Things to do in Toronto
Start by heading to the CN Tower, a staple of the Toronto city skyline, but an attraction because of its viewing deck, where visitors can see some of the best aspects of the city, and when the sky is clear, out to Niagara Falls.
It is also worth spending some time visiting the impressive museums and galleries. Of particular note, are the Ontario Science Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum, the first being a wonderful science museum that has lots of interactive displays that are family friendly, and the second holding extensive collections covering the indigenous peoples of Ontario, world culture exhibitions, and natural history galleries, both of which make for educational and fun days out.
For something a little unique, visit Casa Loma, a building conceived and paid for by Sir Henry Pellatt, an unconventional millionaire’s vanity project that resulted in a charming Medieval-style castle with all sorts of oddities, such as secret passages, tunnels and towers, all of which can be accessed, as the Casa Loma is now a museum.
If you want to take advantage of the city’s shopping and restaurants, then head to the Eaton Center, which has a host of domestic and international brands for shopping, but also a whole host of restaurants, cafes and bars you can relax in.
Best time to visit Toronto
· Summers (June-July) are beautiful in the city, and tend to average about 27°C, expect warm, sunny weather for the most part, with the occasional storm.
· Autumn still keeps a lot of the heat from summer months, but drifts downwards pretty sharply at the end of the season. Expect the days to range between 13 and 20°C.
· Winters can be brutal, with lows of -7°C and a lot of snowfall.
· Spring is lovely, but much chillier than you’d expect, especially when emerging from the frigid winter months. Count on changes from 5 up to 18°C.
Best time to book
· Booking for trips to the North American continent should be done roughly 28 weeks ahead of time for the best deals.
Expect to pay
· Canadian Dollar (CAD).
· Picking up a morning coffee in Toronto should come to about 3.60CAD ($3.60).
Arriving in Toronto by plane
· The Toronto International Airport (YYZ) is the primary aviation facility for Toronto, and airlines that service the airport are Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, American Airlines, Air China, Asiana Airlines, United, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. There is another smaller airport, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), but that typically only services domestic routes.
· Roughly 30km away from the downtown area, the airport is well linked with the CBD. There are lots of shops and restaurants, as well as foreign exchange counters, ATMs, concierge services, a pharmacy, and access to free WiFi.
· There are no non-stop routes to Toronto (YYZ), but connecting routes leave from all major cities in Australia. With stopovers in Seoul (ICN), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago (ORD) and Denver (DEN).
Visa requirements
· Australian passport holders are eligible to apply for a visa online, using the new electronic travel authorisation (eTA) pass. Be sure you meet the requirements of an online visa application by visiting the Canadian government website for more information.
Transportation to city centre
· Taking a taxi into town will cost about 50-60CAD ($50-60).
· If you’d rather save a little money, you can take the city buses, trains or book an airport transfer, rather than hopping in a taxi.
· Lots of visitors to the city hire a car so they can explore Toronto’s surrounds. There are rental agencies within the terminal, but you can book a car with our search toolif you’d like to have everything arranged before you land.
Where to stay in Toronto
· Downtown Toronto is where much of the shopping takes place, and so shopaholics will be at home here. This area is also home to the hip Queen West, which is full of bars and restaurants, and has a number of reasonable hotels, and B&Bs.
· The Waterfront is pretty, with beaches and watersports on tap. Usually there are budget to mid-range hotels in this area, which makes it a good spot for families.
· Yorkville is where you stay if you’re after fine dining and fine hotels, the neighbourhood is swanky and chic, and great for a little romance.
Useful tips before you go
· In Toronto it is standard to tip. Usually this is broken down as 15-20% to restaurant and serving staff, 10% for taxi drivers, or hairdressers. And a dollar or two for bar staff.
Please note that the information provided above is accurate as of May 2016
