Cool Toronto Neighbourhoods to Visit
Unique Budget Sightseeing Tips for Traveling to Ontario, Canada
Jul 21, 2009
The easiest way to get around the downtown core of Toronto is via public transportation, generally referred to as the TTC. The following neighbourhoods are easily accessed from the TTC and by purchasing a day pass ($9.00) all three can be seen in one day.
The Annex and Mirvish Village
This quiet residential neighbourhood is close to the University of Toronto and is filled with cheap places to eat. A lunch on Bloor Street will cost less than $10.00. Try sushi, Thai food or one of the Middle Eastern falafel shops.
Be sure to check out Honest Ed’s which is directly south of the Bathurst subway station. This bargain emporium is filled with silly trinkets to buy and the walls are plastered with old photographs of actors who have worked in Toronto.
Where to eat:
- New Generation Sushi – 493 Bloor Street West
- Thai Basil – 467 Bloor Street West
- Chippy’s Fish and Chips – 490 Bloor Street West
- Ghazale Middle Eastern Foods – 504 Bloor Street West
The Historic Town of York – Old Town Toronto
Originally founded as the Town of York in 1793 this area is filled with history. Take the TTC to Union Station and walk east along Front Street. Stop in at St. Lawrence Market to see Toronto’s first jail and pick up supplies for lunch.
Head north on Jarvis or Church Street and have lunch in the park at St. James Cathedral, site of Toronto’s first church. Don’t miss the sculpture garden that is directly across the street from the church.
What to see:
- Union Station – 65 Front Street West
- The Fairmont Royal York Hotel – 100 Front Street West
- The Flatiron Building – 49 Wellington Street East
- St. Lawrence Market – 92 Front Street East
- St. James Cathedral – 65 Church Street at King
The Distillery District – The Gooderham and Worts Distillery
Search for the ghost of John Worts, walk in the footsteps of Al Capone and indulge in ancient Mayan hot chocolate on cobblestone streets. Toronto's Distillery District is not only a treasure trove of shops and cafes but also a walking museum of history, with the secrets of Toronto's past around every corner.
The Gooderham and Worts Distillery started with the building of a windmill in 1831 and grew to be, at one time, the largest distillery in the world. For more than 150 years alcohol was produced and stored here, and on a hot summer day the scent of liquor is still in the air. Take the King Streetcar east to Parliament Street and walk south two blocks until reaching 55 Mill Street. All of the shops and high-end restaurants are a little pricey but wandering and looking is free.
Where to Shop:
- Soma Chocolates – Building 48
- Bergo Designs – Building 47A
- Vintage Gardner – Building 57
- Sport at the Distillery – Building 32
Sightseeing in Toronto, Ontario can be expensive, especially when visiting the major tourist attractions. Spend a day on the TTC and visit the eclectic neighbourhoods of the city.
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