Toronto City Tours

In Toronto there are as many tours as there are types of travelers. Therefore, during your stay you will enjoy a wide range of guided, audio guided and free tours, through which you will discover every corner of this city, its history, culture, scenic scene, mysteries and more. Whether on foot, by car, bicycle or tourist bus, you can't miss the city tour. Likewise, the guided tour of the distillery district or the helicopter ride are unrepeatable experiences.

Booking a guided tour of Toronto you will discover amazing natural and urban destinations: skyscrapers, parks, monuments, markets and much more.

Some of the places you will see during the tour include the following:

• St. Lawrence Market, with stalls selling vegetables, fruits, bakeries, butchers, artisan products, antique stores and more.
• The Queen's Park, where you will find beautiful English-inspired gardens and enjoy a series of paths surrounded by trees.
• The CN Tower; an impressive skyscraper of more than 550 meters high from where you can see the city from a bird's eye view.
• Nathan Phillips Square; a lively place with cultural activities and, if you are in Toronto in winter, you will find a skating rink.

This is an activity not to be missed during your stay in which you will get a glimpse of this picturesque metropolis full of contrasts and where you will also enjoy a boat ride on the harbor.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of the guided tour is 130€.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot, by car and by boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to take a look around the city and get to know the must-see destinations.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you plan to take the tour with small children, take into consideration that it is a half-day or longer activity, so they might get tired.

Booking a tour of Chinatown and Kensington Market will allow you to have a multicultural experience during your stay. You can learn about the history of both places, do some shopping and delight your palate with a delicious snack and coffee.

In Chinatown, about 20 minutes walk from downtown, you will find a wealth of gastronomic restaurants, markets and street stalls, where you can try sweet and savory preparations.

After enjoying the cuisine and oriental culture you can head to the open-air Kensington Market, about 10 minutes walk from Chinatown. It's a lively place with colorful murals, stores with fresh produce, ready-to-eat foods from around the world, souvenirs, fashion displays, crafts and more.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately 55€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will live a multicultural experience in two of the oldest places in the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you have mobility problems, this walking tour may not be convenient.

Enjoy the deep-rooted beer culture of this Canadian city by participating in a beer tour. You will visit some traditional pubs and learn about their historical significance while tasting some beers.

This tour takes place in the company of a guide in the downtown business district, Old Town, as it is home to important breweries and pubs. There, you might discover some destinations such as:

• The Wheatsheaf Tavern, considered one of the oldest taverns in the city, present since 1849.
• The Volo Bar, with a wide range of craft beers and snacks.
• The Mill Street Brewery, where you will discover good beers and learn about the brewing process.

During this beer tour in Toronto, you will also visit the St. Lawrence Market, because it is closely related to this drink, and the Mill Street Brewery.

Details of interest

• Price: 70 per person.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn about Toronto's beer culture and taste some beverages.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of tour does not usually incorporate snacks.

If you are a ghost story enthusiast, then you should know that Toronto has a dark side, hiding many mysteries that will surprise you. Hiring a ghost tourwill allow you to discover some of the historical places where unexplainable events have taken place .

As you tour some iconic buildings, you will hear stories of murders, ghosts, curses and more.

Although the itinerary of this Toronto ghost tour may vary according to the activity you have chosen, there are destinations that are usually not to be missed. For example:

• St. Michael's Hospital founded in 1892. In its corridors it is said that the souls of deceased patients still wander.
• Mackenzie's Haunted House, built in 1936. This building houses a historical museum.
• The Elgin Theater and Winter Garden, recognized as one of the last buildings belonging to Edwardian architecture. In this destination you will learn about the terrifying case of the famous missing tycoon.

Details of interest

• Price: 21€ per person.
• Duration: 75 minutes.
• Means of transportation: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the dark side of the city with a local guide who will tell you the urban stories of Toronto, while he walks you through these places.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually the tour is done in groups of about 16 people, so it is not a very personalized experience.

During your stay in Toronto, you won't be short of options for touring the city. For example, if you are a cycling enthusiast, booking a bike tourwill allow you to get a different perspective of the squares, monuments and buildings.

This experience is usually guided, so you will only have to worry about enjoying the route. You will have the company of a local person specialized in this type of activities, who will take you to know the must-see destinations in the city center and will tell you the history of each of them.

Some of the places you will see through a bike tour in Toronto are the following:

• The Chinatown district, with its quaint streets and variety of traditional Asian and fusion restaurants.
• Kensington Market, a public market with dozens of independent stores.
• City Hall, noted for its modern architectural style.
• The CN Tower, the city's most iconic skyscraper due to its great height, revolving restaurant and glass observation deck.

Details of interest

• Price: 71 per.
• Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transportation: electric bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: you will see the city of Toronto from a different perspective aboard a bicycle, being able to reach places where cars cannot.
• Disadvantages of this option: this tour does not usually include the transfer to and from the hotel.

The Distillery District is another must-see during your stay in Toronto. It is a pedestrian district with a rich history and amazing Victorian architecture. In addition, you will find a lively atmosphere with bars, stores, restaurants and more.

This is a must-see if you want to learn about the beginnings of alcohol production in the city, as well as the creation of the first local distillery, Gooderham & Worts.

My recommendation is to hire a guided tour of the Distillery District because you will be accompanied by an expert guide.

Also, if you take the tour of the Distillery District in Toronto at night during the first three months of the year (January to March), you will enjoy the Toronto Lights Festival. Meanwhile, if you're in this Toronto neighborhood in November or December, you'll find a lively Christmas market.

Details of interest

• Price: 17€ per person approximately.
• Duration: 60 minutes.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn part of the history of the city regarding the production of alcohol and enjoy a lively atmosphere.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour does not usually include tastings or snacks.

Discover a privileged panoramic view of the Canadian city from above by booking this helicopter tour in which you will see the imposing skyscrapers, the main tourist destinations and, if you are lucky, the famous Niagara Falls in the distance.

During this helicopter flight in Toronto, which usually departs from Billy Bishop Airport, you will be able to identify a large number of emblematic places at an altitude of approximately 600 meters. For example:

• The CN Tower, with its modern design and glass observation deck.
• The Rom, which houses important natural art exhibits and is considered among the best museums in Toronto.
• St. Lawrence Market, made up of three large buildings representative of the vintage architectural style.
• Fort York; a fortification with a history dating back to 1793.
• The Harbour Front, which is a quiet neighborhood located on the banks of the Ontario River.

Details of interest

• Price: 105 per person.
• Duration: 7 minutes flying over the city.
• Means of transport: helicopter.
• Advantages of this option: you will see the city from a bird's eye view, getting a privileged perspective.
• Disadvantages of this option: usually, these tours do not offer transfer to and from the hotel.

The Toronto sightseeing bus is the best option to get to know the essential places. You can take a panoramic tour throughout the city and, in addition, you will have the option of free stops. This way, you can hop on and off the bus as many times as you want to visit the destinations of your interest, creating your own itinerary.

The bus route departs from Yonge Dundas Square to the Distillery District, passing by the Park Hyatt luxury hotel, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Hockey Hall of Fame, among others. In total there are about 15 stops. You can join this tour every day from approximately 9:00 am to 5:06 pm and enjoy the guide's commentary.

If you visit Toronto in the summer you will find open-top buses. Therefore, you can sit on the second floor of the bus and enjoy the tour in the fresh air and sunshine. Meanwhile, in the fall and winter season, the buses are closed. But don't worry, the windows are spacious for you to observe the destinations as you pass by.

Interesting details

• Price: 47€ per person.
• Duration: 24 hours.
• Means of transport: tourist bus.
• Advantages of this option: you will have a live guide and recorded commentary.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tourist bus tour does not include entrance to any of the city's attractions.

Taking a night driving tour of Toronto will allow you to discover a completely different perspective of the city. You will see the streets and buildings illuminated, and you will be able to approach some viewpoints to contemplate amazing panoramas of this metropolis under the moon, among other things.

Usually, this night driving tour of Toronto is done in the company of a driver-guide, who will take you through the most attractive places of the city, some of them being the following:

• The illuminated signs in Yonge Dundas Square in the financial district.
• The CN Tower from whose observation deck you will have the opportunity to contemplate a 360º view of the city.
• Toronto's illuminated sign, located in Nathan Phillips Square, right in front of City Hall.
• The old town in the direction of the Little India shopping district. This is a lively ethnic enclave.

Details of interest

• Price: 99€ per person.
• Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: minivan.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to contemplate a night perspective of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: the activity is not usually suitable for people with wheelchairs or strollers.

By booking a sightseeing cruise in Toronto you will be able to contemplate the skyline of the city, identify the main destinations of interest from afar and, at the same time, learn a little about their respective history.

This river activity usually starts from the city's harbor. In the company of the captain and his crew, you will sail across Lake Ontario on a sightseeing cruise around Toronto's harbor and islands. You will be amazed by the scenic beauty of this group of islands.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the urban contrast offered by the skyscrapers and emblematic buildings of the city. For example, some of them are:

• First Canadian Place, a skyscraper at least 298 meters high, representative of modern architecture and inaugurated in 1975.
• The CN Tower, considered a true icon of the Canadian city. This architectural work designed by John Andrews reaches a height of approximately 553 meters.
• The Rogers Center Stadium. It is a construction of about 86 meters high and an impressive sliding roof.

Details of interest

• Price: the value of this cruise starts at 24€ per person.
• Duration: 1 hour.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages of this option: throughout the cruise you will have live narration with interesting information about the sighted places.
• Disadvantages of this option: generally this activity does not include snacks or drinks.

The duration of Toronto tours usually varies from 60 minutes to about six hours. It all depends on the selected experience. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to explore the city, whether you are just passing through or plan to stay for several days.

For example, embarking on a private tour of Toronto can take about four to six hours, which is the time generally set for this activity. On the other hand, the best food tours of Toronto in local markets usually take a couple of hours.

Embarking on a Toronto city tour is not a complicated task. There are many options for exploring the city on your own, joining a guided, private or audio-guided activity. However, for any of these experiences to be successful, you should take into consideration some basic tips.

• Wear closed-toed, breathable shoes that allow you to move around the city comfortably or pedal without hurting your feet, in case you undertake a walking or cycling tour.
• Always have cash, you might need it for tipping.
• Take with you some snacks and a bottle of water. Remember that not all tours offer these benefits along the way.
• Don't forget your driver's license, preferably international. You will need it if you rent a car to explore the city on your own.