Toronto is a true multicultural city with numerous attractions. If you’re in Canada, don’t miss it!
Canada’s largest city is one of the world’s most multicultural cities. It is located on the shore of Lake Ontario, the easternmost of the five Great Lakes.
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Toronto attractions
CN Tower
Toronto’s symbol is the tower that can be seen from almost everywhere.
It was built between 1973 and 1976 to demonstrate the strength of industry. At the time of its construction, it was the world’s tallest free-standing tower with its height of 553.3 meters, a title it held until 2007.
There are four observation levels that can be visited in the tower. At 342 meters, you’ll find the Glass Floor and the Outdoor Observation Deck. On the latter, you can experience the weather at this height, while at the former, you can test your courage by walking on 6 cm thick glass panels measuring approximately 100×130 cm.
At 346 meters is the Horizons Café for casual dining and the Indoor Observation Deck (‘Look Out’ level), which the elevator reaches in 58 seconds. At 351 meters, there is the globe-shaped rotating restaurant. For dining guests, the floor makes a complete rotation every 72 minutes, allowing them to enjoy uninterrupted views of the city below and Lake Ontario.
All information can be found here!
Yonge-Dundas Square
One of Toronto’s main public squares, often called „Canada’s Times Square”.
It features huge digital billboards and modern urban design, creating a special atmosphere. It’s always bustling, as the area is surrounded by numerous shops, cinemas, theaters, restaurants, and shopping centers.
Yonge Street, located here, is one of the world’s longest streets. It starts at the shore of Lake Ontario and stretches northward for hundreds of kilometers.
St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica
Toronto’s most significant church is located near Yonge-Dundas Square.
The Catholic church was built in Gothic Revival style and is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. Construction began in the mid-1840s and took several decades to complete, finally being consecrated in 1866.
Its specialty is the beautiful interior, which features an ornate altar, colorful windows, and wonderful ceiling frescoes. Its most notable element is the main altar, which is the central symbol of the church.
Gooderham Building
Commonly known as the Flatiron Building, it is one of the city’s most famous historical buildings.
Built at the end of the 19th century in 1892, its unique triangular structure makes it an iconic attraction in the city’s St. Lawrence district. The building was commissioned by George Gooderham, a famous Toronto businessman and owner of the Gooderham & Worts whisky distillery, and originally functioned as an office building.
Architecturally, it combines Victorian and Renaissance influences. One of the most well-known parts of the building is the trompe-l’œil mural on the back wall, which creates an optical illusion as if the wall is open.
Distillery District
One of Toronto’s most charming and unique neighborhoods got its name from whisky production.
Once home to the Gooderham & Worts distillery, which was considered the world’s largest whisky factory, the 19th-century industrial buildings still maintain their original red brick atmosphere. The carefully restored district is now a car-free zone where you can explore contemporary art galleries, designer boutiques, cafés, and excellent restaurants while walking on cobblestone streets.
One of the most popular places is the Spirit of York Distillery, where you can taste local craft spirits, or the famous Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, which is a charming café created from an industrial building.
It’s especially popular during the winter season when the Toronto Christmas Market is held. During this time, the streets are adorned with festive lights, the scent of hot chocolate and punch fills the air, and Christmas stalls offer their goods.
High Park
Toronto’s largest and most popular urban park spans over 160 hectares in the western part of the city.
The vast green space features lakes, wooded trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, and botanical gardens for visitors. One of the park’s most famous attractions is the grove of Sakura cherry trees, which attracts particularly large crowds during the spring blooming season.
The park also has a small zoo, which is free to visit, and where you can see animals such as bison, ponies, and llamas.
St. Lawrence Market
One of Toronto’s oldest and most famous markets has been operating since 1803.
It consists of three main parts: the South Market, where more than 100 vendors offer fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats, baked goods, and seafood; the North Market, which hosts a farmers’ market on certain days of the week and the famous antique market on Saturdays; and St. Lawrence Hall, which is a historic building and event center.
Among the many foods, the peameal bacon sandwich stands out – Canadian bacon coated in cornmeal and grilled.
Hanlan’s Point Beach
One of Toronto’s most popular and beautiful beaches is located on the city’s Toronto Island archipelago.
The walking paths, rest areas, and bicycle routes connecting to other parts of the island provide opportunities to explore nature. The beach offers a great view of the city and Lake Ontario.
Toronto Zoo
Canada’s largest zoo is home to more than 5,000 animals and showcases various habitats from around the world across a vast 287-hectare area.
The zoo is divided into seven geographic zones representing the wildlife of each continent. The most popular sections include the African Savanna, where you can see giraffes, lions, and rhinoceroses; the Indo–Malaya region, home to orangutans and tigers; and the Canadian Wildlife zone, which features polar bears, moose, and beavers.
One of the zoo’s special attractions is the Panda Pavilion, which at one time was home to giant pandas and was very popular.
All information can be found here!
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Located at the foot of the CN Tower, the aquarium is home to more than 20,000 marine creatures.
One of its most impressive parts is the Dangerous Lagoon, a glass tunnel with a moving walkway that allows visitors to walk directly under sharks, rays, and turtles. The Ocean Realm showcases creatures in huge glass tanks.
One of the aquarium’s special attractions is Ray Bay, where you can observe giant rays and even touch them in the interactive „Touch Tank” pool.
All information can be found here!
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
One of Canada’s largest museums showcases world cultures and natural history.
Its collection encompasses more than 13 million artifacts. The museum’s most famous sections include the dinosaur hall, where huge prehistoric skeletons can be viewed; one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese and Egyptian artifacts; and exhibitions showcasing Canadian indigenous cultures.
In the natural science galleries, rare minerals, meteorites, and fossils can be admired, while in the interactive zones, you can get up close with the exciting worlds of science and history.
All information can be found here!
Casa Loma
The wonderful neo-Gothic castle is located on a hilltop in the northern part of the city.
The castle was built by Sir Henry Pellatt, a wealthy businessman, in the 1910s, but due to its enormous costs, he never really got to enjoy it. The building now functions as a museum and offers insight into the world of luxury and opulence of the early 20th century.
It consists of 98 rooms, making it one of Canada’s largest private residences. Visitors can explore the lavishly furnished rooms, such as the Great Ballroom with its 18-meter-high ceiling, or the Library, which once housed more than 10,000 books. The castle also hides secret corridors and tunnels. One of its most impressive parts is the tower lookout, which offers an unparalleled panorama of Toronto.
The castle is also a popular filming location and has appeared in numerous Hollywood productions, including X-Men and Harry Potter films.
All information can be found here!
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
The downtown museum houses more than 90,000 artworks, and its collection spans from classical European masters to contemporary Canadian artists.
One of its most well-known sections is the Canadian art collection, which pays special attention to indigenous art and the works of the famous Canadian painting group, the Group of Seven. Additionally, visitors can admire works by world-famous artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Monet.
The museum is also architecturally special. The 2008 expansion was designed by Frank Gehry, the world-renowned Canadian-American architect, who added modern, undulating glass and wood motifs to the building, which is now one of Toronto’s iconic attractions.
All information can be found here!