The largest and most diversified city in Canada is Toronto, the state capital of Ontario. It is home to many tourist attractions, including the CN Tower and museums and galleries. And Niagara Falls is only a short drive away.
There are plenty of things to do, from the thriving Entertainment District, where you can enjoy the newest musicals and great dining, to the historic Distillery District, where you can find various stores and restaurants housed in beautifully preserved structures.
It is easy to go around Toronto’s city center because many critical locations are close to one another, and there is a subway system for lengthier trips. Make use of the extensive PATH network of underground walkways that connects attractions, entertainment venues, and shopping enterprises when visiting Toronto in the winter. In the summer, stroll along the picturesque waterfront and visit the parks and beaches.
Visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
One of Canada’s top institutions, the Royal Ontario Museum (often known as the ROM), has a stellar reputation abroad. It contains an exceptional collection that spans natural history, art, and culture from a wide range of regions around the world. It is renowned for hosting exhibitions from all around the world.
The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, a contemporary wing with glass and sharp angles, was added to a highly traditional older structure as part of a contentious extension in 2007. Today, it is among the most identifiable structures in Toronto.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
The Ripley’s Aquarium, close to the CN Tower’s base, is one of Toronto’s newest popular tourist destinations. One of the top family attractions in Toronto is this magnificent institution, which exhibits a variety of marine life.
The enormous underwater tunnel with a moving sidewalk is the most remarkable aspect. As sawfish loiter on the tunnel ceiling above, you can observe the ocean world as it passes around you. Sharks can be seen by gliding. All ages will find this to be a wonderfully peaceful experience.
The jellyfish display, enhanced by imaginative lighting, is another unanticipated surprise. Then there are touch tanks where visitors can get up close and personal with stingrays and tiny sharks. For those interested in engineering, the building’s open design makes it possible to see the filtration and life support systems that keep the place running.
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
One of the most prominent museums in North America is the well-known Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The more than 95,000-piece collection contains works from all over the world, from European masterworks to contemporary art. Still, it also boasts a noteworthy collection of Canadian art, including a sizable collection of Group of Seven items. Every year, several temporary exhibitions are organized.
On the west side of the city’s core, the AGO is housed in a striking structure that combines ancient and more contemporary architectural elements. On stilts that resemble pencils, the Ontario College of Art and Design is perched high above the street and next to the AGO, making it difficult to overlook.
Catch a Show or Dine in the Entertainment District
The CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, and other museums are just a few prominent attractions in Toronto’s Entertainment District, which occupies a sizable portion of the city’s core. Also well-known are its outstanding dining options and, most significantly, its shows and performances. King Street, which runs between Spadina Avenue and University Avenue, is where most of the action takes place.
The Entertainment District, which is Toronto’s equivalent of Broadway in New York, comes alive at night and is a terrific destination for nightlife. Major theatrical productions are held here, including musicals, concerts, and other performing arts events.
The Royal Alexandra Theatre, which showcases the most recent musical productions, and Roy Thomson Hall, which houses the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, are two of the most notable venues in this neighborhood.
Toronto Zoo
There are almost 5,000 animals in the impressive and varied collection of the Toronto Zoo. Pygmy hippos, lions, tigers, giraffes, penguins, orangutans, and many other animals are famous. The zoo is separated into many parts, each representing a significant world area.
The Great Barrier Reef, the Tundra Trek, which features polar bears, and the Gorilla Rainforest are a few of the other highlights of the Toronto Zoo. A splash pad provides summertime sun fun in the Discovery Zone, a popular destination for families.
Dine and Shop in the Distillery District
The historic neighborhood of Toronto’s Distillery District has been rehabilitated and is now a hip spot for entertainment and shopping. Charming shops, galleries, artist studios, and restaurants occupy the historic structures. It is a fascinating location to visit any time of year, day or night.
The annual Toronto Christmas Market is one of the most well-known of the many entertainment events that take place here. Unique goods are sold at festively adorned wooden stalls; a huge Christmas tree dominates a public square and inviting outdoor gathering spaces are set up, frequently with couches and sizable fire pits. Despite the cold, restaurants allow customers to eat outside with lap blankets and warming lamps. It’s always easy to find hot chocolate at this time of year.
City Hall & Nathan Philips Square
The widely lauded new City Hall dominates the broad Nathan Philips Square with Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture The Archer. It was constructed in 1965 by the talented Finnish architect Viljo Revell. City Hall comprises two arc-shaped high-rise buildings of 20 and 27 floors, respectively, that are arranged around a smaller center structure with a flattened dome as its roof.
The frequently photographed Toronto sign is situated near an artificial pond in the area in front of City Hall, which transforms into a well-liked skating rink in the winter. This location is lovely to visit in December when it is adorned for the Christmas season at night.
Shop at Eaton Center
The enormous Eaton Center shopping center sits at the northernmost point of the Central Business District. This ultra-modern shopping center, which has its metro station, spans several blocks and is constantly being expanded and refurbished.
In the confusing maze of department stores, specialty stores, boutiques, restaurants, cafeterias, and snack bars clogging the many floors above and below ground, strangers can quickly become lost. A skywalk links the Hudson Bay shop to Eaton Center, a metro stop in Toronto.
Visit the Aga Khan Museum
One of North America’s top museums specialising in Islamic art is the Aga Khan Museum. It is located in a magnificent, light-filled, contemporary structure with lovely, serene surroundings made up of sizable reflecting pools.
The late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and Princess Catharine Aga Khan first began the permanent collection in the 1950s. Manuscripts, ceramics, and textiles with pieces from the ninth to the nineteenth centuries are among the magnificent treasures you’ll encounter. From China to Spain, the objects have been sourced from all around the world.