The best spots in and around the city.
31. The Distillery District Why It’s Better:
The Distillery District is one of Toronto’s most famous areas, and for good reason! It’s a gorgeous area with cobble stone roads, brick buildings and tons of history. They hold tons of amazing events there throughout the year like the Toronto Christmas Market and Toronto Light Fest!
30. High Park
Why It’s Better: This massive park in the heart of Toronto’s west end is beloved by the entire city. It has tons to see and do like the High Park Zoo, the cherry blossoms in spring, the adorable cafe and more!
29. Sugar Beach
Why It’s Better: Toronto really makes the most of it’s waterfront and Sugar Beach is one of the best spots to visit. It’s a gorgeous place to sit, tan and enjoy the heat of summer but it’s also just as stunning in the winter months! Those pink umbrellas and white sand just can’t be beat.
28. The Art Gallery of Ontario
Why It’s Better: The AGO is probably one of the best museums in all of Ontario. They have new and interesting exhibits all year-round, the architecture of the building is breathtaking and there’s just nowhere else like it in all of Canada!
27. The Rogers Centre
Why It’s Better: If you’re a big fan of baseball, more specifically the Toronto Blue Jays, you’ve definitely been here more than once to take in a game. Previously named the Skydome, this amazing stadium opens up in the summer to offer views of the CN Tower!
26. Riverdale Park
Why It’s Better: Riverdale Park is one of the only parks in the east end of Toronto that offers gorgeous views of the city skyline. There’s benches to admire the view, a massive hill for tobogganing in the winter, and tons of space to play sports in the summer.
25. Scarborough Bluffs
Why It’s Better: A lot of people hate on Scarborough for being boring and way too far from the downtown core, but once you visit the bluffs, you’ll take it all back. This area of Toronto is completely unique and offers a special place to view the nature that this city has to offer!
24. Echo Beach
Why It’s Better: Echo Beach is the place to be in the summer if you want to party. This stage hosts tons of amazing artists from hip hop to EDM to pop singers all summer long!
23. Polson Pier
Why It’s Better: If you’re looking for a spot to take in a stunning sunset over the city skyline, Polson Pier is the place to go. It’s a popular spot among photographers because you’re close enough to see the skyline be enveloped in amazing golden light!
22. Queen West
Why It’s Better: Vogue voted Queen West as the second best area in the entire world! There’s amazing shopping, tons of delicious restaurants to try out and bars to drink at. Plus there’s lots of street art all around you to explore and take pictures of.
21. Kensington Market
Why It’s Better: Kensington Market is one of those places that you can’t find anywhere else in the entire country. It has a personality of it’s own with unique shops, cafes, and street art that is super interesting to explore.
20. Graffiti Alley
Why It’s Better: This is one of the city’s coolest areas if you’re looking to view some stunning street art. It’s dubbed ‘Graffiti Alley’ because it’s an entire strip in an unsuspecting alley that’s covered in gorgeous art work!
19. Rouge National Urban Park
Why It’s Better: This park is located right beside the Toronto Zoo and it’s definitely worth exploring if you haven’t yet. It turns into a stunning winter wonderland, amazing spot for leaf peeping in fall and full of nature during the spring and summer months!
18. Evergreen Brick Works
Why It’s Better: Another super unique spot in the city is the Evergreen Brick Works area. This eco-complex becomes a farmer’s market in the summer, a Christmas market in December and a cool area to explore all-year round! There’s tons of hiking trails around the Don Valley as well to explore.
17. Casa Loma
Why It’s Better: This Gothic Revival style castle is a Toronto landmark since it was built back in 1911. They have cool things going on all year-round and are always hosting unique and fun events.
17. Aga Khan Museum
Why It’s Better: The Aga Khan Museum displays exhibits that feature and display Islamic culture. The building itself is gorgeously designed and inside you can learn more about different practices of Islamic, Iranian and Muslim culture through their art.
16. Thompson Toronto Rooftop Lounge
Why It’s Better: This is one of Toronto’s nicest hotels but what makes it notable is all their rooftop amenities. They have an amazing bar/lounge with breathtaking views of the city skyline all year round and in the summer they have a rooftop pool as well!
15. Toronto Reference Library
Why It’s Better: The Toronto Reference Library is something completely unique to this city. It’s the perfect spot to sit quietly and catch up on work, studying or peruse the isles filled with unique and special editions of books. Also, the interior is one of the most photographable spots in the city.
14. Allan Gardens Conservatory
Why It’s Better: This may look like just another greenhouse but Allan Gardens holds some seriously special stuff. The building was built back in 1910 and they hold unique plants from all over the world!
13. The Gooderham Building
Why It’s Better: This is Toronto’s version of New York City’s famous Flatiron Building. It’s frequently called that but the real name is the Gooderham Building and it’s a super popular spot amongst photographers.
12. Exhibition Place
Why It’s Better: For the last 2 weeks of August every year the Exhibition Place turns into a fair like no other. The annual Canadian National Exhibition features tons of rides, ridiculous food and midway games that should not be missed.
11. The Toronto Island
Why It’s Better: The Toronto Island is a super cool place to explore because it’s massive and has tons to offer! You have Centre Island with a summer amusement park, the Hanlan’s Point Beach, and tons of hiking trails open year-round.
10. The CN Tower
Why It’s Better: The CN Tower is definitely one thing Toronto has that literally no other city in the country has. It’s an amazing spot to admire the city skyline and you can even take the CN Tower Edge Walk if you’re brave enough.
9. The Eaton Centre
Why It’s Better: One of Toronto’s superior malls in the Eaton Centre. It has literally every store you could ever need to visit and the interior is actually gorgeously designed for a mall.
8. Ripley’s Aquarium
Why It’s Better: Since opening in 2013, Ripley’s Aquarium has become a super popular tourist spot. They have the amazing underwater tunnel, the neon jellyfish and they hold some pretty amazing events there throughout the year.
7. St. Lawrence Market
Why It’s Better: This is probably one of Toronto’s most historic and beloved spots. It holds a year-round market with farm fresh foods that will make you not want to shop anywhere else ever again. It’s a great place to get your organic groceries but it’s also a great place to stop in for lunch and explore.
6. TIFF Bell Lightbox
Why It’s Better: The TIFF, Toronto International Film Festival, is an insanely popular festival that no other city in Canada hosts. Tons of famous celebrities attend the festival every year and it plays new and unique movies before they hit the big screens.
5. Budweiser Stage
Why It’s Better: The Budweiser Stage is another one of those Toronto favourites for music lovers. It’s an outdoor concert stadium that hosts huge names every year!
4. The Harbourfront
Why It’s Better: Toronto’s Harbourfront always has something special going on all year long. During the winter you can enjoy exciting DJ skate nights and the Ice Breakers exhibits and in the summer they hold special visual art exhibits.
3. University of Toronto Bamboo Forest
Why It’s Better: The Donnelly Centre located in the heart of downtown Toronto and the UofT campus holds a secret bamboo forest! It will make you feel like you just entered a magical land and it’s completely open to the public to explore.
2. The Bentway
Why It’s Better: Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway has an underpass area that holds tons of potential for urbanization. This winter they opened up the much-anticipated Bentway Skate Trail to make good use of this open space!
1. Nathan Philips Square
Why It’s Better: You really can’t get more authentically Toronto than Nathan Philips Square. It holds City Hall, our infamous Toronto sign and a stunning skating rink in the winter that is just magical!