Toronto is Canada’s largest city and its cultural engine, packing world-class museums, a 300-meter observation tower, a sprawling island park, and distinct ethnic neighborhoods into a walkable downtown core on Lake Ontario. Whether you have 24 hours or a full week, these are the essential things to do in Toronto, organized by category with practical details including opening hours, ticket prices, and transit stops.
Things to Do in Toronto: Iconic Landmarks
CN Tower
At 553 meters, the CN Tower defined Toronto’s skyline since 1976. The main observation deck (LookOut Level) sits at 346m with floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass floor section. One level up, the SkyPod at 447m is the highest observation platform in the Western Hemisphere. The EdgeWalk, a hands-free walk around the tower’s exterior at 356m, is the world’s highest full-circle hands-free walk (CAD 195, book weeks ahead). General admission: CAD 43 for adults, CAD 33 for children 4-12. Open daily 9 AM to 10:30 PM (last entry 9:30 PM). Located at 290 Bremner Blvd, connected to Union Station via the SkyWalk indoor pedestrian bridge. TTC: Union Station.
Toronto Islands
A 15-minute ferry ride from the downtown core delivers you to a car-free archipelago of three main islands: Centre Island (family-friendly with an amusement park), Ward’s Island (residential with a boardwalk and café), and Hanlan’s Point (clothing-optional beach, the quietest of the three). Rent a bike or quadricycle on Centre Island, walk the 5km boardwalk along the southern shore, or swim at one of four beaches. The island offers the best skyline view of Toronto, particularly from the ferry deck on the return trip at sunset. Ferry tickets: CAD 8.70 adult round trip, CAD 5.60 for children. Ferries run year-round but on a reduced winter schedule. Jack Layton Ferry Terminal is at the foot of Bay Street at Queens Quay. Summer weekends can mean 45-minute waits; arrive before 10 AM or after 2 PM.
Things to Do in Toronto: Museums and Galleries
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Canada’s largest museum, the ROM holds 13 million objects across 40 galleries covering natural history, world cultures, and art. The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, a controversial Daniel Libeskind-designed addition, houses the main entrance on Bloor Street. Highlights: the dinosaur gallery (one of the world’s best), the Chinese temple sculptures, the Bat Cave (a walk-through replica), and the rotating special exhibitions. General admission: CAD 23 adult, CAD 14 child (4-14). Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 AM to 5:30 PM, closed Mondays except during summer and holiday periods. Located at 100 Queens Park, at Bloor Street and Avenue Road. TTC: Museum Station (named for the ROM). Budget 3-4 hours for a solid visit.
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
The AGO underwent a major Frank Gehry renovation in 2008 and now spans 45,000 square meters. The collection is strong in Canadian art (the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Inuit art), European masters (Rubens, Rembrandt, Rodin sculptures), and contemporary works. The Galleria Italia, a wood-and-glass sculptural corridor spanning Dundas Street, is worth the visit alone. General admission: CAD 25 adult, free for ages 25 and under. Open Tuesday and Thursday 10:30 AM to 5 PM, Wednesday and Friday 10:30 AM to 9 PM, Saturday and Sunday 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Closed Monday. Located at 317 Dundas Street West. TTC: St. Patrick Station. The AGO offers free admission on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 PM (booking required online).
Hockey Hall of Fame
Housed in a former Bank of Montreal building at Brookfield Place, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a pilgrimage site for hockey fans. You can pose with the Stanley Cup (the original trophy, not a replica), test your shooting accuracy against a virtual goalie, and walk through a replica NHL dressing room. The Great Hall, with its stained-glass dome and all the major NHL trophies, is the highlight. Admission: CAD 25 adult, CAD 17 youth (4-13). Open daily 10 AM to 5 PM (until 6 PM in summer). Located at 30 Yonge Street, directly connected to the PATH. TTC: Union Station or King Station.
Things to Do in Toronto: Neighborhoods to Explore
Kensington Market
A National Historic Site since 2006, Kensington Market is a warren of Victorian houses converted into vintage clothing stores, produce markets, bakeries, bars, and Latin American and Asian eateries. The neighborhood operates on a different rhythm than the rest of the city: independent, chaotic, and deeply multicultural. Pedestrian Sundays (last Sunday of each month, May to October) close the streets to cars and fill them with buskers and food stalls. Start at the intersection of Kensington Avenue and St. Andrew Street. Best reached by TTC: Dundas West Station or the 510 Spadina streetcar to Nassau Street.
Distillery District
The 13-acre Distillery District is a pedestrian-only enclave of restored Victorian industrial buildings that once housed the Gooderham and Worts distillery. Today it is filled with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and the year-round Mill Street Brewery. The cobblestone streets and gas lamps make it the city’s most photogenic neighborhood. The Toronto Christmas Market fills the district from late November through December. Located at 55 Mill Street, a 15-minute walk east of Union Station or take the 504 King streetcar to Parliament Street. Budget 2-3 hours to wander, longer if you are eating or gallery-hopping.
St. Lawrence Market
Named the world’s best food market by National Geographic, St. Lawrence Market has operated at the corner of Front and Jarvis Streets since 1803. The South Market (the main building) houses 120 vendors selling produce, meats, cheeses, prepared foods, and baked goods. The Saturday Farmers Market (5 AM to 3 PM) in the North Market building draws farmers from across southern Ontario. The peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery is the signature eat (CAD 7.50). Open Tuesday to Thursday 8 AM to 6 PM, Friday 8 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 5 AM to 5 PM. Closed Sunday and Monday. TTC: King Station.
Things to Do in Toronto: Outdoor and Waterfront
High Park
Toronto’s largest downtown park at 161 hectares (400 acres), High Park mixes manicured gardens with wild ravine trails. The cherry blossoms along Grenadier Pond draw massive crowds during peak bloom (typically late April to early May). The park also has a free zoo (llamas, bison, peacocks), tennis courts, baseball diamonds, an off-leash dog area, and the Grenadier Cafe for lunch. TTC: High Park Station (Line 2) or the 506 Carlton streetcar. Free entry year-round.
Waterfront and Harbourfront Centre
The Harbourfront Centre at 235 Queens Quay West runs free cultural programming year-round, including outdoor concerts, art exhibitions, and festivals. The 1.3km Martin Goodman Trail runs along the waterfront from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street, popular with cyclists and runners. In summer, the HTO Park urban beach (artificial sand with yellow umbrellas) offers a downtown sunbathing spot without taking the ferry. Kayak rentals are available at the Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre (CAD 30 per hour for a single kayak). TTC: Queens Quay Station (509/510 streetcar) or Union Station (10-minute walk south).
Things to Do in Toronto: Day Trips
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is 130km from downtown Toronto, about 90 minutes by car or 2 hours by GO Train (seasonal weekend service from Union Station, CAD 25 round trip). The Hornblower boat tour (Canadian side equivalent of Maid of the Mist) costs CAD 33 and runs April through November. The falls are lit up at night year-round, and the Journey Behind the Falls (CAD 24) takes you through tunnels to observation decks directly behind the Horseshoe Falls. A day trip is feasible but makes for a long day; budget 10-12 hours door-to-door if using public transit.
