Toronto is comparable to Chicago or New York in that all are big, lively, multicultural cities that offer a lot to visitors. Toronto is Canada's largest city and financial center. Although not the national capital, Toronto is the Ontario provincial capital and probably the best-known city in Canada, in large part due to the Toronto International Film Festival and its popularity as a theatre destination.
Toronto is a city with a rich heritage that is still apparent in its architecture but has also grown to include diverse, ethnic neighborhoods that thrive in the heart of the city.
Location
Image courtesy Tourism Toronto
- Toronto is about a two and half hour drive north of Buffalo.
- Toronto is about a eight to nine hour drive northeast of Chicago.
- Toronto is about a six hour drive west of Montreal.
Toronto Weather & Climate
Toronto has four distinct seasons, with the height of summer being muggy and hot and winter months cold and snowy. Springtime is warm and lovely and fall is my personal favorite with comfortable temperatures and spectacular fall foliage.Where to Eat in Toronto
Toronto has every type of cuisine for every price range, from high-end to outdoor tofu-dog stands.Read our list of the Best Places to Eat in Toronto
Toronto has one of the biggest Chinatowns in North America as well as numerous other Asian populations - which means, among other things - great Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean and other Asian restaurants
Toronto also offers visitors lots of opportunity to eat on a budget. Don't sacrifice taste with these Toronto cheap eats.
Where to Stay in Toronto
Looking for luxury in Toronto? See the Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Toronto. On the other end of the spectrum are Toronto's Top Cheap Hotels.Other good hotel options include:
- Grand Hotel & Suites is great value.
- Delta Chelsea is a good choice for a wide range of travelers, from families to business people.
- The Hilton Hotel Toronto is consistent with the high standards of the Hilton brand.
Toronto Attractions
- Top 10 Things to See and Do in Toronto
- Top 10 Family Activities in Toronto
- Art Lovers Guide to Toronto
- Top 10 Toronto Theatres
- Travel a little outside of Toronto for more stuff to do: Top 10 Toronto Day Trips
Shopping in Toronto
Toronto has great shopping, from Queen Street vintage cool to Yorkville chic. Depending on exchange rates, you may find Toronto shopping a bargain, but don't forget about the 15% sales tax.Toronto Events & Festivals
- The Toronto International Film Festival has become one the premiere film festivals in the world and takes place in Toronto every September.
- The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is the longest running children's parade and one of the overall largest parades in the world.
- The Chinese Lantern Festival lights up Toronto and celebrates Chinese culture every summer.
- Caribana is a bright, tasty, colorful festival that celebrates Caribbean culture each summer.
- The Toronto Gay Pride Parade is part of a weeklong festival that celebrates Toronto's Queer Communities.
- See a complete rundown of Toronto Calendar of Events.
Getting to Toronto
By Air:- Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport (airport code YYZ), is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from downtown Toronto or 30 - 40 mins by car. It is the busiest airport in Canada: over 25 million passengers pass through annually.
Read How to get to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport
Buffalo International Airport is two hours from Toronto and a good option for travel to Canada as flights may be cheaper or more convenient and visitors can drive through the Niagara Wine Region.
Hamilton International Airport is an hour from downtown Toronto.
- Greyhound Lines serves Toronto from cities in the US and Canada.
Driving Directions
Several highways, including 2, 401, 407 and the Queen Elizabeth Way, link surrounding cities to Toronto.The nearest Canada-U.S. border crossings are at Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Windsor.
