Since I live in Toronto, I thought I should produce a nice post on what a tourist can do in Toronto area. Also, I used my DSLR to grab some HD photos for this guide.
In this guide, I will show you how to use Metro to get to all the places which are worth going. While Toronto's Metro Subway is not very extensive, as a tourist, you can definitely use public transportation for most of your travel needs. In summer tourist season, major metro subway stations in downtown have staffs dedicated to help tourists find your way around.
For most travelers, getting a metro day pass is the best deal, which works on all subway, tram and buses. During the weekend, one metro day pass is good for 2 adults and 3 kids, which makes a great bargain for saving transportation cost.
I will use the popular intersection point at Yonge and Bloor Street, where the interchange metro subway transfer station is, as my starting point. From here, let us start our Toronto tour.
The first place you should go is Yorkville, which is literally 5 minute walk away from the intersection. It is a small but very trendy and luxurious area filled with many great but high-end restaurants, bars and top notch hotels. It is kinda like Beverly Hills in Toronto.You will see many luxury cars and movie stars, especially when annual Toronto International Movie Festival happens. Yorkville is a great place for spending a night.
After you finish checking out Yorkville, you can get on the Bloor west street, where there are many shops including luxury brands. If you go a bit further toward west and get close to the Bloor and Spadina, you will find many nice eateries frequented by locals and students from University of Toronto.
On Bloor west street, there is one hidden gem you shouldn't miss. One is the rooftop Panorama Lounge on top of the Manulife Center. You can simply get inside the Manulife center and then ask anyone there for Cineplex movie theatre or directly Panorama Lounge. The entrance to the elevator to the lounge is right next to a cineplex movie theatre. You want to make sure you go there at early night to have a dinner or simply a cocktail. Then you will have a awesome view of Toronto Skyline in both daylight and night time. Highly Recommended.
On Bloor west, you will also see the Royal Ontario Museum with a unique design. While it is strictly a museum during day time. Sometimes, on Friday night, the museum will host party and turn the lobby into a "night club" with art. In another words, you can have drinks and mingle with others in an artistic context. Since Royal Ontario Museum is right next to Yorkville, it does no harm to check it out.
Next to Royal Ontario Museum, if you walk a few minutes toward the west, you will see the football field of University of Toronto. If you are lucky, you might catch a game there.
One thing to note, if you want to shop with style, make sure you check out Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen, a premium shopping venue. I personally enjoy Holt Renfrew much more than Harry Rosen, which is also pretty good. While everything in Holt Renfrew is very pricey, my best shopping experience so far is with Holt Renfrew.The staffs are professional, even many customers are classy, not to mention the selection of many great clothing. Holt Renfrew can be accessed on Bloor west street or through the underground access, which connects all the way to Yonge and Bloor subway station, which is a life saver in harsh Toronto winter.
For regular shopping, you can check the large and multi-level Eaton Centre, right at Dundas square at Dundas and Yonge. It is a very busy intersection. However, I would recommend you take a quick look around and then get out of there. There are way too many people and tourists, which could be a bit chaotic. You should either step inside the Eaton Centre for shopping or just move southward on the Yonge.
Below two pictures were taken at the Eaton Centre. Eator center is a very large and busy shopping mall. This is where you can do some serious shopping.
Once you enter the eaton centre from Dundas Square. You can keep on going all the way until you reach the other side of Eaton centre on the Queen street.
You can go to the Hudson Bay shopping venue via an over path connecting Eaton Centre and Hudson Bay company. From Hudson bay company, you will be able to find the starting point of Toronto's large underground network, which is called "Path", which leads all the way to the Union Station. And Union Station is a short walk to the Lake Ontario.
Path underground network is very helpful in the winter so that you can avoid the harsh Toronto winter. It connects all the major buildings, subway stations and other venues.
Once you get out of of the Eaton Centre at the other side, you are at Queen Street. Now you need to turn right on the Queen street. Soon you will see the old and new City Hall of Toronto.
At this time, you will have two choice. First, you can get on a streetcar on Queen street and travel west to Queen and Spadina street, where the China town is. Meanwhile, you will also be in the heart of Toronto night life.
Many nightclubs and bars are near the intersection of Spadina street and the Queen Street, Spadina and Richmond street, or Spadina and King street. At night, especially weekend, the area is very busy with a lot of people. That being said, you can still enjoy the area during day time as well, especially a nice walk all the way along the queen west street.
The second choice is that you get back to Metro Station and take a subway further south all the way to Union Station. The station is also another sight.
Once you step out of union station and keep on walking further south toward lake Ontario. You will soon see Air Canada Center, Rogers Center and of course the CN tower.
If you want to go up to the CN Tower for a 360-degree panorama view, you might consider buying an admission package including a meal in the rotating restaurant. While the meal is not that impressive and expensive, the view is great.
If you are brave enough and go to Toronto in the summer time, you can reserve a challenge called "Edge Walk", which is expensive but a lifetime experience.
If you walk further down the south, you will soon reach the lake Ontario. For the best photography opportunity of Toronto Skyline, it is better to take a boat to the big central island. The central island itself is also great for a walk and sunbathing in the summer.
If you have time, there are a few things which is worthing checking out. If you go to Bay and Front street, you will see Allen Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place.
For a drink at night, except the popular Queen west street area, the Toronto Historical Distillery District close to the intersection of Parliament Street and King Street on the east side of Yonge Street is also an awesome spot. Whether you go there during day time or at night, you will enjoy the atmosphere.
It is possible to get there by using metro subway plus a short streetcar ride with a 5 minute walk. However, if you leave there very late at night, it is better you get an taxi, as the area could be a bit shady after dark.
If you still have another half day or more left in Toronto and you have a car, you should definitely check out high park. While the park itself can be skipped, you should definitely head to the lake front which is right at the south side of high park. Or you can simply drive all the way along the Lakeshore street toward west from Yonge and Lakeshore. Once you see an area with many parking lots and people walking next to the lake front, that is where you should stop. This place offers you another opportunity to take picture of Toronto skyline from a different perspective.
If you decide to use Metro subway, you should take bloor line westbound subway to the high park station at bloor street, you will have to do a 30 minute walk all the way across the high park, then cross the Queenway street in order to reach Lake Ontario front.
If you are in downtown, there is a streetcar, which runs on King street and can also take you to the high park area. Once you get out of the streetcar station in high park area, it takes you 5 minutes to get to water front.
At this point, this will conclude my mini Toronto Travel City Guide. However, Toronto is an amazing city with a lot more to offer, not to mention the famous Niagara Falls, wine counties, Kingston, Bruce island, beautiful Algonkin National Park and other places which are within a few hour short driving distance from Toronto. If you drive a bit further North, you can even visit charming Ottawa, and then the mesmerizing French speaking province of Quebec.I love the city of Toronto and hope this rough guide can help you enjoy this great city.
Tip: try to come here in summer eh.
