Toronto

Quick Facts

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Coordinates

• Latitude: 43.670233
• Longitude: -79.386755

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Introduction

I love Toronto

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Toronto is a city in southern Ontario, Canada, and is the capital of Ontario. Toronto is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, and is the largest city in Canada and the fifth largest city in North America.

As of the 2006 Canadian census, the city's population is 2,503,281. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which includes many of the cities and towns surrounding Toronto had a population of 5,555,912 at the 2006 Canadian Census.

Neighbourhoods

Like many large cities, Toronto is a very diverse place. Many of the charms of Toronto lie in the numerous ethnic neighbourhoods. From the hippies in Kensington Market, the college scene around the Annex, great food in Little Italy or the Greek area of the Danforth or finding great bargains in Chinatown, check out more on Toronto's best neighbourhoods.

Sights & Activities

CN Tower

The CN Tower was record holder for being the world's tallest free-standing structure for more than 30 years. However, in September of 2007 the Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates snatched the record when they added the floor to take the tower above 555 m on it's way to being over 800 m tall.

However, at 553 m (1815 ft), the CN Tower is still one of the tallest structures in the world, and offers visitors the opportunity to see much of Toronto and Southern Ontario from a unique vantage point - really high up in the air. Visitors can see the view from the observation deck at 342 m / 1122 ft, or pay a little extra to visit the sky pod at 447 m / 1465 ft. On clear days, visitors can see the mist coming off Niagara Falls. Those feeling brave can stand on a glass floor. Open 7 days a week from 9:00 am until 10:00 pm, tickets range from $19 to $32, depending on the attractions you want to see. Check out the CN Tower website for more details.

Sports, Stadiums and Arenas

In addition to the chance to see live major league sports like Blue Jays Baseball, Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey, Basketball's Raptors, Argos of the Canadian Football league, The Rock of the National Lacrosse League and the FC of Major League Soccer, you can visit the Hockey Hall of Fame. Check out more on Toronto's sports scene.

Museums and Art Gallerys

Toronto has a number of museums. The largest and probably most popular is the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), holding a diverse collection of artefacts related to world cultures and natural history. The ROM is accessible from the Museum subway stop at 100 Queen’s Park. The museum is open on Saturday to Thursday from 10:00 am - 5:30 pm and on Friday from 10:00 am - 9:30 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for students and seniors and $14 for children. Friday nights have discounted rates, with tickets 1/2 price. An audio tour is available for $5.00.

Located across the street from the ROM is the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Located at 111 Queen's Park by the Museum subway stop, the Gardiner is open Monday - Thursday from 10 AM until 6 PM, Friday from 10 AM until 9 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM until 5 PM. Admission is $12 for Adults, $8 Seniors (65+), $6 Students (full-time, with ID) and Free Children 12 and under if accompanied by an adult. The museum also hosts a "free Friday" on the first Friday of every month with special events. Guided tours are available at the museum at 2 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

A unique to Canada museum is the Bata Shoe Museum at 327 Bloor St. West (subway: St. George). Over 10,000 shoes are housed in architect Raymond Moriyama's award-winning four-storey structure. The Museum celebrates the style and function of footwear in four impressive galleries. Artefacts on exhibit range from Chinese bound foot shoes and ancient Egyptian sandals to chestnut crushing clogs and glamorous platforms. Adult admission is $12, $10 for seniors and $6 for students, with children rates at $4. The Shoe Museum is open from 10 AM until 5 PM, with extended hours and free admission on Thursday nights from 5 PM until 8 PM.

The Art Gallery of Ontario is currently closed until "mid-2008," according to their website at (AGO). The AGO has been undergoing massive renovations, and when it reopens will house more than 5,000 artworks in 110 galleries. Check the AGO website for further details on it's reopening.

Events and Festivals

• Toronto International Film Festival - One of the world's top film festivals is held annually in Toronto, drawing the biggest stars and films from around the world. It is the world's largest film festival open to the general public.^[1] The festival commences on the Thursday after Labour Day (which is on the first Monday in September in Canada). It lasts for ten days.
• Caribana is annual event held every summer, to celebrate Caribbean culture. The festival runs from July until August, with the majority of events happening during the Ontario's August long weekend holiday (first or second weekend in August). The main events include the Parade, when thousands of brilliantly costumed masqueraders and dozens of trucks carrying live soca, calypso, steel pan, reggae and salsa artists jam a 1.5 km parade route on the Saturday. Sunday and Monday the party moves to the Toronto islands, where bands play all day and many vendors set up food booths. Official Caribana website
• The Taste of the Danforth is held in August, when Danforth Avenue shuts down from Pape to Broadview, and many of the restaurants along Danforth Avenue open up outdoor grills and food stands. The festival is presumably to "celebrate Hellenic (Greek) cuisine and Hellenic culture," however food from many different nationalities is available. Official Website
• The centerpiece of Pride Week celebrations, the Toronto Gay Pride Parade is one of the largest gay pride parades in the world, hosting over 1 million viewers for the parade, and ending in the heart of the Gay Village. The Parade is generally held near the end of June. Official website
• The Beaches Jazz Festival occurs every July and fills the mellow beaches with the best of Jazz.
• Edgefestcelebrates Canada Day (July 1st) with a bang. Literally. Enjoy amazing, headbanging, hangover inducing music with the best bands from Canada and around the globe! Usually held at the Moslon Ampitheatre, not far from downtown Toronto.
• North by Northeast is Canada’s #1 showcase for new independent music, where fans can catch great local and international performers about to break out as well as super-cool veteran acts at intimate venues. A film festival where music is the star, featuring music-related features, documentaries, and shorts. An industry conference for those just starting and those who have seen it all, featuring celebrity interviews as well as panels and information exchanges for artists and music-biz professionals. Catch it for three days in mid June.

In addition to the scheduled events and festivals, Toronto has many clubs and galleries offering music, theatre, art installations and dance. Pick up free copies (or check the websites) of either the Eye Weekly (website) in the black and yellow boxes or Now magazine website) in the green boxes for listings. Both are published on Thursdays and contain extensive listings.

Weather

Winter (December through March) is cold, with temperatures between 0 °C and -10 °C on average, though temperatures can drop much colder some days. There is generally some snow, with an average of 6 cm of ground cover during the winter months.

Beginning at the end of March, the spring season seems temperatures climbing (average temperatures during April is 6 °C, May is 12 °C and June is 17 °C), though temperatures can vary wildly from day to day. Snow is still possible even into May, though is very infrequent and often does not stay on the ground. Rain is possible during this period.

In Summer, the weather turns warm, and the humidity can get quite bad, especially in July and August. Average temperatures are in the high 20s ºC, with some days climbing into the 30s.

Early autumn (September and early October) is usually quite pleasant, with temperatures around 20 °C, many days of sun and low humidity.

Temperatures start to drop in late October, and temperatures can vary quite drastically from day to day during this period, spaning from 0 °C to 15 °C.

The Weather Network has more details on average temperatures, snow and rain for Toronto, and can also provide current forecasts.

Getting there

Toronto Union Station and CN Tower

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By plane

Most commercial flights will fly into Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Pearson airport is located in Mississauga, 27 kilometers to the north-west of Toronto's downtown. There are two terminals handling both domestic and international flights.

A small number of flights, mostly from domestic locations like Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax, will fly into the Toronto City Centre Airport (also called the "Island Airport").

By Bus

Airport Express takes passengers to downtown Toronto locations. It runs every 20 minutes during peak periods and every 30 minutes during off-peak periods. A one way fare is $18.50 and a round trip is $29.95.

Intercity buses arrive at the Bay Street bus terminal (subway: Dundas). Greyhound Canada and Coach Canada are the main intercity bus companies servicing Toronto. These companies service destinations such as Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, London (Ontario) and Windsor.

Transportation to the suburbs of Toronto and surrounding cities is available on GO Transit, arriving at Toronto's Union station. GO Transit serves close communities like Mississauga, Hamilton, Guelph, Barrie and Oshawa.

By train

All domestic and international train service arrives at Union Station in downtown Toronto. Union station provides easy connections to the subway network.

Via Rail Canada providing domestic service, including services to Montreal and to the west on the trans-Canadian train service. Trains to Montreal take between 4 and 5 hours (depending on number of stops), and prices start as low as $77 for comfort class seats booked on Supersaver fares (booked 5 days in advance).

Amtrak provides service to the United States, specifically to Chicago and New York. Trains to New York depart daily at 8:30 AM, arriving at 7:40 PM in New York City. To Chicago, trains depart at 8:30 AM, with a change of trains in Buffalo. Fares are dependent on travel dates and times, so check the Amtrak website.

Ontario Northland provides train service from Toronto to northern Ontario, stopping at Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River and North Bay.

By Boat

International cruise ships or ferries docking in Toronto will arrive at the International Marine Passenger Terminal, on Cherry Street. Passengers will clear Canadian customs at the Terminal. Passengers can then board a TTC bus for Union station (cost $2.75).

There is currently no schedule service arriving at the International Marine Passenger Terminal.

Information on the International Marine Passenger Terminal

Getting around

The pace of life

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Public Transit

Within Toronto
The Toronto Transit Commission operates subways, streetcars (trams) and buses within Toronto. The adult, single ride fare is $2.75, flat fare anywhere in the city. Entry can be paid by cash, tickets or tokens. Tokens can be bought in bulk for $22.50 for 10 tokens ($2.25 per ride). Daily, weekly and monthly passes offering unlimited travel for that period can be purchase from booths at subway stations. Daily passes cost $9.00 per day, and family day passes can be purchased on the weekend for 2 adults and 4 children for $9.00 (weekends only). Weekly are good for travel from Monday to Sunday, and passes cost $32.25 per week ($22.50 for students).

At some subway stations, and some bus and streetcar stops, passengers pay upon entering the station. If transferring, passengers should take a "transfer" (a slip of paper) from the transfer machine (bright red machines about 4 feet high). This will allow the passenger to use any amount of services as long as they are continuing in the same direction.

At above-ground streetcar or bus stops, passengers must enter through the front door and pay the driver. Exact change is required if paying cash. Passengers can then get a transfer from the driver.

Passengers can exit at any door, and do not need to show proof of payment on exiting.

Passengers transferring to another service can show the driver or station attendant their transfer for entry.

Routes, hours of operation and pricing can be found at the Toronto Transit website: TTC website.

To Surrounding Communities and Suburbs
GO Transit provides train and bus services to the cities and towns surrounding Toronto. All trains leave from Union station. Buses leave from Union station as well as other areas in the city, depending on the route. Routes, hours of operation and pricing can be found at the GO Transit website: GO Transit website.

Toronto Island Ferry

The Toronto Island Ferry service, operated by the city of Toronto, offers 3 routes from Toronto mainland to the Toronto Islands.

Prices for return service are:

• Adults $6.00
• Students and Seniors (under 19 with Student Card and over 65) $3.50
• Juniors (under 14) $2.50
• Children (under 2) Free

Passengers pay the fare only once when travelling from the mainland to the islands. There is no additional charge for the return trip.

The Toronto Ferry Docks is located at the foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay, just West of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. It is a 10 minute walk south from Union station, or just steps from the Queen's Quay streetcar stop on the 509 or 510 streetcar.

Check out the Toronto Ferry Page for schedules.

Taxis

Taxis can be identified by the lighted, rooftop signs on the cars. A rooftop sign that is lit indicates the taxi is available to take passengers. Taxis can be found at taxi stands (usually around hotels) or can be flagged off the street.

All taxis within Toronto (except Airport taxis) have meters, and the passenger pays the amount on the meter. A 10% - 20% tip is generall expected.

Driving

Canadians drive on the right hand side of the road. Except where posted, speed limits within the city will be 50 km/h maximum. Highways are normally 100km/h. Right turns are allowed on red lights after a full stop. Drivers turning right or left must yield to pedestrians crossing the street. All passengers within a vehicle are required to wearing seat belts. No alcoholic beverages are allowed while driving, and driving while intoxicated is illegal.

There are 3 East-West highways and 2 North-South highways:
HW407 - East-West highway located far north of the city; essentially by-passing the city. This is a paid highway.
HW401 - East-West highway located at the north of the city.
QEW/Gardiner - East-West highway located on the south of the city close to Lake Ontario.
Don Valley Parkway (DVP) - North-South highway located just east of the downtown core.
HW427 - North-South highway located on the west end of the city.

For driving directions, maps are available for sale in most gas stations and book stores, or online can be obtained from Google, mapquest or MSN maps.

Eat

Toronto offers everything from cheap street eats to fancy dining. The Danforth (Danforth Avenue, subway stop: Broadview) offers Greek and international cuisine. Chinatown (Spadina and Dundas - street car route 510) offers inexpensive and plentiful chinese and asian cuisine. Little Italy on College Street at Bathurst offers Italian, European and world cuisine.

Drink

Toronto has many bars and restaurants located throughout the city.

The Entertainment District, centered around King Street and John Street, contain a wide array of nightclubs, offering everything from dance music to classic rock and roll. The area is very busy on Friday and Saturday nights, and can sometimes get a little out of hand. The crowd is mostly young (18 - 25). Listing of clubs can be found at the Entertainment District's website.

For travellers in the 25 - 35 age range, the Distillery District (approximately 10 minutes east of downtown along King Street) or the Esplanade (Yonge and Front street) offers bars and restaurants catering to their age ranges. In the summer, most of the bars have patios.

Further north, Yonge and Eglington has a number of clubs and restaurants (subway: Eglington).

The Toronto neighbourhoods section contains additional information on various areas in the city and the types of bars and restaurants you will find there.

The legal age to purchase and consume alcohol in Ontario is 19. Bars, restaurants and stores will ask for ID for purchasers appearing underage. Alcohol can be purchased in bars and restaurants, but must be consumed on the premises. Alcohol is sold in government controled liquor stores called "LCBO" (beer, wine and hard liquor), brewery run beer stores called "The Beer Store" (beer) and winery controled liquor stores, branded by different names depending on the winery and usually only selling local Canadian wines. Alcohol cannot be consumed in public places (on the street, in parks, etc.)

Sleep

Hostels in Toronto (shared dorm accommodations) run $25 - $35 a night. Traveller's should be aware that the word "hostel" in Canada also has the implication of being a shelter for homeless people, and should verify that the hostel they are checking into is a "backpacker hostel."

Single room accommodations run from $60 upwards.

Budget

Canadiana Backpackers at 42 Widmer St, close to the intersection of King and Spadina in the Entertainment District, offers dorm rooms for $27, quad rooms for $30 pp, doubles for $75 per room and singles for $65 per room. http://www.canadianalodging.com/

Global Village Backpackers Youth Hostel is located at 460 King St. West at the northwest corner of King & Spadina in the Entertainment District, close to Chinatown. They offer dorm rooms for $27, quad rooms for $29.99 per person and singles for $72.50. http://www.globalbackpackers.com/

HI Hostels offers HI-Toronto offers dorm rooms for $25.00 for members and $29.00 for non-members, and single rooms for $80.00 for members and $89.00 for non-members. The hostel is located at 76 Church Street, close to the King Street subway stop.http://www.hihostels.ca/GreatLakes/en/index.aspx?sortcode=2.10

College Hostel, located at 280 Augusta Avenue is in the heart of Trendy Kensington Market. Dorm rooms go for $25 and up, with single rooms costing $55 and up. http://collegehostel.com/

In addition, a few of the student residences of Toronto's universities offer summer housing for travellers. Neill Wycik (pronounced Neill Wy-zick) at Ryerson is a good location with affordable rates starting at $35.00 per person. http://www.neill-wycik.com/college_en/. Also check out the University of Toronto at their websiteNew College Residences.

Mid-Range

Toronto offers a number of mid-range options. Bed and breakfasts are a good place to look for accommodations starting around $80 per night, providing an intimate setting and a free breakfast.

In addition, there are a number of chain and boutique hotels in the downtown area that offer special rates. Check travel search engines for specials.

Upscale

The historical Royal York Hotel, owned and operated by Fairmont, is centrally located right across from Union Station. Opened on June 11, 1929 by the Canadian Pacific Railway company across the street from one of the key stations on their cross-Canada train route, the hotel was the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth on the site. Prices vary depending on availability, but expect to pay over $200 per night. http://www.fairmont.com/royalyork/

The Park Hyatt, located at the corner of Bloor and Avenue Road, is where the star's stay when in Toronto. Ride the elevator with Bono, grab martini's on the rooftop patio with Jay-Z or hang with J-Lo in the Stillwater Spa. Prices vary depending on availability, but expect to pay over $250 per night. http://parktoronto.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

Work

Those wishing to work in Canada who are not Canadian citizens will need a work permit. See the Visa section in the Canada article for details on obtaining the proper documentation.

The Youth hostels in Toronto will often have boards where local establishments looking for part-time or casual labour will post jobs, usually in the hospitality industry (waiting, bar tending, dish washing, etc.).

There are jobs in the summer and early fall in the Niagara region picking fruit.

The Toronto Star and Toronto Sun newspapers have large classified sections with job listings.

Jobs can be researched on the internet via http://www.workopolis.ca or http://www.monster.ca.

Learn

There are three major universities within Toronto's boundaries:

• University of Toronto, located on College Street between Spandin Avenue and Queen's Park (subway: Queen's Park)
• Ryerson University, located between Yonge and Jarvis on Gerard (subway: College or Dundas)
• York University, located on the north border of Toronto at Keele Street and Steeles Avenue (subway: Downsview, and then bus to campus).

In addition, there are a number of colleges, offering 2 or 3 year practical programs:

• Centennial College
• George Brown College
• Sheridan College
• Humber College

Keep connected

Internet cafes are common along major streets, and usually charge between $3 and $4 for an hour, usually in 20 minute increments.

International phone cards can be purchased at many variety and dollar stores. Public phones are becoming less and less common as cellular phone use grows.

Cellular phones can be purchased from:

• Rogers Cellular (GSM)
• Fido (GSM)
• Bell Mobility (CDMA)
• Telus

Farther Afield

The Niagara Falls

A couple of hours out of Toronto lie the town of Niagara and its famous waterfalls. There are numerous tours that are able to take you to the falls as part of a day trip.

Royal Botanical Gardens

Canada's largest botanical garden lies 30 minutes to the west of Toronto. Enjoy garden areas, nature sanctuaries and over 30 km of walking trails. Royal Botanical Gardens website

Algonquin Park

Located 210km north of Toronto. Enjoy some of the best preserved wildlife and wilderness areas accessible to the general public. Activities include camping (many fully equiped sites are available on the main HW60 corridor as are electrical hookups and yurts), canoeing, dogsledding (winter), and hiking/backpacking trails. Maps are available at the park store. Algonquin Park website