Toronto: A Visitor’s Travel Guide

This Toronto visitor’s guide provides a description of everything a traveler needs to know about Canada’s biggest city.
LANDSCAPE: Most of Toronto’s major attractions are located in the downtown core, but the city sprawls out in all directions, into “inner suburbs” like Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York. Beyond city boundaries are the “outer suburbs” of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) like Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, and Pickering.
HISTORY: Toronto is a young city, founded by the British at the end of the 18th century. The city started off as a tiny colonial outpost, but gradually grew to become Canada’s biggest city, with over 2.5 million people.
WEATHER and SAFETY: Toronto usually has cold winters and hot summers. It is fairly safe, with relatively low crime, but the guide will let you know which areas to avoid.
ATTRACTIONS: These include the iconic CN Tower, and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
NEIGHBOURHOODS: Descriptions of Toronto’s unique neighbourhoods, including Kensington Market, Yorkville, and the famous Yonge Street strip.
PARKS: Toronto has an extensive network of parks, especially along creeks and rivers. Even in the heart of busy downtown Toronto, quiet parks are often only a stone throw’s away.
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS include the Caribbean-themed Caribana festival in July and August. Taste of the Danforth is an August food festival. Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) draws Hollywood stars in September. Nuit Blanche is an arts-themed event in the fall.
FOOD: As a multicultural city, Toronto has all kinds of different cuisines available.
MONEY: The currency is the Canadian dollar.
GETTING THERE: Pearson International Airport in Mississauga is the city’s main international airport. Toronto Island Airport handles shorter-distance flights. Highways and rail lines link the city to other Canadian and American cities like Ottawa, Montreal, Detroit and Buffalo.
GETTING AROUND: Learn how to ride the public transit system (TTC).
OUTSIDE TORONTO: Outside of Toronto, there are a number of nearby attractions, like Niagara Falls, and Kitchener.
SHOPPING: From Eaton’s Centre downtown to Square One in Mississauga.
HOTELS: Learn where hotel clusters are located in the city.