Toronto, Canada - Advice Appreciated!
Discussion
Hi all
An unexpected and exciting break has been arranged to visit Toronto first week in December. Just my adult daughter and I.
The Radisson Blu hotel was already booked, which looks nice and local.
Not really knowing anything about Toronto or having even visited Canada before, any thoughts on travelling around, places to see and general help/recommendations/tips would be appreciated.
Thank you.
An unexpected and exciting break has been arranged to visit Toronto first week in December. Just my adult daughter and I.
The Radisson Blu hotel was already booked, which looks nice and local.
Not really knowing anything about Toronto or having even visited Canada before, any thoughts on travelling around, places to see and general help/recommendations/tips would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Sounds like you're looking to stay in the city all week?
Early December will be chilly, pack warm coats. Will probably hover around 0 C.
Youre out of tourist season which is good and bad! Some attractions may be closed or limited. But no crowds!
A day trip to Niagara is well worth it. I guess the maid of the mist trip boats will be finished for the season but hopefully you can get behind the falls still. Note the town around the falls is awful, but the falls themselves are amazing.
There's a few good museums. The Art Gallery of Ontario in particular is excellent.
Views back to the city from the islands are great, easy ferry over.
CN tower is overpriced but good fun, especially if you've not seen too many north American skylines. Glass floor is a test of nerves! I've been told the restaurant is a good option to make the most of it.
Toronto has an embarrassment of riches for food and drink if that's your thing. If you have specific foods you like let me know and ill ask friends for suggestions.
It's a very safe and easy city to walk around, and the variety of neighborhoods encourage this so I recommend picking somewhere and strolling. Kensington market is always a favourite, but I like walking along queen street (varied) and bloor (koreatown).
If you want to escape the city all day and budget allows the airline Porter fly from the city airport to few places making a day trip to ottawa or Montreal quite doable. The distances are too far for train/car day trips. If youre always staying in toronto I wouldn't recommend renting a car unless you have a specific trip in mind.
Early December will be chilly, pack warm coats. Will probably hover around 0 C.
Youre out of tourist season which is good and bad! Some attractions may be closed or limited. But no crowds!
A day trip to Niagara is well worth it. I guess the maid of the mist trip boats will be finished for the season but hopefully you can get behind the falls still. Note the town around the falls is awful, but the falls themselves are amazing.
There's a few good museums. The Art Gallery of Ontario in particular is excellent.
Views back to the city from the islands are great, easy ferry over.
CN tower is overpriced but good fun, especially if you've not seen too many north American skylines. Glass floor is a test of nerves! I've been told the restaurant is a good option to make the most of it.
Toronto has an embarrassment of riches for food and drink if that's your thing. If you have specific foods you like let me know and ill ask friends for suggestions.
It's a very safe and easy city to walk around, and the variety of neighborhoods encourage this so I recommend picking somewhere and strolling. Kensington market is always a favourite, but I like walking along queen street (varied) and bloor (koreatown).
If you want to escape the city all day and budget allows the airline Porter fly from the city airport to few places making a day trip to ottawa or Montreal quite doable. The distances are too far for train/car day trips. If youre always staying in toronto I wouldn't recommend renting a car unless you have a specific trip in mind.
Top tip for you if getting a taxi from the airport, it is a fixed price set by the airport itself for travel between it and downtown Toronto, it was $77 CAD and if you pre book you save 10%
I used these to and from Toronto airport-downtown then back again...
https://airlinelimo.com/en/
I used these to and from Toronto airport-downtown then back again...
https://airlinelimo.com/en/
Saleen836 said:
Top tip for you if getting a taxi from the airport, it is a fixed price set by the airport itself for travel between it and downtown Toronto, it was $77 CAD and if you pre book you save 10%
I used these to and from Toronto airport-downtown then back again...
https://airlinelimo.com/en/
The UP Express train from the airport to Union Station downtown is the best option if that's where you're headed. I forget the price now but I think you can just tap a credit card too, like london. Check that though, been a few years since I took it.I used these to and from Toronto airport-downtown then back again...
https://airlinelimo.com/en/
I try to avoid cities in general so stayed out of Toronto itself (aside from the airport) when I was there, but agree that Niagara Falls is worth seeing, Niagara Falls City is very much not, and Niagara-on-the-lake is lovely. It's a pleasant half hour drive along the Niagara River Parkway from Niagara-on-the-lake to Niagara Falls.
Been to Toronto twice in the last year with work. As others have said, it'll be cold, Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake are a must, The hotel concierge should be able to book you on a full day trip for around £80 including boat right up to the falls, pick up and drop off at your hotel. CN Tower, UP Express from airport into town.
Also consider boat trip on Lake Ontario, and walking tours. Check out Guru Walks website.
Toronto is cheap. Stuff costs in Canadian dollars the same as you'd pay in pounds, but a dollar is about 60p, so stuff is just over half price.
It feels very safe and the people are nice. I liked it.
In the winter, use the underground tunnel network to walk around the city, that's why it's there. Maps are available. There's a whole other city underneath the city. Look for the multicoloured signs saying PATH for access points
Also consider boat trip on Lake Ontario, and walking tours. Check out Guru Walks website.
Toronto is cheap. Stuff costs in Canadian dollars the same as you'd pay in pounds, but a dollar is about 60p, so stuff is just over half price.
It feels very safe and the people are nice. I liked it.
In the winter, use the underground tunnel network to walk around the city, that's why it's there. Maps are available. There's a whole other city underneath the city. Look for the multicoloured signs saying PATH for access points
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Stuff costs in Canadian dollars the same as you'd pay in pounds, but a dollar is about 60p, so stuff is just over half price.
Though be aware (if it's not the same where you are) that sticker prices on most retail items in Canada are exclusive of tax - when national and regional sales taxes are added on at the till it can add quite a bit. Here in NZ sticker prices include tax, so I had to recalibrate my perception of value a bit.Tipping was also a novelty for me, it isn't really a thing here but adds to the listed cost of eating out etc in that part of the world.
With taxes and tips taken into account I found most things ended up costing similar to NZ, though petrol was far cheaper.
ETA - that was 2018 so not the most up-to-date.
Edited by GravelBen on Friday 26th September 13:07
Was there a few months ago, really nice place.
Train from Pearson to the centre is the way to go.
Hire bikes on the local app are great for getting about, possibly less so in December.
Assume American-style tipping as a baseline.
You will notice the smell of weed in a fair number of places.
The Royal Ontario Museum is very good, check what special exhibitions they have on also (normally an extra charge to see them)
Tour of the Legislative Assembly building is recommended.
Nathan Phillips square worth a look, Old City hall is next door.
Going up the CN Tower gets you a good view.
Boat tour is worthwhile.
Fort York could be interesting if that period of history is your thing.
Kensington market turns up in the guidebooks a bit, but to be polite, I think I wasn't young/hip enough to see the appeal.
Distillery district is worth wandering down that side of the city for a look in my opinion.
Huge amount of food and drink available. Depends what you like. At least try a Beavertail (sweet pastry the size of a pitta bread with whatever calorific toppings you want) and possibly some peameal bacon for breakfast one time.
Both the Amsterdam Brewhouse and Steam Whistle Tap Room are short walks from your hotel if you want to try some beer.
If you or anyone you know smoke cigars, Frank Correnti are the last remaining manufacturer in Canada, hand-rolled in their small upstairs workshop.
If you want to go to Niagara, the falls are impressive, I'd recommend the walk along the power station spillway is a better way to see them from below than the Maid Of The Mist (and you don't get as wet), the main drag is properly Blackpool-level cheesy tourist nonsense, but don't let that put you off seeing the falls themselves.
If you want a day trip further afield, Kingston is a nice little place, about 2.5hrs driving east.
Train from Pearson to the centre is the way to go.
Hire bikes on the local app are great for getting about, possibly less so in December.
Assume American-style tipping as a baseline.
You will notice the smell of weed in a fair number of places.
The Royal Ontario Museum is very good, check what special exhibitions they have on also (normally an extra charge to see them)
Tour of the Legislative Assembly building is recommended.
Nathan Phillips square worth a look, Old City hall is next door.
Going up the CN Tower gets you a good view.
Boat tour is worthwhile.
Fort York could be interesting if that period of history is your thing.
Kensington market turns up in the guidebooks a bit, but to be polite, I think I wasn't young/hip enough to see the appeal.
Distillery district is worth wandering down that side of the city for a look in my opinion.
Huge amount of food and drink available. Depends what you like. At least try a Beavertail (sweet pastry the size of a pitta bread with whatever calorific toppings you want) and possibly some peameal bacon for breakfast one time.
Both the Amsterdam Brewhouse and Steam Whistle Tap Room are short walks from your hotel if you want to try some beer.
If you or anyone you know smoke cigars, Frank Correnti are the last remaining manufacturer in Canada, hand-rolled in their small upstairs workshop.
If you want to go to Niagara, the falls are impressive, I'd recommend the walk along the power station spillway is a better way to see them from below than the Maid Of The Mist (and you don't get as wet), the main drag is properly Blackpool-level cheesy tourist nonsense, but don't let that put you off seeing the falls themselves.
If you want a day trip further afield, Kingston is a nice little place, about 2.5hrs driving east.
Fort York is good if you're into history. CN tower is worth going up, loads of places to eat and drink. Have a day out at the Zoo, it's a bit outside the city, I think it's one of the largest in the world (?) but's a full day.
You can do a trip around the bluejays stadium, which is pretty good even if you're not interested in american sports.
Def use the underground tunnel network for walking about.
Enjoy it's a really good city.
You can do a trip around the bluejays stadium, which is pretty good even if you're not interested in american sports.
Def use the underground tunnel network for walking about.
Enjoy it's a really good city.
I just thought of another advantage of the winter trip - the city hall skating rink will be open. Great fun, and quite pretty in the evening
https://nathanphillipssquareskaterentals.com/index...
https://nathanphillipssquareskaterentals.com/index...
GravelBen said:
That reminds me, Fort George at Niagara-on-the-lake is interesting too - a restored historic fort from the war of 1812, if you're there at the right time they have some re-enactment redcoat musket drills etc.
At Niagara Falls, there's also a small local museum just down the road from Lundy's Lane Battlefield/Drummond Hill cemetery.As above, CN Tower is good, revolving restaurant lovely but probably quite spendy (I wasn’t paying).
The island across the bay is lovely in summer, not sure about December!
Try and see a Blue Jays game at the skydome.
The museums are not disappointing.
Old fort York if you’re interested in civil war era stuff.
Casa Loma is worth a look, especially if you’re into X Men (they filmed a lot of the school scenes there).
It would be a shame to be so close to Niagara and not see the falls. I agree that Niagara town is tacky, but Niagara on the lake is a quaint old style town and well worth a look.
The island across the bay is lovely in summer, not sure about December!
Try and see a Blue Jays game at the skydome.
The museums are not disappointing.
Old fort York if you’re interested in civil war era stuff.
Casa Loma is worth a look, especially if you’re into X Men (they filmed a lot of the school scenes there).
It would be a shame to be so close to Niagara and not see the falls. I agree that Niagara town is tacky, but Niagara on the lake is a quaint old style town and well worth a look.
As above, CN Tower is good, revolving restaurant lovely but probably quite spendy (I wasn’t paying).
The island across the bay is lovely in summer, not sure about December!
Try and see a Blue Jays game at the skydome.
The museums are not disappointing.
Old fort York if you’re interested in civil war era stuff.
Casa Loma is worth a look, especially if you’re into X Men (they filmed a lot of the school scenes there).
It would be a shame to be so close to Niagara and not see the falls. I agree that Niagara town is tacky, but Niagara on the lake is a quaint old style town and well worth a look.
The island across the bay is lovely in summer, not sure about December!
Try and see a Blue Jays game at the skydome.
The museums are not disappointing.
Old fort York if you’re interested in civil war era stuff.
Casa Loma is worth a look, especially if you’re into X Men (they filmed a lot of the school scenes there).
It would be a shame to be so close to Niagara and not see the falls. I agree that Niagara town is tacky, but Niagara on the lake is a quaint old style town and well worth a look.
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