The best things to do in Toronto, selected with a local point of view. Find attractions, parks, tours, markets and neighbourhood finds.
Showing 289–312 of 494 experiences.
The wine bar that became a neighbourhood anchor — Paradise Grapevine holds a rare grandfathered 2am patio licence that lets the covered heated terrace run well past Toronto's usual outdoor cutoff. Old-world wines, local beers on tap, and charcuterie platters make it dangerously easy to stay until last call.
Time needed: 2–4 hours, especially if you’re into slow sipping or group hangs.
A tiny Parisian hole-in-the-wall that somehow always has room for you — Paris Paris is a wine and cocktail bar that packs tables close, pours an adventurous list of natural and old-world wines, and hosts special wine nights run by the legendary Grape Witches. The kind of bar that feels like a discovery every time.
Time needed: 1–2 hours (longer if you get caught up in Grape Witches events).
Parkdale's neighbourhood farmers market brings local vendors, artists, and food producers to the library park — a small, community-rooted market that reflects Parkdale's unique character: multicultural, creative, and unpretentious. Tibetan momos, Ghanaian stews, and Ontario honey sit side by side.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Aviation spotters and families gather at the Pearson Airport viewing areas to watch the world's aircraft land and take off — A380s, 787s, military aircraft, private jets. The runway 06L/24R approach from Dixie Road is the best commercial aircraft spotting spot in Ontario.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Toronto's beloved mid-size live music venue — the Phoenix has hosted shows from Lana Del Rey to Arctic Monkeys to Dua Lipa before they sold out arenas. The sightlines are excellent, the sound is precise, and the historic theatre setting (with floor and balcony) makes every show feel important.
Time needed: 2–4 hours, depending on set times and openers.
Toronto has Canada's most active outdoor basketball culture — from the legendary Regent Park courts to Christie Pits, from Kew Beach to Trinity Bellwoods, pick-up games run all summer long. The city's basketball culture reflects its Caribbean and American influences, and the quality of play is consistently high.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, depending on pickup game length and court availability.
A massively detailed miniature Canada spanning 16,000 sq ft. Every province represented with incredible scale models. A surprisingly emotional and technically dazzling experience for all ages.
Time needed: 1–2 hours, longer if you love spotting details or want to build your own mini figure.
Canada in miniature at 1:87 scale — Pocket Planet Canada recreates Canadian cities and landscapes in extraordinarily detailed miniature dioramas: the Quebec City ramparts, CN Tower and Toronto waterfront, Niagara Falls in active mist, and Banff in the Rocky Mountains. The hand-painted figurines and motorized scenes contain millions of individual details.
Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours depending on your attention to detail.
Toronto's newest and most exciting urban development area. Sugar Beach with its pink umbrellas is iconic, and the massive Villiers Island project will reshape the waterfront for decades.
Time needed: 1–2 hours for Sugar Beach and a walk, half day if exploring Port Lands deeper.
A 45-minute professional photoshoot experience through Toronto's most photogenic spots — a local photographer captures you against the CN Tower, street murals, Distillery cobblestones, or waterfront, with edited images delivered digitally. Rated 5.0/5 with 3 reviews. The best Instagram content you'll create in the city.
Time needed: About 1 hour (including meeting and setup time).
Canada's largest Pride festival — a month of programming culminating in the Pride Parade (1.5+ million spectators), Trans March, Dyke March, and a full festival weekend in the Church-Wellesley Village. Toronto's LGBTQ+ celebration is one of the world's largest and most politically rooted.
Time needed: Anywhere from 2 hours to an entire day, depending on how many events you want to catch.
Ontario's most exciting wine region — 2.5 hours from Toronto on a peninsula jutting into Lake Ontario. 40+ wineries, Sandbanks Provincial Park (Canada's largest freshwater sand dunes), local artisan food, and a slow travel culture that's the opposite of the city.
Time needed: Full day (8–10 hours, including drive).
Toronto's premier Broadway house — the Princess of Wales has hosted The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, and every major musical tour since opening in 1993. The murals by Frank Stella are extraordinary — arrive early to see them before the show.
Time needed: 2.5–3 hours (includes pre-show and intermission).
A 2-hour private guided walking tour of downtown Toronto in English — compact, focused, and entirely yours. Rated 4.5/5 with 8 reviews, this is the choice for visitors who want a clean private introduction to the city's core without the pace and compromise of a group tour.
Time needed: 2 hours
A 1 hour 45-minute private walking tour of Toronto's movie and TV filming locations — the city has doubled for New York, Chicago, and Gotham City in hundreds of productions. At CA$50, this is the most affordable private film-location tour available, and a completely different lens through which to experience the city.
Time needed: 1 hour 45 minutes
A perfect 5.0-rated 2 to 3-hour private walking tour of Toronto's city highlights for your group — the CN Tower, Harbourfront, St. Lawrence Market, and historic neighbourhoods covered with a guide entirely dedicated to your party. At CA$208 per group, this is excellent value for 2-4 people wanting a fully private experience.
Time needed: 2–3 hours
A 5-hour fully private Toronto experience covering a guided city tour, CN Tower observation deck, and harbour boat cruise — for CA$795 per group. Rated 5.0/5 with 1 review, this is the all-inclusive private version of the classic Toronto tour triple: city, tower, harbour.
Time needed: About 5 hours (full morning).
A 3.5-hour private food tour through two of Toronto's most food-rich destinations — the legendary St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District's artisan food scene. Rated 5.0/5 with 5 reviews, this private-format tour covers the best bites at each stop with a guide who knows the vendors, the stories, and the best timing to visit.
Time needed: 3–4 hours, including short walks between stops.
A fully bespoke 4-hour private tour of Toronto — at CA$1,799 per group, this is the premium end of private Toronto experiences. A dedicated vehicle, expert guide, hotel pickup, and a completely flexible itinerary designed around your group's specific interests. Rated 4.6/5 with 10 reviews.
Time needed: 4 hours (fully scheduled around you—extension possible by request)
A 2-hour fully private guided walking tour of downtown Toronto — at CA$662 per group, this is a premium private format with a dedicated expert guide covering the financial district, waterfront, and historic core at your pace. Ideal for business visitors and groups wanting a completely exclusive guided introduction to the city.
Time needed: 2 hours
A 65-acre spring-fed lake with a sandy beach, water slides, paddle boat rentals, beach volleyball, and a seasonal inflatable water park. Professor’s Lake is Brampton’s best summer escape and one of the most family-friendly beaches within 40 minutes of Toronto. Daily water quality testing, lifeguards, and free parking make it a no-stress day trip.
Time needed: Half day to full day
Mini golf under black lights — Putting Edge's glow-in-the-dark 18-hole mini golf courses are designed for all ages with themed holes, glowing balls, and fluorescent course elements that look spectacular under UV lighting. Indoors and year-round, it's the go-to rainy day activity for Toronto families.
Time needed: 1–1.5 hours for 18 holes, slightly more if it’s busy.
Toronto's most vibrant shopping corridor. Independent boutiques, vintage stores, record shops, and global brands share the strip with the city's best gallery scene. Just walk west and discover.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on how much you stop (and try stuff on).
Toronto's urban waterfront walk — Queens Quay West's redesigned promenade separates pedestrians, cyclists, and streetcars in a beautifully landscaped lakeside corridor. Street cafés, sculpture installations, the Natrel Rink, Amsterdam Brewhouse, and the ferry terminal are all along this route, which forms the heart of Toronto's waterfront life.
Time needed: 1–2 hours for a walk with stops, longer if you visit cafés or attractions.
First-timers should start with the CN Tower observation deck for city views, then walk the Distillery District and Kensington Market for culture and food. Add Ripley's Aquarium, a Harbourfront walk, and St. Lawrence Market on a Saturday morning. For a full plan, see our 48-hour first-timer itinerary.
Check our Events page for live concerts, sports, and festivals happening this weekend. Regulars include the Distillery District on weekends, Kensington Market, Saturday morning at St. Lawrence Market, and the Toronto Islands by ferry. In summer, look for outdoor festivals along the waterfront.
Toronto is excellent for families. Top picks: Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (the shark tunnel alone is worth it), the Toronto Zoo, Ontario Science Centre, High Park, the ferry to Centre Island, and the CN Tower glass floor. The waterfront and Harbourfront Centre also have excellent free kids programming in summer.
Some of the best free activities include exploring the Toronto Islands (ferry costs $9.38 return), walking the Harbourfront, visiting High Park and the Scarborough Bluffs, browsing the Distillery District and Kensington Market, and checking out the Art Gallery of Ontario on the first Wednesday of the month from 6–9pm. Graffiti Alley is always free.
Toronto is famous for the CN Tower, the Distillery District, world-class food markets like St. Lawrence Market, its multicultural neighbourhoods (Kensington Market, Little Italy, Greektown, Chinatown), and being a major sports city home to the Raptors, Maple Leafs, and Blue Jays.
3–4 days is ideal to see the main highlights including the waterfront, CN Tower, Distillery District, Kensington Market, and a few neighbourhood restaurants. A full week lets you explore more neighbourhoods, do a day trip to Niagara Falls, and enjoy live events or sports.
June to September is peak season with warm weather, patios, festivals like TIFF and Caribbean Carnival, and outdoor events. May and October offer fewer crowds with still-pleasant weather. Winter is great if you love skating, the Christmas Market, and indoor culture.
Downtown Toronto is very walkable — most major attractions, restaurants, and hotels are accessible on foot or via the TTC subway and streetcar. The PATH underground network connects many downtown buildings. The Harbourfront trail is a beautiful flat walk along the lake.
WTF Toronto creates guides using independent editorial research, official sources, local knowledge and firsthand experience where available. Commercial relationships are disclosed where applicable.