Toronto
Discover Toronto
Toronto is a diverse, energetic and liveable city, home to many tourist attractions, and seemingly endless dining, shopping and entertainment possibilities. It's the most populous city in Canada, the centre of the country's financial sector, and the provincial capital of Ontario. Toronto is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse cities in the world: more than 80 ethnic communities are represented, and over half of the city's residents were born outside Canada.
What to Experience in Toronto
Famous Beaches
Taste of Toronto...
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. 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: A second variety of roti is a true Toronto original, despite the constituent ingredients being from India.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Toronto into what it is today.
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. In the 1960s and 1970s, Toronto overtook Montreal as the financial and economic powerhouse of Canada. In 1998, the cities of Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and York and the Borough of East York amalgamated to form the current City of Toronto. 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....
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.
Essential Information
Best Time to Visit
Year Roundbest 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....
Getting There
Multiple Options43.677779.62481 Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). (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 in Toronto, 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. One of the main benefits of flying into Billy Bishop is its proximity to the downtown core. Upon landing, you can be downtown within ten minutes. A pedestrian tunnel under the channel takes you to the city....
Getting Around & Staying
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 backup during rush hour (7AM-10AM and 4PM-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. 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 km (1.2 mi) apart, although they are closer in the west and east ends of the city.
Where to Stay
Most hotels and hostels are situated directly outside 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. 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. Toronto has several youth hostels, including ones in the downtown area, such as HI-Toronto Hostel at the foot of Church Street. Another popular alternative for over nighters are bed & breakfasts, of which Toronto has hundreds, many of them in the downtown core. Prices range from $60 to several hundred dollars depending on the house and amenities offered. International students often prefer to study in Toronto because of its safety, proximity to other tourist destinations, and favourable exchange rates and visa policies.
Money & Budget
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. 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.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
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.
Glimpses of Toronto
body of water under white cloudy sky
Toronto
Skyline of the city of Toronto taken from a plane
On a beautiful autumn afternoon on the Toronto Island, 3 ladies enjoy the scenery.
The Toronto Lights
photography of high-rise buildings during daytime
Polson Pier, Toronto
Crispy City
aerial view of city buildings during daytime
This photo was shot from the boat tour around Toronto islands during photographing the Wedding of another Unsplash contributor: Tim Gouw. That Toronto skyline gets me.
body of water under white cloudy sky
Toronto
Skyline of the city of Toronto taken from a plane