Top 10: What to Do in Toronto & Travel Tips

Having recently published our list of the top 10 things to do in Montreal, we felt it was high time to talk about the beautiful metropolis of Toronto—another one of Canada’s most iconic cities, and one of our favorite to visit in the world. Nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario, this cosmopolitan city has so much to offer—from its Victorian-era architecture to its rich music scene, which has produced the likes of Joni Mitchell, the Weeknd, and Justin Bieber. Toronto is a colorful city with a big-city feel but with a friendliness and charm you’d associate with a small town. Today at Civitatis, we’re running through what to do in Toronto, covering the must-dos and some more unique things to do and see in the city. Read on and start building your itinerary!

1. See Toronto from the CN Tower

The most iconic element of the Toronto skyline, and one of the tallest free-standing structures in the world, the CN Tower is definitely worth checking out. The tower measures in at a staggering 1,815.3 ft (553.3 meters) in height, and was actually the tallest structure on the planet from when it was built in 1975 until it was overtaken by the Burj Khalifa in 2009. Today, the tower is the center of telecommunications in the city, serving over 17 television and radio stations!

This incredible feat of engineering also boasts an incredible observation deck that can be visited by the public! An incredible 114 stories above the ground, the CN Tower offers the best views of the city. Check it out for yourself, and buy a ticket to the CN Tower observation deck, which also includes a free tour of the city at night!

2. Visit Toronto’s Chinatown (+ Kensington Market)

The United Nations recognizes Toronto as the most multicultural city in the world. Incredibly, around half of the population was born outside of Canada! This incredible diversity shapes the city in many ways, with Koreatown, Little Portugal, and Chinatown being some of the city’s most interesting areas to visit.

The city’s Chinatown dates back to the 1800s, when Chinese immigrants first settled here, gradually building what would become one of North America’s most significant Chinese communities. Today, the intersection of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue is almost constantly abuzz, offering visitors authentic Chinese food at its numerous restaurants as well as some other terrific street stalls.

From Chinatown, you’re just a 5-minute walk from Kensington Market, one of the trendiest areas in the city! This market also has its history in immigrant culture, owing its existence to the arrival of Irish and Scottish immigrants in the 1880s—although many more cultures have contributed to it since then! In this area, you’ll see Victorian-style terraced housing, superb street art and you’ll also find some of the city’s best vintage stores, art galleries, bars and cafés!

Check out this Chinatown and Kensington Market tour to see them both for yourself, accompanied by a guide!

3. Explore the Famous Distillery District

The Distillery District is one of the most historic and famous areas in the Ontarian capital. The area is will known for its authentic Victorian industrial architecture, which tells the story of Canada’s whiskey-making heritage. It was here that Gooderham & Worts distilled their whiskey from the 1860s until the 1990s. The beautifully-preserved red brick buildings give this area a unique energy, and alongside its many galleries, alternative boutiques, sculptures and theaters, there’s plenty to fall in love with.
The district can be best discovered as part of this Distillery District walking tour. Alternatively, if you’re up for something a bit different, check out this Distillery District Segway tour—explore this historic area in style!

4. Delve into the History of Casa Loma

Despite its 18th-century appearance, the Gothic Revival-style Casa Loma was built at the beginning of the 20th century, heavily inspired by Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, and gracefully overlooks downtown Toronto. It was built by Sir Henry Pellatt, a billionaire who made his fortune pioneering a hydroelectric plant on the Niagara River. The structure is now a must-see attraction, boasting a stunning 98 rooms, 21 fireplaces, a great hall with a 60-foot (18-meter) ceiling… it’s safe to say that Pallatt spared no expense on this property! Loma is now a must-see in the city, and you can explore the inside and its grounds for yourself!
Grab a ticket for the Toronto CitySightseeing Bus, which passes by Casa Loma!

5. Buy Souvenirs at St. Lawrence Market

Next up on our list of what to do in Toronto: St. Lawrence Market. Here, you’ll get a true insight into the daily life of a ‘Torontonian.’ This market was established in 1814, though its structures have been rebuilt on several occasions, and it has spent periods as a Post Office and City Hall during this time. However, this market plays an important role in the lives of locals, providing the city with lots of fresh, high-quality produce being sold by passionate and knowledgeable vendors. Along with fresh produce, you’ll find stalls selling maple syrup as well as restaurants, cafés, antique dealers and more!

6. Sample Toronto’s Essential Gastronomy

Being such a multicultural city, Toronto’s cuisine is highly varied, to the point that it’s very difficult to center on a truly quintessential Toronto dish. If we were to pick one, it would probably be the Peameal bacon sandwich (which are readily available at the aforementioned St. Lawrence Market). This simple sandwich is centered around the famous ‘Canadian bacon’ and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. But Toronto offers so much more! From Vietnamese to Caribbean, to Chinese, to Jamaican cuisine, this city is truly a food-lover’s paradise.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, a particularly popular treat in Toronto (and indeed, Canada), is the humble donut—in fact, Canada consumes more donuts per capita than any other nation in the world, so they know what they’re talking about! For the best spots in the city, check out this Toronto donut tour, during which you’ll taste four of the city’s finest!

7. Attend an Ice hockey Game at the Scotiabank Arena

Another brilliant way to gain an insight into the life of a Torontonian, is to attend an ice hockey game, and where better than the Scotiabank Arena? Whether you’re already a fan of the sport or not, experiencing the energy of the arena when their beloved Toronto Maple Leaves take to the ice is next level. Buy a ticket to an ice hockey game at the Scotiabank Arena to experience the energy first-hand, and you’ll also usually enjoy mascot performances and live music during the intermissions, making this a brilliant day out.
If you’re already a hockey fan, we recommend making your way to the Hockey Hall of Fame, a museum and hall of fame featuring an endless selection of hockey memorabilia, a recreation of the Montreal Canadien’s dressing room, the Stanley Cup, and more!

8. Go on a Day Trip to Niagara Falls

A huge benefit of visiting Toronto is its proximity to Niagara Falls, which is just 1.5 hours away. The falls consist of three passages: Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls. Combined, approximately 3,160 tons or 750,000 gallons (2.8 million liters) of water flows. over the falls every second. Truly, these thunderous waterfalls are a natural wonder and an absolute bucket list item. The best and easiest way to see the falls from Toronto is as part of this Niagara Falls day trip with Civitatis, which includes transport, a guide, plenty of free time, and a boat ride or the Skylon tower depending on when you visit.

9. Take a Picture at the Toronto Sign & See the City Hall

Another must when visiting Toronto is a picture at the iconic Toronto Sign, in Nathan Phillips Square. There is a cool water fountain in front of the sign, which freezes over and is used as an ice rink in the winter! Behind the sign (which is illuminated at night time), you’ll see Toronto’s current City Hall, considered internationally as an architectural masterpiece.

Those interested in both history and architecture will also enjoy the Old City Hall, which is right across from the current City Hall. This National Historic Site served as the home of the Toronto City Council from 1899 to 1966. Built from Sandstone, in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, the Old City Hall features a 340-foot (100-meter) clock tower, with a clock made by the famous English watchmakers Gillett & Johnston.
You can see all of these landmarks as part of this free walking tour of Toronto.

10. Buy a Ticket to the Royal Ontario Museum

The oldest and largest museum in Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Toronto’s premier museum, with 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. The exhibits feature contemporary art, natural history, Canadian history, and more—in short, you won’t run out of things to see while you’re there!

Top Tips When Visiting Toronto

Read on for some expert tips, so that your trip goes as smoothly as possible!

When is the Best Time to Visit?

Ideal tourist conditions can be found during the Spring and Summer months. At these times, temperatures will be mostly pleasant (especially during the later Spring months), between 33–66°F (1–19°C) during Spring and 68–95°F (20–35°C) in the Summer. Of course, Spring has the added benefit of slightly sparser crowds!

How to Get Around Toronto

Toronto has a pretty solid public transportation system, run by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). The city boasts a subway, streetcar, and bus system, and will bring you basically anywhere in the city, including Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). We recommend buying a Toronto public transport card called the PRESTO Card, which is available at the city subway stations. If you’re planning on using public transport a lot during your stay, picking up a day pass may also be worth considering.

Internet & Data

Stay connected during your trip with this Civitatis eSIM Card for Canada. Simply select the duration of your trip and you can quickly load this electronic SIM onto your device.

Canada Entry Requirements

US citizens do not require a Visa when entering Canada, though you must carry proper identification such as a passport. Many countries do require an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), and others require a Visa. As such, check out the Government of Canada’s immigration page to make sure that you comply with their requirements.

There you have it! Those are some of our favourite things to do in the city and some top tips for your travels. Of course, we couldn’t include everything we would have liked in this post, and there’s lots more to do. If you’ve any suggestions, be sure to leave them in the comments below. Still trying to figure out what to do in Toronto? Check out more tours & experiences in Toronto with Civitatis!