The best things to do in Toronto, selected with a local point of view. Find attractions, parks, tours, markets and neighbourhood finds.
Showing 457–480 of 494 experiences.
One of the world's largest sketch comedy festivals — ToSketchFest runs every winter with 60+ companies performing original sketch comedy across multiple Toronto venues over two weeks. Canadian, American, and international sketch comedy companies compete for the best room in the city.
Time needed: 1–3 hours per show; 2–4 hours if venue-hopping or catching multiple acts.
The definitive Toronto skyline view — Polson Street's elevated pier at the edge of the Port Lands offers the clearest and most complete view of the Toronto skyline: CN Tower, Rogers Centre, the entire condo canyon, and the lake all framed together. Golden hour here is spectacular. Major festivals also use this area as a viewing platform.
Time needed: 30–60 minutes around sunset
The view that defines Toronto — from Centre Island or Ward's Island looking north across the harbour, the Toronto skyline appears almost impossibly impressive: CN Tower anchoring the left, Rogers Centre dome, and hundreds of towers stretching along the lakefront. This is the view every photographer wants and every first-time visitor needs.
Time needed: 1.5–3 hours (including ferry ride and exploring the island)
Every summer, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra takes its music into the city's parks — free outdoor performances at Nathan Phillips Square, Mel Lastman Square, and other parks bring world-class classical music to the public at no charge. Canada Day at Nathan Phillips Square is the centrepiece event.
Time needed: 1.5–2 hours per concert
One of Canada's finest orchestras performing 100+ concerts per year at Roy Thomson Hall — the TSO's season covers the full classical canon, film score concerts, holiday specials, and innovative crossover programming. The Ray Massey Chair at Roy Thomson Hall is named for a Canadian legend.
Time needed: 2–2.5 hours (typical concert duration, including intermission)
One of North America's premier theatre cities — Toronto's stages host Broadway pre-runs, major musicals, world-class drama, and intimate fringe productions year-round. The Princess of Wales, Royal Alexandra, Mirvish, Crow's Theatre, Soulpepper, and Factory Theatre serve every taste from blockbuster to experimental.
Time needed: 2.5–3.5 hours, including arrival and intermission.
Toronto's first and only water bike rental — pedal-powered, non-motorized watercraft on two pontoons that let you cruise Lake Ontario with skyline views. No balancing required, no swimming skills needed, and virtually unsinkable. A genuinely unique way to see the city from the water.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Toronto Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals representing over 300 species, with 10 km of walking trails across seven zoogeographic regions in Rouge National Urban Park.
Time needed: Plan for a substantial visit; exact time depends on the regions and services you choose.
A self-paced 45-minute to 90-minute audio walking tour of Toronto's waterfront through your smartphone — no guide required, no fixed schedule, just you and expert commentary exploring Queens Quay, Harbourfront Centre, and the inner harbour at your own pace. At CA$11, this is the best value waterfront experience in the city.
Time needed: 45–90 minutes, depending on pace and stops.
A 2-day Ontario highlights tour operating from Ottawa — covering Toronto, Niagara Falls, and the 1000 Islands in one expertly organized journey from CA$570. An ideal add-on for visitors already in the Ottawa–Gatineau area who want to cover Ontario's southern highlights without separate logistics.
Time needed: 2 full days, early morning to evening each day.
Three days, three of Ontario's greatest destinations — rated 5.0/5 with 3 reviews, this small-group tour covers Toronto's highlights, the 1000 Islands boat experience, and Niagara Falls from CA$600. A well-organized and highly rated introduction to Ontario's full range of landscapes and landmarks.
Time needed: 3 full days (overnights included)—it’s fast-paced with early starts.
A premium 2-day VIP tour covering Toronto city, Niagara Falls, and the 1000 Islands — hotel, transport, and guided experience included. Rated 4.8/5 with 26 reviews, this small-group VIP format gives you the Ontario highlights with a level of personalized attention you won't get from a standard coach tour.
Time needed: 2 full days (overnight included)
Toronto's most sociable bar — Track & Field has full shuffleboard lanes, bocce courts, and a crokinole table (Ontario's own wooden dexterity game) alongside excellent cocktails on tap (including non-alcoholic options), craft beers, and genuinely friendly staff. The only rule is that you come to play.
Time needed: 2–3 hours, especially if you're booking a lane or court.
Toronto's large Chinese-Canadian community sustains a genuinely excellent Traditional Chinese Medicine ecosystem — from Chinatown herbal shops on Spadina with practitioners going back generations, to modern TCM clinics in Richmond Hill and Markham. Acupuncture, cupping, and herbal medicine at Toronto's TCM practitioners is among the most authentic available in North America.
Time needed: 60–90 minutes per session, plus time to consult or buy herbs.
Toronto's most social park — the one everyone shows up to on the first warm Saturday of the year. The white squirrels are a local legend, the dog park is chaos, and on a June afternoon there are 5,000 people sitting on the grass, the bars are spilling out, and the city feels perfectly alive.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, longer on busy weekends if you’re committing to the scene.
Toronto's most culture-rich park serves as the living room of West Queen West. Saturdays bring informal pop-up vendors, art installations, and the park-adjacent Queen West shops and restaurants. The park itself is a scene — weekend afternoons see food trucks, vintage sellers, and half the city's creative class sunbathing.
Time needed: 2–4 hours, plus more if you stop at nearby cafés or markets.
Canada's most Olympic sport, learned in an afternoon — the Toronto Curling Club runs beginner learn-to-curl sessions where you're throwing rocks and sweeping within 30 minutes. The sport's combination of strategy, precision, and teamwork makes it instantly engaging. After one session, you'll understand every Canadian's Winter Olympics obsession.
Time needed: 1.5–2 hours for a typical learn-to-curl session.
The northern GTA's premier shopping destination — 200+ stores, a great selection of restaurants, and the best movie complex in York Region. The seasonal Christmas market in the parking lot is a GTA tradition for families.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds and if you catch a movie.
Ontario's largest outlet and shopping mall — 200+ stores in a loop format that takes hours to complete. The Bass Pro Shops alone is a tourist attraction with a 12,000-gallon fish tank. Serious outlet deals on designer brands.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds.
Toronto's newest major park — the Port Lands Flood Protection Project created Villiers Island, a brand new island with parkland, beach, and a mouth of the Don River restored to its natural state. One of the largest urban waterfront restoration projects in North America, now accessible to the public with trails, meadows, and lake views.
Time needed: 1–2 hours, more if you linger for photography or a picnic.
Toronto's most beautiful beach — Ward's Island's sheltered sandy beach on the south shore faces Lake Ontario with the city skyline visible across the water. Quieter than Hanlan's or Centre Island, it's the locals' beach. The short ferry ride, then a 20-minute bike ride or walk through the island's residential community, is part of the experience.
Time needed: 2–4 hours, including ferry and walk/bike ride.
The world's longest freshwater beach — Wasaga Beach's 14km of sand on Georgian Bay is the longest freshwater beach on Earth. Warm, shallow water (ideal for families), beach volleyball courts, and the classic Ontario beach town atmosphere make it Toronto's most popular summer day trip. Arrive early on weekends.
Time needed: Half day to full day depending on crowds.
Toronto's most beautiful food hall — Waterworks, housed in the meticulously restored 1896 Toronto Waterworks pumping station on Richmond Street West, combines heritage architecture with 16 curated food and drink vendors under soaring vaulted ceilings. The building alone is worth the visit. The food is genuinely excellent.
Time needed: 1–2 hours, or longer if you're exploring multiple vendors or staying for drinks.
One of Toronto's oldest and most community-rooted farmers markets, serving the Weston neighbourhood since the 1970s. A genuine local market with real farm vendors, affordable prices, and the multi-generational community feel that most markets have lost.
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
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.