10 Best Things to Do in Toronto

There are many cultural things to do in Toronto, it being a lively, cosmopolitan city, and one of the most popular destinations in Canada. It’s has a famous music scene, an extremely varied dining scene and many unique neighborhoods, all clustered around the Old Town. Torontonians are also keen on their sports, with the city coming to life on game days – around the baseball ground in the summer and the ice hockey stadium in the winter.

Visitors to Toronto will find plenty of historical buildings, dramatic scenery and great shopping, but it’s also a city of hidden treasures and secret nooks. With a convenient subway system and excellent bus and street car services, there’s plenty of opportunity to explore.

What are the best things to do in Toronto?

1. Fort York National Historic Site

Visit an important battlefield from Canada’s early years

Good for: Families, History, Photo

Fort York played quite an important role in the early years of the city of Toronto. It was built in 1793 to protect the fledgling settlement and was then destroyed during the Battle of York, in the War of 1812. However, it was quickly rebuilt to protect the town of York from future raids. The site is now home to Canada’s largest collection of buildings from the period, allowing visitors a glimpse back into history. Visit in summer for the best experience, when you’ll see special events and exhibits, including reenactors in military uniforms of the time. Read more

Location: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9, Canada

Open: Daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Winter: Monday–Friday from10 am to 4 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm

Phone: +1 416-392-6907

See nearby properties

2. Hockey Hall of Fame

See the Stanley Cup

Good for: Families, History, Photo

Torontonians love their sports, with ice hockey naturally among the most popular. The Hockey Hall of Fame is the home of the Stanley Cup – the sport’s most coveted prize – as well as a huge range of exhibits. These include a to-scale recreation of the Montreal Canadiens dressing room and seemingly endless items of hockey memorabilia and equipment. The Great Hall is the real highlight, though, and features the names and histories of some of the sport’s greatest stars. Read more

Location: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8, Canada

Open: Monday–Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9.30 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 10.30 am to 5 pm. Summer: Monday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 6 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm

Phone: +1 416-360-7735

See nearby properties

3. Ontario Science Centre

Enjoy more than 500 interactive experiences

Good for: Families, Group

Ontario Science Centre has the ‘learn-through-play’ concept right at its core, with many of the exhibits being interactive and engaging. It covers geography, biology, astronomy and a bit of chemistry across 8 exhibit halls. The Planetarium in the Space Hall is particularly popular, but it’s also good to walk through a rainforest or watch a movie in the IMAX theatre. The exhibits change on a regular basis, keeping everything fresh and exciting. Read more

Location: 770 Don Mills Rd, North York, ON M3C 1T3, Canada

Open: Monday–Friday from 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (hours may vary by season)

Phone: +1 416-696-1000

See nearby properties

4. Royal Ontario Museum

Explore Canadian and world history and culture

Good for: Families, History, Photo

Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum is among the oldest and largest museums in Canada. It has a collection of over 6 million artifacts across 40 galleries, covering a diverse range of subjects, from natural history to Near Eastern and African art and, of course, Canadian History. It’s located on the campus of the University of Toronto in a building that is both classically historical and dazzlingly modern. Read more

Location: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada

Open: Daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm. Summer: Saturday–Thursday from 10 am to 5.30 pm, Friday from 10 am to 8.30 pm

Phone: +1 416-586-8000

See nearby properties

5. Casa Loma

Explore the secret passages and tunnels

Good for: Couples, Families, History, Photo

Despite being built between 1911 and 1914, Casa Loma has the look of an 18th-century Gothic Revival castle. It was originally an ostentatious show of wealth, created by the man who built the first hydro-electric plant on the Niagara River. It’s now a museum, landmark and popular venue for wedding ceremonies, thanks to its beautiful 5-acre gardens, which are open from May to the end of October. Self-guided audio tours of the 98-room castle and its grounds are available in several languages. Read more

Location: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8, Canada

Open: Daily from 9.30 am to 5 pm

Phone: +1 416-923-1171

See nearby properties

6. CF Toronto Eaton Centre

An elegant setting for high-end shopping

Good for: Shoppers, Photo, Luxury

CF Toronto Eaton Centre is a large and popular shopping mall in the middle of the downtown area of the city. It’s noted for its excellent choice of high-end stores and for its elegant design. Among more than 250 retailers, restaurants and services are names like Abercrombie & Fitch, Hugo Boss and Zara. Many of the food outlets are gathered around the stylish Urban Eatery food court. Look out for Flight Stop, the dramatic art installation featuring 60 Canada geese in flight, which hangs from the ceiling of the Eaton Center. Read more

Location: 220 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 2H1, Canada

Open: Monday from 11 am to 7 pm, Tuesday–Friday from 10 am to 9.30 pm, Saturday from 9.30 am to 9.30 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm

Phone: +1 416-598-8560

See nearby properties

7. Toronto City Hall

Take a selfie by the 3D Toronto sign

Good for: Couples, Families, Photo, Budget

The square in front of Toronto City Hall is often bustling as people enjoy sitting by the fountain and the 3D Toronto sign. With 3-meter-tall letters, it’s quite an iconic spot for a selfie. There’s also a good café in the square, with plenty of other options nearby. The look of the building itself is a little controversial. Some call it striking and futuristic, cheering when it appeared in a 1989 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Others call it ugly (especially when compared to Toronto Old City Hall, which is next door), cheering when it was blown up in 2004’s Resident Evil: Apocalypse.

Location: 100 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2, Canada

Open: Monday–Friday from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (closed on weekends)

Phone: +1 416-392-2489

See nearby properties

8. CN Tower

Enjoy dinner with a view at the 360 Restaurant

Good for: Couples, Families, Photo

CN Tower is undoubtedly the most iconic structure on the Toronto skyline and, at 553.3 meters, is among the tallest free-standing structures in the world. Enjoying the view from the top is one of the essential things to do in Toronto - you can’t really say you’ve seen the city until you’ve seen it from the 346-meter-high LookOut Level! Glass-fronted elevators carry you up there for views right across the city and the nearby Lake Ontario. There’s even a section with a glass floor, so the views also go straight down, too. It’s undoubtedly the best place to enjoy the sunset, but you can make it even more romantic by booking a table at the revolving 360 Restaurant. Read more

Location: 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6, Canada

Open: Daily from 8.30 am to 11 pm

Phone: +1 416-868-6937

See nearby properties

9. Entertainment District

Dining, drinking, dancing and improv comedy

Good for: Couples, Nightlife

The Entertainment District is exactly what it sounds like – an area of Old Toronto which is packed with bars, clubs and theatres. Its extremely popular, for its size, making it one of the liveliest party places in the world. Highlights include Bar Hop on King Street– a gastropub with an easy-going atmosphere and dozens of craft beers on tap. If you’re looking for a more upbeat evening, head to The Fifth Social Club on Richmond Street for fun and dancing. Alternately, The Second City Toronto on Mercer Street does nightly improv and sketch comedy shows.

See nearby properties

10. Kensington Market

Visit trendy eateries in an artistic part of Toronto

Good for: Couples, Photo, Budget

The Kensington Market area, just north of Chinatown, is home to a trendy, bohemian atmosphere and a great collection of vintage stores, art galleries and, obviously, a market. Many of the Victorian-era buildings along the tree-lined streets in the area display impressive works of street art and contain a good range of international restaurants, bars and cafés. The market itself specializes in fresh produce, meat and fish, and is popular with the students and families who live nearby. Try to visit on the last Sunday of the month, when the area goes car-free to allow for a giant street market.

See nearby properties

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.