Overview
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the fourth largest in North America, with about 3 million people in the city and roughly 7 million in the region around it. More than half of its residents were born outside Canada, and you feel that in the food: you can eat Hakka chili chicken, Trinidadian roti, Portuguese custard tarts and Korean fried chicken within a few subway stops.
For Americans, Toronto feels familiar at first. It looks like a big US city on a Great Lake, it is easy to reach, and almost everyone speaks English. The differences show up in the details: prices before 13% tax, metric weather forecasts, a transit system people actually use, and a downtown where tens of thousands of people live in condo towers.
Summers are humid, with July highs around 80°F (27°C); winters are cold and gray, with January highs near 30°F (-1°C). Hotel prices jump during Pride (June), the Toronto Caribbean Carnival (late July to early August), the Canadian National Exhibition (late August) and TIFF (September). See When to go and Festivals.
The city rewards you for leaving the downtown core. The CN Tower and the waterfront take a day; the real Toronto is in its neighborhoods, each with a main street of shops and restaurants along a streetcar line. Plan on three or four days, and add a fifth if you want to see Niagara Falls, 80 miles (130 km) away.
Different from home
Prices on menus, shelves and attraction websites almost never include tax. In Ontario the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is 13%, so a C$47 CN Tower ticket becomes about C$53 at checkout. Tipping works as in the US: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, and a couple of dollars per drink. See Money for the full picture.
Neighborhoods
Toronto is a grid. Yonge Street runs north from the lake and divides east from west, and most neighborhoods line up along the big east-west streets: Queen, King, Dundas, College and Bloor. Here are the areas you will spend time in.
Downtown and the Entertainment District
The CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Arena, the theaters on King Street and TIFF Lightbox. Convenient for a first trip and for game nights, but corporate on weekends. The PATH, an underground network of more than 18 miles (30 km) of shop-lined walkways, links many towers and is a lifesaver in January.
Old Town and the Distillery
The oldest part of the city, with St. Lawrence Market, 19th-century brick buildings and the pedestrian Distillery District. Walkable to downtown and a bit calmer at night.
Yorkville and the Annex
Yorkville is the luxury-shopping and five-star-hotel pocket, next to the Royal Ontario Museum. Just west, the Annex is a leafy university neighborhood of Victorian houses, bookstores and cheap eats near the University of Toronto.
Queen West, Ossington and Trinity Bellwoods
Independent boutiques, galleries, cocktail bars and one of the city's best people-watching parks. Ossington Avenue and Dundas West are where locals go out to eat.
Kensington Market and Chinatown
Chinatown's produce stalls and dumpling shops run along Spadina; Kensington is a maze of vintage stores, cafes and small food counters a block west.
Little Italy and Little Portugal
Patios, wine bars and Portuguese bakeries. Busy on summer evenings, mellow by day.
The Danforth and Leslieville
The Danforth (Greektown) runs along Line 2 east of the Don Valley, with Greek tavernas and a big August street festival. Leslieville, along Queen East, is brunch spots, design stores and young families.
Church-Wellesley Village
Canada's best-known LGBTQ+ neighborhood and the center of Pride Toronto every June. See Travel by interest.
Further out, the suburbs of Scarborough, Markham and Richmond Hill have some of the best Chinese, Hong Kong-style and South Asian food in North America, and Eglinton Avenue West is home to Little Jamaica. All three are easier to reach now that Line 5 is running.
Where to stay
Toronto hotels are expensive by Canadian standards, especially downtown from May to October and during big events like the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. In summer, a solid downtown midrange room often runs C$300–400 a night before tax. Prices fall noticeably from November to March, except around Christmas and New Year's.
On top of the room rate you pay 13% HST plus a municipal accommodation tax, and many downtown hotels charge C$40–70 a night for parking. If you are driving in, look at the parking line before you book.
Fairmont Royal York
The grand 1929 railway hotel across from Union Station. You can walk off the UP Express and into the lobby without going outside.
Four Seasons, Park Hyatt or The Hazelton
The splurge cluster, steps from the ROM and Bloor Street shopping. The Park Hyatt's top-floor bar has one of the best views in the city.
The Omni King Edward
A historic 1903 hotel a short walk from St. Lawrence Market and the financial district.
Ace Hotel Toronto or The Drake Hotel
Design-forward hotels with busy bars, close to the restaurants and nightlife of the west-end neighborhoods.
The Broadview Hotel
A restored Victorian landmark with a rooftop bar looking back at the skyline, on the 501 Queen streetcar.
Kimpton Saint George
On Bloor Street near the ROM and the subway, in a neighborhood with plenty of casual places to eat.
Chain hotels near the Eaton Centre and Front Street
Courtyard, Novotel, Holiday Inn and similar properties. Predictable, central, and the easiest place to use US loyalty points.
HI Toronto and private rooms in hostels
Under C$150 for two is hard to find downtown in summer. Hostel private rooms, university residences that rent rooms in summer, and hotels near the airport on the UP Express line are the realistic options.
Watch out
Toronto allows short-term rentals only in a host's principal residence, and the listing must carry a City registration number. Whole-unit condo rentals with no host and no number may be illegal, and condo buildings sometimes cancel them at the door. See Where to stay in Canada for how to check.
Getting in from the airports
Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
Pearson is Canada's busiest airport, about 17 miles (27 km) northwest of downtown in Mississauga. Most US flights use Terminal 1 (Air Canada and Star Alliance) or Terminal 3 (WestJet, American, Delta and others). Both terminals have US preclearance, so on the way home you clear US customs in Toronto and land in the US as a domestic passenger. Allow extra time for it; see Flights.
- UP Express: the train from Pearson to Union Station takes about 28 minutes and stops at Weston, Mount Dennis (for Line 5) and Bloor (for Line 2). An adult one-way ticket is C$12.35 (about $9), seniors C$6.20, and children 12 and under ride free. Trains run roughly every 15 minutes. The station is at Terminal 1; from Terminal 3, take the free Terminal Link train first.
- TTC 900 Airport Express bus: the budget option, about 20 minutes to Kipling station on Line 2, then the subway downtown. One C$3.30 fare covers the whole trip.
- Taxi or rideshare: taxis and airport limos charge flat fares by zone, roughly C$60–75 (about $43–54) to downtown before tip. Uber and Lyft are similar or a little less. The drive takes 30 minutes at night and over an hour at rush hour on Highway 427 and the Gardiner Expressway.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
This small airport sits on the Toronto Islands, a few hundred yards across the water from downtown. Porter Airlines is the main carrier, flying turboprops to more than 20 cities in Canada and the US, including Newark and Boston. The airport now has its own US preclearance facility, which makes the return trip as easy as from Pearson.
You reach the terminal through a pedestrian tunnel under the channel at the foot of Bathurst Street, or on a ferry ride that lasts about 90 seconds. A free airport shuttle runs to and from the Union Station area, and the 509 and 511 streetcars stop nearby. From landing to a downtown hotel lobby can take 20 minutes, which makes Billy Bishop the better choice whenever the fares are close.
Insider tip
If you fly into Buffalo (BUF) to save money, budget two hours for the drive plus the border, more on Friday and Sunday evenings. Check live waits on the CBSA border wait times page before you leave, and see Crossing by car.
The TTC, Line 5 and getting around
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs the subway, streetcars and buses. Downtown and the inner neighborhoods are easy without a car, and driving downtown is slow, with expensive parking. See Getting around Canada for intercity options.
Fares
- An adult ride costs C$3.30 (about $2.35) when you tap a credit or debit card, a phone wallet or a PRESTO card, and C$3.35 in exact cash.
- Tapping gives you a two-hour transfer: any rides within two hours of your first tap are free, in any direction. Each person needs their own card or phone, and you must tap the same one every time.
- Children 12 and under ride free. Seniors 65 and over pay less with a PRESTO card (the reduced fare does not apply to a tapped credit card).
- A PRESTO day pass costs C$13.50 (about $10) and only beats tapping if you will take five or more separate trips more than two hours apart.
Save money
Tap a US card with no foreign transaction fee and skip buying a PRESTO card. Each tap is a separate Canadian-dollar charge, so a card that adds 3% per transaction adds up over a week.
The lines
- Line 1 Yonge-University is a U shape through downtown, with Union Station at the bottom. It serves the Eaton Centre, the ROM (Museum station), Yorkville (Bay or Bloor-Yonge) and Casa Loma (Dupont).
- Line 2 Bloor-Danforth runs east-west under Bloor Street and the Danforth.
- Streetcars do the neighborhood work: 501 Queen, 504 King, 505 Dundas, 506 College and 510 Spadina. They are slow at rush hour but stop every block or two.
- Line 4 Sheppard and Line 6 Finch West serve the northern suburbs and matter little to visitors.
Line 5 Eglinton in 2026
After roughly 15 years of construction and repeated delays, Line 5 Eglinton (the Eglinton Crosstown light rail) finally opened on February 8, 2026. It runs about 12 miles (19 km) across midtown from Mount Dennis in the west to Kennedy in the east, with 25 stations and stops. The western half, from Mount Dennis to Laird, runs underground; east of Laird the trains run in the median of Eglinton Avenue.
The opening was phased. Early trips end to end took 50–55 minutes, and speeds in the tunnel were capped below what the line was built for, with increases planned as full service ramps up. Since April 5, 2026, trains run until about 1:20 a.m. Trains come every 4 minutes at peak and every 6–10 minutes off-peak.
For visitors, Line 5 is most useful for three things: connecting from the UP Express at Mount Dennis to midtown, reaching Little Jamaica and the restaurants of Yonge and Eglinton, and getting across town without coming downtown first. It connects with Line 1 at Eglinton and Cedarvale and with Line 2 at Kennedy. A westward extension to Renforth, near the airport, is under construction and not expected before about 2031.
Other options
Bike Share Toronto has hundreds of stations, with day passes sold at the kiosks and in its app, and the waterfront Martin Goodman Trail is a flat, scenic ride. Uber and Lyft work as in the US. If you do drive, Highway 407 ETR north of the city is an all-electronic toll road; rental companies bill you the toll plus an admin fee. See Driving in Canada.
Sights
CN Tower
At 1,815 feet (553 m), the tower is the city's signature. Timed general admission costs C$47 (about $34) for adults and covers the main observation level and the glass floor. The C$59 (about $42) ticket adds The Top, the highest observation deck in the Western Hemisphere, 33 stories higher; you can also add it on site for C$12 if space allows. A Flex ticket (C$62) lets you choose your time, and you can book up to 30 days ahead. Go near sunset on a clear day, and skip it when clouds hang low.
EdgeWalk
A hands-free walk around the outside of the tower's main pod, 1,168 feet (356 m) up, clipped to an overhead rail. Prices start at C$199 (about $142) and include a video, photos, a certificate and a regular tower visit. About 30 minutes are spent outside. It runs in the warmer months, so check the booking calendar in late fall. Reservations are required, tickets are nonrefundable but can be changed with 72 hours' notice, and walkers 13–17 need a parent or guardian at check-in.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Best known for its moving walkway through a shark tunnel. Adults pay around C$50 (about $36). The Sea the Sky combo with the CN Tower is C$79 (about $56). Go first thing or after 6 p.m.; midday on weekends is packed with school groups and strollers.
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Canada's largest museum of world culture and natural history: dinosaur halls, a strong Chinese collection, and galleries on First Peoples art and culture. The angular glass "Crystal" addition is hard to miss. Adult admission is roughly C$30 (about $21); check the site for special exhibits, which cost extra.
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Frank Gehry's redesign wraps one of the best collections of Canadian art anywhere, including the Group of Seven, Emily Carr and a large Inuit collection. Visitors 25 and under get in free with ID, and the annual pass is a good deal even for one visit plus a return. Check the site for free evening hours.
St. Lawrence Market
The South Market is a 19th-century hall full of butchers, cheesemongers and bakers. Order a peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery, Toronto's signature breakfast. The South Market closes Sundays and Mondays; the Saturday farmers' market across Front Street starts early.
Distillery District
The former Gooderham and Worts whisky distillery is now a car-free district of red-brick Victorian buildings with galleries, cafes and shops. From mid-November to late December it hosts the Distillery Winter Village, a European-style holiday market that can charge timed admission on busy evenings and weekends.
Kensington Market
Narrow streets of vintage clothing, spice shops, Latin American and Caribbean food counters and murals. On the last Sunday of the month in summer, cars are banned for Pedestrian Sundays. Combine it with Chinatown and the AGO in one afternoon.
Toronto Islands
A chain of car-free islands 15 minutes across the harbor, with beaches, bike paths and the best skyline view in the city. Ferries leave from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queens Quay West, behind the Westin Harbour Castle. A round trip costs C$9.57 (about $7) for adults, C$6.15 for seniors and youth 15–19, and C$4.51 for children 2–14. Centre Island has Centreville, a summer amusement park for young kids; Ward's Island is quieter and residential; Hanlan's Point has a long beach, part of it clothing-optional.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Interactive exhibits, a huge collection of jerseys and gear, and the Stanley Cup itself, displayed in the domed banking hall of a former Bank of Montreal branch. Even casual fans enjoy the shooting and goaltending simulators.
Casa Loma
A Gothic Revival castle finished in 1914 for financier Sir Henry Pellatt, with towers, secret passages, a long tunnel to the stables and formal gardens. Open daily 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., at about C$40 (about $29) for adults. From Dupont station it is a steep walk up the Baldwin Steps. In October, the Legends of Horror after-dark event takes over the grounds.
Save money
Toronto CityPASS costs C$134.96 (about $96) for adults and covers the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium plus three of the ROM, Casa Loma, the AGO, the Toronto Zoo and a harbor cruise, over nine days. It pays off if you would visit four or more anyway. The Hockey Hall of Fame is not included.
Insider tip
Island ferry lines on a hot summer Saturday can top an hour. Buy tickets online in advance (they are good any day through the end of the year), go before 10 a.m., or take one of the private water taxis from Queens Quay, which cost more but leave as soon as they fill. In the off-season, ferries run less often and mostly serve Ward's Island.
More for a longer stay
- High Park: 400 acres (160 ha) of trails and gardens in the west end, famous for cherry blossoms in late April or early May.
- Scarborough Bluffs: white cliffs over Lake Ontario at the east end, best seen from Bluffer's Park.
- Evergreen Brick Works: a former brickyard in the Don Valley with a Saturday farmers' market and ravine trails.
- Nathan Phillips Square: City Hall's plaza with the 3D "Toronto" sign and a free outdoor skating rink in winter.
The Ontario Science Centre's original building in the Don Valley closed in 2024 because of roof problems, and a new center is planned at Ontario Place on the waterfront. Ignore older guides that send you to Don Mills for it.
Sports
Toronto is a serious sports town, and going to a game is one of the best ways to see the city at its loudest.
- Toronto Blue Jays (MLB): Rogers Centre, next to the CN Tower, with a retractable roof and seating areas rebuilt in 2023–2024. The Jays' run to the 2025 World Series, which they lost to the Dodgers in seven games, set off a ticket boom. The season runs April to September. Weeknight games against non-rivals are the cheapest way in.
- Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL): Scotiabank Arena, October to April. Leafs tickets are among the most expensive in the league, often well over C$200 (about $143) on resale for decent seats. Canadian team, Canadian crowd, and a lot of tension.
- Toronto Raptors (NBA): also at Scotiabank Arena, late October to April. Easier and cheaper to get into than the Leafs, with a famously loud crowd.
- Cheaper alternatives: the Toronto Marlies (AHL hockey), the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women's Hockey League, and, at BMO Field, Toronto FC (MLS soccer) and the Toronto Argonauts (CFL football, with its longer field and three downs). CFL games are a fun, affordable night out from June to October.
Watch out
Ticket resale sites show prices in Canadian dollars, often before fees and tax, and some default to US dollars without saying so clearly. Check the currency on the final checkout screen. Buy through the team's official resale partner when you can.
Food and drink
Toronto has had a Michelin Guide since 2022, but its strength is the depth of everyday food from every part of the world. A few things to seek out:
- Peameal bacon sandwich: brined pork loin rolled in cornmeal, on a bun. Carousel Bakery at St. Lawrence Market is the classic.
- Jamaican patties and Caribbean food: patties are sold everywhere, from bakeries to the TTC station kiosks. For jerk chicken, oxtail and roti, head to Eglinton West or to Scarborough.
- Chinese food of every region: Spadina's Chinatown for late-night dumplings and barbecue pork, and Markham, Richmond Hill and Scarborough for dim sum palaces and Sichuan, Shanghainese and Hong Kong-style cafes.
- South Asian: Gerrard Street East's Little India, plus Hakka (Indian-Chinese) restaurants in the eastern suburbs.
- Portuguese bakeries along Dundas West for pastéis de nata, and Greek food on the Danforth.
- Butter tarts: Ontario's sweet, gooey contribution. See Food.
Winterlicious (late January to early February) and Summerlicious (July) offer prix-fixe menus at a long list of restaurants and are the cheapest way into the top places. Book when the lists come out.
For drinks, the drinking age in Ontario is 19. Since 2024, beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails are sold in convenience and grocery stores as well as at the government-run LCBO and The Beer Store. Liquor still mostly comes from the LCBO. Rooftop and patio season runs roughly May to October. See Drinks.
Different from home
Many Toronto restaurants list "HST" as a separate line on the bill, and payment terminals suggest tips calculated on the total after tax. Tipping 15–18% on the pre-tax amount is perfectly normal; you can choose a custom amount on the terminal.
Day trips
Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake
The obvious day trip, by GO Train, bus, tour or car. Best combined with wine country and the Niagara Parkway. See the full Niagara guide.
Stratford
A pretty river town with the Stratford Festival, one of North America's largest repertory theater seasons, roughly April to October.
Prince Edward County
Wineries, Sandbanks beaches and farm restaurants on a Lake Ontario island. Better as an overnight. See Ontario.
Muskoka
Lakes, cottages and fall colors. Summer Friday traffic heading north is notorious; leave early or go midweek.
Elora and St. Jacobs
A limestone gorge and an old mill town, plus a big farmers' market in Mennonite country.
Hamilton's waterfalls
Dozens of waterfalls along the Niagara Escarpment, best in spring. Several popular falls limit parking or require reservations, so check before you go.
Ottawa and Montreal are too far for day trips. VIA Rail takes about four and a half hours to Ottawa and five to Montreal; see Ottawa and Montreal.
What it costs
Toronto is the most expensive city in Canada after Vancouver, though for visitors it usually comes out cheaper than New York or Boston thanks to the exchange rate. Rough daily costs for one person, before tax:
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Downtown midrange hotel, summer | C$250–400 (about $180–285) a night |
| Transit for the day (three or four trips) | C$6.60–13.20 (about $5–9) |
| Coffee and pastry | C$8–10 (about $6–7) |
| Lunch at a casual counter | C$15–22 (about $11–16) |
| Dinner main at a sit-down restaurant | C$25–40 (about $18–29) |
| Craft beer or glass of wine | C$9–15 (about $6–11) |
| CN Tower general admission | C$47 (about $34) |
| Island ferry round trip | C$9.57 (about $7) |
Budget travelers can manage on about C$150 (about $107) a day plus a bed; midrange travelers should plan on C$250–350 (about $180–250) a day plus the hotel. See Money and the budget tool.
Safety and health
The US State Department rates Canada at Level 1, "exercise normal precautions," its lowest advisory level. Toronto is a large city with big-city problems at a lower intensity than most comparable US cities. Violent crime against visitors is rare.
- Petty theft: watch phones and bags on crowded streetcars, at Yonge-Dundas Square and in the Eaton Centre.
- Car theft: the Toronto region has had a wave of vehicle thefts in recent years, especially of SUVs and pickups. If you drive up, park in a staffed or secure garage and leave nothing visible inside.
- Homelessness and drug use: visible around parts of downtown east, including Dundas and Sherbourne and Moss Park. It is rarely a direct risk to visitors, but stay aware at night.
- Winter: sidewalks get icy. Bring boots with real grip from December to March. See Winter.
Call 911 for emergencies. The US Consulate General is at 360 University Avenue. Remember that your US health insurance may not cover you in Canada and that Ontario hospitals bill non-residents at full non-resident rates, which can run to thousands of dollars for an emergency room visit. Buy travel medical insurance; see Health and Safety.
Itineraries
Two days
- Day 1
Waterfront and downtown
Breakfast at St. Lawrence Market, then walk to the Distillery District. Late morning, take the ferry to Ward's Island and walk west along the boardwalk to Centre Island for the skyline view. Back on the mainland, go up the CN Tower near sunset. Dinner in the Entertainment District or King West, or catch a game if one is on.
- Day 2
Museums and neighborhoods
Morning at the ROM, then lunch in the Annex or Yorkville. Take the subway to St. Patrick and walk to the AGO. Late afternoon, wander through Kensington Market and Chinatown, then take the 501 Queen streetcar west for dinner on Ossington or Dundas West.
Three days
- Days 1–2
As above
Follow the two-day plan.
- Day 3
Midtown and the east end
Start at Casa Loma when it opens at 9:30, then ride Line 1 to Eglinton and Line 5 west for a Jamaican lunch in Little Jamaica. Afternoon at the Hockey Hall of Fame, or High Park in spring and fall. Dinner on the Danforth, with a drink at a rooftop bar in Riverside or Leslieville.
Four days
- Days 1–3
As above
Follow the three-day plan.
- Day 4
Niagara
Take an early GO Train or drive to Niagara Falls for the Horseshoe Falls, the boat and Journey Behind the Falls, then continue up the Niagara Parkway to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a winery visit and dinner. In summer, stay overnight and catch the 10 p.m. fireworks. See Niagara, and for a longer Ontario loop, Road trips.
Insider tip
If you are combining Toronto with Montreal and Quebec City, the train is easier than the drive. VIA Rail runs frequent trains along the corridor, and downtown stations save you from parking. See Planning your trip for sample routes.
Add it to a route in the trip builder, or ask us to plan the hotels, trains and guides for you.