As the capital of Ontario and the biggest city in Canada, Toronto stands as one of the top tourist destinations in the country. The towering buildings, a famous waterfront skyline dominated by the CN Tower, and vibrant nightlife in the entertainment district are examples of the best things the city has to offer. Plus, it's just a short drive to the majestic Niagara Falls.
You will never run out of fun things to do in Toronto, winter or summer. In winter, you can explore an extensive network of underground walkways leading to top entertainment joints and shopping points. Alternatively, you can go out and skate in the 26 toboggan hills in the beautiful neighborhoods across Toronto. Summer offers the right atmosphere to enjoy the parks, beaches, artificial ice rinks, and everything the city offers.
If you’re a new proud owner of Toronto real estate, here's a comprehensive list of what to do in your first week.
1. Sightseeing from the CN Tower
Explore the beauty of Toronto from the CN Tower, the tallest building in Canada and one of Toronto's must-see attractions. The CN Tower was once the tallest building in the world until 2007 when the Burj Khalifa bypassed it. The building stands at 553 meters in downtown Toronto and can be seen from almost everywhere in the city.
You can simply marvel at the building from the bottom or go up the restaurants or observation decks and relish in the beauty of Toronto and Lake Ontario from a bird's view.
The highest viewing deck is Sky Pod at 447 meters, from where you can see the whole city, Niagara Falls, and New York state on a clear day. Below the Sky Pod is the LookOut level with floor-to-ceiling windows and the new Glass Floor at the top of the leading elevator. The original Glass Floor gives a view of the city and the Outdoor Sky Terrace.
If you are an adrenaline lover, the Edge Walk is a 1.5-meter-wide ledge around the outside edge of the central pod that allows a hands-free walk at an elevation of 365 meters. You will be attached to a harness and rope, of course.
Do you fancy some excellent dining as you enjoy the Toronto skyline? The revolving 360 restaurant offers a fine dining experience and extraordinary Toronto views.
2. Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
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Experience the essence of art and get inspired by visiting the renowned Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), which holds more than 95,000 historical pieces and is one of the largest museums in North America. The artifacts in the museum are collectibles from around the world, including:
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European masterpieces
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Contemporary art
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Canadian Art
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Collection of works by the Group of Seven
The gallery hosts a series of exhibitions by top-rated artists. AGO is housed in one of the most unique buildings in Toronto, an architectural mix of traditional and modern designs on the west side of the city center.
The AGO is one of Canada's most innovative cultural destinations, receiving more than a million annual visitors.
3. Explore the Toronto Entertainment District
Experience New York's Broadway, Toronto edition by visiting the Toronto Entertainment District. This is an arts district all about food, drink, and spectacle. This is where you go when in need of unforgettable nightlife experiences, exquisite restaurants, and general entertainment.
The energy level in the district is always high but bursts into life at night with movie theaters, theaters, clubs, live music venues, and more. The top places to visit and activities include:
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The CN towers
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Musicals at the Royal Alexandra or Princess of Wales theaters
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Drink local craft beer on a tour of The Roundhouse, home of Steam Whistle Brewing
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Explore the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
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Head to the Rogers Center to root for the Toronto Blue Jays
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Watch the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform at the Roy Thomson Hall
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Watch the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors on their home ground at the Air Canada Center
Explore the district on a hop-on-hop-off guided tour that takes you behind the scenes of your favorite entertainment venues.
4. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Explore the natural world and humankind's cultural past by visiting Canada's largest museum, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The ROM is a premier museum with a rich history dating from 1914. It houses an outstanding collection covering art, natural history, and culture.
The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is a picturesque museum wing added in 2007. The modern wing has glass features and sharp angles, making the ROM building one of the most magnificent buildings in Toronto.
5. Marvel at wildlife at the Toronto Zoo
Photo courtesy of UnsplashMarvel at one of the most taxonomically diverse collections of animals on display of wildlife at the Toronto Zoo. The holding has four main pavilions that showcase animals and plants from the following:
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African rainforest
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Americas
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Australasia
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Indo-Malaya
Some zoo highlights include the Great Barrier Reef, the Gorilla Rainforest, and the Tundra Trek, featuring polar bears.
Dine as you explore nature within the zoo at two restaurants and four seasonal snack bars. There are also plenty of walking trails for fitness enthusiasts and seasonal Zoomobile runs for adrenaline lovers.
6. Explore St. Lawrence Market
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One of the best things to do in Toronto is to shop for various food products, flowers, and specialty items at the St. Lawrence Market in Lawrence Ward. The market is the oldest in Toronto and is known for its food variety and the Saturday Farmers' Market. When visiting the neighborhood for the first time, the market serves as a meet-up point for coffee as you plan your shopping spree. Soak in the sunshine on the outdoor patios.
The Lawrence Hall housing the market has an old charm, perfect for filming and photography, and you might find the spot where your favorite show was filmed. Once you are done exploring the market, head north to check out the architecturally stunning Gooderham Building at Church Street.
7. Tour the Casa Loma
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With soaring battlements and secret passageways, the Casa Loma is one of the few true castles in North America. Tour the historic house museum and landmark, home to a Gothic Revival castle-style mansion and garden. Reminisce to a period of European elegance and splendor as you walk around the medieval castle that was once the monument to its creator – Sir Henry Pellatt, an eccentric Canadian multi-millionaire.
The castle has close to 100 rooms, 36 bathrooms, decorated suites, stables, secret passages, towers, an 800-foot tunnel, and five acres of estate gardens for you to explore. You will also get to see places where scenes from your favorite shows and movies, such as “Titans,” “The Tuxedo,” “Warehouse 13,” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” were shot.
8. Tour the Aga Khan Museum
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Learn about the Islam religion as you walk through the spectacular, light-filled building of the Aga Khan Museum. The historic site was first brought together in the 1950s by Princess Catharine Aga Khan and the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan.
Marvel at the hundreds of spectacular permanent collections consisting of ceramics, manuscripts, and textiles, dating from the 9th to the 19th centuries, gathered from China to Spain. In addition to the permanent collections, have an unforgettable dining experience at the museum's restaurant, one of Toronto's finest dining spots, and view exhibitions on the museum's second floor.
9. Take a ferry trip to Toronto Islands
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Enjoy a 15-minute ferry ride with a great view of Toronto's entire skyline from Queen's Quay Terminal to the Toronto Islands. You have three options to cruise across Lake Ontario from the Toronto mainland:
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Hanlan's Point
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Centre Island
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Ward's Island
Although all the docks have distinctive names, they are closely located, and you can walk from one to another. The Toronto Islands burst with activities, especially during warm weather, where you can engage in rowing, swimming, sailing, and other outdoor activities. The islands are home to scenic beaches where you can sunbathe or attend open-air festivals in summer.
10. Geek over the Ontario Science Center
Interact face-to-face with the latest developments of various educational strongholds in an imaginative and absorbing way at the Ontario Science Center. Learn about developments in biology, physics, space travel, and more. The science center has a planetarium, 12 permanent exhibitions, and an IMAX-OMNIMAX Dome theater.
Explore Toronto's finest real estate with Kate Carcone
Are you a one-time visitor or looking into Toronto real estate? Explore the city's finest real estate and neighborhoods with the guidance of Kate Carcone, a dedicated and driven Toronto real estate agent. You can count on Kate to help you find the home of your dreams.
*Header photo courtesy of Unsplash
*Header photo courtesy of Unsplash
