The best things to do in Toronto, selected with a local point of view. Find attractions, parks, tours, markets and neighbourhood finds.
Showing 73–96 of 494 experiences.
The world's largest photography festival — Toronto's CONTACT runs every May with 200+ exhibitions in galleries, public spaces, storefronts, and streets across the city. From the Walrus magazine cover on a hoarding to massive gallery retrospectives, photography saturates Toronto every May.
Time needed: 2–4 hours if you’re hopping between a few shows; the whole month to see a wide cross-section.
Cabbagetown is home to the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian residential architecture in North America. Walk the tree-lined streets of this east-end neighbourhood and step back into 19th-century Toronto — at no cost.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
The largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in North America — and it's just a neighbourhood where people live. Walk along Spruce Street and Carlton to see Victorian architecture at its best.
Time needed: 1–2 hours to wander a few main streets and take photos; longer if you read heritage plaques or get sidetracked by the gardens.
The original Queen West live music bar — Cameron House has been running gigs since 1981 and carries the historic weight of the neighbourhood's music culture. Small rooms, cheap beer, and nightly live music from local artists make it the most authentically Queen West live music experience.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, depending on the lineup.
Canada's largest theme park with 200+ attractions and 17 roller coasters. Leviathan — at 93m — is one of the tallest coasters in the world. The water park Splash Works is the best summer escape in the GTA.
Time needed: Plan for a full day—queues and the park’s size mean you’ll need at least 7–9 hours to hit major coasters and the water park.
The GTA's biggest Halloween event — 60+ acres of horror with multiple professional haunted houses, hundreds of scare actors roaming the park after dark, live horror shows, and all the rides still running. Genuinely terrifying for adults, not just kids. One of the best Halloween events in North America, running every weekend from late September through October 31.
Time needed: 3–5 hours, longer if you want to do every haunted house and ride coasters.
Canada's flagship opera house — the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is purpose-built for opera and ballet and is considered one of the finest opera houses in North America. The COC's season features grand opera productions alongside the National Ballet of Canada, both performing in a world-class acoustic chamber.
Time needed: 2.5–3.5 hours (length of most performances, including intermission).
A real 98-room Gothic Revival castle in the middle of Toronto. Sir Henry Pellatt built it in 1914 — complete with a fountain courtyard, soaring towers, opulent gold-draped rooms, and underground tunnels connecting to the stables. One of the most cinematic buildings in Canada, and it's right here.
Time needed: 2–3 hours (longer if you linger in the gardens or hit the cafe).
Toronto's official holiday kick-off — the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square marks the first Saturday of December with a free outdoor concert, the ceremonial lighting of Toronto's 60-foot Christmas tree, and fireworks over the skating rink. One of the city's most beloved free winter traditions.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds
Toronto's official Christmas launch — the last Saturday of November, the giant City Hall tree gets lit, fireworks go off, free live music fills the square, and the Nathan Phillips Rink opens for its first skate of the season. Free admission, genuinely spectacular fireworks over City Hall, and the start of the city's festive season all in one night.
Time needed: 2–3 hours if you want to catch the main events and have a skate; longer if you stick around for every band.
One of the world's only ski hills inside a major city — Centennial Park's lit ski hill offers 14 runs, a terrain park, ski and snowboard lessons, and night skiing until 10pm. Modest vertical but genuinely skiable — and the fact that you can actually ski within Toronto city limits is one of the city's best-kept secrets.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds and lines.
Toronto's most iconic summer escape — Centre Island is the jewel of the Toronto Islands archipelago, a 15-minute ferry ride from the foot of Bay Street. Sandy beaches, bike rentals, the Centreville Amusement Park, swan boats, picnic lawns, and the most spectacular skyline view in the city looking back at downtown. Car-free, peaceful, and completely unlike anywhere else in the GTA.
Time needed: Half day to a full day, especially if visiting beaches or Centreville.
A charming old-fashioned amusement park on Centre Island accessible only by ferry. Vintage rides, log flume, carousel, miniature train, and a sky chairlift through the trees — perfectly sized for young children and nostalgic adults. The island surrounding it is a full picnic-and-explore day.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds and ferry wait times.
Toronto's hidden waterfront gem — Cherry Beach is tucked in the Port Lands with a long, usually quiet stretch of sand, dog-friendly access, and a community barbecue and fire pit area. The nearby Martin Goodman Trail connects it to the waterfront. Beloved by locals who don't want the crowds of the main beaches.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, or longer if you're settling in with friends or a dog.
Spend a few hours wandering Spadina and Dundas tasting your way through BBQ pork buns, bubble tea, roasted duck, and bubble waffles. Toronto's Chinatown is one of North America's largest.
Time needed: 2–3 hours, especially if you plan to snack at several stops.
Tokyo meets Lima in the Financial District — Chotto Matte's Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) concept translates into a cocktail program built around Peruvian spirits, pisco, and Japanese whisky. The vibrant, multi-coloured space draws a stylish crowd for pre-dinner drinks and post-dinner dancing equally.
Time needed: 2–3 hours, especially if staying for drinks after dinner.
Toronto's great summer park — Christie Pits has an outdoor public pool, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a water splash pad for kids, and a sunken natural amphitheatre used for free summer events. The outdoor pool is one of the city's best on a hot July afternoon — free for children under 13.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on activities and crowds.
Ontario's most beloved apple farm — Chudleigh's in Milton has been welcoming families for generations. Pick your own apples from September through October, visit the barnyard animals, navigate the corn maze, and take home fresh-pressed cider and warm apple fritters that are frankly the best thing you'll eat all fall. The farm market runs year-round.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on crowds and whether you linger for food and play areas.
Toronto's LGBTQ+ village — a vibrant neighbourhood centred on Church and Wellesley with bars, restaurants, community spaces, and one of the world's most celebrated Pride festivals every June. The Village is a welcoming, energetic community year-round.
Time needed: 2–4 hours; can stretch to a full day during events or Pride.
The classic hop-on-hop-off double-decker bus makes 20 stops across Toronto — CN Tower, Distillery District, Kensington, Harbourfront, Casa Loma, and more. A 24-hour or 48-hour pass is the most efficient way to orient first-time visitors across the city.
Time needed: 2–4 hours for a full loop without extended stops; half or full day if hopping on/off to explore.
Toronto after dark from the top of an open-top double-decker bus — a 90-minute guided night tour covering the city's most spectacular illuminated landmarks and skyline views. Rated 4.5/5 with 11 reviews, this is the most accessible way to experience the city's electric after-dark atmosphere without committing to a full evening tour.
Time needed: 1.5–2 hours including boarding and wrap-up.
The classic way to cover all of Toronto's major sights at your own pace — 20+ stops across the city on an open-top double-decker bus with audio commentary. Rated 3.6/5 (with 740 reviews), it's not the most intimate tour but it's the most flexible: hop off at the Distillery District, CN Tower, Harbourfront, or Kensington Market and rejoin whenever you're ready.
Time needed: Half day to full day, depending on how many stops you explore.
Toronto's most serious cocktail bar — Civil Liberties is where bar industry professionals go on their nights off. The menu of original cocktails is built around obscure spirits, unusual bitters, and unexpected flavour combinations. The room is moody and intimate. A reservation is strongly advised.
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Toronto's original indoor climbing gym — Joe Rockhead's has been setting routes since 1991 and remains one of the city's best-loved climbing facilities. Top-rope, lead, and bouldering walls suit every level. The staff know regular climbers by name and the community culture makes it uniquely welcoming.
Time needed: 1.5–3 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.