Top 15 Things To Do In Toronto
Things to do in Toronto
A multicultural city that doesn’t fall short of anything, Toronto is dynamic and an urban concoction of cultures, art, music, and entertainment. From bustling local markets to vibrant Nightlife locations and escapades in the wild, Toronto has no dearth of indulgences and things to do.
On the sports front, the city revels in hockey, basketball, and soccer, while there are also numerous nature escapades in the city to take a tour of. Other than that, there are theaters and museums for a cultural and historical glimpse into Toronto’s lifestyle, while some truly breathtaking landmark sites in the city are a must-watch for tourists.
All in all, there are plenty of things to do in Toronto to occupy your ‘to-do’ list from top-to-bottom, regardless of how many days or weeks you’re planning to visit the city. So if you’re short on time and don’t know which places to visit, take a look at this list that we’ve prepared for you and get working on that Toronto itinerary now.
Niagara Falls
The natural wonder at the heart of Toronto, Niagara Falls, is an immensely popular tourist destination on the Niagara river and serves as a major electricity source for the City of Ontario. It’s one of the country’s most iconic natural landmarks and is accompanied by public parks on both sides. Counted as one of the world’s wonders, the falls are a must-visit for tourists and honeymoon-goers. You can also take a boat ride and approach the Horseshoe Falls.
The Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum containing everything from the natural world to the history of human culture. It has five floors and has more than 13 million paintings, cultural artifacts, and natural history items on display. You can learn about various topics, including history, marine life, space, textiles, etc.
The museum also has the world’s largest collection of gems, minerals, and meteorites, along with one of the best dinosaur collections in the world.
Art Gallery of Ontario
Formerly known as the Art Gallery of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is an expansive art exhibition space that recently acquired more than 10,000 works and increased its internal space. The main exterior of the museum has been transformed by an elevated facade made of curving glass, adding to the architectural charm of the building. This glass allows natural sunlight into the gallery, enhancing the visitors’ viewing experience.
CN Tower
The Canadian Tower, or the CN Tower, is a broadcast and communication tower and the second-tallest man-made structure worldwide. It was opened to the public in 1976 and has been the most iconic cultural landmark in the country. The tower includes an observation deck, a revolving restaurant, and an entertainment complex. The restaurant and the observation deck stay open for the public till 10 pm, and tourists can enjoy breathtaking views of the city from the tower.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma, which translates as ‘home on the hill’ in Spanish, is a majestic castle and the largest home of its time with 180,000 square feet area consisting of 98 rooms, three bowling alleys, a wine cellar, an indoor swimming pool, a kitchen, and an 800-foot long tunnel. The architecture resembles the Gothic and Romanesque home style, with an expansive garden full of perennials. The exotic interior consists of elite furnishings and paintings to lure tourists. The charm of the castle is open to the public for viewing. Casa Loma has also been the location for many movies and can also be reserved for weddings.
Central Island
The Central Island is part of three islands that rests between Ward’s island and Hanlan’s Point. The island has fountains, formal gardens, the Centerville Amusement Park, a beach, picnic areas, a pier that extends into Lake Ontario, and many other attractions.
Tourists visit Central island to enjoy the Centreville Amusement Park, have a picnic at the beach, or just take a stroll at the pier to enjoy some quiet time together in the city. There are multiple restaurants on the island, including Pizza outlets, snack bars, cafes, and beer joints.
Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market is smack at the center of Old Town Toronto and is a popular place among locals as well as tourists. While visiting the market, you can explore restaurants, artisans, food vendors, a farmer’s market, and the market gallery with exhibits dedicated to the city’s art, culture, and history. There’s also a kitchen in the market that has cooking classes for all ages.
You can experience the unique and lively atmosphere first-hand hand and buy from the farmer’s market that’s been there for over 200 years. St. Lawrence Hall still hosts various social and business functions.
Toronto Zoo
The 710-acre Toronto zoo, which was opened in 1974, is one of the largest zoos in the world. The zoo consists of approximately 450 species and offers an immersive experience to visitors. You can watch many animals who have been flown in from around the world and observe them up close with audience-guided cameras. You can also join daily keeper talks and interactive Q&As with animal experts and naturalists.
If you’re planning to visit the Toronto zoo, you can take a tour or a drive-through safari to see hundreds of species and their natural habitats at the zoo. Divided into seven sections, you can spend days at the zoo and indulge yourself in various restaurants while expecting wildlife encounters with the beings of this world.
Canada’s Winter Wonderland
Canada’s Winter Wonderland has been a premier tourist attraction during all four seasons in Ontario. Wonderland park is located North of Toronto and has over 200 attractions, including roller coaster rides, children’s areas, and a water park. It offers great thrills for the whole family and some truly world-class entertainment avenues.
Regardless of the time of the year you’re visiting Toronto, the winter wonderland can entertain you all year round. Apart from live shows and spectacle events throughout the year, you can also enjoy a Halloween Haunt and an immersive holiday experience during Christmas and the New Year.
Princess of Wales Theater
The premier junction for classic and contemporary musical production, the Princess of Wales Theater, is a modern theater with a capacity of 2,000 seats. It first opened in 1933 with the premiere of Miss Saigon. The theater has outstanding architecture and interior designs and features some truly magnificent artworks.
The Princess of Wales Theater was the first privately-built stand-alone theater in North America for over 50 years and the first in Canada since the Royal Alexandra Theater.
The Princess of Wales Theater is a must-visit for those who like plays and musical productions. The jaw-dropping interiors and environment of the theater are enough to impress even those who aren’t fanatics about theaters.
Ontario Science Center
A one-of-a-kind immersive center for learning, the Ontario Science Center is a great place to explore and learn about the various facets of science and discoveries made by humankind. Over 500 interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, a real-life rain forest, a science arcade, and a Space Hall demonstrate our wonderful galaxy. The Space Hall is the only public planetarium in Toronto, making it a popular tourist and local destination for curiosity and an immersive experience.
The Ontario Science Museum offers something for every age group from educational resources to DIY experiments. The center also features thrilling films on a giant IMAX Dome Theater on various topics such as the universe, human innovations, discoveries, and much more. You can also learn about various observations and test theories here.
Kensington Market
The bohemian heart of Toronto, the Kensington Market, is another famous market that draws in many tourists to experience multicultural history and shop in its independent stores. The market is located West of Chinatown and is a great place to spend time with your friends and family and have quality time.
The market is a tight-knit community where you can find all the foods available worldwide. In the market, you can find restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and cafes offering gastronomic delights worldwide. No matter the time of the year you visit the market, chances are that you’ll find great festivities with a bohemian party atmosphere. If you’re planning to visit there, it’s advisable to take a transit as the streets outside the markets are jam-packed with little to no parking area.
Ripley’s Aquarium
Ripley’s Aquarium is a wonderful water world located at the heart of downtown Toronto right at the base of the CN Tower. It’s open to locals and tourists of all ages and is a must-visit attraction in Canada. The Aquarium is complete with some truly fascinating exhibits.
Ripley’s Aquarium hosts more than 20,000 saltwater and freshwater specials and underwater adventures that one simply cannot afford to miss. Explore the longest underwater tunnel in North America, with more than 5 million liters of water and hundreds of interactive features. Visitors are allowed to get up and close with several species like sharks, crabs, shrimps, stingrays, etc. The aquarium also hosts dive shows every day at an interval of 2 hours.
Visiting Ripley’s Aquarium is a fascinating experience. You can also visit the galleries which maintain freshwater and saltwater environments from all over the planet.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Given that the National Game of Canada is Hockey, you can truly expect the nation to honor its greatest sporting heroes in its Hockey Hall of Fame. There are multiple exhibits from the greatest ice hockey players and teams in the history of the nation, along with various records, trophies, and memorabilia from the National Hockey League (NHL).
It was first established in 1942 at Kingston before NHL withdrew its support for the International Hockey Hall of Fame. Spread over 65,000 sq ft, the Hockey Hall of Fame is now located at the Bank of Montreal building and offers a gamut of activities like simulation games. You can also find top-class hockey equipment and merchandise at the retail store dedicated to everything hockey.
The Hockey Hall of Fame can be accessed all days of the year and only closes during the holiday season.
Barcode Saturdays
For those who hunt for the best party destination wherever they go, Barcode Saturdays are the place to be when you’re exploring things to do in Toronto. Get set for a night of ultimate moves and grooves in Toronto’s hottest party station every Saturday night. The nightclub is a luxurious party ritual located at the NEST Toronto, which becomes the hub of wild and ecstatic party vibes.
Head to the club with your friends for a night o sensational music, dancing, and a premium range of drinks and champagnes. Sway to the hottest party tracks, including Hip-hop, Reggae, RnB, Trap, and Latin music hits that pump a whole lot of raw energy in you all night long.
Barcode Saturdays are Toronto’s number one party ritual with amazing surprises, gastronomic delights, lip-smacking drinks, and a whole lot more that keeps the party flowing all night long. While at the club, you can also expect to catch a glimpse of Canadian celebrities who frequently visit the club.
Reserve a VIP bottle booth that gives you access to premium drinks, champagnes, and services at the hottest clubbing destination in Toronto.
Happy Exploring to you
We hope that you enjoyed reading about the top things to do in Toronto, whether you’re exploring the place as a tourist or as a local.
From a glimpse of the city’s rich cultural heritage to cosmopolitan vibes, Toronto is truly the most happening city in Canada. From iconic architectural buildings like the Casa Loma to vibrant and youthful settings such as Barcode Saturdays, everyone can find everything in the ‘City of Queens.’