Heading to Toronto? Here’s how to do it right.

Toronto sits on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario in southern Ontario, Canada. Often called The Six, its nickname comes from the six former municipalities that merged to form it as it exists today. It’s a city where waterfront views and skyline towers go hand in hand, and where you can go from a buzzing downtown street to a quiet lakeside escape in just a few minutes.

It’s also one of the most multicultural cities in the world, reflected in everything from its
neighbourhoods and food scene to its nightlife and arts culture. I moved here from the UK just over a year ago, and it’s quickly become one of the coolest cities I’ve been to. There’s always something happening, whether it’s a new restaurant opening, a summer street festival, or a packed patio on a warm evening.

Whether it’s your first time or you’re just looking for something new, this guide covers the best things to do in Toronto across every corner of the city. From iconic landmarks to the best foodie spots, this Toronto guide deep-dives and truly caters to everyone.

How to get to Toronto

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is the main international airport, with direct flights from major UK cities including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff. Flight time is around 7 to 8 hours. London Heathrow offers the most frequent year-round routes, while other UK airports are more seasonal.

If you’re flying short-haul, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is a convenient option, with routes across Canada and the U.S. and impressive views of the city skyline as you fly in and out.

The best time to visit Toronto

June and September are the best times to visit Toronto when the weather is warm but not at peak summer humidity, and the city feels at its most comfortable. June is ideal for early summer energy, while September brings a slightly quieter pace. By
October, Toronto is especially beautiful, with fall foliage in full colour across parks, waterfront trails and neighbourhood streets.

Winters are long and cold typically running from November through March with heavy snow in January and February, but if you are prepared for the cold it can also feel like a true winter wonderland.

Where to stay in Toronto

Toronto has plenty of accommodation options depending on the kind of trip you’re after. For neighborhood vibes, Airbnb stays in areas like Little Italy or Beaconsfield Village are a great choice. For luxury, there are classic hotels like the conveniently located Fairmont Royal York, or the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in the upscale Yorkville district.
For something more boutique, The Drake Hotel in West Queen West offers an artsy, eclectic vibe. The Entertainment District puts you in the heart of downtown, while Old Toronto and the Old Town area offer a more historic, character-rich feel.

Getting around Toronto

Toronto is very walkable, but the TTC streetcar and bus network is an easy way to get around. A simple subway system also connects the city. Uber, Lyft and Hopp are also widely available and are usually reasonably priced.

The best things to do in Toronto

Experience Canada’s favourite sport live.

Ice hockey is a huge part of Canadian culture. The season runs from October to April, followed by the playoffs from mid-April to June. It’s fast, physical, and exciting to watch, with the occasional on-ice fight adding to the intensity. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the city’s main NHL team, though tickets can be pricey.

For a more affordable option, the Toronto Marlies (the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate) are a great alternative with fast-paced games at a fraction of the cost. They usually play at Coca-Cola Coliseum just west of downtown, but for special occasions like Boxing Day, Family Day, and St-Patrick’s Day games, they often move to Scotiabank Arena (the same venue as the Maple Leafs), where the atmosphere feels especially electric.

Bar-hop, shop and people-watch along Ossington Avenue

Once ranked among the coolest streets in the world, I find myself on Ossington Avenue almost every weekend. It’s packed with some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, and brands. A few spots I always recommend:

• Andrea’s Cookies: My favourite cookies in the city, with a weekly rotating menu.
• Province of Canada: A Canada-themed clothing brand & great spot for a quality souvenir.
• Foxley: A cosy, low-key spot serving Pan-Asian food.
• Bellwoods Brewery: A lively, local brewery where you can grab a beer on the patio or settle inside the taproom.
• Mamakas Taverna: A go-to spot for authentic Greek cuisine.
• Dear Grain: An organic sourdough bakery and café, offering a rotating selection of loaves.
• Pho Tien Thanh: A Michelin Guide Vietnamese spot serving flavour-packed pho and classic dishes at great prices.
• Linny’s Luncheonette: I’ve yet to make it to Linny’s next door, but if the pastrami sandwich here is anything to go by, it’s firmly on my list.

If it is a nice day, head just up the road to Trinity Bellwoods Park to relax and people-watch. In winter, it turns into a magical local sledging spot.

Hop on a ferry over to the Toronto Islands

One of my favourite activities in Toronto only costs $7 CAD for a return ticket. Head to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and hop on a short 10 to 15-minute ride across to the Toronto Islands, a chain of 15 interconnected islands just off the city’s shoreline. The skyline views from the water are some of the best in the city.

In summer, the ferry runs frequently to three points:

• Ward’s Island: The quietest and most residential area, with charming cottages, gardens and a relaxed beach.
• Centre Island: The most popular and lively area, home to Centreville amusement park, picnic spots, beaches, and lots of open green space.
• Hanlan’s Point: The most laid-back and spacious stop, known for its beaches and front-row views of planes coming in and out of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

My recommendation is to take the ferry to Hanlan’s Point, then rent a Tangerine Bike and cycle across the islands. Just before you reach Ward’s Island, you’ll find Toronto Island SUP if you want to rent paddleboards or kayaks. Alternatively, pack a picnic and spend the day at one of the island’s four public beaches.

Give Poutine a try

If you’re from the north of England, chips, cheese and gravy won’t be anything new, but in Canada, it’s the national dish. The key difference? Poutine is made with cheese curds: small, fresh pieces of cheddar that are slightly salty and “squeak” when you bite them.

You won’t have to go far to find poutine in Toronto, as it’s on the menu at most restaurants, often with their own unique spin on the Canadian classic. One local favourite is NomNomNom Poutine, a small outdoor stall on Dundas Street West that’s often ranked among the city’s best. But for the real deal, you’ll have to head to Quebec, where poutine originated and still reigns supreme.

Cheer on the home team at a baseball game

Even if the baseball isn’t enough to win you over, the view from Rogers Centre will be. From late March to late September, the city rallies behind the Blue Jays, Canada’s only Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

Tickets vary in price, starting at around $20 for Outfield District Tickets, which offer general admission to the ballpark, bars, and patio areas for watching the game, and rising to several hundred dollars for lower-bowl seats. Having sat in the upper 500 level more than a few times, I can confidently say the views are still great from up there.

Wander around Kensington Market

This bohemian neighbourhood is where Toronto’s cultures collide, with indie shops, vintage markets, cafés, and some of the city’s best restaurants. A few of my favourite spots include:

• FIKA Cafe: A Swedish-inspired café and bakery with 10/10 matcha
• Public Butter: One of Toronto’s largest vintage stores
• No Spot. Vintage: A go-to for great quality vintage finds
• The Cottage Cheese: A Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand spot serving standout Indian food
• Grey Gardens: Award-winning Toronto restaurateur Jen Agg’s take on New North American cuisine

Still on my list is Sleepy Pete’s, often ranked among the city’s best breakfast sandwich spots, and Sunny’s Chinese, another Michelin Bib Gourmand pick known for Chinese homestyle dishes.

Dine with sky-high views 351 metres up at the CN Tower.

My boyfriend and I like to joke that you can’t really escape the CN Tower – it’s visible from almost anywhere in the city.

An adult ticket costs $47, but for a $75 minimum spend per person you can dine at 360, the CN Tower’s rotating restaurant. We booked a table for just before sunset and watched the city transform from daylight to sunset to night all from above. The food was also of genuinely good quality.

Feeling brave? Try the EdgeWalk, the world’s highest external walk on a building.

If you’re not seated by a window, ask to join the waiting list for a window table. We waited around 40 minutes and spent the time at the Main Observation Level enjoying a pre-dinner drink. In my opinion, it was worth the wait for an unobstructed view.

See your favourite artist under the stars at RBC Amphitheatre

Visiting the city in summer? Be sure to check which artists are headlining at RBC Amphitheatre, a waterfront open-air venue that comes alive from May to October. It hosts some of the world’s biggest artists in a laid-back outdoor setting right by Lake Ontario. Secure yourself one of the 9,000 seats or grab a general admission lawn ticket and perch up on the grassy hill at the back of the venue.

Grab lunch and wander the stalls at St Lawrence Market

Lunch at St Lawrence Market is a must when visiting Toronto. You’ll be spoiled for choice, with stalls serving everything from fresh seafood and handmade pasta to bagels and bacon sandwiches. The peameal bacon sandwich (a Toronto classic made from lean, boneless pork loin) is a signature here, along with St Urbain Bagel.

My personal favourite is Buster’s Sea Cove, known for its fresh seafood including lobster rolls, clam chowder, mussels, and classic haddock and chips.

Explore the Art Gallery of Ontario (for free!).

On the first Wednesday of every month from 6 PM to 9 PM, the AGO offers free evening access. Inside, the building’s architecture is just as impressive as the art on the walls. The collection spans over 120,000 works, including contemporary, Indigenous, Canadian and European art.

Visiting another time? General Admission is $30 for adults (18+), $15 for youth (10-17), and free for children 9 and under (a ticket is still required).

Sip cocktails at one of North America’s 50 Best Bars

Before moving to Toronto, I had no idea how strong the city’s culinary scene is, and the cocktail scene is just as impressive. Four Toronto bars currently rank among North America’s Top 50 Best Bars list.

In Little Italy, Bar Pompette comes in at #8 with a French-inspired cocktail experience. At #19 is Library Bar inside the Fairmont Royal York, where cocktails are organised by literary genre. Mother Cocktail Bar ranks #22, known for its inventive drinks. Rounding out the list is Civil Works at Waterworks Food Hall, from the team behind Civil Liberties, with a menu inspired by the Garment District’s history.

Other notable mentions include Gift Shop, Cocktail Bar, Project Gigglewater, Suite 115, and Prequel & Co. Apothecary.

Take a day trip to the iconic Niagara Falls

About a 1.5-hour drive from Toronto, Niagara Falls is technically outside the city, but too spectacular not to visit while you’re here.

The area is very touristy, but the main attraction speaks for itself. A must-do is the Niagara City Cruises Voyage to the Falls boat tour. Be prepared to get wet as you head into the basin for an up-close view of the Falls (don’t worry, rain ponchos are provided).

If you want to make a night of it, book a fallsview room at one of the many nearby hotels. We stayed at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel, and the views were incredible. From mid-May to mid-October, enjoy a nightly fireworks display at 10 PM over the illuminated falls.

Winter is also a magical time to visit, when the mist freezes and the landscape turns icy and snow-covered.

Stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a charming lakeside town that feels straight out of Gilmore Girls. The drive along the Niagara River Parkway is also worth it alone, with the river on one side and vineyards and grand estates on the other. For a slower pace, stay overnight here instead, rent bikes, and explore the nearby vineyards before heading to the Falls the next day.

Have you been to Toronto?

What are the best things to do in Toronto? Anything you’d add to this Toronto bucket list?

Kirstie Bowman

See more of Kirstie’s travel guides here.