A Landsby Spotlight on Toronto
Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Situated on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is not only Ontario’s capital city but it is also the most densely populated urban centre in the country.
Toronto beckons travellers looking for a diversity of food, culture and events. But while Toronto can provide travellers with a bustling big-city experience with lots of landmarks and attractions to see, visitors are often surprised at the small-town feel of certain neighbourhoods. Read on to discover the best of Toronto.
Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Top Attractions in Toronto
If you’re heading to Toronto for the first time, you might be wondering about the must-see attractions in the city. Most people coming to the city for the first time will want to check the big things off their list:
- The CN Tower dominates the skyline and is Toronto’s most recognized landmark. A visit to the top yields a terrific bird-eye view of the city and the lake.
- Depending on the timing of your visit, you might want to take in one of Toronto’s popular sporting events or one of the many festivals that takes place throughout the year, especially in the summer.
- Take in an exhibit at one of the city’s top museums and galleries. There’s the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Aga Khan Museum and lots more.
Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Explore Toronto’s Neighbourhoods
But there is so much more to the city than the well-known attractions. At its heart, Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods and the best way to get a feel for life in the city is to visit a few. There are so many to choose from and each neighbourhood has its own charm: take a walk through Liberty Village, Cabbagetown, Wychwood, Kensington, Yorkville or the Beaches and get to know a new side of the city.
Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Visit the Toronto Islands
If time allows, a visit by ferry to the Toronto Islands is a must-do for all visitors. Toronto Islands refers to a chain of 15 small islands located just a few minutes from the city’s downtown core on Lake Ontario. You could spend all day walking through the various paths and boardwalks that connect the islands and offer everything from beaches and residential areas to bike rentals and an amusement park. The ferry and the islands themselves will give you an incredible view of the Toronto skyline.
Scarborough Bluffs beach. Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Explore Nature
Head to the east side of Toronto along the Lake Ontario shoreline to see the Scarborough Bluffs — a huge stretch of cliffs that offer pretty views of the lake and access to a beach and many kilometres of hiking trails. A bit further east is the expansive Rouge National Urban Park that provides even more access to green space. High Park, in the city’s west end, is a popular place for a picnic or a stroll.
Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Visiting Toronto
The city has two main airport hubs. Pearson International Airport is the main airport serving the region and is located just outside the city limits in Mississauga. A train (the Union-Pearson Express) connects the airport with Toronto’s downtown core and takes about 25 minutes. The city’s other airport, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, is located on the Toronto Islands just a few minutes from downtown via ferry or tunnel.
Toronto’s main transportation hub is Union Station. Here is where you will find access to VIA Rail, as well as GO Trains that connect Toronto to other parts of the Greater Toronto Area. To travel around the city by public transportation, you’ll need to use the TTC (check here for up-to-date routes, schedules and fares).
Photo c/o Destination Toronto
Our 2022 Summer Spotlight series has short introductions to Canada’s 14 capital cities (10 provincial, 3 territorial and 1 national) and was created to inspire us Canadians to explore more of our own country. For more details on each province or territory, visit our Experiences page or search our Journal by location. Better yet, reach out to us! We’d love to tell you more about these great places and create travel itineraries for you to explore them.Â
