Bonus : Best Apartments In Toronto
In case youre the type of traveler that likes to feel right at home while traveling, maybe an apartment would be the best choice, what do you think? No worries, Toronto is full of amazing Airbnbs that offer everything you might need for a great stay.
I have made research for the best apartments where to stay in Toronto, all of them right in the center of the city. Here are your options:
Suggested Harbourfront Tours In Toronto
Tour of Toronto Harbour and Surrounding Islands Take a cruise on Lake Ontario to the Toronto Islands where you enjoy amazing views of the Toronto Skyline. You can hop off to explore the island at your leisure and simply catch the next cruise when you want to come back!
Ultimate 5-Hour City Tour This tour includes the wow stops like cruising harbourfront, going up the CN Tower and entrance to Casa Loma.
Getting There
- From Union Station: Take the Subway to Union Station and then walk south to Harbourfront or take the 509 or 510 Streetcar to Harbourfront.
- From Bloor Subway: Get off at Spadina and then take the Spadina Streetcar direct to Harbourfront
Chinatown Where To Stay In Toronto On Budget And Food
If you are looking for where to stay in Toronto on a budget, Chinatown is one of the best neighborhoods to consider. Centered at the crossroads of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street, at the heart of Downtown Toronto, you will be able to stay within walking distance of the city center, without breaking the bank.
Torontos Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in all of North America. A vibrant hub of east Asian cuisine, you will find far more than just Chinese food here. If you are looking for where to enjoy the best authentic Japanese, Korean, or Vietnamese food in the city, this is where to go.
This is one of the best Toronto neighborhoods to stay in if you enjoy browsing lively markets and eclectic stores. From souvenir and gift stores to lively flea markets, you can always find something interesting when you shop around in Torontos Chinatown.
The shopping experience extends into the neighboring area of Kensington Market. Kensington Market is one of Torontos edgiest neighborhoods. Popular with artists and students, there is a distinct urban flair that saturates the atmosphere here.
If you love bargain hunting in vintage stores and artsy boutiques, you should head to colorful Kensington Avenue. The street is lined with vintage clothing stores, craft jewelry studios, and alternative health centers.
Best Hotels in Toronto in Chinatown:
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Best Apartments In Midtown: The Madison Condos
The Madison Condos offers comfortable accommodation in the heart of Midtown. Guests have access to an indoor pool, fitness centre, sauna, and balcony with city views. Each apartment is fully equipped with all the comforts of home, and can sleep up to four guests. Its close to popular nightlife venues, restaurants, and public transport connections.
King West/king Street West
One of the fastest growing neighborhoods in Toronto, King West is popular with the cites youthful residents. A symbol of the citys dynamic lifestyle, the neighborhood has plenty of exciting hotspots to offer, including some of the best shopping, dining, and nightlife venues. Studio Event Theatre, frequented visited by celebrities you never know who will walk in and out. The former hub of Torontos textile industry, King Street West is rightfully now filled with an exquisite range of fashion stores, clothing outlets, and retailers.
Good for: All kinds of travelers.
Other Highlights: Victoria Memorial Square, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, and Clarence Square.
Hotel Recommendations:
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King East Where To Stay In Toronto On A Budget
On the east side of downtown is King East, a mirror of Queen West in hipness, although slightly more up-and-coming. This is part of Old Town Toronto, with streets that date back to 1793. Its now a design hub known for designer home furnishings and a destination for foodies. Torontos Distillery District is just a few blocks to the south, which is a great historic area converted from a 19th century whiskey distillery to an entertainment area. As King East gains in popularity, lodging options are growing, but there is something for every budget in King East.
Suggested Toronto Tour Operators
Tour Guys Is a local tour company specializing in small group tours. Running everything from Graffiti, food, history and beer tours around Toronto.
For city tours, we use Get your Guide. Its easy to book in advance and most tours have easy cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and Get Your guide offers last-minute booking too.
Plan Your Toronto Travel
- Lonely Planet Toronto Great pocket guide for planning a city getaway
- You can get access to the most popular Toronto Museums and attractions with your Toronto Pass.
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Best Hotels Near Yonge And Dundas Square
- Luxury: The St. Regis This central location makes it an ideal stay in Toronto. Just a short walk to Yonge Street and Entertainment district. Beautiful suites, 65 stories, spa, fine dining. Officially in Financial District Trip Advisor / Booking.com
- Mid-Range: Sheraton Centre Connected to the PATH at the Eaton Centre, this was our go-to hotel. Views of City Hall, indoor/outdoor pool, and fitness center. Trip Advisor / Booking.com
- Budget: Chelsea Hotel Not too many budget spots here but Chelsea is on the affordable side. Prime location steps from Dundas Square. Ask for a renovated room. Trip Advisor / Booking.com
Where To Stay For Shopping
Toronto draws visitors from around the world for its excellent shopping, ranging from luxury brands to outlet bargains. One of Downtown Toronto’s most famous shopping venues is the huge Toronto Eaton Centre in the Yonge Street Shopping District. Aboveground hotels here are also great for access to the PATH Underground Shopping Mall, with more than 1,200 shops, a perfect spot for comfortable shopping even on the coldest winter day. Stay farther north on Yonge Street in the Midtown neighborhood of Bloor-Yorkville, where upscale boutiques and art galleries fill beautifully preserved Victorian buildings. Book a hotel in suburban Vaughan to shop at the large premier outlet mall, Vaughan Mills, with nearly 250 stores.
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Torontos Lgbtq Community Centres Around The Village
Toronto has always been one of the most LGBTQ friendly cities on earth and if you want to be in the heart of the village, this is the place to be! When turning from Bloor Street onto Church Street, theres more color, more people and more fun! The village is a great location as it is sandwiched between Yonge and Dundas and Bloor Yorkville, so it is as central as it gets.
Best Time To Visit Toronto
- Toronto can be visited year-round.
- Summer months are hot and humid with temperatures reaching 35+ degrees Celcius but there is a lot going on in the city.
- is usually very pleasant weather and the Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing. Hotel prices are at a premium and most places are booked out in advance.
- is when all the Christmas Markets, skating rinks, and holiday shopping is in full swing.
- arent as busy in the city but the weather has become unpredictable. Weve seen hot and sizzling springtime weather to freezing days in May.
- is when Festival Season begins and kicks off with Pride Toronto celebrating all month.
- From June Sept Toronto turns into a festival city for the summer with something exciting happening every weekend.
Internet/Data
There is a lot of free Wifi in the city with free wifi hotspots and free wifi in coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. Toronto uses the same electrical outlets as American cities.
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Things To See And Do In Queen West
Art Gallery of Ontario Affectionately called the AGO, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the most distinguished galleries in North America. Art Gallery Hours: 10:30 am to 9 pm
Chinatown There are six Chinatowns in Toronto, but the downtown Chinatown is one of the largest in the world. Running along Dundas and Spadina, its a vibrant area for shopping and dining.
Kensington Market Kensington Market feels like something straight of the 60s with second-hand stores, hippy inspired eateries and family-run markets. Spend an afternoon shopping and browsing the stores and keep an eye out for graffiti alleyways.
Graffiti Alley Rick Mercer made Graffiti Alley filming his rants here for the Rick Mercer Show on the CBC and now everyone has to make a stop for a selfie when they visit Toronto. Location: Grafitti Alley is located one block south of Queen at Agusta.
Fun Excursion to Try Queen and King West End Sunday Brunch Tour.
Ossington Strip Go ba- hopping along one of Torontos coolest bar scenes.
Horseshoe Tavern Catch some live music at Canadas legendary bar and eatery.
Trinity Bellwoods Chill out like a local at Trinity Bellwoods park. Read a book, play some frisbee or go skating in the winter.
Recommended Tour Free Queen West Graffiti Tour
The Hippest Places To Stay
- Energetic and stylishly minimalist, The Drake is a youthful feeling boutique hotel with a lively bar and an excellent cafe. Youre in the art district bust still close to High Park.
- Thompson Toronto is right in the heart of the fashion district, a lively and luxurious hotel with 121 crisp rooms and a fantastic rooftop lounge with amazing city views.
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Chinatown Where To Stay In Toronto On A Budget
Chinatown is a lively and vibrant district in central Toronto. The largest Chinatown in North America, this bustling neighbourhood is a wonderful medley of restaurants, shops, bars and cafes. It is a district that will excite the senses thanks to its myriad of sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
In addition to being a top destination for foodies, Chinatown is where youll find the highest concentration of backpacker accommodation.
Conveniently located near Torontos top attractions, visitors to Chinatown can enjoy all the perks of the city centre without the high price tag.
Best Hostel In West Queen West: The Parkdale Hostellerie
The Parkdale Hostellerie is a stylish and modern hostel located in one of Torontos hottest neighbourhoods. A short walk to the heart of West Queen West, this charming spot is close to bars, restaurants, boutiques and cafes.
It has dorm-style accommodations, perfect for travellers of all styles and budgets, and guests can make use of the common kitchen and living space.
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Where To Stay In Midtown
- The Parkway Place Guesthouse A few steps away from Eglinton Subway Station, the Parkway Place Guesthouse offers the most comfortable and budget-friendly accommodation that is suitable for all types of visitors. Flaunting a range of up-to-date, self-catering units, this modern guesthouse also boasts on-site parking facilities, a shared kitchen, common dining area, and complimentary Wifi. Rooms here are spacious with wood flooring, and come with kitchenettes and a seating area.
Making up a vast portion of the area west of Old Toronto, with Lake Ontario to its south and the Humber River making up the western border, this is a multicultural, up and coming area of the city. This neighborhood began to thrive around the turn of the 20th century, when migrants arrived to work on Canadas growing railway, specifically in the area now known as Little Italy. Theres also a Portuguese presence in Little Portugal, particularly along Rua dos Acores. Theres even Little Malta, and the West End is home to Torontos Koreatown, too.
The immigrant population has recently been joined by young professionals drawn to the area by a combination of lower rent, great food, and exciting nightlife. Not a region filled with a load of museums, its more of a place to come to see Torontos multicultural makeup. Stay here in renovated hotels from the 19th century and cool, quirky inns.
Things To See And Do In The Annex
Casa Loma It is a little north of the Annex, but you must visit Torontos only castle. Its grand and there are regular events. Toronto Small Group City Tour Explore Toronto in a deluxe Mercedes Benz van in this exclusive small group tour.
University of Toronto The massive downtown university covers 180 acres of prime real estate. Wander through the quiet grounds and get lost in the architecture dating back to 1827,
Spadina Museum The Austin family estate dates back to 1866 showing what it was like to live in Toronto at the turn of the 20th century.
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema enter a centurys old cinema to watch the latest documentaries. Special presentations, showcases and screenings.
Little Italy What was once a very distinct Italian community is now the hip strip of College Street. It still has a very Italian vibe with fresh markets, the Italian Walk of Fame and Torontos premier Italian restaurants. VIP Tours of Little Italy or Ossington Enjoy the VIP treatment and dinner with a chef enjoying the local culture and food.
Lees Palace Fantastic concert hall on Bloor Street welcoming the hottest upcoming acts.
Madison Pub A favorite university hang out spanning three huge mansions. The fun part is trying to find your friends when you arrive.
Getting There
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Midtown Where To Stay In Toronto In A Laid
Extending north from fashionable Yorkville, Midtown Toronto is a largely affluent suburb that covers a lot of the northern part of the city. Whilst much of the area consists of leafy, middle-class neighborhoods, the southern end borders the University of Toronto campus, making it popular with students.
A little further out of the city center than many of the other neighborhoods I have mentioned, Midtown is perfect for those looking for a more laid-back residential district. If you want to get a taste for everyday, local life in Toronto, Midtown is the perfect place to try.
The thriving student population has helped establish the area as one of the best Toronto neighborhoods for nightlife. If you like to keep partying well into the evening but the city center nightclubs arent quite your style, Midtown is a great alternative.
Instead of the raucous clubs of the Entertainment District, Toronto Midtown is populated by trendy bars and fashionable cocktail houses. You can find excellent bars and restaurants throughout the district, but they are mostly condensed around the Yonge Street area.
Being further removed from the attractions of the city center, Midtown is not ideal if you want to spend your whole vacation sightseeing. Whilst you will be able to get in and out of Downtown with ease thanks to the metro, you will spend a fair amount of time traveling back and forth.
Best places to stay in Midtown:
Best Hotels In The Entertainment District
- Luxury: Ritz Carlton Gorgeous luxury hotel. All the movie stars stay here. Overlooking the CN Tower Trip Advisor / Booking.com
- Mid Range: Thompson Hotel Modern and Chic Hotel, Close to nightlife.Trip Advisor / Booking.com
- Budget: Strathcona Hotel Affordable hotel in a high-end district. Great location close to Union Station. Trip Advisor / Booking.com
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Best Neighbourhoods To Stay In Toronto
Toronto is a massive city with 140 neighbourhoods, some of which are great to live in, such as High Park, others that are perfect for visitors to this sprawling city, such as the Entertainment District.
These Toronto neighbourhoods below are the best for tourists in the city, each has a distinct vibe and if you visit Toronto multiple times its highly recommended that you stay in a different area each time!
Church And Wellesley Village
Diversity takes on many different forms in Toronto, including boasting one of the brightest and proudest LGBT communities in the world. Centered around but certainly not limited to the intersection of Church and Wellesley, establishments like Woodys and the Glad Day Bookshop have welcomed people from all over the globe while keeping the nightly beats pumping for many years. Do not miss the annual Pride festivities in June/July for the best celebration in the city.
Toronto Pride, photo via Pixabay, CC0 licence
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Where To Stay In Toronto : Accommodation & Neighbourhood Guide
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Wondering Where to Stay in Toronto? Here Are Our Tips!
Whether youre visiting Toronto as a couple, on business, with friends, or as a family with kids, Canadas largest city is prime for exploring. The difficult part, however, is figuring out the best places to stay in Toronto.
There are so many hotels, apartments, bed and breakfasts, and other accommodations in Toronto. Places to stay in Toronto are spread out all across the Toronto neighbourhoods and districts especially downtown Toronto.
We lived and worked in Toronto together and will help you make sense of it all. Lets get started with your Toronto accommodation search!
Whether you are looking for some of the best hotels in downtown Toronto like the Chelsea Hotel Toronto or One King West Hotel and Residence or searching for the best neighbourhood to stay in Toronto, our guide will help you find the right accommodation for you.
First, well dive into some of the best places to stay in Toronto, Canada by style and budget and then outline a few of the best areas to stay in Toronto with great accommodation examples in each.