Toronto Canada
Free City Tours
Free City ToursToronto walking tour · freecitytours.org

How to tour Toronto

Listen to the city overview, pick an attraction, press map to get there, play the attraction videos

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the capital of Ontario, stretches along the north shore of Lake Ontario. More than half of its people were born outside Canada, which makes it one of the most diverse cities in the world, and its skyline is crowned by the CN Tower.

This tour starts at the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium, looks over the Rogers Centre, walks the Harbourfront to St Lawrence Market and the Distillery District, then heads to Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall, Kensington Market, the Royal Ontario Museum, and ends at Casa Loma. Each stop has five short films to guide you through it.

1. CN Tower

Entertainment District · start here

Map

The CN Tower, finished in 1976, rises 553 metres over downtown Toronto. A glass lift climbs to the LookOut level and its glass floor, with the SkyPod and the EdgeWalk higher still.

Walk this order. Meeting the Tower at Its Base → Why Toronto Built It → The Lookout and the Glass Floor → SkyPod, EdgeWalk and the Revolving Restaurant → Down to the Aquarium Doors.

CN Tower Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
Meeting the Tower at Its Base
Why Toronto Built It
The Lookout and the Glass Floor
SkyPod, EdgeWalk and the Revolving Restaurant
Down to the Aquarium Doors

2. Ripley’s Aquarium

Below the tower · Canada’s ocean life

Map

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada sits at the foot of the CN Tower, with sharks, rays and jellyfish, and a moving walkway through the Dangerous Lagoon tunnel.

Walk this order. Arriving at the Aquarium → Canadian Waters and the Great Lakes → Rainbow Reef and the Ray Bay → The Dangerous Lagoon Tunnel → Planet Jellies and the Way Out.

Ripley's Aquarium Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
Arriving at the Aquarium
Canadian Waters and the Great Lakes
Rainbow Reef and the Ray Bay
The Dangerous Lagoon Tunnel
Planet Jellies and the Way Out

3. Rogers Centre Overlook

Home of the Blue Jays · the domed stadium

Map

The Rogers Centre, opened in 1989 as the SkyDome, was the first stadium with a fully retractable roof. It is home to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Walk this order. The Stadium Beside the Tower → The First Retractable Roof → Blue Jays Nights and Big Crowds → The Audience and Other Details → Roundhouse Park on the Way.

Rogers Centre Overlook Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
The Stadium Beside the Tower
The First Retractable Roof
Blue Jays Nights and Big Crowds
The Audience and Other Details
Roundhouse Park on the Way

4. Harbourfront

Lake Ontario shore · waterfront walk

Map

Harbourfront runs along Lake Ontario, with boardwalks, galleries, ferry docks and views across to the Toronto Islands.

Walk this order. Arriving on Queens Quay → Harbourfront Centre and the Power Plant → Music Garden and HTO Park → Boats, Ferries and the Islands → Inland to the Old Town.

Harbourfront Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
Arriving on Queens Quay
Harbourfront Centre and the Power Plant
Music Garden and HTO Park
Boats, Ferries and the Islands
Inland to the Old Town

5. St Lawrence Market

Old Town · Toronto’s food market

Map

St Lawrence Market, in the Old Town, has traded since 1803. Its South Market hall is famous for peameal bacon sandwiches and local produce.

Walk this order. A Market Since 1803 → Inside the South Market Hall → Peameal Bacon and Local Flavours → St Lawrence Hall and the Flatiron → East to the Distillery.

St Lawrence Market Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
A Market Since 1803
Inside the South Market Hall
Peameal Bacon and Local Flavours
St Lawrence Hall and the Flatiron
East to the Distillery

6. Distillery District

Victorian industry · cobbled lanes

Map

The Distillery District keeps the Victorian brick buildings of the Gooderham and Worts whisky works, now pedestrian lanes of galleries, cafés and shops.

Walk this order. Gooderham and Worts Beginnings → Brick Lanes and Victorian Industry → Galleries, Theatre and Craft → Sculpture and the Winter Village → Toward City Hall.

Distillery District Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
Gooderham and Worts Beginnings
Brick Lanes and Victorian Industry
Galleries, Theatre and Craft
Sculpture and the Winter Village
Toward City Hall

7. Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall

Civic square · the curved towers

Map

Nathan Phillips Square fronts Toronto City Hall, Viljo Revell’s two curved towers of 1965, with the reflecting pool, the Freedom Arches and Old City Hall next door.

Walk this order. A Square for the Whole City → Viljo Revell’s Curved Towers → The Pool, the Rink and the Arches → The Toronto Sign and Public Art → Old City Hall Across Bay Street.

Nathan Phillips Square and City Hall Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
A Square for the Whole City
Viljo Revell’s Curved Towers
The Pool, the Rink and the Arches
The Toronto Sign and Public Art
Old City Hall Across Bay Street

8. Kensington Market

Bohemian streets · vintage and food

Map

Kensington Market is a neighbourhood of narrow streets, painted Victorian houses, vintage shops and food from around the world, shaped by waves of immigrants.

Walk this order. A Neighbourhood of Newcomers → Augusta Avenue and Kensington Avenue → Food Stalls from Around the World → Street Art and Pedestrian Sundays → North to the Museum.

Kensington Market Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
A Neighbourhood of Newcomers
Augusta Avenue and Kensington Avenue
Food Stalls from Around the World
Street Art and Pedestrian Sundays
North to the Museum

9. Royal Ontario Museum

Queen’s Park · natural and world history

Map

The Royal Ontario Museum, opened in 1914, holds world cultures and natural history, from dinosaurs to the crystal-shaped Michael Lee-Chin addition.

Walk this order. A Museum of World Culture and Nature → The Michael Lee Chin Crystal → Dinosaurs and Natural History → Totem Poles and World Cultures → Toward the Castle on the Hill.

Royal Ontario Museum Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
A Museum of World Culture and Nature
The Michael Lee Chin Crystal
Dinosaurs and Natural History
Totem Poles and World Cultures
Toward the Castle on the Hill

10. Casa Loma

Midtown hill · the city’s castle

Map

Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival castle built from 1911 to 1914 for financier Sir Henry Pellatt, with towers, secret passages and terraced gardens.

Walk this order. Sir Henry Pellatt’s Dream → The Great Hall and the Library → The Conservatory and Secret Passages → Towers, Tunnel and Stables → Gardens and Farewell to Toronto.

Casa Loma Toronto
03 · Tour · videos inside this sight
Sir Henry Pellatt’s Dream
The Great Hall and the Library
The Conservatory and Secret Passages
Towers, Tunnel and Stables
Gardens and Farewell to Toronto