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Discover everything you need to know in this Toronto Travel Guide
If you think New York is a great city, put a city trip to Toronto on your bucket list. I recently spent a week in this fantastic Canadian city, and there's so much to discover that I could easily have stayed another week. Foodies, like me, will be in their element in Toronto, as there are so many excellent and unique restaurants where you can dine for hours. What I love about Toronto is that it's a city with so many smaller neighborhoods that all feel like a village once you get to know them a little better.
Toronto is a huge city. That's why, in this Toronto Travel Guide, I'm sharing some streets and neighborhoods you definitely won't want to miss when you're there. If you visit these hotspots, you'll find plenty of great eateries and shops! The Toronto skyline, with its iconic CN Tower, is very recognizable, and you'll have fantastic views from the parks and islands. This Toronto Travel Guide covers everything you need to know for your city trip to this charming Canadian city, from the best hotels to the best things to do, and from shopping to restaurants.
This is how you fly directly to Toronto
Did you know you can fly direct from Amsterdam to Toronto daily with Jet Airways? You can book an economy class return ticket to Toronto (all-inclusive) starting from €402. I flew with Jet Airways for the first time. Jet Airways And together we filmed the video you can watch above in Toronto. In it, I talk about Your Little Black Book and my discoveries in the new cities I visit for work.
I'm a huge fan of Indian cuisine, and Jet Airways serves delicious Indian and international dishes. In just over eight hours, you can fly from Amsterdam on a direct flight to Toronto Pearson International Airport. From there, it's about a half-hour taxi ride to the trendy West Queen West neighborhood! Where would you prefer to stay? You can read all about it in the next section.
Ⓒ Drake Hotel
3 of the best hotels in Toronto
- Drake Hotel: Without a doubt, the hippest hotel in Toronto. With only 19 rooms and a fantastic rooftop bar where you can enjoy drinks after a day exploring the city.
- Shangri-La: If budget isn't an issue, you can't go wrong staying at the Shangri-La. If only for the Momofuku restaurant!
graffiti alley
13 fun things to do in Toronto
Curious about what there is to do in Toronto? Because Toronto is such a large city, daily life revolves around different neighborhoods. You can easily explore a different neighborhood every morning and afternoon, strolling or cycling around. Toronto also boasts a wealth of street art, and Graffiti Alley has become a real attraction. What else shouldn't you miss?
Eating poutine: In Amsterdam, after a night out, we stop by the bike shop or grab a kebab, but in Toronto, you eat poutine after a cocktail. Fries with cheese curd and gravy. Not exactly easy to digest, but a perfect greasy snack after a night of craft beer and cocktails.
Neighborhood hopping: I mentioned it before, but Toronto truly is the "city of neighborhoods"! Every neighborhood is like a village, and my favorite neighborhoods I've explored so far are Parkdale, Queen Street West, Little Portugal, and Kensington Market. You'll find tons of great restaurants here, and the shopping is also excellent. From vintage stores to concept stores!
Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market: On Saturdays, it's highly recommended to visit the farmers and food market at Evergreen Brick Works. Where a brick factory once stood, you'll now find a farmers market every weekend. They sell local produce fresh from the fields, but for tourists, the food stalls are much more interesting. It's a great place to go for brunch on a Saturday. It's about a 10-15 minute drive from Downtown Toronto. Many of the food stalls serve vegetarian and often even vegan food!
DISCOVER 10 MORE TIPS ON WHAT TO DO HERE >>
Evergreen Brick Works Farmers Market
7 tips for shopping in Toronto
If you're in the mood for shopping, Toronto is the place to be. In the trendier neighborhoods, you'll find countless charming little boutiques with unique items. But even if you're more in the mood for larger chains, you'll find everything you need in Toronto. On Queen West Street, between Bathurst Street and University Ave, you'll find brand stores of well-known brands. Don't miss Queen Street West (near the Drake Hotel), Dundas Street, and Ossington Street. These are undoubtedly Toronto's hippest streets, and here you'll find numerous boutiques, often selling items from local designers.
TDM: In the enormous hall with the word "TDM" written above it in bold letters, you'll find several small designers under one roof. This stands for Toronto Designer Market, and it's a kind of indoor market with permanent stalls selling all sorts of things from young local designers. From vintage to locally made beauty products and art. It's a fun place to browse if you're in the Parkdale neighborhood!
1605 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – torontodesignersmarket.com
Longing: If you wander around Dundas Street West, you'll notice that this neighborhood is also known as Little Portugal. That's why the concept store Saudade sells only items from Portugal. I have to say, I was quite greedy for the lovely items they sell. From mugs, plates, and other tableware to soaps, postcards, and leather bags.
1191 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – saudadetoronto.com
Crowne Flora Studio: The bright pink brick building alone is enough to make you want to pop in. The chances of you buying anything to take home are slim, though. As the name suggests, Crowne Flora Studio is the place to be for the most beautiful flowers, plants, and green accessories.
1233 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – crownflorastudio.com
DISCOVER 4 MORE CONCEPT STORES HERE >>
Crowne Flora Studio
3 x Coffee hotspots in Toronto
There are so many excellent coffee shops in Toronto that it's impossible to list them all. I'm a huge fan of iced lattes, and they serve them at almost every coffee shop in the city. A few places to remember?
Jimmy's: This coffee shop is without a doubt the hippest coffee chain in the city. Every good neighborhood has a location! I personally like the ones in Kensington Market and Queen West the best!
Capital Espresso: In the Parkdale neighborhood, Capital Espresso is the place to be for the best coffee. Don't expect any tourists here, just locals enjoying their laptops, newspapers, or just a good conversation!
Dineen Coffee Co.: A beautiful, spacious coffee shop in the city center where you can also enjoy your coffee on the sunny terrace! If the weather is nice, that is ;-).
Jimmy's Coffee
17 Best Restaurants in Toronto
The Banana: When I was in Toronto, I discovered La Banane had only been open for a few months. You'll find this hotspot near the intersection of Dundas, right at the end of Ossington Avenue. It's a super trendy street, packed with really great spots. The menu at La Banane is French, and you'll find it for au fruits de mer, steak tartare, and other French dishes with a Canadian twist. You'll recognize the restaurant by its banana-yellow door!
227 Ossington Ave, Toronto, Canada – labanane.ca
Bar Raval: In my opinion, Spanish gastrobars never get old when it comes to delicious drinks and food. Especially if it's a restaurant like Bar Raval in Toronto. Open from brunch until late, by late afternoon the bar is stocked with pinchos, and you can order the most delicious Spanish tapas from the menu to share.
505 College St, Toronto, Canada – thisisbarraval.com
El Rey Mezcal Bar: In the Kensington Market neighborhood, you'll find restaurants from all over. One of the newest hotspots for drinks and bites is El Ray on Kensington Avenue. Delicious tostadas and quesadillas with a craft beer or cocktails made with mezcal!
2a Kensington Ave, Toronto, Canada – elreybar.com
DISCOVER 14 MORE RESTAURANTS HERE >>
Bar Raval
3 x The nicest neighborhoods in Toronto
I've created separate neighborhood guides for Toronto's best neighborhoods, so you can see all the must-see hotspots in one place. Before you head out, put the hotspots in Google Maps and download the map via 'OK MAPS' on your phone to easily hop from hotspot to hotspot without having to search. Click the buttons below to access the hotspot guides. Parkdale, Kensington Market en West Queen West & Trinity Bellwoods. Have fun!
WEST QUEEN WEST & TRINITY BELLWOODS GUIDE >>
Useful to know if you go to Toronto
Sometimes there are just some things you need to know when you're traveling to a new destination for the first time. During my last trip to Toronto, I compiled a list of 21 handy tips.
21 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TORONTO >>
Have fun if you're traveling to Toronto soon! I hope the tips in this guide will be helpful.
WITH LOVE,
ANNE
Toronto Tips
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