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Info 

Climate
The best time to visit Toronto is from April to September. July and August are the hottest months, where attractions get more crowded and hotel rooms are more expensive. Make sure to check the weather for the time you're travelling because it can be pretty unreliable most of the time.

Currency
The Canadian dollar is about $0.90 US. US dollars are accepted in most establishments, although change will be given in Canadian currency, and exchange rates will vary at different merchants. Currency exchange is available at banks and kiosks throughout the city, as well as in the airport. Travellers cheques and major credit cards are accepted at most (but not all) major retailers. You'll find cash machines/ATMs in most banks, hotels and shopping malls - cash is dispensed in Canadian currency

Tax Rebates
Foreign visitors to Canada can apply for a rebate on the GST that is paid on accommodation (up to 30 nights per visit), and on goods purchased in Canada and exported within 60 days of the purchase. Be sure to keep your receipts - you'll need to have them validated by Canada Customs at the airport or border crossing when you leave.

For more information visit www.cra.gc.ca/visitors or call 1-800-668-4748 (within Canada) or 1-902-432-5608 (from outside Canada).

Tipping
Tips in restaurants are generally 15% on the pre-tax bill, when dining with large groups (8 or more) a 15% gratuity may be automatically added at some establishments, so check your bill. Taxis are 10-15%, hotel housekeepers $1-$2 a day (more if you're travelling with messy kids or pets)

Phones
Area codes are 416 and 647. Outside the city, the code is 905 or 289. You must dial all 10 digits.

Drinking
The minimum drinking age is 19. Alcohol can only be purchased at an LCBO. Beer can only be purchased at The Beer Store. Most of these locations are open Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm, with few exceptions.

Smoking
The entire city of Toronto is smoke-free. This means you can't smoke in any restaurants or bars. You can smoke on patios, just as long as it's not a covered patio.

Statutory Holidays
2006
New Year's Day: Jan 2
Good Friday: April 14
Victoria Day: May 22
Canada Day: July 3
Civic Holiday: Aug 7
Labour Day: Sept 4
Thanksgiving: Oct 9
Christmas: Dec 25
Boxing Day: Dec 26

Getting here and away 

Flights to Toronto

To find airfare to Toronto, check out Kayak, they search a bunch of different sites for the cheapest airfare with a really simple interface that remembers your previous searches. My favourite.

Pearson International

Toronto's international airport has 3 different terminals, with a train shuttle service running between the terminals every few minutes. If you're flying out of Pearson, make sure you know which terminal you're going to. The airport is about 20-30 minutes by car to the city centre.

Cabs from the airport to the downtown area costs about $40 depending on your destination. This is the easiest way to get to/from the airport.

Getting downtown with the TTC

By far the most difficult option for getting downtown from the airport, but the cheapest, one way fare is $2.75. The 192 "Airport Rocket" bus (don't be fooled, it's not that fast) will take you to Kipling, the farthest west station on the East-West subway line, remember to get a transfer. You then go east on the subway and find your way from there. Check the ttc website for other route options.

Airport Express

Not as easy as cabs, but definitely cheaper is the airport express bus, which makes stops at 7 different hotels and the bus station downtown. One way fare is $16.45. Their website tells you where you can find them at each terminal at the airport.

GO Transit

GO services Toronto and the outlying suburbs. Fares depend on the distance you are travelling. The main station downtown is Union Station, which connects to the TTC station of the same name.

Via Rail

Via rail also services Toronto, but is meant for longer distances. Perfect if you're planning a joint trip to Quebec city or Montreal.

Detailed guide to union station

By bus

If travelling from or to the US, don't even bother trying to take a train. There's no real direct route, the fastest thing to do is take a bus across the border from/to Buffalo (2-3 hours, depending on time of day), or Albany. Most bus transit across the US connects from there.
Also check out the Greyhound website.
Detailed info on the bus terminal.

Getting around the city 

TTC

If you're going to be doing a lot of travelling around the city, the ttc is the best way to go. Single fares are $2.75, day passes are $8.50 and are good for one person during the week, but two people and up to 4 kids on the weekend. There are no zones, so a one-way fare will get you completely from one end of the city to another, just remember to get a transfer from drivers on buses and streetcars and from the red machines in the subway. When you're on the escalator in the subway station, remember to "walk left, stand right".
Detailed Guide

Taxis

If you're going to be making only a few trips and have a couple people with you, taxis are not incredibly expensive. You can usually hail one on any major street downtown, but if you're out somewhere farther, where there isn't much traffic, you might have to call.

Other taxi companies are:
Diamond Taxi:416-366-6868
Co-op cabs: 416-504-2667
Ambassador Taxi: 416-322-3800

Cycling

Riding a bike around the city is not for the faint of heart. Cars and cyclists generally hate each other and usually the cyclists get the short end of the stick in a disagreement. There are a few roads with bike lanes, but they are not extensive or connected in any way. Cycling is more of a recreational activity for Torontonians.

If this hasn't scared you off, check the link for an up to date list of rental places around the city.

Rental cars

You can very easily pick up a rental at the airport or union station. Most rental agencies require you to be at least 21 to rent a car, with a surcharge if you're under 25. Not the cheapest way to get around, but the most convenient. Parking downtown in public lots can cost from $10-$25 a day, more if there's a sporting or entertainment event going on. Finding street parking is the cheapest way to park, but spots are very very limited.

PATH Underground System

Linking 27 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment, the PATH will get you to your downtown destination easily in weatherproof comfort. Signs and maps displaying the multi-coloured PATH logo show you where to enter the walkway and direct you to where you want to go.

Toronto Island Ferries

Ferries make trips to and from Hanlan's Point, Centre Island, Western Gap/Island Airport Docks and Ward's Island in the spring, summer and fall. In the winter, there is no service to Centre Island.

Where to stay 

Restaurants 

The list of restaurants got so big it warranted having it's own lens. Check it out.

http://www.squidoo.com/torontorestaurants

Bars, clubs, lounges, pubs... 

There also ended up being so many places to party that I had to move it to its own lens.

http://www.squidoo.com/torontobars

CityPass 

You can see 6 Toronto attractions at a discounted rate if you're doing it all within 9 days. Attractions include:

CN Tower
Art Gallery of Ontario
Royal Ontario Museum
Casa Loma
Ontario Science Centre
Toronto Zoo

Check it out here.

Things to See and Do! 

AGO

317 Dundas West. The Art Gallery of Ontario. General admission is $8, more for special exhibitions. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, Wed-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5:30pm.

ROM

100 Queen's Park. The Royal Ontario Museum. General Admission is $15, more for special exhibitions. Open 10am-6pm. The museum stays open until 9:30 on Fridays and is free after 5pm, and is free every day one hour before closing.
Check here for more detailed info.

CN Tower

You've all seen the world's tallest tower in pictures, now for the low low price of $21.49 and up, you can experience it!
Detailed guide

Casa Loma

1 Austin Terrace. Canada's most famous castle. Open Daily, 9:30am-5pm. Admission is $12, plus audio tours.

The Distillery District

Mill Street, between Parliament and Cherry. The largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in North America, now is home to Toronto's only pedestrian village, promoting arts, culture and entertainment. Admission is free.
Detailed guide

Toronto Islands

Centre Island is the most popular destination, with a children's amusment park, snack bars, restaurant, bicycle and boat rental, softball diamonds, volleyball courts, and miles of biking trails, it's a great place to set out for a picnic. Ferry to the island is $6 (includes return). Catch the ferry at Bay and Queen's Quay.

Bata Shoe Museum

327 Bloor West. It's pretty much a museum about shoes. $8. Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat 10am-5pm, Thursdays open until 8pm (free after 5), Sun 12-5.

Yonge-Dundas Square

Right next to the Eaton Centre, this public square is home to tons of special events, or just general hanging out and looking at advertisements.

City Hall - Nathan Phillips Square

100 Queen West. Nathan Phillips Square is another public square that serves as a gathering place. In the winter months, the pond in the centre is frozen into an ice rink with skate rentals onsite.
Detailed guide

Hockey Hall of Fame

30 Yonge Street. A fun place to take your kids that really enjoy hockey.

The Beaches

Queen Street East, between Woodbine and Victoria Park. In Toronto's east end is a quaint little neighbourhood with shops lining Queen Street and 4 of the cities beaches. A popular place to visit in the summer, but be sure to check whether beaches are swimable as on very hot days the bacteria level can become unsafe. Coloured flags are posted at all beaches.

Kensington Market

Bordered by College, Spadina, Dundas and Bellevue. The most diverse neighbourhood in Toronto. The area is filled with a mix of food stores selling an immense variety of meats, fish and produce. Kensington is also home to stores selling a wide variety of cheap and used clothing, as well as a number of discount and surplus stores. There are also many restaurants covering a wide variety of styles and ethnicities.
Detailed guide

Ontario Science Centre

770 Don Mills Road. A little farther from the city centre, but definitely worth the trip for kids and adults alike if you've got the time.

Toronto Zoo

361 Old Finch Avenue. Also a great day trip, Toronto's Zoo is one of the largest in the world, sprawled over 700 acres.

Ontario Place

Kids amusement park across Lakeshore Drive from exhibition place. Play all day passes are $33.69 for ages 6-64 (less if ordered online), and includes access to water park.

Performing Arts 

National Ballet of Canada

470 Queens Quay West. One of the top ballet companies in the world with over 50 dancers and its own orchestra. The National Ballet presents both a classical repertoire and contemporary works. Check the website for shows, dates and times.

Royal Alexandra Theatre

260 King West. The Royal Alexandra Theatre houses a variety of shows from mega musicals and Tony Award winning plays.

Hummingbird Centre For the Performing Arts

1 Front East. Canada's premiere theatre presents the best live variety entertainment, dance and family programs and is the home of the National Ballet of Canada and Canadian Opera Company.

Lorriane Kimsa Theatre for Young People

165 Front East. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People (LKTYP) is the largest non-profit theatre company for young audiences in Canada. A multi-award-winning professional theatre company, LKTYP presents new plays, innovative works and classics from children's literature for school and family audiences.

Soulpepper Theatre Company

55 Mill Street, bldg 49. The critically acclaimed Soulpepper Theatre Company offers superb interpretations of the great theatrical classics year-round at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, the company's new home in the Distillery Historic District. Check the website for shows, dates and times.

Canstage

26 Berkeley Street. Based in Toronto, CanStage produces, develops and exports the best in international contemporary theatre and is Canada's largest contemporary theatre company. Check website for shows, dates and times.

Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament

Exhibition Place. Travel back in time to an 11th century Spanish castle. Witness brave knights on horseback in a tournament of swordfighting and jousting while feasting on a fabulous four-course meal.

Blue Man Group

651 Yonge. Blue Man Group is theatre, ritual, comedy and rock music all rolled into one unforgettable, indescribable stage event popular with all ages.

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

60 Simcoe. With over 100 carefully created programmes, the 2005|2006 season of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra features music designed for a wide variety of musical preferences, tastes and budget. The outstanding guest artists, soloists and conductors who appear with the TSO tell you that this is an orchestra of remarkable caliber - truly one of the world's finest.

Second City

51 Mercer Street. The Second City performs topical comedy sketch-theatre satirizing aspects of everyday life. Enjoy a performance from the company that inspired SCTV, Saturday Night Live and Who's Line Is It Anyway! Past alumni include Mike Myers, John Candy and Eugene Levy. Visit the website for new venue details and show schedule.

ShakespeareWorks Inc.

2 Frankdale Ave. ShakespeareWorks by the Lake presents its third season in July and August of 2006 at The Home Depot Theatre located at Ashbridges Bay Park on Toronto's waterfront. The Home Depot Theatre is a glorious 500 seat tent theatre with a full thurst stage.

Famous People Players

110 Sudbury. An unbelievable delight for the eyes and ears, the Famous PEOPLE Players Dine & Dream Theatre! Come for lunch or dinner and enjoy this first-class meal.

Shopping 

• Eaton Centre
  Website
  Biggest shopping centre in the city and right in the heart of downtown. Tons of big name stores.
• Bloor-Yorkville
  Website
  Where to go for haute couture. Prada, Chanel, Tiffany's and Louis Vuitton are all located on the strip of Bloor Street that belongs to this neighbourhood. Be sure to walk along Yorkville and Cumberland for smaller but equally expensive shops. Area is bordered by Bloor, Avenue, Yonge and Scollard.
• Queen Street
  The strip of Queen Street between University and Spadina hosts a number of interesting boutiques. Seriously edgy fashions are born here, but hurry because some of the chains are moving in (Gap, Club Monaco, Guess) and it won't be edgy for long.
• Kensington Market
  Some of the best vintage clothing stores in the city. Veritable goldmine of interesting stuff, you just may have to be willing to dig. Area is bordered by Spadina, College, Dundas and Bellevue
• Chinatown
  Just as you'd expect, you can find a cheap copy of anything you ever needed or wanted in Chinatown. Toronto's is the second largest Chinatown in North America. Centred at Dundas and Spadina, and sprawls outward from there.

Queen Street Shops 

XOXO

JCY House

Aldo

Zara

Cool

Groovy

Black Market

Billabong

Aritzia

Lemor

Mendocino

French Connection

Misdemeanours

Bedo

space fb

Change room

Due West

Pull

Sports Events 

Toronto Raptors

Toronto's NBA team. Home games are held at the Air Canada Centre. Tickets for regular season games are $20-$160.

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto's Major League Baseball team. Home games are held at the Roger's Centre (formerly Skydome). Tickets for regular season games are $9-$65.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto's NHL team. Home games are held at the Air Canada Centre. Tickets for regular season games are $35-$180.

Toronto Argonauts

Toronto's CFL team. Homes games are held at the Rogers Centre. Tickets for regular season games are $20-$75.

Toronto Rock

Toronto's National Lacrosse League team. Home games are held at the Air Canada Centre. Tickets for regular season games are $28-$65.

Events 

Beaches Jazz Fest

Queen Street East closes to cars on the last weekend in July, tons of music and things to do. The Jazz fest kicks off the week before at the Distillery District.

Toronto Jazz Festival

Jazz in the downtown core. What can I say, TO loves its jazz.

Taste of the Danforth

Street festival in Greektown. Tons of good food to be had.

Caribana

Toronto's caribbean community and others from all around the world throw a two week long party ending in the big parade on Lakeshore.

CNE

The Canadian National Exhibition is held at Exhibition place at the end of August.

Royal Winter Fair

Once a year the country comes to the city at exhibition place.

Celebrate Toronto Street festival

Party on the world's longest street

Toronto Film Festival

The beginning of September brings hoards of celebrities and paparazzi to our fair city. Oh yeah, there's some films too.

Fringe Festival

Tons of amateur and professional theatre productions are put on at various venues around the city for $10 a show to make theatre more accessible to the general public.

Pride Week

Around the end of June, the city celebrates sexual diversity, ending in a massive parade down Yonge Street that isn't to be missed.

Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

The largest South Asian multi-disciplinary arts festival outside of South Asia. At exhibition place around the last weekend in July.

Tours 

Double Decker City Tour

Really cool tour because it allows you to get on and off whenever you want, and your tickets are valid for 3 days!

Frommer's Walking Tours

Frommer's has a cool list of walking tours around the city, if you don't want to shell out for a guide and feel like reading a little.

Heritage Toronto Tours

If you're interested in learning some history about the city, Heritage Toronto gives free tours of different areas around the city.

Hippo tours

Ride around in a bus to see the sights of the city and be prepared to get a little wet when the bus drives right into the harbour and becomes a boat!

ShopDineTour Toronto

Another double decker tour bus with on-off privileges. Highlights shopping and eateries with navigation focusing on historical aspects of Toronto. Tickets are valid for 7 days.

City-Surf

Downloadable audio walking tours of the city

Fun facts about Toronto 

• One quarter of Canada's population lives within a 160 km radius of Toronto
• Toronto is Canada's largest retail market
• There are 100 + languages spoken throughout the city
• Over half of Toronto's labour force has a university degree or college diploma
• Toronto is Canada's number one tourist destination
• Toronto is the largest and most important, financial centre in all of Canada and the fourth largest, important economic centre in all of North America. Only New York city, Chicago and Los Angeles are larger financial centres.
• North America's largest continuous underground pedestrian system PATH, connects about 1200 stores and restaurants, 50 office towers, five subway stations, Union Station, six major hotels and several entertainment centres under Toronto's financial core.
• Yonge Street is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest street in the world, stretching 1,896 km from the lakeshore in Toronto, north to Rainy River, Ontario, near the Minnesota border.
• Toronto is home to the world's tallest free-standing structure, the CN Tower standing 1,815 feet (553 meters) tall.
• Toronto is the third largest centre for English language theatre in the world, behind New York City and London.
• Toronto's public transit system is the second largest in North America and has the highest per capita ridership rate on the continent.
• The Toronto Zoo is home to more than 5,000 animals.
• Many of today's famous movie stars hail from Toronto and the GTA including Jim Carrey, Mike Myers and Eugene Levy.
• About 25% of films produced in Hollywood are actually filmed in Toronto, making it North America's 3rd largest TV and movie production venue.
• The Caribana parade is the largest single-day parade and largest Caribbean festival in North America.
• Toronto is North America's 5th-largest city after Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Toronto! 

View of the CN tower from the rooftop patio at Pur Supper Club

The Front Campus at U of T

Toronto's Outdoor Art Moose-eum

Toronto City Hall

Kensington Market

bay street, just south of bloor.

Winter Garden Theatre

Neighbourhoods 

Bloor-Yorkville

Elegant shopping and dining, designer boutiques, antique shops and galleries.

Cabbagetown

A gracious neighbourhood of renovated Victorian homes and lovely parks including Riverdale Farm.

Chinatown

Shops, markets and a vast selection of authentic Chinese restaurants.

Corso Italia

This part of town is known for its fashionable shops that reflect what's hot in Europe.

Distillery Historic District

Victorian industrial architecture houses a variety of galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and shops.

Downtown Yonge

Storefronts and signs compete for your attention as streams of pedestrians head towards their destinations at varying speeds.

Entertainment District

A lively concentration of theatres, restaurants, nightspots, shops, and attractions.

Fashion District

Terrific bargains on local fashions, fabric, leathers and furs.

Financial District & Underground City

Dozens of towering glass, concrete and steel monoliths are a must-see.

Greektown

This lively area features authentic Greek cuisine and a fascinating mix of speciality shops.

Harbourfront

Speciality shops at Queen's Quay Terminal, art and theatre at Harbourfront Centre and a terrific lakeside trail.

Kensington Market

Multicultural shops packed with goods from all over the globe.

Koreatown

Shops stocking exotic herbs, acupuncture centres, and Korean restaurants abound here.

Little India

A festival-like atmosphere, where you'll find restaurants, grocers, and shops that specialize in traditional clothing.

Little Italy

The spiritual home of Toronto's Italian community is packed with trattorias, trendy restaurants, cafés, and traditional poolhalls.

Little Poland

This area specializes in traditional cuisine, bakeries, cafés, and caters to its Eastern European and Russian residents.

Old Town

Local arts, culture and heritage and a large concentration of Victorian architecture.

Portugal Village

Dozens of bake shops, restaurants, cheese stores, and fish markets and home to Toronto's large Portuguese community.

Queen Street West

Trendy restaurants, cutting-edge fashion, galleries, and dance clubs.

Rosedale & Forest Hill

Home to Toronto's most established citizens, winding streets with magnificent homes and well-tended gardens and parks.

St. Lawrence Market

Site of the city's original market. Home to local farmers, artists and artisans.

The Beaches

Antique shops, clapboard cottages and quirky stores and restaurants typify the Beach. Don't forget the boardwalk.

The Gay Village

Dubbed "The Village", this neighbourhood plays host to Canada's largest annual gay and lesbian Pride celebrations.

Toronto Islands

A summer amusement park, paddleboats and bikes for rent, in-line skating paths, and grass for picnics.

Toronto headlines 

Top stories from the Toronto Star

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Great Stuff on Amazon 

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

by Elizabeth Gilbert

Amazon Price: $8.25 (as of 09/08/2008)
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Eat This Not That!: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More!

by David Zinczenko, Matt Goulding

Amazon Price: $11.97 (as of 09/08/2008)
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The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

by Timothy Ferriss

Amazon Price: $11.97 (as of 09/08/2008)
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Into the Wild

by Jon Krakauer

Amazon Price: $11.16 (as of 09/08/2008)
List Price: $13.95

Reader Feedback 

Give me some feedback, whether you agree or disagree with some of the info here.

ali-k I launched City Surf recently - self-guided mp3 tours for neighborhoods in Toronto-the tours help you experience the real local culture of a city. It would be good to show a difference type of 'guide book' in your listings - more info at www.city-surf.ca Posted September 09, 2006