Toronto, Canada, is a city like no other. The capital of Ontario province has been described
as “New York run by the Swiss” and is a hotspot for diversity, history, foodie culture,
and urban adventures. If you're traveling to the Great White North, then here are the
best things to do in Toronto, Canada.
Toronto Island Tour
Visitors to Toronto should take advantage of the city’s position on Lake Ontario by
spending a day on the Toronto Islands. This chain of islands are a short and affordable
ferry ride from downtown Toronto and are all connected. The islands are jam-packed in the
warm months but can be serenely quiet in winter.
The three major islands are Algonquin, Ward’s, and the most popular, Centre Island. All three
have parks, barbeque areas, restaurants, beaches, and plenty of places to take in the city views
and relax in the shade. Centre Island also has Centreville Amusement Park, which has
more than 30 rides and is aimed at younger visitors. History buffs and ghosthunters can
visit Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, famously one of the oldest structures in Toronto, and
long believed to be haunted. And for very daring travelers, Hanlan Point has one of
Canada's two "Clothing optional" beaches.
Hockey Hall of Fame
It’s safe to say that ice hockey is kind of a big deal in Canada, and no trip to Toronto
would be complete without a trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Obviously, non-sports fans might
not have a great time here, but anyone who likes hockey is going to love it.
The Hall of Fame features exhibitions and collections of jerseys and pucks from around
the world, and gear of several legendary players. This is also the resting place of the Stanley
Cup, hockey’s highest award. And more than just collections, the Hall has a number of
innovative interactive elements. These include trivia games, trying to score against virtual
opponents, defending against flying foam pucks, or creating your own recorded and shareable
commentary of famous plays. For the hockey fan, this destination will be a hit.
Join a Food Tour
With more than half of Toronto’s population made up of visible minorities, it’s clear
that the city lives up to its motto of "Diversity Our Strength." And what better way to celebrate
and explore that diversity than a food tour? Toronto has been described as one of the world's
up-and-coming cuisine centers, so come hungry.
There are tours for any kind of foodie, including wine tours, farm-to-table experiences, street
food walking tours, and more. If you feel like sampling meals from Toronto’s Indian,
Chinese, Italian, or other distinct ethnic groups, you can easily find a guide to take
you.
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to stick around for more.
Canada’s Wonderland
Just 40 minutes from downtown Toronto is Canada’s Wonderland, a sprawling theme park with rides,
attractions, games, diverse food, and thrills for all ages. Canada’s Wonderland is divided
into different areas, including a Snoopy-themed kid’s park, a full waterpark, and enough
rides to keep visitors coming back.
Some of the most thrilling rides include the wooden Mighty Canadian Minebuster, the towering
Behemoth, and the Leviathan, the tallest and fastest ride in the park. Another exciting
ride is the Yukon Striker, which features a 90-degree plummet, and gravity-defying loops.
The waterpark has excellent rides for beating the heat and getting the pulse racing, but
naturally, this part is closed in the winter. Speaking of, if you visit the park in the
cold season, you’ll be treated to WinterFest, with live shows, ice skating, and beautiful
lights. With its easy accessibility to Toronto, Canada’s Wonderland is a perfect choice
for a thrilling and memorable day trip.
Royal Ontario Museum
With a collection of over 6 million artifacts, the Royal Ontario Museum is Canada's largest
museum of human and world history. This makes it a must-see destination for history buffs
or casually interested travelers. Located next to the University of Toronto, the ROM
is immediately recognizable by its iconic, fractal façade, and it’s easy to spend
up to half a day inside.
The ROM has a lot of everything, broadly divided into natural history, arts and culture, and
hands-on. You’ll find Martian meteorites, collections of First Nations art and tribal
objects, Chinese sculptures and architecture, mummies, dinosaur skeletons, and so much more.
The museum is constantly hosting exhibitions, so it’s always a good time to visit.
The Distillery District
One of the best things to do in Toronto, Canada, is to hit the streets of the Distillery District,
a beautifully maintained hotspot of food, shopping, and events. The Distillery District
is a pedestrian-only area built into the remnants of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, once
the largest of its type in Canada.
Today, the Distillery District is an internationally-acclaimed attraction, equally beloved by tourists and
locals. The District has over 40 boutique and unique stores, plenty of small-scale cafes,
breweries, and award-winning restaurants. Live music and other events are held year
round, and art lovers can visit galleries and displays. And if you visit in the festive
season, be sure to check out the beautiful Christmas Market. The District even has a
reputation for being haunted, and ghost tours are an option for the more morbidly-curious
visitors. The Distillery District is easily reached from downtown Toronto and is worth
more than one visit.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
If you’re in Toronto and want to explore underwater nature and aquatic life, without
getting wet, then be sure to check out Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. With over 20,000 animals
on display, visitors can see these majestic creatures in 9 different themed galleries
and even get hands-on at several interactive touch exhibits.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada also has the longest underwater viewing tunnel, and in total, over
5.7 million liters of water. Marine and lake creatures of all types are housed here, including
sharks, giant lobsters, galleries of tranquil jellyfish, stingray and horseshoe crabs, and
endless fish from international and Canadian waters. For the brave at heart, guided scuba
dives into the shark tanks are available, with proceeds going towards shark conservation.
Be sure to get into the aquarium early, as peak hours start at 11 am, and it's best to
beat the crowds.
St. Lawrence and Kensington Markets
Toronto loves open-air shopping, and this can be seen on a visit to either of its most
prominent markets. Kensington Market is not traditional, and it describes itself as a
"market neighbourhood". Originally the spot where Jewish immigrants went shopping, Kensington
Market now offers a diverse range of international foods, products, and crafts from around the
world and a wide range of boutiques. With street art and an upbeat urban atmosphere,
Kensington Market is worth a visit if you’re looking for a unique boho experience.
If you’re looking for more of a traditional open-air shopping destination, St. Lawrence
Market is for you. This red-brick relic has been standing for over 200 years and is the
city’s oldest market. The market is world-renown for its incredible variety of good food. If
you’re looking for fresh Ontario produce or antiques, Saturday is the farmers market,
while Sunday is the flea market.
Toronto Zoo
Canada is well known for its wild animal life, but a city like Toronto might not be the best
place to see them unless you visit the Toronto Zoo, where you can see creatures great and
small from every corner of the world. One of the world's largest zoos, both in terms
of size and biodiversity, the Toronto Zoo is also a key member of several wildlife rehabilitation
and reintroduction programs.
The Toronto Zoo houses over 500 species, represented by approximately 5,000 individual creatures
from all over the world. The Zoo is divided into themed zones, such as African, Canadian,
and Indo-Malaya to name a few. In each, you’ll find creatures from those areas, such as orangutans,
lions, tigers, red pandas, crocodiles, and so many more. The zoo famously has the largest
great ape enclosure in North America, The Gorilla Rainforest. There are also seasonal
activities and exhibitions, so it’s always worthwhile to visit the animals.
CN Tower
Standing proud as the tallest structure in Toronto, the CN Tower is a highlight, literally
and figuratively. While it has been dethroned as the world's tallest building, it remains
one of the tallest structures in the world. As such an iconic part of the skyline, a visit
is easily the best thing to do in Toronto.
An elevator takes you up more than a thousand feet in less than a minute, and visitors can
take in the unparalleled view from four lookout points. At 1,122 feet, the Glass Floor room
lets you look straight down an incredible drop, even allowing you to watch a baseball
game in the distant Roger’s Centre below. A little higher at 1,150 feet is the gourmet
and award-winning 360Restaurant, which slowly rotates as you enjoy your meal. For the true
adrenaline-junkie, the EdgeWalk sees you strolling on a 5-foot ledge on the top of the observation
area, with just a harness connecting you to the building. On a clear day, the view seems
endless. But if you’re there on a stormy day, you might be in for a unique experience,
as the tower is struck by lightning more than 75 times each year! Toronto, Canada, is a
unique and beautiful city, and no visit would be complete without an equally unique and
beautiful view.
If you were visiting Toronto, Canada, what would you see? Here’s where you come in,
and we want to hear your opinions. What attraction excited you the most? And if you’ve been
there, what do you recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know. And be sure to like
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Thanks for watching, and travel safely!