Toronto, Canada’s most populous urban area, is also recognized by the United Nations as one of the most diverse cities in the world. With a population inching toward 3.5 million — and with more than half of those residents born outside of Canada — multiculturalism is one of this place’s defining qualities, making it a rewarding destination to explore. More than 150 languages are spoken here, and the many distinct neighborhoods come together to create a vibrant mosaic. Set along the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto combines the energy of a global city with scenic views, expansive green spaces and walkable districts filled with museums, markets and cultural experiences.
Check In
With multiple airlines (American and Air Canada in particular) offering direct three-hour flights from South Florida airports, getting to Toronto is easy. Once you’ve landed, take the UP Express train from Pearson International Airport to Union Station; then it’s a quick, 10-minute stroll to the Hilton Toronto. Located in the heart of downtown, the 600-room property is a walk or a short subway ride to key attractions such as the CN Tower and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
The Hilton’s recently renovated guest rooms feature a clean, contemporary design, and the staff offers impeccable service. While you’ll want to venture out and explore Toronto’s exceptional dining scene, save at least one meal for the hotel’s chic Frenchy Bar et Brasserie. The Parisian-inspired lobby bar and lounge serves classics like Escargots, French Onion Soup and Mussels with white wine, garlic, cream and a toasted baguette. Chef Aaron Chen shines with the meat dishes as well, whether it’s Beef Tartare, Le Hamburger or the Côte De Bœuf for two.
Frenchy Bar et Brasserie
Photo courtesy of Hilton
Explore Downtown
Toronto feels less like a city and more like a network of small communities, each with its own cultural identity. Founded as the town of York in 1793, then incorporated as the city of Toronto in 1834, it’s a history-rich destination with architecture nearly as diverse as its population.
A great way to take in these unique places is by bicycle, and Pedal Toronto offers several guided cycling excursions through the city. The Toronto Waterfront and Islands Tour takes cyclists along Lake Ontario and then on a ferry across the Inner Harbour to the Toronto Islands, an archipelago of 15 car-free islands filled with beaches, walking trails and cottage-lined streets where roughly 600 people live.
CN Tower
Photo courtesy of Destination Toronto
The CN Tower is to Toronto what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris — no trip feels complete without ascending the 50-year-old landmark for an extraordinary view of the city, Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands. The Lower Observation Level has a see-through glass floor, while adventurous visitors can don a harness and step out onto the EdgeWalk, a hands-free ledge that circles the tower’s exterior more than 1,100 feet above the street.
Back at sea, er, lake level, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada offers a different kind of immersion. Stroll through the shark-infested Dangerous Lagoon (the longest underwater viewing tunnel in North America), watch jellyfish drift through glowing tanks and take in the huge Pacific Kelp Forest. With more than 20,000 animals from more than 450 species living in 1.25 million gallons of water, the aquarium offers something to enchant visitors of all ages.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Photo courtesy of Destination Toronto
Just steps away is the Harbourfront Centre, a 10-acre, not-for-profit lakeside hub for recreation and the arts. Whether you’re perusing the many exhibitions or taking part in an arts-and-crafts workshop, this is one of the city’s most popular destinations, particularly during the summer.
No sport is more deeply woven into Canada’s identity than hockey, and nowhere is that passion more evident than in Toronto. At the Hockey Hall of Fame, fans can explore interactive exhibits, view the Stanley Cup and trace the history of the sport through exhibits honoring its greatest players and moments. The excitement continues a couple of blocks away at Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs. On game nights, all of downtown fills with a contagious energy.
All Good In The Neighborhoods
Perhaps the most visually captivating part of the city is The Distillery Historic District. Once home to the largest whiskey distillery in the world, the pedestrian-only enclave is now a major attraction, thanks to its cobblestone streets lined with boutiques, galleries, coffee shops and bistros housed in preserved Victorian industrial buildings.
Kensington Market, meanwhile, embraces Toronto’s eclectic spirit. The bohemian district on the west side of downtown is packed with colorful murals, vintage shops, bookstores and mom-and-pop restaurants. Over the decades, waves of immigrants from around the world have left their mark here. St. Stephen-in-the-Fields, first built in 1858, illustrates the historic British influence on the city, and today it serves as a place of worship and a venue for concerts and community events. The area’s longstanding Jewish presence, which dates to the early 20th century, can be seen at Makom, a Jewish cultural center focused on inclusivity and diversity, while the many Asian and Latino restaurants represent the contributions of more recent arrivals.
The Distillery Historic District
Photo By Eva Jimenez
Casa Loma
Photo courtesy of Destination Toronto
In midtown Toronto, a bit north of Kensington Market, you’ll find Casa Loma, a Gothic Revival mansion built between 1911 and 1914 for financier Sir Henry Pellatt and his first wife, Mary. Today, the city of Toronto owns the house and its garden, which is a popular tourist attraction, thanks in part to its having appeared in close to 100 films, most notably “X-Men” in 2000, “Chicago” in 2002 and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” in 2010.
With 40 galleries and a collection of more than 18 million items, the Royal Ontario Museum, on the far side of Queen’s Park from downtown, showcases art, cultural artifacts from around the world and natural history. The campus itself is a work of art — an architectural collision of Italianate and Art Deco structures with a jagged, modern extension inspired by the crystalline forms in the museum’s gem and mineral collections. Inside, visitors can explore everything from dinosaur fossils and moon rocks to Chinese sculpture and First Nations art; there’s even an exhibit on toy soldiers.
Royal Ontario Museum
Photo courtesy of Destination Toronto
Back toward downtown, Little Canada offers a more playful exhibit — miniature recreations of the country’s most iconic cities and landscapes. Spanning 45,000 square feet and featuring more than 40,000 figures, it includes tiny models of Niagara Falls, the Bay of Fundy and Vancouver’s Stanley Park, with miniature trains, cars and boats moving through the remarkably detailed scenes.
The Planet On A Plate
One of the best ways to experience Toronto is through its food. Marketplaces unite neighborhoods, and cultures intersect across dining tables as meals express the city’s global character.
Long before food halls became trendy, Toronto had already embraced communal dining. That spirit comes alive at St. Lawrence Market, which was founded in 1803 and has operated continuously for more than 220 years. It was even used as Toronto’s original city hall, reflecting its deep roots in the city. A guided tasting with Culinary Adventure Co. helps visitors sample offerings from some of the more than 120 vendors while learning about the market’s rich history. Wellington Market at The Well, meanwhile, spans 70,000 square feet, bringing together more than 50 merchants alongside live entertainment and a popular DJ series Thursday through Saturday nights. Just a few blocks away, Waterworks Food Hall features ramen, Pakistani stuffed naan, arepas, döner kebabs and much more in a lively community setting.
St. Lawrence Market
Photo courtesy of Destination Toronto
Kiin menu items
Photo courtesy of Destination Toronto
The standalone restaurants are exceptional, too. Known for its artful presentations, Michelin-recognized Kiin serves Royal Thai cuisine from chef Nuit Regular in an intimate, jewel-toned dining room. Mamakas Taverna contributes to the lively spirit of Ossington Avenue — one of Toronto’s trendiest dining and nightlife corridors — with fresh Aegean-style fare in a boisterous dining room filled with loyal regulars.
Along the waterfront, Queens Harbour occupies a sprawling converted warehouse where interactive sushi counters, charcoal-grilled specialties and one of Canada’s largest retractable rooftop patios create a high-energy setting for dinner with a view.
Near the CN Tower, Steam Whistle Kitchen — a brewery inside the John Street Roundhouse, a former locomotive-repair facility dating to 1929 — has a unique vibe, as diners can enjoy Canadian classics like poutine (french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy) alongside pretzels, burgers and ice-cold beers.
Plan Your Trip
STAY
Hilton Toronto, 145 Richmond St. W., 416-869-3456, hilton.com/en/hotels/torhihh-hilton-toronto
EXPLORE
Casa Loma
1 Austin Terrace, 416-923-1171, casaloma.ca
CN Tower
290 Bremner Blvd., 416-868-6937, cntower.ca
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com
Hockey Hall of Fame
Brookfield Place, 30 Yonge St., 416-360-7765, hhof.com
Kensington Market
Between Dundas St. W. and College St., west of Spadina Ave. and east of Bathurst St.
Little Canada
The Tenor, 10 Dundas St. E., 647-578-4663, little-canada.ca
Pedal Toronto
The Distillery Historic District, 11 Gristmill Lane , 416-802-0541, pedaltoronto.com
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
288 Bremner Blvd., 647-351-3474, ripleys.com
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen’s Park, 416-586-8000, rom.on.ca
Scotiabank Arena
40 Bay St., 416-815-5982, scotiabankarena.com
The Distillery Historic District
55 Mill St., 416-364-1177, thedistillerydistrict.com
EAT & DRINK
Culinary Adventure Co.
St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front St. E., 877-317-4870, culinaryadventureco.com
Kiin
326 Adelaide St. W., 647-490-5040, kiintoronto.com
Mamakas Taverna
80 Ossington Ave., 416-519-5996, mamakas.ca
Queens Harbour
245 Queens Quay W., 416-572-4300, queensharbour.ca
St. Lawrence Market
92-95 Front St. E., 416-392-7219, stlawrencemarket.com
Steam Whistle Kitchen
255 Bremner Blvd., 416-362-2337, steamwhistle.ca
Waterworks Food Hall
50 Brant St., waterworksfoodhall.com
Wellington Market at The Well
486 Front St. W., 416-203-7777, thewelltoronto.com