There is a special kind of magic about enormous sprawling cities, but especially so about Toronto . It is the largest city in Canada and one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Some of the best things you will do in Toronto involve art, culture, or food, but the festivals are also famous around the world. Torontonians are known for being extremely friendly, so be sure to spark up conservations with locals to get insider tips. South African travellers need a Tourist Visa to travel to Toronto and the rest of Canada.
You will never run out of things to do in Toronto. Whether you are in the mood for museums and art galleries, late nights and live music, or good food and wine bars, you will be spoiled for choice. There are over 50 ballet and dance companies and numerous galleries, parks, and restaurants throughout the city. Seeing the city from the CN Tower, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, should be first on your list of things to in Toronto. It is an iconic part of the Toronto skyline and offers the best views of the city. The Distillery District hums with music and street performers during summer and turns into a dazzling Christmas market in winter. And if you want to experience the legendary multiculturalism of Toronto, Kensington Market is an eclectic neighbourhood of artists, rare book shops, and tattoo shops. If you are interested in the festival scene, some of the other best things to do in Toronto is attend a festival. Toronto Pride is one of the largest LGBT festivals in the world and the Toronto International Film Festival is the largest public film festival.
Toronto has shops that will tickle anyone’s fancy – high end couture, shopping malls, department stores, independent boutique stores, artisanal markets. The most popular shopping areas in Toronto are Queen West, St. Lawrence Market, Leslieville, Bloor-Yorkville the Distillery District and Chinatown in Old Toronto, and Yonge Street – the ‘longest street in the world’. Toronto is not a particularly cheap city to travel to. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about R230, a beer R90, cappuccino R50, and about R210 for a bottle of wine from the store. Guest houses and apartments in Toronto start at about R400, a nice townhouse in the suburbs goes for R900, and a really nice hotel in the city from R2000. But it is completely possible to go to Toronto on a budget if you find the right place and don’t spend too much money on eating out.
Toronto is a modern and expansive city with a great public transport system, so getting around is easy. Renting a car is an option if you want extra freedom, but Toronto can be like any other major metropolis when it comes to parking and traffic in the inner city and during certain times. The easiest ways to get around Toronto if you don’t want to use public transport are by taxi and Uber. The public transport system within the city centre includes a subway, streetcars, and buses. GO Transit is a bus and train service that connects towns and cities in the greater Toronto area. It also has a summer route to Niagara Falls. If you want to visit the Toronto Islands, there is a ferry service that operates regularly. Tickets for public transport can be bought from subway stations and convenience stores. But walking around in big cities always yields interesting experiences, and Toronto is one of the biggest in Canada, so spend some time exploring the city on foot.
The accommodation in Toronto is as diverse as the rest of the city. Luxury 5-star hotels in skyscrapers and modern apartments overlooking the city. Comfortable homestyle bed and breakfasts on the outskirts of the city. Hostels right in the heart of the action. There is something for everyone in Toronto. Many of the best hotels in Toronto are near the waterfront, but downtown Toronto is the best place to stay in Toronto if you want to be near some of the best shops, restaurants, and nightlife. If you are planning to get around on public transport, the best places are near Yonge Street, Bloor Street, or Spadina Street.
There are currently no direct flights to Toronto from South Africa, but connecting flights are available from all the cities in South Africa. Connecting flights with one stopover are about 22 hours. Some of the major airlines operating flights to Toronto are Air Canada, Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways, and KLM. International flights to Toronto land at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), or simply Pearson Airport.
A day trip to Niagara Falls is one of the best things to do in Toronto if you want to witness one of nature’s most famous masterpieces. These mighty falls are one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and only about 2 hours’ drive south of the city. Niagara Falls is a thunderous trio of waterfalls that are arguably the most famous falls in the world and utterly mesmerising in sight and sound. You can reach Niagara Falls on public transport – there is a train/bus route on GoTransit or VIA Rail offers a direct service that runs daily. For a truly special experience, rent a car and go on a mini road trip to Niagara Falls. Highway 81 takes you through the beautiful rolling hills of wine country.
