10 Things Not To Miss On Your First Trip To Toronto

I may be bias but Toronto is one of the best cities in the world. Not only is it one of the most livable, there is so much to do for tourists. Between the sports games, museums and restaurants you won’t find it hard to fill up a weekend or even a week in this city.

Ben and I have now entertained quite a number of people travelling from England. I’m sure none of them expected to visit the city but each one leaves surprised. I’m not sure what people expect before travelling to Toronto but the general reaction I get is wow this city is more amazing than I thought. Duh. I’ve become a bit of an expert now at putting together itineraries or suggesting what people should see.

We get get married next year (yay!) and have over forty people flying in. Most of these people have never been to Toronto (or Canada for that matter). I’m sure I will be getting many questions from the guests about what they can see and do during their trip. While the possibilities are endless, I’ll keep the list short at 10 things.

Hopefully you enjoy this list as well!

Toronto Islands

In the summertime this is my favourite tourist-y suggestion. It’s a place that no one really knows about if you haven’t travelled to the city before. Even locals sometimes forget how amazing the Islands can be. To get there you need to take a ferry or a water taxi. Both are under $10 per person and the ride is about 15-20 minutes. If you take the ferry there are three ports to choose from; Ward’s Island, Hanlan’s Point and Centreville. The view from the ferry is also unbelievable, it’s definitely the best view of the city skyline.

Ward’s Island is a beach town-y destination with one of the best beaches in Toronto. This is one of the best hang outs for 20 and 30-somethings looking to relax for the day. It’s also one of the only places in Toronto where you can drink in public with little repercussions.

Hanlan’s Point is the nudist beach of Toronto. Yup, you read that right, we have a nudist beach. I personally have never been there but I do know clothing is not an option. You must be nude. Also, no pictures, which I think goes without saying.

Centreville is the best spot for families. It’s a mini amusement park surrounded by greenery and a few other beach options. I used to spend a lot of my childhood summers here enjoying the rides. I absolutely loved it.

CN Tower

No trip to Toronto would be complete without a trip up the CN Tower. This iconic tower is really what defines the Toronto Skyline. I’ll be honest it’s only something I’ve done twice. The tickets are rather expensive but the views are totally worth it. If you’re brave enough, stand on the glass floor (or even jump on it if you’re really crazy about it). Make sure to pick a nice day when going up so that you can really get the best views of the city. If you don’t feel like standing in line and being super touristy, you can always book yourself a meal at the 360 restaurant. The views are just as spectacular, especially at night.

ROM

The Royal Ontario Museum is the main museum in Toronto. Located in Yorkville, the architecture of the building makes it hard to miss. It’s one of the largest museums in North America and the largest in Canada. With so many different exhibits it wouldn’t be hard to spend a day inside. Definitely a good way to spend a rainy day if you have one on your trip. Obviously my favourite galleries are the world culture ones where you can learn so many things about the way people live all over the world.

Sports game

You seriously can’t travel to Toronto without getting tickets to a sports game. The fans in Toronto are some of the best on the continent. Because Canada only has one Baseball and one Basketball team in either league, you get a whole nation cheering them on. Depending what season you’re travelling check out the Toronto Blue Jays (baseball), Toronto Raptors (basketball), Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Foootball Club (soccer) or the Toronto Argonauts (football). All of the stadiums are right in the city so you won’t have to travel far to catch a game. Tickets can be rather expensive so make sure to look into them sooner than later. Worst case there are always tons of scalpers around for you to take advantage of.

Kensington Market

Kensington Market is such a cool part of the city. Located almost smack dab in the middle it’s pretty easy to get to by transit or the downtown core. Wandering around through the shops and restaurants in the summer is really something worth doing. This is also the perfect place to be if you’re on a budget. The food is probably the cheapest in the city (and in some cases the freshest). Plus, the restaurants are quite reasonable as well.

St. Lawrence Market

There’s something about this indoor market that makes it one of the best in the world. Locals love grabbing lunch or groceries here because most of the markets have food grown or produced locally. The prices are pretty great as well. Bring your hunger if you are visiting though because this place as the best peameal bacon sandwiches in the country. That’s not an exaggeration either. Although make sure you check the days because the market is closed on Sundays and Mondays, as it has been for many years.

Distillery District

The Distillery District is probably my favourite neighbourhood in Toronto. The old world charm just can’t be beat. Most of the area is just nice to walk around in but there are some amazing restaurants here as well. El Catrin is my favourite spot here. The patio is amazing and the tacos are even better. In the summer there are usually a bunch of things happening in this pocket of the city. Anything from artisan markets to outdoor concerts you’ll likely find it. You can do a bit of research before your trip to figure out what’s going on here to really take advantage.

Casa Loma

Toronto’s castle is often missed on people’s itineraries. It’s a bit of a weird building located on the northern part of the city. It was first built as a residence for Sir Henry Mill Pellatt (who brought Hydro to Toronto) but is now a popular landmark and museum. Casa Loma also houses many weddings. The beautiful backdrop and view of the city is something you shouldn’t miss. You can wander through the property to view the well-kept rooms and be transported back in time.

Steam Whistle Brewery

Located right near the CN Tower, the Steam Whistle Brewery is a favourite among Torontonians. The venue alone is really cool, located beside the Toronto roundhouse. The brewery isn’t steeped in too much history as it was founded in 2000 but there are only four ingredients used in making the beer. The ingredients include; spring water from nearby Caledon, hops from Czech Republic and Germany, two-row barley and yeast. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily a beer connoisseur but I would definitely say this beer is pretty damn good. Take a tour of the facility and you’ll get to try your fair share as well!

Scarborough Bluffs

Last but not least is an area I recently re-discovered in Toronto. The Scarborough Bluffs are located just outside of the city so you will need a car to get there but I promise the views are well worth it. There are some great trails around the area but the best are down by the rocks. The highest point is 300 ft above the water. They are famous for being a ‘geological wonder’ in North America. Visiting them you won’t feel as if you’re close to the city at all. Just make sure you’re careful around the area. Taking an epic picture is great but the fall is really steep.

Have you been on a trip to Toronto? What are your favourite parts of the city?

Additional Notes

ACCOMMODATION

• Airbnb stays are obviously easy to find here in Toronto so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something within your budget. For tips about booking Airbnb check out my post here.
• Booking.com is another great resource if you’re looking to book a hotel instead of an apartment.

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