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CN Tower
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Toronto's defining architectural marvel, piercing the skyline at 553.3 meters tall.
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Thrillseekers can try the EdgeWalk, a hands-free walk encircling the top of the tower's main pod.
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On a clear day, from the top of the tower, you can see all the way to Niagara Falls.
Location
290 Bremner Blvd (Downtown / Entertainment District)
Getting There
Get off at Union TTC Subway Station (Line 1) and walk for approximately 800 meters (a 10-minute walk) to the CN Tower via the covered, all-weather SkyWalk.
Official Website
Casa Loma
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A breathtaking, 98-room Gothic Revival style castle built in the heart of Toronto between 1911 and 1914.
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The urban castle features secret passageways, a dramatic 800-foot underground tunnel to the stables, and beautiful seasonal gardens.
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Sir Henry Pellatt spent $3.5 million (an astronomical sum at the time) to build Casa Loma only to go bankrupt less than a decade later due to losing his investments, paying soaring taxes, and suffering wartime misfortune.
Location
1 Austin Terrace (Midtown)
Directions
Exit Dupont TTC subway station (Line 1) and walk two blocks north on Spadina Road to Davenport Road. From there, you can climb the Baldwin Steps directly up the hill to the castle.
Official Website
The Distillery Historic District
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A charming village dedicated to arts, culture, and entertainment with beautiful Victorian buildings.
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Once home to the Gooderham and Worts Distillery (formerly the largest distillery in the world), the district features cobblestone streets lined with indie boutiques, galleries, and artisan cafes.
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Interesting Fact: Thanks to its historic aesthetic, it is one of the most popular filming locations in North America
Location
Mill Street (Old Town / East Downtown)
Getting There
The closest TTC subway stations are King Station (Line 1) and Castle Frank Station (Line 2). From either station, you can take a short connecting TTC ride.
Official Website
St. Lawrence Market
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Once named the world’s best food market by National Geographic, the St. Lawrence Market is a culinary epicenter operating since 1803, packed with passionate local vendors selling meat, cheese, baked goods, and crafts.
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The South Market building incorporates the original brick structure of Toronto's 1845 City Hall and jailhouse.
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Foodies recommend the famous peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery.
Location
93 Front St E (Old Town)
Directions
Exit the subway at King Station (Line 1), head south on Yonge Street for 4 blocks, and turn left (east) onto Front Street East. Walk 3 blocks east to arrive at St. Lawrence Market.
Official Website
St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica
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A stunning feat of French Gothic Revival architecture, St. Michael’s Cathedral is one of the oldest and most important churches in Toronto.
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Completed in 1848, the cathedral is known for its soaring ribbed vaults, intricate stained glass, and majestic pipe organ. It underwent a massive, multi-year restoration that returned the interior to its original vibrant colors.
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It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto and serves as a quiet, sacred refuge amidst the bustling downtown core.
Location
65 Bond St (Downtown / Near the Eaton Centre)
Getting There
Exit at Queen Station on Line 1 (Yonge-University) and walk on Queen Street East for 2 blocks (350 metres). Turn North on bond street towards the Cathedral.
Official Website
Old and New City Hall
Old City Hall
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A massive, majestic Romanesque Revival fortress completed in 1899 that served as the city's civic headquarters until 1965.
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Old City Hall features an imposing 103.6 meter clock tower that defines the view looking down Bay Street. The main entrance is famous for its elaborate stone carvings.
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The architect E.J. Lennox did not get along with city councillors during construction so he had stone carvers secretly model the grotesque, wrinkled faces around the front entrance after the city politicians of the time. He also hid his own name into the building's upper corbels, spelling out E.J. LENNOX ARCHITECT around the roofline.
Location
60 Queen St W (Corner of Queen St W and Bay St)
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The futuristic, award-winning home of Toronto's municipal government, featuring two curved concrete towers of unequal height cupping a central, flying-saucer-like council chamber.
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Designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell after winning a massive 1,500-entry global design competition in 1958.
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While the inner concave walls are entirely covered in glass to symbolize open, transparent democracy, the outer convex walls are windowless and ribbed with strips of pure Carrara marble set in concrete to give the appearance of an impenetrable fortress from behind.
Location
100 Queen St W (Directly framing Nathan Phillips Square)
Directions
Exit the subway at King Station (Line 1), head south on Yonge Street for 4 blocks, and turn left (east) onto Front Street East. Walk 3 blocks east to arrive at St. Lawrence Market.
Official Website
New City Hall
Kensington Market
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A vibrant artsy graffiti-slathered neighborhood known for its multiculturalism and diverse community events
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Instead of big chains, the streets are filled with vintage clothing shops, cheese boutiques, spice markets, and international mutli-ethnic street food stalls.
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It is a designated National Historic Site of Canada and closes its streets to vehicles for "Pedestrian Sundays" throughout the summer months.
Location
Bordered by Spadina Ave, Dundas St W, Bathurst St, and College St.
Getting There
Take the TTC to Spadina Station (Line 1 & Line 2). Exit onto Spadina Avenue and walk south about 10 minutes to reach Kensington Market. You can also get off at College Station (Line 1) and take the streetcar west along College Street.
The Toronto Islands
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A chain of 15 interconnected islands in Lake Ontario offering a tranquil car-free escape just minutes from downtown.
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Accessible via a short, scenic ferry ride. It features sandy beaches, bike rentals, kayaking, and the vintage Centreville Amusement Park.
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The islands provide the absolute best panoramic view of the complete Toronto skyline. They are also home to the largest urban car-free community in North America.
Location
Access via Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (9 Queens Quay West)
Directions
Take the TTC to Union Station (Line 1) and walk south about 10 minutes to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at Queens Quay. Take the ferry across to the Toronto Islands (about a 15-minute ferry ride).
Official Website
Scarborough Bluffs
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A picturesque 15-kilometer stretch of white, soaring geological clay cliffs framing the eastern edge of Toronto's Lake Ontario waterfront.
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At their highest point, the cliffs rise a staggering 90 meters above the water, offering a stunning backdrop to Bluffers Park, which features a sandy beach and a scenic marina.
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Formed by natural erosion over the last 12,000 years, the bluffs contain compacted sedimentary layers that hold a rich fossil record of the region’s last Ice Age.
Location
1 Brimley Rd S (Scarborough / East End)
Getting There
Take the TTC to Kennedy Station (Line 2). Transfer to the 12A Kingston Road bus eastbound and get off near Brimley Road South. Walk south toward Bluffers Park and the waterfront.
Official Website
Fort York National Historic Site
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A historic 43-acre park containing Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings.
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Acts as the literal birthplace of modern Toronto. Visitors can explore the old stone gunpowder magazines, brick barracks, and watch live historical demonstrations including musket firing.
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In 1813, during the Battle of York, invading American forces captured and burned the fort down, which directly led the British to retaliate by marching south and burning down Washington D.C. (including the White House).
Location
250 Fort York Blvd (Downtown West)
Directions
Take the TTC to Bathurst Station (Line 2) and take the 511 Bathurst streetcar south. Get off at Fort York Boulevard and walk a few minutes to the entrance. You can also walk about 15 minutes from Union Station.
Official Website
