Toronto: local rooms, events and more

Photo: Jchmrt · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metro area · Ontario · 6.2M people

Toronto

Locals say Greater Toronto Area (GTA) · “The 6ix”, “T.O.”, “Hogtown”

A world within a city, where every culture finds a home.

Blue Jays blueLeafs blueRaptors red

Welcome to the Greater Toronto Area! Whether you're exploring the lakefront, diving into a ravine trail, or catching a game, there's always something happening. Get ready for a city that's full of energy and friendly faces.

Clubs for Toronto

No clubs for Toronto yet.

The room

Toronto Quiet now A world within a city, where every culture finds a home.

One room for everyone around Toronto. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Toronto. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

CN Tower Iconic tower with panoramic views of the city
Royal Ontario Museum Canada's largest museum of natural history and world cultures
Art Gallery of Ontario Houses a vast collection of Canadian and international art
Toronto Islands Car-free island park with beaches and skyline views
High Park Large urban park with trails, gardens, and a zoo
Distillery District Victorian industrial area with art galleries and cafes

Outdoors Cycling the Martin Goodman Trail
Outdoors Hiking the Don Valley ravine system
With kids Visiting the Toronto Zoo
With kids Exploring the Ontario Science Centre
Evenings Dancing on King West
Evenings Live music on Queen West
Locals love patio bars
Locals love farmers markets

Through the year

Toronto International Film Festival September One of the largest film festivals in the world
Canadian National Exhibition August End-of-summer fair with rides, food, and concerts
Nuit Blanche October All-night contemporary art event across the city
Toronto Jazz Festival June Free and ticketed jazz performances in various venues
Winterlicious January Restaurant week with fixed-price menus

Toronto has four distinct seasons: cold, snowy winters; hot, humid summers; and mild spring and fall. Best: Late spring and early autumn are ideal for being outdoors.

Talk like a local

“The 6ix”: Nickname for Toronto, popularized by Drake
“T-dot”: Another nickname for Toronto
“GTA”: Greater Toronto Area
“Yonge”: Pronounced 'young', as in Yonge Street

Getaways

Niagara Falls Iconic waterfalls and tourist attractions
Hamilton waterfalls Hike to over 100 waterfalls in the area
Guelph College town with a vibrant downtown and river trails
Barrie Lake Simcoe beaches and waterfront boardwalk

Local flavour

Teams

Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Toronto Raptors NBA
Toronto Blue Jays MLB
Toronto FC MLS
Toronto Argonauts CFL
Toronto Sceptres PWHL
Toronto Marlies AHL
University of Toronto Varsity Blues U Sports
York Lions U Sports
Toronto Metropolitan Bold U Sports
Toronto Tempo WNBA

Eat and drink

Peameal bacon sandwich A Toronto classic, often from St. Lawrence Market.
Jamaican beef patty
Sushi pizza A Toronto-born fusion dish combining sushi and pizza.

Where people go

Lakefront boardwalks Walkways along Lake Ontario, like the Harbourfront.
Ravine trails Green spaces like the Don Valley ravine system.
Sports arenas Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, BMO Field.

Heritage and traditions

Toronto is proud of its incredible diversity, being one of the most multicultural cities in the world, where over half of residents were born outside Canada, and where you can find authentic food and festivals from every corner of the globe. It's also proud of its status as a major cultural and financial hub, with a thriving arts scene and a reputation for being welcoming and inclusive.

This time of year in Toronto

Fall colours in the ravines Fall The city's ravines turn vibrant with autumn leaves, perfect for walks.
Toronto International Festival of Authors October One of the world's largest literary festivals, featuring international authors.

Say it like a local: “Sorry” — Used as an apology or even as a polite interjection.

Festivals

Caribana (Caribbean Carnival) July/August North America's largest Caribbean festival, with colourful costumes and steelpan music.
Taste of the Danforth August Greek food and culture on the Danforth, one of the largest street festivals in Canada.
Pride Toronto June One of the world's largest Pride celebrations, with a massive parade and events.
Toronto Fringe Festival July Independent theatre and performances across the city.
Toronto International Festival of Authors October One of the world's largest literary festivals, featuring international authors.
Toronto Ukrainian Festival September Celebrates Ukrainian heritage with music, dance, and food in the Bloor West Village.

Landmarks with a story

Fort York Historic fort from the War of 1812, the birthplace of modern Toronto.
St. James Cathedral Anglican cathedral in the city, a historic landmark.
St. Michael's Cathedral Roman Catholic cathedral, a Gothic Revival building.
Aga Khan Museum Museum of Islamic art and culture, with a beautiful building.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Richmond Hill, known for its intricate architecture.
Ontario Legislature (Queen's Park) Government building with historic significance.

Food traditions

Butter chicken in Brampton A dish that has become a local staple, with many restaurants claiming to have the best version.
Portuguese churrasqueira chicken From the Portuguese community, a staple of many Toronto backyard BBQs and restaurants.
Greek souvlaki on the Danforth The tradition of eating souvlaki and gyros along the Danforth, especially during Taste of the Danforth.
Caribbean roti From the West Indian community, a popular takeout food, especially in Scarborough and Etobicoke.
Jewish deli fare Smoked meat sandwiches and bagels from the city's Jewish community, especially in the Bathurst Street corridor.

Music and arts

Toronto hip-hop scene Home to Drake, The Weeknd, and many other artists; the city has a vibrant rap and R&B scene.
Queen Street West indie music scene A hub for independent and alternative music, with many venues and record labels.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra One of Canada's premier orchestras, performing at Roy Thomson Hall.
Canadian Opera Company A major opera company at the Four Seasons Centre.

A little history

1793 Founding of York, the settlement that became Toronto.
1813 Battle of York during the War of 1812, when American forces captured and burned the town.
1834 Incorporation as the City of Toronto.
1849 Great Fire of Toronto destroyed much of the city's downtown.
1950s-60s Large waves of immigration from Europe, followed by waves from Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America, shaping the multicultural city.

Rivalries

Maple Leafs vs Canadiens Historic hockey rivalry with Montreal
Maple Leafs vs Bruins Playoff battles with Boston
Raptors vs Celtics Basketball rivalry with Boston

Game day Leafs' hat trick tradition
Game day Raptors' Jurassic Park
Outdoors Skating on outdoor rinks in winter
Outdoors Walking the Scarborough Bluffs
With kids Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
With kids Hockey Hall of Fame

Torontonians speak Canadian English with a distinctive 'Canadian raising' (the 'ou' in 'about' is pronounced with a higher tongue), and they often use 'eh' and 'sorry' liberally. The city's multicultural population means you'll hear many languages, but English is the common tongue.

Only here

The PATH – the world's largest underground shopping complex, connecting many downtown buildings.
The city's raccoons – famous for their boldness and urban adaptation.
The fact that the city has more than 200 ethnic groups and over 100 languages spoken.
The Toronto Islands – a short ferry ride from downtown, offering a unique escape.

New here? A few tips

Be prepared for cold winters; invest in a good winter coat.
Use the TTC (public transit) – get a Presto card for convenient travel.
The 401 is often congested; try to avoid rush hour.
Explore the diverse neighbourhoods – each has its own character and food.
Learn to say 'Tronno' – locals often shorten the city's name.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Nearby

Every area

OshawaOntarioWhere the lake meets the assembly line.Wellington CountyOntarioWhere the fields meet the forest and the neighbours wave.North DurhamOntarioLake days and long country lanes.NiagaraOntarioWhere the falls thunder and the vines grow.HamiltonOntarioWhere the escarpment shades a hard-working, friendly city.GuelphOntarioA royal city with a river running through it.EssaOntarioHome to friendly faces and endless fields.Centre WellingtonOntarioGorgeous by nature, Scottish by heart.

Toronto. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.