1.The Islands, done right
Ferry to Ward's Island, walk the boardwalk to Centre Island, and ride back at sunset for the skyline lighting up.
At a glance Half day · Ferry
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Ontario
Things to do in Toronto
A city of neighbourhoods stacked on a lake. The tower is the postcard, but the real Toronto is markets, islands, ravines and a different main street every few blocks.
Photo: Toronto skyline panorama from Snake Island, Wikimedia Commons
['Toronto is too big for one story, so do not try. Pick a neighbourhood and go deep: the market halls of St. Lawrence, the Victorian streets of Kensington, the ferry ride to the Islands for the skyline shot everyone else is taking from the wrong side.', "The lake is the city's front yard and its escape hatch. Everything below is within a streetcar ride of Union Station."]
['Toronto is too big for one story, so do not try. Pick a neighbourhood and go deep: the market halls of St. Lawrence, the Victorian streets of Kensington, the ferry ride to the Islands for the skyline shot everyone else is taking from the wrong side.', "The lake is the city's front yard and its escape hatch. Everything below is within a streetcar ride of Union Station."]
2.Kensington Market
Vintage shops, bakeries and buskers in a tangle of Victorian streets. Pedestrian Sundays in summer are peak Kensington.
At a glance Neighbourhood
3.St. Lawrence and the Distillery
Graze the market for lunch, then walk ten minutes to the Distillery District's brick lanes and galleries.
At a glance Food · Walk
4.High Park
Toronto's big green lung: cherry blossoms in spring, a small zoo, and Grenadier Pond for skating in winter.
At a glance Park · Free
5.The CN Tower, once
Yes, it is touristy. The view from 342 metres on a clear weekday morning is still the fastest way to understand the city's shape.
At a glance Landmark
6.Ravine walks
The Don Valley and Taylor Creek trails drop you into forest minutes from downtown. The city's secret geography.
At a glance Trails · Free
Prefer it booked for you? Tours, tickets and day trips around Toronto in one place, with reviews from people who actually went.
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