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HOW MUCH DO you know about Toronto?
Probably not as much as you should. Toronto, the province capital of Ontario, is the most populous city in Canada – it’s multicultural, cosmopolitan urban centre on a beautiful lake, full of cool things to do. A lot of people simply don’t know how much Toronto has to offer for a big city break.
If you want to get ahead of the curve and get off the beaten track then you should definitely be checking out what little-known delights Toronto has tucked away for you to find.
Toronto has a beautiful skyline. As Canada’s commercial centre, many of the country’s largest firms and banks are based there and the Financial District contains many of the city’s most prominent buildings. The city also boasts the Art Gallery of Ontario, redesigned by famous architect Frank Gehry.
Due to Toronto’s beautiful cityscape, it is often used as a location for Hollywood blockbusters that are set in Chicago or New York. Think Patrick Bateman stalked the streets of Manhattan? Well, actually, American Psycho was filmed in Toronto – as well as the movie Chicago, Good Will Hunting and Get Rich or Die Tryin’.
Toronto has given the world a disproportionate amount of famous people – many of whom you initially might assume are American were actually born in Canada. Proud Toronto stars include Drake, Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Will Arnett and Eugene Levy.
Toronto is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the entire world. Over 140 languages are spoken there – with 30 per cent of Toronto’s residents speaking a language other than French or English.
And this multiculturalism has led to…
As Toronto is such a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities, they have varied and brilliant cuisine on offer. Plus, they boast traditional Canadian foods too – like poutine, peameal Canadian bacon and, of course, the humble maple syrup.
Toronto is home to North America’s largest street festival – Caribana, a celebration of Caribbean culture. 2 million people come to Toronto’s shores for it every year, with 1.3 million attending its final parade. It lasts for two weeks and starts this year on the 31st of July.
For the more adventurous – the kind of people who are looking for something a little more intense than just a city break – Toronto still has lots to offer. You can ski in lots of resorts just outside the city, or take a trip to nearby Niagara to see the famous waterfall.
It’s never been easier to hop over the pond. Aer Lingus will fly direct to Toronto from the 12th of April from €239 each way including taxes and charges. That means it’s now even more worthwhile and easy to explore everything the city has to offer. Check out how you could fly for less today at aerlingus.com.
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Don’t visit us just yet…it’s March 4th and we’ve still got snow up to our arses. Bloody freezing too, -12°C :(
Freezing? Minus 12 felt good! Skiing on my front lawn…. Enough snow built up there…..
In fairness kevin you are talking through your hole. Yea the weather is shite during the winter but the summers more than make up for that, guaranteed mid to high 20′s, with different events and festivals on all summer. Lethal spot for music, renowned bands and dj’s playing almost every week year round. And as for “hardly any craic to be had”, either you are a dry shïte or have put zero effort into enjoying yourself and getting out there and meeting new people.
Bars close at 2 on the button, no late bars, high price food drink,not much to see r do.
Do not forget Wonderland, more fun and much cheaper than Disney…. With Leviathan too…
High price food? Now I know you are full of BS….. Go out for a meal in Dublin, if you get a loan from the bank…. Oh, the food tastes amazing too…. Eating back home now is like soylent green…. Only the fish and chips are better…
Have been there .Nice city ,but Vancouver even nicer .
Lots of positive comments here from ex pats I see. If it’s that bad why not just leave
Aer Lingus will fly, unless they are on strike of course.
I live in Toronto. its alright…
but its
pretty pricey,
not much to do,
Full of crazies,
If your coming on a holiday head west.
Toronto is great,loads to do summers are the best
The major is right crack !! Few pints and he up for anything !!
Toronto’s nice enough alright, plenty to see and do so certainly worth a visit. But don’t even bother trying to go out for a few scoops there; there’s hardly any craic to be had, drink is extortionately expensive (~$7 + tip for a 470ml “pint”!) and everything is shut by 2. Also the only place to get carryout is a mythical land called the LCBO. Good luck finding one of those!
P.s. don’t even get me started on what a crock of sh1te Niagara is…
I don’t know what your idea of craic is but if you couldn’t find it in Toronto then you must be into some strange stuff. Craic doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol 24/7. I’ve been to Toronto 5 times and love the place. As for Niagara if you are talking about the tourist trap town then possibly but the Falls are awesome and there’s plenty to see and do in the area around Niagara from the historical to the wineries.
Expensive in Toronto? Last time I checked out Dublin…. Which was xmas just gone, you need a mortgage to go out drinking….
Living here for 30 years. Fantastic city, safe, friendly and some of the best food in the world.
No ……Visit Vancouver British Columbia – Ontario is the cement jungle of Canada and cold !!
Been outside of Front street then? Clearly not. GTA has so much more around it….
I’ve lived in Toronto for 3 years now.
1. Architecture – It is an ugly city. Every street looks the same with the same stores on every corner. Any of the nice old buildings were torn down to build the Gardner (Bypass). I agree the sky line looks nice from the lake, especially at night but that’s a nice view for one day. And the ROM (pictures) is cool. After that it’s depressing grey buildings.
2. Cinematic cityscape – Correct the streets do look a little like New York. Especially in the downtown core. But is’ not New York. if you want to see New York then go to New York.
3. Jim Carey and Eugene levy are not from Toronto.
4. This is true. it’s great
5. The food here is terrible. The quality in most places is below par and expensive. My brothers fiancée recently moved from Toronto to Galway and she raves about the quality of Irish food. They put so much crap in the animals here that I know people who can’t eat Canadian chicken without breaking out in a rash.
6. Caribana is overrated. A load of gangs come up from the US to cause trouble. Torotno does have lots of festivals though in fairness. But after a while you’ll notice it’s all the same vendors and activities at each.
7. The closet decent ski resort is a 2.5 hour drive away (Blue mountain). But it’s very good. The falls are nice as well. And Niagara town is good craic on a Friday.
Canada is a great place. But there are much nicer places to visit once you’ve landed in Toronto. I wouldn’t recommend anybody spend more than a weekend in Toronto unless they’ve come to see a band or something.
John, felt that way after my few years too, but learned the secrets…. There is much more than the eye sees….. Cannot agree with the food though, back home its the plainest shyte…downtown core is something you do once, CN tower and so on, but on the outskirts, much more to find and explore…..
Hi Graham, fair enough there are some hidden gems outside the core in the other neighbourhoods. Kensington is pretty cool in the summer, the Danforth has some cool festivals, Church Street is great when the parade is on. But they are few and far between. Head out to Etobicoke or up to Scarborough and it’s all grey.
I have to disagree foodwise though. The food at home is far superior. I will admit that Japanese restaurants here are lovely but the smallest restaurant back in Cork would be vastly superior to the majority of places here. And that’s not even mentioning seafood which is unfair as Ireland is an Island.
But outside of Toronto in the Kwarthas there are some very fresh food restaurants. And Montreal has great cuisine. In Oakville and Burlington there are one or two places but again few and far between compared to home in my opinion.
Edmonton,Alberta is wonderful from what I can remember
Have lived in Toronto and Edmonton. Toronto has the lifestyle, but it can be a challenge to get good work there. Edmonton is the opposite – well paid work for anyone that wants it, but plain enough City to be honest.
Edmonton would have the worst and longest winter of all the big canadian cities.
Get rid of those disgusting unions and people may book with you
Spent a great summer in toronto. Was introduced to scrambled egg with Tabasco sauce. Will never look back. Also a bar on top of a shopping mall. What more could a girl ask for ? Alcohol + shopping = maxed out credit cards.
Poutine… Traditional food… Chips and gravy!
Newfie poutines are the best though…
Smokes!
you left out the part about families can visit sons and daughters who have emmigrated to find work
The. Wee 7/11 shops,I’m away back to bed nights
Been to see Neil Young, closest I got thus far.
Was there at the airport for 6hours if that counts,to get to Alberta and Vancouver for 2weeks yearssss ago for 3months was way to young 1991 around then
If one of the 7 reasons you’ve chosen to advertise Toronto is because drake was born there I think a)you should get a new advertising team and b) I think I’ll be choosing somewhere else other than Toronto
Great city.. Not in winter though.. May to September it’s amazing.. That Libeskind building very similar to our own Bord Gais Energy Theatre…
Go leafs go ! Hockey hockey hockey !
Love the The Sky Dome and the Blue Jays. Also the downtown markets where you can get all the fresh fruit and vegetables. Dont forget to visit the C N tower and the Sears shopping centre also the waterfront. Loads to do there. Beautiful city I think what’s going on is that those that are there want it all to themselves and dont want it to get too crowded. Plenty of shows going on there also.
Eaton centre?
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