Toronto is the largest city in Canada and is located in the province of Ontario. It is a vibrant, multicultural city with a thriving arts and cultural scene, excellent restaurants, and numerous attractions.
Toronto is situated on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario and has a humid continental climate. Summers are typically warm and humid, while winters are cold with significant snowfall. As of 2021, the population of Toronto is approximately 2.7 million people. It is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America.
Toronto has an extensive public transportation system, including buses, streetcars, subways, and commuter trains. The city is also bike-friendly and has a network of bike lanes and paths.
Toronto is home to several professional sports teams, including the Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball), and Toronto FC (soccer).
Toronto is known for its many festivals and events, including the Toronto International Film Festival, Caribana, Pride Toronto, and the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE).
Here are some of the top attractions in Toronto:
CN Tower is a landmark and communication tower located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It stands at a height of 553.3 meters (1,815 feet, 5 inches) and was completed in 1976. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest freestanding structure in the world and held that title for over 30 years until the completion of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
The tower is named after its owner, the Canadian National Railway (CN), which originally built the tower as a communication tower to improve television and radio signals in the Toronto area. In addition to its telecommunications functions, the CN Tower also features an observation deck, a restaurant, and a glass floor that allows visitors to look down to the ground from a height of 342 meters (1,122 feet).
The CN Tower is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Toronto, with millions of visitors each year. It has also been designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands located in Lake Ontario, just off the shore of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There are actually 15 islands in total, and they are connected by bridges and ferries to the mainland of Toronto. The islands are a popular destination for both tourists and locals, offering a variety of recreational activities and natural beauty.
The Toronto Islands are home to several beaches, including Centre Island Beach and Hanlan’s Point Beach, which are popular spots for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. There are also several parks on the islands, including Centreville Amusement Park, which features a variety of rides and attractions for families.
In addition to recreational activities, the Toronto Islands are also home to several historical landmarks, such as the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, which was built in 1808 and is the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The islands also offer stunning views of the Toronto skyline and the lake.
The Toronto Islands are accessible by ferry from downtown Toronto, and visitors can also rent bicycles, kayaks, and canoes to explore the islands. The islands are a popular destination for day trips, but there are also several campgrounds and cottages available for overnight stays.
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a museum of art, culture, and natural history located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest museums in North America, with a collection of over six million items spanning art, archaeology, and natural history.
The museum was founded in 1912 and is located in a distinctive building that was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind in 2007. The building features a striking crystal structure that houses the museum’s galleries and collections. The ROM’s galleries are organised into four major themes: World Cultures, Biodiversity, Earth and Space, and Contemporary Culture.
The museum’s collections include artifacts from ancient civilisations, such as the ancient Greeks and Egyptians, as well as art and artifacts from indigenous cultures around the world. The ROM is also home to one of the largest collections of fossils in the world, including several dinosaur skeletons.
In addition to its permanent collections, the ROM hosts several temporary exhibitions throughout the year, featuring a wide range of subjects and themes. The museum also offers educational programs for visitors of all ages, including lectures, workshops, and hands-on activities.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is an aquarium located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is home to over 20,000 aquatic animals from all over the world and features several interactive exhibits and experiences for visitors of all ages.
The aquarium is divided into several galleries, each featuring a different aquatic habitat. Some of the galleries include the Canadian Waters exhibit, which features aquatic animals native to Canada, and the Dangerous Lagoon exhibit, which is a 96-meter-long (315-foot) tunnel that visitors can walk through while surrounded by sharks, sea turtles, and other marine creatures.
In addition to the exhibits, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada also offers several interactive experiences for visitors. Some of these experiences include the Touch Tank, where visitors can touch and learn about various species of stingrays and sharks, and the Ray Bay, where visitors can snorkel with and feed stingrays.
The aquarium also offers educational programs for visitors of all ages, including school programs, sleepovers, and behind-the-scenes tours. And for those looking for a unique dining experience, the aquarium’s restaurant, the Coral Reef Café, offers a variety of dining options with a stunning view of the aquarium’s exhibits.
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is a major art museum located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is home to a vast collection of over 95,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other art forms, from Canadian and international artists.
The AGO’s collection includes works from renowned artists such as the Group of Seven, Tom Thomson, and Emily Carr, as well as works from European masters such as Monet, Picasso, and van Gogh. The museum also features several contemporary art exhibits and installations, as well as a collection of Indigenous art and artifacts.
The AGO’s building was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry and features several unique architectural elements, such as a spiraling staircase and a glass and wood facade. The museum also offers several public spaces, including a sculpture garden, a restaurant, and a gift shop.
Casa Loma is a historic castle located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was built between 1911 and 1914 by financier Sir Henry Pellatt, who wanted to create a grand residence for himself and his wife. The castle features 98 rooms, including several grand halls, secret passageways, and luxurious bedrooms.
Casa Loma is a unique example of Gothic Revival architecture and features several architectural elements inspired by medieval castles, such as turrets, battlements, and stained glass windows. The castle is also surrounded by beautiful gardens and a 5-acre estate.
Today, Casa Loma is a popular tourist attraction and a popular venue for weddings, special events, and film productions. Visitors can take a self-guided audio tour of the castle, which includes access to several rooms, such as the Great Hall, the Library, the Conservatory, and the Sir Henry Pellatt Suite. The castle also hosts several events throughout the year, including music performances, Halloween events, and Christmas celebrations.
Distillery District is a pedestrian-only historic district located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was once home to the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, one of the largest distilleries in the world in the late 19th century. Today, it is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, featuring a mix of restored Victorian-era buildings, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and cafes.
The Distillery District’s buildings and architecture have been carefully preserved, and the area is now a designated National Historic Site of Canada. The district is known for its charming cobblestone streets, brick-lined alleyways, and industrial architecture.
Visitors to the Distillery District can explore the area on foot, taking in the historic architecture and visiting the many art galleries and shops. The district is also home to several restaurants and cafes, offering a range of cuisine from around the world, as well as several craft breweries and distilleries.
Throughout the year, the Distillery District hosts several events and festivals, including the Toronto Christmas Market, the Toronto Light Festival, and the Distillery District Art Fest.
St. Lawrence Market is a historic public market located in the heart of Toronto’s Old Town neighbourhood. The market has been a fixture in the city since 1803 and is one of the oldest continuously operating markets in North America.
The market is home to over 120 vendors, offering a wide range of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and prepared foods from around the world. The market is divided into three main areas: the North Market, the South Market, and St. Lawrence Hall.
The North Market features fresh produce, meats, seafood, and dairy products, as well as several specialty food vendors offering products such as spices, nuts, and honey. The South Market features a wide range of prepared foods, including sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods, as well as several sit-down restaurants. St. Lawrence Hall, located upstairs from the North Market, is a beautiful event space that is often used for weddings, parties, and other special events.
Toronto Zoo is the largest zoo in Canada and is located in Toronto, Ontario. It is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 450 species from around the world. The zoo is divided into several different exhibits, each featuring animals from a different region of the world.
The zoo’s exhibits include the African Savanna, where visitors can see giraffes, zebras, and lions, the Canadian Domain, featuring animals native to Canada such as grizzly bears, moose, and wolves, and the Indo-Malaya exhibit, home to tigers, orangutans, and Asian elephants. Other exhibits include the Tundra Trek, the Australasia Pavilion, and the Eurasia Wilds.
Yonge-Dundas Square is a public square located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is often referred to as “Toronto’s Times Square” and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
The square features a large open space surrounded by modern architecture, including the Toronto Eaton Centre shopping mall, the Ed Mirvish Theatre, and several high-rise buildings. It is also home to several large digital screens that display advertisements, news, and entertainment.
Yonge-Dundas Square is a hub of activity in Toronto, hosting several events and festivals throughout the year, including concerts, movie screenings, and cultural festivals. It is also a popular spot for street performers and buskers, adding to the lively and bustling atmosphere of the square.