12 Best Things to Do in Toronto (Canada) for First-Timers!

September 20th, 2018 by Evan | Tagged in: Canada, Toronto

Toronto is a vibrant city that offers the perfect urban getaway. Based on our own four-day holiday here, we have created a list of 12 best things to do and places to visit for tourists visiting the first time. We enjoyed super delicious food, saw prestigious performance halls and art galleries, visited world-famous attractions, and even went to a chain of nearby offshore islands with beautiful lush greenery and knock-out waterfront views.

We loved the food scene in Toronto! We indulged in a variety of cuisines from Western to Chinese to Thai to even Vegan, and the food were all simply delicious! You can check out our list of 12 Best Places to Eat in Toronto for First Timers.

The city has an awesome performing arts scene, and we saw many prestigious performance halls such as the Koerner Hall, Roy Thomson Hall (home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra), and Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (home to the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company). The art scene is great too, ranging from distinguished art museums like the Art Gallery of Ontario to contemporary art exhibitions in the Distillery District to edgy street art at Graffiti Alley.

And of course, we were amazed by the world class attractions. Visiting the majestic Niagara Falls was a surreal experience and a childhood dream come true for me. We were also impressed by the CN Tower, which is one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World! And just minutes away by ferry ride from Downtown Toronto, we were treated to a group of beautiful islands with lush greenery, perfect for picnics and romantic strolls.

This list of 12 best places to visit in Toronto are just our personal choices. If you disagree or have other suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. That said, we hope you will have fun in this vibrant city using our guide!

1. CN Tower

Raevian the daredevil

The CN Tower is the most famous and recognisable landmark in Toronto. This is a 553m tall communications tower made from concrete. It was completed in 1976, and was the world’s tallest structure until 2007. It has been designated as one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World. Visitors can get amazing views from the tower’s two observation decks, or dine at the 360 The Restaurant 351 metres above ground. Adventurous tourists can try out the Edgewalk, a hands-free walk on a 1.5m ledge around the tower at 356m!

Seeing the CN Tower in person for the first time, we were in awe of the size and height of this majestic tower. It was so tall that it was almost always visible when we walked around Downtown Toronto, because it towered over all the buildings. Raevian, being the adrenaline seeker she is, actually did the Edgewalk on a previous visit to Toronto! According to her, she “wasn’t really very afraid”, and was more focused on trying to keep her legs straight as instructed by the professional guide beside her. She highly recommends this activity, because doing the world’s highest full circle hands-free walk is definitely an unforgettable life experience!

CN Tower
Address: 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6, Canada
Buy Tickets: https://www.cntower.ca/en-ca/plan-your-visit/tickets.html
Opening Hours: Daily 8.30am to 11pm

2. Roundhouse Park

From the CN Tower, we walked for a few minutes to the Roundhouse Park, a small public park that is home to the iconic John Street Roundhouse. This roundhouse was originally a maintenance facility for steam locomotives (trivia of the day: a “round”-house was a circular building used for servicing and storing locomotives). Today, the historic building is a popular attraction that houses the Toronto Railway Museum, a local brewery, a restaurant/ entertainment centre, and a furniture store.

The Toronto Railway Museum features many historic locomotives which provided good photo ops. We saw a few of them parked in the open, along with signs explaining their history. There were also other locomotives parked within a fenced-off area. You can pay $5 to get full access to the museum and see all the locomotives up close. If you want to have some fun, you can also take the miniature railway ride around the park.

The roundhouse is also home to The Rec Room, an interesting complex that offers both food and fun games such as video games, arcade games, race car stimulators, table tennis, pool and more.

But our favourite part of the Roundhouse was Steam Whistle Brewing, a local brewery famous for its self-brewed Pilsner. The beer is brewed using pure spring water from Caledon Ontario, malted barley, hops from Czech Republic and Germany and yeast. There are no corn syrup, foam enhancers and artificial preservatives added at all! The brewery also serves delicious food such as pies and sandwiches.

Entering the brewery, I was pleasantly surprised to be given a free sample of the Pilsner, served direct from the tap. It was crisp and delicious! The staff were great and did not change their attitude even though it was obvious we were just tourists popping by to take a look. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to stay longer for some beer and snacks.

Roundhouse Park
Address: 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3M9, Canada

3. Entertainment District

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Air Canada Centre

Roy Thomson Hall

Hockey Hall of Fame

The Entertainment District is a large area that contains many popular attractions, including the ones mentioned above: CN Tower and Roundhouse Park. Other famous landmarks include Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Air Canada Centre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Hockey Hall of Fame, Rogers Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, and St Andrews Church. It was nice to walk around this vibrant district and take in all the sights. Below are our favourite attractions in this district.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is a popular public aquarium that has over 20,000 sea and freshwater specimens from over 450 species. It is famous for its beautiful underwater tunnel where visitors can see sharks, stingrays, and turtles swimming in close proximity around them. There are also colourful jellyfish tanks. The place can get very crowded during certain periods.

I wanted to visit the Air Canada Centre because I like watching the NBA, therefore it was pretty cool to see in person the place where the Toronto Raptors play their NBA games.

We walked past the Roy Thomson Hall, home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. The elegant structure had a beautiful curved glass exterior. The hall is located in David Pecaut Square, which has a beautiful sculpture consisting of a fountain and reflecting pool.

We also went to the Hockey Hall of Fame, an ice hockey museum and hall of fame. For an admission fee of $20 (adults), you get to view famous ice hockey trophies, memorabilia and equipment.

4. Nathan Philips Square

Nathan Phillips Square is a picturesque public square that is home to the popular 3D Toronto sign. It is surrounded by the Toronto City Hall (also known as the New City Hall) as well as the Old City Hall. During winter, the fountain in the plaza gets converted into a public ice skating rink (admission is free and there is onsite skate rental).

We visited the public square mainly because we wanted to take a photo of the famous 3D Toronto sign. We had also read that there are concerts, art displays, a weekly farmers’ market and other events in the plaza, but when we visited there was nothing much going on. Nonetheless, it was a nice “touristy” place to check out since we were visiting Toronto for the first time.

Nathan Phillips Square
Address: MJ38+2H Toronto, Ontario, Canada

5. Niagara Falls

Niagara On The Lake

Pretty house at Niagara On The Lake

Living Water Wayside Chapel – smallest church in the world

Drone shots

The Niagara Falls was the attraction that we were most looking forward to visiting! It consists of three majestic waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. This is a must-visit for anyone visiting Toronto for the first time.

We had signed up for a day tour package with Niagara Day Tour, which included stops at Niagara-on-The-Lake (a quaint historic town), a winery, Living Water Wayside Chapel (the smallest church in the world), the Floral Clock, and a hydroelectric power station. The final destination was of course Niagara Falls.

Even though the day tour was quite expensive, it was very convenient because we did not have to worry about arranging our own transportation to Niagara Falls, which was around 130km away from Downtown Toronto. The shuttle bus ride was very comfortable too.

One of our favourite parts of the tour was the winery tour, which included complimentary tasting of three wines at the Reif Estate Winery. This included Niagara’s famous ice wine, a luscious wine with rich fruity flavours and just the right balance of acidity. It was delicious and I bought a small bottle afterwards. I also really enjoyed the short wine-tasting lesson, which was very informative and interesting. And it was great that the instructor made it easy enough for wine amateurs like us to understand.

When we finally reached Niagara Falls, I was immediately struck by the overwhelming power and raw beauty of the majestic waterfalls. It was pretty much everything I had imagined it to be, and more! The massive amount of cascading waters was both beautiful and awe-inspiring at the same time. And even though there were plenty of tourists, the area was large enough such that everyone could still get a great view of the waterfalls. This was certainly a tick off my bucket list. (It was Raevian’s second visit to the falls and she was probably not as awestruck as I was.)

Our day tour included tickets for the Hornblower Niagara Cruise, a super fun boat ride that ferries passengers up close to the waterfalls. After queuing for about 20 minutes, we finally got up the boat. As we got closer to the waterfalls, I could sense the excitement on the boat building up. I held up my camera to grab some shots but before I could do so, I was suddenly doused with water from the waterfalls. Luckily Raevian and I had put on ponchos beforehand! From far, we could tell that the waterfalls were powerful, but now that we were up close we could REALLY feel its immense raw power! And we could barely hear each other over over the deafening roar of the waterfall. Suffice to say, it was a wet but really fun experience. As the boat sailed away and the water stopped splashing in, Raevian and I looked at each other and started laughing because we were both completely drenched.

After getting off the boat, we took a quick walk around Clifton Hill’s Street of Fun by the Falls, which is essentially a touristy entertainment district with plenty of restaurants, souvenir shops, amusement park games, a ferris wheel, casino etc. It was a fun place but when we were buying some quick bites we realised that the food was VERY overpriced here. A short while later, we caught the shuttle bus back to Downtown Toronto. This was definitely a fun and memorable day for us.

Niagara Falls
Directions: we booked a day tour with Niagara Day Tour. You can also check out other ways to get to Niagara Falls.

6. Toronto Islands

Evan pondering the meaning of life

The Toronto Islands (also known as the “Island” or “Toronto Island Park”) is a group of 15 offshore islands that are just a 13-minute ferry ride from Downtown Toronto. The small islands are connected to each other by pathways and bridges, therefore it is possible to walk from one end of Toronto Islands to the other. The total distance is around 5km.

From Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, we took a short ferry ride to Ward’s Island, which is one of the 15 islands. As we got off the boat, we were amazed that such a beautiful tranquil place existed just minutes away from the bustling city. It was really nice to stroll around the island amidst the lush greenery.

We decided to walk from Ward’s Island to Hanlan’s Point on the other end of Toronto Islands, which was a manageable 5km away. Along the way, we saw serene beaches, bike and kayak rentals, a marina with yachts, open green spaces for picnicking, playgrounds, a small amusement park, and even a cozy community of cottage-like houses. There were a few restaurants as well.

The Island was not crowded at all and we really enjoyed strolling along the nature paths while appreciating the beauty and tranquility around us. We found many photo ops along the way too. After spending slightly over three hours on the island, we caught the ferry back to Downtown Toronto. It was a day well-spent.

Toronto Islands
Directions: Take a 13-minute ferry ride from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. You can click here for detailed instructions on getting to Toronto Islands.

7. St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market is a super popular farmer’s market in Toronto that has been around since 1803. Over here, we saw many local purveyors selling a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, baked goods, fresh meat, and more! This was a great place to buy fresh produce and experience local culture. There are many popular eateries in the market as well. You can check out this list of best things to eat in St Lawrence Market.

After leaving the market, we saw the iconic Gooderham Building nearby. This office building with a unique triangular structure is also known as the Flatiron Building (not to be confused with the Flatiron Building in Manhattan New York City).

8. Kensington Market

Kensington Market is not really a “market”, but rather it is a diverse neighbourhood lined with historic Victorian-era houses. It is home to mostly working-class immigrants of various ethnicities. The district was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006. This colourful neighbourhood is known for its outdoor market that is filled with a tidy sprawl of boutiques, meat stores, cheese shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, fresh produce stores, and more.

It was definitely an interesting experience to walk around this multicultural district and see the Victorian-era working class architecture, though it wasn’t as lively as we had expected it to be. That said, since we were visiting Toronto for the first time, we felt it was still worth visiting Kensington Market due to its historical and cultural significance. And it is conveniently located in the Downtown area.

Kensington Market
Address: Just west of Spadina Avenue, between College and Dundas Street West (beside Chinatown)
Opening Hours: Most of the stores open during normal business hours, while restaurants and pubs may open till later

9. Graffiti Alley

Graffiti Alley is a short alley where many walls are painted with beautiful graffiti. It is located along Queen Street West, a diverse thoroughfare with many cool neighbourhoods, boutiques, artisan shops, galleries, popular bistros and bars. We are not fans of street art but decided to pop by since it’s in the Downtown area. I’m glad we visited, because some of the graffiti murals here were really spectacular. We took many great photos of the graffiti. This colourful alley is definitely worth checking out, especially since it’s just along Queen Street.

Graffiti Alley
Address: Just west of Spadina Avenue, between Queen Street West and Richmond Street West

10. Dundas Square

Dundas Square (also known as “Yonge-Dundas Square”), is a colourful and vibrant public square in Downtown Toronto surrounded by shopping malls, commercial buildings, a cinema complex, an art theatre, and plenty of electronic billboards. The area frequently hosts events and there are street performances as well. We also saw many fast food restaurants here.

Many people has termed Dundas Square as a “mini Times Square“. Having been to Times Square, we can attest to this. With the flashy billboards, colourful buildings and bright lights, it was indeed quite similar. This was definitely a “touristy” attraction, but we wanted to check it out since we were visiting Toronto for the first time.

Toronto Eaton Centre, a huge shopping mall, is located beside the square. This is a typical mall that has lots of restaurants and shops. The shops include both upscale boutiques and popular retail chains. There is free WiFi and a food court too. We browsed through the shops for a while but didn’t stay long.

Dundas Square
Address: 1 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5B 2R8, Canada

11. The Distillery District

Cacao 70

The Distillery District is a charming historic district with many restaurants, cafes, fashion boutiques, vintage shops and art galleries. These establishments are nestled within Victorian-era industrial buildings which once housed the Gooderham and Worts Distillery (a Canadian distiller of alcoholic beverages).

Walking on the dark cobblestone streets amidst the 19th century industrial architecture, it felt like we had been transported back to industrial-era Europe. There are many interesting shops here: we saw one vintage shop selling retro items like phonographs, vintage furniture, old books and more. We also came across various artisan shops and jewelry stores. This small area is rich in culture too, with various art galleries and performing arts studios.

The district has plenty of eateries too! Before ending our tour of the Distillery District, we visited SOMA Chocolatemaker, a famous chocolate factory / shop that sells delicious chocolate products. We also checked out Cacao 70, a pretty cafe that serves a variety of chocolate desserts and drinks. The food and drinks were delicious!

The Distillery District
Address: 55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Opening Hours: | Mon to Wed: 10am – 7pm | Thurs to Sat: 10am – 8pm | Sun: 11am – 6pm | (Restaurants and stores open till later)

12. Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is a famous art museum in Toronto, and is one of the largest art galleries in North America. It has a huge variety of art collection ranging from the Medieval and Renaissance eras to modern periods. Examples of famous art pieces include works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and more.

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Toronto Travel Guide for First Timers. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?