The best things to do in Toronto, selected with a local point of view. Find attractions, parks, tours, markets and neighbourhood finds.
Showing 433–456 of 494 experiences.
The best value pro hockey in North America — the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Maple Leafs) play at Coca-Cola Coliseum with tickets starting at $20. The same calibre of hockey as the NHL but 80% cheaper, smaller arena means every seat is close, and the players are future Leafs you'll recognize once they graduate.
Time needed: 2–2.5 hours (full game plus a bit for arrivals and intermissions).
Walk the streets that made Canadian music — a self-guided tour of Toronto's music history covers the Horseshoe Tavern (where The Police and Talking Heads played), El Mocambo (where the Rolling Stones recorded), the original Much Music building, the Rivoli, and dozens of clubs that shaped Canadian rock, hip-hop, and jazz.
Time needed: 1–2 hours at a casual pace, more if you stop into venues.
A 2.5-hour brunch cruise aboard the Obsession III through Toronto Harbour — a full brunch buffet with cocktails, live music, and harbour views at CA$118. A great option for those looking for a harbour brunch experience beyond the Odyssey fleet.
Time needed: 2.5–3 hours including boarding and disembarkation.
North America's largest outdoor art fair — TOAF runs every July at Nathan Phillips Square with 350+ Canadian and international artists selling original art directly to the public. The scale, quality, and accessibility (free to attend) make it the best art-shopping event of the summer.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds and how in-depth you get with the artists.
World-class swimming at city prices — the Pan Am Sports Centre built for the 2015 Games houses an Olympic 50m competition pool, dive tanks, and leisure pools. Public swim times are available at low Toronto city rates and the facility quality rivals anything in North America. Sunday morning lap swimmers know this is the best kept secret in Scarborough.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Wheel-throwing classes for complete beginners — an instructor guides you through making an actual pot or bowl on a pottery wheel. The mess is guaranteed and part of the experience; your fired piece is ready in 3 weeks. Consistently ranked one of Toronto's best date night activities, and it genuinely delivers.
Time needed: 2 hours per session
A leisurely 2-hour Sunday brunch cruise on the Odyssey through Toronto Harbour — a full brunch spread, mimosas, live music, and the city skyline glittering in the morning light. Rated 4.4/5 with 73 reviews and a genuinely civilized way to spend a Sunday morning in Toronto.
Time needed: 2–2.5 hours
A 2.5-hour dinner and dance cruise aboard the Odyssey through Toronto Harbour — live music, a full dinner service, cocktails, and one of the most cinematic views of the city skyline you'll find anywhere. Rated 4.1/5 with over 230 reviews, this is a Toronto date night or special occasion staple.
Time needed: 2.5–3 hours, including boarding and disembarking.
A leisurely 2-hour weekday lunch cruise through Toronto Harbour aboard the Odyssey — a full plated lunch, cocktails, live entertainment, and uninterrupted views of the CN Tower and city skyline from the water. Rated 4.6/5 with 32 reviews, this is a genuinely civilized way to spend a Toronto afternoon that most visitors never discover.
Time needed: 2–2.5 hours total
The definitive Toronto experience — 4 hours covering the city's highlights by premium vehicle, the CN Tower observation deck, and a harbour boat cruise. Rated 4.7/5 with over 840 reviews, this is the most reviewed premium tour in the city and the benchmark against which all others are measured. If you're doing one organized tour in Toronto, this is it.
Time needed: 4 hours
Toronto after dark in a premium vehicle with a local expert guide — this 3-hour night tour covers the city's most spectacular after-dark spots, culminating in the CN Tower observation deck. Rated 4.8/5 from 91 reviews, it's ideal for visitors who've seen the daytime postcard version and want the full electric city experience.
Time needed: 3 hours, including CN Tower observation and driving route.
Ontario's premier outlet shopping centre — 80+ top designer and brand stores with genuine outlet pricing. Ralph Lauren, Polo, Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Saks OFF 5TH, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and dozens more. Located 45 minutes west of downtown Toronto in Halton Hills.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds and shopping goals.
A 4-hour private Toronto city highlights tour focusing on the city's most iconic landmarks and viewpoints — at CA$309, this private-format tour gives your group the full city experience with a guide dedicated entirely to you. Covers the CN Tower area, Harbourfront, Distillery District, and the neighbourhood views that define Toronto.
Time needed: 4 hours
A 3-hour private guided tour to Polson Pier and the Eastern Waterfront — an area most Toronto visitors never reach, with industrial history, harbour views, and a completely different perspective on the city's waterfront beyond the standard Queens Quay experience. At CA$231 per group, this is a genuinely off-the-beaten-path private tour.
Time needed: 3 hours
A 2 to 6-hour fully private walking tour of Toronto with a local expert — the length, route, and focus are entirely yours to customize. Rated 4.3/5 with 32 reviews, this is the format for visitors who want genuine local knowledge and a completely flexible agenda rather than a fixed group tour experience.
Time needed: 2–6 hours, fully up to you.
Toronto's outdoor art museum — the city's public art collection spans 1,000+ works from the celebrated 'The Pasture' cows at Bay-King to the monumental murals of the Bentway, the Distillery sculptures, and the waterfront installations. A self-guided tour connecting the downtown collection covers $200M+ of public art without entering a single building.
Time needed: 2–4 hours if covering main downtown highlights, longer if wandering side routes.
NBA G League basketball at Paramount Fine Foods Centre — the Raptors 905 is the Raptors' developmental team where future NBA stars cut their teeth before the call-up. Tickets from $15, tiny arena means you're incredibly close to the action, and watching a future Raptor's breakout game is a story you'll tell later.
Time needed: 2–2.5 hours for a typical G League game.
We the North. Scotiabank Arena at full capacity is one of the loudest, most electric sports experiences in North America. Even if basketball isn't your thing — this will convert you.
Time needed: 2.5–3 hours (for a full game, including halftime and pre/post game crowds).
Toronto's secret wilderness inside the city — the ravine network covers 17% of Toronto's land area with 300km of trails through natural forest valleys. The Don, Humber, Highland Creek, and Rouge river ravines are all connected and traversable. Guided naturalist walks run seasonally; self-guided options run year-round.
Time needed: 1–3 hours for a loop or up to a full day if you’re ambitious.
Canada's largest public reference library is also one of Toronto's most beautiful buildings. The Moriyama-designed atrium — five stories of books under a skylighted roof — is a space that makes visitors feel smarter just by existing in it. Free to visit, free exhibitions, and free Wi-Fi.
Time needed: 1–2 hours, longer if you’re reading or working.
Hands-on learning for young children — the Toronto Region Children's Museum in Markham creates imaginative, interactive exhibits where children can construct buildings, pilot vehicles, dig for fossils, and engage with science and culture through play. Designed for ages 2–10 with exhibits that engage parents equally.
Time needed: 2–3 hours depending on crowds
Box lacrosse at its fastest — the Toronto Rock is one of the NLL's most decorated franchises, playing the fastest team sport in North America at Scotiabank Arena. The sport is a blur of speed, physicality, and skill. The Rock's fanbase is passionate and knowledgeable. Tickets from $25.
Time needed: 2–2.5 hours for a full game experience, including pre-game and intermissions.
Professional women's hockey at its finest — the Toronto Sceptres (formerly the PWHL Toronto team) play elite professional women's hockey in the PWHL with Olympic gold medalists on the ice every home game. The fanbase is passionate, tickets are accessible, and the hockey is genuinely excellent.
Time needed: 2.5–3 hours (full game experience including warmups and breaks).
A gamified self-guided walking tour and scavenger hunt through Toronto's downtown core — at CA$60 per group, this is one of the most fun and interactive ways to explore the city. Clues lead you through landmarks, hidden spots, and local stories in a format that works brilliantly for groups, families, and anyone who learns by doing.
Time needed: 2–3 hours depending on pace and snack breaks.
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.