Flights to Toronto

Fly with SAS to Toronto Pearson International Airport and you will land in Canada well-rested and ready to explore the city.

Visit Toronto Pearson International Airport’s website.

Toronto is one of Canada's most popular cities. Toronto, as a vibrant, cosmopolitan city, offers its visitors plenty of historical structures, breath-taking scenery, and great shopping opportunities.

FEBRUARY 2023

Once you’ve explored the city, the Hockey Hall of Fame, been to a hockey or baseball game, and walked along some of Yonge Street’s 56km, you may want to find something fun and sporty to do. You’ve come to the right place. Whether ice hockey, baseball or simply wandering around and taking in the sights is your “thing,” Toronto genuinely does offer something for everyone. And with an average of 301 sunny days a year, making the most of the great outdoors is fun, easy and good for you! Here are several ideas.

Go local

Toronto Island Park

Visitors sometimes steer clear of the popular spots, assuming they are too touristy. But Central Park in New York is full of locals, as is Djurgården in Stockholm. And in Toronto, that oasis in the city is called Toronto Islands Park. Take the 15-minute ferry from downtown to Centre Island – which is actually the most eastern of the three islands – and enjoy a full, fun day with lots of activities. Begin with the greatest vista of the city, walk around or rent a bike, and remember what the sign on thePhoto island says – “'Please WALK on the grass!” That’s Canada.

Photo: Destination Toronto

Ultimate fun

Toronto Island DGC

You can start warming up on the ferry, because just 500m to the right of the Wards Ferry Terminal is a full 18-hole frisbee golf course, originally built in 1980. The Professional Disc Golf Association calls it a “beautiful park with a picturesque view of the city [and a] challenging course with generous gaps and tricky wind.”

A day at the beach

Woodbine Beach Park

Well, it’s as outdoorsy as you want to make it. Head over to Woodbine Beach Park and work out at the outdoor gym, play some beach volleyball, or go for a run on the Martin Goodman trail that runs through the park. Or, if you want to enjoy the beaches on the Toronto Islands, just remember that the south side of the Hanlan's Point beach is “clothing optional” and it’s very popular.

Padel who?

Royal Canadian Yacht Club

Padel has conquered Europe in recent years, so it’s no wonder that the fastest-growing sport in North America is also a ball and paddle game, named “pickleball.” It’s played on a court, similar to a tennis court, only smaller. Players use solid paddles to hit a ball that looks like the one used in floorball, over a net. It’s a fun sport for players of all ages. You can find pickleball courts everywhere in Toronto, including at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) on Toronto Island.

Get in and on the lake

Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre

Toronto sits right on Lake Ontario, and to just admire it from the shore would be silly, right? Rent a kayak or a SUP and hit the Humber River. Five minutes later, you’d never believe you’re at the heart of the fourth largest city in North America, a metropolis that six million people call home. Another option is to rent a kayak at the Harbourfront, across the water from the Toronto Islands.

Run, baby, run

Beltline Trail

Many of us like to explore a new city simply by putting on our running shoes and heading out. A serious runner may want to find a good trail the locals use, and cover both bases at the same time. Toronto doesn’t disappoint there, either. One good option is the Martin Goodman Trail, an 8km trail on the waterfront. Another popular option is the Beltline Trail in the northeastern part of the city. It’s a good 12km run that includes parks, woods and ravines along the way. High Park offers a shorter, 5km trail with gardens, bridges, ponds and waterfalls.

Take a hike

Crawford-Jones Memorial Park

Canadians are outdoorsy types and it’s no wonder that there are several hiking trails right in the city of Toronto. One of them can be found in High Park. Of course, the paths are paved so serious mountain climbers and explorers may want to look elsewhere, but for those looking for something to do with the entire family, the 5km hike is a great option. High Park is meant to help Torontonians learn about the environment, and classes about wildlife and gardening are also available. Outside the downtown area, the 19km-long West Humber River Recreation Trail that runs along the West Humber River, is a favorite among the locals.

JANUARY 2023

Toronto offers history, culture, spectacular scenery and a death-defying experience. Canada’s largest city Toronto is the capital of Ontario and welcomes some 40 million visitors each year. From the highest vantage point on the CN Tower to underground shopping malls, Toronto offers an endless choice of alternatives for travelers. So, whether you’re into history, art, culture sport or nature, Toronto’s got you covered.

Here’s our Top 10 things to do while you’re in Toronto

An ever-popular attraction

CN Tower

An unmistakable fixture of the Toronto skyline, the world-famous 553m-high CN Tower has been an ever-popular attraction ever since it first opened in 1976. Take in the 360° views from the observation deck or have a meal at the 360 Restaurant. And, for the adventurous types, there is the EdgeWalk where you can walk hands-free (but with a safety harness) on a ledge around the Tower’s pod 356m up from the ground – not for the faint hearted!

A magnificent must-do

Niagara Falls

Under two hours’ drive from central Toronto, the magnificent Niagara Falls is a must-do for those visiting Toronto. It’s actually a group of three giant waterfalls, the largest of which is the Horseshoe Falls that sits on the border between Canada and the US and has a 50m-plus vertical drop. Bonus tip: Rather than visiting the more touristy center by the Falls, head to Niagara on the Lake, with its charming historic town center and a great place for wine tasting.

Photo: Unsplash

The largest museum in Canada

Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto

More popularly known as the AGO, this outstanding cultural establishment was opened back in 1900 and, with some 100,000 artefacts in its permanent collection, it is one of the largest museums in Canada. A great place to learn about Canada’s history and its indigenous culture.

Wander around the quaint streets

The Distillery Historic District

A quaint area studded with 19th century buildings centered around the former whiskey distillery after which it is named, this is a lovely place to while away a few hours in. Located near the harbor, it’s perfect to just wander around the pedestrianized streets taking in the one-of-a-kind shops, galleries and eateries. If you’re lucky, there may be a festival going on there during your stay.

A perfect family excursion

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Just a minute’s walk from the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium is one of Toronto’s newer top attractions and a perfect excursion for the whole family. Particular highlights in this water wonder world are a spectacular underwater glass tunnel where all kinds of marine life serenely saunter over your head and the playful, beautifully lit jellyfish display.

For the history buffs

Royal Ontario Museum

Toronto is full of fine museums. History buffs will love the Royal Ontario Museum, (often referred to as ROM) Toronto’s natural history museum. You could spend days here and still not get to see all its six million-plus treasures. Its 40 galleries cover everything from dinosaurs, ancient Egypt and China to the early Europeans and indigenous Canadians.

A must for all hockey fans

Hockey Hall of Fame

More than a sport, ice hockey is almost part of the DNA of Canadians, none more so than in Toronto where the Toronto Maple Leafs’ motif is a ubiquitous sight throughout the city. If you’re not lucky enough to catch a game live while you’re in Toronto, the next best thing is the Hockey Hall of Fame. On display is the Stanley Cup, won by the local team 13 times, although not since 1967, and you can try out your skills with an interactive exhibit.

Relax at Toronto Islands

Toronto Island Park

If you feel in need of a break from the busy city, take a 13-minute ferry ride over to the Toronto Island Park, also known as Toronto Islands. Boats to the Island leave from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay St. and Queen's Quay. There are 15 islands in all to choose from, but the three most popular are Wards Island, Centre Island and Hanlan's Point. Sunbathe on the beaches, paddle board or kayak through the canals that link the various or simply relax and enjoy the fresh Lake Ontario air.

Step into Toronto's gastronomic world

St. Lawrence Market

A trip to a market is always worthwhile in a new city, and Toronto offers something for everyone in that respect. Over 200 years old, St. Lawrence Market is a Toronto institution. Its three different sections house over 100 vendors, it remains one of the bustling culinary hotspots of Toronto. Not just a place for foodies though, you’ll come across a flower market, antiques and much, much more. The markets are open Tuesday-Saturday.

Interactive experiences for all ages

Ontario Science Centre

One of Canada’s most well-visited attractions, the Ontario Science Centre is a perfect excursion for all ages. The museum offers frequently rotating temporary exhibitions along with its permanent features that include some 500 interactive exhibits, including a real-life rain forest, the stunning Space Hall and Ontario’s only IMAX® Dome theatre.

SEPTEMBER 2022

To get a true sense of Toronto, take a stroll through some of the many diverse neighborhoods in Canada’s largest city. Over 50% of Toronto residents were born outside of Canada, giving Toronto the claim to fame of being one of the most multicultural – if not the most multicultural city in the world. What truly sets Toronto apart from other multicultural cities is the broad representation from pretty much every part of the world. Torontonians are proud of this diversity and embrace the extra flavor that it brings to their city – in its restaurants, and its neighborhoods. Here are a few very distinct neighborhoods within walking distance of each other in Toronto’s west end.

Little Italy

Little Italy, mainly running along College Street West, is frequented by Toronto locals during the day and attracts people from all over the city in the evenings due to its considerable restaurants, cafés, bars and music venues. This is a neighborhood that is proud of its Italian heritage – there’s even the Italian Walk of Fame on College Street honoring actor Armand Assante, Maria Grazia Cucinotta from The Sopranos and NHL hockey great, Phil Esposito, among others. Today, the predominately Italian area of Little Italy shares space with Portuguese, Spanish and other Latino descendants, turning the neighborhood into a particularly lively, flag-waving, car tooting place whenever there’s an international soccer game playing.

That's amore

Giulietta

There are so many good Italian restaurants in Little Italy that it’s hard to go wrong. Little Italy truly has something for every budget, whether it’s a pizza, baked goods to go, a sit-down pasta lunch or an elegant dinner. For the latter, it’s always a good idea to make a reservation, especially on weekends when places tend to fill up quickly. Behind its non-descript façade, Giulietta is a sophisticated Italian restaurant with steel accents and marble and an open kitchen and bar that offers a view on what’s cooking. Many of the dishes are meant to be shared, which is a good thing as it’s hard to pick just one top-notch delicacy from this foodie menu.

An Italian original

Café Diplomatico

There are plenty of trendier and more gourmet restaurants in Little Italy but Café Diplomatico is a classic institution in Toronto, with a loyal following and a welcoming and familiar vibe. “The Dip” has been around for over five decades and was a second home to new Italian immigrants. It was also one of the first restaurants to flaunt an outdoor dining patio and its ideal corner location still fills up fast. If you want old-fashioned generous portions of Italian food at reasonable prices, visit the unpretentious Café Diplomatico.

Put a spell on you

Voodoo Child Espresso & Cocktail Bar

Craving a cappuccino fix or just plain thirsty? The Little Italy’s cozy Voodoo Child Espresso & Cocktail Bar will satisfy that craving. The friendly staff take their coffee, tea and cocktails very seriously and offer lovely nibbles too. With its wooden floors, soft lighting and chalkboard menus, it’s the kind of place where you can just chill or let the intellectual conversations flow. Voodoo also has an eclectic selection of cheerfully packaged food, coffees and tea for sale, so you can take your favorite blend home with you.

Go Spanish in Little Italy

Bar Raval

There are some terrific tapas bars in Little Italy, including the dark and cozy Bar Isabel (797 College St) and Bar Raval, which is a real standout, not only due to its creative menu, but its stunning Spanish Art Nouveau-inspired interior. Bar Raval’s centerpiece is a massive, contoured mahogany bar and eye-catching laser-cut steel screens framing the windows. Tapas and pintxos are on the menu here with an interesting wine and beer selection from southern Europe, plus a nod to Canadian breweries and wineries. Tables spill out onto the street patio in the summer, which is a good thing, as it’s an extremely popular place. Open seven days a week.

Kensington Market

Toronto’s Kensington Market neighborhood is just a few blocks away from the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), with its magnificent addition by architect Frank Gehry, who grew up on nearby Beverley Street. His parents were among the many new immigrants, particularly eastern European Jews, who lived and worked in the area when they first came to Toronto in the 1920s and 1930s. New waves of immigrants from the Caribbean, South America, East Africa, Vietnam, China and elsewhere, have filled the crowded neighborhood since, but there’s still a synagogue on Andrew Street. Unlike most downtown Toronto neighborhoods, Kensington Market hasn’t quite gentrified, despite some hipster hangouts (like the fairly Swedish “Fika” café on 28 Kensington Avenue). It remains genuinely working class, gritty and multicultural.

Fulfill your vintage desires

Courage My Love

Courage My Love has been around since way before vintage shopping was cool, opening its doors to Toronto bargain hunters back in the 1970s. Today it is packed with clothing, trinkets, bags, jewelry, decorative items, an incredible stock of buttons and beads – and everything you were ever looking for – or had never imagined. The store is as wild and crazy on the inside as it is on the outside, where racks spill out onto the front yard of this brightly painted old Victorian house.

Smooth jazz

Poetry Jazz Café

Every summer, Toronto hosts the 10-day Toronto Jazz Festival at various venues around town, but when that’s not on, you can still experience live jazz at one of the city’s many music venues. One of the coolest (and tiniest) jazz venues around is Poetry Jazz Café, tucked away on Augusta Ave. The small lounge means you’re practically on the stage, but there’s also a courtyard if you prefer to carry on a conversation. Up and coming jazz musicians from around the world are served up here along with some tasty cocktails like the Bitches Brew, named after a Miles Davis album.

Cheap and Cheerful eats

Jumbo Empenadas

If you don’t feel like a sit-down meal, there are great cheese shops, fresh fruit stands, bakeries and everything you could wish for to create a perfect picnic – or grab inexpensive take-out food with a Latino twist in Toronto’s Kensington Market area. There’s Gus Tacos at 225 Augusta Avenue or Jumbo Empenadas, for authentic Chilean food. What started out as true street food, sold out of a hotdog cart in the early 1990s, has expanded into a restaurant and patio, but you can still order an empenada and side of salsa to go.

Be transported in Chinatown

Kai Wei Supermarket

Technically, Chinatown is another neighborhood, but it rubs shoulders with Kensington Market and is another must. You’ll forget this is Canada on the streets of Chinatown, with the sights, sounds and smells of Asia, and locals haggling over bok choy, herbs and roasted meats hanging in shop windows. Pop into the fully stocked Kai Wei Supermarket or another Asian food store to experience the chaotic vibe. Today, you’re just as likely to find a Korean hot stone pot bibimpap (Ka Chi Korean restaurant at 414 Dundas St.) or a Vietnamese Pho (Pho Hung at 350 Spadina Ave.) in addition to Chinese dim sum in the neighborhood.

Trinity-Bellwoods

The focal point of Toronto’s Trinity-Bellwoods neighborhood is its 15-acre park, once the home of Trinity College, which is now located on the downtown University of Toronto campus. Trinity Bellwoods Park includes an ice-skating rink, tennis courts, picnic areas, playground and even a Farmers Market in the summer. It’s a popular place for sunbathers, picnickers and sporty types but much of the action happens street side – on Queen Street West, Dundas Street West and Ossington Avenue, arguably the city’s trendiest strips today. There is an endless choice of restaurants and cafés, and artsy Queen Street West has the largest concentration of art galleries in Toronto. Most of them are free – as are the laneways off Ossington Avenue with their quirky and highly original street art.

When in Toronto, go Greek

Mamakas Taverna & Bar Koukla

Greek immigrants came to Toronto in droves following World War II and the military junta of the 1960s and 1970s. Subsequently, Toronto had the largest Greektown in North America, located on Danforth Avenue, or as locals say, “The Danforth”. Trinity-Bellwoods also has its share of Greek restaurants and the lovely Mamakas, with its sister Bar Koukla are among the best, with fresh ingredients, original dishes and a pleasant Mediterranean atmosphere. The restaurant was started as a tribute to the matriarchs in owner Thanos Tripi’s Greek family.

Triple size me

Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club

Across from Trinity Bellwoods Park is a hopping hamburger joint owned by Matty Matheson, a Toronto-based chef, cookbook author and host of the food and travel show Dead Set On Life. The tiny burger place is busy so be prepared to put in your take-out order and wait for a high quality, meaty burger topped with Matty’s Patty’s sauce. For the vegetarians there’s the plant-based Impossible Burger. All burgers come in a single, double, or triple-size for those who dare. Add a chocolate milkshake and you’re good for the day.

Clothes with class

Gravitypope

Gravitypope is an independently owned, high-end Canadian store, with various locations in Canada. Browsing around the ultra-cool, three-floor Toronto store you’ll find a wide selection of shoes, clothing and accessories for men, women and children – all carefully curated from around the world. This is a store that’s worth visiting just for its highly original design, which includes French chandeliers and an art deco staircase reclaimed from the Buenos Aires Paramount Theatre.

The purest wines

Grape Witches

Located west of Trinity Bellwoods Park, on Toronto’s Dundas Street, is Grape Witches, a wine shop, club, bar and patio for tasting organic, biodynamic and natural wines. The female duo behind Grape Witches are passionate about natural wines and they represent 25 independent wineries including excellent local Ontario wines. The space itself, located in a former gallery, is ideal for displaying so many appealing bottles. Enjoy wine by the glass, bottle or through multiple “sippers” – a good way to taste the wines one at a time.

Artsy hotel venue

The Drake

Prior to 2004, the Drake Hotel was a graffiti-covered dive, a derelict hotel and Toronto rock club without a future – until it was lovingly revamped to its former glory. Today, the hotel, which was originally built in1890, is the den of artsy cool. This fun and quirky 19-room boutique hotel is where creative locals and international travelers gather and eat well around the clock. There is live music, comedy, poetry or film screenings in Drake Underground and a rooftop terrace with a DJ. And, while on the topic of “Drakes” Toronto’s famous rapper has opened a brand-new music venue, called History, on Queen Street East, in the Beaches, yet another vibrant Toronto neighborhood not to be missed!

AUGUST 2022

When the sizzling heat of a Toronto summer day has you craving something cool, head to one of Toronto’s many beaches on Lake Ontario. Most of these beaches dot the downtown waterfront’s western and eastern ends or are just a short ferry ride away on the Toronto islands. So, pack some sunscreen and a towel, check that the blue flag is flying – a sign that the water has been certified for high quality – and plunge in!

The Beaches, of course

Kew-Balmy Beach

The Beaches neighborhood, aptly named for its close proximity to great beaches, is also one of Toronto’s most pleasant areas to hang out in. You’ll find eclectic homes, independent shops and cafés and restaurants along Queen Street East to suit all tastes and budgets. A classic wooden boardwalk begins at Balmy Beach and continues through Kew Beach, officially one beach today. It’s all good, old-fashioned fun with a bandstand in the grassy Kew Gardens Park, a beach club from 1905, a lawn bowling club, and of course, a sandy beach. At the eastern tip of the beach you can spot a stunning art deco palace that houses, rather surprisingly, the Robert Harris Water Filtration Plant. It has featured in movies and TV programs as well as in author Michael Ondaatje’s Toronto-based novel In the Skin of a Lion.

Splash and volley

Woodbine Beach Park

You can walk along the boardwalk from Kew-Balmy Beach to reach Woodbine Beach, a popular place for sunbathing and picnicking with its 3km of sandy beach. It’s the right place to be if you want to join a friendly game of beach volleyball or work on those abs at the outdoor fitness gym. For swimmers, if Lake Ontario is too cold for you there’s the giant Donald D. Summerville Outdoor Olympic Pool. The fully equipped Woodbine Beach also offers a playground, sheltered picnic areas, changing rooms, accessible washrooms, water bottle filling stations and a beach shower. If you prefer to hike or bike, there’s the 22km-long Martin Goodman Trail that runs parallel to the beaches and Toronto’s waterfront.

It’s the cherry on the beach

Cherry Beach

Cherry Beach lies at the foot of Cherry Street, not too far from the Distillery District, in what was formerly industrial port lands. For many years, it was one of the few Toronto beaches that was clean enough for swimming. It became a popular spot for windsurfers back in the 1980s and the Toronto Windsurfing Club still has its base here. Today, Cherry Beach is more popular than ever with bathers, who are attracted to its close proximity to downtown and its slightly warmer waters. Torontonians also come here for “Promise Cherry Beach” a music festival on summer weekends. The beach offers changing rooms, barbecue areas, a children’s playground and sports fields.

Sunnyside up

Sunnyside Beach

Sunnyside Beach offers a lovely stretch of sandy beach in Toronto’s west end, and opportunities to play beach volleyball or rent a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard from the Sunnyside Paddling Club. Aside from the beach itself, the main attraction is the landmark Sunnyside Pavilion from 1922, which originally provided changing facilities for swimmers. An adjacent outdoor pool was built in 1925 to offer a warmer swimming alternative to the often-chilly Lake Ontario. Somewhat forgotten for many years, Sunnyside Pavilion and its Gus Ryder Pool are having a renaissance, once again drawing bathers. Today, there’s a hopping beachfront café with an extensive menu served in the pavilion and on the adjoining patio.

Dramatic scenery

Bluffer’s Park Beach

One of the nicest beaches in Toronto can be found further east of the city center, in Scarborough. What makes Bluffer’s Park Beach extra special are the dramatic Scarborough Bluffs, a rocky escarpment that frames the beach. At its highest point, the escarpment rises 90 meters above the coastline and spans some 15km. The beach is wide and sandy, with plenty of shady areas and there is more of a wilderness feeling than you’ll find in the downtown beaches. While you’re in the area, check out the Guild Park and Gardens, part of the Guild Inn Estate, a 1914 mansion that was a center for the Arts and Crafts movement. Today, its gardens contain architectural relics saved from now demolished Toronto buildings.

Photo: Destination Toronto

Take a ferry to the Toronto Islands

Toronto’s three main islands (Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island) are all linked together, yet each one offers a different experience. Why not rent a bike and visit them all? To get to the beaches on the Toronto Islands take one of the ferries from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street. Tickets for the ferries, which take around 15 minutes, can be purchased online or at the terminal.

Family friendly Centre Island

Centre Island Beach

If you’re taking the kids to Centreville Amusement Park, pack the bathing suits too and head over to Centre Island Beach, also known as Manitou Beach. Located near the old pier on the opposite side of the island from the ferry terminal, it has calm, shallow waters thanks to a rock breakwater that protects it from the open lake. It’s the ideal way to start or wind down a day after visiting the rides and attractions of the completely charming Centreville, with its antique cars, haunted barrel works, floating swan boats and a skyline ride that offers a birds-eye view over the island and a city view of Toronto.

It’s a home run

Hanlan’s Point Beach

Hanlan’s Point was named after the Hanlan family, who were among the first year-round inhabitants on the Toronto Islands. With the islands transferred from the federal government to the City of Toronto in 1867, the land was divided into lots, cottage areas, a hotel and amusement areas that included a baseball stadium where Babe Ruth hit a home run – quite likely into Lake Ontario. There’s a plaque about this once you get off the ferry at the Toronto Islands. But what really makes Hanlan’s Point Beach unique today, aside from its beautiful sand dunes, is that it has a “clothing-optional” stretch too – one of just two such beaches in Canadian cities.

Like a day in the country

Ward’s Island Beach

Ward’s Island is a little off the beaten track – which is what makes it so special. It’s a small residential community of quirky old cottages that enjoy a magnificent view of the Toronto skyline without any of the hustle and bustle of the city. There are no cars or stores here and properties are passed down through families. It all makes for very peaceful walking, biking or relaxing on Ward’s Island Beach. The beach is located at the far eastern end of the island, a 10-minute walk from the Ward’s Island Ferry terminal. The beach has barbeque and picnic areas, and a nearby café. There’s also a restaurant at the Queen City Yacht Club, that was founded in 1889.

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