Toronto was my home for almost two years back in 2016. In fact, right after I graduated with my Master’s degree from the University of Montréal, I felt like I needed to move somewhere else, and that place ended up being Toronto. Even though Toronto wasn’t a city I envisioned myself living in forever because I initially moved there for work to polish my English skills, I really enjoyed my time there. It is the biggest and most diverse city in Canada, and it has so many great things to offer: parks, museums, nightlife, entertainment, restaurants, sports, etc. You won’t get bored!

1- Snap some selfies in Graffiti Alley

You can’t miss the graffiti alley. The entrance to this artsy street will be obvious if you walk by Queen and Portland in Queen West. It’s the perfect spot for your Instagram photos, and Queen Street (which is just nearby) has plenty to offer. There are lots of really nice cafés and restaurants, and it’s also filled with nice vintage shops.

2- Talk a walk along the lakeshore

Maybe you don’t already know, but Toronto is located right next to Lake Ontario. And the Canadian version of a lake means it actually looks like the ocean. There is a really nice walk that can be done along the lakeshore. During the summer months, you might want to stop by Sugar Beach. You can’t miss its pink umbrellas.

3- Visit the Royal Ontario Museum

This museum’s architecture has been criticised by many, but I personally find it really cool! Inside the museum, there is a permanent collection which is about natural history (eg. dinosaurs and prehistorical creatures). They also constantly renew their temporary exhibitions so take a look at their website to see what is currently going on. When I went, there was a Dale Chihuly glass exhibition that was absolutely stunning.

4- Channel your inner child at Ripley’s Aquarium

I would personally recommend visiting this aquarium early in the morning on a week day as it tends to get crowded with kids. I really enjoy visiting aquariums, and this one has a really fun glass tunnel where sharks and manta rays swim above you.

5- Go see a temporary exhibition

One of my favourite places to go see new exhibitions is the Art Gallery of Ontario. It showcases all sorts of art, so make sure to check out their website before visiting to make sure it is of interest to you. The gallery itself is a piece of art, and is really nice to just walk around. They sometimes host private events at night, and I would definitely recommend attending one if you get the opportunity. Another place that is also great if you like art is the Power Plant. I had the chance to see Carlos Amorales’ Black Cloud, which was composed of +30,000 paper butterflies.

6- Take a day-trip to Toronto Islands

The Toronto Islands are just a 13-min ferry ride away from the lakeshore. It’s my favourite thing to do in the summertime. It gives me a break from the chaos of the city, and there are many beaches where you can sunbathe. Also, the view that you get on Toronto’s skyline is pretty epic. Ward’s Island is definitely my favourite one, but watching the sunset at Hanlan’s Point is also worth it! There are no cars on the island, you can either walk or rent a bike (or bring your own on the ferry of course).

7- Go out for a fancy dinner/brunch in Yorkville

Yorkville is probably Toronto’s fanciest neighbourhood in town. It is that classy place where you wanna dress to impress. A few restaurants/bars I like are Kasamoto, STK, Bar Reyna & the d|Bar @ the Four Seasons Toronto.

8- Spend an afternoon on Lake Ontario

The best thing to fully enjoy Lake Ontario is to spend a day out on a boat, but in order to do that, you need to either own one or know someone that owns one. Don’t worry though, if that’s not something possible, there are other options. I personally had the chance to test both and I really liked both for different reasons. When you go out with friends on a sunny day, it’s really fun. You can anchor the boat at Ward’s Island, have some drinks and listen to music. My personal recommendation if you go on a public boat is to book a tour on the Kajama boat with Tallship Cruises.

9- Sunbathe at the Scarborough Bluffs

Located just outside of Toronto to the East, the Scarborough Bluffs and Bluffers Park should definitely be on your to-do list. These impressive cliffs are 300 feet high and the colour of their soil makes the water appear bright blue on sunny days. Note: back when we went, it was still okay to walk to the edge of the cliffs. However due to severe erosion, it is now prohibited to go too close for your own safety, but also to preserve the environment. At the bottom of the cliffs, you can find Bluffers Park where there is a beautiful beach which also offer a scenic landscape.

10- Climb up the CN Tower

Toronto’s most famous landmark. Some people say it isn’t worth it, I say it totally is, and you should even go and treat yourself at their restaurant. Why? It is a 360 restaurant that slowly rotates while you’re having your meal, meaning your backdrop will change throughout your experience. How cool? Make sure to book a table in advance.

11- Go to a park for a healthy walk

Toronto has numerous parks everywhere around the city. Not only, most parks also have a space dedicated to dogs where our furry animals can run around freely and play with other dogs. Trinity Bellwoods and High Park are definitely the two most famous ones and are worth a visit. Feel free to bring food and have a picnic.

12- Attend a sports game

If you’re a big sports fan, there’s plenty for you to do in Toronto. Surely if you like hockey, I recommend visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame, but the ultimate experience would be to buy tickets to go see a game. I personally am not that much into team sports, but I must admit that the culture is so strong that I actually enjoyed the experience of watching a Raptors and a Blue Jays game.

13- Discover Kensington market’s hidden secrets

Kensington market is located between Spadina & Bathurst, and Dundas & College. This hipster neighbourhood is perfect to go thrift shopping, but also has some very cool bars and some of them throw “secret” themed parties. My favourite bar in Kensington Market is El Rey Mezcal Bar.

14- Admire the skyline from a rooftop bar

I honestly really like Toronto’s skyline. I’ve travelled quite a while to different cities around the world, and I must admit that the CN Tower and the Rogers Center make it very unique, therefore I never really get tired of looking at it. Two famous rooftops where to enjoy the view are Thompson Hotel and Lavelle. Bisha is also a place I recommend checking out.

15- Explore Distillery District over and over

This neighbourhood is located in the East part of Toronto and was founded during the 19th century thanks to Gooderham and Worts’ Whisky Distillery. During the Christmas season, they host Toronto’s largest Christmas market where you can admire the giant Christmas tree, but also tons of other decorations as well as stands where they sell all sorts of local and seasonal produce. In the summertime, it’s nice to just walk around its pedestrian streets and grab a few drinks at one of its patios (eg: El Catrin).

16- Admire the fall colours in Rouge Valley National Park

I came across this place while searching online for some parks where I could admire the autumn leaves changing colour during the fall season. Turns out it is the largest urban park in North America!

17- Indulge in some ice cream foodporn

Toronto is a real food heaven, but going out often isn’t good for anyone’s finance… Therefore, ice cream bars are the perfect place to treat ourselves without getting ruined :) I had the opportunity to try quite a few spots, and here are the ones I preferred: Sweet Jesus, Pancho’s Bakery, and Booyah.

18- Wander around Leslieville

This neighbourhood is much more quiet than the heart of downtown Toronto, which gives a nice little break. It’s also more residential, with lots of families living there. Bobbette & Belle is a place I recommend checking out while visiting as they make delicious macarons.

19- Spend a beach day in Woodbine Beach

Woodbine Beach is an alternative to Bluffers Beach in Scarborough. It is closer to the city center, and there’s usually much more going on. In the summer, there are always some fun activities planned like beach volleyball and yoga.

20- Visit Casa Loma

Last but not least is Casa Loma, this famous gothic revival mansion built at the beginning of the 20th century for financier Henry Pellatt in midtown. Today, it has become a museum, and is also used in various TV shows and films due to its unique architecture.

toronto food culture

One thing I really liked about Toronto is its diversity. Specifically when it comes to food. You find some amazing restaurants from so many different countries all across the city, and more importantly for all types of diets and budgets. Would you be interested in a blog post dedicated to Toronto restaurants only?