The best things to do in Toronto, selected with a local point of view. Find attractions, parks, tours, markets and neighbourhood finds.
Showing 169–192 of 494 experiences.
Toronto's hammam culture — the city's Middle Eastern, Korean, and Japanese bathing traditions have established genuine hammam and bathhouse experiences: the Miraj Hammam Spa (Moroccan-inspired), King Spa (Korean jimjilbang), and Body Blitz (European water spa). Each offers a distinct cultural approach to bathing as social and restorative practice.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on how many pools, saunas, and rituals you want to try.
Canada's first rollercoasters, Babe Ruth's first home run, and Ned Hanlan's world championship rowing — Hanlan's Point on the Toronto Islands has one of the most improbable sports histories in North America. The quiet beach and island community here are among Toronto's most unique and least-visited spots.
Time needed: 2–4 hours, longer if you linger at the beach.
Harbourfront Centre's waterfront craft market runs summers and special seasons with juried artisan vendors — original jewellery, ceramics, textiles, and visual art. The lakeside setting makes it one of the most scenic shopping experiences in the city.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
The cultural heartbeat of Toronto's waterfront. Free outdoor concerts, skating rinks in winter, craft studios, and one of the best views of Lake Ontario you'll find anywhere. Always something happening.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, longer during special events
Toronto's waterfront family hub — Harbourfront Centre runs free family programming year-round including craft workshops, puppet shows, outdoor performance, sailing lessons for kids, and seasonal events. The winter craft studios, summer outdoor playground, and weekly programming make it one of Toronto's best free-to-low-cost family destinations.
Time needed: 1–3 hours, depending on the event and season.
Toronto's best urban walk — from the Harbourfront ferry terminal, head east along the waterfront trail through Sugar Beach, past the red umbrellas and the new Port Lands condos, through the Keating Channel, and up to the Distillery District. About 4km one-way, taking in the full transformation of Toronto's eastern waterfront.
Time needed: 1.5–2.5 hours at a leisurely pace, more if you stop for coffee or detours.
Toronto and Ontario are the endpoint of the Underground Railroad — thousands of freedom-seekers came to Ontario (a free province) before the Civil War, and their heritage is documented at sites including the BME Church in Dresden, Salem Chapel in St. Catharines, and Toronto's own Buxton Historical Site. Heritage Toronto runs walking tours of related downtown sites.
Time needed: 1–2 hours per site; longer if joining a walking tour or visiting multiple locations.
Toronto's most popular after-dark experience — a guided walking tour of the city's most historically haunted locations. From the 19th century house at 56 Austin Terrace to the ghost of Fort York, your guide delivers chilling local ghost lore with theatrical flair.
Time needed: 1.5–2 hours
15 minutes, 20 kilometres, and a view of Toronto that almost nobody ever sees — the full skyline, the lake, the islands, and the city grid laid out beneath you from a helicopter. Rated 4.7/5 with nearly 290 reviews. This is a bucket list moment: the CN Tower from above, Lake Ontario stretching to the horizon, and a perspective that makes you understand why people love this city.
Time needed: 45–60 minutes total (includes pre-flight briefing, boarding, and the 15-minute flight).
The Junction's community brewery — Henderson runs its taproom like a proper neighbourhood pub: affordable pints, a rotating cast of excellent lagers and ales, and a welcoming patio that feels more like a backyard party than a bar. The Neighbourhood Lager is genuinely the best easy-drinking lager made in Toronto.
Time needed: 1–2 hours, or longer if you settle in on the patio.
Toronto's version of Central Park — 400 acres of trails, a zoo, sports fields, and the world-famous cherry blossoms every spring. Grenadier Pond at dusk is something out of a painting.
Time needed: 2–4 hours depending on weather, blossoms, and how much you want to explore.
The most photographed two weeks in Toronto's calendar. Hundreds of Japanese cherry blossom trees gifted from Japan bloom in late April — the canopy along the park's south path turns completely pink and surreal. The city livestreams the bloom forecast and tens of thousands of Torontonians make the annual pilgrimage. Go at sunrise on a calm weekday morning to have the trees to yourself.
Time needed: 1–2 hours, longer if taking photos or picnicking.
Saturday morning market at the entrance to High Park — a convenient start to a day in Toronto's largest park. Local Ontario produce, artisan cheese, fresh flowers, and prepared food make for a perfect market-and-park combination.
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Toronto's most peaceful natural viewpoint — the upper path around Grenadier Pond in High Park offers a still-water reflection view framed by forest canopy. In fall, the colours reflecting in the pond are extraordinary. In winter, the pond freezes and the perspective becomes entirely otherworldly — white ice, bare trees, city silence.
Time needed: 45 minutes–1.5 hours
A free children's zoo inside Toronto's biggest park — High Park's mini zoo has llamas, peacocks, capybaras, bison, emus, deer, and more exotic animals in open-air habitats. Nearby, the famous castle-style adventure playground is one of the best in the city. Admission to both is completely free.
Time needed: 1–2 hours depending on your speed and how long the kids want to play.
A ravine trail system running through east Scarborough — entirely different in character from the Humber or Don Valley trails. The Highland Creek cuts through ancient forest, past old stone bridges, and through deeply wooded ravines that feel completely remote. The Colonel Danforth Trail section is the most scenic.
Time needed: 1.5–3 hours if you walk most of the main loop, longer if you explore side trails.
Richmond Hill's beloved community shopping centre — Hillcrest has been serving York Region families for 50+ years with a curated mix of fashion, homewares, and services. Significantly more personal than the mega-malls — you know the shops here, the staff know you, and the food court is better than its size suggests.
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Housed in a stunning 1885 bank building, this is the world's most comprehensive hockey shrine. The Stanley Cup is here. You can take your photo with it. The interactive goalkeeping simulators are legitimately fun even for non-hockey fans.
Time needed: 2–3 hours, depending on interest and crowds.
A premium 2.5-hour private tour of Toronto's Hollywood North film locations — the private version of the city's most unique tour experience. With 19 operator reviews and a per-group price of CA$900, this is the full dedicated experience for film industry professionals, serious cinephiles, or groups wanting an entirely private Toronto film tour.
Time needed: 2.5 hours
Toronto is one of the world's busiest film production cities — they call it Hollywood North for a reason. This 2.5-hour guided tour takes you to the real filming locations of major movies and TV shows shot here, with behind-the-scenes stories and production insight from a knowledgeable local guide. Rated 4.8/5 with 31 reviews.
Time needed: 2.5 hours
Ontario's closest ski resort to Toronto — just over an hour from the city with 30 runs, terrain parks, and excellent learner facilities. Horseshoe is the first ski resort experience for most Toronto families and continues to be a reliable winter day trip for all ages.
Time needed: Half day to full day (3–7 hours depending on energy and crowds).
Canada's most legendary live music venue — the Horseshoe Tavern on Queen West has been the beating heart of Canadian rock since 1947. The Rolling Stones played here in 1977. The Ramones played here. Blue Rodeo started here. The room that built Canadian rock still books the best emerging artists every night of the week.
Time needed: 2–3 hours for a full show, longer on weekends.
The largest documentary film festival in North America — Hot Docs runs every April/May at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema and venues across the Annex. 200+ documentary films from around the world, filmmaker Q&As, and an extraordinary celebration of non-fiction storytelling.
Time needed: 2–4 hours for a film or two, plus time for Q&As and festival buzz — or make a whole day of it.
Toronto's yoga scene is exceptional — from Moksha Yoga's heated classes at multiple locations, to the Yoga Tree network's diverse programming, to boutique Ashtanga and Yin studios in Leslieville and Roncesvalles, the city offers high-quality yoga instruction at every level. Most studios offer a first-class free for visitors.
Time needed: 1–1.5 hours per class, including pre- and post-class time.
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.