As the most heavily populated city in Canada, a holiday in Toronto isn't so much about sightseeing as it is about experiencing an atmosphere that will quickly seduce you. With its soaring architecture and wealth of museums and galleries, Toronto is a cultural haven, a vibrant metropolis packed with summer festivals and music emanating from the restaurants. With plenty of places to shop and spectacular views across the waters of Lake Ontario, this dominant business city has adapted to satisfy both residents and tourists alike. Temperatures in Toronto range from as low as -6°C in the winter to as high as 26°C in the summer. Toronto Pearson International Airport can be reached from most UK airports in about seven and a half hours.
| a vibrant metropolis packed with summer festivals and music emanating from the restaurants... |
Best for...
Despite being one of the busiest cities in the world, Toronto attracts all types of holidaymakers with its festivals and events...
Toronto is best suited to adult travellers looking for an active break in one of the world's busiest cities. The many events and activities may attract families and there is a vibrant nightlife for the younger crowd. However, Toronto is ultimately made for an older generation who want to experience the many tall skyscrapers, old English pubs, Victorian and Edwardian architecture first hand. With safe and reliable public transport, including an easy-to-use subway system, there's no excuse to not discover all that Toronto has to offer.
What to do...
Toronto is constantly busy with events, festivals and concerts. The Air Canada Centre is a major draw for recording artists including the likes of Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake and Snow Patrol while there are annual events that pull in crowds throughout the twelve months such as the Toronto Boat Show in January, the WinterCity Festival in February, the Festival of Beer in August and the International Film Festival in September, which ranks alongside Cannes, Berlin and Venice for prestige. Toronto is often used as a substitute set for many US cities in Hollywood movies thanks to its tax breaks.
The nightlife in Toronto is also a major attraction thanks to the recent extension of drinking hours to 0200. British visitors will take great comfort in the many pubs that can be found throughout the city, including Madison Avenue Pub, which has four floors converted within two Victorian houses. The clubbing centre is to be found around Richmond Street, which includes Roxy Blue (big for R&B) and there are many gay clubs particularly throughout the Church and Wellesley areas.
Of course Toronto still has a handful of famous sights including the awe-inspiring Canadian National (CN) Tower, which dominates the horizon. It is the highest freestanding structure in the world with glass elevators taking you to the observation deck at the top. On a clear day you can see for about 160km - long enough to see the mist at Niagara Falls - and those with reservations can enjoy the elevator ride for free before dining at the award-winning revolving restaurant. The foot of the CN Tower is also the home to the Toronto SkyDome, which is the world's first retractable-dome stadium.
Niagara Falls is about an hour-and-a-half drive from Toronto and straddles the Canadian-US border. It makes the perfect day out, as long as you can put up with the crowds - the river attracts about 12m visitors each year. Casa Loma is well worth visiting, known as the "house on the hill" it is in fact a mock medieval castle with 98 rooms, while the Royal Ontario Museum has innumerable cultural symbols including a golden mosaic ceiling and more than 40 galleries with art and science exhibitions.
For a more family orientated day head to Toronto Zoo, which houses more than 5,000 animals and more than 450 species. It's also worth heading to Ontario Place, a theme park with attractions such as Soak City waterpark and the H20 Generation Station where you can let children run wild.
The Beaches is one of the best areas to shop thanks to the many chic boutiques and its waterfront promenade, while the downtown area is also full of interesting one-of-a-kind shopping areas. The St Lawrence Farmers & Antiques Market has a bantering atmosphere, Lush is a world famous beauty store and Preloved is famed for its designer clothing.
