UltimateCity Guide Toronto
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The Toronto skyline and the CN Tower lit at night across the harbour from Toronto Island The Toronto skyline at dusk across Lake Ontario The CN Tower and the skyline at sunset over Lake Ontario

The city guide to Toronto, Canada

Best of Toronto

The tower over the lake, a ferry to the islands, Saturday at St. Lawrence Market, the ROM and the AGO, the starred counters of Yorkville and the falls at Niagara a train ride away: Toronto, checked place by place.

Launch edition · Autumn 2026

Where to eatWhat to see
The red carriages of the Glacier Express crossing the stone arches of the Landwasser Viaduct below a snow-capped peakSister guideULTIMATE Rail JourneysThe story of the train, the great journeys and where to book themA cruise ship in the Bay of Kotor, MontenegroSister guideULTIMATE CruisesLines, ships and itineraries, from river to expeditionThe Matterhorn in winter above ZermattSister guideULTIMATE Ski ResortsSeason dates, hotels, après and ski schools, resort by resortThe Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild and its gardens, Saint-Jean-Cap-FerratSister guideULTIMATE PropertyRosedale, the condos and the rules for foreign buyers

Toronto, from the lake to the ravines

Toronto is a city on a lake and a city of neighbourhoods, made by people from every corner of the world. Here are the grand hotels of Yorkville and downtown and the art hotels of Queen West, the thirteen restaurants the 2026 MICHELIN Guide gives One Star and the Bib Gourmand tables of Chinatown and Dundas West, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, the islands, the ravines and the lakefront, and journeys to Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Prince Edward County, Muskoka and Stratford. Every listing is checked against the venue’s own website or an official source, and anything we can’t confirm is left out.

The lakeside city: reading Toronto’s great sights

In depth

The lakeside city

Toronto·In depth

The tower over the lake, the islands by ferry, the Victorian old town and the castle on the ridge: how to read Toronto.

Read the story

Toronto, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

Nine neighbourhoods, each with its own guide: Yorkville’s museums, the towers of downtown, the tower and the theatres, the old town and the Distillery, Queen West, Kensington and College Street, the east end, the islands and High Park.

The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal beside the Royal Ontario Museum’s heritage buildingNeighbourhood guideYorkville & the AnnexMuseums and the Mink MileThe Great Hall of Union Station, with its clock and departure boardsNeighbourhood guideDowntown & the Financial DistrictTowers and the PATHThe CN Tower above the harbourfront on a clear dayNeighbourhood guideKing West & the Entertainment DistrictThe tower and the theatresRed-brick Victorian buildings in the Distillery Historic DistrictNeighbourhood guideOld Town & the DistilleryWhere the city beganTIFF Lightbox on King Street WestNeighbourhood guideQueen West & OssingtonIndependents and art hotels

Yorkville or downtown

Stay in Yorkville for the museums and the shops, downtown for the theatres and the trains.

  1. Neighbourhood guideKensington, Chinatown & Little ItalyMarket lanes and College Street
  2. Neighbourhood guideLeslieville & the Don ValleyThe east end and the ravine
  3. Neighbourhood guideThe Waterfront & the IslandsThe lake and the ferries
  4. Neighbourhood guideHigh Park & the West EndThe great park

Before you go

The eTA, UP Express from Pearson, the TTC and PRESTO, the seasons and the itineraries that work for a first visit.

Before you goToronto essentialsThe eTA, 911 and the seasonsA red Flexity streetcar on a Toronto streetGetting aroundGetting aroundUP Express, the TTC and PRESTOThe towers of Casa Loma against a blue skyItineraryToronto in three daysThe tower, the ROM and the islandsThe Centreville town hall on Centre IslandItineraryThe lakefront and the islandsQueens Quay and Ward’s IslandThe lobby of the Fairmont Royal York, with its clock and chandeliersLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addresses

On the move

Tap a contactless card on the TTC: the adult fare is the same $3.30 as with PRESTO.

  1. ItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Four Seasons and Sushi Masaki Saito
  2. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendThe Hazelton and Alo

Our advice

Take the ferry to the islands

Ten minutes from the foot of Bay Street, the Toronto Islands give you beaches, a boardwalk and the whole skyline across the water. Buy tickets online in summer. The islands

Beyond Toronto

The Horseshoe Falls and the Niagara wine country, the dunes of Prince Edward County, the lakes of Muskoka and Algonquin, and the festival town of Stratford.

The Horseshoe and American Falls from aboveBeyond TorontoNiagara FallsThe Horseshoe FallsQueen Street and the clock tower in Niagara-on-the-LakeBeyond TorontoNiagara-on-the-LakeThe Shaw and the wineriesThe beach at Sandbanks on Lake OntarioBeyond TorontoPrince Edward CountyDunes and wineriesA lake and forest in Algonquin Provincial ParkBeyond TorontoMuskoka & AlgonquinLakes and autumn colourBeyond TorontoStratfordThe festival town

Our advice

Saturday at St. Lawrence Market

The farmers’ market opens at 5am on Saturdays; come early, then walk on to the Distillery. St. Lawrence Market

The ULTIMATE letter

Toronto in your inbox

An occasional email with new places, events, neighbourhood guides and our latest in-depth articles. No spam, ever.

In depth: Toronto’s back stories

The lakeside city’s great sights, the table from the starred counters to St. Lawrence Market, the arts from the ROM to Roy Thomson Hall, the hotels, the subway and the rules for foreign buyers: the stories behind Toronto.

Skaters on the City Hall rink at dusk, beneath the archesThe Distillery and City HallChristmas in TorontoThe Winter Village and the rink under the archesThe long aisle of St. Lawrence Market, lined with fish and food stallsThe back storyToronto at the tableStars, Bibs and many kitchensRoy Thomson Hall lit at night among the downtown towersThe back storyFrom the ROM to Roy Thomson HallToronto’s arts

At the table

Book the starred counters as soon as tables are released; the Bib Gourmand rooms are where Toronto eats every day.

  1. The back storyWhere Toronto sleepsYorkville or downtown

North America with the ULTIMATE guides

Toronto joins the ULTIMATE guides of North America: south to New York and Miami, west to Los Angeles, on to Mexico City, out to sea on the great cruise lines and the great train journeys.

The New York City skyline from Top of the RockULTIMATE New YorkNew YorkManhattan and BrooklynArt Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachULTIMATE MiamiMiamiThe Magic CityDowntown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsULTIMATE Los AngelesLos AngelesThe city of angels
  1. ULTIMATE Mexico CityMexico CityThe great capital

The ULTIMATE City Guides around the world

See all North America

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

Bixby Creek Bridge on the Big Sur coastUSAULTIMATE CaliforniaSan Francisco, Napa and Sonoma, Big Sur and the Pacific Coast Highway, San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and the national parks.A schooner silhouetted against the sunset off Key WestUSAULTIMATE FloridaOrlando and the theme parks, Palm Beach, Tampa Bay, Sarasota, St. Augustine and Scenic Highway 30A.The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Downtown Los Angeles at sunset beneath the snow-capped San Gabriel MountainsCaliforniaULTIMATE Los AngelesHollywood and the Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills’ grand hotels, the Sunset Strip, the Getty and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu.The Palacio de Bellas Artes at duskMexicoULTIMATE Mexico CityThe Templo Mayor and the Zócalo, Bellas Artes and the murals, Pujol and Quintonil’s two stars, Día de Muertos, and day trips to Teotihuacan and Puebla.Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.

See all 87 guides

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Toronto, its restaurants, theatres, museums and neighbourhoods.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Distillery Historic District

    This week's pick

    Distillery Historic District

    Distillery District·Historic quarter

    The Distillery Winter Village opens on 12 November and runs to 3 January: the Victorian brick streets of Gooderham & Worts strung with lights, makers’ stalls and seasonal food. Go on a weekday evening, and buy your ticket ahead.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    A GO Transit locomotiveItineraryA day at NiagaraOne dayAn ivy-covered house in RosedaleItineraryA property viewing day: Rosedale, the Annex and the waterfrontOne day

    Know your neighbourhoods

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Toronto at the table: stars, Bibs and a city of many kitchensToronto · In depth
    2. 2Canadian FoodToronto · In depth: food
    3. 3AloSpadina Avenue · Contemporary French
    See all 29

    Cafés

    1. 1Pilot Coffee RoastersToronto · Coffee roaster
    2. 2Sam James Coffee BarToronto · Coffee bar
    3. 3Balzac’s Coffee RoastersDistillery District · Coffee roaster
    See all 10

    Bars

    1. 1BarChefQueen West · Cocktail bar
    2. 2Bar RavalLittle Italy · Tapas bar
    3. 3Civil LibertiesBloorcourt · Cocktail bar
    See all 7

    Hotels

    1. 1Where Toronto sleeps: Yorkville, downtown and the west endToronto · In depth
    2. 2Four Seasons Hotel TorontoYorkville · Grand hotel
    3. 3The Hazelton HotelYorkville · Boutique hotel
    See all 21

    Sights

    1. 1The lakeside city: reading Toronto’s great sightsToronto · In depth
    2. 2CN TowerEntertainment District · Tower
    3. 3Toronto IslandsToronto Islands · Islands
    See all 15

    Arts & Culture

    1. 1From the ROM to Roy Thomson Hall: Toronto’s artsToronto · In depth
    2. 2Royal Ontario MuseumYorkville · Museum
    3. 3Art Gallery of OntarioGrange Park · Art gallery
    See all 32

    Parks

    1. 1High ParkHigh Park · Park
    2. 2Toronto Island ParkToronto Islands · Park
    3. 3Allan Gardens ConservatoryDowntown · Conservatory
    See all 8

    Walks

    1. 1Old Town to the DistilleryOld Town · Walk
    2. 2Kensington Market and ChinatownKensington Market · Walk
    3. 3From the ROM to the AnnexYorkville · Walk
    See all 8

    Shopping

    1. 1Bloor-Yorkville and the Mink MileYorkville · Shopping district
    2. 2Holt Renfrew Bloor StreetYorkville · Department store
    3. 3Yorkdale Shopping CentreNorth York · Shopping centre
    See all 10

    Health

    1. 1Emergencies: call 911Toronto · Emergency number
    2. 2Health811Ontario · Health advice line
    3. 3Winter safetyToronto · Advice
    See all 13

    Property

    1. 1Buying in Toronto: Rosedale, the condos and the rules for foreign buyersToronto · In depth
    2. 2The federal prohibition on non-Canadian buyersCanada · Federal rule
    3. 3Non-Resident Speculation Tax (Ontario)Ontario · Provincial tax
    See all 8

    Developments

    1. 1Line 5 EglintonMidtown · Light rail
    2. 2Line 6 Finch WestNorth York · Light rail
    3. 3The Ontario LineDowntown · Subway
    See all 6

    Cars & boats

    1. 1Taxis and rideshareToronto · Taxis
    2. 2Driving in and out of TorontoToronto · Driving
    3. 3Toronto harbour cruisesHarbourfront · Boat tours
    See all 5

    Getting Around

    1. 1Getting around Toronto: the subway, streetcars, UP Express and PRESTOToronto · In depth
    2. 2Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)Mississauga · Airport
    3. 3UP ExpressPearson to Union · Airport train
    See all 8