Toronto/Downtown Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
The Downtown core is the economic powerhouse of Toronto, although it lacks the cultural appeal of the outlying districts. Many of Toronto's larger attractions are located here, however, so it's an essential part of any visit to Toronto.
Contents |
Get in
By Car
Most of the major highways passing through Toronto pass through the downtown core at some point.
- From the DVP: follow the DVP south towards Front Street - the southernmost exit brings you into downtown.
- From the Gardiner Expressway: exit at Spadina, next to the CN Tower.
- From the 401: follow the 401 until you reach the Don Valley Parkway (just east of Leslie Street), then exit onto the DVP southbound, and follow until you reach Front Street.
By Subway
Head to Union to visit the downtown core. The stop is located on the southernmost tip of the University/Spadina and Yonge lines. Fare for a subway ride is $2.75.
By Rail
- Go Transit [1] runs trains from the north, east and west heading from outlying districts to Union Station. Fares from $5-10.
By Bike/Foot
The easiest way to find downtown Toronto is to locate the CN tower, and head towards it. Be advised that Toronto is considered a very dangerous city to bike in by many people, and accidents are frequent. Stick to less populated roads, and be aware of people and vehicles around you.
See
- Art Gallery of Ontario is home to many famous pieces of art ranging from very recent to artwork hundreds of years old. Artists from Monet to Warhol are represented here and the AGO has one of the largest collections of Henry Moore scupltures in the world. In the summer of 2006 the gallery was undergoing a significant building project and display space was severely limited, although there were still many Moore sculptures on display.
- CBC Museum
- CN Tower, [2] 301 Front Street West, Phone: +1 416 868-6937. Su-Th 9:30AM-10PM, F-Sa 9:30AM-10:30PM (for specific attractions - prices vary by access). The much-acclaimed CN Tower is Toronto's most recognizeable and famous feature, and the world's tallest free-standing structure. Clocking in at a dizzying 553M, a visit is worth it for the view of the city alone. Visitors can look out from behind glass windows or go to an outside observing area to look through a metal screen. It attracts large numbers of tourists; best times are weekdays in the morning. Visitors can jump up and down on the thick glass floor in parts of the observatory (the view from the floor downward essentially shows the base of the tower). A revolving restaurant is located in the main deck, but isn't particularly renowned. Restaurant diners with reservations can avoid the lines of the observatory, and at night the lights from distant Rochester, New York are visible over the lake. Approx. $20 (budget) or $28 to go up.
- Hockey Hall of Fame, 30 Yonge Street (at Wellington, in BCE Place), Phone: +1 416 360-7765, M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 9:30AM-6PM, Su 10:30AM-5PM. A shrine to Canada's pastime in the heart of the city. The Stanley cup is usually housed here - if authenticity is important, call ahead and ensure it's not in another city before you visit. Adults $12, Youth + Seniors $8.
- The PATH, This is Toronto's Underground and the World's largest underground shopping complex with 27 km (16 miles). It is a city under a city.
Do
High Park - take the Bloor Subway west to High Park Station, walk a block south to the park. Spend an afternoon enjoying a miniature zoo, jogging and cycling trails, children's playgrounds, swimming, & tennis. Take a long walk around the pond, or sit outside of the restaurant deck, and enjoy the scenery of Toronto taking a breather. Take a picnic, or just go for a nap under a tall shady tree.
In the summertime, watch an outdoor under the stars presentation of Shakespeare in the Park, for a nomimal entrance fee.
Buy
Eat
This area is generally considered a culinary wasteland. However, new places with good food are constantly opening and closing. Some good old standards:
- George's Chicken, Dundas east of Sherbourne, open to 2AM, whole barbecued chicken and fries with gravy. No seating. No whacking people ahead in line.
- Pickle Barrel Grand, 312 Yonge Street N. of Dundas. A large menu of North-American cuisine. It also has a selection of dishes from further afield, their take on traditional English fish and chips is a nice surprise using halibut instead of Cod or Haddock. Reasonable prices, decent food but nothing fancy. Nowhere near as much fun as any of the above places.
- Red Lobster, 20 Dundas Street W, inside the Atrium On Bay center. A large and friendly restaurant serving mainly seafood but cooking up many other dishes as well. Good service and food makes this restaurant a pleasant eating experience. Moderately priced. A word of warning though their margarita cocktails are considerably larger than the pictures on the menu would have you believe.
- C'est What, Front Street at Church [3] has an affordable, eclectic menu and an amazing selection of microbrews, including the house specialties Coffee Porter and Hemp Ale.
- Eat Chinese Some of the best chinese food can be found within walking distance of City Hall. Walk west along Dundas street to the heart of one of North America's largest chinatowns, and discover a wealth of Chinese & Vietnamese foods. At the corner of Dundas & Spadina, you have arrived, and you'll find it's far from being a wasteland of food!
Splurge
- Bistro 990 990 Bay Street. Phone: +1 416 921-9990. Great french food, good wine. Game, seafood, homemade desserts. Mains $30.
Vegetarian
- Le Commensal, 655 Bay Street, north of Dundas, Phone: +1 416 596-9364. A good selection of vegetarian fare, served buffet-style and priced by weight.
Drink
- Amsterdam Brewing Co, 600 King St. W, Phone: +1 416 504-6882. The brewery has a bar in basement.
- Steam whistle brewery. The Roundhouse, 255 Bremner Blvd. [4] A brewery in an old roundhouse close to the sky dome and the CN tower. They offer tours of the brewery and samples of the beer.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Contact
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