Weather: Toronto is WARM in the summer with average temperatures of 30C/85F + and humid air. It's always cooler down by the Lake. There are occasionally big thunderstorms that roll through and they are spectacular to watch (from indoors).
Transit: The Toronto public transit is called the TTC and consists of subway lines (underground trains), buses, streetcars and some above ground trains (the GO Train, technically not part of the TTC system). For cross country travel there is the Canadian Via Rail.
TTC can be accessed with a credit card to tap in and out of subways, buses and streetcars. Don't worry if you have to transfer from a subway to a bus - tap your card twice and you won't be charged more than once within a 2 hour period. An alternative option to using a major credit card is to purchase a Presto card at a machine at any subway station.
The subway system is quite limited and runs parallel to major streets above so it is easy to navigate. It is a typically safe public transit system to use - it's not uncommon to see kids unaccompanied and roaming police officers. Each station platform has a safety spot that is under 247 surveillance that is nice for riding at night solo. The trains DO stop running around 1am (changes depending on day of the year) so be aware of that!
Driving: Driving in the city can be overwhelming for anyone who is not used to city driving. But for the experienced folks, its the usual. Toronto is a grid-pattern designed city so streets are easy to navigate North-South and East-West wise! For us geographically challenged folks - all the map apps work great. Parking is oftentimes either a garage or parallel and always paid. It is okay to drive on the streetcar tracks but don't follow the street cars because they do have some areas that are only for them - not cars! They also open their doors frequently and you are (by-law) required to stop behind their doors (like a school bus) if you are beside them when they stop for passengers.
Food: Toronto is a culinary delight by all regards. The city is known as the melting pot of North America because of the multiculturalism within the city. Basically, you can get any type of food from around the world in Toronto! I have put some of my favorite mid-range priced options on the map. There are food options for every palate and budget. Most places need reservations so plan ahead.
Drinks: Ontario (the province that Toronto is the capital of) is home to a lot of microbreweries and many bars, lounges and restaurants in Toronto carry their brews. There are some incredible patios downtown including rooftop and street-side. If you're new to Canada coming from the US - the beer is a little stronger than American-made beer, we import liquor from all over the world (think Cuban rum!), and we make a drink called a Caesar that usually comes with a lot of toppings.
Entertainment: There is almost always live music playing somewhere in Toronto. Whether its a concert at the Budweiser Stage (open amphitheater), in a cozy cocktail bar like The Drake or a full-blown spectacle at the Scotiabank Arena, there is music somewhere!
Toronto also has an excellent theater scene with the biggest musicals, plays and shows making stops in the city. We saw Wicked with the original cast when it first came through the city!
Museums etc.: There are a number of museums, plus the science center and art galleries in the city. Some are very kid-friendly and often have family pricing. The Royal Ontario Museum is very popular with kids because of the dinosaur fossils exhibit which is the best I have seen anywhere in the world!
Outdoor Activities: The city is home to a lot of parks and some have access to rivers and creeks. The lakefront is swim accessible but in the summer always look up the swimming safety online because there are bouts of E.coli and algae in some temperatures and conditions. There are a set of islands on the lake that can be accessed by ferry and are one of the best activities for families - visiting the islands was a highlight of my childhood! Tennis courts and public outdoor pools are free to use in the summer and their schedules can be looked up on the City of Toronto website.
Wifi: If you are out and about and need some free wifi - head to the nearest Tim Horton's where free wifi is always offered. Tim's is a Canadian staple that started as a coffee and donut shop owned by a famous hockey player. It is now more of a fast-food style chain but they still offer their creamy coffee and original donuts. If you are ordering a coffee they will ask "how many" creams and sugars you like because they are measured. Think of it as how many tablespoons of cream and how many sugar cubes you would like in your coffee.
Shopping: Toronto has a LOT of shopping. From incredible vintage and second-hand shops to luxury fashion, the city has it all. For fun window shopping, vintage and unique finds check out Queen Street, the Junction and Kensington Market. For high-end luxury head to Yorkville.
Where to stay: Airbnb and hotel options are endless in the city. I would always recommend staying on/near a Subway line because it makes getting around the downtown core much easier. Parking takes time to find so if you can skip the car rental - do. There is a train from the airport to downtown that is easy to use and will drop you off at Union Station.
Canadians: Torontonians are polite but keep to themselves typically. If you ask for help, someone or multiple people are very likely to absolutely go out of their way to help you. But Canadians are more reserved than Americans typically so you will have to ask. Canadians are not one kind of people and Toronto is home to many, many cultures so keep an open mind and try not to apply generalizations directly to people, but rather learn from them!
Money: Toronto takes credit cards pretty much everywhere. There really is no need to carry much cash at all unless you need it as a backup. I recommend ensuring your credit card has no foreign exchange fees and notify your bank before travelling. Canadian banking is a little bit ahead of the USA in that checks are not accepted anymore, credit cards are all tap to pay and people often use their phones to pay instead of physical cards.
Toronto is a wonderful city to visit. It does not represent all of Canada - the country is VAST. I grew up just outside of this incredible city and recommend it to everyone, especially those visiting Canada in the summer for the first time!
A beautiful huge park that is somewhat similar to Central Park in New York. There is a zoo inside with Capybara's and other animals. There is also a massive wooden play structure originally built by Mike Holmes (Holmes on Homes show on HGTV). A wonderful place to run, walk, take the dog to the dog park area or swim in the big public pool!
At one point this was the tallest free-standing structure in the world (Dubai now has it beat). There is a restaurant at the top that spins slowly for views of the entire city. There is also a glass floor you can walk on and the option to walk outside (in a harness) on one of the upper rings.
The pedestrian-only Distillery District, set in quaint 19th century buildings that once housed a large whiskey distillery, draws crowds to its cobblestone streets lined with hip indie restaurants, bars and boutiques. Art lovers come for the galleries, outdoor sculptures and dance, music and stage performances at the area's several theatres. In December, the annual Toronto Christmas Market takes over the streets.
The park features the original, fully restored and operational 120-foot long locomotive turntable and a carefully chosen collection of full-sized railway equipment. It is home to the Toronto Railway Historical Association live steam miniature railway and other outdoor exhibits illustrating Toronto's railway heritage.
Next door to Steamwhistle Brewery!
Allan Gardens is a conservatory and urban park located in the Garden District of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The property includes a playground, off-leash dog park, and a 1,500 square metres conservatory with six green houses.
Even the street signs are in Greek in lively Greektown, also known as "The Danforth." Crowds come for to its international mix of restaurants, cafes and bars, especially the Greek tavernas and pastry shops, as well as a vibrant mix of specialty boutiques. The neighbourhood is also home to the landmark Danforth Music Hall venue and the annual August Taste of the Danforth, which has food stalls, live music and dancing.
Set on a strip of College Street, buzzy Little Italy's main draw is its classic pizzerias, trattorias and gelato shops, as well as its international restaurants and produce markets. Sleek martini bars, trendy pubs, and concerts at the famous Mod Club round out the area's nightlife, which mostly attracts students and hipsters. In summer, locals and visitors flock to outdoor patios lined with casual cafes.
Home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team and open air concerts! This stadium has a retractable roof that is often open in the summer.
Head to the 5th level for $5 hot dogs and beers.
Energetic Chinatown hosts a variety of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese restaurants that range from dim sum and pho to modern fusion. The animated Asian open-air markets and shops along Spadina Avenue offer fresh fruits and vegetables, along with herbal medicine and souvenirs. Chinese New Year celebrations draw tourists and locals to live stage shows, martial arts demonstrations and lion dances
Known as “Roncy” to locals, this neighbourhood next to High Park caters to those who would enjoy a more relaxed vibe—with an Eastern European and family-friendly flavour. This is a traditionally Polish area, and you can still eat your fill of Eastern European treats along the main street. You'll also find vintage stores, design and gift boutiques, and eateries that cater to Roncy’s many vegan and health-conscious residents.
The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, founded in 1976 and taking place each September. It is also a permanent destination for film culture operating out of the TIFF Lightbox cultural centre, located in Downtown Toronto
The Junction, one of Toronto’s most lively neighbourhoods, is named because of its geography: the intersection of where four railway lines in the area meet, and its adjoining area, the Junction Triangle (extending from Lansdowne to its main strip of Sterling Road).
After a long battle to absolve prohibition in 1997, the neighbourhood boomed and has since become a sought-after place to live and visit.
Culinary enthusiasts will now have a new eatery just across from the neighbouring MOCA, which includes a bakery, bar, and larder, as well as base for Drake’s Catering services.
Whether you’re in the makeshift “living room,” in the 140-seat dining room amongst a curated selection of eclectic art, at the takeout counter, or coffee and cocktail bar, there’s a buzz from the chefs in the open-concept kitchen and the custom installations from local artists.
Brunch is practically a religion for Torontonians, so it should come as no surprise that many will make a pilgrimage to Liberty Village for this late morning to midday meal.
Lined with townhouses and high-rises, this west-end neighbourhood skews young (and young at heart) and is known to be a hotspot for fantastic coffee, baked goods, and decadent brunch spreads galore.
Ontario free-run eggs are standard — get yours with an order of their hearty Korean breakfast hash. Love mimosas? Mix them yourself at the table with a bottle of sparkling along with a pitcher of OJ or grapefruit juice.
Brunch is all day, every day, at SCHOOL. And it’s over the top. Case in point: their Krispy Krunchy French Toast, with its crispy cereal coating, peach-raspberry compote, sugar dust, and brown sugar butter. Prefer savoury? Try the Super Cheesy Bacon French Toast, a sweet and salty extravagance that won’t impress your cardiologist… but your happy belly won’t care!
This Liberty Village mainstay has a fan following for its wild blueberry buttermilk pancakes. You may have to queue up to get your fix of this delightful fluffy stack, but it’ll be worth it. Grab the Mildred’s Pancake Essentials box on your way out to recreate the dish at home. Other menu standouts include the Huevos Monty and Mildred’s Burger. Wash it all down with Mrs. B’s Blueberry Mimosa (a cocktail made of prosecco, fresh blueberry lemonade, and maple cotton candy).
Bread heads in search of a stellar slice should beeline it to Brodflour. This bakery stone-mills heritage Canadian grain on-site in their minimalistic space, ensuring they’re always baking with the freshest flour for the best flavour and nutrition. Keep it simple with a sourdough slab with cultured butter or go a little fancier with toasted sourdough topped with labneh and beefsteak tomato. PRO TIP: Pick up a vegan almond butter muffin for a midafternoon snack.
Of all the restaurants featured on this list, Wanda’s Pie in the Sky was probably the toughest to choose only one iconic item from.
Why? Because they make so many delicious varieties of pie, including vegan and gluten-free options.
Buuuuut there’s something about the way the brown sugar praline topping and that hit of tanginess from the peaches on the Peach Praline Pie that just seduces your taste buds.
The Jamaican beef patty sandwich has become somewhat of a staple in Toronto, but what makes the one at Golden Patty so special is that this Jamaican and West Indian bakery has been serving the community for over a decade.
Golden Patty’s Patty Supreme provides you with a choice of patty on coco bread with lettuce, tomatoes & mayonnaise or coleslaw - add cheese for an additional cost.
Now I don’t blame anyone for ordering oxtail, doubles, or something from their massive baked goods display…but please do not leave without a patty sandwich as well.
St.Lawrence Market is a great indoor specialty market experience in Toronto's harbor district. Shoppers can purchase fresh meats, cheeses, wines, fruits, olives ...
This eclectic, multicultural neighbourhood is filled with all manner of quirky bars, quaint restaurants, independent stores and traditional family-style Portuguese bakeries. Traditionally home to people of Portuguese and Brazilian backgrounds, it’s become even more diverse in recent years. If you’re lucky enough to be here in June there’s the Dundas West Fest—a street party of music, food, dancing and arts.
The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Exhibition or The Ex, is an annual fair that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the third Friday of August leading up to and including Labour Day, the first Monday in September.
Next to University of Toronto's St. George Campus, The Annex is a lively area that draws students to its casual eateries, indie bookshops, bars and cafes on Bloor Street West. It also has the iconic Lee's Palace rock concert venue, the quirky Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema and the Royal Ontario Museum art and natural history museum, one of the largest in North America. Leafy residential streets feature stately homes.
North America’s largest urban park, the 79-square kilometre (nearly 20,000 acres) Rouge National Urban Park, which has a rich cultural history dating back over 10,000 years.
This is Toronto’s biodiversity hotspot, with the Rouge River, expansive marshes, ponds, meadows and forests galore. Nestled in its protected territory are almost 1,000 different plant species, mixed woodlands and the endangered native butternut tree, which can grow up to 30 m (98 ft) tall.
A vibrant slice of Korean culture nestled along Bloor Street West between Christie and Bathurst Streets. Koreatown Toronto is a must-visit destination where you’ll discover a unique blend of traditional and modern Korean experiences.
Rosedale gives the best of parkland, ravines and old-time charm. As one of the oldest and wealthiest suburbs of the city, this quiet area north of downtown has plenty of trails and green space perfect for a stroll or run.
Be sure to visit the Muse Gallery, where Canadian artists are proudly displayed, the Summerhill Market, a specialty grocer carrying gourmet food items, discover one of the many luxury stores, including Thirty Six Knots, or try one of the patio-adorned restaurants that line Yonge Street.
This is Ossington Village (aka just plain Ossington) which fills up on weekend nights—and anytime the weather’s decent—with the hungry and thirsty of Toronto’s west end. Its sheer diversity of bars and eateries has earned it a top spot among the city’s hippest hangout streets since the early 2000s.
Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood is home to one of the largest Tibetan ex-pat communities outside of Asia, making it the perfect spot for a self-guided momo tour through Little Tibet.
The neon palm tree sign has witnessed the likes of The Rolling Stones and Blondie grace its stage, making it a timeless treasure trove for music enthusiasts seeking the essence of rock's golden era.
Hi! My name is Katie and I am an avid world traveler and outdoor adventure gal! I am from Canada and have lived in the US for the last 10 years. I love to road trip, solo travel and plan luxury budget trips and am sharing all my itineraries here!
I spend a lot of time researching the best routes, travel plans and locations for excellent trips that include adventure, good food and spectacular views. For videos of my trips and adventures head to my TikTok page!
