Toronto attractions

Looking more at home in Europe than it does in Ontario, Canada, this faux medieval castle was a filming location forChicago andX-Men. Built for an eccentric businessman between 1911 and 1914, Casa Loma (literally House on a Hill) features a pastiche of old-world styles that include turrets, Tudor-style chimneys, underground tunnels, and secret passages.

In downtown Toronto, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada houses approximately 16,000 water-bound species from across the world. The displays are arranged by region, and visitors can explore the tropical Rainbow Reef, check out the Dangerous Lagoon shark tank, and learn more about the marine life found in the waters around Canada.

The Scotiabank Arena (formerly the Air Canada Centre) is Toronto’s major concert and professional sports venue. The facility clocks in at 650,000 square feet (60,387 square meters) and seats nearly 20,000 event-goers. The adjacent Maple Leaf Square hosts a variety of shops and restaurants, plus a hotel and condominiums.

A small recreation area in Toronto on the shore of Lake Ontario, Sugar Beach is not the place for a dip as swimming is prohibited. Its sandy shores are just fine for relaxing on a sunny day under the shade of a pink patio umbrella. Visitors have views of cargo ships and the Redpath Sugar Refinery, which inspired the name.

The oldest landmark in Toronto, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is also one of the earliest lighthouses built on the Great Lakes. Though what was once a critical navigational beacon is no longer operational, visitors still enjoy viewing and taking photos of the 1808 lighthouse. The inside only opens for special events.

Queen’s Quay Terminal is a residential, entertainment, and shopping center on the harborfront of Toronto, Ontario. Built as a warehouse facility in the 1920s, the terminal was revitalized in the 1980s as a multipurpose complex featuring upscale shops and restaurants. The lakeside setting offers views of the Toronto Islands.

The CF Toronto Eaton Centre is Toronto’s most popular attraction and the busiest shopping mall in North America. At more than 2 million square feet (200,000 square meters), the Eaton Centre features a glass galleria ceiling, a food court, and 235 stores, including Hudson’s Bay flagship location.

A leading Canadian museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario is home of more than 79,000 works of art in its collection, including First Nations and Inuit carvings, noted Canadian works, and European art from Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry designed the gallery’s latest renovation.

Fort York was constructed in 1793 by the British Army and Canadian militia troops for the defense of York (now Toronto). Today it’s a National Historic Site with Canada’s largest group of original War of 1812 structures. Explore the stone and wood barracks used during the 1813 Battle of York, when the U.S. invaded and destroyed the fort.

Located in the heart of downtown and a hub for the city’s Chinese-Canadian community, Toronto's Chinatown is a bustling neighborhood lined with an appealing range of small businesses. Visitors and Toronto residents flock here to dine at the area’s popular eateries and shop for produce and imported specialty items at corner grocers.

The Toronto Financial District has been the heart of Canada's finance industry since a mass relocation of global bank headquarters from Montreal in the 1960s. Situated in historic Old Toronto, the area hosts an impressively dense collection of skyscrapers and architectural gems, from First Canadian Place to Scotia Plaza.

Lake Ontario, the 14th-largest lake in the world but the smallest of the five Great Lakes, is divided in half by the U.S.-Canadian border. Its shores are home to two popular Canadian destinations: Toronto and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Known for its islands, beaches, wildlife, and waterfront trails, this beautiful body of water offers something for everyone.

One of Canada’s most prestigious universities, the University of Toronto is known to academics and scholars. But the downtown campus is also a top attraction for visitors to Toronto, who stroll its well-tended paths, check out the stately buildings, and wander through the leafy Philosopher’s Walk.

As the largest park in Toronto, High Park offers a bounty of recreational opportunities. Locals and visitors alike hop from activity to activity, including playgrounds, a dog park, zoo, hiking trails, tennis courts, swimming pools, baseball fields, and an ice skating rink. High Park is a popular spot for concerts and for enjoying nature, especially in spring’s cherry blossom season.

Yorkville, situated northeast of the University of Toronto, has transformed into a chic, high-end shopping district lined with luxury stores, art galleries, restaurants, and historic homes. Known in the 1960s as the "hippie capital of Canada," Yorkville was once home to cultural personalities, including Joni Mitchell and Margaret Atwood.

Canada’s Wonderland, located just north of Toronto, Ontario, is the largest amusement park in the country. With 16 of the world’s top roller coasters and more than 200 attractions, including thrill rides, a water park, live shows, and several children’s areas, Canada’s Wonderland is a popular destination for visiting and local families.

Humber Bay Park, created from two man-made peninsulas near Mimico Creek and Lake Ontario, is a popular recreation hub in Toronto. Park pursuits include bird-watching, biking, hiking, and photographing the CN Tower and Toronto skyline, as well as lounging at the sandy beach area and taking dogs to the off-leash park.

Celebrate Toronto’s locomotive history at Roundhouse Park, a must for train enthusiasts. The family-friendly public space, created in 1997, features a locomotive turntable and railway equipment, and is home to the Toronto Railway Museum.

The Toronto Zoo, located in Scarborough, is the largest zoo in Canada. Representing seven domains from the Americas to Africa and encompassing a whopping 710 acres, the zoo is home to over 5,000 animals, including leopards, tortoises, and camels. The zoo's mission is to educate the public about protecting endangered species and preventing extinction.

Originally the site of an iconic theme park that closed in 2012, Toronto’s Ontario Place has since been transformed into 155 acres of public parks and paths that offer views of Lake Ontario, downtown Toronto, and Billy Bishop Island. The park’s two man-made islands are also home to Budweiser Stage and outdoor entertainment venues.

If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown, make a beeline for Philosopher's Walk, a leafy path bordering Trinity College on the University of Toronto campus. Whether you take a book to read on a bench, or pack an alfresco lunch, Philosopher’s Walk is a lovely place to find a touch of nature in the city.

Located in Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre just north of Toronto, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre is an interactive LEGO®-themed experience that features games, rides, exhibits, and a 4D movie theater. Its wide range of activities and amenities make it a popular destination for families with small children.

The Ed Mirvish Theatre is a historic venue that opened in the 1920s as a motion picture theater and vaudeville. Since then, it has hosted a diverse range of productions, including Broadway shows such as The Lion King and Life of Pi. Visitors flock here not only for the venue’s incredible architecture and rich history but also for its impressive array of performances.

Dating back to 1907, The Royal Alexandra Theatre—nicknamed the “Royal Alex”—is a historic Edwardian-style venue known for its regal design and lavish interiors. A national historic landmark, it’s one of North America's oldest continuously operating theaters. Visitors come here for award-winning Broadway shows, musicals, and plays.

Fans of cool urban art won’t want to miss Toronto’s Graffiti Alley. Officially named Rush Lane, located in downtown Toronto’s trendy Fashion District, it’s worth a detour for some colorful inspiration while browsing the boutiques. Some of the murals have been there for years, while others come and go.

The Ontario Science Centre, northeast of Downtown Toronto, is a museum dedicated to educating the public about science, technology, and society. With a state-of-the-art planetarium, exhibits covering topics such as the limits of the human body, and activities specifically designed for children and young adults, the center is a popular destination for families.

When the sun’s out, the bums are out at Hanlan’s Point Beach, home to Toronto’s favorite clothing-optional strip of sand (plus a suited-up area, too). Located on the Toronto Islands in Lake Ontario, the beach is a short ferry ride from downtown Toronto. In the summer, it’s a rewarding day-trip destination, with good swimming and biking trails.

Little Italy was established in the early 1900s, when Toronto saw an influx of Italian immigrants, many of whom opened mom-and-pop shops on College Street West. Though some Italian-Canadian-owned businesses remain, the neighborhood has grown to include a wider range of establishments loved by locals, including bars, boutiques, and restaurants.

Located in the heart of the city’s east end, Toronto's Little India is a small business district best known for its array of South Asian restaurants. Also known as the Grand India Bazaar, the area constitutes North America’s largest South Asian market and hosts the annual Festival of South Asia, one of Toronto’s most popular street fairs.

The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), the largest botanical garden in Canada, includes five distinct formal gardens on 400 display acres (162 hectares). Known for its colorful blooms, rock garden, rose garden and tea house, and indoor Mediterranean garden, the gardens are set on a total of 2,700 acres (1,100 hectares) of protected land in Burlington, Ontario, just outside Toronto.