Toronto is an incredible city. It’s safe, the people are very nice, and there are a lot of popular attractions to keep you busy. In this blog post I’ll share the ultimate Toronto bucket list so you can visit the best places the city of Toronto has to offer. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:
- Flights
- Accommodation for all budgets
- Rental cars
- Canada train tickets
- Canada bus tickets
- Activities, tours, and day trips
- eSIM for international data
Visit the CN Tower observation deck
A great way to start your trip to Toronto is by visiting the iconic CN Tower. It’s the symbol of Toronto and it’s located downtown, close to many other attractions.
Sidenote, but I loved how walkable Toronto is. If you stay at a hotel in downtown Toronto you don’t even need to use public transportation. The vibe is similar to New York, but Toronto is much less crowded, and the sidewalks and roads are much wider.
You can go up the top of the CN Tower to get one of the best views of Toronto from the lower observation level. And if you’re brave enough you can also buy an Edgewalk ticket to try this exhilarating experience, where you walk hands free on the top of CN Tower. I have to admit I wasn’t brave enough to do this, but it’s one of the most exciting activities in Toronto if you’re an adrenaline junkie.
Next to the CN Tower you can also visit Ripley’s Aquarium and you can see Rogers Centre, a large stadium used by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Stroll through the Toronto Railway Museum
The Toronto Railway Museum is a short walk from CN Tower. It’s an indoor-outdoor museum and it has a lot of vintage locomotives on display. It’s so much fun to walk around the trains!
Next to the trains there was a stand selling cotton candy. I don’t know why, but it made me so nostalgic. Cotton candy was one of the treats I would occasionally get when going to the park with my grandmother as a child. Seeing an older man selling the colorful cotton candy sent me back to my childhood days.
Take a walk along the Harbourfront
Harbourfront is such a peaceful place. You have to check it out when you travel to Toronto! It’s a short distance from CN Tower and it’s the perfect way to spend a nice morning or an afternoon.
You can walk by the lake or sit down on a bench to take in the views. Many locals were walking their dogs, running, or just having coffee here. It’s the perfect spot for a stroll.
As you walk towards the waterfront you’ll pass by some amazing street art. I was so impressed with how much street art there is in Toronto. Honestly, it’s my favorite type of art. It beautifies a place so much. Anybody can enjoy it when they are outside without the need to pay for tickets to go to a museum. It always brighten my day to see a new mural or a different type of street art.
Spend some time in the iconic Yonge-Dundas Square
Yonge-Dundas Square, or Dundas Square, as the locals call it, is probably the most famous square in Toronto. Many people say it resembles Times Square in New York City. It’s one of my favorite places in Toronto.
It has a lot of billboards, shops, music, and an aquatic play area with fountains. It’s a very lively square, and while it’s busy, it’s way less crowded than Times Square. So you’ll have a better experience when visiting.
Admire works of art at the Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the most famous museums in Canada and they have over 90,000 artworks on display. It’s a fantastic place for art lovers. So, if you like museums, you shouldn’t skip this one.
Visit the campus of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto has a very beautiful campus that was established in 1827 and it’s part of the history of Toronto. It has gorgeous alleys and buildings, and it can be a great place for a stroll. You can get inspired by all the academic accomplishments that took place there.
Eat at St Lawrence Market
St Lawrence market is a foodie’s paradise and one of Toronto’s hidden gems. They have about 120 vendors there selling delicious food and fresh produce.
Carousel Bakery’s The Peameal Bacon Sandwich is a local creation and it’s very popular. If that’s not your vibe they also have pizza, tapas, bagels, seafood, Greek food, fresh cut fruit, pastries, cakes, and so many other things. Literally anything your heart desires.
Attend a concert at Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a stadium in downtown Toronto that hosts the Toronto Blue Jays. If there is a concert here you should definitely buy a ticket. Big cities always have new things to try and experience and I love it.
I was so lucky to catch Ed Sheeran in town! I had no idea he had a concert in Toronto, but our bus driver told us on the way to Niagara. So I bought the ticket the day of because yolo. And I’m so glad I did because Ed is terrific live! It was a fantastic way to end my short trip to Toronto.
Splurge on dinner at Alo
I like to splurge on a good meal here and there when I travel. If you’re looking for a fancy new restaurant when you solo travel to Toronto, Alo is a great choice. They serve a multiple course dinner, and every plate is delicious. The service and the ambiance are also amazing.
If you’re dining solo (or even as a couple) get reservations for the kitchen counter tasting menu because you’ll be watching the chefs prepare the food right in front of you. It made me realize how much work goes into preparing a great meal and now I have even more admiration for everyone who is a chef.
Take a day trip to Niagara Falls
When you travel to Toronto, the Canadian side of Niagara Falls has to be on your bucket list. Taking a guided tour is the best option. It’s stress free, you have skip-the-line tickets for the boat ride, and you will see other tourist attractions besides Niagara Falls itself.
Plus, it’s a great way to meet new people. On the bus I sat next to a girl from Taiwan and we instantly became friends. She was also traveling solo and we spent the day together. We talked, took pictures, had lunch together in Niagara. At the end of the trip she gifted me a polaroid picture of Niagara Falls to remember the day we spent together.
I love the connections you make while you travel. That’s how I met some of my very close friends. I guess traveling solo creates a perfect environment for meeting and chatting with new people.
For me Niagara Falls was a bucket list item and I’m so glad I was able to tick it off.
Enjoy the chimes of the Niagara Parks Floral Clock
One of the stops on the day trip to Niagara Falls is the Niagara Parks floral clock, which is a huge clock made of colorful flowers that chimes every 15 min.
Do a maple syrup tasting at Maple Leaf Place
Doing a maple syrup tasting at Maple Leaf Place is so much fun! You’ll get a flight of 3 different kinds of maple syrup, and you’ll also get free samples of candy and fudge made with maple syrup. And, of course, you can buy anything maple in their shop.
Take a picture with the Niagara Whirlpool
Niagara Whirlpool is a natural whirlpool that formed about 4,200 years ago. It’s a great photo spot and the water is turquoise.
Go on a Niagara Falls boat tour
Getting splashed by Niagara Falls is an unreal experience and I hope everyone gets to do it at least once in their lifetime. The boat tour is so worth it! Yes, you’ll get wet, but being so close to Niagara Falls is exhilarating.
FAQs about Toronto
Where should I stay in Toronto?
Mid-budget hotels
I stayed at Hyatt Regency Toronto in the city center. The location was perfect as I could walk everywhere since most attractions are in the downtown area. The room was nice and spacious and it has a great view of the skyscrapers nearby.
Other good mid-budget options are Kimpton Saint George Hotel, The Omni King Edward Hotel, and Bisha Hotel Toronto.
Luxury hotels
If you have a higher budget and are seeking a more luxurious option in downtown Toronto, then The St. Regis Toronto, Shangri-La Toronto, and Four Seasons Toronto are great options.
Hostels
Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend you any hostels. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel. I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.
Airbnb
I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.
Is Toronto safe?
Yes, I felt very safe in Toronto. I can’t remember anything that made me feel unsafe. It’s the main reason why I think Toronto makes such a great destination in North America for solo travelers.
How can I get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
What is the best time to visit Toronto?
The summer months. Toronto gets very cold during winter and even spring and fall tend to have pretty cold weather. If you plan on exploring a lot by foot, visiting during summer is best.
How can I get around Toronto?
Toronto is one of the most walkable cities I’ve ever visited because most attractions are concentrated in the downtown area. If you need to venture outside of downtown you can take public transit. The tram, the bus, or the subway are all great options.
How can I get to the city center from the airport?
You can get from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport to downtown Union Station in about 25 minutes by taking the UP Express train. A round trip costs $24.7.
If you don’t want to take public transportation you can get a taxi or Uber. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.
Need inspiration for your next trip? Check out some of my articles on Europe destinations.
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Florence 4 day itinerary: the best guide for solo travelers
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 75K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.