Things to See & Do in Toronto

Toronto is a great town to explore by foot or by bike. There are numerous walking and bike paths throughout the city. If you are into record books, Toronto has the tallest building in the world, CN Tower, at 553 meters, and the longest street in the world, Yonge Street, at 1,900 km or almost 1,200 miles. Get those hiking boots on! Toronto is also the 3rd largest film and television production centre in North America following New York and Los Angeles.

The Visitor Bureau is in the Queen’s Quay Terminal at 207 Queen’s Quay, Suite 590. (800) 499-2514

Tours

A Taste of the World Bicycle Tours & Walks   
Offer 2 and 3 hour guided walking tours and full day bicycle rides through various Toronto neighborhoods. Open April to Oct and in winter by appointment. Costs from $22. (416) 923-6813

Olde Town Toronto Tours  
Hop-on, hop-off narrated bus tours on motorized trolley cars and double-decker buses. Costs $29, is good for 24 hrs and includes 18 stops. (416) 614-0999

Toronto Tours  
One hour boat tours of the Toronto harbor every hour during May to October.. Boats leave from 60 Harbour St., Bay & Queens Quay. (416) 869-1372

Free Things to See & Do

Royal Ontario Museum   
“ROM”, Canada’s largest museum, includes a Chinese collection and a dinosaur exhibit. Free ROMWalk walking tours of Historic Toronto (100 Queen’s Park, 416-586-8097)

Art Gallery of Ontario   
The “AGO” has over 16,000 works of Western Art contained in 50 galleries. Free admission on Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30pm (normally $18). 317 Dundas St. West. (416) 979-6648

Bata Shoe Museum   
4,500 years of shoe history with over 10,000 shoes from royalty, religious figures, sports heroes, artists and Native Americans.  Free Thur 5-8pm (327 Bloor St West) (416) 979-7799.

Isaacs/Innuit Gallery  
Also free and displays North American Indian art and artifacts. It is open Mon-Sat. and located at 9 Prince Arthur. (416-921-9985)

CBC Museum   
250 Front St West, 416-205-5574

City of Toronto Parks   
Offers a series of free self-guided walks that link the city ravines, parks, gardens, beaches and neighborhoods (416-392-1111)

Cummer Skateboard Park  
1,440 sq. meter facility, with stairs, railing, benches and curbs (6000 Leslie St)

Must See & Do

Casa Loma  
Wander through the towers and secret passages of this castle estate and gardens. Costs $17 and is open daily. One Austin Terrace. (416) 923-1171.

CN Tower   
Check out the observation deck on the world’s tallest building. Costs $21.99. 301 Front St. West. Union Station stop on the TTC.

Second City  
World famous improv comedy club where some the greats started. (416) 343-0011

Metro Toronto Zoo   
View over 4,000 animals from around the world in their natural habitats. The zoo is 1 hour from downtown. Open daily. Costs $20. (416) 392-5929

Toronto Islands  
A 10-minute ferry ride across the harbor from downtown Toronto are three small manmade islands. They offer excellent views of Toronto and are a great place to relax on the beach, walk/rollerblade, go bike riding, or visit the amusement park (on Centre Island). There are no cars on the islands. Ferry costs $6.50 r/t and depart from the foot of Bay Street.

Hockey Hall of Fame  
For all you hockey fanatics this museum contains a collection of hockey artifacts, displays and memorabilia as well as interactive exhibits. Open daily and costs $13. Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge St (416) 360-7765.

Money Saving Tips

Theater tickets   half price, day-of-show online at www.ToTix.ca or their booth at Yonge-Dundas Square
Royal Ontario Museum   50% off Fridays 4:30-9:30pm
Transit day pass   $9Cn unlimited travel covers 2 adults on weekends and holidays

Neighborhoods

The Beaches  
The laid-back Beaches area stretches along Queen Street East starting around Coxwell Ave. Here you can soak in the sun on the beaches of Lake Ontario or stroll along the boardwalk promenade. (Queen St East b/w Coxwell & Victoria Park)

Greektown  
Known as the “Danforth”, this area is a great place for nightlife with its many clubs and cafés that are open very late. Of course you can also sample Greek cuisine from a variety of restaurants. Located on Danforth Rd., between Chester and Jones Avenues. (Danforth Ave b/w Chester and Jones)

Cabbagetown  
A neighborhood of renovated Victorian homes and parks. Here you will find Allan Gardens and its Victorian-style greenhouse. Parliament St., between Wellesley and Dundas St. East.

Chinatown  
Toronto’s Chinatown consists of different areas. Head to Spadina Ave. between College and Dundas Sts. for restaurants and bargain shopping. Or check out Broadview at Gerrard St. where the locals live.

Underground City  
Toronto has 11 km (6 miles) of interconnecting passageways under the streets with more than 1,200 retail stores and services.

Old Town
Bordered by Yonge St, the Don River, Queen St East and the city’s railway lines to the south

Queen St West
Queen St West b/w Yonge & Bathurst

Shopping Areas

Kensington Market   
Get a taste of Italy, the Caribbean, Asia and Portugal among other cultures at this market covering a number of city streets. You’ll also find vintage and second hand clothing shops, restaurants and cafés. Open daily. Located between Dundas and College Streets.

St. Lawrence Market  
Fresh meat, fish, produce and baked goods are sold by farmers and other vendors. On Saturday mornings, you can listen to live musicians perform as you shop. Open daily. Jarvis and Front St.

Indian Bazaar   
Get a taste of Indian food and clothing at the restaurants and shops along Gerrard St., near Coxwell Ave., Greenwood Ave. and Main St.

Fashion District   
Spadina Ave between Dundas & Front St

Day Trips

Niagara Falls (1.5hrs)
Ottawa (5hrs)
Buffalo (2hrs)