Overview

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and a fascinating place to explore. Its name is derived from the Iroquois word tkaronto, meaning "a place where trees stand in the water". Toronto spans over 2,700 square miles. It is situated on the shore of Lake Ontario and is the provincial capital of Ontario. The city is part of the area known as the Golden Horseshoe, where more than 8 million residents live. This diverse and cosmopolitan place attracts many tourists all through the year.

Activities & Attractions

Toronto is rich with cultural activities and attractions for sightseers of all ages and tastes. The city is considered to be a hot spot for theatre and other performing arts. Both the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Art Gallery of Ontario are located in the city of Toronto. If you want to check out its top attractions, make your way over to the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, Ontario Science Centre, and Casa Loma. Completed in 1914, Casa Loma is a romantic castle set in the middle of the city. It has opulent rooms, secret passageways, stables, and underground tunnels.

For more family-friendly entertainment, take the kids to the Toronto Zoo, Ontario Place, and Centre Island. Made up of 710 acres in Rouge Valley, the Toronto Zoo is home to over 5,000 exotic animals from different regions of the world. Ontario Place is also sure to excite and delight the young ones. It hosts special events in the summer like the Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival. Ontario Place is situated on Ontario Lake's beautiful waterfront. This 96-acre tourist spot has 30 thrilling rides and attractions as well as the world's first permanent IMAX theater. Only minutes by ferry from downtown, Centre Island is a quiet and scenic haven away from the hustle and bustle of Toronto. The island has plenty of bike paths, picnic tables, and beaches as well as the Centreville Amusement Park.

If you are looking for great shopping destinations within Toronto, visit Kensington Market and the Toronto Eaton Centre.

Lodging

From luxurious, world-class hotels and charming B&Bs to affordable motels and pet-friendly campgrounds, Toronto's accommodation options are suitable for every visitor.

Transportation

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) provides public transit throughout the metropolitan area with its extensive network of buses and streetcars. If you want to visit points in the Greater Toronto Area, you can use GO Transit, an extensive rail system. Taxis can also take you from the Toronto City Centre Airport to your desired vacation accommodation and vice versa for a very reasonable fare.