What to do and to see in Toronto

Toronto is rarely in the top 10 cities we dream of visiting, we come here to visit friends or family, but if you do not learn a minimum you can miss the charm of this city. Because yes Toronto has a lot to offer, if the city is ranked among the top 3 cities to live in the world is that there is a reason. The little sister of New York brings together more than 150 different cultures and offers an incredible diversity for who opens the eyes (and taste buds!)

In August I get friends visiting from France, I wanted them to be able to plan their own schedule by putting together a list of activities that could please them, I thought it could also help your visitors;) So what to do Toronto?

Enjoy reading and do not hesitate to comment with your inescapables;)

You may also want to read: The Guide to the Newcomers to Toronto.

Museums

• ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) is the largest and probably the most well known museum in Toronto. Its building leaves nobody marble, a mix of old and contemporary. More than 6 million objects to observe in this museum of natural history and world culture. Address: 100 Queens Park. Price: $ 20. Website.
• AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) is the second most visited museum in the city, with more than 90,000 works of art waiting for you with very different styles everyone should find happiness there. Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto. Price: $ 19.50. Free admission every Wednesday evening from 6pm to 9pm. Website.
• Design Exchange is a museum dedicated to design, from furniture to architecture to fashion and graphics. Address: 234 Bay Street, Toronto. Price: free. Website.
• Bata shoes is a museum dedicated to the shoe, from the most original pairs to the oldest through the most emblematic. Address: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto. Price: $ 14. The entrance is “pay what you can” every Thursday night from 5pm to 8pm. Website.
• Gardiner Museum is a museum entirely focused on ceramics. Address: 111 Queens Park, Toronto. Price: $ 15. Half price on Friday from 16h to 21h. Website.
• Textile Museum of Canada more than 13,000 textile objects from more than 200 countries. Address: 55 Center Ave, Toronto. Price: $ 15. The entrance is “pay for what you can” every Wednesday evening from 5pm to 8pm. Website.
• Spadina House takes you to the early 20th century and brings to life the changes of that time through the Austin family. Address: 285 Spadina Rd, Toronto. Price: 7.96 $. Website.
• Casa Loma is the castle of Toronto, it is a bourgeois residence of the beginning of the 20th century. For several years the projects have succeeded each other to allow the visitors to take advantage of this jump in time. Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto. Website.
• Fort York National Historic Site is a historic military site where Canadian and British troops were attacked by US troops during the War of 1812. Address: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto. Price: $ 14.01. Website.
• Hockey Hall of Fame, Canada’s iconic sport. It is a real institution for Canadians, and the museum pays tribute to the players who have marked this sport. Address: 30 Yonge St, Toronto. Price: $ 19. Website.
• Mackenzie House is the last house of the first mayor of Toronto. The museum immerses you in life in 1860 through the eyes of Mackenzie. Address: 82 Bond St, Toronto Price: $ 6.19. Website.
• Toronto Police Museum will let you discover the evolution and traditions of the Toronto police. Address: 40 College St, Toronto Rate: on don. Website.
• Toronto Railway Museum is dedicated to rail transportation in Toronto as well as Ontario in order to preserve the legacy it has acquired over the years. Address: 255 Bremner Boulevard, Stall 17, Toronto. Price: $ 5. Website.
• Campbelle House is a house dating from 1822, you immerse yourself in the daily life of the time, the house is very well preserved. Address: 160 Queen St W, Toronto Price: $ 6. Website.
• CBC Museum is responsible for preserving the physical heritage of the CBC (TV and Radio) since its inception in 1936. Address: 250 Front St W, Toronto Price: free. Website.
• Toronto First Post Office As the name suggests, this is Toronto’s first post, a building preserved by architectural lovers dating back to 1834. Address: 260 Adelaide St E, Toronto. Price: donation. Website.
• Redpath Sugar Museum is a museum that will teach you everything about the sugar industry, the oldest of its kind in Canada. Address: 95 Queens Quay E, Toronto. Price: free. Website.
• MZTV museum of television and archives applies to the preservation of the television heritage. Address: Jefferson Avenue, 64 Jefferson Ave, Toronto. Price: $ 10. Website.
• Market Gallery is located on the second floor of the St Lawrence Market, exhibitions that change regularly and represent Toronto’s art, culture and history. Address: 2nd floor, St. Lawrence Market, 95 Front Street East, Toronto. Price: Free. Website.

Attractions

• CN Tower is the emblem of the city no longer presents itself. From its 553 meters it is also a visual landmark for newcomers. Two options: eating at the 360 ​​restaurant and enjoying the view by eating or buying a ticket for a simple visit. It is also possible for the most courageous to make the tour of the tower .. from outside by being held by a cable: The Edge Walk ($ 225). Price: max 48 $ (take advantage of a discount with your AirMiles card). Address: 301 Front St W, Toronto. Website.
• Ripleys Aquarium is the aquarium at the foot of the CN Tower, a good idea to stroll when the cold points its nose. Address: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto. Price: $ 32. Website.
• Lake Ontario, many take it for the sea because of its immensity but it is nevertheless the smallest of the 5 Great Lakes of North America with its only 18,529 km2. Not a particular address to see it, you will see it on the beaches, on Harbourfront, CN Tower, islands, it is everywhere, stroll along the lake and enjoy a totally different atmosphere a few steps from the center .
• Toronto Islands the paradise of the city during the summer, a 10 minute ferry ride away from the hustle and bustle of the city. This year, the islands have suffered flooding and were partially reopened only on July 31st. A summer without the islands is not a real summer for Torontonians. Ferry Address: 9 Queens Quay W, Toronto. Price: 7.71 $
• Toronto Sign installed in 2015 at the Pan Am (sporting events comparable to the Olympics) in front of the town hall he had to stay there temporarily but it was quickly adopted by Torontonians and tourists. So it is now there permanently. Address: 100 Queen St W, Toronto. Website.
• St Lawrence Market is the largest covered market in the city, and is a beautiful building in the Old Toronto. In addition to the usual sellers who offer products from all over the world, it hosts a market of local producers on Saturday morning. I spoke to you quickly when I arrived in 2014 in this article. Address: 93 Front St E, Toronto. Website.
• Distillery District is the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery, and will cease operations after the First World War. In the 90s it will host shoots of over 1700 films being the second most important site after Hollywood. In the early 2000s a major project was launched: the restoration of the distillery to transform it into a pedestrian area. This is the neighborhood you can visit today. Address: 9 Trinity Street, Suite 200, Toronto. Website.
• Gooderham Building (also known as the Flatiron Building) is a historic building built in 1892 (before the one in New York City) in the form of an iron at 2 steps from St Lawrence Market, it was built by the architect David Roberts for the Gooderham family, owners of the Distillery District distillery. On the east side you can see a beautiful view of the skyline in the background. Address: 49 Wellington St E, Toronto.
• Union Station and its high ceilings, the resort has been renovated from the outside in recent years, the building is worth seeing inside and out. Address: 65 Front Street West. Toronto.
• Dundas Square the local Times Square, smaller than its big brother it is a place always very lively, there is always something going on. Address: 1 Dundas St E, Toronto. Website.
• Eaton Center is the most visited place in Toronto, and for the record, Timothy Eaton founded a haberdashery at the current location of the mall at the end of the 19th century. This haberdashery will become the largest department stores in the country. The name will go through the ages despite changes and changes in ownership. Address: 220 Yonge St, Toronto. Website.
• Yonge Street is the longest street in the world, linking Lake Ontario to Lake Simcoe 86km (for a long time it will be 1896km). At the northern exit of the Eaton Center you can see a map of the street on the ground.
• Allan Gardens is one of Toronto’s oldest parks, presenting a permanent collection of plants and flowers from around the world. Address: 19 Horticultural Ave, Toronto. Price: free. Website.
• Yorkville is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Toronto, full of charm and Victorian homes are home to the most prestigious brands. A neighborhood full of addresses of very nice restaurants. Address of the center: 68 Yorkville Ave, Toronto. Website.
• Exhibition Place is a venue that hosts various events throughout the year including the most popular: Canadian National Exhibition, the largest Canadian fair that announces the end of the summer. This place is to see for its beautiful arch which offers a nice view on downtown. Address: 100 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto. Website.
• Rogers Center is home to the Blue Jays Toronto baseball team, note that it is also the only Canadian national team (and not playing against them even they are integrated in the American league.) Address: 1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto. Website.
• The Path is a town under the city. 30 kilometers of underground passage through downtown Toronto. You will find metro stations, shops, restaurants, another life away from the cold winter. Website. Map.
• Brookfield Place is a commercial building with a remarkable interior design. The ceiling heights are crazy, the white arches too. It also houses the Hockey Hall of Fame. Address: 181 Bay St, Toronto. Website.
• Air Canada center is home to the Raptors and Maple Leafs but also a concert hall. To do: see a mtach from one of the teams to feel the Canadian atmosphere. Address: 40 Bay St, Toronto. Website.
• Graffity Alley for the fans of street art is a must, I spoke in this article. Address: Between Spadina and Portland and King and Queen.
• Black Creek Pioneer Village is a typical southern Ontario village found between 1790 and 1860. Discover life before cars and telephone. Address: 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy, North York. Website.

Parks

• High Park is the most famous park in Toronto. If you are there in the spring do not miss the cherry blossoms trees that move the crowds, I was talking about it in this article. A park where you can rest, go running, picnic, walk. 161 hectares for your pleasure. Address: 1873 Bloor St W, Toronto. Website.
• Trillium Park is the new park opened during the summer of 2017 and it quickly became one of my favorite parks: superb views of the lake, the islands and the skyline. You can walk there, do yoga in front of the water, picnic, there is even a space to make your fire think of the marshmallows! 955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto. Website.
• Tommy Thompson Park very different from the previous this park is near the lake, much less popular than the first you will be more peaceful and the view is great! Address: 1 Leslie St, Toronto. Website.
• Toronto Music Garden is a small park on Harbourfront by renowned violinist Yo Yo Ma and Toronto landscape architects. A hymn to music. Address: 479 Queens Quay West, Toronto. Website.
• Trinity Bellwood is also a very popular park in Toronto, almost 15 acres right in the center of the city, an outdoor skating rink for the winter. Address: 790 Queen Street West, Toronto. Website.
• Riverdale Park offers a beautiful view of the skyline but not only, 18 acres of walking, an outdoor public pool, tennis and more. Address: East: 550 Broadview Ave West: 375 Sumach St. Website.
• Coronation Park a stone’s throw from Ontario Place, boats, water, grass, is a nice place with a lovely view of Toronto. See a picture. Address: 711 Lake shore Blvd West. Website.
• Scarborough Bluffs I was there in the spring and loved it, I just send you the article I had published at that time. Address: 61 Under Cliff Dr, Scarborough. Website.

Beaches

• Cherry Beach is a popular beach in the summer you want to bask in the pill or paddle. In addition the beach offers a space where dogs can run free! Address: 1 Cherry Street, Toronto. Website.
• Balmy Beach between pebbles and sand pay attention to your feet here. A park and several activities are proposed: canoe, paddle boarding among others and of course a park around. Address: 1 Beech Avenue, Toronto. Website.
• Woodbine Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Toronto, located in the Beaches area of ​​Toronto. Address: 1675 Lake Shore Blvd East. Website.
• Sugar Beach is an urban beach in the heart of Toronto, you’ve already seen its pink umbrellas on Instagram. Address: 11 Dockside Dr, Toronto. Website.
• Toronto Island Beaches: Hanlan’s Point Beach, Ward’s Island Beach, Island Beach Center.
• Sunnyside Beach for cycling, strolling or digging in the sand this beach is a must in town. Address: 1755 Lake Shore Blvd West.