11 Must-Knows When Visiting Toronto For The First Time

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Visiting Toronto? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Is Toronto worth visiting? That answer is a huge YES! As one of the biggest cities in North America (bigger than every US city besides New York and LA), Toronto has plenty to offer visitors checking out Ontario.

Having grown up north of Toronto as well as living and working in Toronto for a while, we like to think we know a thing or two about Canada’s largest city!

Toronto tourism is always booming – especially in the warm summer months but even in the dead of winter!

General Information About Toronto

view of skyscrapers from beach with autumn leaves.
Lake Ontario plays a huge role in shaping the city!

As the capital of Ontario and Canada’s largest city, Toronto has a lot to live up to! This diverse city of over 2.5 million people is bustling with life everywhere you look.

The city sits right on the shores of Lake Ontario – which is great for boating but creates interesting climate/weather all year round!

Now, keep in mind that in this post we are talking about just the city of Toronto. Toronto is part of a larger area called the GTA – or the Greater Toronto Area – which includes the city core and the surrounding regions of Peel, Durham, Halton, and York.

For your visit, you don’t really need to know about these areas if you are sticking to the city centre of Toronto.

That said, the next biggest cities in the surrounding area are Mississauga, Brampton, and Markham. Some people even include Hamilton in this mix – and then it gets even more complicated!

A Brief History Lesson On Toronto

Toronto actually has a long history behind it. First a settlement by Indigenous Peoples, it was part of a trading route that led to other lakes in the north of the province.

The French settled there, then the British, and it was made the capital of Upper Canada to be called “York”. There was a Fort built – Fort York – but then it was attacked and sacked by Americans in 1812 (but then we burnt down the White House).

The city grew as immigrants settled in from abroad and eventually the city became “Toronto” in 1834 (before Canada was even a country).

Since then, it has grown out over time – essentially eating up smaller neighbourhoods as it went to become Canada’s economic and cultural powerhouse that it is today.

You can revisit some of the most historic elements of Toronto when you check out St. Lawrence Market, Old City Hall, and Queen’s Park.

Safety While Visiting Toronto

city skyscrapers with green park and girl walking on sidewalk.
Here’s Lisa being very safe in Toronto!

As far as large cities go, there is no guarantee for complete safety. Having said that, Toronto is considered a very safe city to live in and visit. The downtown core especially is a safe area.

However, as a visitor to Toronto (as with any place you are unfamiliar with) you should watch your pockets – especially on the TTC (public transit, see below) and at tourist attractions.

Besides that, watch out for bikes and streetcars when you cross the roads – and follow the pedestrian signals or else you might get a fine for jaywalking!

While it’s completely safe to be out at night – do be mindful of your surroundings depending on the areas you are going out in.

If you stick to the Entertainment District, Queen Street, or Ossington, it’s a safe bet there will be plenty of other people around.

Weather and Climate in Toronto

flights of beers on wooden holder on table with man behind.
Nothing like a flight of beer on a patio in the Distillery District!

Largely because of the lake, Toronto has four distinct seasons that you can experience. That said, the seasonal temperature fluctuation can basically go from -30 degrees Celsius in the cold of January winter to +35 degrees Celsius in the summer in August.

Another thing to remember is that Toronto summer is nicer in May and June as opposed to July and August. Toronto is notorious for humid heat in the summer so you may sweat even if you are in the shade!

As we said, the best time to visit Toronto would be the early summer or even in the fall. September and October can be cooler but September still has the chance of some residual summer heat.

You also get the beautiful autumn colours on the trees which some people pay big money to see!

Flying Into Toronto Airports

airplane on tarmac beside airport gate seen through glass at pearson airport.
A shot from Pearson Airport – the largest in Canada!

If you are visiting Toronto from far away, there’s a good chance that you will be flying in.

Toronto has two main airports that most passengers use: Toronto Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. We’ll dive into which is which below:

Pearson International Airport

With the airport code YYZ, Pearson is the largest/busiest airport in all of Canada. While the airport handles domestic flights, it is the main hub for international destinations.

If you need to learn more about Pearson, you can check out Pearson’s website here.

Now, keep in mind that Pearson is NOT close to downtown Toronto. The airport is located in Mississauga which is outside the city centre. However, you have a few options to get to downtown/the city centre.

You can take a cab or airport shuttle to your hotel but this option can be expensive. Luckily, if you are heading downtown (to then go to a hotel or take public transit to another place in the city) you have one great option: The UP Express Train.

The UP Express – a Union-Pearson Train – is super easy to take between Terminal 1 and Union Station. You can buy tickets ahead of time online, on your phone, or in person at the machines or kiosks.

You can also get a Presto Card (used for Toronto transit), load it up, and use it for the UP. We will cover the Presto Card below…

The UP only opened a few years ago and we’ve already taken it countless times. Eric grew up in a time when the UP didn’t exist so the fact that there’s a direct train link between downtown Toronto and the airport is awesome (and makes loads of sense).

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

With the airport code YTZ, Toronto also has Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. This small island airport flies Porter Airlines and Air Canada to short/medium distance flights to the US (New York, Chicago) and other places in Ontario/Canada.

If you do somehow fly into Billy Bishop, you can take the ferry from the island or walk (in a tunnel) from the airport to the mainland which is downtown Toronto.

You can learn more about Billy Bishop here. Eric has flown through Billy Bishop a handful of times and it’s been really nice each time. It’s a small, well-functioning airport!

Getting To/Around Toronto

To get to Toronto, you have a few options: you can drive, take the bus, or take the train – either the ViaRail or the GO (regional Ontario train).

If you have rented a car and are driving, downtown Toronto is encased by a highway “box” of four major routes:

  • the 401 runs east-west at the north end of the city,
  • the Highway 404/Don Valley Parkway runs north-south to the east,
  • the Gardiner Expressway runs along the waterfront at the south,
  • and Highway 427 runs north-south on the west side of the city.

The main transport hub is Union Station which is right downtown on Front Street.

This massive hub (which is basically always somehow under renovation) is the busiest station in Canada and handles passengers heading every which way on buses, regional, and long-distance trains. You can check out more information about Union here.

Public Transportation (the TTC)

red street car passing in front of green trees with blue sky in toronto.
One of the new streetcars passing through Chinatown!

Once you are in Toronto, you will have the experience of riding the TTC. The “Toronto Transit Commission” is responsible for public transportation in Toronto.

Lovingly known as the TTC, it will get you from A to B eventually. We say this because the system is prone to delays for a variety of reasons. That said, it’s reliable most of the time.

The TTC is made up of the subway, buses, and streetcars. The subway is good for going north-south across downtown, while the streetcars and buses fill in the gaps on major streets.

Toronto is basically a giant grid system so it’s pretty easy to get around if you have your bearings about you.

When you get on transit (or go through a paid gate to enter the subway), you can now just tap your contactless card (way to get with the times, Toronto).

The other more permanent solution is the Presto Card – the official tap card of the system and a few other transit systems in Ontario.

If you plan on using it more than a few times, you might opt to buy a Presto at a vending machine (for a small fee) and load it with money (minimum $10.00).

To use the Presto, just tap to get “on” the subway, streetcar, or bus and tap again if you transfer between modes of transportation.

Presto card users get to use the “two-hour transfer” rule meaning that from the first tap you have two hours to basically get on and off and go in any direction you want – all for the price of one fare.

Just tap each time you change vehicles or directions. Fares are not based on distance so you don’t have to tap “off” or out of the system again.

You can learn more about TTC fares and schedules and learn about the Presto Card.

You can also still use cash to pay for tickets but only when there is a manned payment box on the bus or in the subway station.

If you do pay with cash or a method that is not Presto, remember to take your paper “transfer”. It’s your Proof of Payment for the ride.

Driving in Toronto

Driving in Toronto isn’t terrible since it’s a big grid – but it can get pretty congested in the morning and afternoon (after work). Parking downtown can also be expensive.

You also have the option to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi. Toronto is a big city with lots of drivers usually available.

The Neighbourhoods of Toronto

man sitting in red chair with sandy beach stretching far into distance.
Us enjoying Woodbine Beach – all to ourselves!

Toronto is known to be a “city of neighbourhoods” in the sense that you can walk from one and into another and feel like you’ve switched countries let alone the street.

We’ll mention below just how diverse Toronto is – but it shows in the areas around the city!

Each neighbourhood or district in Toronto has its own vibe and borders. We explain a handful of the popular ones below so you can see what’s in each one:

  • The Danforth (Greektown) – an international hub of food and shops
  • Liberty Village – residential area in West End with restaurants
  • Distillery District – red brick factory area with breweries and shops
  • The Beaches – trendy and residential in the East end with the beach
  • Leslieville – also trendy area with shops, cafes, in the East End
  • Cabbagetown – a historic and residential area
  • The Annex – student area with trendy and cheap eats
  • Kensington Market – eclectic market area with food and shops
  • Chinatown – the quintessential Chinese-influenced area on Spadina
  • Queen Street West – good for shopping and food
  • King West – great for restaurants and bars
  • Entertainment District – best clubs, sports, bars, theatres, etc
  • Toronto Islands – green space with residents and amusement park
  • and many more!

Culture / Language in Toronto

For those who live there, it’s no secret: Toronto is a diverse city. How diverse? Toronto has been named the most diverse city in the world with over 200 nationalities represented, 140 languages, and 51% of residents being born outside of Canada.

It’s no wonder that there are so many little international pockets all over the city: Little Italy, Koreatown, etc.

The language spoken in Toronto is English, but French is also an official language of Canada. That said, you are more likely to hear literally any other language in a Toronto coffee shop before you hear French. Seriously.

That said, one time in a coffee shop in The Beaches Lisa ended up having a brief conversation with a woman in her native language – German!

The woman (who also lived in Toronto) was so surprised to hear German spoken that wasn’t her young kids.

Toronto Restaurants, Cafes, and Bars

korean hot pot with bowls on dark table in restaurant.
Case and Point – try Korean hot pot in Koreatown!

This rich culture and diversity are certainly represented in the available food around the city. Toronto has a booming food scene – and you will get to experience it if you head to Toronto.

You can basically find any cuisine from across the world in Toronto – and that is not an exaggeration.

That said, Toronto is known for its brunch culture. There are brunch places everywhere – and the weekend mornings are sacred brunch time.

If you are heading for brunch be sure to be early or expect to wait a bit! There are loads of great brunch places and we will write a whole post on them soon!

large bar building with rooftop patio and tall skyscrapers around.
Head to Bar Hop – you will not be disappointed!

Toronto also has a strong coffee culture. Canadians (in general) drink a lot of coffee compared to other countries so cafes are a very common occurrence around the city.

You can try Tim Hortons – the classic Canadian brand – but explore the city for tiny coffee shops… they pop out of everywhere!

Finally, Toronto has a strong bar/pub/club culture – being a massive city. The Entertainment District is a good place to start if you are looking for a place to go out for drinks or dancing.

There are other pockets to go out in (like Ossington) but generally, you’ll find bars all over the city. We really like Bar Hop (shown above) for food pints and food!

Paying and Tipping In Toronto

While you are out in Toronto, it’s a good idea to know how paying and tipping work in Canada/the city.

You can use cash in the city but basically everywhere accepts cards. In fact, it’s arguably the preferred method these days.

In Canada, tipping is expected for service. At a restaurant, the amount is generally 15% of the bill but it’s not unheard of to tip higher for really good service.

Sometimes large groups have tip automatically added to the bill so watch for that. Even poor service gets a tip – but a lower amount. No tip would be very rude.

You can also tip at the bar by tossing a dollar or two to the bartender for drinks – price depending, of course. Tipping well at the bar might mean you get drinks faster all night long… just sayin’.

Sports and Entertainment in Toronto

baseball field in larg stadium with blue seats around.
You can catch a Jays game at the Rogers Centre if you like!

If you are looking for things to do in Toronto, you will not have a shortage of options. From sports to festivals and bars and theatre, you will find something to suit all interests!

Toronto is a huge sports city – with hockey (Maple Leafs) and basketball (Raptors) at Scotiabank Arena, baseball (Blue Jays) at the Rogers Centre, and soccer (Toronto FC) being the most popular sports.

They also have a Canadian football team, Lacrosse team, and smaller sports leagues/levels.

In short, it can be expensive to watch live sports (especially Leafs). Jays tickets are still affordable if you sit up high.

If you just go to the bar to eat, drink, and watch the game among locals you will have a fun time all the same.

As for other things to do – we have a whole post on this. That said, there are many museums in Toronto like the Royal Ontario Museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and more.

There are many theatres and musical venues as well like the Princess of Wales Theatre, Massey Hall, The Danforth Music Hall, and the Opera House – to name just a handful!

Related Articles

If you are looking for more articles about Toronto, you might find these interesting:

And there you have it – our guide on things to know before visiting Toronto. Of course, we could have dove into each in more detail – but we will leave those for other posts!

Hopefully, you’ve learned a bit more about the city and look forward to exploring it. Let us know how that goes!

As always, Keep Exploring, eh?
-E&L

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pictures of city buildings and beach with autumn trees with text overlay Must-Knows When Visiting Toronto For The First Time
Author
Eric Wychopen is a Canadian content writer who loves to share his passion for Ontario. Originally from a small town in Simcoe County, he has almost 50 countries under his belt - but Ontario will always be home. Having travelled thousands of kilometres across the province for work and play, Eric has a wealth of knowledge about the province and is always looking for new experiences in Ontario.