Toronto Travel Guide

Canada's largest city is an international metropolis. Toronto is diverse and walkable, with a lively culture, and its excellent food, neighborhoods and attractions hold up against much bigger cities.

Updated · On BootsnAll since 2000 · History

Overview and Things to Consider

Toronto is Canada's largest city and one of North America's most livable. Over 200 languages are spoken here. Each neighborhood has its own character, the Lake Ontario waterfront is excellent and so is the food. The culture is lively and real.

Downtown and many neighborhoods are walkable. Winter is cold and snowy, but the city handles it well. Summer is warm, and spring and fall are beautiful. Toronto feels international without the pretension of some other big cities.

Getting There and Around

Toronto Pearson International Airport is about 25 kilometers west of downtown - roughly 30 minutes by car. Parking costs around $25 per day. Rideshare to downtown costs $30 - 45. The Union Pearson Express train costs about $12 and takes 25 minutes.

Downtown, the Distillery District, Queen West and other neighborhoods are all walkable, and most visitors cover downtown on foot. The TTC subway and streetcars are reliable, and a day pass costs about $13. You don't need a rental car downtown.

What's Changed Since 2016

Toronto has gotten more expensive, and housing costs have climbed. The waterfront keeps improving, and the city has added hotels and tourism infrastructure. The restaurants and cultural scene are still lively, and the neighborhoods keep changing.

It's still less touristy than many big destinations, more a place people live. Its diversity and cosmopolitan feel are still its strengths, the food is still excellent, and it has changed without losing its character.

Ideas to Consider for Your Visit

The CN Tower has excellent views. St. Lawrence Market is interesting. The Distillery District is charming, with galleries, shops and restaurants. Kensington Market is touristy but worth a wander. The real Toronto lives in the neighborhoods: King West, Queen West, the Annex, Parkdale and others.

The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum are excellent. The Lake Ontario waterfront is pleasant, and ferries run out to the Toronto Islands for parks and views. Neighborhood by neighborhood, the food reflects the city's diversity.

See a show - the theaters and performers here are first-rate. Catch a Raptors, Blue Jays or Maple Leafs game if that interests you. The fan bases are passionate. Walk the neighborhoods properly, and treat Toronto as a city people live in rather than a list of attractions.

Realities to Be Aware Of

Toronto is expensive across the board: accommodation, food and attractions. Winter is cold and snowy, but underground connections help. Summer is warm. Spring and fall are beautiful but short.

Toronto has the upsides and downsides of any major city. The diversity is a strength. Safety varies by neighborhood, so use basic street awareness. It feels less distinct than Montreal or Vancouver, though it has its own character. Downtown can feel crowded.

If Toronto Is Part of a Longer Trip

Toronto is a good base for Ontario and Eastern Canada. Montreal is about 8 hours east, Ottawa about 4 hours and Niagara Falls about 1.5 hours. There's plenty more across Ontario.

Amtrak and GO Transit connect Toronto to other cities. Many travelers plan Eastern Canada trips including Toronto. Toronto is truly a major destination meriting 3 - 5 days.

Yearly Things to Consider

Spring (April - May): Flowers bloom. Weather improves. Good for exploring neighborhoods.

Summer (June - August): Warm and excellent. Patios open, festivals run, and it's peak tourist season.

Fall (September - October): Beautiful. The leaves change and the weather is pleasant.

Winter (November - March): Cold and snowy. Winter culture and events. Indoor attractions are important.

Ideas for Itineraries

Two Days in Toronto

Day 1: The CN Tower, downtown, then St. Lawrence Market. Dinner somewhere new. Day 2: Queen West or King West, then the Distillery District. Fill the rest with food and culture.

Three to Four Days in Toronto

Follow the two-day plan, then add more neighborhoods, the museums and a waterfront walk. Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands, see a show and eat your way across the city's cuisines.

Five Days: Deep Toronto

Give several full days to the neighborhoods. Add museums, galleries and a few performances, dig into the food and culture, and spend a day at Niagara Falls.

One Week: Toronto and Niagara Falls

Spend 4 - 5 days in Toronto and 2 - 3 days around Niagara Falls. By the end, you'll understand why Toronto is such a livable city.

From the BootsnAll archive

16 stories and articles about Toronto, 2000 to 2011

Show all 16

FAQ

Yes. Downtown and the neighborhoods are easy on foot, and transit is reliable.

Walk the neighborhoods and the waterfront, hit the museums and eat across the city's cuisines.

Very. Budget for accommodation, food and attractions.

About 1.5 hours away. A day trip or 2 - 3 day visit is popular.

At least 3 days. 4 - 5 days is ideal to really get to know the city.

Summer is excellent but crowded. Spring and fall are beautiful. Winter is cold, but the culture keeps going.

Update history (26)▸

  1. · Rewrite

    Edited for readability and the BootsnAll voice: generic phrasing cut in 24 passages, no facts changed

  2. · Fact-check

    Fact-checked against current sources: no corrections needed

  3. · Rewrite

    Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes

  4. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  5. · Contributors

    1 member blog post from 1 blogger

    • 2017: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  6. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  7. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  8. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  9. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  10. · Contributors

    1 member blog post from 1 blogger

    • 2013: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  11. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  12. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  13. · Contributors

    1 member blog post from 1 blogger

    • 2011: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  14. · Update

    Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees

  15. · Contributors

    1 member blog post from 1 blogger

    • 2010: 1 post from 1 traveler on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  16. · Contributors

    7 member blog posts from 4 bloggers

    • 2009: 7 posts from 4 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  17. · Contributors

    5 member blog posts from 4 bloggers

    • 2008: 5 posts from 4 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  18. · Contributors

    8 member blog posts from 7 bloggers

    • 2007: 8 posts from 7 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  19. · Contributors

    9 member blog posts from 6 bloggers

    • 2006: 9 posts from 6 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  20. · Contributors

    10 member blog posts from 5 bloggers

    • 2005: 10 posts from 5 travelers on BootsnAll Travel Blogs (source)

  21. · Contributors

    1 article, by Zelda Wilbert

    • August 2003: Rock and Roll to the Rescue - Toronto, Canada - Zelda Wilbert (article) (source)

  22. · Archive

    Covered in BootsnAll's round-the-world destination guides

    Archived copy of /rtw/destinations/na/toronto.shtml

  23. · Contributors

    1 Insider dispatch, by Norman Goldman

    • February 2002: One of Toronto's Awesome Bands - Norman Goldman (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  24. · Contributors

    8 Insider dispatches, by Gerald Schwartz

    • January 2001: Toronto, Ontario - December 2000/January 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • February 2001: Toronto, Ontario - February 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • March 2001: Toronto, Ontario - March 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • April 2001: Toronto, Ontario - April-May 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 2001: Toronto, Ontario - June 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2001: Toronto, Ontario - July/August 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • September 2001: Toronto, Ontario - September/October 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • November 2001: Toronto, Ontario - November/December 2001 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)

  25. · Contributors

    7 Insider dispatches, 4 articles, by Gerald Schwartz

    • May 2000: Toronto, Ontario - May 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • June 2000: Toronto, Ontario - June 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • July 2000: Toronto, Ontario - July 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • August 2000: Toronto, Ontario - August 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • August 2000: Toronto, Ontario Travel Guide - Tourist Attractions - Gerald Schwartz (article) (source)
    • September 2000: Toronto, Ontario - September 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch) (source)
    • September 2000: Toronto, Ontario Travel Guide - Accommodation - Gerald Schwartz (article) (source)
    • September 2000: Toronto, Ontario Travel Guide - Great Walks - Gerald Schwartz (article) (source)
    • September 2000: Toronto, Ontario Travel Guide - Map of Downtown - Gerald Schwartz (article) (source)
    • October 2000: Toronto, Ontario - October 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
    • November 2000: Toronto, Ontario - November 2000 - Gerald Schwartz (Insider dispatch) (source)

  26. · Contributors

    Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers