Toronto Areas & Neighbourhoods
Explore our city the way locals do: as a collection of dynamic neighbourhoods each with its own distinctive character.
City Centre
Busy & buzzy.
Explore City Centre
Located in the heart of the action, city centre includes some of Toronto’s most dynamic areas. Broker some deals or sit down for a power lunch in the downtown Financial District. Catch a Broadway-style show, then hit the dance floor in an Entertainment District nightclub or lounge. The Yonge Street corridor offers prime shopping, as well as Yonge-Dundas Square’s cultural events. Church-Wellesley Village is the unofficial headquarters of Toronto’s LGBTQ community—not to mention a great place for people of all stripes to enjoy a mean martini.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Spadina Avenue to Jarvis Street; Bloor Street to the Gardiner Expressway
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
360° Videos
Take a virtual tour of Toronto’s top attractions with our interactive 360 videos!
A 360° Tour of Nathan Phillips Square
Drag your screen or use your mouse to get a complete 360 degree view of Nathan Phillips Square, home of the world-famous 3D Toronto Sign.
A 360° Tour of Union Station
Drag your screen or use your mouse to get a complete 360 degree view of Union Station, Toronto’s bustling transportation hub.
A 360° Tour of Yonge Dundas Square
Drag your screen or use your mouse to get a complete 360 degree view of Yonge Dundas Square, the bright and bustling heart of the city’s downtown core.
A 360° Tour of the John Street Roundhouse
Drag your screen or use your mouse to get a complete 360 degree view of the John Street Roundhouse, home of the famous Steam Whistle Brewery.
Don’t Miss
- One of the world’s biggest Pride festivals
- Shopping at the Eaton Centre
- The Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena (formerly Air Canada Centre) or the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre
- The CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and the revitalized Union Station
- Strolling among the stars on Canada’s Walk of Fame
- A Broadway-style musical at a Mirvish Productions theatre
- Film fever during the Toronto International Film Festival and year round at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Midtown
Leafy streets & cultural attractions.
Explore Midtown
Midtown contains a certifiably eclectic array of districts. There’s tony Bloor-Yorkville with its luxury boutiques, high-end spas and exclusive restaurants. Then there’s the youthful boho vibe of the University of Toronto (U of T) and Annex community, home to many of the city’s students, profs and cultural cognoscenti. Avid foodies and in-the-know shoppers head to Koreatown for its BBQ restaurants, and K-beauty boutiques. Midtown is also home to the Ontario legislature, at Queen’s Park.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Christie Street to Sherbourne Street; St. Clair Avenue to Bloor Street
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Stroll the Bloor Street Culture Corridor, with close to 20 arts and cultural landmarks and attractions packed on Bloor Street between Bathurst and Bay Streets
- Casa Loma, an authentic castle, complete with turrets, secret passages and a new escape room game
- Dinosaurs, a bat cave and unsurpassed collections of Asian art, architecture and artifacts at the Royal Ontario Museum
- Cool ceramic art at the Gardiner Museum
- A musical performance at Koerner Hall, known for its impeccable acoustics
- Philosopher’s Walk or strolling through a tree-lined street on the U of T campus
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Old Town
Toronto’s historic heart.
Explore Old Town
The birthplace of Toronto, this central locale includes the original 10 blocks that comprised the Town of York. The historic St. Lawrence Market zone brims with beautiful architecture and an eponymous food market, considered one of the best in the world. A short walk from here is The Distillery Historic District, an artsy enclave of galleries and cafés housed within Canada’s largest complex of Victorian-era industrial architecture. Up-and-coming Corktown is also part of this community and home to unique indie shops and cafés.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Yonge Street to the Don Valley Parkway; Queen Street East to the Gardiner Expressway
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Shopping the exclusive boutiques of the King East Design District
- Instagramming the iconic Gooderham “Flatiron” Building
- Eating a peameal bacon sandwich from St. Lawrence Market or browsing collectibles at its Sunday Antique Market
- Watching a stellar performance at the Meridian Hall (formerly Sony Centre for the Performing Arts) or St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Westside
Trendy, dynamic & open late.
Explore Westside
This trendy part of town includes some of the city’s hottest haunts, including the entertainment district of Queen St. West, with its clubs, lounges, cafés, restaurants and bar scene. Trendy Ossington Village beckons with its hipster craft cocktail bars, as does the patio-heavy Liberty Village. Little Portugal combines a classic ethnic enclave with millennial revitalization, resulting in an eclectic and exciting mix of gift shops, salons, cafés, bars and restaurants. The westside is also home to arty, iconoclastic West Queen West, deemed by Vogue magazine to be the second hippest district in the world, thanks to its galleries, coffee shops, dynamic food choices and indie retail scene. Finally, in a city known for having more than one Chinatown, westside is home to the best known, most central and most Instagram-friendly one.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Sorauren Avenue to Spadina Avenue; Bloor Street West to Gardiner Expressway
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- The chance to nosh on empanadas, pupusas and other international foods or shop for vintage clothing in Kensington Market
- A music or food festival at Fort York, a national historic site and War of 1812-era armament
- The western section of the waterfront’s Martin Goodman Trail: perfect for a run or bike ride
- The chic dining and nightlife scene of King Street West
- The hip College Street vibe around Little Italy, where twentysomethings and families alike enjoy late night meals and bustling street life
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Waterfront & Toronto Islands
Million-dollar views.
Explore Waterfront
The recently redesigned Queens Quay strip makes the Lake Ontario waterfront a stroller’s paradise. The Waterfront area offers a dynamic mix of parks, shopping, arts and culture, shops and restaurants, all connected by the Water’s Edge Promenade. Hop a ferry over to the nearby Toronto Islands, where beaches, a family amusement park and paved trails await.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Humber River to Don River; Gardiner Expressway to the Toronto Islands
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Sitting under an umbrella and chilling amid the urban vibe of Sugar Beach
- Checking out the arts and culture festivals that light up Harbourfront Centre year round
- Renting a bike and cycling from one end of the Toronto Islands to the other
- Visiting the water sculptures at Sherbourne Common
- Looking at cutting-edge international contemporary art at The Power Plant
- Snapping photos at HTO Park and the Simcoe, Rees and Spadina WaveDecks on Queen’s Quay West
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Eastside
Ethnic enclaves & a hip vibe.
Explore Eastside
A hip, emerging community that encompasses a dazzling array of neighbourhoods, the east end is best explored over a couple of days. After all, you’ll want to make room for the culinary adventures awaiting in Little India, also known as Gerrard India Bazaar, and bustling Greektown on the Danforth. The Beaches area is another draw, with its laidback boutiques, casual restaurants, pubs, patios and Blue Flag certified swimming beaches. For prime retail and brunch therapy, don’t miss Leslieville, known for its indie boutiques, cafés and restaurants.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Don Valley Parkway to Victoria Park Avenue; St. Clair Avenue East to Lake Ontario
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Trying saganaki in Greektown: the cheese dish comes to your table in flames
- Biking, running or strolling along The Beaches boardwalk, especially at dusk or dawn
- Loading up on gorgeous saris and jewelry in Gerrard India Bazaar
- Checking out a local farmers’ market or food festival in Leslieville
- Taking photos of the famous Degrassi Street sign in Riverside
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Don Valley
Hidden attractions.
Explore Don Valley
East of the city centre, the Don Valley region is verdant, green and peaceful. It’s host to historic Cabbagetown, where mom-and-pop shops share the streetscape with multicultural restaurants and cafés. Bring a book and hunker down at either a cozy tea shop or a tranquil spot in a leafy park.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Jarvis Street to Don Valley Parkway; Lawrence Avenue East to Queen Street East
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Quaint Riverdale Farm, with its heritage-breed hens, pigs, goats and cows
- The locavore food, farmers’ market and winter skating rink at Evergreen Brick Works
- Hands-on scientific discovery for the kids at the Ontario Science Centre
- Islamic artifacts and fine arts at the expansive Aga Khan Museum with its beautifully photogenic grounds
- Seasonal blooms at the Toronto Botanical Garden
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
High Park
Trendy & traditional.
Explore High Park
Once a pleasantly sleepy community of European immigrants, the High Park area has evolved over the past couple decades into an enclave for educated, affluent Gen X and millennials to raise their families in befittingly organic style. For visitors that means Roncesvalles Village’s trove of foodie-approved casual restaurants, health food stores and gourmet shops. “Roncey” is also known for its indie gift shops, fashion boutiques and yoga studios. Further north, the Junction is another hit with smart, young Torontonians, but with an edgier, artier vibe, and replete with small galleries, vintage shops and coffee bars. The heart of the neighbourhood is the sprawling, leafy High Park, home to a small zoo, an extensive trail network, adventure playgrounds, a leash-free dog park and scenic pond.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Sorauren Avenue to Humber River; Dundas Street West to Lake Ontario
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- The European bakeries and dessert cafés of Bloor West Village
- The sunrise at Humber Bay
- Instagramming the beautifully-restored Jazz Age bathing pavilion at Sunnyside Beach
- The cherry trees of High Park, a top city attraction during peak bloom
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Uptown
Residential & restauranty.
Explore Uptown
Spread your sightseeing wings in this sprawling region of North Toronto, which includes everything from premium shopping and fine dining along the Yonge-Eglinton strip to the Black Creek Pioneer Village site, and the grassy mid-century mod campus of York University.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Jane Street to Victoria Park Avenue; Steeles Avenue to St. Clair Avenue
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Top chains and Canada’s luxury department store, Holt Renfrew, at Yorkdale Shopping Centre
- The cool boutiques, sushi and burger joints, and espresso bars along the Yonge-Eglinton strip (known colloquially as “Young and Eligible” for its young professional demographic)
- Live theatre at North York’s Meridian Arts Centre (formerly Toronto Centre for the Arts)
- Peaceful Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the perfect spot for a mindful walk
- Digging for interior-design inspiration in The Castlefield Design District
- Period Christmas programming and special events at Black Creek Pioneer Village
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Scarborough
Filled with surprises.
Explore Scarborough
Multicultural, up-and-coming and full of natural beauty, Scarborough is an east end community that boasts some of the Greater Toronto Area’s best (and some of the country’s best) ethnic food, dished out in unassuming little strip mall restos. It’s also home to wildly scenic locales like the lakeside Scarborough Bluffs (great for year-round exploring and summer swimming) and Rouge Park, Canada’s first national urban park, complete with camping, hiking trails, beaches, farms and 10,000 years of human history.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Victoria Park Avenue to Pickering; St. Clair Avenue East to Lake Ontario
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Sampling the world-class ethnic food scene, with standout Filipino, Sri Lankan, Lebanese, Persian, Hakka Chinese and Chinese Muslim Uighur cuisine
- Seeing ALL the animals at the Toronto Zoo.
- Brushing up on your local history at the Scarborough Museum
- Posing for photos at the Guild Park and Gardens sculpture park
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Etobicoke
Family-friendly.
Explore Etobicoke
A west-end community known for its quiet charm, Etobicoke (the “k” is silent) packs a lot of punch into its neighbourhoods. Albion Islington Square is a unique shopping district that is home to Toronto’s highest concentration of jewelers who specialize in 22- and 24-karat gold and diamond designer jewelry. You’ll also find a variety of shops, salons and multicultural restaurants, including ones that offer South Asian and Caribbean delicacies.
Location & Getting There
- General boundary: Etobicoke Creek to Jane Street; Steeles Avenue to Lake Ontario
- Plan your journey around Toronto with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Horse racing or slots at Woodbine Racetrack
- Trade shows and conferences at the Toronto Congress Centre
- Walking or biking along the Humber River
- Afternoon tea at the luxurious Old Mill Toronto
- Top North American retailers at Sherway Gardens shopping mall
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Mississauga
A city of villages.
Explore Mississauga
Toronto’s big city neighbour, and Canada’s sixth largest city, Mississauga boasts epic shopping, massive street parties and traditional festivals galore. Just a stone’s throw from Pearson International Airport and about 40 minutes to Union Station by train, people are flocking west of the city for cultural heritage, lakeside activities, boating and fishing and fine dining.
Location & Getting There
- Plan your journey with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- The beautifully-revitalized Mississauga Celebration Square
- Top touring acts and performances at The Living Arts Centre
- 2.2 million square feet of fabulous shops and dining at the updated Square One Shopping Centre
- The Art Gallery of Mississauga with everything from historic to cutting-edge contemporary art, photography, design and crafts
- The charm of the former villages of Port Credit and Streetsville
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.
Brampton
Park-filled & ethnically rich.
Explore Brampton
Nicknamed the Flower City, Brampton has blossomed into a thriving arts and cultural centre. Toronto’s neighbour to the west has become a centre for theatre, concerts and outdoor activities, with plenty of spaces to skate, swim and golf. And with over 200 distinct ethnic backgrounds calling it home, Brampton is known for its diversity.
Location & Getting There
- Plan your journey with Triplinx, the official route-planning tool of transit providers serving the Toronto region
Don’t Miss
- Live music, comedy and theatre at the Rose Theatre
- The Arts Walk of Fame in Garden Square with tributes to homegrown stars like comedian Russell Peters, actor Michael Cera and singer-songwriter Keshia Chanté
- The contemporary art, museum exhibits and history showcases at Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives
- Treetop Trekking in the lovely Heart Lake Conservation Area
More
Find more about Toronto, Brampton and Mississauga in our official magazines and visitor guides. Read them online or have your print edition delivered free.