It’s really impossible to distill just how cool of a city Toronto is. There is an energy that rivals New York, a cultural mix reminiscent of London, an urban beauty in the mold of Chicago, and classical Canadian friendliness. The place is incredible.
And while there really isn’t a single must-visit sight, and nothing overly iconic outside of the CN Tower, it is a place that just about everyone will enjoy visiting, while finding aspects that resonate.
In this guide, I will try to distill Toronto down to its essences, focusing on my own experiences during my visits there. If it seems incomplete, it’s because it is; there is no way anyone who doesn’t live in a city like this can possibly see and do everything. And since I’ll only speak to things I have personally experienced, it will be limiting in that way. But to do otherwise would be a disservice to all of you.
On the plus side, with my now yearly trips to Canada’s largest city, this guide is bound to be expanded and updated regularly as I take in even more of what Toronto has to offer.
As with all of our Ultimate Guides here at The Royal Tour, please click on the links throughout for more in-depth articles about specific sights and aspects of the city. And don’t forget to click here to read our Ultimate Guides from other destinations around the globe!
Getting There
While I’ll acknowledge that it is absolutely possible to drive to Toronto – and that some people will do so, especially via Niagara Falls – the majority of visitors from outside of Canada, or even within Canada if it isn’t from somewhere nearby, will fly. Toronto has two airports, but again, the overwhelming majority will come into the international airport Toronto Pearson (YYZ).
Pearson is large, with flights from all over the US, and dozens of international destinations, served both by Canadian airlines and those of other countries. After clearing customs, getting into the city will mean either taking a taxi or Uber, or taking transit. Transit will take about an hour via the UP train to Union Station downtown, followed by getting to whatever your final destination might be. Uber will cost CA$40 or so depending on specific end point and time of day, and can take 30-60 minutes.
Getting Around
The easiest way to think of the layout of Toronto and its transit system is a deep U shape made by Line 1 of the subway. Downtown’s Union Station is the bottom of the U. The U is bisected by Line 2 at Bloor Street, several stations north in either direction from Union. The majority of what you’ll want to see as a tourist sits in this lower portion of the U. (There are exceptions, of course, but this generally holds.)
The subway lines are easy to use. Tap a contactless credit card or Apple Pay at the turnstile and board. At the end of the day, your card will be debited the proper amount. (A single ride is CA$3.30, and a day-pass is CA$13.50, so if you take five rides, you’ll max at that amount and that’s all you’ll be charged.) Transfers are included for two hours.
Within downtown, if walking isn’t your preference for any reason (it is flat but can be spread out; to go from the CN Tower to St. Lawrence Market, for instance, is a 25 minute walk), there are streetcars running down many of both the east-west and north-south streets. Those fares work the same way.
Uber is common and easy to use all over the Toronto area, so if transit isn’t conducive to your itinerary, or you aren’t one who likes using it, that can also work.
I would not recommend renting a car in Toronto unless you plan to spend a significant amount of your time a) outside of downtown or b) seeing places outside the city as a whole, like Niagara. Traffic can be bad, and parking can be expensive, especially at the nicer hotels.
What to Do
As mentioned in the introduction, Toronto doesn’t have – in my own personal opinion – a single must-see sight. What it does have is several super cool places that would appeal to most, and a whole TON of things that really depend on your interests.
Let’s start with the two most popular sights: the CN Tower and Casa Loma. The CN Tower is one of the tallest structures in the world, and while it is expensive, visiting the observation deck is a cool experience if you can tolerate heights. (Click here to read about the CN Tower.) Casa Loma is an early 20th century castle-mansion that can be visited, and is especially awesome if you are a movie buff as it has been the set of a ton of films. (Click here to read about Casa Loma.) Note: Casa Loma is one of those sights outside of downtown, although it is still off Line 1, albeit up a lot of stairs. If stairs are an issue, Uber there.
These two are popular, and tickets can book out early, especially the CN Tower which needs timed entry, so plan accordingly.
As for other sights, Toronto has no shortage of interesting museums. The top one is the Royal Ontario Museum (click to read about that), an art-science-history hybrid with a super cool collection. You might also like Little Canada (click here for that one) if you enjoy miniatures and model trains, or the Hockey Hall of Fame to see Canada’s most beloved sport. (Click here to read about the Hockey Hall of Fame.)
Other options might include Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada or Arcadia Earth for science lovers (read about those here), or even the Bata Shoe Museum, which I haven’t seen yet but have heard good things.
But my personal favorite aspect of Toronto is just walking around downtown. It is clean, friendly, beautiful, and has some cool things to look at, from the Ontario Legislature to both old and new Toronto City Hall. Or visit St. Lawrence Market, grab a bite to go, and sit by the Dog Fountain in Berczy Park. Or grab ice cream and check out the waterfront. You’ll find it a really pleasant city on a nice day. (Winter is a different story entirely.)
Where to Stay
If you only have a few days in Toronto, I’d absolutely recommend staying downtown. Hotels range from the decent to the outrageously expensive. But the area is safe, restaurant options are good, and this is where the things you’ll want to see are.
If you want to save some money by staying outside of downtown, just make sure you are transit accessible, preferably off of Line 1. I stay with family in North York, a lovely area, but it’s about 30-45 minutes down the subway into downtown. Don’t add more time by not being close to transit.
I am not going to make any specific hotel recommendations here, since it would just be based on reputation and not personal experience.
What to Eat
Toronto is – again in my opinion – one of the great food cities in the world, especially when it comes to diversity. The city is home to so many immigrant populations, all of whom have brought their cuisines. So if you have some time here and don’t try something new to eat, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice.
First, let’s start with a couple neighborhoods to explore for food. Top of the list is Kensington Market, which you can read about here. This is an area that seems to host almost every new wave of immigration to the city, and as populations integrate and move out, their food stays behind. It isn’t considered one of the safest neighborhoods, though, so I’d make it a daytime visit if you go.
Toronto also has several Chinatown areas, a huge Indian population in Brampton, a large Middle Eastern community in the north of the city, and more.
As for specific things to look for, here are a few ideas that might be different from wherever you come from. If you crave Middle Eastern food, this is a good city for you. Miznon has the best pita I’ve ever had in my life, and if you get it with roasted cauliflower you’ll be in for a treat.
Toronto has a decently sized Caribbean population, so whether it’s street food Jamaican patties from Kensington Market or upscale Latin-Caribbean fusion at Conejo Negro, these are flavors to try.
Indian food is as good in Toronto as it is in London, so just go to town. Or pop into any dumpling house in any of the Chinatown neighborhoods.
Very little is truly “Canadian” as far as cuisine goes, but if you want poutine, my favorite in Toronto is at the Loose Moose downtown. And of course, get a donut at Tim Horton’s, especially if they have maple cream. (Speaking of maple, if you go to brunch, get something with maple syrup. Canadian maple syrup is to Vermont what Vermont maple syrup is to Eggo-brand breakfast syrup product.)
Other Useful Information
As of this 2025 writing, Canada and the US are having a bit of a dip in relations. While as of now it shouldn’t affect your experience, I wouldn’t recommend wearing USA clothing, especially of the right-wing guns/“don’t tread on me” variety. You can click here to read an introduction to some of the issues.
If you want a pretty day in Toronto, June is your best bet, but basically stick with May to September for warm. (It can get quite hot in the dead of summer.) Winter can and will be cold, snowy and potentially icy, and gray.
Torontonians, like most Canadians, are lovely. If you aren’t sure where you’re going, feel free to ask a local. You are incredibly likely to get help, or at least a polite response.
Conclusion
I absolutely love Toronto, and I know you will, too. What it might lack in world-class attractions it more than makes up for in diversity, food, beauty, and in the warmth of its people. It is a place easy to think of as home once you spend even a week, and it is a city you will eagerly return to as often as possible.
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