Cheap Flights to Toronto

Five Reasons to Visit Toronto

• Toronto’s skyscrapers and soaring CN Tower protrude from the north-western shore of the beautiful Lake Ontario. It’s one of the most multicultural and diverse cities in the world with more than 140 spoken languages and race-related issues, a wonderful rarity. Toronto is Ontario’s provincial capital and Canadas most populous city.
• Prior to the arrival of European’s the area was inhabited by the Iroquois who had displaced the Wyandot people that lived in the region for centuries before c. 1500. French traders established Fort Rouillé in 1750 only to desert it in 1759. British settlers arrived with the American Revolutionary War but fled to land north of Lake Ontario, founding the Town of York in the latter 1700’s. The town was renamed as the City of Toronto in 1834 and is today, the focal point for theatre, music, movie and television productions and home to the headquarters of Canada’s major national media outlets and broadcast networks.
• Ideal for tourists touching down at Pearson International Airport is the convenience of the Union Pearson Express, a dedicated air-rail link that speedily transports passengers every 15 minutes to the heart of Toronto and with ample storage space for bags. The trip takes 25 minutes with stops at Bloor and Weston stations and operates from 05h30 to 01h00 with the benefit of free Wi-Fi, in the train and at the station and charging facilities for devices.
• The best time to visit is when the weathers fine and the city becomes a hub of activity with a vibrant buzz. Toronto offers over 15 beautiful flourishing parks for relaxation and picnicking, great shopping districts, fascinating national historic sites, museums, galleries, loads of theatre’s and concerts in parks or at The Beaches. Ski enthusiasts have just a two-hour drive from the city to find wonderful skiing clubs, small and large.
• Accommodation comprises numerous affordable and lavish hotels, B&B’s, Guest Houses and backpackers, many situated close to popular attractions.

Places to Visit in Toronto

• The 553 metre CN Tower affords panoramic views with a great meal in the revolving restaurant and for the brave hearted, an EdgeWalk around the circumference of the roof.
• A must is visiting Casa Loma meaning Hill House in Spanish. Far from a house, this 18^th century castle designed in Gothic revival and Scottish baronial style architecture was once home to financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Comprising elements only castles possess there are 98 rooms, towers, secret passages, plush stables, estate gardens, fountains and sculptures. It affords visitors a variety of entertainment like the Symphony in the Gardens and is most popular as a wedding venue. Private corporate events and film shoots also take advantage of this amazing setting.
• The Royal Ontario Museum delights visitors with art, natural history and world culture while the Art Gallery of Ontario has a splendid collection of over 80,000 works from the 1^st century to present day. For superb displays of ceramics, the Gardiner Museum is one of the greatest in the world and also offers lectures, tours and classes.
• Black Creek Pioneer Village is great for adults and minors. It’s a living history museum where you’ll be immersed with more than buildings and artefacts, but experience customs, lifestyles and surroundings of residents who built the foundations for modern Toronto during the 1800s. There are interesting tours of Back Creek Historic Brewery, special events and entertainment for children with field trips needing to be booked.
• Evergreen Brick Works, a formal quarry and industrial site offers a great day’s fun for the whole family. Now a community environmental centre it enlightens visitors on living, working and enjoying life. There are bike rentals and plenty of enjoyable activities to participate in as well as the Farmers Market and the Evergreen Garden Market, including space rental for events.
• To keep children in their element there’s Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada with wonderful under water tunnels, the Toronto Zoo with around 5,000 animals, Canadas Wonderland with exciting roller coaster rides, the Ontario Science Centre that offers hands-on exhibits in its kid-friendly museum, the Centreville Amusement Park, an ideal family spot with farm animals and rides and attracting thousands of families all year is the historic farmstead Riverdale Farm, located in the urban suburb of Cabbagetown.
• Located east of the city on Lake Ontario is the neighbourhood The Beaches comprising three beaches that besides fun in the sand and sun hosts a variety of musical concerts and talent competitions.
• Theatre goers have a bounty of venues to enjoy a show but historians will be enthralled with the fascinating history and sheer beauty of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres, two stacked theatres founded in 1913 and also the last surviving Edwardian theatres of this kind in the world. The Ed Mirvish Theatre opened in 1920 and is a historic film and play theatre. There’s the Royal Alexandra Theatre or the Princess of Wales Theatre, capable of seating 2000 patrons for musical productions like Les Misérables, Miss Saigon and Phantom of the Opera. For contemporary Canadian playwriting, book for a show at the Tarragon Theatre.
• Spend the day in Kensington Market, a designated National Historic Site or go shopping, have a coffee or meal in Queen Street West with over 250 businesses comprising some of the most avant-garde design houses, local labels, art and music.
• Choices are aplenty for relaxing under trees on soft green grass. Very popular on a sunny day is centrally located Trinity Bellwoods or High Park, perfect for large gatherings with 18 picnic sites. Scarborough Bluffs Park is a collection of parks that span 15 kilometres over Lake Ontario affording fabulous vistas and beautiful picnic spots. Edward Gardens is a scenic botanical garden with lakes, bridges and sheer natural beauty. Take a ferry and escape to the city’s islands, laze under the sun, picnic or just have loads of fun.
• Night revellers have no shortage of bars and nightclubs that stretch from the Entertainment District to south of King Street to Ontario Place. Dance the night away to top hits in the bi-level Cake Nightclub in Adelaide St W or for more swank, Muzik ensures a great night within classical decor.

Getting Around Toronto

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates the bus, subway, streetcar and light rapid transit (LRT) system and provides telephonic transport information 24 hours a day in 18 languages. Tickets or tokens are required, except for surface transport where the exact amount of cash is needed with reductions in cost for specific age groups. Tickets and tokens can be purchased at subway entrances and authorised stores displaying applicable signage. A special day pass offers unlimited travel for one adult during the week or for two adults and four minors on weekends.

The Subway:
The subway is fast, clean and easy to use with two primary lines, Bloor-Danforth and Yonge-University-Spadina with the smaller line Sheppard in the north of the city. It operates from 06h00 to 01h30 Monday to Saturday and Sundays from 09h00 to 01h30. From 01h00 to 05h30 the Blue Night Network kicks in operating basic surface routes. Ride Guides can be picked up at subway entrances.

The LRT links the city to the Harbourfront running from Union Station along Queens Quay to Spadina Avenue, stopping at Queens Quay ferry docks. Transferring from the LRT to the subway is free.

Buses and Streetcars:
Operating east-west and north-south, buses and streetcars travel along the citys arteries, replacing the subway where it no longer operates. When paying your fare (including subway) choose a transfer that eliminates paying again should you transfer to another mode of transport.

Taxis:
Taxis can be hailed on the street, found outside major hotels or telephonically booked but they’re expensive and really suitable for short trips.

Ferry:
Operated by Toronto Parks and Recreation ferries travel to the Toronto Islands with fares varying according to age groups.

Car Rental:
Although Toronto’s a sprawling city, getting around by car is not always the solution particularly during peak hours with congested traffic, during summer when road works are at their peak and contending with hostility between motorists and cyclists. Parking isn’t cheap, it’s difficult to locate downtown with meter-maids taking every opportunity to issue tickets and take note of parking restrictions (and traffic laws), to avoid paying C$100 to get your vehicle back. The most affordable parking is city-owned lots, marked by a green P.

If planning on a rental vehicle, pre-book with either Thrifty, Budget, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise and National who all have branches at Pearson International Airport. Rental prices do not include sales tax or insurance cover.