10 Best Toronto Downtown Attractions for Your Next Trip

Toronto, the City of Goods, is the largest city in Canada, and within it is the heart of the city, called Downtown Toronto.

Downtown Toronto is a popular area, a financial district, a hub of world cultures, and a place with a rich history. It serves the perfect city life, from amazing shopping malls to local markets to beautiful art galleries. It’s the ideal location for a vacation tour or just a lovely place to relax during the weekend.

In this article, we are going to provide you with the top Toronto downtown attractions for your next trip to Canada. As Toronto’s downtown is home to so many wonderful locations, you will surely enjoy your time here.

Top 10 Toronto Downtown Attractions Worth Visiting

Toronto Downtown, a beautiful metropolis city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is stuffed with glory. It is the central area for basically everything, like business, technology, history, and heritage.

Toronto downtown is blessed with a multi-diverse population that has made this place an amazing tourist destination, and this diversity of Toronto attracts thousands of visitors.

You could find amazing restaurants, historical and art museums, galleries, super cool markets, and nightlife. It has so much to show, but we have collected some of the most amazing Toronto downtown attractions.

Below we are giving you some of our and visitors’ favourite Toronto Downtown attractions you would surely fall in love with:

1. Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls, the beauty of Canada, is among the top Toronto downtown attractions and is among the most famous waterfalls in the world.

Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Of these three, Horseshoe Falls, which is in Canada, is the most famous and also known as Canadian Fall.

The serene view and the amount of water falling from such a long height make it unique and serene.

The beauty of it can be enjoyed at night when the lights are turned on. It is a perfect tourist destination for a perfect holiday.

The hotels and accommodations are easier, as everything is within walking distance. Nearby the falls are also Niagara State Park, where you can go hiking and have a picnic.

Things to do in Niagara Falls:-

• Watching Niagara Falls at night when they are illuminated
• Try out Boat rides and Ziplines.
• Try the Prime Steakhouse restaurant.
• Visit Niagara Falls state park.
• Try out the casinos and wineries.

2. CN Tower

Are you searching for top attractions in downtown Toronto and haven’t heard of the CN Tower? Is it possible? The CN Tower (Canadian National) is among the top tourist attractions. It is among the tallest freestanding buildings, with a height of 533 meters.

The amazing part doesn’t end here; the CN Tower has a unique rotating (360) restaurant, an elevator to reach the top to enjoy the serene view of the Toronto skyline and an edge walk. You will have a blast here!

Things to do in CN Tower:-

• Dine at the 360 (revolving) restaurant.
• Try Edgewalk
• Explore the Rogers Centre.

3. Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum, also famously known as the ROM, is one of the biggest museums in Canada.

The Royal Ontario Museum offers art, culture, and multi-diverse natural history from around the world. It comes under our list of best Toronto downtown attractions.

If you are a history lover, then you would enjoy this place. The place has various artifacts and specimens from China to Africa. They have different sections for different historical periods.

The ROM is a religious spot for schools and universities to visit. The amount of antique pieces it holds is uncountable.

Things to do at Royal Ontario Museum:-

• Look for dinosaur fossils.
• Have a glance at galleries of Chinese architecture and Egyptian art.

4. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Do aquariums amaze you? Are you interested in the shoreline and various unique sea species and want to touch them too? Then Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is for you. This is a perfect family-friendly attraction point where you could come and enjoy your day.

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada offers a great show of the real ocean world, where you can meet the numerous sea creatures and get that marine vibe.

Things to do at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada:-

• Check out the Dangerous Lagoon tank. It is viewed from below on a conveyer belt and would feel like you are in the ocean with sea creatures.
• Touch the fish and rays in the touch tank (Shoreline).

5. St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is an awesome place to take a walk and spend quality time in the city, shopping, and eating.

Lawrence Market is Toronto’s local farmer’s market, popular for its food and authenticity. The market is diverse, and thousands of vendors are immigrants who serve you a variety of dishes from around the world.

Also, hands down, the best place to have real Canadian food.

If you are a foodie, this place is a must. Several local vendors sell fresh produce, food, and baked goods worth trying.

It is one of the best local and authentic markets in Toronto’s downtown attractions. Also, several amazing events happen here most of the time.

Things to do at St. Lawrence Market:-

• Try the famous peameal bacon sandwich and apple cake.
• Visit the market at night; the vibe is different.

6. Toronto Islands

Have you ever seen a movie scene with a perfect beach vibe, peace, and serene view and wanted to feel that too? No worries. As we already said, Canada has a lot to offer.

Toronto Islands are clusters of fifteen small islands (some famous are Ward’s Island, located in Lake Ontario) that offer various beautiful beaches, amazing picnic spots, fun adventure rides, a beautiful view of the city skyline, and many more exciting things.

Take a break from your hectic life and enjoy this paradise. Take a ferry ride from downtown Toronto to the Toronto Islands.

Things to do at Toronto Islands:-

• Visit the animal farm.
• Have a picnic or a chill day at Olympic Island.
• Visit the amusement park located on Centre Island.

7. Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is a recognized and valued art centre and is among the largest art museums in North America with a collection of around 90,000 art pieces.

AGO offers a vast variety of artworks that shows the history and culture from all around the world. From Canadian to European art, they have everything to show. They also have the largest collection of African art.

In addition, they do temporary exhibitions throughout the year to show more of them.

Things to do at the Art Gallery of Ontario:-

• Have a look at the famous Canadian art
• Try out the AGO Cafe and Bistro.
• You must try out the Kids Gallery, where they do storytelling, costume play, and many more fun things.

8. Yonge Dundas Square

Yonge-Dundas Square is a public place located at the intersection of Yonge Street and Dundas Street, hence the name. It is among the most loved and worth visiting Toronto’s downtown attractions.

It is a public spot where thousands of amazing events and cultural activities occur. It is always beautifully lighted by billboards and cultural posters and is known as Toronto’s city centre. It is also one of the busiest streets, with thousands of pedestrians always crossing it.

The Toronto International Film Festival and the New Year’s Eve countdown are two renowned events held there, bringing together tens of thousands of people from many cultures to celebrate the occasion.

Due to the similarities between the two, Yonge-Dundas Square, a Toronto landmark, is occasionally also compared to New York Square.

Things to do at Yonge Dundas Square:-

• Visit the renowned Eaton Centre mall for some fantastic shopping.
• Attend the Toronto International Film Festival, cultural events, and concerts.

9. Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is the most famous and largest in Canada, home to more than 5000 wildlife species. It is among the zoos that have divided the animals based on their geographical regions, which makes them different from other zoos.

It is quite popular among tourists and local people too. It is a perfect family visit for your vacation If you are an animal lover or love to see and study wildlife, this place should be on your list.

The Toronto Zoo offers a variety of wildlife; you could find pandas, polar bears, rhinoceroses, and many more.

Did you think that’s all the Toronto Zoo offers? Then you might be wrong, as this Toronto zoo has a splash island with amazing water rides, serene animal statues, and many adventure rides like a tundra air ride, gorilla climb ropes, and many more to keep you entertained.

Things to do in Toronto Zoo:-

• Visit Splash Island.
• Try out rides like the carousel and Tundra air ride.
• Have a look at the kids’ zoo section.
• Book Zoomable for an easy and convenient way to explore the whole zoo.

10. Kensington Market

Kensington Market is a colourful and bohemian place offering quality restaurants, cute coffee shops, art galleries, and much more.

This famous and diverse market is always at the top of the list for tourists. You could find anything and everything here, from food to home decor to art collections and colourful things in one place.

Hands down one of the iconic places to consider while searching for the best Toronto downtown attractions. So have a walk in this iconic market and indulge yourself in the world of diverse cultures.

Things to do in Kensington Market:-

• Try out various local shops to get authentic food from different cultures.
• Browse the shop to get prime, retro, and bohemian-styled clothes.
• Explore street art.

So, here we end our suggestions for the 10 best downtown Toronto attractions. But as you came so far to be here, we thought to give you some more. There are so many places to visit in downtown Toronto, but we gave you some of the best.

Below, we are giving you some honourable mentions of Toronto’s downtown attractions to make your travel journey a little easier.

4 Bonus Toronto Downtown Attractions

11. Nathan Phillips Square

Nathan Phillips Square is a famous and colourful public square located at the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street in downtown Toronto. It serves various events almost throughout the year to entertain the general public.

Nathan Phillips Square hosts events like a Christian music festival, celebrations, rallies, art galleries, and the Toronto Christmas Market.

This place is quite popular for indoor shopping; it is home to New City Hall, local day and night markets, and cinemas. In the winter, ice skating is a popular fun activity among locals and tourists alike.

12. Hockey Hall of Famers

If you are interested in sports history or are a hockey fan, then this Hockey Hall of Fame museum is for you. It’s a well-known and reputed foundation of sports history and is popular among visitors.

The Hockey Hall of Fame is popular for its exhibits on ice hockey and its history. It also features some of the best players, referees, and coaches on their displays, and they always add new players yearly.

One of the best museums is the Hockey Hall of Fame, which depicts the development of ice hockey as a sport.

13. Ontario Science Centre

One of Canada’s most visited science museums is the Ontario Science Centre. It was one of the first to integrate live demonstrations and interactive exhibitions in museums. Their distinctive approach makes science and technology more enjoyable and useful.

One of the top Toronto downtown attractions for tourists to enjoy with family or friends is the Ontario Science Centre. The museum is fun and interactive.

14. Distillery District

The pedestrian-only Distillery District is one of the hippest and busiest areas and among the top Toronto downtown attractions. It is a revered historical location that still preserves a rich past and culture.

The distillery’s gorgeously renovated Victorian buildings have been turned into amazing art galleries, cafes, and boutiques to conserve the heritage.

There are many different vintage cafes, restaurants, pubs, art galleries, theatre productions, events, studios, and more in the Distillery District. Many tourists are drawn to the well-known cobblestone street.

Overall, the Distillery District is a laid-back location with something for everyone to do. A single centre for entertainment, culture, and the arts. You will not regret coming here.

Conclusion

So here ends our list of the top Toronto downtown attractions; there are many more places, but the above-mentioned places are the most loved and popular among visitors.

As we have already said, downtown Toronto is much more than a name; you will have a blast here.

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