Introduction
Toronto is one of the most diverse cities per capita. More than 46% of the population, which is nearly 3 million-strong, are foreign-born, and more than 150 languages are spoken throughout the city. In addition to its diversity, the city sprawls across the northern shores of Lake Ontario, so visitors are met with a captivating blend of cosmopolitan flair and natural beauty.
Dave and I visited Toronto, the capital of Ontario, in March 2020. We literally had to race back across the American border when the COVID pandemic first altered everyone’s lives. Though this trip was cut short and ended on a bit of an anxious note, I still have very fond memories of my time in the city.
Toronto felt both inviting and unapologetically unique. I’m also so glad I brought my film camera with me. Around every corner, I was able to capture snippets of the intricate tapestry of cultures, traditions, and experiences that came together to form one of Canada's most iconic destinations.
Whether you're an explorer yearning to see this city’s diversity, a foodie seeking culinary delights, or a nature-lover eager to meander through lush urban parks and waterfront trails, I’m sure that Toronto will have something to captivate you.
Make the Most of Your Trip
Niagara Falls
I know that most of my readers are based in the United States. That being said, if you’re passing through the border near Buffalo, New York, consider swinging by Niagara Falls on your way to or from Toronto. This group of three waterfalls spans the border, and is definitely worth a visit.
Niagara Falls on film.
I’ve seen Niagara Falls from both the American and Canadian side, and wanted to share some insights so you can make the most of your trip.
From the Canadian side of the falls, you can witness gorgeous panoramas of both the American Falls and the mighty Horseshoe Falls. You can walk along a wide sidewalk for about a mile until you’re right on the rim of the gorge. From there you can look down into the Niagara River and see the Falls across from you. This vantage point is definitely the crowd favorite.
However, I find that prices are higher here compared to the American side. Also, the surrounding area seems to focus less on the natural beauty of the Falls and more on promoting tourism. There’s a huge amusement park vibe.
On the American side, you have free access to one big observation deck, which still offers nice views of a large portion of the Falls. The surrounding area has a larger focus on the natural wonder of the Falls and felt less like the amusement park on the Canadian side. From the American side, visitors can also purchase tickets for a 30-minute boat ride straight into Horseshoe Falls (pack your rain boots).
However, unless you want to shell out for the paid excursion (in addition to admission and parking fees), you will only see the Falls from that main observation deck. Nitpicking aside, I think both sides of the Falls allow you to witness the power and beauty of this natural wonder.
Now onto Toronto…
We booked an AirBnB in Toronto’s Little Italy, which I highly recommend as a home base during your time here.
Located on College Street between Euclid Avenue and Shaw Street, Little Italy is filled with family-owned pizzerias, gelato spots, and outdoor patios / cafes so you can soak up those divine smells. Plus, logistically speaking, this neighborhood was ideal for exploring the rest of downtown.
Read on as I outline my favorite memories from our 3-day trip to Toronto.
Top Attractions
We had no trouble filling a weekend in Toronto. We saw so much and yet, I feel like we only scratched the surface of this bustling metropolis.
Graffiti Alley
Dave hanging with some chicks at Graffiti Alley.
Like most major cities, Toronto boasts a vibrant street art and mural culture. If you appreciate this art form as much as I do, you won’t want to miss Graffiti Alley. This art installation is nestled within Toronto’s Fashion District, and runs parallel to Queen Street West. Graffiti Alley encompasses 3 city blocks. However, the main section with the majority of art is where Rush Lane turns into Graffiti Alley at the intersection with Augusta Ave.
Unsurprisingly, Graffiti Alley is a popular spot for pictures and will likely be bustling no matter the time of day.
We were lucky enough to catch some artists leaving their mark though this doesn’t seem to have a designated time. You just have to be in the right place at the right time.
Kensington Market
A scene captured on film in Kensington Market.
Kensington Market is by far the best spot for vintage clothes shopping and people watching. This area has a true bohemian feel and is just a 15-minute walk from Graffiti Alley.
Kensington has a level of activity that borders on overstimulation. So, like any good street market, it feels a tad chaotic. But it’s worth it. You can find some serious second-hand gems and peruse works by local artists. Another perk to this market is the food. You’ll walk past vendors selling cuisine from all over the world. The smells were next-level.
Chinatown
Street scenes captured on film in Toronto’s Chinatown.
I also recommend exploring Chinatown, which is right next to Kensington Market. The neighborhood boundaries are Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West.
Chinatown was busting with activity, as it houses a range of open-air markets with fruit vendors spilling onto the streets. There’s also tons of herbal medicine shops and a plethora of cuisines, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Japanese.
Chinatown is also one of Toronto's oldest and most dynamic neighborhoods, and would be a great place to grab lunch. Here’s a list of some Asian-owned restaurants that are worth exploring.
Harbourfront Centre
In addition to dynamic cultural experiences, Toronto also has a 10-acre waterfront district that hosts more than 4,000 events annually.
From the waterfront, you can catch a glimpse of the CN Tower, which is the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. Here’s a map of a 2-hour self-guided tour you can take along the water.
It’s also worth nothing that the Toronto Music Garden is near the waterfront. For context, world-renowned Cellist Yo-Yo Ma was involved in the original design of this outdoor space. He reportedly drew inspiration from Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. So each dance movement within the Suite corresponds to a different section of the garden. Even if you aren’t a fan of classical music, I think you could find moments of peace here.
Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square, which houses Toronto’s City Hall, is the last attraction I’ll share before moving onto the food offerings. This urban plaza serves as a bustling gathering place for both locals and tourists. Plus, in the evenings, you can witness a fountain show in front of the Toronto sign.
If you happen to visit between June and October, the square hosts a farmer’s market every Wednesday. Also, in the winter months, you go ice skating. All in all, this is a great place to rest between excursions and witness day-in-the-life moments.
Amazing Eateries
Dave and I ate our hearts out on this trip. From our morning coffees to late-night dinners, we had no shortage of amazing food options. Here’s the highlight reel.
FIKA Cafe
Taken from the backyard patio at FIKA.
This cafe is in the heart of Kensington Market.
FIKA Cafe is located in the heart of Toronto’s Kensington Market. The exterior is a quaint Toroto-style home, and the interior is filled with minimalist Scandinavian decor. The cafe also has a cozy back room with an entire wall lined with old books, and the backyard patio is the perfect place to sit and chat with a cutie.
Not only does FIKA have exceptional coffee and tea, but they serve pastries that are made in-house. All-in-all, this little cafe has a very welcoming and relaxing vibe. It would be a nice stop either before or after diving into the craziness of Kensington.
Smoke's Poutinerie
During this trip to Canada, I was blessed with my first taste of poutine. I figured there was no better initiation place than Smoke’s Poutinerie, which has multiple locations throughout downtown.
Dave and I split a bowl of traditional poutine, which comprised of fries covered in Quebec cheese curds and homemade gravy. They were delicious, but there’s no way I could’ve finished one plate on my own.
I recommend getting one serving to split, ordering take-away, and finding a nice picnic spot in one of the city’s many public parks.
Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge
A scene from inside Insomnia Restaurant (my favorite brunch spot in town).
If you like brunch as much as I do, you should check out Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge during your time in Toronto.
This cozy little spot is right near the Bathurst subway station, and offers the best of both worlds: Sunday brunch and daily late-night menus with live music.
I can only speak to the brunch, which was divine. I still dream about the smoked salmon eggs Benedict (chef’s kiss).
El Furniture Warehouse
I love indulging in the finer side of dining. After all, my dad’s a chef and taught me the value of quality ingredients and decidant flavor profiles.
But every once in a while a girl just wants something deep-fried and cheap. When those cravings hit, I’m so glad I discovered El Furniture Warehouse.
The whole concept at the time of my visit was that nothing on the menu cost more than $5 CAD. It looks like they increased the price of some menu items, though you can get any meal on the menu for under $11 CAD. This spot is worth a visit if you appreciate a good dive bar.
The Warehouse Group has locations all over Toronto. However, El Furniture Warehouse, which is where I dined, is just a few blocks from Insomnia and the Bathurst subway stop.
Tim Hortons
Speaking of food choices that would disappoint my dad, Dave and I made sure to try Tim Horton’s on our way out of town.
This doughnut and coffee spot is Canada's largest restaurant chain (about 3,500 locations nationwide). Amazingly, Tim Horton’s serves more than 5 million cups of coffee every day, and 80% of Canadians visit at least once a month. There are over 100 locations in Toronto alone.
So, sorry Dad, but I had to do it out of respect for Canadian culture. And I’m happy to report that the Timbits (bite-sized doughnut balls) were the perfect road-trip snack.
Lukewarm Experiences
Now, I wanted to spend a moment discussing a couple of experiences that might not be worth your time. These served as mild road-bumps to an otherwise amazing trip, and I want to be honest so you can save yourselves the headache and decision-making.
The PATH
The PATH is a mostly underground pedestrian walkway network in downtown Toronto that spans more than 30 kilometres and takes you past restaurants and shops. It’s free to access as a pedestrian and, from the PATH, you can get on the subway.
Dave and I utterly lost in the PATH underground walkway.
In theory, this is amazing, especially with the harsh Canadian winters.
However, Dave and I found the PATH to be very confusing and, at times, impossible to navigate as newcomers. The signage was lacking or non-existent entirely, and some entrances to the PATH were in incredibly random spots. For example, once our GPS took us through a hotel lobby and down an escalator to access the nearest PATH entrance. We eventually found our way after walking around the lobby and asking the hotel concierge where to go. There’s no way we would’ve found it on our own.
The PATH also feels deserted during certain hours of the day and is completely closed on the weekends. So proceed with caution, and maybe you’ll have better luck than we did. We decided early on in our trip to stick to walking above ground.
CN Tower
CN Tower is absolutely impressive. However, from a tourism perspective, I think you could skip it.
With how gloomy Canada can be most times of year, you aren’t guaranteed a clear view from atop the observation decks.
Plus, it’s pricey. General admission tickets start at $43 CAD per adult to take an elevator to the lower observation deck. Then you can pay more to gain admission to the Skypods, which are 33 stories higher than the lower deck. CN Tower houses an aquarium, which you can pay even more to see. That would be cool for little ones. However, this didn’t seem worth the cost to us.
In my opinion, observation deck experiences like these never feel that much different from one another. So if you’ve seen one before, you likely won’t be wowed by the CN Tower. We decided to save our money and, instead, use it on a nice brunch at Insomnia.
If you really want to experience the CN Tower, I recommend doing so from the ground. You can catch a great view of it while walking along the Harbourfront Centre waterfront trail, and this vantage point showcases how impressive the tower is against the rest of the Toronto skyline.
Conclusion
And there you have it: the highlights from my short time in Toronto. During our 4-day stay, one thing became abundantly clear to both Dave and me: Toronto is the perfect urban destination.
This city is a testament to diversity and creativity. It is a place where cultures converge and people come to find community. And you can feel that from your very first walk around the block. Toronto felt like a softer New York City. There was no shortage of creative inspiration, and from our home-base of Little Italy, we could easily explore everywhere on foot.
Plus, with Niagara Falls as a bookend of natural wonder, I’m looking back on this short trip with such fondness. All that being said, I would love to go back for another visit, so long as I remember to bring my camera with me.
For more information and popular attractions, check out the ProfRabbit Travel Advisor Toronto Travel Guide.