Toronto

Canada's largest city, on Lake Ontario: ethnic neighborhoods from Chinatown to Kensington Market, museums, a ferry to the Toronto Islands, and Niagara Falls as a day trip.

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Toronto is the capital of Ontario and Canada's most populous city, on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The 2021 census counted 2,794,356 people in the city, and nearly half of residents were born outside Canada. Over 160 languages are spoken here. Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy, Little India and Koreatown are some of its ethnic neighborhoods, and each one is worth a walk.

Visitors come for the CN Tower, which was completed in 1976 and is the city's most visited monument, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Distillery District's Victorian industrial buildings, and the ferry to the Toronto Islands. Summers are warm and humid, with many thunderstorms. Winters are cold, with snow from November to mid-April. Spring and autumn are mild, with daytime averages of about 10 to 12 °C, which suits walking the city and its parks.

Toronto in five

Take the UP Express from PearsonThe train runs from Terminal 1 to Union Station downtown in about 25 to 30 minutes. It beats a taxi at rush hour; check the UP Express site for fares and frequency.
Tap to ride the TTCSubway, streetcars and buses accept a contactless card, phone or PRESTO card at the readers. A tap also covers free transfers for a limited time.
Take the ferry to the Toronto IslandsFerries leave from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street. The skyline view back is the best in the city.
Check the eTA or visa before you flyVisa-exempt visitors flying to Canada need an eTA; US citizens do not.Canada eTA explained

Things to do in Toronto

See all attractions in Toronto

Museum · TorontoBata Shoe MuseumAdmission is free on Sundays; the museum is open from noon to 5 p.m. that day.

Sight · TorontoDesign Exchange Events VenueCheck event or exhibition details before setting out, and book tickets in advance when required.

Museum · TorontoSpadina MuseumCheck the tour schedule before setting out; access to the house is by guided tour only.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to TorontoPut the places you like in Toronto on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Pearson (YYZ), about 25 min to Union by UP Express
Getting there: VIA Rail from Montréal, about 5 hours
Getting around: TTC subway and streetcars; tap a card, phone or PRESTO
Best base: Downtown near Union for a first trip, the West End for food
Time needed: 3–4 days, plus a day for Niagara

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryCloudy10 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-6°Cold, snow
FebruaryCloudy10 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh1°Low-6°Coldest, quiet
MarchCloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Thaw
AprilRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Cool spring
MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Patios open
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, Pride
JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Hot, festivals
AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Hot, the CNE
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm, TIFF
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low9°Fall color
NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cold, grey
DecemberSnow13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh2°Low-2°Markets, cold

Average daily high and low in Toronto, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: Jul Beaches International Jazz Festival

Right now in Toronto

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 80%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 3%

Toronto

03:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today17°7°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
Tue18°12°17%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 17%.
Wed20°12°80%Wednesday: Rain. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 80%.
Thu19°14°80%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 80%.
Fri14°11°33%Friday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sat11°7°33%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 33%.
Sun11°6°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.

Updated 12:19 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1.397 CAD

Amount

Converted to

CAD · Canadian Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Toronto

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

JulBeaches International Jazz FestivalToronto

Day trips by train

Niagara Fallsabout 2 hours by GO train or carThe Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side, with boat trips into the spray in the warm months.Read the guide
Toronto Islandsabout 15 min by ferryCar-free parks, beaches and the classic skyline view.

Before you go to Toronto

Stays in TorontoDowntown, Old Town and KensingtonCheck availability

Niagara day tours from TorontoFalls, boat ride and wine countryCompare tours

eSIM for TorontoData for transit apps and ridesharesRead the guide

Insurance for Toronto tripsCover for medical bills and delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Toronto, checked

Most foreign visitors who arrive by air need an eTA or a visa. Check your eligibility on the Government of Canada site before you book flights.Source
Declare food, plants and animal products at the border. The Canada Border Services Agency publishes what you can bring in and what you must declare.Source
Pay the TTC fare before you board the subway, streetcar or bus. Transfer and fare rules are on the TTC website.Source
The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19, and bars and restaurants will ask for photo ID, so carry your passport or a driver's license.

Plan around Toronto

All of Canada

eTA, regions, rail and money basics

Read the guide Montréal

French-speaking city, about 5 hours by train

Read the guide Québec City

Walled old town, reached via Montréal

Read the guide Niagara Falls

GO train, WEGO bus and one day or two

Read the guide Kingston

Overnight stop on the way to Montréal

Read the guide Canada eTA explained

Who needs it before flying in

Read the guide Trains and long distances

VIA Rail, GO trains and car hire

Read the guide Travel insurance

Medical cover for visitors

Read the guide

Toronto FAQ

How do I get from Pearson airport to downtown Toronto?

Take the UP Express from Terminal 1 to Union Station, about 25 minutes. Terminal 3 passengers ride the free Terminal Link train to Terminal 1 first.

Can I day trip to Niagara Falls from Toronto?

Yes. GO trains run from Union Station to Niagara Falls in about 2 hours, or drive in about 1.5–2 hours.

Where should I stay in Toronto for a first trip?

Downtown near Union Station or in Old Town. Both put the waterfront, the CN Tower and the airport train within a short walk.

How many days do you need in Toronto?

Three days covers downtown, a market, a museum and the islands. Add a day for Niagara Falls, or a night in Montréal if you continue east.

Toronto or Montréal for a first trip?

Toronto is larger, with big museums, sports and a broad food scene. Montréal feels more European, with festivals and French culture. Many visitors do both and ride the train between them.