The city of Toronto is a cultural hub, with a diverse population, rich history and a beautiful landscape. The city has something to offer everyone — from shopping to sports, music festivals to museums — there’s no shortage of things to do in Toronto.
With so many things to experience in the city, we’ve compiled a list of 101 things you should do during your next visit. Whether you’re new to town or visiting for the first time, here are 101 things to do in Toronto.
Best relaxation spots
Toronto is a city that offers many relaxation options. Spas and yoga studios are scattered all around the city, which is perfect for those looking to take some time for themselves. Here are some of the best spas, yoga studios and relaxation spots in Toronto:
Miraj Hammam Spa at Shangri-La Hotel Toronto
This spa offers a variety of treatments from massages to facials, depending on the type of package you select. It’s hands down one of the best-looking Spa’s in Toronto. To top it off, you can stay at the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel on your weekend gateway.
Yoga Tree Studios
Rated by BlogTO as one of the best Yoga studios in Toronto, Yoga Tree offers a wide variety of classes from beginners to advanced, including Hot Yoga, Hatha Flow, Core Yoga, Gentle Hatha and Beginners Yoga.
They also offer private sessions for those who can’t make it into one of their classes, as well as online sessions for anyone who wishes to stay at home.
Toronto Islands
There’s no better place in Toronto to relax than on the island beaches. You’ll find beautiful views of Toronto’s skyline as well as plenty of space for kids to run around and play. I like going down early in the morning on a nice day just to get a boost before starting my day.
The islands are only a short ferry ride across the inner harbour and you can use water taxis to get there.
The Beaches / Queen Street East
If you’re looking for something more lively than Moss Park, head over to The Beaches area near Queen Street East. This area has lots of shops and restaurants, plus there are plenty of benches where you can take a break from shopping to eat out and enjoy.
Checkout Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach is a public space that was developed as part of the revitalization project on Queens Quay East waterfront by Waterfront Toronto (WT) with funds from Infrastructure Ontario (IO). The beach features a sandy beach with ornamental lighting, umbrellas, Muskoka chairs, rocky amphitheatre and candy trim.
Riverdale Farm
Riverdale Farm is one of the most popular places to visit in Toronto. It’s located in the heart of Riverdale Park and offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal with farm animals like goats, sheep and pigs. There’s also a large playground and outdoor picnic area where you can enjoy your lunch.
Toronto Botanical Garden
The Toronto Botanical Garden is a great place to take a walk through nature while escaping the hustle and bustle of city life. There are nearly 4 acres of green space available for exploration as well as indoor and outdoor gardens with flowers, plants and trees from around the world. Several trails wind their way through the park so you can enjoy some time outdoors.
Best for Foodies
Toronto is home to a diverse range of cultures and cuisines, making it one of Canada’s most exciting cities when it comes to food. There are so many delicious restaurants that it can be hard to decide which ones are worth visiting.
This section will explore the best places for foodies in Toronto, highlighting some of the top spots to eat. It will include both popular and lesser-known restaurants that are worth checking out.
- Le Swan
- Maple Leaf Tavern
- Pai
- Dreyfus
- Akira Back
- New Orleans Seafood & Steakhouse
- DaiLo
- The Sultan’s Tent & Cafe Moroc
- Michael’s on Simcoe
- Rodney’s Oyster House
- Spice505
- Edulis
- Miku
- Byblos
- Lady Marmalade
- Campechano
- 416 Snack Bar
- Tutti Matti
- Scaramouche Restaurant
- Goodfellas Wood Oven Pizza
- Richmond Station
- Rasa
Toronto is also known for its unique food truck scene. Check out some of the best Toronto Food Trucks.
- GOGI
- Fully Loaded T.O.
- Crazy Burrito
- Choco Churros
- Pancake to Take
- The Poutine Supreme
- Urban Smoke
- On Third Thought Gelato
- Food From East Express
- Me.n.u. Food Truck
- Hank Daddy’s BBQ
Do you like exotic meals?
Bar Raval
A Spanish tapas bar in College St, downtown.
Bar Buca
An Italian-style snack bar located in the King West neighbourhood.
Bar Isabel
Another Spanish tapas bar serves Spanish-inspired small plate dishes and craft beer.
Café Boulud
This French cafe has a beautiful aesthetic serving traditional fare and French cuisine at the Four Seasons hotel.
La Societe (Closed)
Located in Yorkville, this authentic French bistro served classic French dishes like escargots with garlic butter & parsley and braised lamb shank with roasted cauliflower puree and potato gratin…and don’t forget about the wine list!
Update: Currently closed
Notable mentions
The Auld Spot
One of the best pubs in Toronto. Opened in 1998, this dive bar has been a neighbourhood fixture for a long time. It’s famous for its burgers and good beer, but you’ll also find a friendly atmosphere and amazing service.
Banh Mi Boys
A hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese sandwich shop that serves authentic banh mi sandwiches with high-quality ingredients at great prices. Great spot for lunch on Spadina Ave or any of their other locations. Make sure to try their Braised Beef Steamed Bao sandwich!
Cacao 70 Eatery
Chocolate lovers will be in heaven here: every chocolate product imaginable made fresh daily. Chocolate bars come in all shapes, sizes and flavours – we’re talking truffles, bonbons, caramels, macaroons and more! There are also plenty of unique gifts.
La Cubana
If you’re looking for authentic Cuban food then this is the place to go! They have delicious empanadas as well as traditional Cuban sandwiches like ropa vieja or lechon asado (slow-cooked pork). You might want to try some of their side dishes too like fried plantains or black beans & rice!
Best for Sports Lovers
Toronto is the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and the Toronto Blue Jays. The city has several other professional sports teams as well, including the MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS. To say the least, Toronto’s sporting events are world-class and host international athletes every year.
- Catch a Toronto Maple Leafs or Raptors game at Scotiabank Arena
- See the Toronto Blue Jays play ball at Rogers Centre
- Root for the Toronto Varsity Blues at the Varsity Stadium
- See a FIFA or Major League Football match at BMO Field
- Catch a film festival, tennis match, or trade show at Aviva Centre
- Cheer for the Toronto Marlies at Coca-Cola Coliseum
- Learn about the History of Hockey at the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Catch a Toronto Argonauts game at Allan A. Lamport Stadium
- Play some Golf at Don Valley Golf Course
- Checkout Dentonia Park Golf Course
To see all upcoming sporting events in Toronto, click this link Sports in Toronto | To Do Canada
What are the best sports bars in Toronto?
- Watch a live game at Cabana Pool Bar
- Sportsnet Grill
- Toby’s Pub & Eatery
- Wayne Gretzky’s Toronto
- The Dizzy
- The Loose Moose
- The Rec Room
- Real Sports Bar & Grill
- The Ballroom
- The Dock Ellis
- 817 Sports Bar & Grill
- The Puck Sport
Best for Culture Junkies
Toronto is a city that is rich in culture. It has a vibrant art scene, an exciting food scene and a thriving theatre scene. The following list highlights some of the best things about Toronto for culture junkies.
The Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario acts as the largest public art museum in Canada, with over 90,000 works of art from around the world. Highlights include its famous Van Gogh and Picasso Collection, which has over 100 pieces by the artist.
The Royal Ontario Museum
This museum was established to house artifacts from all over the world, with a particular focus on those from ancient Egypt and Greece.
The AGO’s Weston Family Learning Centre
This is an interactive space where anyone can explore art through different mediums like painting, drawing or sculpture.
TIFF Bell Lightbox
A Toronto landmark, the TIFF Bell Lightbox is a five-storey building located in the heart of downtown. The Lightbox is home to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Canada’s largest and most prestigious film festival. It’s also an important cultural hub that offers year-round screenings, exhibitions and events.
The TIFF Bell Lightbox opened in 2010 as a state-of-the-art facility that serves as both a centre for film culture and a public destination. The building includes three cinemas, exhibition galleries, two restaurants and a licensed lounge.
The main attraction at TIFF Bell Lightbox is the annual Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which takes place every September/October.
Visit Casa Loma
Casa Loma was built as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt in 1911 and is now operated by Toronto’s Parks and Recreation department as a historic site. Visitors can tour the castle’s interior rooms, gardens and underground tunnel system while learning about its history and architecture.
Sir Henry Pellatt was a wealthy industrialist who wanted to build his own castle, complete with secret passages and underground tunnels! It’s considered one of Toronto’s most famous landmarks and an architectural gem. The interior is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows, marble walls and chandeliers.
What more can you do in Toronto?
- Take in the view from the CN Tower
- Explore the virtual world by going to VR arcade
- Rent a Lamborghini or any other supercar with GTA Exotics
- Go Skydiving with Skydive Toronto Inc
- Watch a live comedy show at Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club Toronto
- See live music at Massey Hall
- Play indoor golf atThe Sand Trap Golf Simulator & Lounge
- Enjoy a meal at one of Toronto’s celebrity chef restaurants
- Explore Kensington Market
- Take a tour of the city on a helicopter ride
- See the Hockey Hall of Fame
- Sing karaoke at Bar+ Karaoke Lounge on Yonge St
- Go on a food tour through Little Italy
- Take a walk along Toronto’s waterfront
- Visit Toronto’s Chinatown neighbourhood on the intersection of Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue
- Ride the Toronto Islands Ferry
- See a show at the Royal Alexandra Theatre
- See the CN Tower laser light show
- Stroll through High Park
- Eat at one of Toronto’s many food trucks
- Browse Kensington Market for arts and crafts, vintage clothing and antiques, then stop for fresh produce at one of its many farmer’s markets
- See a movie at a discount theatre (the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema offers discounts on Tuesday)
- Check out a free art exhibit at OCAD University (just south of Queen Street West on McCaul Street).
- Take your dog for an afternoon walk at Trinity Bellwoods Park or High Park (both parks have off-leash areas).
- Go to the Toronto Zoo
- See a show at the Royal Alexandra Theatre
- Visit the Distillery District
- Watch the sunset at Cherry Beach
- Take a ferry to Ward’s Island or Hanlan’s Point Beach
- Check out Grenadier Pond
- Attend a street festival
- Go bowling at the Ballroom located on John St.
- Play laser tag at DP Lazer Maze
- Go skating at Nathan Phillips Square
- Check out historic architecture on St. Joseph Street downtown
- Catch some live music at the Harbourfront Centre
- Explore the Distillery District
- Have a blast and visit one of Toronto’s escape rooms
- Get a tan
- Rent a boat
- Take a hike on the Betty Sutherland Trail Park
- Visit one of the many breweries
- Participate in an eating competition
- Visit one of the nightclubs
- Run the Toronto marathon
- Check out Toronto’s nightlife scene on Ossington Avenue or King Street West
- Cycle through the Don Valley Park bike trail
