As the largest city in Canada, there are some incredible things to do. On our walking tour, you will visit places like Nathan Phillips Square, Brookfield Place, and St. Lawrence Market, but additionally, this is a relatively short list of our favourite free things to do in Toronto.
Toronto Harbourfront
Take a stroll through Toronto’s incredible lakeshore. Appreciate the view of Lake Ontario, eat a Beaver Tail, have a drink at Amsterdam Brewery, and see art at Harbourfront Centre. You can also enjoy a bike ride on the trail that spans 22 km from east to west along Toronto’s waterfront.
Toronto Islands
Ride a 13-minute ferry or a water taxi and enjoy all three major Toronto Islands. Take great pictures of the city skyline, have a picnic on the beach, and visit the cottages on Ward’s Island. Cycling is a good way to tour these flat islands, which are crisscrossed with pathways. There are a variety of amazing restaurants on the island too.
Distillery District
Recognized for its cobblestone streets, and Victorian industrial architecture, today it’s home to a variety of boutique stores, art galleries, and restaurants, and probably best known for playing host to the beloved annual Christmas Market. Rooted in over 150 years of history, it thrived since the 1990s as one of the most popular film destinations in North America. Over 1,700 movies, TV shows, commercials, and music videos were filmed here, including Chicago and X-Men.
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a neighbourhood with a community of over 240 local businesses ranging from local produce, vintage clothing, bars, restaurants, colourful shop-fronts, and vibrant murals. Visit the Swedish-inspired FIKA Café, and find some vintage apparel at Exile Vintage, Urban Catwalk (especially good for sports clothing), and Courage My Love (great for wardrobe). Grab a bite to eat at Rasta Pasta, enjoy tacos Seven Lives Tacos y Mariscos, and have a Japanese-style croissant at Little Pebbles. You won’t want to miss Wanda’s Pie in the Sky or join the locals with a pint on a picnic table at Ronnie’s Local 069 dive bar.
West Queen West
This colourful neighbourhood is home to some of the city’s best restaurants, independent boutiques, art galleries, and murals. Take a stroll through the infamous Trinity Bellwoods Park, and have brunch at Drake Hotel or The Gladstone Hotel (which is great for karaoke night parties too!). Have the fantastic Nutella donuts and other Italian pastries at Sud Forno, an the wine bar Bar Piquette is a must-try! Korean-inspired craft store Hanji Gifts is a gem that offers intricately made pop-up cards. South at Ossington Street for record shopping at Rotate This, the best ice cream in town at Bang Bang, and the great atmosphere at Bellwoods Brewery.
Go East!
Toronto’s East End is sometimes overlooked by many visitors, but it is just as cool, with no shortage of amazing restaurants, bars, and boutiques on Riverside and Leslieville. Have some delicious brunch at Lady Marmalade, or try Wong’s Ice Cream & Store super funky ice cream flavours. Toronto’s Gerrard India Bazaar, more commonly referred to as Little India, is the largest marketplace of South Asian goods and services in North America. You can also hit the beach with many great stretches of sand including Cherry Beach and Woodbine Beach.
TORONTO HIGHLIGHTS
Toronto has a lot of tourist destinations that almost everybody visits, including the CN Tower, once the tallest free-standing infrastructure in the world; Dundas Square, sort of our version of New York’s Times Square (Toronto Eaton Centre is right across the street!); Casa Loma, which is a house that looks a like a castle (or is it a castle that once was a house?). Toronto has two must-see museums in Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), which currently hosts the worldwide famous installation Infinite Mirror by Japanse artist Yayoi Kusama.
Discover Toronto Like a Local 