Toronto

Understand

Toronto has an estimated population of over 3.2 million people as of 2024, and is the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which has 7.1 million people. It also anchors the Golden Horseshoe region, which wraps around Lake Ontario from Toronto to Niagara Falls, home to over 11.1 million residents, approximately a quarter of Canada's entire population. Toronto is the fourth largest city and fifth largest urban agglomeration in North America. Distances between cities in the area can be great as it sprawls along, outward and even wraps around the western end of Lake Ontario; public transit is not always effective enough to make it a quick or seamless trip. Many suburban residents rely on private cars to get around. Toronto is also known as "the 416" after its first area code (although now 647 and 437 area codes are also used); or since 2014, "the 6", a term coined by the rapper Drake, which represents the area code). Outlying suburbs are also known as "the 905" after their area code, although this code is also used in the Hamilton and the Niagara Peninsula, stretching from Cobourg and Colborne in the east to the border in Niagara Falls to the southwest. More than half of its residents were born outside of Canada, and as a result the city is fortunate to host many vibrant bustling neighbourhoods with street signs in several languages. A popular urban myth has it that the United Nations rated Toronto as "the most multicultural city in the world". While the UN and its agencies are not in the habit of rating cities, it remains a fact that Canada is a nation of immigrants, and Toronto demonstrates this abundantly. A UN agency lists Toronto as second only to Miami as the city with the most foreign-born residents, as about half the city's residents were born outside of Canada. This has been true since the early 20th century, meaning that new waves of immigrants from diverse places have arrived. Toronto's residents represent far more cultural and language groups than Miami, which may be a better measure of multi-culturalism. Most immigrants either pass through Toronto on their way to other parts of the country or stay in Toronto permanently. Many people born abroad consider themselves Canadian as much as native-born Canadians and will be offended if treated otherwise. Within Toronto, most ethnic groups have worked their way into the fabric of Canadian society but retain their distinct ways such as language, dress (if only for special occasions), customs, and food. Toronto is home to many ethnic festivals throughout the year, several radio stations that broadcast in various languages, and two multilingual television channels. The City of Toronto provides services in 16 different languages while its public transit helpline provides service in 70 languages. Even large department stores such as The Bay in downtown Toronto advertise service in 9 languages. The lingua franca of Toronto, however, remains English. While older tourist promotional material may claim the Toronto means "meeting place", the city most likely takes its name from the Mohawk word Tkaronto, meaning "where there are trees standing in the water".

History

Spawned out of post-glacial alluvial deposits and bluffs, the area was populated at different times by Iroquois and later Wyandot (Huron) peoples. European settlement began in the mid-1700s when, drawn by the natural harbour formed by the Toronto Peninsula (now the Toronto Islands), the French built a seldom-occupied fort (Fort Rouillé) near today's Exhibition Place. The city then grew out of a backwoods English trading post established as York in 1793 (it was re-named "Toronto" in 1834). During the War of 1812, Fort York was an important base for the British, and was destroyed during a major battle. For most of Canada's history, Toronto was the second city of Canada. In contrast, Montreal was Canada's most important city, mainly because it was much older and larger, and also enjoyed easier access to the Atlantic Ocean via the St. Lawrence River. In the 1960s and 1970s, Toronto overtook Montreal as the financial and economic powerhouse of Canada. There were several factors behind this. The completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 and the development of containerization in that same period greatly reduced the cost of moving cargo between the Great Lakes region and the Atlantic Ocean. Simultaneously, Quebec underwent the Quiet Revolution in the 1960s, in which French speakers began to challenge the traditional dominance of English speakers. Quebec's turn towards the French language made it look provincial and insular, at a time when the rise of the United States as the superpower of the free world meant people everywhere were rushing to learn the English language. Many English speakers and their businesses saw no future for themselves in Quebec and they fled from Montreal to Toronto during the 1960s and 1970s. Toronto's rise to prominence coincided with the dominance of the Brutalist movement in architecture, which led to the construction of several ugly concrete high-rise towers in the financial district during this time. As Ontario cargo traffic boomed, the Canadian National Railway (CN) realized there was no need to run all those cargo trains through Toronto's Union Station. In 1965, CN opened the MacMillan Yard in the northern suburb of Vaughan. This freed up a vast area of valuable land near Toronto's waterfront for redevelopment, known as the Railway Lands. The first big project to open was the CN Tower, in 1976. Development of the Railway Lands stalled in the 1980s, but took off again in the 21st century. From the CN Tower, you can see how the Railway Lands along the waterfront are dominated by contemporary 21st century skyscrapers in various shades of silver or blue, while the concrete high rises to the north are not as lovely. In 1998, the cities of Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and York and the Borough of East York were amalgamated to form the current City of Toronto.

Climate

Toronto's climate is on the whole on the cool side, and variable conditions can be expected. Come prepared for winter: winters are cold (temperatures average -3.8°C (25°F) in January), mostly cloudy, at times snowy and uncomfortably windy. However, the type of extreme cold experienced further north in Canada usually lasts for no more than a couple of days at a time. Sometimes during the winter, severe storms can slow down transportation and activities in the city for a day or two. Daylight hours are short and run from 7:45AM to 4:45PM. The city experiences warm and humid summers, but still milder than many US cities. Average daytime highs are around 27 °C (81 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F) for overnight lows in July/August, with many muggy evenings but rarely extreme heat. On average, the temperature exceeds 30 °C (86 °F) only 12 days per year, but hotter air masses often arrive with moderately high humidity levels. This can raise the humidex to around 38°C or even higher (equivalent to a heat index of 33 °C (91 °F)); and increase overnight lows to 22 °C (72 °F) or above on particularly sweltering days. In the summer, thunderstorms occur from time to time, most lasting less than an hour. Summer days are long, with the sun up as late as 9PM, and sunrises around 5:45AM. Late spring/early summer and early fall are generally considered to be the best times to visit for weather and less crowds, mid-summer is the peak tourist season, but visitors will find that Toronto's vibrancy extends through the winter with outdoor skating rinks and bundled up club-goers, etc. Toronto's public buildings are nearly all air-conditioned and fully heated. Areas closer to the downtown core are generally 1 to 1.5°C warmer in winter due to the urban heat island effect. For the rest of the year, areas close to Lake Ontario are warmer by about 1°C due to the moderating effects of the lake. This is especially prominent in March and November when the city receives rain while areas just north of the city receive snow.

What's inside

Toronto is made up of varied and unique neighbourhoods. Covering 631 square kilometres (244 sq mi), Toronto stretches some 32 kilometres (20 mi) along the shores of Lake Ontario. The city is laid out on a very straightforward grid pattern. Streets rarely deviate from the grid, except when topography interferes, such as the curving Don River Valley, and to a lesser degree the Humber and Rouge valleys at opposite ends of the city. Some main thoroughfares intersect the grid at angles. For travel purposes, we have divided Toronto into twelve districts:

Central Toronto

The dense urban core of Toronto. It includes many of the city's attractions and hotels.

Outside Central Toronto

These are the older suburbs that ring the downtown followed by an outer ring of post-war suburbs. There are fewer attractions here, but if you have the time, some of the neighbourhoods are well worth visiting.

Getting there

Toronto Pearson

1 Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ IATA). (updated May 2022), in Mississauga, is 30-50 minutes by car (depending on traffic) or 25 minutes by train from downtown Toronto and is served by most major international carriers. There are two terminals: Terminal 1 hosts all Air Canada flights and a few other international (mostly Star Alliance) carriers while Terminal 3 hosts all other airlines. When travelling from Toronto International (and other major Canadian airports) to the United States, travellers will go through United States immigration and customs pre-clearance before boarding, and should leave some extra time to account for this. The airport has free WiFi internet access. The main article describes ground transportation to and from Toronto Pearson.

Billy Bishop Airport

2 Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ IATA), ☏ +1 416-203-6942. This airport serves short-haul flights only and is close to downtown. It is named for a World War I fighter ace, but some locals may call it “Toronto island airport” or simply “Billy Bishop” (updated Jun 2022)

Airlines at Billy Bishop Airport

Porter Airlines, toll-free: +1-888-619-8622. This airline uses Billy Bishop as their hub. They are a short-haul carrier that operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop planes to many cities in eastern Canada (Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, St. John's and others) and parts of the United States (Boston, Chicago, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles and Myrtle Beach). Porter is aggressively fighting for market share and you can take advantage of it by getting low fares, especially if booked 2 weeks or more in advance, combined with complimentary drinks onboard and a waiting lounge with amenities. (updated Apr 2022) Air Canada, ☏ +1-514-393-3333, toll-free: +1-888-247-2262. Canada's largest airline. Operates flights to Billy Bishop Airport from Montreal and Ottawa, on Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes. Toronto Pearson International Airport is a hub for this airline with far more flight options including from international destinations. (updated Apr 2022) Propair. Service from North Bay and Rouyn-Noranda. (updated Apr 2025)

Getting around

Toronto is huge, and most roads run for very long distances. Streetcar rail, subway rail, and intercity rail services are clean and efficient, and it's entirely possible to get around Toronto without a car, especially downtown. You may find it quicker and easier to drive, but the highways regularly back up during rush hour (7—10AM and 4—7PM). Toronto has plentiful parking garages downtown, but they are very expensive. Many in Toronto travel by bicycle (especially in the warmer months) and this mode is very convenient for getting around the downtown district. Not all motorists will give way to cyclists, and not all cyclists comply with the rules of the road; caution is recommended.

By car

Getting around by car is the easiest method to get around outside of the downtown area. Roads are wide, have many lanes, and parking is free and plentiful. Arterial roads are generally laid out 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) apart, although they are closer in the west and east ends of the city. Large-scale multi-car pileups frequently block traffic for several hours. Always check traffic conditions before you depart. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation provides an official traffic information website, https://511on.ca/, which has a page with details about current incidents, including images from traffic cameras if available. On the freeways, overhead electronic signs provide estimated driving times and warn drivers of accidents ahead. There are several freeways within and around Toronto:

Highway 401 (locally, the four-oh-one) is the primary east-west route along the northern edge of the city and is extremely busy. Highway 401 has a collector-express lane system. The inner or "express" lanes of the highway have direct ramps to and from only a handful of exits, while the outer or "collector" lanes generally have ramps to and from all the exits. After every three or four exits, there is an interchange between the collector and express lanes, so motorists who need to exit can move over to the collector lanes, and those who plan to drive for a long distance can move over to the express lanes. It is often possible for the collector lanes to be jammed, but not the express lanes, and vice versa. When studying traffic conditions on the 401, always pay attention to whether an accident is blocking the collector or express lanes. Since exits are so far apart on the express lanes, it is especially important to take the last exit before a traffic jam begins in those lanes, or you may be stuck for several hours. Highway 427 is the primary north-south route along the western edge of the city. It begins at the QEW/Gardiner Expressway interchange and ends in Vaughan. It also has a collector-express lane system near the airport. Follow the signs carefully in order to get where you need to go. Highway 400 is the main north-south route linking Toronto to Barrie and beyond that, Northern Ontario. It has only a short stub in Toronto beyond Highway 401, and then becomes a four-lane arterial road, Black Creek Drive. Allen Road is a short north-south freeway that was supposed to be part of a longer Spadina Expressway, but the rest of that route was cancelled by a freeway revolt. Allen Road begins just north of Highway 401 as Dufferin Street, then ends suddenly at a signalized T-intersection with Eglinton Avenue. Traffic going south usually backs up at that intersection, as does east-west traffic on Eglinton trying to take Allen to reach the 401. Highway 404 is a north-south freeway which links Toronto to its northern suburbs, such as Aurora and Newmarket. At an interchange with the 401, Highway 404 becomes the Don Valley Parkway. The Don Valley Parkway (DVP) is a north-south freeway that links downtown Toronto to the north via Highway 404. It passes through the steep terrain of the Don River valley. Exits on the DVP have short ramps and tight curves, due to the nature of the terrain. The Gardiner Expressway is the primary east-west freeway serving downtown Toronto. It begins at the QEW/Highway 427 interchange, crosses straight through downtown Toronto, and ends at an interchange with the Don Valley Parkway. Half of the route is elevated, making for great views of the city. \ Highway 409 is a short east-west freeway designed to link the eastern portion of Highway 401 and nearby surface streets directly to Toronto Pearson International Airport. It begins at Highway 401, runs through an interchange with Highway 427, and ends at the airport. Getting around in downtown Toronto by car is much harder, however, and taking transit is often the better option. Parking is scarce and often expensive, depending on where you park and whether you park on the street or in private lots or garages. Driving on downtown streets also takes a lot more patience as speeds are slower, and hazards are more numerous. In addition to heavy vehicular traffic (cars, trucks, buses, streetcars), you will also have to frequently yield for pedestrians and bicyclists.

See

Individual listings can be found in Toronto's district articles

Museums

Art Gallery of Ontario. The largest art gallery in Canada. It has a great Canadian paintings exhibit and the world's largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures. The European paintings exhibit has a few excellent pieces including Ruben's The Massacre of the Innocents. Bata Shoe Museum. This offbeat museum is devoted to shoes and footwear from cultures all over the world. Black Creek Pioneer Village is a recreation of life in 19th-century Ontario and consists of over 40 historic buildings, decorated in the style of the 1860s with period furnishings and actors portraying villagers. Casa Loma is a step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendour. The museum has decorated suites, secret passages, a 250-m-long tunnel, towers, stables and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Dedicated to ceramics in an exquisite contemporary building. Hockey Hall of Fame is both a museum and a hall of fame dedicated to the history of ice hockey. Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of art, world culture and natural history. It is one of the largest museums in North America, and the largest in Canada. Spadina House Museum is in a historic mansion dating from the 1860s. The grounds contain a beautiful garden. Textile Museum of Canada. Shows drawn from a 13,000-piece collection of textiles from around the world and from other collections.

Landmarks

CN Tower. At 533 metres tall, the CN Tower is the third tallest free-standing structure in the world, and the tallest in North America. Rogers Centre is a large multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Toronto City Hall. Two buildings forming a semi-circle overlooking Nathan Phillips Square. Architecturally stunning, and next door to Old City Hall (now a court house) which has a more classical architecture.

Do

Individual listings can be found in Toronto's district articles

Outdoors

Toronto is "the city within a park", with miles and miles of parkland following the streams and rivers that flow through the city. Edwards Gardens and the Toronto Botanical Gardens in the neighbourhood of North York might just be the place to start exploring this natural environment. The City of Toronto has designated various Discovery Walks which highlight the natural and human history of the region. These can be found with brown circular signs along the route and highlight other regions such as the Belt Line, Garrison Creek and the Humber River as well as the downtown core. Beaches. Toronto has three main sections of beach along Lake Ontario. The most popular of these is in the aptly-named Beaches neighbourhood. A less popular alternative is the beaches in the western end of the city in the Parkdale neighbourhood; this was once Toronto's Coney Island, with an amusement park and numerous beach-style attractions; however in the 1950s the city built the Gardiner Expressway along the lakeshore, effectively separating the beaches from the city and causing the demolition of the amusement park; over the years attempts have been made to re-energize this area, but the Gardiner remains a major barrier, as well as a source of noise and pollution to keep away would-be beach-goers. On the plus side, the beaches are largely empty most of the time, providing solitude for those who seek it. The third major beach area in the city runs along the south shore of the Toronto Islands. This area is pleasantly secluded, with most of the islands covered with parkland and a small amusement park. Hanlan's Point Beach on the western shore of the islands is the City of Toronto's only officially recognized clothing optional beach, and a popular gay hangout. Despite these options, many Torontonians prefer to leave the city for beach trips; the most popular beaches are those in the Georgian Bay area north of Toronto, Wasaga Beach in particular is very popular during the summer.

Arts & entertainment

Comedy. World-renowned Second City comedy/improv theatre has a location in Toronto. See great improv and situation comedy performed live with audience participation over dinner and drinks in the heart of the club district of downtown Toronto. Theatre. Toronto has a great theatre scene for every taste and budget. Check out the big theatres on Yonge Street for the big splashy shows. Small theatres in the Annex and elsewhere offer smaller productions that range from original Canadian works, avant-garde, experimental theatre, small budget musicals to British murder mysteries. A variety of theatre festivals such as the New Ideas, Rhubarb and Fringe festivals are the seed for many commercial success such as The Drowsy Chaperone. Also try to check out the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the home of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. The Toronto Symphony plays in the acoustically renovated Roy Thomson Hall.

Shopping

Toronto has ample opportunities for shopping, and nearly any section of the city has unique places to shop:

Toronto Eaton Centre – At Yonge-Dundas Square. Over 285 shops and services, including most of North America's most popular brands, and two food courts catering for every taste. The 'PATH' System. Linking 1,200 stores and 50 buildings, The PATH is an underground shopping mall has been created for all the commuters to get from Union Station to their offices and back without ever going outside. In a city of Toronto's summer heat and winter cold, this is essential. Mink Mile. If you head west from the corner of Yonge and Bloor, you are in the most upscale of Toronto's shopping districts, easily accessible from the Bloor-Yonge or Bay subway station. Bloor Street between Yonge and Avenue is regarded as Toronto's version of Fifth Avenue, with upscale names such as Hermes and Louis Vuitton, and the flagship Holt Renfrew department store. Yorkville. This high-end shopping district just north of Bloor Street and west of Bay Street is home to many designer boutiques. It also has many galleries selling art. Kensington Market provides a bohemian shopping experience especially along the southern end of Kensington Avenue. The houses lining both sides of the street have been turned into shops with racks of clothes displayed in the front yard. There are many local, neighbourhood shopping districts in the inner city. These are mostly along major thoroughfares lined on one or both sides with shops in low-rise buildings. A few examples are Queen Street West (especially east of Spadina Avenue and extending westward into the West End), Uptown Yonge north of Eglinton Avenue on Yonge Street, and Roncesvalles Village. There are many more areas with store-lined streets within the inner city but few in suburban districts such as Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough which tend to prefer malls. Consult the district articles. Yorkdale Shopping Centre. A shopping centre in the north of the city, accessible from Yorkdale subway station. This is a full-service, upscale mall with hundreds of stores, but which is also rife with packs of roving teenagers who use the facilities as a social scene. Make use of the subway if possible on weekends, as locals pack the parking areas to capacity.

Money

Changing money at a recognized bank or financial institution is best; there are a few specialized bureaux de change in Toronto's financial district and in Mississauga in the airport terminals. Some hotels, souvenir shops and tourist offices exchange money, but their rates won't put a smile on your dial. Many places in Toronto accept US dollars for small transactions – with a rough 1:1 exchange rate – and it is advised to obtain some Canadian dollars if you will use cash. US coins are often mixed in with Canadian coins at stores since they are similar in appearance.

Eat

Toronto is generally considered to be one of North America's top food cities. It has the same variety as New York or San Francisco and the compact and safe downtown keeps them closer together. As one of the most (if not the most) multicultural cities in the world, Toronto has authentic ethnic cuisine like no other city in North America. It is easy to eat out in Toronto and have a superb meal for cheap. A few of these cheap (i.e., can be easily procured for less than $20 or, in many instances, $10), iconic dishes are must-try meals for any visitor to Toronto—and represent the diversity that makes this city so special.

Peameal bacon sandwich

The closest thing to a classic local dish that Toronto has, this is a simple dish comprising slices of cured, unsmoked pork loin in a Kaiser roll, typically adorned with some mustard. The classic location to try this dish is in St Lawrence Market, with Carousel Bakery and Paddington's Pump its most famous purveyors.

Roti

Roti (never plural, and make the effort to pronounce the "T", like "row-tee") is probably the city's most iconic dish. Originating in Trinidad and Guyana, roti is essentially a curry wrapped in a roti shell, i.e., a thin paratha or dhalpuri flatbread. Typical curries found in roti include goat, chicken, lamb, beef, shrimp and a range of veggie options (channa, spinach, pumpkin, cabbage, potato). Occasionally you can find duck and oxtail options, if you're lucky. While the best roti is found in the outer suburbs of Scarborough and Brampton, a handful of shops persist in the city proper, including:

Drink

Historically, the majority of nightlife in Toronto has been centred on the appropriately named Clubland and in the Fashion District on Queen Street West. Nearly everywhere is packed to the brim with pubs and bars, but none so much as Adelaide and Queen Street in those districts. Clubs tend to operate on Richmond and Adelaide streets (both run east-west, 1 block apart); names change frequently, but the district keeps on going. John Street between Adelaide and Richmond is always a hub of activity, especially after Blue Jays games, and is a convenient spot for those staying downtown. Two other clubs of note outside this district: the (long-lasting) Phoenix (on Sherbourne) and Rebel (literally operating on part of Toronto's commercial port, but this place has an outstanding view of the city on warm summer nights, and boasts an extensive entertainment complex). Some of Toronto's newest and hottest nightclubs have opened up in the King Street West/Liberty Village area. This area tends to attract a more mature (25 years and older) crowd; however this comes at a cost as drinks and admission into the venues are typically a bit more expensive here than in Clubland. Hip art and music oriented crowds tend to gravitate towards Parkdale (Queen West past Bellwoods Park). The hipsters hangout in the wide array of bars, galleries and clubs that dot the area, including the Rhino, Happy Wine Bar, Tammy's, Motel, Pharmacy Bar, Danu, Food & Liquor, the Grand Trunk and the Drake and its poor cousin Gladstone Hotels. The same folks also frequent the Annex, Dundas West and Kensington Market areas of the city at night for club nights, casual drinks and art and music events. One of the main "corsos" of the city is Little Italy: College Street, between Bathurst and Ossington flows over with music, sidewalk cafes and excellent food and a crowd that enjoys the summer heat and the offerings. College Street, east of Bathurst, is home to many student hangouts, including Sneaky Dee's which is famous among locals for its nachos. The legal minimum drinking age is 19. Dundas West has emerged as the preferred stretch of bars and restaurants catering to the taste-making proclivities of West Enders. From Bathurst until Dundas hits Roncesvalles, you will come across all kinds of bars at all kinds of price points: high-end cocktail bars (the aptly named Cocktail Bar, Rhum Bar, Northern Belle, Bluebird), dive-ish bars (Wasted Youth, Lucky Shrike, Hank's Liquor, Swan Dive), wine bars (Tommy's, Milou, Grapewitches, Midfield), cozy date spots (Communist's Daughter, Bathurst Local, Black Dice, Archive, Loveless), live music venues (the Garrison, Lula Lounge, the Dakota); you name it, you can find it. Ossington between Dundas and Queen has cemented its status as a nightlife hotspot with more than a dozen bars, packed sidewalks and bustling restaurants. While there are certainly a few trend-chasing spots catering to 905ers and basic Millennials, there are some real gems along this stretch, including Sweaty Betty's, Reposado, Bellwoods Brewery and Painted Lady. Bloor Street West from Christie Pits Park until Lansdowne is also home to a great stretch of bars, including Civil Liberties, Paradise Grapevine, Hurricane's, Grey Tiger, Burdock Brewing, Three Speed, Bar Neon and many, many more. These cater more to the millennial crowd than some of the younger-oriented bars further south but are where you'll find a more authentic expression of what 2020s Toronto is all about. Toronto has over a dozen microbreweries. One popular microbrewery is Steam Whistle Brewing (south of the CN Tower in the Entertainment District) which offers tours of its brewery in a former locomotive roundhouse. Unlike Steam Whistle, most microbreweries in Toronto are brewpubs serving in-house brews with pub fare. About half of the brewpubs are in the West End district. Other districts having a brewpub are Harbourfront (Amsterdam BrewHouse), Distillery District (Mill St. Brew Pub), Midtown (Granite Brewery) and East End (Left Field Brewery). As of 2023, craft breweries have consolidated in two general areas: the East End, mostly along Queen East (Eastbound, Radical Road, Avling, Rorschach, Saulter Street, Black Lab) and Gerrard (Left Field, Godspeed); and the West End, particularly near Bloordale/Junction (Steadfast, Henderson, Halo, Indie Ale House, Junction Craft, Burdock, Bandit, Woodhouse, High Park). A few other neighbourhood breweries worth exploring include Bellwoods Brewery (Ossington, near Trinity-Bellwoods), Blood Brothers (Geary Ave.), Kensington Brewing (Kensington Market) and Mascot (Downtown core). For an exceptional beer bar, visit either Bar Volo (near Bloor/Yonge) or its sister shop, Birreria Volo (College near Bathurst). Toronto has long been a beer and whiskey town, and while it lacks a drinking identity like that of Philadelphia or Boston, asking a bartender for a blackbird shot (Montenegro and Wild Turkey) will endear to you many. Some bars will offer a shot of Jameson + bottle of beer for $10 or so; Wasted Youth and Lucky Shrike on Dundas being two such examples.

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Toronto's district articles Most Toronto hotels and hostels are situated next to or just outside of the downtown core. Prices for rooms generally range from $150 for a standard hotel, $60–80 for a motel, and $20–40 for a bed in a hostel. Apart from downtown, most other Toronto neighborhoods have few lodging options, so one must then look at outlying suburbs beyond the city limits.

Hotels

Toronto has a wide variety of hotels that can suit every budget. Many are located in the Entertainment and Financial Districts and Yonge-Dundas areas.

Hostels

Toronto has several youth hostels, including ones in the downtown area, such as HI-Toronto Hostel at the foot of Church Street.

Stay safe

Crime

The overall violent crime rate in Canada, and particularly in Toronto, is lower than that found in major cities in the United States. Petty crime is generally not a serious problem in Toronto, but be vigilant with your possessions. Car and bike theft are comparable to other large North American cities. There are neighbourhoods which are known in the media and on the street as being more dangerous, though police statistics are not commonly used to justify these beliefs. Nevertheless, while assaults and other crimes can happen anywhere, especially late at night when few people are around, it is reasonable to avoid certain areas (again, generally late at night). These areas include in the old city and inner bouroughs: Crescent Town, Regent Park, parts of Parkdale, parts of St. Jamestown, Moss Park, Alexandra Park, Flemingdon Park/Victoria Village and Weston-Mount Dennis. Outer areas: Jane and Finch ("Jane Corridor"), Lawrence Heights, the Peanut (i.e., Don Mills and Sheppard), Rexdale/Jamestown Crescent, Malvern, Kingston and Galloway, Steeles-The Amoureaux, Dorset Park, Westminster-Branson and Eglinton East-Kennedy Park. Stay away from dodgy looking areas, where drugs, prostitution and violent crime such as armed robberies can occur. These neighbourhoods become noticeably worse from a visual standpoint, giving ample warning to turn around.

Homeless

Toronto has a visible homeless population, many of whom will ask you for money. Beggars in Toronto have been known to ask for handouts on the pretext that they need TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) fare. Homeless people can also be seen in many subway stations and sleeping across multiple seats in subway cars. Cases of open drug use in the subway are also not uncommon. There have also been instances in the past with "squeegee kids" who would jump into intersections when traffic is stopped at lights and solicit money for cleaning windshields. This is becoming less common as this form of interference with vehicle traffic is expressly illegal under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and may be reported to police. If you are stuck in traffic and see someone coming at your vehicle with a squeegee, yell at them to go away.

Pedestrians

Be careful when getting off the streetcars and always look to your right before leaving the car. Although vehicles are supposed to stop when the streetcar doors open, some motorists and cyclists will ignore this and keep going. The proliferation of mobile phones has led to "multitasking" in a large percentage of the pedestrian population of this city. If driving, cycling, or even walking, in Toronto do not forget to keep an eye open for a pedestrian who may be more focused on his or her device.

Go next

Toronto is a great starting point for exploring southern Ontario. There are many golden sand beaches along the clean fresh waters of the Great Lakes that are ideal for hot summer days. Popular beach destinations within 1½-2½ hours of Toronto include Wasaga, Sauble Beach, Sandbanks, Grand Bend, Long Point, and Turkey Point.

Golden Horseshoe

Niagara Region — A lush region known primarily for its orchards and vineyards as well as the thundering waterfalls at Niagara Falls and the beautiful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. On the American side of the Falls are several outlet malls. 1-1½ hours south along the QEW; a few tour buses make the same-day return trip. It is one of the principal Wine Regions of Ontario, and several companies do wine-tasting tours by bus from Toronto, starting at $125 (tax included), such as Niagara Airbus. Main Street Unionville, in the suburban city of Markham north of Toronto, is a historic village developed in the 1840s. As typical of a small village, it has many quaint period buildings in an idyllic surrounding. Waterloo Region — This area 1-1½ hours west of Toronto has large university campuses, rolling farm hills and Mennonite culture. The Niagara Escarpment — A world biosphere, protected by UN mandate running from the Niagara Falls west to Hamilton then northward to Georgian Bay. It is covered by forest with high cliff views along the Bruce Trail bordering the western edge of the Greater Toronto Area, at its closest point it is about a ½-hour drive from the western end of Toronto. Newmarket has its attractive Main Street Heritage Conservation District and many heritage buildings within a walkable area. Canada's Wonderland is a popular, seasonal theme park operated by Six Flags in Vaughan. It is a 20-minute drive away without traffic, and there are buses from downtown in the summer.

Ontario

Muskoka, Georgian Triangle and The Kawarthas — All 1½–2 hours north are cottage country areas with more rocky and hilly terrain speckled with hundreds of lakes and waterways. Muskoka and the Kawarthas are known for their country inns, cottages, spas/resorts, provincial parks, and a wealth of outdoor activities including camping, fishing/hunting, snowmobiling, nature viewing, and hiking set among natural beauty. The Georgian Bay area is where the hilly terrain and cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment meet its shores, the area has renowned ski facilities frequently blasted with high snowfall amounts but beaches Wasaga Beach, wineries and golfing are the choices in summer. Stratford — This cute town 2 hours west of Toronto is host to the world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival (April–November). Thousand Islands and Kingston — This scenic area and its nearby historic city are 3 hours east, on the way to Ottawa Ottawa — The Canadian capital is about a 4½-hour drive from Toronto. Windsor, London, and Sarnia are at the southwestern corner of Ontario, and the southernmost point of Canada. It is a 3-hour drive.

More pictures of Toronto

From this destination's category on Wikimedia Commons. Each photograph is credited to its own author under its own licence.