The Six, T.O., T-Dot, 416, Hogtown, YYZ… Toronto’s nicknames are almost as infinite as the number of things to do in the city.
No matter what you call it, one thing that’s for sure is that a trip to Canada’s largest city should definitely be on your travel bucket list. With tons to see, do and explore, it’s impossible to get bored in this concrete jungle.
That being said, with so much to choose from, it can be hard to decide how to spend your time during a short stay. To help you out, we’ve rounded up a few awesome things to do in Toronto no matter what your interests are!
The typical tourist stuff may not interest everyone, but if you’ve never been before, some of Toronto’s most significant landmarks and activities are a must.
If you’re visiting during baseball season, check the Blue Jays schedule to see if there are any home games happening while you’re there. Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, the electric atmosphere in Rogers Arena is an experience in itself. If the weather’s nice, the dome might even be open!
Whether you’re in it for the adrenaline rush or the tasty fair food, a trip to one of Canada’s best theme parks is the perfect way to spend the day. With a variety of rides, shows, vendors and more, Canada’s Wonderland is a blast. This is also a great activity for the families out there.
Taking a trip up one of Canada’s most significant building landmarks, the CN Tower, is a classic tourist activity in Toronto. Check out the amazing city views, or dine at the famous 360 Restaurant.
Often considered one of the seven wonders of Canada, the Niagara Falls sure are a sight to see. The natural beauty and grandeur of the majestic falls will leave you in wonderment, and the nearby tourist town is a sight to see in its own way.
Because of its size, Toronto has lots of cool areas to explore that are totally different from each other and all have something unique to offer.
Kensington Market is an eclectic neighbourhood and shopping district that features lots of interesting, hole-in-the-wall stores, mouth-watering little restaurants and old Victorian homes. A few hours can easily be spent perusing the quirky shops, people watching and trying delicious food.
Contrary to what the name may imply, there’s a lot more to the Distillery District than just beer. As a matter of fact, the area is mostly made up of unique boutique shops and trendy restaurants in historic heritage buildings (which used to house the Gooderham and Worts Distillery, hence the name). Check out the beautiful buildings, do a bit of shopping, enjoy tasty eats and don’t worry, you can still grab a beer at the Mill St. Brewery.
Located along Church Street and Wellesley Street, The Village, also known as ‘The Gay Village’, is home to Toronto’s LGBTQ community. The Village is an inclusive and diverse community that also boasts amazing arts, entertainment, shopping, food and nightlife. Expect to see lots of rainbows, smiles and people simply doing their thing! Make sure to check out Glad Day Bookshop, the oldest surviving bookstore in Toronto, and oldest surviving LGBTQ bookstore around.
Toronto is known for its great arts and culture scene, and visiting the city offers a chance to experience some amazing sights.
The Royal Ontario Museum, often referred to as the ROM, is a great and affordable way to learn something new. At Canada’s largest museum, you’ll find art and artifacts from all over the world and all different time periods — from ancient dinosaur bones, to chinese sculptures, to pretty minerals, to modern exhibits and everything in between. The museum itself is pretty dang cool, too.
If you dig art, you’ll love the Art Gallery of Ontario, often called the A.G.O. A trip to the gallery will definitely have you looking at things different and leave you feeling inspired. With new exhibitions being constantly rotated in, it’s always worth a trip back, even if you’ve been before.
Okay, this one is tough as it could easily be an article of its own. With awesome food, drink and nightlife options around practically every corner, these few recommendations barely skim the surface.
What’s The Drake Hotel? More like what isn’t it? It’s a boutique hotel, restaurant, patio, and basement nightclub in the Drake Underground. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails, party to live music in the basement (often hosting the ‘next big thing’), and even stay all night by booking a room.
They say that when you remove one sense, the others become stronger. O.Noir gives its guests the chance to see for themselves (pun intended) by blocking out all the light. If you’re curious about trying a new culinary experience, eating in complete darkness should do the trick. You’ll also gain a sense of what it might be like to be blind, similar to the O.Noir staff who are all visually impaired.
If you’re a beer lover, add Blood Brothers Brewing to your list. The family-owned craft brewery offers innovative brews and cool atmosphere, with a taproom in a repurposed garage.
If you’re still thirsty and looking to head off the beaten path a bit, head over to The Junction area and grab a beer at Indie Alehouse, and try some locally-made spirits at Nickel 9 Distillery.
If you’re looking for cheap drinks and total dive bar vibes, then look no further than Wide Open. Be prepared to leave your classiness at home and get ready for good times because when we say dive bar, we really mean it.
Now that you have your itinerary ready, it’s time to book your trip. Luckily, there are lots of regular flights leaving Kelowna that can swift you away to Canada’s largest airport.
As a matter of fact, four flights fly from YLW to the Pearson airport everyday, with six on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Both Air Canada and WestJet also now offer nightly red eye flights to Toronto.
Safe travels!
The Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is Kelowna's gateway to the rest of the world. Serving 1.6 million passengers each year, YLW is one of Canada's top 11 busiest airports in Canada.
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