Amazing things to do in Toronto

Toronto is a city full of wonder. Whether you're a local or just visiting, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Toronto that will make your trip unforgettable. Make it more interesting on a rented car in Toronto or take a local guided tour.

Here are some of our favorites:

Take a walk through the Distillery District

The Distillery District is an excellent place to spend a day in Toronto. It's full of restaurants, shops and art galleries--and it's just steps away from the city's financial district. The area also has some interesting history: it was once home to a large whiskey distillery owned by Gooderham & Worts that operated from 1832 until 1990. Today, you can still see some remnants of this past life (like old grain elevators) along with many exciting new developments like Mill Street Brewery which produces award-winning craft beers--the perfect way to end your visit!

Go for a stroll by the lake

  • Take a walk at night
  • Take a walk in the morning
  • Go for a stroll on a sunny day and enjoy the fresh air and scenery, no matter how many people you run into along the way!
  • If it's raining or snowing out, that's great too--just bundle up and head outside! You can still appreciate all of nature's beauty even when it's wet outside!

See an opera at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts

Opera is a great way to spend an evening. It's also a great way to spend an evening with friends or family, by yourself, or even with your significant other. For example:

  • You can go see one of the many operas put on by the Canadian Opera Company (COC). They perform at Roy Thomson Hall and Toronto Centre for Performing Arts (TCPA) in downtown Toronto; both venues are easily accessible via public transit and close to hotels if you want somewhere nearby after the show ends.
  • If you don't want something as formal as an opera but still want to hear some live music while enjoying dinner with friends at one of Toronto's many restaurants--and who doesn't?--then check out one of the many jazz clubs that dot College Street between Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue (where I worked when I lived there).

Hit up a comedy club in Toronto

Comedy clubs are a great way to spend an evening, whether you're with friends or on a date. There are many different comedy clubs in Toronto, and they can be found both downtown and in the suburbs. The best comedy clubs are those that have been around for years--they tend to attract established comedians who know what they're doing when it comes time for their sets.

Watch some street performers on Queen Street West

One of the best ways to get to know a city and its people is by watching street performers. In Toronto, there's no shortage of them! Queen Street West is lined with talented performers who can be seen juggling fire or walking on stilts all year round. If you're looking for something more relaxing than watching someone walk on stilts, check out The Bentway Skate Trail where you can skate under the Gardiner Expressway while listening to live music or taking in some art installations along the way.

Grab some poutine from one of these amazing diners in Toronto

Poutine is a Canadian dish made with french fries, gravy and cheese curds. It's also one of the most popular items on menus at many diners in Toronto. 

Here are some of our favorites:

  • Cafe Belong at The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St W): This cozy restaurant offers modern twists on classic dishes like macaroni and cheese and poutine--which comes topped with pulled pork!
  • Poutini's House of Poutine (multiple locations): Known for its massive portions and inexpensive prices, this chain offers more than 20 different types of poutines including vegetarian options like their "Veggie Deluxe" or vegan ones like "The Greek."
  • La Diperie (531 Church St): This European-style diner serves up authentic Belgian waffles as well as delicious poutines that come with cheese curds imported from Quebec; they've even been featured on Food Network Canada!

Visit the CN Tower

The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At 553 metres (1,815 ft), it is the world's 5th-tallest free-standing structure and the tallest in Canada. It was built between 1969 and 1976 by the Canadian National Railway as an antenna for radio broadcasts but has since been renovated to accommodate tourists and visitors. The tower has become one of Toronto's most prominent landmarks; it can be seen from at least as far away as Oshawa (60 kilometres) or Oakville (30 kilometres).

The CN Tower stands on Front Street West near John Street in downtown Toronto, just west of Yonge-Dundas Square where pedestrians gather daily to see different kinds of performances at night time such as acrobats doing flips over each other's heads while suspended from cables high above ground level!

Take a tour of Casa Loma

Casa Loma is a beautiful castle in Toronto. It's one of the city's most popular tourist attractions and has been featured in several movies, including X-Men: First Class and The Dark Knight Rises.

Casa Loma was built by Sir Henry Pellatt, who intended it as his personal residence but never lived there himself because he ran out of money during construction. Instead, he opened it up to visitors as a museum. Today you can take tours through each room--there are even ghost tours if you're into that sort of thing!

If you'd rather not go on a tour or explore on your own (which we recommend), there are plenty of other things to do at Casa Loma: eat lunch at one of its restaurants; play mini golf; get married here; or just enjoy all the beautiful gardens around this amazing historic site!

Go to the Royal Ontario Museum

If you're looking for something educational, the Royal Ontario Museum is a great place to start. The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts, art and natural history specimens that will keep you entertained for days on end. It's also free every Wednesday!

The museum was founded in 1912 by Edward Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) as a way to house his personal collection of items from around the world. Since then it has grown into one of the largest museums in Canada with over 6 million objects in its collection today including dinosaurs like Sue - which was discovered in South Dakota and went on display at Chicago Field Museum before being sold at auction for over $8M USD.

Take a stroll through High Park

High Park is one of the most popular parks in Toronto. It's home to many attractions, including the zoo and conservatory. The park is open year-round, so you can visit any time! There are lots of ways to get there by public transport: You can get off at High Park Station and walk about 10 minutes to reach the park entrance on Bloor Street West., or take a streetcar that stops right outside the gate. If you're coming from downtown Toronto, it will take about 20 minutes by subway (subway stations include Queen's Park & St Patrick).

Check out the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

  • The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a psychiatric hospital located in downtown Toronto. 
  • It's one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Canada, having been founded in 1832 as the Provincial Lunatic Asylum.
  • The hospital has treated people who have struggled with mental health issues since its inception, including some famous Canadians including author Robertson Davies and hockey player Wayne Gretzky.
  • In addition to providing treatment for patients, CAMH also houses an extensive research facility as well as museums that explore topics such as addiction and gender identity disorders.

Toronto is a wonderful city that is welcoming and fun

It has so much to offer visitors, from beautiful parks to exciting nightlife. If you're looking for things to do in Toronto, here are some of our favorites:

  • Take a walk through the city's many parks - there are tons of them! You can visit High Park if you want to see some animals or go for a hike on one of its trails; Trinity Bellwoods Park is great if you want something more urban; or visit any number of other parks throughout the city (there are over 100!).
  • Head out for dinner at one of Toronto's many restaurants - there are over 6,000 restaurants in Toronto so there will definitely be something that suits your tastes! Try something new by going somewhere with food from another culture or just stick with what works by eating at one of those classic spots everyone knows about like Fudruckers or A&W Rootbeer stand (they have burgers!).

Toronto is a great city with lots to offer. If you're looking for an adventure, head out on one of these amazing things to do in Toronto. You won't regret it!