Welcom to Toronto
Best neighbourhoods in Toronto
Toronto's main tourist areas are in the city centre.
While there are other neighbourhoods where you can live fantastically, such as Etobicoke, Scarborough, High Park and the Don Valley, we don't recommend staying in these areas if you want to experience the city to its fullest.
We recommend choosing a more central location.
Map of Downtown Toronto Neighbourhoods
Toronto neighbourhoods
There are 140 neighbourhoods in Toronto, spread over 630 square km. In 1998, six municipalities merged to create one megacity nicknamed by Drake, "The 6ix".
In this guide, we present 7 neighbourhoods to help you plan your itinerary in Toronto. These are the places tourists visit and where the top attractions are.
Toronto route
Focusing on the city centre, you can put together the perfect Toronto itinerary to make the most of your stay.
Toronto is a cool city, it is hip and it is considered one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
This travel guide gives you inside tips on our local experiences and a tourist's point of view. It's two city guides in one!
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1. Entertainment District
Entertainment District Toronto
The centre of Toronto nightlife and entertainment
The entertainment district is a great location for first-time visitors to Toronto. It is close to many major attractions and many restaurants and entertainment venues.
During your stay at the entertainment centre, you will truly be at the centre of it all!
From the university in the west to Spadina and from Front Street in the north to Queen, this is where all the action is.
If you want to be in the urban centre and nightlife of Toronto, this is the place to stay.
Recommended tour - CN Tower Edgewalk. A thrill of a lifetime to don a harness and head outside to brave the huge drops of the world's tallest skywalk.
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Best hotels in the entertainment district
LUXURY
Ritz Carlton
Stunning luxury hotel. All the movie stars stay here. Views of the CN Tower
Spa, Fine Dining, city views
Check availability & rates
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
MIDDLE RANGE
Thompson Hotel
Modern and chic hotel, close to nightlife.
It has one of the best rooftop bars in Toronto with infinity pool
View availability & rates
Strathcona Hotel
Affordable hotel in an upscale neighbourhood. Great location close to Union Station.
Rooms are small but renovated. Least pricey, good hotel in the area
Things to see in Toronto's entertainment district
CN Tower - The tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere.
It's a must-see for first-time visitors. Stand on the glass floor, enjoy 360 dining or dare to take on the Edgewalk
There are also several viewing platforms and a café.
Hours: Open daily from 09:00 - 22:30. Edgewalk is open in all weather conditions except for extreme conditions and wind/electric storms. It is closed in winter.
CN Tower and Edgewalk are wheelchair accessible
Hockey Hall of Fame - See the legends of hockey and the home of the Stanley Cup. There are interactive exhibits, a 3D film and other statistics and information about all things hockey.
Open: 365 days a year with extended holiday hours. Summer: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ScotiabankArena - Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors. Play a game of NHL Hockey or NBA Basketball and this premier venue.
TIFF lightbox - Home to the renowned Toronto International Film Festival, the TIFF lightbox theatre has events, screenings and lectures throughout the year.
Rogers Centre - Home of the Toronto Blue Jays. Watch your favourite American League baseball team take on the Toronto Blue Jays. There are also tours of the Rogers Centre stadium at this huge complex. The Marriott Hotel is also in if you want a unique place to stay in Toronto.
Roy Thompson Hall - Want to see live music at its best? Toronto's main venue for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
It also has regular guest artists, opera and even novelties like live symphonies for Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back.
Hours: dates and times vary by performance. Check the website for more information.
Candian Walk of Fame- See past Canadian stars the Canadian stars honoured in the Walk of Fame
You'll be surprised to find out which stars are Canadian
Jim Carrey, Shania Twain, Neil Young, Michael J. Fox, Alanis Morisette, Ryan Renolds and James Cameron to name a few.
Royal Alexandra Theatre- See the latest and greatest from Broadway at this historic theatre.
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Note: If you want to stay in a historic hotel, the Fairmont Royal York is very centrally located close to Queen West, Harbourfront and Yonge Street. It is directly opposite Union Station, so it is easy to reach all major attractions.
Get there
Train - Union Station is in the entertainment district.
Via rail trains stop at Union Station from cities in Canada and the US.
Getthrough - Go Trains stop at Union Station from the suburbs and surrounding cities.
There are direct trains from Toronto Pearson Airport to Union with the Up Express.
Underground - The underground stop is Union Station on the Yonge / University line
Bus - A new bus station is being built at Union Station. For now, the bus station is at Bay and Dundas. From there, take the Yonge metro to Union.
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Search for Toronto City and Day Tours
2. Queen West and Chinatown
The hippest neighbourhood in Toronto
A little further west of the entertainment district is Queen West. Known as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.
Here you will see all the fashionable people and trendsetters drinking coffee and looking cool in this fashionable neighbourhood.
It is also one of the most multicultural neighbourhoods with Chinatown and Kensington Market.
It officially runs from Bathurst to Gladstone, but we feel the real Queen Street Vibe starts at Spadina.
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Best hotels in Queen West
LUXURY
Drake Hotel
Known as the cultural heart of Queen West to residents and travellers alike. A Toronto landmark
Funky rooms, restaurant, bar and rooftop terrace
Check availability & rates
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
MIDDLE RANGE
Thompson Hotel
Modern and chic hotel
It has one of the best rooftop bars in Toronto with pool and city views. Boutique rooms.
View availability & prices
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
BEGROTING
Super 8 Wyndham
Budget Chain Hotel offers consistent service. Great location in Chinatown
Continental breakfast / free wifi
Check availability & rates
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
Things to see and do in Queen West
Art Gallery of Ontario - The Art Gallery of Ontario, also known as the AGO, is one of the leading galleries in North America.
Known for its extensive Group of Seven collection, it also houses 90,000 works of art. There are many temporary exhibitions that rotate regularly. The AGO restaurant is a great meeting place.
Art gallery opening hours: 10.30am to 9pm (free on Wednesdays after 6pm)
Graffiti Alley - Rick Mercer had Graffiti Alley film his rants here for the "Rick Mercer Show" on the CBC and now everyone should make a stop for a selfie when they visit Toronto.
Location: Grafitti Alley is one block south of Queen in Agusta.
Kensington Market - Kensington Market feels like something out of the 1960s with second-hand shops, hippie-inspired eateries and family-run markets.
Spend an afternoon shopping and browsing the shops and watch for graffiti tiles.
Chinatown - There are six Chinatowns in Toronto, but downtown Chinatown is one of the largest in the world. Along Dundas and Spadina, it's a lively area for shopping and dining. Be sure to visit the market for an authentic Asian experience.
Fun excursion to try - Queen and King West End Sunday Brunch Tour.
Ossington Strip - Go bar hopping along one of Toronto's coolest bar scenes. Just start walking north from Queen Street and visit some very trendy bars and hip eateries.
Horseshoe Tavern - Enjoy live music at Canada's legendary bar and eatery.
Trinity Bellwoods - Relax like a local in Trinity Bellwoods park. Read a book, play some Frisbee or go ice skating in winter.
Recommended tour - Free Queen West Graffiti Tour
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Suggested Queen West Tours
Kensington Market Afternoon Food Tour - Kensington Market is a melting pot of cultures and one of the best places to sample food in the city. On this tour, you can sample food from Jamaica to Mexico as you sample meals at six different eateries while enjoying a Margarita.
Kensington Market and Chinatown Walking Tour - Explore Toronto's most multicultural neighbourhood on this 2-hour walking tour. Kensington is filled with graffiti alleys, second-hand shops and the markets of Chinatown.
Get there
Tram:
Take the King 504 Streetcar to Spadina or Bathurst
Take the Queen 501 Streetcar to Spadina or Bathurst.
From Bloor Subway - Get off at Spadina and take the Spadina tram south to Queen.
From Union Station - Take the University Subway to Queen Street and walk west to Spadina or hop on the Queen Streetcar.
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3. Yorkville / Bloor
Toronto's most glamorous neighbourhood
Home to the Mink Mile, luxury shops, upscale restaurants and accommodation, Bloor and Yorkville is right in the centre of the city.
Here you'll find everything from Rolex to Chanel and you can sit on a terrace to watch stars when the celebrities are in town.
This former hippy village has been transformed into a block with modern boutiques, ultra chic restaurants and walking streets.
The residents of the Bloor Yorkville area are not afraid to flaunt their wealth with exotic cars and designer clothes gracing the streets.
When visiting Toronto, be sure to spend some time in this neighbourhood.
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Best hotels in Bloor Yorkville
LUXURY
Four Seasons
This luxury 5-star hotel is the best choice for celebrities and businesses. It has an incredible spa, a popular bar and one of the best dining options in Toronto.
View availability & rates
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
MIDDLE RANGE
Intercontinental Toronto Yorkville
What was once the popular celebrity hotel at TIFF, now an affordable option in Yorkville.
Great location, modern rooms
View availability & rates
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
BUDGET
Town Inn Suites
Most hotels are expensive in Yorkville, but this is a more budget-friendly choice.
Kitchens in room / pool, gym / free WiFi
Check availability & prices
Trip Advisor / Booking.com
Things to see and do in Yorkville
rom - The Royal Ontario Museum is a fantastic museum in Bay and Bloor. It is one of the largest museums in North America with numerous exhibits.
The addition by Michael Lee-Chin - known as 'Crystal' - was a multimillion-dollar expansion that brought the museum into the 21st century.
There are history galleries, world culture galleries, fossil galleries and galleries for every area of archaeology, geology, minerals and more.
hours: Open from 10am-5.30pm
Cost: $20 general admissionBuy skip the line tickets in advance from Get Your Guide
Bata Shoe Museum - This museum is cooler than it sounds. Take a walk through time and see shoes from every era of antiquity.
See iconic celebrity shoes such as Elvis' Blue Suede Shoes and Elton John's platform boots.
hours: 10am to 5pm.
Cost: $14
Galleries - Yorkville is home to many designers and artists. Browse the streets of Cumberland and Yorkville Avenue in search of fashion and art. There are a dozen galleries showing regular shows, including the Loch Gallery, Mira Godard Gallery and the Canadian Fine Arts Gallery.
Mindset Brain Gym - Dive into the classroom at Mind Set Brain Gym, Canada's only brain gym. If you want to learn to meditate, this cool gym has private rooms and group classes led by an instructor using the latest technology.
Sassafrazz - People-watching from Sazzafrazz's terrace.
The Pilot - Have a drink on the rooftop terrace of The Pilot, one of Toronto's longest-running bars.
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Suggested Toronto Tours: Yorkville
Skip the Line access to ROM - Save time and hassle by booking your skip the line ticket to the Royal Ontario Museum.
Your Toronto Pass gives you access to Toronto's most popular Museums and attractions.
Getting there
Underground - Take the Yonge line to the Bloor / Yonge underground stop or take the Bloor line to one of Three Stops for Yorkville - Bloor / Yonge, Bay or University.
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4. The Perfect Stay in Ontario: Modern Lillian St Apartments in North York
Toronto's waterfront
For those seeking a contemporary and comfortable stay in Ontario, the Modern Lillian St Apartments by Globalstay in North York are an excellent choice. These apartments offer a blend of modern design, convenience, and a prime location, making them an ideal base for exploring the vibrant city of Ontario.
Situated in the dynamic North York district of Toronto, these apartments provide easy access to a myriad of attractions and activities. From shopping and dining to cultural experiences, you'll find everything you need within reach. The apartments themselves are meticulously designed to provide a comfortable and stylish retreat for travelers.
Each apartment is thoughtfully furnished with all the amenities you require for a relaxing stay. Whether you're visiting Ontario for business or leisure, the Modern Lillian St Apartments offer a comfortable and convenient home away from home. Experience the modern allure of North York while enjoying the ease and comfort of these stylish apartments in the heart of Ontario.
Things to do in Harbourfront
Sugarbeach - Sugarbeach has become popular as one of Toronto's most Instagrammable spots. It is a small beach located along the waterfront with pin parasols.
Harbourfront Centre - This complex brings together creative minds who put together programmes for artists and entertainment. There's always something going on and as you walk through it, you'll find exhibitions and may even see glassblowers at work.
Ferry to Toronto Island - Take the ferry to Toronto Island, where you can cycle, kayak, sail and beach. There is a bar and restaurant on the island and an amusement park known as Centerville that is perfect for the kind.
Waterfront Trail - Rent a bike and take a ride along the waterfront trail to explore Toronto's beaches. Cherry Street, the Leslie Spit and even The Beaches are all easily accessible by bike along the waterfront trail.
Distillery - Formerly the Goode alcohol distillery
