Toronto Tourism Advice
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| Flamingos, Toronto Zoo Photo credit: Toronto Convention & Visitors Association |
Toronto Tourism Attractions
Toronto is blessed with a wide variety of major tourist attractions. Some of the most notable ones are the Toronto Zoo (see right), the CN Tower, The Royal Ontario Museum and Casa Loma.
For more details please see this article on tourist attractions in Toronto.
Architectural Landmarks
Like any large city, Toronto has numerous noteworthy buildings. There are of course the three biggies listed above, but the city is also home to a mix of other modern and antique buildings. Take the Rogers Centre for example. With its retractable dome, the stadium is home to professional sports teams Toronto Blue Jays and the Toronto Argonauts. It's also used for big-name concerts, family events like Disney on Ice, and cultural celebrations.
Other notable landmarks include: The historic Campbell House, Commerce Court North, The Royal York Hotel, Old City Hall, New City Hall, Fort York, the Ontario Legislature, Mackenzie House, the University of Toronto campus, Union Station, and the Distillery District, which is a collection of 19th century industrial heritage buildings that have been successfully renovated and turned into a shopping/entertainment/residential neighbourhood. Some of the historic Toronto Ontario Hotels like the Royal York and The Gladstone are worth a visit too!
Entertainment – Broadway-style musicals, grassroots theatre, comedy, big name pop stars, night clubs, dub poetry readings, symphony orchestras, dinner theatre, pubs, opera, country and western, ballet, dancing on ice, medieval supper shows, and even blacklight theatre by the Famous People Players. Toronto has something for everyone. Check the local free weekly newspaper NOW Toronto for schedules.
Family Outings – Must-see Toronto tourism attractions for the kids include: the Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science centre, Centreville amusement park on Toronto Island, Harbourfront Centre, Canada’s Wonderland (just north of the city). Other possibilities: boat cruises and children’s theatre.
Festivals – Caribana, Toronto International Film Festival, International Festival of Authors, the Gay Pride Week, Nuit Blanche and the Christmas-season Cavalcade of Lights are some of the big draws of Toronto tourism. Check Harbourfront Centre for a series of musical and cultural festivals nearly every weekend during the summer. One of the most popular Toronto tourism attractions.
Food and Drink – Yes, food counts as a Toronto attraction because Toronto is the most multicultural city in Canada and Toronto restaurants reflect this. Hungry for Thai? Greek? Indian? Tibetan? Italian? French? Polish? North American Comfort Food? Sushi? Vegetarian? You’ll have no trouble satisfying your desires here.
History & Heritage Sites - Toronto may look new and brash, but it’s older than you think. Learn about Toronto history by visiting Fort York, Black Creek Pioneer Village or Campbell House.
Hotels - Toronto has a wide variety of accommodation options. Some of the most interesting are historic Toronto Ontario hotels. Find out why they're tourist attractions in their own right.
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| Gardiner Museum Photo credit: Shai Gill, Toronto Convention & Visitors Association |
Museums and Art Galleries– The big Toronto museums include: Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Ontario Science Centre … But for culture vultures there are many MORE Toronto attractions to explore.
Neighbourhoods – In the market for a sari? Try Little India along Gerrard Street in the east end. Craving souvlaki? Head to the Danforth in Greektown. If you’re looking for Chinese food, you’ve got 3 Chinatowns to choose from! Gay and lesbian clubs abound in the Church Street district. Look for dance clubs in the Entertainment District along King Street West.
Visit the independent art galleries and shop for art and other cool stuff along Queen Street West. Gaze at the skyscrapers in the Business District. Stroll the boardwalk at The Beach in the east end.
Shopping – In Toronto shopping fans are in for a treat. Fashionistas should pack an empty suitcase for their trips to the Yorkville district and Spadina Street’s Fashion District. Vintage fans will want to check out Kensington Market and Queen Street East for consignment shops. Art lovers can pick up treasures at galleries specializing in Aboriginal and Inuit art. For funky finds, try Queen Street West.
For more more info check out this site devoted to Toronto shopping: www.torontoshopaholic.com
Sports – That shrine to hockey, the Hockey Hall of Fame, is rather bizarrely housed in a former bank (but then again, perhaps not so bizarre, when you think of the salaries of today’s hockey players).
While you're in the city, you may want to take in a game of professional hockey (the Toronto Maple Leafs), basketball (the Toronto Raptors), baseball (the Toronto Bluejays) or football (the Toronto Argonauts).
Toronto Tours – By bus, by boat, or by that bizarre mode of transportation, the pedicab. You can also sign up for walking tours with themes of food or history or architecture. The choice is yours.
Transportation - Toronto is served by two airports, one central train station called Union Station and a few smaller satellite stations, two bus stations, and the Toronto Transit Commission, usually called the TTC, which operates the subway, buses and street cars.
You may enjoy
Toronto Museums
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