Toronto: a first-timer's guide to Canada's biggest city

Why go

Toronto is a city you taste and walk rather than tick off. In one day you can eat dim sum in Chinatown, browse vintage shops in Kensington Market, watch a baseball game, and finish with dinner in Little Italy or Little Portugal. It is also the gateway to Niagara Falls, the wine towns of Niagara and the cottage country lakes of Ontario.

The main sights

The **CN Tower** dominates the skyline, with a glass floor and views far over the lake. Next door, **Ripley's Aquarium of Canada** is a hit with children. The **Royal Ontario Museum** covers dinosaurs, world cultures and Canadian history, and the **Art Gallery of Ontario** holds a fine collection of Canadian painting, including the Group of Seven. **St. Lawrence Market** is the classic food hall, famous for its peameal bacon sandwich. **Casa Loma** is a castle-like mansion on a hill, and the **Distillery District** is a pedestrian quarter of Victorian brick buildings with galleries, cafés and a winter Christmas market.

The islands and lakefront

A short ferry from the foot of Bay Street takes you to the **Toronto Islands**, a car-free world of beaches, bike paths, a small amusement park at Centreville and the best skyline view in the city. In summer it is the city's favourite escape. Along the mainland, the **Harbourfront** has walking paths, galleries and boat tours.

Neighbourhoods

**Kensington Market** is a bohemian maze of vintage stores, cafés and cheap eats. **Chinatown** runs along Spadina Avenue. **Queen Street West** and **Ossington** are for independent shops, bars and restaurants. **Yorkville** is the upscale shopping district. **The Annex** is leafy and student-friendly near the university. Further out, **Greektown** on the Danforth, **Little India** on Gerrard Street and **Koreatown** on Bloor show how many cultures call Toronto home.

Food

Toronto has no single dish but it has everything. Try a peameal bacon sandwich, a butter tart, Jamaican beef patties, Caribbean roti, Korean fried chicken, ramen, and dim sum in the suburbs. Poutine is everywhere too. Food halls and markets keep costs down, while King Street and Ossington have the finer dining rooms.

Where to stay

**Downtown** around Union Station and the Entertainment District is the most convenient for first-timers. **Yorkville** suits a quieter, upmarket stay. **Queen West** and **the Annex** feel more local. Hotels fill up and rise in price during the Toronto International Film Festival in September and major concerts, so book early.

Getting around

The **UP Express** train links Pearson Airport to Union Station quickly. In the city, the **TTC** runs subway lines, streetcars and buses, and you can tap a credit card or a PRESTO card to pay. Downtown is very walkable, and there is a bike share scheme. Traffic is heavy, so public transport is usually easier than driving.

Day trip to Niagara Falls

**Niagara Falls** is about ninety minutes away by road, or reachable by GO Train in summer. Take the boat into the mist below the Horseshoe Falls and walk the riverside. Combine it with **Niagara-on-the-Lake**, a pretty historic town surrounded by wineries famous for icewine.

Safety

Toronto is generally safe. Use normal city sense at night, watch for pickpockets on crowded transit and at events, and stay aware around some downtown streets where homelessness and drug use are visible.

Plan your days with the free trip planner or see more places to visit in Canada.