car · estimated
- Elora Ontarioabout 65 mi · about 1 h 14 min by car · estimated
- Barrie Ontarioabout 67 mi · about 1 h 15 min by car · estimated
- Brantford Ontarioabout 71 mi · about 1 h 20 min by car · estimated
- Kitchener Ontarioabout 72 mi · about 1 h 21 min by car · estimated
- Waterloo Ontarioabout 73 mi · about 1 h 23 min by car · estimated
- Kawartha Lakes Ontarioabout 73 mi · about 1 h 23 min by car · estimated
- Buffalo New Yorkabout 73 mi · about 1 h 23 min by car · estimated · passport required
- Paris Ontarioabout 75 mi · about 1 h 24 min by car · estimated
- Cobourg Ontarioabout 81 mi · about 1 h 31 min by car · estimated
- Peterborough Ontarioabout 86 mi · about 1 h 38 min by car · estimated
- Collingwood Ontarioabout 90 mi · about 1 h 42 min by car · estimated
- Norfolk County Ontarioabout 91 mi · about 1 h 44 min by car · estimated
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