Things to Do in Toronto, Canada

1. The Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America and one of the best things to do in Toronto, Canada. The building’s 583,000 square feet are filled with galleries and other office spaces. The Gallery first opened in 1900 as the Art Museum of Toronto, and in 2008, it underwent significant expansions.

The AGO has a collection of more than 80,000 works dating from 100 A.D. to today. The Canadian collection contains some of the most important works of Canadian artists, including one of the best collections of Inuit art in the world. European masterpieces include works of great artists such as van Dyck, Gainsborough, Rodin, Monet, Degas, Cézanne, van Gogh, Picasso, and Magritte. The AGO also showcases an impressive collection of Contemporary art, and it frequently organizes special exhibitions.

Musée des beaux-arts de l’Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, Canada, Phone: 416-979-6648

2. Toronto Botanical Garden

Located northeast of downtown Toronto on Lawrence Avenue East, the Toronto Botanical Garden consists of four acres featuring 17 beautiful themed gardens. The mission of the garden is to educate people about plants and the natural world. The garden was formerly known as the Toronto Civic Garden Center, but in 2003 it was designated as a botanical garden.

The Entry Garden, designed by Piet Oudolf of the Netherlands, is a meadow made up of ornamental grasses and perennials. The Woodland Walk is a garden of native perennials, shrubs, and trees that represent the prairie savannah ecosystem of the local region. The garden also offers several children’s programs such as March break camps and summer camps. If you are wondering what to do on a sunny day in Toronto, this is a beautiful place to visit.

777 Lawrence Avenue East, North York, Toronto, Canada, Phone: 416-397-1340

3. Distillery Historic District

Located between Parliament Street and Cherry Street, the Distillery Historic District is an entertainment and historic area in the heart of Toronto just a short walk from the central business district. The 13 acres and ten streets of this area are full of art galleries, artisan shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and performance venues all housed in the historic buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Whiskey Distillery.

With more than 40 heritage buildings, the Distillery District contains the largest collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America and was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988. If you are looking for things to do in Toronto today, this is a great place to start exploring. The Distillery District also features Distillery Sunday Market and the Music City Summer Series, both popular events.

4. St. Lawrence Market

The 208-year-old is a must-visit for all food lovers. It serves as the place of work for 120 vendors, artisans, and merchants, many of them from families that have been shopping at the market for generations. St. Lawrence Market consists of three main buildings.

South Market hosts more than 120 shops selling fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, baked goods, dairy products, and much more. A gallery that often hosts art exhibitions is located on the second floor. The North Market has been known as Saturday Farmers' Market since 1803, and it is the venue where Ontario farmers bring their fresh produce.

On Sundays, antique dealers flock to North Market to sell their charming and beautiful wares. St. Lawrence Hall, originally built in 1850, houses several retail businesses, city offices, and the Great Hall, a venue often used for weddings and other big events. St. Lawrence Market is a fun, free attraction in Toronto.

92- 95 Front St East, Toronto, Canada, Phone: 416-392-7219

5. Toronto Greeters

Toronto is a big city that has a lot to offer. The best way to get to know Toronto is with the help of a very good friend who happens to live there, but that’s not an option for everyone. For those people, the next best thing is Toronto Greeters . The greeters are locals who love and know their city and are willing to give you a few hours of their time to share that love with you.

Call them about a week before your visit and explain what you are most interested in doing, the amount of time you have, and any other preferences. You will be matched with the perfect greeter, who will take you to the city’s hidden spots and unknown nooks and crannies either on foot or by public transit. You will see the most interesting architecture and the best shopping destinations, along with arts, culture, cuisine, festivals, markets, and much more.

Since the multicultural residents of Toronto speak more than 180 languages, it is very likely that you can find a greeter who speaks your mother tongue. All greeters are volunteers and the tours are free of charge.

Phone within Toronto city limits: 311, Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489)

6. The Culinary Adventure Company

Exploring Toronto with The Culinary Adventure Company is an experience like no other. On these tours professional chefs, food executives, and restaurant owners will guide you and show you the best places to eat in Toronto, some of which remain undiscovered by people who have lived in the city their whole lives.

The tours take advantage of Toronto’s unique cultural diversity, and you will explore one of Toronto’s eleven ethnic neighborhoods. There, you will have the chance to meet chefs, bakers, cake makers, and food growers, and you can sample all of their delicious products.

If eating delectable treats is not enough of an adventure for you, join one of the Company’s Culinary Adventures such as Canoe Paddle combined with a five-course Gourmet outdoor Picnic, forage for wild mushrooms, or visit wine makers at their vineyards. You can also take cooking classes and learn how to make cheese, chuck oysters, or learn the art of barbecuing. You can enjoy these great tours alone or with the whole family, kids included.

877-317-4870 or 647-955-8357

7. Toronto Islands

Both tourists and locals love spending a nice, relaxing summer day on Toronto Islands . To get there, you start with a ferry ride from Bay Street, a pleasant trip that allows you to take in the magnificent view of the city.

If you are travelling with kids, go straight to Centreville, Toronto's most popular kids’ amusement park. You can also go swimming at the spacious beach that stretches along the entire main island. You can rent kayaks and hop from one island to the next via picturesque canals. Exploring the island by bike is particularly exciting as there is an extensive network of bike trails and bridges, and if you didn’t bring a bike, you can always rent one. There is even a petting zoo you can visit at Far Enough Farm if the kids get restless, or you could find a shady, secluded area and simply relax.

There is usually some kind of festival going on at the island, so be sure to check one out if you have the chance.

8. Casa Loma

Casa Loma in Toronto will surprise you; it’s an authentic, majestic Gothic Revival castle in the middle of a modern city. Canadian financier Henry Pellatt had a dream of owning a castle, a dream he fulfilled with the construction of Casa Loma, which is today a popular tourist attraction.

Take a tour of this castle and explore its unique and intricate details. Casa Loma has all the features you would expect from a castle: secret passageways, tall towers with a fabulous view of the city, sweeping staircases, an 800-foot long tunnel, large stables, and five acres of wonderfully maintained gardens. The castle can even be rented for special events – it is a very popular wedding venue.

1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, Canada, Phone: 416-923-1171

9. Toronto Zoo

Toronto Zoo is located on the outskirts of the city in Rouge Valley on Meadowvale Road and is a popular family attraction in Toronto. With 710 acres of space, it is one of the world’s largest zoos and a popular attraction in Canada.

The zoo serves as the home of about 5,000 animals from more than 500 species. There are almost six miles of trails for walking between the diverse habitats featured at the zoo. Tropical animals live in climate-controlled indoor habitats, while native and cold climate animals live mostly outdoors.

There are seven geographical areas: the Americas, Indo-Malaya, Africa, Eurasia, Australasia, the Canadian Domain, and the Tundra. Some of the must-see attractions include the giant pandas Da Mao and Er Shun and the polar bears habitat where you can see polar bears moving about on land and under water.

Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Avenue, Toronto, Canada, Phone: 416-392-5929