Downtown Toronto Guide

Downtown Toronto is where the skyline you see on postcards actually stands. It is a dense grid of offices, theatres, hotels and stadiums squeezed between Queen Street and the lake, and it works best as a first-day orientation rather than the whole trip. The route below runs roughly north then south, connecting the main sights with minimal backtracking.

1. Union Station. Begin in the Great Hall, a grand stone concourse with a coffered ceiling that has served the city's trains for nearly a century. It is the hub for subway, GO and VIA, and the best place to get your bearings.
2. Brookfield Place. A short walk away, a glass-roofed galleria sits beside restored bank buildings. The white steel ribs of the roof make it an easy architecture stop and the access point for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
3. The PATH. Drop underground to the walkway that links dozens of towers and shopping concourses. It is confusing at first, so follow the coloured signs, but it is invaluable in winter. Plan on surfacing now and then, because the tunnels show you none of the city's street life.
4. Bay and King. Back at street level, the Financial District shows its stone banks and glass towers side by side. On weekdays, it is full of office workers, and at weekends it is quiet.
5. Old City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Walk north to the Romanesque clock-tower building opposite the curved modern towers of New City Hall. The square has the Toronto sign, a reflecting pool and a skating rink in winter.
6. Eaton Centre. A huge mall on Yonge Street, with a glass roof and a flock of suspended geese. Pass through quickly unless you want to shop, since the shops are the same as elsewhere.
7. King West and the Entertainment District. Head west along King Street, past theatres, the film festival headquarters and Roy Thomson Hall. Evening is the best time, when the restaurants fill up.
8. The CN Tower and Rogers Centre. At the foot of the tower, stadium and glass dome sit side by side. Read our CN Tower guide and the aquarium guide if you want to go inside.
9. Harbourfront. End on the lakeside boardwalk, with views to the islands and a ferry terminal nearby. Our Harbourfront guide shows what to do next.

When to come

Downtown changes character by time of day. On weekdays, it hums with commuters and lunch crowds, so museums and viewpoints are easier early. Evenings shift toward dining and theatre, and weekends bring families to the waterfront. For wet or freezing days it is the strongest base, since you can cross a large stretch through the PATH and shops. With only a morning to spare, do the Union Station to Nathan Phillips Square section and keep the lakefront for the afternoon. Many visitors also start their trip here before heading to Old Town, which is a short walk east.

What to skip and who it suits

Skip the souvenir shops around the tower base and the chain restaurants near the stadium, which are priced for convenience, not quality. Downtown suits first-timers who want efficiency, families who want attractions close together and anyone who dislikes long transfers. It does not suit travellers who crave character, because glass towers repeat. Treat it as an overture and then move on to the districts where Toronto's daily life unfolds, such as Kensington Market. Our getting around guide shows how to connect them. Hotels in the core are convenient for a short stay, though the streets empty after the office day, so a first-time visitor who wants evening atmosphere may prefer to sleep nearer King West, as the where to stay guide explains.