Toronto

The dense urban core of Toronto. It includes many of the city's attractions and hotels.

These are the older suburbs that ring the downtown followed by an outer ring of post-war suburbs. There are fewer attractions here, but if you have the time, some of the neighbourhoods are well worth visiting.

Although there are fewer attractions, there are ethnic enclaves with ethnic foods and other activities that may be of interest to a traveller in the newer, outer suburbs of Toronto. For example, Markham's population is 48% Chinese and has a lot of interesting shops, businesses, and restaurants. For travel information for the newer suburbs, see the Greater Toronto Area article.

Spawned out of post-glacial alluvial deposits and bluffs, the area was populated at different times by Iroquois and later Wyandot (Huron) peoples.

European settlement began in the mid-1700s when, drawn by the natural harbour formed by the Toronto Peninsula (now the Toronto Islands), the French built a seldom-occupied fort (Fort Rouillé) near today's Exhibition Place. The city then grew out of a backwoods English trading post established as York in 1793 (it was re-named "Toronto" in 1834). During the War of 1812, Fort York was an important base for the British, and was destroyed during a major battle.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Toronto overtook Montreal as the financial and economic powerhouse of Canada.

In 1998, the cities of Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, and York and the Borough of East York amalgamated to form the current City of Toronto.

Toronto's climate is on the whole on the cool side, and variable conditions can be expected. Come prepared for winter: winters are cold (temperatures average -3.8°C (25°F) in January), mostly cloudy, at times snowy and uncomfortably windy. However, the type of extreme cold experienced further north in Canada usually lasts for no more than a couple of days at a time. Daylight hours are short and run from 7:45AM to 4:45PM. The city experiences warm and humid summers with an average high of 27°C (80°F) and a low of 18°C (65°F) in July/August with many muggy evenings but rarely extreme heat. On average, the temperature exceeds 30°C (86°F) only 12 days per year, but hotter air masses often arrive with moderately high humidity levels. Summer days are long, with the sun up as late as 9PM, and sunrises around 5:45AM. Late spring/early summer and early fall are generally considered to be the best times to visit for weather and less crowds, mid-summer is the peak tourist season, but visitors will find that Toronto's vibrancy extends through the winter with outdoor skating rinks and bundled up club-goers, etc. Toronto's public buildings are nearly all air-conditioned and fully heated.

Sometimes during the winter, severe storms can slow down transportation and activities in the city for a day or two. In the summer, thunderstorms occur from time to time, most lasting less than an hour.

Areas closer to the downtown core are generally 1 to 1.5°C warmer in winter due to the urban heat island effect. For the rest of the year, areas close to Lake Ontario are warmer by about 1°C due to the moderating effects of the lake. This is especially prominent in March and November when the city receives rain while areas just north of the city receive snow.

• 🌍 Ontario Travel Information Centre, 65 Front Street West (within Union Station; follow signs towards UP Express), ☏ +1 416-314-5899, ontariotravel.toronto@ontario.ca. M-Sa 9AM-5PM (closed Su). (updated Jan 2024)
• Destination Toronto. Tourist information from the Toronto Convention and Visitors Association. (updated Jan 2024)

Main article: Toronto Pearson International Airport

🌍 Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ ^IATA). (updated May 2022), in Mississauga, is 30-50 minutes by car from downtown Toronto (depending on traffic) and is served by most major international carriers. There are two terminals: Terminal 1 hosts all Air Canada flights and a few other international (mostly Star Alliance) carriers while Terminal 3 hosts all other airlines. When travelling from Toronto International (and other major Canadian airports) to the United States, travellers will go through United States immigration and customs pre-clearance in Toronto, and should leave some extra time to account for this. The airport has free WiFi internet access.

The main article describes ground transportation to and from Toronto Pearson.

• 🌍 Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ  ^IATA), ☏ +1 416-203-6942. This airport serves short-haul flights only and is close to downtown. It is named for a World War I fighter ace, but locals call it Toronto Island Airport. (updated Jun 2022)

• Porter Airlines, toll-free: +1-888-619-8622. This airline uses Billy Bishop as their hub. They are a short-haul carrier that operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop planes to many cities in eastern Canada (Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, St. John's and others) and parts of the United States (Boston, Chicago, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles and Myrtle Beach). Porter is aggressively fighting for market share and you can take advantage of it by getting low fares, especially if booked 2 weeks or more in advance, combined with complimentary drinks onboard and a waiting lounge with amenities. (updated Apr 2022)
• Air Canada, ☏ +1-514-393-3333, toll-free: +1-888-247-2262. Canada's largest airline. Operates flights to Billy Bishop Airport from Montreal and Ottawa, on Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes. Toronto Pearson International Airport is a hub for this airline with far more flight options including from international destinations. (updated Apr 2022)

One of the main benefits of flying into Billy Bishop is its proximity to the downtown core. Upon landing, you can be downtown within ten minutes. A tunnel under the channel takes you to the city. A free ferry service also makes the short crossing: it is just 121 metres, the world's shortest regularly-scheduled ferry route. It operates between TCCA and the mainland every 15 minutes: see full schedule. Once on the mainland, a free shuttle bus connects the terminal with the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, across the street from Union Station.

TTC streetcars are available a short walk north from the mainland ferry terminal. Route 511 Bathurst provides service north along Bathurst, to Bathurst subway station. Route 509 Harbourfront travels east along the waterfront (Queens Quay) to Union Station. Both routes end a short distance to the west at Exhibition Place. However, the most convenient connection to TTC subway and GO Transit services are via the free shuttle to Union Station.

Hamilton International Airport, (YHM ^IATA), about 80 km (50 mi) from downtown Toronto and Niagara Falls, is served by WestJet along with seasonal service by Air Transat and Sunwing to sun destinations. See section on John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport for ground transportation including buses to Toronto.

For frugal travellers coming from the United States, Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, (BUF ^IATA), is another option. Flights to Buffalo tend to be significantly cheaper than to Pearson, but then you still have to get to Toronto. Megabus, the airline-type coach service with varying prices and required early booking, runs a daily bus that takes 3 hours, including the border crossing. Several private livery agencies will drive you there for a fee (usually in the $200 range, give or take), or rental cars are available at the airport if you prefer to do the drive yourself.

The main bus terminal is in downtown Toronto adjacent to Union railway station:

• 🌍 Union Station Bus Terminal (GO bus terminal), 81 Bay St (interior pedestrian connection to Union Station rail & subway services). Union Station Bus Terminal (USBT) serves GO Transit, Megabus, Greyhound, Red Arrow, Rider Express, and Ontario Northland buses. Like an airport, there are no predetermined bus platform assignments. Check display monitors for the bus departure zone; 10 minutes before departure, monitors will display the bus departure gate. The bus terminal moved to its new location on December 5, 2020; maps might still indicate the older, now closed bus location; the new location is south of the railway corridor. The Toronto Coach Terminal near Dundas subway station is closed. (updated Dec 2020)

Here is a list of minor terminals and stops in various parts of the city. Check the Wikipedia link for a list of bus routes serving each terminal.

• 🌍 Yorkdale Bus Terminal (across a footbridge from Yorkdale subway station on Line 1). GO Transit buses from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Mississauga, Milton, Brampton and Oshawa; Ontario Northland buses from North Bay, Sudbury, and Timmins; Megabus once daily from Kingston. (updated Mar 2019)
• 🌍 York Mills Bus Terminal (at York Mills subway station on Line 1). GO Transit buses from Mississauga, Milton, Brampton and Oshawa. (updated Mar 2019)
• 🌍 Finch Bus Terminal (adjacent to Finch subway station on Line 1). GO Transit buses from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Mississauga, Milton, Brampton, Keswick and Oshawa. (updated Mar 2019)
• 🌍 Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal (near Scarborough Centre Station on subway Line 3 Scarborough). Because of the closure of the Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal until about 2030, stops for intercity buses are scattered around the Scarborough Centre district. See Toronto/Scarborough#By bus for details by carrier. GO Transit, Megabus, FlixBus and Red Arrow stop at Scarborough Centre. (updated Aug 2023)

See also Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ground Transportation, for more intercity bus routes.

• Book A Ride. Service from Ottawa via Kingston, Brockville, Belleville. Service from London via Kitchener/Waterloo. (updated Jan 2023)
• FlixBus. Bus service to Toronto from Ottawa (4.75 hours), Peterborough, Kingston, Whitby, Kitchener (2-2.25 hours), St. Catharines (1.5 hours), Niagara Falls (1.75 hours), Welland, Port Colborne, Hamilton, Brantford, Chatham-Kent, London (3 hours), Sarnia, Windsor (6 hours), Sudbury, Parry Sound, Barrie, Detroit (6.25-6.5 hours), and Buffalo (2.75-4 hours). (updated Apr 2022)
• GO Transit, ☏ +1-416-869-3200, toll-free: +1-888-438-6646. GO Transit runs bus and rail commuter/regional transit within and near the Greater Toronto Area. GO Transit buses make connections to many nearby cities including: Oshawa, Peterborough, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Guelph, and Kitchener. (updated May 2022)
• Greyhound, ☏ +1-214-849-8100, toll-free: +1-800-231-2222. (updated Nov 2021) Operates between New York City and Toronto via Syracuse and Buffalo. Travel time to Toronto from New York City is 12.25-12.75 hours, from Syracuse is 7-7.25 hours, and from Buffalo is 2.75-3 hours.
• Intercity Bus. Service from London, Sarnia, Strathroy, Woodstock, and Kitchener. (updated Mar 2024)
• Megabus (Coach Canada), toll-free: +1-866-488-4452. Operates buses to Toronto from Montreal (5.75-7 hr) or Ottawa (5.25 hr) via Kingston (3 hr); from Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (2 hr). Megabus offers Wi-Fi and electrical outlets on many of its buses. A service from London is offered by Megabus through Badder Bus. Service from the United States (Buffalo, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D. C.) is also available. (updated Apr 2022)
• Ontario Northland, toll-free: +1-800-461-8558. Operates bus routes primarily in Northern Ontario. Routes travel as far west as Winnipeg, Manitoba and as far east as Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) The following routes travel to Toronto:
  • To Toronto from North Bay including stops in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago (some trips), Orillia (stop trips), and Barrie. Travel time to Toronto from North Bay is 5.75-6 hours, from Huntsville is 3.25-4 hours, from Barrie is 1.25 hours. Connections available at North Bay from Cochrane, Kirkland Lake, Ottawa, and Timmins.
  • To Toronto from Sudbury including stops in Parry Sound, Orillia (some trips), and Barrie. Travel time to Toronto from Sudbury is 5.5-6.5 hours, from Parry Sound is 3.5-3.75 hours, and from Barrie is 1-1.5 hours. Connections available at North Bay from Ottawa, Sault Sainte Marie, and Timmins.
    • Travel to Toronto from Winnipeg involves timed transfers between bus routes at Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury. To reach Toronto from Winnipeg is 1 day 9 hours.
• Onex Bus, ☏ +1-647-477-5500, info@onexbus.ca. Bus service to Toronto from Kitchener, Stratford, London, Burlington, and Niagara Falls. (updated Jul 2021)
• Red Arrow, toll-free: +1-800-232-1958, customerservice@redarrow.ca. Service from Kingston and Ottawa. (updated May 2022)
• Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Offers service to Toronto from Ottawa via Kingston and Belleville. Travel time to Toronto from Ottawa is 5.25 hours and from Kingston is 3 hours. There is also service from Peterborough two days a week. (updated Mar 2021)
• TOK Coachlines (Vaughan Metropolitan Centre), toll-free: +1-800-387-7097, info@tokcoachlines.com. (updated Mar 2021) Operates two routes to Vaughan, with connecting TTC subway service to Downtown Toronto:
  • Between Southampton and Vaughan including stops in Port Elgin, Kincardine, Walkerton, Hanover, Orangeville, and Toronto Pearson International Airport.
• Trailways of New York. Service from Detroit, Windsor, London, and Chatham-Kent. (updated Apr 2023)

See also: Rail travel in Canada, GO Transit

🌍 Union Station (YBZ  ^IATA), 65 Front Street West (between Bay St and York St). 5:30AM-12:45AM or until last train. Opened in 1927, Toronto's Union Station is one of the grandest, most impressive train stations in North America, with the ceiling of its enormous Great Hall rising to a height equivalent to seven stories. The Grand Hall accommodates the VIA Rail ticket counters and gives access to VIA train platforms via the branching VIA Concourse. The 🌍 Union Pearson Express station is 250 metres west of the Great Hall via an enclosed pedestrian corridor. The GO York Concourse on the lower level at the west (York Street) end of the station has GO Transit ticket counters and access to GO train platforms. (A food court is below the GO York Concourse.) Union Station Bus Terminal is on the east side of Bay Street, south of the railway tracks. The TTC Union subway station is at the north-east corner of the main building, and serves subway Line 1, and the 509 and 510 streetcars through the Harbourfront district. 

The following are the railway services operating out of Union Station:

• Amtrak, ☏ +1-215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Jul 2022) Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Travel time to Toronto from Niagara Falls (Ontario) is 2 hours, from Buffalo is 4.25 hours, from Syracuse is 6.75 hours, from Albany is 9.5 hours, and from New York City is 12.5 hours. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.
• GO Transit, ☏ +1-416-869-3200, toll-free: +1-888-438-6646. GO Transit operates 7 commuter rail lines radiating from Toronto serving smaller cities within and near the Greater Toronto Area. The lines have various service levels varying from all-day service to limited mid-day service to only rush-hour, peak-direction service. Most fares can be paid by credit, debit or Presto card. The following are some of the destinations. (updated May 2022)
  • The Barrie line serves Vaughan and Aurora plus limited weekend service to Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Barrie.
  • The Kitchener line serves Brampton with limited weekday service to Georgetown, Acton, Guelph and Kitchener.
  • The Lakeshore West line operates daily serving Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton and on weekends St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.
  • The Lakeshore East line operates daily serving Pickering, Ajax, and Whitby and Oshawa.
  • The Stouffville line operates daily serving Markham.
  • Other GO rail destinations have only rush-hour, peak-direction service.
• Union Pearson Express (UP Express), ☏ +1 416-869-3300, toll-free: +1-844-438-6687. Operates trains between Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Trip time is 25 minutes. Trains operate every 30 minutes daily from early morning until the late evening. As of April 2022, one-way fare for adults is $12.35, but it is $9.25 if paid by credit, debit or Presto card. (updated May 2022)
• VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates many intercity trains across Canada. (updated Apr 2022) See Rail travel in Canada for more details. Train routes operating to Toronto:
  • Between Montreal and Toronto including stops in Dorval, Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, and Oshawa. Travel time to Toronto from Montreal is 5.25-5.5 hours and from Kingston is 2.5-2.75 hours.
  • Between Ottawa and Toronto including stops in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa. Travel time to Toronto from Ottawa is 4.25-4.75 hours and from Kingston is 2.5-2.75 hours.
  • Between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga. Travel time to Toronto from Sarnia is 5 hours, from London is 3.75 hours, and from Kitchener is 1.5 hours.
  • Between Vancouver and Toronto on The Canadian, which operates several trips per week. Travel time to Toronto from Vancouver is 3 days 20.5 hours, from Kamloops is 3 days 10.25 hours, from Jasper is 3 days, from Edmonton is 2 days 16.75 hours, from Saskatoon is 2 days 5.5 hours, from Winnipeg is 1 day 14 hours, and from Sudbury is 9.75 hours. Stops between Sudbury and Toronto include Parry Sound (5.75 hours from Toronto) and Washago.
  • Between Windsor and Toronto including stops in Chatham, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington, and Oakville. Travel time to Toronto from Windsor is 4.25-4.5 hours, from London is 3.25-3.5 hours, and from Brantford is 1.25 hours. There are no direct trains from Chicago, but you can catch Amtrak's Wolverine service from Chicago to Detroit, then transfer onto one of VIA Rail's trains after crossing the border into Windsor by public transport.

Major highways leading into Toronto are the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), the 404, the 401, the 400, and the 427. Toronto is the largest city in Canada, so signs pointing you to Toronto are common. Traffic on incoming highways can be extremely heavy especially during rush hours. In the downtown core there are many turn restrictions, particularly from main thoroughfares to other main thoroughfares (e.g. Yonge to Dundas Streets).

The main streets in Toronto are laid out in a grid pattern that makes it one of the easiest cities to get around in by car. Getting from point to point anywhere in the city can be achieved with only a few turns. Parking in the downtown core can be expensive and hard to find, but tends to be plentiful and inexpensive or free in the outer districts of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. Although there is an extensive grid of local bus routes, travel by automobile may be more faster and more convenient in the outer districts.

Toronto follows some bylaws related to the transit system (especially streetcars) that often confuse or surprise visiting drivers:

• Yield to public transit buses signalling to merge left into traffic from a bus stop.
• Stay out of reserved public transit lanes during the rush hours, except to make a right-hand turn at the next cross street. A few transit lanes have restrictions from 7AM-7PM. While the restrictions are in effect, only transit vehicles, taxis and bicycles may use these lanes.
• Avoid King Street between Jarvis and Bathurst streets as no through automobile traffic is allowed; such traffic must turn right after travelling a few blocks as per signage. Through traffic in this zone is allowed only for streetcars (trams) and bicycles.
• Never pass a streetcar running in your direction that is stopped in the middle of the street with its doors open. Passing is illegal and dangerous for passengers boarding or leaving the streetcar. Also, you should yield to people entering the street to board an approaching streetcar. Continue only after the streetcar doors close. Exception: You may pass a streetcar where there is a boarding platform between the streetcar and traffic lane, but watch out for pedestrians walking between the platform and the sidewalk.
• Give wide berth to streetcars turning at a street intersection; streetcars have a wide overhang on curves, which is indicated on the road by dashed white lines. If your car is stopped too close to a streetcar curve, you may be forced to back up or squeeze more to the right.
• Give wide berth to emergency vehicles with sirens or flashing red lights, and pull over to the side of the road safely but quickly.

Getting around by car is the easiest method to get around outside of the downtown area. Roads are wide, have many lanes, and parking is free and plentiful. Arterial roads are generally laid out 2 km (1.2 mi) apart, although they are closer in the west and east ends of the city.

There are many freeways within Toronto.

• Highway 401 (locally, the four-oh-one) crosses the north side of the city and is very busy. Highway 401 has a collector-express system. The express lanes of the highway have fewer exits, while the collector lanes generally have all the exits. After every 3 or 4 exits, there is an interchange between the collectors and express lanes, so motorists who need to exit can get into the collectors, and those travelling a longer distance can go into the express lanes. When there's a lot of traffic, it is possible for the collectors to be jammed, but not the express, and vice versa. It is best to listen to traffic reports in order to avoid traffic in this case. AM 680 on your radio has traffic and weather reports every 10 minutes (on the 1's).
• Highway 427 crosses the west side of the city. It begins at the QEW/Gardiner Expressway interchange and ends in Vaughan. It also has a short express-collector system near the airport; be sure to follow the signs in order to get where you need to go.
• Highway 400 has a short stub in Toronto and ends at Highway 401. Highway 400 goes north into the suburbs and later to Barrie.
• Allen Road is a short freeway that was supposed to be part of a longer Spadina Expressway. The rest of the expressway was cancelled and Allen Road was the short stub that remained. Allen Road begins at Eglinton Avenue, and ends north of Highway 401 and becomes Dufferin Street. Traffic going south is usually backed up because the freeway ends abruptly at a signalized T-intersection at Eglinton.
• Highway 404 also has a short stub in Toronto, and goes north to the suburbs, such as Aurora and Newmarket. Highway 404, after interchanging with Highway 401 when going south, becomes the Don Valley Parkway.
• Don Valley Parkway (DVP) is a freeway that connects northern Toronto to downtown Toronto. Exits on the DVP require motorists to slow down more than you would on other Ontario expressways, due to the nature of the terrain. The DVP begins at the Gardiner Expressway in downtown and ends at Highway 401 in the north, then contines as Highway 404.
• Gardiner Expressway is a freeway serving downtown Toronto. It begins at QEW/Highway 427 interchange and crossing downtown Toronto, ending at Don Valley Parkway. Half of the route is elevated, making for great views of the city.
• Highway 409 is a short freeway designed to connect directly with Toronto Pearson International Airport. It begins at Highway 401, interchanges with Highway 427, and ends at the airport.

Getting around in downtown Toronto by car is a lot harder, however, and perhaps taking transit might be better. Parking is scarce and could be expensive, depending on where you park and whether you park on the street or on private lots. Driving on downtown streets also takes a lot more patience as speeds are slower, and hazards are more numerous.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), ☏ +1 416-393-4636. Toronto's main transit system. TTC consists of buses, streetcars (trams) and subway lines. (updated May 2022)

The following are the fares effective August 15, 2023:

• Cash fare: regular $3.35, senior (65+) $2.30, youth (13-19) $2.40
• Contactless credit or debit card: regular $3.30
• Presto card: regular $3.30, senior $2.25, youth $2.35
• Presto ticket: one-ride $3.35, two-ride $6.70, day pass $13.50
• Children (12 or younger): free

Child, youth and senior riders must be prepared to show proof of age for reduced fares.

Presto is an electronic fare payment system used on the TTC where riders pay fares by tapping a contactless credit or debit card, Presto card or Presto ticket on a Presto fare reader. The Presto fare system is used by most public transit services in the Greater Toronto Area, including the TTC and GO Transit.

Presto card is a multiple-use, electronic fare card with a stored balance. Unless you are eligible for reduced senior/youth fares, it is simpler to use a credit or debit card instead of purchasing a Presto card. Presto cards can be purchased for $4 plus a minimum balance ($5 or less) at the UP Express service counter at Pearson International Airport, from vending machines at subway stations and Pearson International Airport (cash, credit cards and debit cards are accepted at the large black machines), at the GO Transit service counter at Union Station, TTC head office at Davisville station and at most Shoppers Drug Mart stores across the city. Presto cards are automatically configured to deduct the regular adult fare. For reduced senior/youth fares, the customer must have the card's fare type changed at a purchase point (not a vending machine); a government-issued proof of age may be required.

Presto tickets are single-use, paper-disposable electronic tickets with no stored balance which must be used within 90 days of purchase. If you are paying a single-ride fare with a credit or debit card, you do not need Presto tickets. They can only be used for TTC services within the City of Toronto and for TTC buses going to and from Pearson Airport. They are sold from Presto vending machines at all TTC subway stations and at many Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Toronto and come in three varieties: one-ride, two-ride and day pass. The TTC Presto day pass allows one person unlimited travel from first tap until 3AM the next morning.

Using Presto, you must tap your credit or debit card, Presto card or Presto ticket on the Presto fare reader each time you enter a subway station, or board a streetcar or bus. To avoid accidental double charging, keep any unused credit and debit cards away from the Presto reader, and always tap the same card or ticket during your trip. If travelling as a group, each rider must use a separate card or ticket.

Customers paying a single-ride TTC fare with a credit, debit or Presto card, or a 1-ride Presto ticket are entitled to two hours of unlimited travel on all TTC services, allowing unlimited stopovers or a round trip.

For riders paying by credit, debit or Presto card, free or discounted transfers are available between the TTC and the following transit operators: GO Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Oakville Transit, MiWay (Mississauga), Brampton Transit, York Region Transit and Durham Region Transit. For such trips, riders pay only one fare instead of one fare per operator. If transferring to or from GO Transit, only the GO fare is charged by the end of the trip. Such trips must be completed within two hours, or three hours if using GO Transit. This free transfer is not available to riders paying by Presto ticket or using UP Express trains serving Pearson Airport.

If you pay by cash, exact cash (no change provided) is required. You must request for paper transfer (also called a POP ticket) to serve as proof of payment for fare inspectors and to transfer to another TTC vehicle on connecting TTC vehicles. Paper transfers are valid for a one-way continuous trip and stopovers and return trips are not permitted (unlike paying by credit, debit or Presto card). Unstaffed automated subway entrances do not accept paper transfers. If you are paying the regular fare, Presto tickets are a better alternative than cash.

The procedures for cash payment vary by vehicle mode:

• At subway stations, there is at least one staffed entrance where you can deposit exact cash into a fare box. After passing the fare gates, obtain a transfer from a red machine labelled "transfer/POP".
• On buses, pay exact cash fare at the front door of the vehicle, and ask the driver for a paper transfer.
• On streetcars, there are cash payment machines near the second and third doors of the vehicle. After you insert exact cash fare into the machine, it will give you a paper POP/transfer.

The subway is the fastest means to move across the city, with trains typically arriving every few minutes. Trains operate M-Sa roughly 6AM-1:30AM, and Su 8AM-1:30AM.

The subway system has three lines:

• Line  1  Yonge-University runs in a 'U' shape, travelling from North York south along Yonge Street, through the downtown area to Union Station, then travelling north through North York to Vaughan.
• Line  2  Bloor-Danforth runs east-west along Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue.
• Line  4  Sheppard runs east from Line 1 along Sheppard Avenue to Fairview Mall at Don Mills Station.

Line  3  Scarborough is no longer in service. Until the extension of the Line 2 underground subway opens (estimated 2030), the service has been replaced by interim bus services including the 903 Kennedy-Scarborough Express running between Kennedy and Scarborough Centre stations, and 8 other TTC bus routes. These routes have been extended from Scarborough Centre to operate as express services to Kennedy station. (All TTC bus routes that depart from Platform B at Kennedy station service Scarborough Centre station before continuing along their respective routes.)

Sections of the subway system often close on weekends or late evening for maintenance, with buses replacing each closed section. The TTC gives notice of such closures a few days in advance. Expect a longer travel time during such closures; staff will be on hand to direct passengers.

• TTC Subway and Streetcar Map, omitting most streetcar diversions, specifically those for streetcar routes 501 and 504 west of Shaw Street
• Streetcar Service Changes, explaining diversions and bus replacements by route with maps

Most streetcar lines serve the south, central part of the city.

• The TTC often diverts streetcars around construction projects potentially resulting in a substantially changed route for several months. Maps posted on the TTC website, in stations and in waiting shelters generally do not reflect such diversions. Ideally, riders should check the Streetcar Services Changes link above for diversions to avoid ending up in the wrong place.
• Buses replacing all or part of a streetcar route will bear the streetcar route number and route name.

Toronto is one of the few cities in North America (and the only city in Canada) to have kept any of its streetcar routes. The 501 Queen route is an attraction in itself passing through a wide range of ethnic and cultural neighbourhoods. In 2010, it received special recognition from National Geographic magazine for being one of the longest streetcar routes in North America; however, the route is shorter today with the 507 Long Branch route being the western continuation of 501 Queen.

Caution: when getting on and off streetcars, make sure that the traffic is stopped in the lane next to the streetcar. Also, be aware of pickpockets in crowded rush hour situations.

From roughly 1:30AM to 6AM (8AM on Sundays), the subway system and all day-time streetcar and bus routes are replaced by the Blue Night Network. Night bus and streetcar routes are all numbered in the 300-series, and use the same fares as day-time routes. Night route 320 Yonge replaces the subway line 1 and offers frequent service. Most other night routes have 30-minute frequency.

Express bus routes (numbered in the 900 series) often follow local bus routes but with fewer stops, stopping mainly at transfer points. The 900 Airport Express goes to Toronto Pearson Airport. Some express routes operate all day, every day; others may run only during rush hours. Fares are the same as on other TTC routes.

Taxis are plentiful and safe, but not cheap. The base rate is $4.25, with an average 5 km (3.1 mi) trip costing $13. As with most big cities, driving a car downtown can be annoying; parking is often hard to find and expensive, and traffic along certain streets can make vehicle travel slower than mass transit. However, traveling longer distances, when not close to subway lines is often significantly faster by car or taxi.

• Lyft. (updated Jul 2022)
• Uber. UberX service is available via smartphone app throughout the city with fares running roughly half the price of a taxi. An average 5 km (3.1 mi) trip costs roughly $8.25. (updated Jul 2022)

Toronto is trying very hard to become a bike-friendly city, with dedicated bike lanes being added all the time. There are many casual cyclists out all the time. And it is fast: door to door, in all of downtown Toronto, a bike beats a car or transit nearly every time.

There can be hostility between automobiles and cyclists. Generally speaking, if you are on the road, you are expected to obey the same laws as cars, and you are not allowed to ride on the sidewalk.

The city is predominantly flat, aside from a general climb away from Lake Ontario and the deeply indented, forested Don Valley and Humber River Valley. Post-and-ring locking posts are present throughout the city. There are many bike-only lanes on major roads and threading through various neighbourhoods and parks. The city publishes a cycling map, available on the city website.

Bike Share Toronto provides a public bike system with 1,000 bikes available at 80 stations throughout downtown. Subscriptions start at $5 for 24 hours and allow you to use a bike for 30 minutes or less, as much as you like (usage fees apply for trips longer than 30 minutes). It operates 24 hours a day, all year long (but see the warning below about winter biking). Several businesses also offer bicycle rentals.

It is a provincial law that cyclists under 18 must wear a helmet, and all riders must have a bike with reflectors and a bell. This tends to only be enforced when the police go on their annual "cycling blitz".

Some dangers:

• Beware of parked cars - often accidents are not caused by moving cars, but rather by careless drivers or passengers who unexpectedly open their driver's side door.
• Be cautious of streetcar tracks as bike wheels can be easily caught and cause a spill.
• Although you will certainly see many locals riding the streets year-round, biking in the winter months is enjoyable only with proper equipment and reasonable skills; winter weather is cold, it can be quite windy, and snow removal is often imperfect.

Some recommended cycling routes:

• By far one of the most popular bike paths is the Martin Goodman Trail, the east-west route that hugs Lake Ontario, spanning the city from Etobicoke to the eastern ends of the city. This path is also often used by pedestrians and rollerbladers.
• The Don River trail system begins at the lake (near Queen and Broadview) and travels very far north and east. During or after heavy rains, avoid lower sections of the trails.
• A special treat for bikers of all levels is a tour through Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie St Spit) to the lighthouse and bird sanctuaries (no cars!), which is open on weekends only. Start at Queen and Leslie and head south.
• A visit to Toronto Islands from the ferry docks at the southern end of Bay Street is a great way to spend a bike-friendly, relaxed afternoon by bike. There are no private cars on the Toronto Islands.

The trip to the Toronto Islands from the downtown core (Bay St and Queens Quay) is a pleasant 15-minute ferry ride, with frequent summer service and the best views of the Toronto skyline.

There are also guided sailing vessels that take tours of the inner and outer harbours, and circumnavigate Toronto Islands. Ticket booths are found behind Harbourfront Centre in the Harbourfront district.

• Art Gallery of Ontario. The largest art gallery in Canada. It has a great Canadian paintings exhibit and the world's largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures. The European paintings exhibit has a few excellent pieces including Ruben's The Massacre of the Innocents.
• Bata Shoe Museum. This offbeat museum is devoted to shoes and footwear from cultures all over the world.
• Black Creek Pioneer Village is a recreation of life in 19th-century Ontario and consists of over 40 historic buildings, decorated in the style of the 1860s with period furnishings and actors portraying villagers.
• Casa Loma is a step back in time to a period of European elegance and splendour. The museum has decorated suites, secret passages, a 250-m-long tunnel, towers, stables and beautiful 5-acre estate gardens.
• Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art. Dedicated to ceramics in an exquisite contemporary building.
• Hockey Hall of Fame is both a museum and a hall of fame dedicated to the history of ice hockey.
• Ontario Science Centre. This child-friendly museum has several hundred exhibits, many of them hands-on.
• Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of art, world culture and natural history. It is one of the largest museums in North America, and the largest in Canada.
• Spadina House Museum is in a historic mansion dating from the 1860s. The grounds contain a beautiful garden.
• Textile Museum of Canada. Shows drawn from a 13,000-piece collection of textiles from around the world and from other collections.

• CN Tower. At 533 metres tall, the CN Tower is the third tallest free-standing structure in the world, and the tallest in North America.
• Rogers Centre is a large multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.
• Toronto City Hall. Two buildings forming a semi-circle overlooking Nathan Phillips Square. Architecturally stunning, and next door to Old City Hall (now a court house) which has a more classical architecture.

• Toronto Zoo is Canada's premier zoo showcasing over 5,000 animals and 460 species.

• Toronto is "the city within a park", with miles and miles of parkland following the streams and rivers that flow through the city. Edwards Gardens and the Toronto Botanical Gardens in the neighbourhood of North York might just be the place to start exploring this natural environment.
• The City of Toronto has designated various Discovery Walks which highlight the natural and human history of the region. These can be found with brown circular signs along the route and highlight other regions such as the Belt Line, Garrison Creek and the Humber River as well as the downtown core.
• Beaches. Toronto has three main sections of beach along Lake Ontario. The most popular of these is in the aptly-named Beaches neighbourhood. A less popular alternative is the beaches in the western end of the city in the Parkdale neighbourhood; this was once Toronto's Coney Island, with an amusement park and numerous beach-style attractions; however in the 1950s the city built the Gardiner Expressway along the lakeshore, effectively separating the beaches from the city and causing the demolition of the amusement park; over the years attempts have been made to re-energize this area, but the Gardiner remains a major barrier, as well as a source of noise and pollution to keep away would-be beach-goers. On the plus side, the beaches are largely empty most of the time, providing solitude for those who seek it. The third major beach area in the city runs along the south shore of the Toronto Islands. This area is pleasantly secluded, with most of the islands covered with parkland and a small amusement park. Hanlan's Point Beach on the western shore of the islands is the City of Toronto's only officially recognized clothing optional beach, and a popular gay hangout. Despite these options, many Torontonians prefer to leave the city for beach trips; the most popular beaches are those in the Georgian Bay area north of Toronto, Wasaga Beach in particular is very popular during the summer.

• Comedy. World-renowned Second City comedy/improv theatre has a location in Toronto. See great improv and situation comedy performed live with audience participation over dinner and drinks in the heart of the club district of downtown Toronto.
• Theatre. Toronto has a great theatre scene for every taste and budget. Check out the big theatres on Yonge Street for the big splashy shows. Small theatres in the Annex and elsewhere offer smaller productions that range from original Canadian works, avant-garde, experimental theatre, small budget musicals to British murder mysteries. A variety of theatre festivals such as the New Ideas, Rhubarb and Fringe festivals are the seed for many commercial success such as The Drowsy Chaperone. Also try to check out the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the home of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada. The Toronto Symphony plays in the acoustically renovated Roy Thomson Hall. TO Tix in Yonge-Dundas Square is the best place to get full-price advance and day-of discounts on shows across Toronto. It also offers theatre and dining packages, partnering Toronto’s theatre, dance and opera companies with local downtown restaurants and cultural attractions.

• Canadian National Exhibition (The Ex, CNE), Exhibition Place. From mid-August to Labour Day. The Ex is an annual fair offering an amusement park (the Midway), a casino, live entertainment, an international market, agricultural exhibits including livestock and a variety of other exhibits. It is Canada's largest fair and the fifth largest in North America, with an average annual attendance of 1.3 million. (updated Jan 2016)
• Doors Open. This event, held the last weekend of May, offers residents and visitors an opportunity to take a peek behind the doors of more than 100 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across the city. Many of these buildings are normally not open to the public. A number of the city's museums offer free admission on the Doors Open weekend. Free admission. (updated Mar 2022)
• Fan Expo Canda (Metro Toronto Convention Centre). Canada's answer to the San Diego and New York Comic-Cons, Fan Expo Canada draws over 150,000 attendees each year to celebrate superheroes, science fiction, fantasy, and other popular franchises. It's the largest such event in Canada and one of the biggest in the world, now taking up both the north and south buildings of the Convention Centre. It usually takes place over four days at the end of August. (updated Feb 2022)
• Pride Toronto. Held the last week of June. Pride Toronto is the annual LGBT festival which includes the very popular Pride Parade which draws crowds of straight people to discover how LGBT people have fun. See also LGBT Toronto. (updated Jan 2016)
• Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF). Held in February. TBFF showcases the noteworthy black films and provides a forum to debate major cultural, social and socio-economic issues. (updated Jan 2016)
• Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Starts the Thursday night after Labour Day. This publicly attended festival of international film takes place in various theatres and draws many celebrities and celebrity spotters. (updated Jan 2016)
• 🌍 Inside Out LGBT Film & Video Festival, TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St W. Late May/early June. 180 Canadian ind international films and videos over ten days, produced by and about LGBT people. (updated Jan 2020)
• 🌍 Toronto International Festival of Authors, info@festivalofauthors.ca. Late October to early November, with related events throughout the year. One of the largest literary festivals in the world. The annual festival attracts many well-known and up-and-coming authors, with a focus on Canadian and Indigenous authors. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 festival was held online. Events included author readings and discussions, writing workshops, book club meetings, events for children and families, and audio walking tours of Toronto neighbourhoods that inspired stories about the city. The festival's Instagram page @festofauthors sometimes hosts live online events and announces updates throughout the year. Most events are free. Some events, including the book clubs and the writing workshops, have admission fees: check the festival's website for details. (updated Nov 2020)

Toronto has so many eclectic neighbourhoods that a random walk is fascinating in its own right. You might start in the Downtown area and then try other neighbourhoods around the city. Here are a few suggestions of neighbourhoods to visit. More details and more examples are found in the district articles.

• Distillery District. The former Gooderham & Worts distillery lands have been rejuvenated into a pedestrian-only village dedicated to the arts and entertainment. It has fantastic restaurants, festivals, and art galleries housed in its 19th-century distillery buildings.
• Harbourfront, Toronto's former industrial port, is today largely parkland with biking and walking trails and excellent views of the harbour. Harbourfront Centre is situated right by the lake, and is home to numerous cultural events of which most are free or relatively inexpensive. Take in some of the worlds most critically acclaimed performing arts productions, or enjoy one of the many world festivals that take place every weekend.
• Toronto Islands. A short inexpensive ferry ride from the foot of Bay Street and you leave the bustle of the city behind. Visually, the views of the skyline from the islands are stunning, and for cycling, walking, picnics or just relaxing, the Toronto Islands are hard to beat. There is even a small amusement park for kids, Centreville. On hot summer days, temperatures here will often be about 2-3C lower than the mainland providing relief. By mid-summer the water is warm enough to swim at Hanlan's Point or for the more adventurous, a nude beach is nearby.
• Little Italy is the spot to get a sense of the Western Mediterranean. Sit at one of the many coffee shops and watch the world go by on the weekends. A great time to visit is during the men's FIFA World Cup competition (in football/soccer), regardless of where in the world it is actually being held as local communities face off and rivalries reach a fever pitch. Support can be passionate and even in adjacent communities and it is not unusual to see them draped in a mind-numbing variety of flags once every four years.
• Toronto's Chinatown is a great way to sample a tiny bit of cities like Hong Kong, without spending the airfare. Vast crowds crush the sidewalks as vendors sell authentic Chinese and Vietnamese food, and not-so-authentic knock-offs. It is one of North America's largest Chinatowns, and with many shops aimed at tourists, it is a good place to pick up some unusual and inexpensive souvenirs. The area is also home to a growing number of Korean and Vietnamese shops and restaurants. Toronto's multicultural mosaic never stops evolving. For a complete tour, travel along Spadina (north/south) starting at College Street in the north or Queen Street in the south. However, those looking for good, authentic Chinese food may be disappointed, and most of the restaurants here are tourist traps; these days the best Chinese food can be found in the suburbs of Markham and Richmond Hill.
• Kensington Market was once a centre of Jewish life that has morphed into the centre of Toronto's bohemian scene. Visitors will be assaulted by sounds and smells unlike anywhere else in the city, as narrow streets bustle with immigrants, punks, and yuppies alike. Stores include surplus shops, coffee houses, small restaurants (including vegetarian), clothing vendors, and record stores. Fish and fruit markets are also present in great numbers, and the area is experiencing a boom of South American food stalls of late.
• Koreatown has many Korean retail businesses and restaurants where Korean is as prominent as English in the signage. (There is also another Koreatown in North York.
• Gerrard India Bazaar (Little India) If you want to get a sense of Toronto's vibrant South Asian community, this is where you want to be; not only is Indian culture represented - visible Pakistani and Afghan communities are also alive along the street.
• The 501 Queen streetcar has been recognized in National Geographic magazine for being the longest streetcar route in North America (one of the longest in the world). The journey from one end to the other takes a couple of hours and passes through a wide range of ethnic and cultural neighbourhoods.

Toronto has several major league and minor league sports teams:

• Toronto Argonauts - Canadian Football League, playing at BMO Field on the Exhibition Place grounds.
• Toronto Blue Jays – Major League Baseball, playing at the Rogers Centre (formerly known as SkyDome, and still generally called such by locals).
• Toronto Maple Leafs – National Hockey League, playing at the Scotiabank Arena (formerly known as Air Canada Centre).
• Toronto Raptors – National Basketball Association, playing at the Scotiabank Arena.
• Toronto Rock – National Lacrosse League, playing at the Scotiabank Arena.
• Toronto Football Club (also known as Toronto FC or TFC) – Major League Soccer, playing at BMO Field.
• Toronto Marlies – American Hockey League (Toronto Maple Leafs farm team), playing at the Coca-Cola Coliseum (formerly the Ricoh Coliseum).
• Toronto FC II – USL League One (Toronto FC reserve team); as of 2019, TFC II plays at TFC's training facility at Downsview Park in North York. League One is actually a third-tier league; TFC II dropped from the second level, now known as the USL Championship, after the 2018 season.
• York9 FC – Another pro soccer team, this one began play in 2019 as a founding member of the new Canadian Premier League. They play home games at York Lions Stadium on the campus of York University in North York, but have long-term plans to build their own stadium in the York Region.
• Toronto Wolfpack – Rugby league team playing in Super League, the top level of England's rugby league pyramid, which also includes 10 teams from England and one from France. The Wolfpack play at Lamport Stadium in the Liberty Village neighbourhood.

The Scotiabank Arena, 40 Bay St. It was called the Air Canada Centre (or "the Hangar") until 2018.

The Rogers Centre , 1 Blue Jays Way. Most often referred to by its original "SkyDome" name.

The Maple Leaf Gardens, 60 Carlton Street. Historic arena in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District; now converted into a Loblaws supermarket and an athletic centre for Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), the Mattamy Athletic Centre at the Gardens.

The Sobey's Stadium (formerly Aviva Centre), 1 Shoreham Drive. A tennis complex that serves mainly as a training facility, but also includes a main stadium court that frequently hosts seasonal concerts. The most notable use of the complex is for the annual Canadian Open (sponsored as the National Bank Open formerly Rogers Cup), a high-profile event on both the men's ATP Tour and women's WTA Tour. The Aviva Centre hosts the ATP event in even-numbered years and the WTA event in odd-numbered years, alternating with Montreal in both cases.

Changing money at a recognized bank or financial institution is best; there are a few specialized bureaux de change in Toronto's financial district and in Mississauga in the airport terminals. Some hotels, souvenir shops and tourist offices exchange money, but their rates won't put a smile on your dial. Many places in Toronto accept US dollars for small transactions – with a rough 1:1 exchange rate – and it is advised to obtain some Canadian dollars if you will use cash. US coins are often mixed in with Canadian coins at stores since they are similar in appearance.

• Travelex (www.travelex.com/ca) has branches in the Financial District (+1 416-304-6130; First Canadian Place, Bank of Montréal, 100 King St W; M-F 8AM-5PM) and at the airport in Mississauga.
• Calforex Currency Services (290 Queen St West) give good rates for cash, buying and selling GBP, USD, EUR; on substantial sums can be as little as 1% from interbank rates.
• American Express branches in Toronto only function as travel agencies and don't handle financial transactions.
• Cheque-cashing firms such as Money Mart (+1 416-920-4146, multiple locations) can usually exchange US to CAD, but the rates tend to be worse than at other financial institutions.

Roti (never plural, and make the effort to pronounce the "T", like "row-tee") is probably the city's most iconic dish. Originating in Trinidad and Guyana, roti is essentially a curry wrapped in a roti shell, i.e., a thin paratha or dhalpuri flatbread. Typical curries found in roti include goat, chicken, lamb, beef, shrimp and a range of veggie options (channa, spinach, pumpkin, cabbage, potato). Occasionally you can find duck and oxtail options, if you're lucky. While the best roti is found in the outer suburbs of Scarborough and Brampton, a handful of shops persist in the city proper, including:

• Pam's (Bloorcourt)
• Ali's West Indian Roti Shop (Parkdale)
• Island Foods (West Queen West)
• Paul's Roti Shop (Cabbagetown)
• Randy's Roti and Doubles (Bloor/Yonge)

A second variety of roti is a true Toronto original, despite the constituent ingredients being from India. Enterprising Indian cooks in the city saw the popularity of the Caribbean/West Indian-style wrap and adapted it to their own curries; the East Indian variety is now much more easily found than the West Indian original, but it must be said the quality ranges from divine to barely tolerable. Classic choices include butter chicken, matar paneer, channa and lamb korma. Your best bets for consistently excellent Indian roti:

• Roti Mahal (Queen West)
• Matha Roti (Harbord Village)
• Mother India Roti (Parkdale)

Toronto's home to one of the largest Jamaican populations outside of Jamaica, and with that comes a dazzling array of incredible jerk chicken options in nearly every corner of the city. This spicy-sweet-savoury chicken is usually served with rice and peas (kidney beans) and coleslaw; ask for extra oxtail gravy for the true taste. Meals can be had for $10–15, often with lunch specials. Little Jamaica, along Eglinton Ave., has about a dozen or so exceptional options; some classics closer to the core of the city include:

• The Real Jerk (Gerrard East—they filmed the music video for Rihanna's "Work" ft. Drake here!)
• Allwyn's (Queen West)
• Fahmee Bakery (Little Portugal)
• Chubby's (King West—a more expensive but supremely delicious version)
• Tasty's (Chinatown)
• Jerk King (numerous locations including Chinatown, the Annex and Bloor/Dufferin)
• Mr. Jerk (Cabbagetown)
• Diner's Corner (Yonge/Wellesly)
• Albert's (St. Clair)

Patties are a flaky-crust pastry usually filled with seasoned ground beef and can be purchased from Jamaican restaurants, convenience stores, and even a couple subway stations. Vegetable and chicken versions can be found with a little effort as well; for a huge range of fillings (shrimp curry, callaloo, goat, ackee and saltfish), head to Golden Patty in Kensington Market.

Doubles are the "little snack that fill you up big"—curried chickpeas in a fried, doughy flatbread, often with some tamarind sauce and hot sauce thrown in for good measure. Originating in Trinidad and Tobago, these can be found pretty much wherever you can find Caribbean roti, and typically will cost you under $5. Randy's and Ali's make particularly great doubles.

Bring your appetite for these massive sandwiches. A Toronto Italian classic, veal sandwiches usually feature two or three breaded veal cutlets in tomato sauce with cheese, onions and peppers, all served on an Italian roll. Most veal sandwich shops also offer chicken cutlets and eggplant options as well for those looking for something somewhat lighter. More easily found around the West End than anywhere else in town, put yourself in a food coma at one of these shops:

• California Sandwiches (Little Italy)
• Bitondo's (Little Italy)
• San Francesco Foods (Little Italy)
• Tony and Nick's (Little Portugal)
• Papamio (Annex/Seaton Village)
• Uno Mustachio (St. Lawrence Market)

Toronto has one of the largest Portuguese populations of any city outside of Portugal or Brazil, which means you can find excellent pasteis de nata—flaky custard tarts—at bakeries all over the city. While gentrification of the traditionally Portuguese areas of Toronto's West End has resulted in the closures of many iconic bakeries since the 2010s, options still abound. Many bakeries will put their own spins on the tarts, with chocolate and nutella being popular options. Check out these bakeries for quality pasteis:

• Nova Era (multiple locations, including Dundas, St. Clair and Dupont)
• Golden Wheat (Little Italy)
• Caldense (Little Portugal)
• Brockton Village Bakery (Little Portugal)
• Bom Dia (Parkdale)
• Progress Bakery (Dovercourt Village)

Like any proper North American city, Toronto has a distinct regional spin on the hot dog, albeit one that is much less fussy than you would find in Montreal, Chicago, Tucson or Detroit. "Street meat" carts are found all over downtown, with many options clustered along Front Street near the Rogers Centre as well as near Nathan Phillips Square. Most carts will offer four sausage options: hot dog, Italian sausage, Polish sausage and veggie; hot dogs will run you ~$4, with sausages going for a dollar or so more. You dress the dogs yourself, with common toppings including ketchup, mustard, relish, onions, sauerkraut, pickles, banana peppers and bacon bits. There's no agreed-upon "standard" set of toppings; just do what feels right!

Surrounded by the extensive fertile farmlands of Southern Ontario, Toronto has an abundance of farmer's markets - one is happening, in season, almost every day. Several markets are year round, while others are seasonal, generally running from May to October.

• St. Lawrence Market. Has been bringing the freshest foods into the city for Torontonians and visitors alike since 1901. Located at Jarvis and Front, the St. Lawrence Market stretches over 2 buildings, a main building on the south side of Front St., and a temporary building to the south of the main building. The temporary building is home to a Farmer's Market, open Saturdays year round. It features fresh vegetables in season, preserves, spices and herbs, and direct from the source foods, such as honey direct from the beekeeper or maple syrup from the people who tapped and boiled it, and quality Ontario wines. The larger main building has over 50 specialty vendors, with a large seafood section, a dozen butchers, several bakeries, and three very extensive cheese shops. In the basement, there is also a specialty area for handcrafters, and an extensive foodcourt, with merchants often cooking food that they bought fresh that morning from upstairs. The main building is open year round, Tu-Th 8AM-6PM, F 8AM-7PM, Sa 5AM-5PM. 
• Riverdale Farm, 201 Winchester St (three blocks east of Parliament Street). A year-round producing farm owned by the City of Toronto as part of its extensive park system, open daily for tours, education, and more 9AM-5PM. The Friends of Riverdale Farm operate an onsite store and restaurant, Shop at the Farm and Farm Kitchen, in Simpson House (daily 10AM-4PM), and a weekly Farmer's Market (Tuesdays, May 10 - Oct, 3:30PM-7PM. Riverdale farm is a working farm, with barns and outdoor paddocks, and animals of all types. In an attempt to provide education about farming, the staff is approachable, and will discuss chores as they go through the daily tasks of keeping a farm running. Tours are available, or you can wander the 7½ acres freely. 

• City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West. Wednesdays, 1 June-5 October, 10AM-2:30PM (except June 29 due to Jazz Festival).
• East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Ave. Tuesdays, 24 May-25 October, 9AM-2PM. 
• Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall. Saturdays, June 4-29 October, 8AM-2PM.
• North York Civic Centre, Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St. Thursdays, 16 June-20 October, 8AM-2PM.
• Scarborough Civic Centre, Albert Campbell Square, 150 Borough Drive. Fridays, 3 June-14 October noon-5PM.
• The Dufferin Grove Farmer's Market, 875 Dufferin St (across from the Dufferin Mall). Thursdays, year round (outdoors around the rinkhouse in summer and in the rinkhouse in winter) 3:30-7PM. 
• Green Barn Market, 601 Christie St. Saturdays 8AM–12:30PM (within the restored Artscape Wychwood Barns).

• Kensington Market is a historic market near Chinatown with food and drink options of all kinds. These days, Latin food (especially Mexican tacos and South American empanadas) is particularly well represented, but Caribbean, Italian, Middle Eastern and Canadian food are all found in abundance, along with coffee shops, bars, food stores and vintage stores.
• Cabbagetown is a designated Historic District in the eastern half of the downtown core.
• University District: small section of Baldwin Street (east of Spadina, north of Dundas) has many small outdoor cafes ideal for summer lunches.
• Chinese food can naturally be found in Chinatown, but these days many ethnic Chinese residents will tell you that the suburbs of Markham and Richmond Hill, not Chinatown, have the best Chinese food in the Toronto area. Other areas with a good selection of Chinese food include the suburbs of Scarborough and North York, as well as the neighbourhood of East Chinatown, about 4 km east of the original Chinatown.
• Chinatown also has many Vietnamese and Thai restaurants.
• Hakka Food in Toronto refers a style of Chinese food that originated in India with the migrant Chinese of Kolkata. Also known as India-Style Chinese food, outside of India and certain Southeast Asian countries, Toronto is the only city in the world to have such a variety of Hakka restaurants.
• Little Jamaica along Eglinton is home to countless jerk chicken restaurants as well as options for beef patties, ital (vegan) food and more.
• Little India along Gerrard Street East features a wide range of Indian and Pakistani cuisine with plenty of options for vegetarian diners.
• Koreatown along Bloor West between Bathurst and Christie Pits has dozens of Korean restaurants at every price point, as well as Korean karaoke bars and an incredible Korean grocery store, the P.A.T. (don't skip the fish waffles!).
• Little Tibet in Parkdale is home to 20+ Tibetan restaurants, one of the largest such communities outside of Tibet. Wherever you go, try the momos (dumplings with hot sauce)!
• Greektown along the Danforth features plenty of places for souvlaki, meze, gyros and glorious dips of all kinds.
• Little Portugal along Dundas West has gentrified considerably but there are a few remaining bakeries with pasteis de nata (custard tarts), bifana (pork sandwiches) and the like.
• King Street between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue has many restaurants appealing to theatre goers.
• Queen Street East between Empire and Leslie has a number of casual, trendy restaurants that match the vibe of Leslieville.
• College Street to the west of Bathurst has a cheaper set of eclectic restaurants popular with university students from nearby University of Toronto.
• Bayview Avenue south of Eglinton is the location of some of Toronto's best French pastry shops.
• Bloor Street to the west of Spadina in the Annex has a similar set of restaurants to College St, with a particularly heavy concentration of budget-friendly Korean and Japanese restaurants. Most restaurants tend to be very laid back.
• Yorkville: it's more about being seen than actually eating but there are a few hidden gems, and this area is famous for sightseeing celebrities. Restaurants often charge a premium for otherwise mediocre meals.
• The city's largest newspaper, the Toronto Star, once chose the Downsview Park Flea Market food court as the best in the city. Although it is open only on weekends and rather remote, it offers a variety of authentic food from Afghan to Trinidadian and lacks the chain restaurants that dominate the city's food courts. It is north of downtown, but is accessible from the Downsview subway station on the Spadina line and shares space with over 400 independent retailers.

Check the district articles for independent coffee shops.

• Aroma Espresso Bar. This cafe chain has locations throughout the city. Aroma might be the best of the large coffee chains for espresso coffees and rivals the quality at many independent coffee shops. The coffee is served in a cup and saucer with a metal spoon (you might not get the spoon at some other places), and you get a piece of chocolate (a nice touch). (updated Nov 2015)
• Balzac's. Balzac's is a small chain of cafes in interesting neighbourhoods. It serves only organic, Fair Trade coffee, cocoa and sugar, and its milk is locally sourced and organic. (updated Jan 2017)

Some districts with vegetarian restaurants are Kensington-Chinatown, The Annex, and Chinatown East.

Toronto has a wide variety of hotels that can suit every budget. Many are located in the Entertainment and Financial Districts and Yonge-Dundas areas.

Toronto has several youth hostels, including ones in the downtown area, such as HI-Toronto Hostel at the foot of Church Street.

Another popular alternative for over nighters are bed & breakfasts, of which Toronto has hundreds, many of them in the downtown core. Prices range from $60 to several hundred dollars depending on the house and amenities offered.

Most coffee shops, chain restaurants, shopping centres and public buildings provide free Wi-Fi. Major attractions such as the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, the Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Centre provide free Wi-Fi to guests.

Wi-Fi and free internet access is available on computers at Toronto Public Library branches. Computer access requires a library card, but the library offers a card for in-library services for non-residents without an annual fee.

All TTC subway stations have free Wi-Fi; the ad-based service uses network name TCONNECT. See the TTC wi-fi webpage for more details. Union Station provides

Generally stamps are purchased and parcels are weighed and shipped at a postal outlet in a retail store such as a variety store or a drug store such as Shoppers Drug Mart. Postal outlets may sell philatelic items (recent issues only).

• The Toronto Star, a broadsheet daily newspaper, politically left of centre, covering local, national, and world news. Superman co-creator Joe Shuster, who once delivered this paper, used the Old Toronto Star Building (no longer extant) as inspiration for "The Daily Planet" newspaper.
• The Toronto Sun, a tabloid daily newspaper, politically conservative, covering local, national, and world news.
• The Globe and Mail, a broadsheet national daily with local edition, published in Toronto. Extensive business and stock market coverage, politically centrist.
• The National Post, a broadsheet national daily, moderately conservative.

Depending on where you go in Toronto, you will be able to find locally printed newspapers in a variety of languages. For example, in Chinatown, you will find Chinese newspapers. In "Little Italy", you'll find Italian newspapers. You'll also find newspapers in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Persian, Arabic, Tagalog, Greek, Urdu and more.

Toronto is remarkably safe and the streets are vibrant with pedestrians and bicyclists, even at night in most neighbourhoods. If you use common sense, you should have no trouble at all.

The overall violent crime rate in Canada, and particularly in Toronto, is much lower than that found in major cities in the United States. Petty crime is generally not a problem in Toronto, but as always is the case, keep vigilant with your possessions. Car and bike theft are comparable to other large North American cities.

There are neighbourhoods which are known in the media and on the street as being more dangerous, though police statistics are not commonly used to justify these beliefs. Nevertheless, while assaults and other crimes can happen anywhere, especially late at night when few people are around, it is reasonable to avoid certain areas (again, generally late at night). These areas include in the old city and inner bouroughs: Crescent Town, Regent Park, parts of Parkdale, parts of St. Jamestown, Moss Park, Alexandra Park, Flemingdon Park/Victoria Village and Weston-Mount Dennis. Outer areas: Jane and Finch ("Jane Corridor"), Lawrence Heights, the Peanut (i.e., Don Mills and Sheppard), Rexdale/Jamestown Crescent, Malvern, Kingston and Galloway, Steeles-The Amoureaux, Dorset Park, Westminster-Branson and Eglinton East-Kennedy Park. Stay away from dodgy looking areas, where drugs, prostitution and violent crime such as armed robberies can occur. These neighbourhoods become noticeably worse from a visual standpoint, giving ample warning to turn around.

Toronto has a visible homeless population, many of whom will ask you for money. Beggars in Toronto have been known to ask for handouts on the pretext that they need TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) fare. When offered TTC tokens, they will accept them and then approach other passers-by in an attempt to resell these tokens for cash. If a street person offers to sell you a token they claim to have "found" in Toronto, sometimes at less than face value, odds are this fare media was given to them by some well-meaning passer-by who believed their false claim that they needed a TTC fare to get home.

There have also been instances in the past with "squeegee kids" who would jump into intersections when traffic is stopped at lights and solicit money for cleaning windshields. This is becoming less common as this form of interference with vehicle traffic is expressly illegal under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act and may be reported to police.

Be careful when getting off the streetcars and always look to your right before leaving the car. Although vehicles are supposed to stop when the streetcar doors open, some motorists and cyclists will ignore this and keep going.

The proliferation of mobile phones has led to "multitasking" in a large percentage of the pedestrian population of this city. If driving, cycling, or even walking, in Toronto do not forget to keep an eye open for a pedestrian who may be more focused on his or her device.

Avoid river/creek banks or bridge underpasses during periods of excessive rain, during/after heavy thundershowers or melting snow. Flooding can soften soil and cause it to suddenly collapse into the water under any weight.

Occasionally, Toronto will be hit with a severe winter storm accompanied by significant snowfall (quite often mixed with freezing rain/ice/sleet). Avoid driving during and immediately after the storms if at all possible. This is especially true for those unfamiliar with winter driving and controlling a car in a skid. Take public transit, walk, or stay inside.

• Brazil, 77 Bloor Street West, Suite 1109, ☏ +1 416-922-2503, fax: +1 416-922-1832. 
• China, 240 St. George St, ☏ +1 416-964-7260. 
• El Salvador, 151 Bloor Street West, Suite 320, ☏ +1 416-975-0812, fax: +1 416-975-0283, 103504.2104@compuserver.com. 
• Greece, 365 Bloor Str. East, Suite 1800, ☏ +1 416-515-0133, fax: +1 416-515-0209, toronto.consulate@greekembassy.ca. 
• India, 365 Bloor Street East, ☏ +1 416-960-0751. M-F 9AM to 11:30AM. 
• Italy, 136 Beverley St, ☏ +1 416-977-1566, fax: +1 416-977-1119. 
• Japan, 77 King St West Suite 3300, ☏ +1 416-363-7038. 
• Macedonia, 90 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 210, ☏ +1 416-322-2196, fax: +1 416-322-2412, toronto@mfa.gov.mk. 
• Netherlands, 1 Dundas St W, Suite 2106, toll-free: +1-877-DUTCHHELP (388244357), fax: +1 416-598-8064, info@dutchhelp.com. 
• Romania, 789 Don Mills Rd., unit 501, M3C 1T5., ☏ +1 416 585 2444, fax: +1 416 585 9192, toronto@mae.ro. General consulate 
• South Africa, 110 Sheppard Ave E, Suite 600, North York, ☏ +1 416-944-8825, fax: +1 416-944-0925. 
• Russia, 175 Bloor Street East, South Tower, Suite 801, ☏ +1 416-962-9911, fax: +1 416-962-6611, visaruscons@bellnet.ca. M-F 9:30AM to 12:30PM. 
• United Kingdom, 777 Bay St, Suite 2800, ☏ +1 416-593-1290, fax: +1 416-593-1229, britcon.toronto@fco.gov.uk. 
• United States, 360 University Ave, ☏ +1 416-595-1700, fax: +1 416-595-1090. 9AM-1PM. 

• Niagara Region — A lush region known primarily for its orchards and vineyards as well as the thundering waterfalls at Niagara Falls and the beautiful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. On the American side of the Falls are several outlet malls. 1-1½ hours south along the QEW; a few tour buses make the same-day return trip. It is one of the principal Wine Regions of Ontario, and several companies do wine-tasting tours by bus from Toronto, starting at $125 (tax included), such as Niagara Vintage Wine Tours and Niagara Airbus.
• Main Street Unionville, in the suburban city of Markham north of Toronto, is a historic village developed in the 1840s. As typical of a small village, it has many quaint period buildings in an idyllic surrounding.
• Waterloo Region — This area 1-1½ hours west of Toronto has large university campuses, rolling farm hills and Mennonite culture.
• The Niagara Escarpment — A world biosphere, protected by UN mandate running from the Niagara Falls west to Hamilton then northward to Georgian Bay. It is covered by forest with high cliff views along the Bruce Trail bordering the western edge of the Greater Toronto Area, at its closest point it is about a ½-hour drive from the western end of Toronto.
• Newmarket has its attractive Main Street Heritage Conservation District and many heritage buildings within a walkable area.
• Canada's Wonderland is a popular, seasonal theme park operated by Cedar Fair in Vaughan. It is a 20-minute drive away without traffic, and there are buses from downtown in the summer.

• Muskoka, Georgian Triangle and The Kawarthas — All 1½–2 hours north are cottage country areas with more rocky and hilly terrain speckled with hundreds of lakes and waterways. Muskoka and the Kawarthas are known for their country inns, cottages, spas/resorts, provincial parks, and a wealth of outdoor activities including camping, fishing/hunting, snowmobiling, nature viewing, and hiking set among natural beauty. The Georgian Bay area is where the hilly terrain and cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment meet its shores, the area has renowned ski facilities frequently blasted with high snowfall amounts but beaches Wasaga Beach, wineries and golfing are the choices in summer.
• Stratford — This cute town 2 hours west of Toronto is host to the world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival (April–November).

• Thousand Islands and Kingston — This scenic area and its nearby historic city are 3 hours east, on the way to Ottawa
• Ottawa — The Canadian capital is about a 4½-hour drive from Toronto.
• Windsor, London, and Sarnia are at the southwestern corner of Ontario, and the southernmost point of Canada. It is a 3-hour drive.

• Buffalo — Gorgeous early 20th-century architecture including some Frank Lloyd Wright work and excellent museums are a 1½-hour drive from Toronto.
• Across the Detroit River from Windsor is Detroit, offering Motown music, automobile museums, historic buildings, museums, and theatres. It is 4 hours away.
• The city that never sleeps, New York City, is only 8-10 hours away without traffic, via I-90 and I-87. You can also take Amtrak or a 2-hour flight there.
• Also an 8- to 9-hour drive away, Chicago is home to blues music, Millennium Park, windy weather, and deep-dish pizza.
• If you are into history and want to see the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C., you have to drive 8-10 hours.

• Montreal is a 6- to 7-hour drive to the east, or a 4½-hour train ride. Bilingual Montreal is home to French-Canadian culture, nice architecture, and the Laurentians are not far away.
• You can hop onto a VIA rail train to many parts of Canada, including Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Vancouver.