Toronto is the largest city in Canada (and the fastest growing city in the world!), and as such, can be overwhelming to visit for the first time. Our first trip to the city left us standing for 40 minutes waiting for a bus (this is after we had accidentally got off the street car we thought was the wrong one—it wasn’t…), and basically deciding we did not like cities.
It also didn’t help that it was pouring rain…
I have a detailed guide to help you plan your first visit to Toronto, as well as a whole list of the absolute best things to do in the city, so that you can have the most enjoyable time there. I also thought it would be helpful to discuss all the best Toronto neighborhoods, so you know which areas of the city are truly worth visiting.
Since it is such a big city, each area has a completely different feel and different attractions to offer. So here is a guide to all of the best neighborhoods to visit in Toronto!
What’s in this Article?
Map of Toronto
Downtown Toronto Neighborhoods:
- Entertainment District
- Harbourfront
- South Core
- Financial District
- The PATH
- Nathan Phillips Square
- Garden District
- St. Lawrence
- Distillery District
- Queen St. West
- Chinatown
- Kensington Market
- Grange Park
- University
- Yorkville
- The Annex
Other Neighborhoods of Note
Map of Toronto Neighborhoods
- Good to Know: While I tried my best to highlight all of the popular neighborhoods, there are still some (even within the downtown core) that are not mentioned in this article (did I mention Toronto is a big city?!). There are still plenty of places to explore outside of those noted in this article, but this will at least give you a good place to start on your first (or second!) visit to the city.
Officially, there are 158 neighborhoods in Toronto. But for our purposes, we will mainly be focusing on “downtown core neighborhoods.” In other words, the main areas you will want to visit in Toronto.
Not that there aren’t other areas outside of the downtown core to visit. There is a second Chinatown and a Little Italy, for starters. Toronto is a super diverse city (second only to London!), and there are plenty of worthwhile places to explore.
But this guide will just focus on the easiest and most popular areas to explore. My Toronto city guide has information on how to use the public transportation system to get around to each neighborhood.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can always start with one (or several!) guided walking tours. I did this overall city walking tour, which I really enjoyed. I really wanted to do this guided donut walking tour (if you know me, you know I love donuts…!), but unfortunately I couldn’t fit it into my schedule.
Downtown Toronto Neighborhoods
Most of these neighborhoods are right around the downtown core of Toronto, except for one or two special mentions at the end of the article.
Like I said, there are plenty of other neighborhoods to explore as well! But this guide will get you started in exploring the city.
Entertainment District
The Entertainment District is home to Toronto’s most popular things to do, as well as many different theaters and sporting venues. It is the very core of downtown Toronto.
Points of Interest
- CN Tower
- Ripley’s Aquarium
- Rogers Centre
- Toronto Railway Museum
- Roy Thomson Hall
- Royal Alexandra Theatre
Closest Transportation
The closest metro stations are St. Andrew and Union Stations.
Hotels in the Entertainment District
Harbourfront
On the other side of the CN Tower is the Harbourfront Neighborhood. It is a developing neighborhood of museums, parks and public areas along the water’s edge.
You can walk or bike the Toronto Waterfront Trail between Harbourfront points of interest.
Points of Interest
- Harbourfront Centre
- The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery
- Queen’s Quay
- Toronto Music Garden
- Toronto Waterfront Trail
Closest Transportation
The closest metro station is Union Station, about a 15 minute walk. You can also take a street car from Union Station to Harbourfront Centre.
The Pirate Water Taxi that travels across the harbour to Toronto Island Park can be picked up here.
Hotels in Harbourfront
South Core
Where the South Core is now, used to be water. That’s why the section of the PATH (more on that below) here is above ground, instead of below. In fact, the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel used to have a harbour view. It also used to be the tallest building around…
You’ll find some popular attractions in this area (like the hockey/basketball arena), as well as historic buildings (like the Union Station main terminal).
Points of Interest
Closest Transportation
The closest metro line to the South Core Neighborhood is of course Union Station.
Hotels in South Core
Financial District
The Financial District is much what you would expect to see in a big city: talllll, shiny buildings where people in suits do businessy sorts of things. It is close to all the popular things to do in Toronto, but I don’t think there is anything particularly “in” the Financial District to point out.
Closest Transportation
At the core of the city, the Financial District is easily accessible by many metro stations. Basically all of the ones in the bottom loop: Osgoode, St. Andrew, Union, King and Queen.
Hotels in the Financial District
The PATH
The PATH isn’t strictly a “neighborhood” (or neighbourhood) in Toronto. What it actually is is a series of underground tunnels connecting all the main points of interest in downtown. It runs under the South Core, Financial and Entertainment Districts, and is the perfect place to hide in cold or rainy weather!
It doesn’t even feel like you’re underground. Actually, the tunnels are lined with shops and restaurants, so what it really feels like is that you’re in a mall. A very very busy mall, with commuters bustling everywhere. If you’re really curious, you can take this guided tour of the PATH. Or just stop by a small portion of it on this overall city walking tour.
- Fun Fact: Part of the PATH is actually above ground (not underground!) in the South Core District. This is because, as mentioned above, the area was actually built up on top of the harbor (or harbour). So underground would actually be… under water!
Points of Interest
- Toronto Eaton Centre
- Allen Lambert Galleria
- Lots of shops and restaurants underground
Closest Transportation
The PATH can be reached by many of the main metro stations in the city, or by going inside some downtown buildings. Look for signs noting the PATH. Here is a map of the PATH.
Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square is also not exactly its own neighborhood, but it’s worth pointing out as a central and popular spot in the city. Situated just in front of the current Toronto City Hall (and flanked by the beautiful old city hall building), the square is the perfect spot to rest your feet for a bit, get a snack, or snap a photo.
There is a to-go snack stand selling ice cream, hot cocoa, burgers, poutine and the like. Sometimes you can also find food trucks here. There are also free public restrooms and water fountains available in the square.
Points of Interest
- Toronto Sign
- Toronto Old City Hall
- Ice skating in winter
Closest Transportation
Nathan Phillips Square is right in between the Osgoode and Queen metro stations.
Downtown Yonge/Garden District
Officially, this area is part of the Garden District, so named for Allan Gardens, and the other many parks in the area. However, the main reason I want to point it out is because it also includes an area of a very different vibe: Sankofa Square. This vibrant downtown area is similar to Time’s Square in NYC. Lots of screens, lots of flashing lights, lots of people…
The strip along Yonge Street contains kitschy tourist attractions, over-the-top theaters, and a town square where people gather to protest, play, and perform.
- Good to Know: Sankofa Square used to be called Yonge-Dundas Square (named for the streets’ intersection where the square is located). It was recently renamed to Sankofa, roughly meaning “Go back and get it.” In other words, we can go back to the past and learn from it.
Points of Interest
Closest Transportation
The closest metro lines for the Garden District are College, Dundas, and Queen Stations. If you’re specifically going to Sankofa Square, you’ll want Dundas Station.
Hotels in the Garden District
St. Lawrence
Not to be confused with the “Old Town” neighborhood (which I left off, as I don’t think there’s anything really worth including in that specific neighborhood… Honestly, they both kinda blend together to me), St. Lawrence is in one of the oldest sections of Toronto.
The main site to see here is the St. Lawrence Market, which is housed in the original city hall building (you can see the facade of the old building surrounded by the brick of the new building). The St. Lawrence Market is now also expanded to include a newer (and bigger!) building across the street. The new building is known as “St. Lawrence Market North,” and the original building is “St. Lawrence Market South.”
It is the perfect spot to grab a meal and take a break from exploring the city. The market sells fresh meats and raw food, but you can also find restaurants and bakeries inside, selling Toronto specialties like peameal bacon sandwiches and butter tarts. There are also free public restrooms and water fountains downstairs.
Points of Interest
- St. Lawrence Market
- Toronto Dog Fountain
- Gooderham (flatiron) Building
Closest Transportation
The closest metro line is King Station (though they are in the process of building more subways to service this side of the city). It’s about a 10 min. walk from King Station to St. Lawrence Market.
There are street car stops along King St. that will get you closer.
Hotels in St. Lawrence
Distillery District
The Distillery District is a ways from the downtown core, but it is such a cool neighborhood that it is definitely worth checking out! It is one of my favorite areas of Toronto.
The whole neighborhood is enclosed in several pedestrian only blocks of old brick roads, lined with local restaurants, shops, galleries, photo ops, and live music.
You can take guided tours and learn the history of this unique neighborhood, or just wander around and explore on your own. Maps are available at the information booth.
Points of Interest
The entire neighborhood!
Closest Transportation
Unfortunately at the moment, the Distillery District is not super well connected to the metro line (they are currently building a station that goes there!).
It’s another 15 minute walk from St. Lawrence Market to the Distillery District. Or there are street car stops that will take you to this neighborhood.
Queen St. West
Queen St. West is (supposedly) the cool hipster street of Toronto. It is just a street absolutely lined with local shops and restaurants (and also Chick Fil A and Taco Bell).
You will find one end of Trinity Bellwoods Park (famous for cherry blossoms with a view of the CN Tower) bordering this street.
Personally, I found this neighborhood crowded and overwhelming, but if you know what you’re looking for (as opposed to wandering aimlessly), you might find it here. Think fancy bakeries, trendy restaurants, and international cuisine. And random vape shops.
Points of Interest
- Trinity Bellwoods Park
- All the shops and restaurants
Closest Transportation
The closest metro station is Osgoode, which lets off at Queen St. West, near the Grange Neighborhood. From there you can walk down Queen Street, or take the street cars, which have stops all the way down the street.
Hotels near Queen St. West
Chinatown
My tour guide told us there are actually two Chinatowns in Toronto! But the main Chinatown is between Queen St. West and the Kensington Market neighborhood.
You’ll find Asian shops and restaurants all over this neighborhood. If you’re feeling overwhelmed for choice, I suggest a walking tour to help you get your bearings and local insight on the best spots to hit up.
Points of Interest
- All the Chinese restaurants!
- Kensington & Chinatown walking tour
Closest Transportation
St. Patrick or Osgoode are the closest metro stations to Chinatown. From there it is an easy 10 minute walk to the Chinatown neighborhood, or there are lots of street car stops you can hop off at.
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is an eccentric, relaxed neighborhood just above Chinatown and below the university. It sort of gave me Key West vibes… though maybe that’s just because I got a slice of Key Lime Pie from Wanda’s Pie in the Sky restaurant.
It is much quieter than the center of the city, with random local eateries, artwork and a fun, laid-back vibe.
Points of Interest
- Local restaurants
- Wanda’s Pie in the Sky
- Taste the World food tour
Closest Transportation
The nearest metro station is Queen’s Park or St. Patrick. It will be about a 15 minute walk from here. Or there are some street car lines that will drop off in the neighborhood.
Grange Park
Grange Park is a small neighborhood in Toronto, nestled between Queen St. West and the University Neighborhood. It has a fun, artsy vibe, with random sculptures popping up around the art gallery and Grange Park.
It only takes up a couple of blocks, but as it is home to one of the best things to do in Toronto, it deserves a mention here.
Points of Interest
Closest Transportation
The Grange Park Neighborhood is just a few minutes walk from St. Patrick metro station.
University
The University neighborhood is, of course, home to the St. George campus of the University of Toronto. There are beautiful old buildings to see, coffee shops full of students, and secret corners that look like you stepped into the world of Harry Potter. Or Oxford.
The neighborhood borders Yorkville and The Annex, with their many museums right around the corner from the university buildings. There is not much to see specifically on the campus (unless you’re a student, of course!), but there are some spots open to the public. Mainly, I think, you’ll just walk through fun spots like the Philosopher’s Walk on your way from one museum to another.
Points of Interest
- Philosopher’s Walk
- Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
- Hart House Community Centre
Closest Transportation
The Museum or Spadina metro stations are the closest to the University Neighborhood.
Yorkville
Yorkville is a trendy neighborhood just above the university. It is not really in downtown, but it is worth mentioning because it is a fun neighborhood to visit (or stay in), it is well connected to the metro, and, most importantly, it is the home to the Royal Ontario Museum.
Technically the museum sits right at the border of the Yorkville, University and Annex neighborhoods, but, in an effort to give you the most comprehensive guide to Toronto, I’m going to include Yorkville (and The Annex) in their own categories, even though they all tend to blend together in my mind.
Points of Interest
- Royal Ontario Museum
- The Mink Mile (shopping on Bloor St.)
Closest Transportation
As Toronto’s main attraction, the Royal Ontario Museum literally has its own metro station: Museum Station. So it’s very easily accessible via public transportation.
Hotels in Yorkville
The Annex
Also not far from the university, The Annex neighborhood is basically the edge of what I consider downtown Toronto. There are still plenty of local restaurants and businesses worth visiting in this area, but it is really worth pointing out for one unique museum: The Bata Shoe Museum.
The area is very similar to the two previously mentioned neighborhoods, but since it officially has another title, I gave it its own section.
- Good to Know: It’s also where you can get a “churro cone” from Eva’s Original Chimneys, but I found mine underwhelming, so I wouldn’t super recommend it.
Points of Interest
Closest Transportation
The Annex neighborhood is well connected via the metro. The closest stations would be Spadina or St. George, which are just a couple minutes walk from the shoe museum.
Hotels in The Annex
Other Neighborhoods of Note
There are a couple other places in Toronto outside of the downtown core that I want to make mention of, because I think they are worth visiting.
Toronto Island Park
A short ferry ride across the harbour from downtown is Toronto Island Park. There are several islands that are fun and easy (and cheap!) to visit, and make a great day trip (or half day trip) from the city.
Centre Island is the main and most popular island. It boasts an amusement park, petting zoo, boat rentals, the largest beach and more. The other islands are quieter, but they also have beaches, some cafes, and plenty of good views of the CN Tower and city skyline.
Points of Interest
- Ward’s Beach
- Centre Beach
- The Boardwalk
- Centreville Amusement Park
- Gibraltar Lighthouse
- Walking & Biking Trails
Closest Transportation
To get to Toronto Island Park, take the metro line to Union Station, then walk or take the street cars to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. You can also book a water taxi, which leaves from other locations along the Toronto Harbourfront.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is Toronto’s castle on a hill (because every city needs a good castle on a hill!). It is not far from the main downtown area, and is definitely worth seeing on any visit to the city.
Casa Loma has been used as a filming location for countless movies and TV shows. You can tour the inside, or, even better, do a themed escape room in the castle.
Points of Interest
Closest Transportation
It’s an easy walk (less than 10 minutes) from Dupont Station to Casa Loma, though it should be noted that you have to walk uphill to reach the castle.
Toronto Parks
There are a lot of parks throughout the city of Toronto. High Park is one of the most popular. On one of my visits, I stayed in a quiet neighborhood just across the street from the park, which was the perfect spot to avoid the craziness of the city centre!
The parks are good places to see cherry blossoms if you visit in the spring. Here are some of the most popular/easily accessible parks (but of course, there are more!):
Points of Interest
- High Park
- Trinity Bellwoods Park
- Queen’s Park
Closest Transportation
There are parks all over the city. High Park is the most popular, and has its own metro station (I stayed near here on one visit to Toronto, and just walked to the metro from my room, so I wouldn’t have to drive in the city!). Queen’s Park also has its own metro station.
Trinity Bellwoods is not close to the current metro line, so you would have to take a bus or street car here.
The Beaches
Going to the beach is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Toronto (or the second!)… But if the weather happens to be nice while you’re there (or even if it isn’t…), Toronto has plenty of coastline to enjoy.
There are actually quite a lot of beaches around Toronto, like Sugar Beach, a popular little spot on the water that is not for swimming, but is a good park to enjoy close to downtown Toronto. And of course the beaches of Toronto Island Park, which is noted above.
But “The Beaches” neighborhood specifically has several miles of good beaches, as well as a boardwalk, gardens, and other amenities. The neighborhood runs along Queen St. East, with a much more relaxed vibe than its western counterpart. It is a ways from downtown Toronto, and is therefore quieter, though harder to get to via public transportation.
Points of Interest
- Woodbine Beach
- Kew-Balmy Beach
- Silver Birch Beach
- Donald D. Summerville Olympic Pools
- Martin Goodman Trail
- The Boardwalk
- Kew Gardens
Closest Transportation
To get to the main stretch of beaches in the Beaches Neighborhood, you can take the metro to the Woodbine Station, and then a bus to Woodbine Beach Park. You can also take a tram to Queen St. East, and then walk down to the beaches.
I hope you find this Toronto neighborhoods guide helpful to get you started planning a visit to Toronto.
Any more questions?
If you have any questions about visiting Toronto, or any tips to share of your own favorite neighborhoods and experiences in the city, feel free to email me or comment below!
Planning a trip to Toronto?
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You might also like:
- The Best Things to Do in Toronto
- The Complete Guide to Visit Toronto
- How to Visit the Toronto Islands
- Things to Do in Niagara Falls
- The Complete Guide to Niagara Falls (US & Canada)
Julia is a travel blogger with a Bachelor’s Degree in photography from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a professional photo-retoucher for seven and a half years, before leaving the company to work in the travel industry. She now works at a historic 1800’s hotel. When she’s not working, she’s reading fantasy novels or classic literature, and planning trips to magical destinations.
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