Is Toronto Worth Visiting in 2026? (From a Local)

Toronto is the largest city in Canada, and known for being the most multicultural city in the world. But I often feel that people usually focus on the highlights while skipping over a lot of the quirky hidden gems that give the city so much character. Toronto is definitely worth a visit, and is unlike any other city in the world. Even after my travels to almost 40 countries, I have a love for Toronto and a constant desire to always return and see more.

I was born in Toronto, and either in or near Toronto my whole life. I’ve visited solo, with kids, with friends, and gone on some romantic weekend getaways in Toronto Because of this, I can give you a full picture of what Toronto has to offer, and why Toronto is worth a visit for all different age groups and stages of life.

Toronto is artsy, with so many different neighbourhoods and can suit a wide range of interests. My favourite thing about it is the very unique, walkable neighbourhoods. You’ll be amazed at how many amazing things in Toronto don’t get the attention they often deserve. In this article, I’ll tell you why Toronto is worth visiting, as well as all the worthwhile things to do, which most tourists seem to miss!

So, now that you know that I, as a local, think Toronto is worth visiting. Check out my 2-3 day Toronto itinerary.

Otherwise, let’s dive in to the best things to do in Toronto.

19 Amazing Things To Do and See in Toronto (That Make it Highly Worth A Visit)

Here are the things to do in Toronto that make visiting Canada’s largest city worth it

1. Enjoy the waterfront area

You could spend a whole day near the waterfront area of Toronto. In the summer, it’s lively with waterfront festivals. You can take a ferry over to the Toronto Islands or do a Toronto Islands cruise. Toronto has one of the best skylines in the world, so enjoying it near the waterfront area is definitely worth doing.

Even just Centre Island alone is a place where you could spend a while day. Have a picnic, and enjoy the skyline views. There’s a small amusement park in the summer called Centreville, I haven’t been there personally. In addition, Tommy Thompson Park (another island) is a great place to go bird watching.

2. Stroll through the Distillery District

The Distillery District is a glimpse into Toronto in the 1800s, and is the only remaining neighbourhood in the city from that time. It has cobbled alleys, historic buildings and its contained within city walls. The best part? Its completely car-free. We’re lucky to still have this gem in the city, with the condos and urbanization that have occurred around it.

Inside the Distillery District, you can find:

• Lots of food – restaurants, pubs, cafés, bakeries.
• Shopping. My favourite store is called Bergo Designs
• Festivals. The district is also famous for its winter village, held at Christmas time.

You can get to the Distillery District by foot (30 minutes), or taking a bus or streetcar. Read my post on how to get to the Distillery District from the downtown core of Toronto

3. Explore the city’s foodie scene

One of the best things about Toronto is the food. I live about an hour away, and sometimes I go down there just to eat. You can find authentic mouthwatering food from around the world. There are so many neighbourhoods, markets, unique hole in the wall places, food tours. It’s just unfathomable how much good food you can find here. To make the most of the foodie scene in Toronto, you could:

• Visit the Kensington Market, which is known as the foodie area of the city. Full of street art too
• Go to Little Italy, a Koreatown, Chinatown, Greektown, Ukrainian town, and more. There’s great Jamaican food, Hawaiian food , Cambodian and pretty much anything you can think of.
• Head to the Danforth area, which is known as Greektown. They host Taste of the Danforth, a food festival every year
• Head to the St. Lawrence Market which is the 2-story food market of Toronto. They sell fresh produce, bread and cheese, but there are some little kiosk restaurtants where you can buy lunch
• Do the Toronto International Food Tour, which takes place in the ultimate foodie area – the Kensington Market (more on that below)
• Looking for family friendly restaurants? Most restaurants in Toronto are very family friendly, I’ve never had a problem bringing kids. But here are my recommendations for the most kid-oriented family restaurants in Toronto.

Bonus: See the dog fountain near the St. Lawrence Market

The St. Lawrence Market is also right beside Berczy Park, which is a park with dog-statue fountains. This is in the old Toronto area, near some pretty unique architecutre and buildings. You could spend a whole day just in Old Toronto (see my 7 day Toronto itinerary here for ideas on how to spend a day here plus all the other unique parts of the city.)

The fountain isn’t always running, but in the summer, it should be. Even if its not running, its still a pretty cool park to see.

Are you going to be staying overnight in the city? Read my post on the best breakfasts in Toronto, there are so many unique spots to get a good breakfast

4. Stand on the glass floor at the CN Tower

The CN Tower is what makes our skyline look so cool. In addition to just looking interesting, its of course one of the highlights of Toronto. Its the 10th tallest free-standing structure in the world at 1,815 feet. It also (despite being beat out by many taller buildings) continues to have the highest observation deck in the Western hemisphere.

There are a lot of different ways to experience the CN Tower, some of them include:

• Dining at the 360 Restaurant which is just above the main observation deck. The food is actually pretty good, we were impressed with the quality. They have options for everyone, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free. This is a revolving restaurant at over 1,800 feet and its really nice for special occasions
• Standing on the glass floor which has recently been re-done.
• Doing the Edgewalk, which is the highest circle walk in the world. This is for gutsy people that don’t mind leaning backwards over a cliff, the city over a thousand feet below them

5. Watch Sea Creatures at Ripley’s Aquarium

The Toronto Ripley’s is obviously popular with kids, but it’s a nice outing for adults too. In fact, I celebrated my 30th birthday by coming here with friends. The aquarium is open until 11pm some nights, allowing you to visit at quieter times. The coolest attraction inside Ripley’s is the transparent underwater tunnel that makes you feel like you’re walking through the ocean. Ripley’s Aquarium is right beside the CN Tower, so if you’re into aquariums or visiting with kids, then its worth it to do them both together. You can grab a Sea the Sky pass to pay for both of them combined for a deal.

Having said that, I have to admit that the aquarium can get uncomfortably busy during ‘peak’ times (summer daytime and weekends.) I went during a Tuesday afternoon in July, and was shoulder-to shoulder; so crowded that we couldn’t really enjoy it. It’s a nice aquarium but there were too many people at that time. So, while I still think its worth it if you like aquariums, try to go first thing in the morning, or go late in the evening when there are less people.

Pro Tip: Here are some places to eat near the CN Tower and Ripley’s

6. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum (commonly known as the “Rom” in Ontario) is one of the first attractions that comes to my mind to recommend to people visiting Toronto. Its the largest museum in Canada, and one of the top 10 in North America. There are artifacts and exhibits showcasing different cultures and civilizations throughout history. They also have a massive collection of dinosaur bones and prehistoric creatures, and many of them are the originals.

The ROM is a fascinating place to walk through, learn new things and be amazed at human history, creations and early societies. Its suitable for groups of adults, and families with kids. The whole second floor is VERY kid friendly, but the whole museum is fine for all ages. They have a cafeteria where you can bring your own lunch, but some cafés and options on site too. There are so many intriguing exhibits for you to get lost in, learning about the wonders of history.

Pro Tip: The museum shouldn’t be rushed through. Give yourself at least two hours to explore the ROM, as there are multiple exhibits on three different floors!

7. Visit the Kensington Market

The Kensington Market is one of my favourites, and my heart breaks a little bit every time someone visits Toronto but doesn’t know to visit it. The Kensington has been purposely preserved to look the same now as it did when the neighbourhood was first being established, mostly by working class Jewish and Chinese immigrants. It’s now a bohemian neighbourhood in downtown Toronto that has a lot of hole-in-the-wall restaurants, cafés, unique stores and markets.

The Kensington Market is very colourful, with lots of street art. The food that you can find here is very unique. Last time I visited, I ordered a kimchi poutine from the Kensington Kitchen, and it was delicious!

I mentioned it briefly before as a foodie experience, but I think you should come where whether it’s to eat, or just walk around and see it. What I like about the Kensington Market is that it isn’t set up to be a tourist attraction – its just a neighbourhood. You will see people just going about their lives. I’d highly recommend timing your visit so that you’re here for a meal, do a Kensington Market food tour.

Book your Kensington Market Food Tour (2.5 hours, $120 per person which includes food) here

9. Take a step into history at the Bata Shoe Museum

The Bata Shoe Museum is my favourite museum in Toronto. It’s just up the street from the ROM, mentioned above (although I think doing them both in the same day would be a lot.) The Bata Shoe Museum is, mostly just all shoes. The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto is also the largest exhibit of shoes in the world.

There are shoes from cultures across the world, and in history, going back to ancient civilizations. You can tell a surprising amount about a culture’s lifestyle and values through their shoes. They have a lot of unique classes and events on their calendar, which you need to sign up for early as it fills up.

10. Explore Toronto’s Castle

Casa Loma is Torontos only castle. By European standards, its very young – but its been a beloved Toronto tourist attraction for many decades. Casa Loma was built in the early 1900s, by a man named Sir William Henry, as a gift to his wife!

The story behind Casa Loma is that Sir William had to pause construction of his castle during WWI and after that, couldn’t keep up with the payments so the city seized the property. Its now a popular tourist attraction, and an upscale venue for weddings and events. They do special events for Christmas, and Halloween. One of the coolest features you can visit at Casaloma is an elevator that takes you to the basement to the “Dragon’s Den.”

I will admit the price to get into Casa Loma is a bit crazy right now (over $50 per adult) so I haven’t been in a long time. Right across from Casa Loma is Spadina House, and its a completely free museum. It’s not a castle, but an affluent Victorian home from the early 1900s. You can experience Toronto’s early 20th century history here, free of charge. It has very nice gardens as well.

11. Stroll through Chinatown Toronto

Chinatown is one of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods, established in the late 1800s. You can find authentic, mouthwatering Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese and other Asian restaurants, Chinese bakeries, dim sum, and produce markets in Chinatown. There is also some colourful street art in Chinatown; you can see a lot of it on the way if you walk to or from the Kensington Market from here, or vice versa.

Pro Tip: Toronto’s Chinatown is within walking distance of the Kensington Market, so its worth it to hit them both in an afternoon. Just south of both of them is a neighbourhood called West Queen West, which has been recognized as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. There you can find more restaurants, as well as Graffiti Alley.

12. Get Thrills at Canada’s Wonderland

Canada’s Wonderland is the largest amusement park in the country. It also has some record-breaking roller coasters, such as the Leviathan, Behemoth, Yukon Striker and Alpen Fury. Canada’s Wonderland is a fun day out with friends, but it has a lot for small children too. There’s a Kidzville, entirely dedicated to young kids under 5.

It’s not just a summer thing, either. Canada’s Wonderland does a Halloween Haunt, and Winterfest throughout December. The only months it’s truly ‘closed’ are January through April. Canada’s Wonderland can be reached via public transit from downtown Toronto (although its complicated, as you’d take the metro to Vaughan, followed by a 10 minute drive via taxi) There are many hotels near the park too.

13. See a Broadway-style show (or other entertainment)

As someone who lives just outside the city, I’m often heading into Toronto just for all the shows and entertainment that you can catch there. There are broadway quality shows offered through Mirvish Theatre (they have two locations, one south of Sankofa Square and and also the Prince of Wales Theatre.)

In addition, The National Ballet of Canda has its headquarters in Toronto, and you can see some world-class ballets. We enjoy making it down to the annual Nutcracker performance.

14. Get a photo in front of the famous Toronto sign

Every city has a name sign now, but the cool thing about Toronto’s is that its located right in what we calld Nathan Phillip’s Square. The building behind it is the old city hall, which is in the ‘old Toronto’ area (just north of the CN Tower.) There are a lot of cute old buildings in this area, its quite picturesque.

In the winter, there the area in front of the sign turns into a skating rink and you can skate there, as well as a holiday market during the month of December. In my opinion, this alone makes Toronto one of the best places to visit in Ontario in winter.

15. Walk through Sankoga Square (formerly Dundas Square) and the Eaton’s Centre

Sankofa Square is like the Time Square of Toronto. There are big screens, its busy, there are Broadway shows, malls, lots of restaurants and shopping. The environment may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but its worth checking out at least to see it.

The Eaton Centre is right on the square, and its the largest mall in Canada, with over 200 stores.

17. Get pictures and a drink at the Gooderham Building

The Gooderham Building is a historic office building in Toronto that is triangle shaped. Its also known as the “Flatiron” building, because of its shape. Its a beautiful building to walk past and get pictures of, as it stands out as very unique from other buildings in the area.

There is a pub in the basement of the Flatiron building where you can get drinks or some good foods. The Flatiron building is a short, 2-minute walk from the St. Lawrence Market.

18. Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame

For those that don’t know, hockey is big in Canada. It’s been played in Canada since the early 1900s, and is considered to be Canada’s National Sport. The Hockey Hall of Fame, set in a historic building downtown, is a tribute to Canada’s hockey history and achievements in hockey. It’s actually the largest collection of hockey artifacts in the world. So, if you like hockey at all, it’s a must.

19. Spend hours at the Science Centre

*Currently closed at original location, has a small pop up location on Queens Quay, near Toronto waterfront*

The Science Centre in Toronto recently closed down. I’m leaving this up, just so that you know it’s not open anymore (in case you see it recommended elsewhere.)

20. See 50-year-old TVs at the Television Museum

MZTV Museum of Television in east Toronto has 10,000+ items focusing on the history and technology of television. You will see the rarest and most valuable TV artifacts, some which are several decades old. With modern-day conveniences, we often forget what technology must have been like in the not-too-distant past, and its fascinating to observe what it was like for our parents/grandparents.

You could spend a good 1-2 hours at the Museum of Television. There’s an app which gives additional information about the exhibits and is available in different languages. An adult ticket is only $10 and kids 12 and under are free of charge (great opportunity to show ’em what it used to be.) The TV Museum is located in Liberty Village, which near the Budweiser Stage just east of Toronto. Public parking is available.

21. Get tricked at the Museum of Illusions

The Museum of Illusion has logic games, optical illusions that will leave you perplexed, a vortex tunnel, and lots of hallograms that you can take selfies in front of. If you’re looking for a place to trick your senses and tease your brain, then this is the place! The Museum of Illusions is a new attraction in Toronto that just opened in 2018. You should buy your tickets on their website in advance for the date and time you wish to visit.

22. Learn about Wildlife at the Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is a quite extensive zoo, with 10 km worth of walking trails and representing animals, reptiles and birds from seven different continents. The Toronto Zoo is known for hosting school groups for field trips. If you like zoos, you will enjoy and likely learn a lot at the Toronto Zoo. As someone who’s not a huge fan of zoos in general, I have to admit that the animals at the Toronto Zoo do seem well-cared for.

The Toronto Zoo is located in the outskirts of east Toronto; its accessible by the subway system followed by a bus. If you’re looking for a smaller zoo, you could consider Jungle Cat World, which is just an extra 45 minutes of driving from Toronto.

How to Get Around Toronto

Once you’re in Toronto, its very easy to get around the city using the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission.) It includes the subway, and streetcars. You can buy a pass for the days you’ll be here, or buy single tickets only. Uber is also widely used in Toronto. If you’re flying into Toronto, its so easy to get from the airport to downtown. You can just take the airport train which will bring you right downtown in just 25 minutes, inexpensively.

Epic Places to Stay in Toronto

I’ve stayed in hotels all over the city, and know the neighbourhoods and the ease of getting around well. Here are some of my recommendations, according to budget.

The best area to stay in Toronto is near Union Station, because its within walking distance of a majority of the attractions, and you can use Union Station to get anywhere that isn’t just a short walk away. Hotels near Union Station are usually on the high end, however. If you’re looking for a variety of budgets in Toronto accommodations, then here are my suggestions:

• Budget: Samusun Toronto Right on Augusta avenue, where the Kensington Market is located. Steps away from lots of attractions. Choose between dorms or private rooms. Free breakfast, too.
• Mid-Range: 25 Richmond Street Condo Very well located for a great price and highly rated
• Luxury: Radisson Blu Downtown Toronto Steps away from the CN Tower, Ripley’s, Scotiabank Arena, the Toronto Roundhouse and other attractions.

Day Trips from Toronto

If you want to get outside the city and see more ‘natural beauty,’ there are a lot of day trips within a few hours of Toronto.

• Niagara Falls. You definitely can’t go to Toronto without visiting Niagara Falls. You can drive there in just over an hour, take the train, or try this day trip from Toronto.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake is a small town near Niagara Falls. Its popular for couples or groups of friends. It has a quaint downtown with boutiques and restaurants, and lots of wineries. See my guide here
• Barrie, a city on Lake Simcoe. Has a great waterfront and is a gateway to Cottage country
• Hiking day trips. There are many places to go hiking and get amazing views that are within an hour’s drive of the city, such as Forks of the Credit and Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
• Collingwood and the Blue Mountains. Beautiful towns right on Georgian Bay
• Wasaga Beach, the largest freshwater beach in the world

See my complete guide on day trips from Toronto here.

Is Toronto Worth Visiting? Final Thoughts

I hope that you can fall in love with Toronto as I have. Here are the main reasons I think Toronto is worth your time, in summer or winter.

• It’s the most multicultural city in the world. Multiculturalism is common worldwide, but I’ve never seen another city do it like Toronto.
• It’s statistically safer than many other North American cities, even though it’s one of the largest cities on the continent
• Its distinct, unique neighbourhoods
• It’s great for foodies – there’s such a variety of restaurants whether you’re looking for ethnic fusion, vegan options, hole in the wall restaurants, or high-end dining options.

So – is Toronto worth visiting? I believe it is. I think there’s a lot to appreciate in Toronto; a lot to do, for all ages and interests. And although its by far the priciest, I also believe that its one of the best places to live in Ontario as well. People often move to the smaller towns outside Toronto for a quieter lifestyle, but there are so many corners in Toronto abundant in art, greenspace, parks, walkable communities and places to take classes and get an education.

Is Toronto the prettiest city in Canada? I think its very pretty, although I’d be lying if I put it above Quebec City. While Ontario and Toronto don’t have the same natural beauty as famous touristy places like Quebec City or Banff, there is still a lot to offer in the area in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and around Ontario.

In conclusion, to the question – “Is Toronto worth visiting?”, I would say absolutely. If you’re going to be in Ontario, then I think it’s worth it to carve out at least 2-3 days to spend in its capital, Toronto.