City Sightseeing Toronto - Home page

Content on this page requires a newer version of Adobe Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash player



St. James Cathedral

Some of the most spectacular pieces of historical architecture in downtown Toronto are old churches.  A prime example of this is St. James Cathedral, a beautiful edifice situated on the corner of King Street East and Church Street.  A fully-functional Anglican church up to this day, it is certainly worth a visit.

While it is a stately and seemingly indestructible presence today, St. James has had a rough history.  The current building’s predecessors, built in 1807 and 1839, burned down in terrible fires.  The building’s current incarnation was constructed between the 1850s and 1870s in spectacular Gothic Revival style.  Over the years, St. James has been among the most prominent cTour Toronto St. James Cathedralhurches for Anglicans in Toronto.  In fact, whenever Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom visits Toronto, she exclusively attends St. James.  When the Queen last visited Toronto in July 2010, St. James was forced to sell tickets for pew space as a result of the high demand from those wanting to attend church with royalty!

Perhaps the best reason to visit St. James is for its striking architecture.  The most beautiful aspect of the building is it’s commanding spire, which is 93 metres (305 feet) high and to this day makes St. James the second-tallest cathedral in Canada (the tallest being St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal).  Inside, there are numerous colonnades, lovely stained glass windows, and an organ with over 5000 individual pipes!  For those interested in music, there are organ recitals held each Tuesday at 1:00 PM from September until June.  Finally, there are many plaques on the walls of the cathedral acknowledging many of the famous Torontonians who were prominent in the church (such as John Strachan, the first Bishop of Toronto, and William Jarvis, one of Toronto’s first sheriffs).

A visit to St. James Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Toronto for those interested in architecture, history, religion, and music!

TIPS FOR VISITORS: St. James Cathedral is easily accessible via public transit as it is located directly along the King Street streetcar line (at the Church Street stop).  It is also a prominent feature along the route of CitySightseeing Toronto/ShopDineTour’s city tour, with stops #21 and #23 being the most convenient exit points.  Driving to the Cathedral is most certainly not recommended as traffic can be maddening and parking limited and expensive.  Visitors should take note that the building will not be available to casual tourists during worship times.

Greektown

There are countless ethnic neighbourhoods confined within Toronto’s borders representing almost every corner of the globe.  That being said, some are more famous than others.  This is certainly the case in regards to Greektown, which is not only one of the most famous Greek neighbourhoods in Canada, but the entire world!  For those looking to experience one of Toronto’s great ethnic neighbourhoods, a visit here could be one of the best things to do in Toronto.

Greektown is located on Danforth Avenue, one of the most well-known streets in the city, roughly between Broadview Avenue and Greenwood Avenue.  While most of the neighbourhood initially developed around the beginning of the twentieth century as an English and Scottish enclave, the area began to take on its distinctly Greek character beginning in the 1960s.  Waves of Greek immigrants flooded into the neighbourhood during this time and opened up many restaurants, shops, community centres and churches.  By the 1970s, Toronto’s Greektown was reputedly the largest Greek neighbourhood in North America!

Even though many second and third generation Greeks have since moved away to the suburbs, many of their businesses have remained, along with many of the Greek street signs erected by the City of Toronto.  Among the most well-known restaurants in the area is Pantheon, which specializes in having the freshest fish direct from Greece.  Pan on the Danforth, another neighbourhood favourite, has a reputation for excellent food with friendly, unpretentious service.  Even if you’re not into Greek food, there are still many other options available in the neighbourhood.  Seven Numbers serves up fantastic Southern Italian cuisine while Allen’s is one of the area’s most popular local pubs.

Among the best times to visit Greektown is during the neighbourhood’s massively popular Taste of the Danforth Festival, which usually occurs annually during Canada’s Civic Day holiday weekend at the beginning of August.  During this time, Danforth Avenue is closed off to vehicular traffic and most of the neighbourhood’s restaurants set up pavilions and patios along the sidewalks.  The festival also includes many free concerts, dance performances and amusement rides for those who want to do more than just eat.  It is easily one of Toronto’s most popular festivals, regularly drawing over one million visitors each year!

For those wanting to get a taste (literally!) of one of Toronto’s most famous ethnic neighbourhoods, then a visit to Greektown is definitely in order!

TIPS FOR VISITORS: Greektown is easily accessible via public transit along the Bloor-Danforth subway line.  The main stops for the neighbourhood are Broadview, Chester and Pape.  If you are taking CitySightseeing/ShopDineTour’s city tour, you can get off at stop #5 and take a short subway ride to the area.  Driving to Greektown is generally not recommended as heavy traffic and expensive parking can cause considerable frustration.  If visiting during Taste of the Danforth, be prepared to deal with massive crowds and long lines.

Toronto’s Little Italy

Toronto’s Little Italy neighbourhood is a great way to experience a splash of Europe without the airfare!  The food, clubs, trendy shopping and nightlife here are all second to none.
Tour Toronto Little Italy

Little Italy Toronto Street Sign – Source: Xavier Snelgrove

The first Italian immigrants settled in Toronto as early as 1900 and have quickly became one of the city’s most prominent ethnic groups.  In fact, Toronto is the home to the largest community of Italians outside of Italy! The two most well-known Italian neighbourhoods are Little Italy and the Corso Italia.  While both are beautiful areas, I would argue that Little Italy is the more vibrant and charming one. This hip and sophisticated district is now crammed with shops, restaurants, clubs, cafes, and bars. The world’s first and only Italian Walk of Fame is located here and pays special tribute to extraordinary stars. Some of those honoured over the years include Dean Martin and Connie Francis, whose names are now permanently and prominently engraved in the sidewalk on College Street, the district’s main thoroughfare.

The best way to experience Little Italy is to take a stroll along College Street. This unique area has its own special feel where backyards give way to tomato plants and grapevines. The most important part of a visit to Little Italy is definitely the food!  There is a wide selection of restaurants, bars and patios. Whether it is a simple gelato or an exceptional and elegant diner the air is always perfumed with the aroma of mouth-watering pasta sauce with basil and other Italian herbs and spices.

One of Little Italy’s most popular events is the Taste of Italy, which occurs annually during the third weekend in June. This three-day celebration gives everyone an opportunity to experience true and authentic Italian culture with samplings of foods, drinks, music and dance. This open air festival starts each day at 12:00 PM and goes until 11:00 PM. At this time, College Street is closed off to vehicular traffic, and the the streets are filled with an overflow of pedestrians. With Italian music filling the air and entertainers everywhere, the dancing goes on under the stars until the wee hours of the morning.

Visiting Little Italy brings out the Italian in everyone. It is definitely something to look forward to on your visit to the fine, vibrant and multicultural city of Toronto.

Massey Hall

Seeking history and entertainment in one location? Then Massey Hall is the place to go!

Massey Hall TorontoMassey Hall is a concert venue located in downtown Toronto. Designed by Sidney Badgley and completed in 1894, its purpose was to provide a meeting place where Toronto natives could enjoy non-religious music. A designated National Historic Site of Canada since 1981, this structure is one of the most beautiful historic landmarks in the city.

Massey Hall had its fire escapes replaced after the Great Toronto Fire of 1904. In 1917 the nearby Albert Building was connected to Massey Hall’s main structure in order to provide extra space for offices and dressing rooms. In 1933 the building underwent major renovations that included the reduction of seating from 3,500 seats down to 2,765, the creation of a new lounge, the enlarging of the ground entrance, the replacing of wood on the stairs with stone and steel and a the introduction of a new colour scheme for the entire building. In 1948 concrete was added under the stage and ground floor seating to ease fire safety concerns. In 1955 plaster began to fall from the ceiling forcing the entire ceiling to be redone. In 1994 the basement was redone to include a bar as prior to 1994 alcohol was not permitted on the premises.  In 2001 a lift was installed which allows access from the main floor to the lower level.

Massey Hall is also well-known for some of the major artists who have graced its stage.  Some famous artists have included Rush, Gordon Lightfoot, Neil Young, Ronnie Hawkins, The Pixies, Diana Krall, Eddie Vedder, Death Cab For Cutie, Arcade Fire, Tori Amos, Feist, Wilco, Paul Simon, Genesis, Sarah McLachlan, John Mellencamp, Heart, K’naan, Noel Gallagher, Blue Rodeo and Elvis Costello.

Today Massey Hall is operated by the same corporation as Roy Thomson Hall, which is another popular Toronto concert venue. Visitors can catch great musical and comedic acts as well as take a 60 minute tour of the building! Tours are $7 per person and groups of 10 or more must be booked no less than 10 days in advance. Call the Volunteer Office at (416) 593-4822 ext. 322. Box office hours are 12pm to show time on performance days only. Massey Hall is located at 178 Victoria St and is close to Dundas and Queen subway stations.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

Great cities are often defined by their public transit systems, and Toronto is no exception.  The Toronto Transit Commission (commonly known as ‘the TTC’) has played a hugely important role in the development of the city.  Used by millions of people each day to get to work, social functions, emergencies and everything else in-between, the TTC is the lifeblood of Toronto.

Transit systems have operated in Toronto for much of its history but the TTC, as a government-run entity, began when the city government took over all of the privately run routes in 1921 and formed what was then known as the Toronto Transportation Commission (it was officially changed to the Toronto Transit Commission in 1954).  At this time, the vast majority of transit routes in Toronto were streetcars (also known in other cities as ‘trolleys’ or ‘trams’).  The TTC had what was likely it’s most important expansion in the early 1950s when the Yonge Street subway line was constructed.  Further expansions to the subway system were completed in subsequent years, most notably with the University line opening in the early 1960s (with a further extension in the 1970s), the Bloor-Danforth line opening in the late 1960s, and the Sheppard line opening in the early 2000s.  Today, Toronto’s TTC is the third most used transit system in North America with almost 2.5 million riders daily on its subway, streetcar and bus lines.

One of the most notable features of the TTC is it’s usage of streetcars, which have all but disappeared in most North American cities.  TTC streetcar lines, while not nearly as prominent as they once were, still remain on many streets in the older core of the city.  Taking a streetcar is a great way to see the city and experience the daily lives of Torontonians.  The Queen Street streetcar line is arguably the most spectacular, as it stretches an incredible 25 km across the city from west to east.  Along this route, one can experience a true slice of Toronto, as it passes by famous neighbourhoods (such as The Beach, Queen West and Parkdale), iconic buildings (such as Toronto Eaton Centre, City Hall, and the CTV Building) and fantastic scenery (such as Lake Ontario, the Don River and High Park).   In fact, it was recently selected as the top trolley ride in the world by National Geographic!

No visit to Toronto is complete without at least one ride on the TTC!

TIPS FOR VISITORS:  With a little research, the TTC should be fairly straightforward to use for visitors to Toronto.  The system is fully integrated, allowing passengers to switch between the different modes of transit with relative ease.  In order to do this, passengers need to ask for a transfer from the point they enter the system and then show this transfer when switching over to a different route.  Fares cost $3.00, whether passengers are travelling for one stop or across the city.  It is a good idea to keep in mind, however, that bus/streetcar operators do not give change, so exact fare will be required.  Passengers can also purchase day passes for $10.50, which allows for unlimited use of the system for a given day (not for a 24-hour period).  Weekly passes, allowing for unlimited use of the system between Monday and Sunday of a given week, cost $37.50.  The TTC is quite safe to use at any time of the day, as there are collectors at every station and passenger assistance alarms located on each vehicle on the rare occasion that any trouble arise.  That being said, unless you enjoy feeling like a sardine in a sardine can, it is advisable to avoid using the TTC during morning and afternoon rush hours (approximately 7:00 AM until 9:30 AM, and 3:00 PM until 7:30 PM).

Chinatown Toronto

Toronto’s Chinatown is a cultural haven filled with ancient and exotic traditions, as well as many restaurants and vendors lining the streets. The neighbourhood is centered around the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West. Today, Chinatown is a vibrant community that both tourists and locals flock to daily.

Toronto Chinatown

No holiday to Toronto is complete without a journey through Chinatown. Stroll along the main thoroughfares of Spadina Avenue or Dundas Street West and you will experience first hand the hustle and bustle of a vibrant culture. For authentic Chinese food lovers and bargain hunters this is the place to be. Street merchants and vendors line the busy streets selling everything from tasty treats to caricatures.  Experiencing this alone can leave you enterained and thrilled! One can find great gift ideas, including beautiful kimonos, unique hand crafted jewellery, kitchen utensils, pottery, and china.

The culinary experience will leave you with fond and delicious memories. Some of the best restaurants in the neighbourhood include Lee Garden, New Sky, and Goldstone Noodle, which are popular with locals and visitors alike. At these restaurants, diners can choose from a variety of dishes, including soups, dumplings, Peking duck, lobster and seafood.  Many of the restaurants in the neighbourhood offer fantastic dim sum as well. There are also some wonderful non-Chinese restaurants in the neighbourhood, including some that serve Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. Also, several bakeries specialize in a variety of buns and cakes that are quite inexpensive.

In the grocery stores and fruit stands, many food items are available that can be found nowhere else in Toronto.  These items range from exotic fruits and vegetables, to live snails and dried shrimp. Most stores in Chinatown are open everyday of the year.

The sights and sounds of Chinatown will always leave you with a unique and memorable experience!

Tip : Citysightseeing Toronto and Shop & Dine Tours allows tourists to explore Chinatown by getting off at the Art Gallery of Ontario stop (# 11 on the city tour maps).  It is a short 15 minute walk from Yonge-Dundas Square.

University of Toronto (St. George Campus)

When one thinks of Ivy League schools, the vine-covered buildings, storied histories and stellar academic reputations that characterize many universities in the Northeastern United States usually come to mind.  However, many are surprised to learn that an Ivy League-esque university campus can also be found in the middle of downtown Toronto!  The University of Toronto’s St. George campus (commonly known as “U of T”), located roughly between Bloor Street West, Queen’s Park Crescent, College Street and Spadina Avenue, is full of beautiful historic architecture and is recognized as one of the top universities in Canada.  A visit to the University of Toronto to view its magnificent campus is easily one of the best things to do in Toronto.

Main Building of University College Toronto

Main Building of University College Toronto - Source Jphillips23 Wikipedia

The University of Toronto was initially founded in 1827, making it one of the oldest universities in Canada.  Since its founding, University of Toronto has grown to become the largest university in Canada with over 70,000 full and part time students.  It is also regarded as one of the top schools in the world, having recently been ranked 19th globally (and 1st in Canada) by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.  Over the years it has educated and employed many illustrious individuals who ultimately won Nobel Prizes.  Sir Frederick Banting, a professor at the University of Toronto, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923 for isolating insulin, which was a huge breakthrough for diabetes patients all over the world.  Also, in 1957, University of Toronto graduate Lester B. Pearson (who later became the Prime Minister of Canada) won the Nobel Peace Prize for actively promoting peacekeeping efforts around the world, particularly in regards to the Suez Crisis of the previous year.

There are many points of interest for visitors to University of Toronto, particularly for those interested in architecture.  One spectacular building is Trinity College, located on Harbord Street near the intersection of Queen’s Park Circle.  It was completed in 1925 and incorporates the finest elements of Jacobethan and Tudor Revival architecture.  University College, arguably the most famous building on campus, is an astonishingly beautiful structure constructed in the late 1850s in Norman, Romanesque Revival, Byzantium and Gothic architectural styles.  The building dominates the area around Kings College Circle and, not surprisingly given its beauty, is often used as a backdrop for graduation photos by U of T students.  Finally, Robarts Library, completed in 1973, is the largest library on campus and is a fantastic, if also bizarre, example of Brutalist architecture.  Amusingly, many have speculated over the years as to what the building’s architects intended the eye-catching building to resemble, ranging from a giant turkey, to a Viking ship, to a phoenix rising out of the ashes, among others.

If you’re a fan of history, architecture, and academics then a visit to the University of Toronto is one of the best things to do in Toronto!

TIPS FOR VISITORS: The University of Toronto is easily accessible via public transit.  The College streetcar line and both the Bloor-Danforth and University-Spadina subway lines pass by the campus.  CitySightseeing Toronto/ShopDineTour’s city tour also passes by the campus, with stop #10 providing the most convenient exit point.  Those driving to U of T should be aware that many streets on campus are closed off to vehicular traffic and that parking can be exorbitantly expensive.  For those seeking discounted accommodation, deals can often be found by renting one of U of T’s empty dorm rooms in the summer months.

Top 5 free things to do in Toronto

If you’ve ever been a tourist traveling to a new city, you know that costs can add up. Flights, accommodation, and food prices can put a large dent in your wallet before you see a single attraction. Thankfully, Toronto does have many things to see and experience that won’t cost you a dime. Here are the top 5 things to do for free in Toronto:

5. Window shop in Yorkville

Considered one of the poshest parts of Toronto, Yorkville is the place to do some upscale shopping and dining. However, if you’d prefer to hold on to your cash, the window shopping alone can be more than enough entertainment. Tourists and locals alike enjoy walking the streets and checking out the designer duds. You might even catch a glimpse of a celebrity walking incognito, especially during the Toronto International Film Festival.

4. Visit Toronto Museums during cheaper times

The Royal Ontario Museum is free during its last hour on Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm. There is also half-price admission on Fridays from 4:30pm to 9:30pm. The Bata Shoe museum has pay-what-you-can admission every Thursday between 5pm and 8pm, with a $5.00 suggested donation. This is perfect for the budget traveller.

3. Browse at St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is another one of Toronto’s great historic landmarks that is free to enter. Also on the CitySightseeing/ShopDineTour bus route, this Market is actually comprised of three buildings that house a food market, an antique market and public space occupied by a variety of vendors. It is considered one of the best markets in the world and a huge part of Toronto’s culture and heritage. And the only money one might spend would be on lunch or some unique souvenirs. It is a great place to enjoy the beautiful sights and oh-so-yummy smells for next to nothing.

2. Stroll though the historic Distillery District.

If you’re looking to see some historic buildings in Toronto, The Distillery
District should be the number one place to visit on your list. It is a pedestrian-only village with brick-lined streets and restored Victorian industrial buildings. It is home to many galleries, theatres, boutiques and restaurants. However, tourists on a budget will be pleased to know that you can spend hours strolling around soaking in the culture and history of one of Ontario’s most popular attractions. So just hop-off the Toronto CitySightseeing/ShopDineTour bus at stop number 22 and check it out.

1. Check out the animals at Riverdale Farm

Riverdale Farm is modern recreation of early 20th century farm life. It spans 7.5 scenic acres and comes complete with horses, goats, pigs and various other farm animals. You can even watch a farmer do his daily chores! There is a lovely walking path that winds through wooded areas, around ponds and an assortment of vegetable and flower gardens. Located in historic Cabbagetown, Riverdale Farm is a fun day for the whole family.

 

 

Yorkdale Mall

Already been to the Eaton Centre five times during your trip?  Feel as though you’ve seen every store there is to see in Yorkville and on Queen Street West?  Why not take a trip outside of Toronto’s downtown core to see one of Canada’s best malls?  Located in a suburban part of the city known as North York near the intersection of Dufferin Street and Highway 401, Yorkdale Mall offers a compelling alternative to shopping in the downtown core and is a great place to shop in Toronto.

Yorkdale Mall was officially opened in February 1964.  At the time of its opening, it was the largest mall in the world with over 1,000,000 square feet of retail space!  The opening of Yorkdale, for better or worse, changed the face of shopping in Toronto for many decades to come.  Before it opened, most Torontonians went downtown to shop.  After the opening of Yorkdale, and many other shopping malls like it, Torontonians began flocking to suburbia for their shopping needs, a trend that arguably continues to the present day.  Despite a retail resurgence in downtown Toronto over the past 10-15 years or so, Yorkdale has remained a popular shopping destination, undergoing major expansions in the mid 2000s and in 2011-2012.

Today, Yorkdale has over 1.4 million square feet of retail space and over 250 stores.  To further enhance the shopping experience, it also has 40 foot wide halls and 27 foot high ceilings that help alleviate congestion even at the busiest times of the year.  Drivers will be pleased to note that Yorkdale has one of the largest parking lots in the city with over 7,000 spaces available!

Yorkdale has many marquee stores that will be attractive to any shopper.  Anchor stores include The Bay, Holt Renfrew and Sears.  Notable sub-anchor stores include Home Outfitters, Crate and Barrel (their first store outside of the United States), H & M, Old Navy, and Pottery Barn.  Yorkdale also includes some stores that can be found almost nowhere else in Canada.  Popular American retailer J. Crew’s only Canadian store opened at Yorkdale in 2011, and UK import Topshop opened one of its only Canadian stores in the mall recently as well.  For those not interested in just shopping there is a large food court, several sit-down restaurants, and a large movie theatre.

If you’re looking for great shopping or something to do on a rainy day in Toronto then a visit to Yorkdale is a fantastic idea!

TIPS FOR VISITORS: Yorkdale Mall is easily accessible via public transit.  It has its own stop (“Yorkdale”) along the University-Spadina subway line that takes approximately 20-25 minutes to reach from the downtown core.  Driving to Yorkdale is also possible and given that that is has one of the largest parking lots in the city a space can almost always be found (except perhaps during December).  It should be noted, however, that the roads surrounding Yorkdale can become extremely busy during Toronto’s notorious rush hour (approximately 7:00 AM until 9:30 AM in the morning, 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the evening).

Toronto Cinemas

While Toronto does have amazing stretches of good weather throughout the year, there are also many times where visitors will not want to go outside.  Thankfully, there are several fantastic cinemas in downtown Toronto that are a great thing to do in Toronto when the weather is not at it’s most pleasant.

The two largest theatres in downtown Toronto are the Scotiabank Theatre, located at Richmond Street West and John Street, and AMC’s Yonge and Dundas 24, located across from Yonge-Dundas Square.  The Scotiabank Theatre is a 14-screen multiplex that opened in 1999 and shows films in regular digital, AVX and IMAX formats.  It is one of the more architecturally distinct buildings in the area as it has what resembles a gigantic Rubik’s Cube on top of it!  There is also a Chapter’s book store and Milestone’s restaurant located in the building as well for those looking to kill time before the movie.  AMC’s Yonge and Dundas 24 opened in 2008 and is the largest movie theatre in Toronto with 24 screens.  It is one of the flagship tenants of the 10 Dundas East entertainment complex (originally known as Toronto Life Square).  Moviegoers purchase their tickets on the ground floor of the building and then take a series of escalators to get to the screens.  Some have argued that the ride up is often more entertaining than the movie itself!

For those more interested in arthouse and independent films, the Varsity and Cumberland Cinemas offer a perfect alternative.  The Varsity, an 8-screen theatre opened in 1972, is located inside of the Manulife Centre at the corner of Bay Street and Bloor Street West.  The Varsity often plays host to limited release films that are only screening in a handful of cities across North America, allowing moviegoers to see some films before almost anyone else can!  The Cumberland, located very close by in the neighbourhood of Yorkville, also offers many independent and foreign releases that often aren’t shown at any other cinema in Toronto.

Finally, the newest addition to Toronto’s movie theatre repertoire is the spectacular Bell Lightbox, located at the corner of John Street and King Street West, which opened in 2010 and now serves as the headquarters of the Toronto International Film Festival.  The Lightbox is a film lover’s dream, with 5 screens showing the best independent, foreign and classic films from around the world almost every night.  There are also numerous special exhibits that are offered at the Lightbox.  Past exhibits have featured film legends such as Mary Pickford, Tim Burton and Grace Kelly.  And of course, during the Toronto International Film Festival in September, the Lightbox is a hub of activity, with frequent visits by the most popular celebrities in the world!

So, if you’re looking for some things to do in Toronto when the weather does not agree with you, then going to see a film at one of Toronto’s many movie theatres is always a great choice!

TIPS FOR VISITORS: All of the theatres listed in this post are easily accessible via public transit.  They also are all close to stops along CitySightseeing Toronto/ShopDineTour’s city tour.  Parking is available at all of the theatres mentioned, though it can be quite expensive (though some theatres will validate parking).  Most movies cost about $12.00-13.00 in Toronto, and more for AVX and IMAX formats (about $16.00 and $18.00 respectively).