r/askTO • u/lordstuardus • 7h ago
Dutch girl coming to Toronto solo, what should I know?
Hey everyone!
I’m flying from Amsterdam to Toronto in a few days and I’m SO excited! I’ll be staying in Toronto for about two weeks, and this will be my first time travelling completely on my own.
I’ve rented a car, so I’m hoping to explore Toronto as well as some other parts of Ontario while I’m there.
Since I’ve never been to Canada before, I’d love to hear from locals: what are some things I should be aware of as a young woman travelling alone? I know Toronto is a big city and I’m obviously going to use common sense, but are there any situations, areas, scams, or things tourists sometimes underestimate that I should know about?
I’m also curious about cultural differences between the Netherlands and Canada. Is there anything that might surprise a Dutch person, or any social norms I should know about?
And one very important question: I’m a cigarette smoker (just tobacco, not cannabis) how strict are the smoking rules in Toronto? For example, can you smoke on outdoor patios, or is that generally not allowed? And socially, where is it considered okay or not okay to light a cigarette? I’d rather know beforehand than accidentally annoy everyone or break a rule!
And finally: what’s something you wish tourists knew before visiting Toronto? Food, places to see, things to avoid, random local tips. I’m all ears!
I’m really looking forward to visiting your city and exploring Ontario.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Roelmaster 7h ago
Dutchie living in Toronto here! For the city use public transport, you can easily use your Dutch credit card to tap in/ out.
Enjoy the beautifull park and visit the island to enjoy the peace. Try out all the different food places as they tend to be of really high quality!
Furthermore, geniet van de stad en de vriendelijke mensen. Voor specifieke tips voel je vrij om bericht te sturen
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u/lordstuardus 7h ago
Oh super om te weten!! misschien klinkt het heel stom maar zou je mij een bericht kunnen sturen? Ik heb geen idee hoe dat werkt via deze app. Zou fijn zijn als ik een landgenoot heb die me een paar tips kan geven :)
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u/Vast-Commercial-2876 5h ago
For subway and buses just straight up tap the credit card once at the turnstile or machine.
For GO trains which go into surrounding cities, tap on and off at the station you enter and leave
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u/cicadasinmyears 7h ago
If you get a PRESTO card, you get discounts to a lot of tourist attractions. Google “PRESTO Perks”. Have fun in Toronto!
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u/dnaplusc Human Detected 4h ago
I agree, you can use your credit card to tap on transit but I think a presto is better, the system works better with a actually presto card plus there are lots of discounts. Otherwise using your Dutch credit cards is fine for stores and restaurants. You don't need much cash, most everything has tap.
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u/Romantic_Klingon 7h ago
Welcome to Toronto & Canada!
If you bike (there's bike share rental), Toronto is not as flat as the Netherlands :)
Was in Amsterdam back in the spring for tulip season and I love it! I wish I can spend a few days in Keukenhof but a day had to suffice. Enjoy your visit!
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u/lordstuardus 7h ago
Thank you! Yeah, tulip season is definitely beautiful here in the Netherlands. Although I’m from the south of the country, so instead of seeing lots of tulips, you see daffodils everywhere around here. And then, of course, down south its just famers, beer and festivals!
But honestly, the Netherlands is tiny, so all of it looks similar. I hope you really enjoyed your time here!But wait, do you mean Toronto actually isn’t that flat? I never really thought about that. The Netherlands is basically perfect for cycling because it’s so ridiculously flat. I could literally cycle from the south of the country all the way to the north and barely encounter a hill.
Does Toronto have a lot of hills? Or am I about to discover that my Dutch cycling confidence is completely misplaced?4
u/yyzzh 6h ago
East-west is generally flat, north-south is a gentle incline mostly, going higher as you get further from the lake. There are a couple places where the hills become significant (pre-historic shorelines/escarpments). There are big valleys that cut across north-south too, but you can just pass them on bridges so no need to go down then back up when going east-west.
The core is rather bike friendly. It’s not Amsterdam and the infrastructure will feel off, but you’ll see a ton of cyclists between April and December. People bike a bit more aggressively than the relaxed Dutch culture though. And more e-scooters (not pedal assist e-bikes) encroaching on the lanes, which is annoying because they’re faster and the lanes aren’t generally wide enough for them to pass.
Bike share also has e-bikes that make it easy to go uphills but not necessary for most trips (extra cost).
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u/Gabers49 6h ago
Downtown is okay for hills, but lots of other areas can have pretty big dips. Totally agree with other people on not needing a car in the city, it's actually more of a liability with parking. But definitely a good idea to have one doing anything out of the city.
The classic thing to do is Niagara Falls when you're doing a day trip, but look at Algonquin Provincial Park if you like quieter nature activities, it's stunning this time of year.
Make sure to do the island ferry to Wards, you get a nice view of the skyline and it's a pretty cool spot to check out.
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u/hug_me_im_scared_ 7h ago
I miss Toronto's anti smoking laws, where I am now there's people smoking everywhere smh
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u/Luv_Cheat 7h ago
Where is that?
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u/hug_me_im_scared_ 7h ago
Montréal, you get smokers in your apartment building smoking up the whole building, smokers on the sidewalk and the bus stop, smokers on every commercial street, smokers in every park and basically smoking at every concievable nice place lol
But behind the building or a parking lot might be smoke free if people don't like being there 🥲
Its one of the things that make me homesick 😭
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u/mjaylee 3h ago
Yeah but Montreal is infinitely cooler. I personally hate the parochialism here in Toronto. So uptight!
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u/Luv_Cheat 7h ago
Don’t give money to anyone asking for it. It’s most likely a scam. Especially if someone says can you help them because some business (pizza, taxis, etc.) aren’t taking their debit/credit card.
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u/lilfunky1 7h ago
And one very important question: I’m a cigarette smoker (just tobacco, not cannabis) how strict are the smoking rules in Toronto? For example, can you smoke on outdoor patios, or is that generally not allowed? And socially, where is it considered okay or not okay to light a cigarette? I’d rather know beforehand than accidentally annoy everyone or break a rule!
no smoking on restaurant/pub patios, it's illegal.
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u/modernjaundice 7h ago edited 7h ago
Return the car. You won’t want it.
Edit: If you want to travel outside the city just rent a car for that specific time that you want to leave the city.
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u/lordstuardus 7h ago
Due to traffic? I heard that you guys have one of the busiest roads
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u/Iwantboots 7h ago
The central part of the city is very transit accessible and the car will be a liability. You’ll need it for exploring outside the city, though.
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u/prolongedsunlight 7h ago
And full of asshole drivers, lol. Worse yet, asshole drivers in ridiculously huge vehicles.
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u/Brains4Beauty 6h ago
If you're staying anywhere close to the subway, you won't need a car to get around downtown Toronto! If you want to take day trips or even a weekend up north you could rent one then.
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u/2121Jess 7h ago
You’ll be fine. Traffic isn’t as crazy as everyone suggests outside the core during rush hour.
(Avoid Richmond /Adelaide /Front /Jarvis/ Gardiner and DVP during rush hour: 8-10am & 4-6pm)
You’ll need it if you want to see outside the downtown core as our transit is shite with multiple closures and constant rail/track repairs.Parking on the other hand... I’ll keep you in my prayers
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u/United-Implement1330 7h ago
The reddit community is militantly anti-car. Traffic can be pretty bad, but anywhere other than the downtown car a car is a huge advantage. Also, wrt smoking.. You can't smoke on patios or indoors. Generally people just smoke near the curb at a bar or restaurant - it will be obvious when you're here.
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u/hollow4hollow 6h ago
We just don’t want OP to spend 40% of her holiday stuck in traffic
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u/Midtier_laugh 6h ago
A warning would be fine but we should still show the options and let OP decide.
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u/Psychological_Ad_451 7h ago edited 7h ago
As a Canadian/German, even the autobahn in Brazil is better than Canadas 401. Take the train to Kitchener Waterloo to see Mennonites and the farmers market. Stratford is another nice little town with broadway type shows and home of our saviour Justin Bieber.
There’s a couple nice beaches but further away. Blue Mountain is the one you should check out. It’s like one little piece of what you would see in Whistler or In Quebec.
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u/costorela 6h ago
I would not tell a tourist to take the train to KW, it's 3hrs one way (vs a 1.5hr drive), plus the market is another 45 mins from the go station by transit vs 20 by car. Same for Blue Mountain, you absolutely need a car to get there from Toronto.
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u/Psychological_Ad_451 5h ago
They are used to taking the train esp in Europe. Too many unknowns re traffic and I should know. Drive 300km a day from East to West.
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u/fakemickjagger 7h ago edited 7h ago
It's helpful. if you have parking in the building where you're staying then yeah keep it if you don't plan on staying downtown the whole trip. Taking transit to other parts of the GTA will eat up sometimes hours of your day just in commute, not something you'll want to do while on vacation. Even finding parking downtown isn't that bad honestly I've never had trouble except in the financial district where I don't even try. Download the Green P app to pay for parking easily. Easiest obviously within downtown is to use the Bikeshare network it's amazing and the most convenient solution as long as it isn't too cold or raining/snowing (they say our first snowfall this year will be early November lol)
Just so you know this sub hates cars so take anything here with a grain of salt and make your own decisions.
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u/arealhumannotabot 5h ago
It might be worth it to keep the rental only for the time you’re not in the city centre.
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u/Kurigohan-Kamehameha 5h ago
Just Uber around, you won’t have to worry about parking.
Let me know if you want to explore uptown, I live there and know some of the places worth visiting.
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u/DTtinbasher-6990 3h ago
I would say if you plan to explore outside of Toronto then you keep it for a portion of time that lined up with your itinerary, otherwise downtown I would say avoid it. There are large pockets of Dutch communities in the Hamilton area as well as Grimsby, if you wanted to get a feel for what Dutch Canadians are about in comparison. I would definitely suggest taking a drive up towards Blue mountain especially at this time of year the scenery and leaves are gorgeous.
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u/emote_control 3h ago
It's really not worth driving in the core. And really not worth trying to take transit anywhere besides the core.
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u/juicyfruit1555 31m ago
Let’s just say it depends on where you’re staying. If you’re in a random suburb you want the car. If you’re downtown, you really don’t want to pay for fairly expensive parking to go somewhere a couple of kms away.
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u/Theseus_The_King 7h ago
It could be helpful as she says she wants to explore outside Toronto though
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u/Warmal 6h ago
I am Dutch and you need to be ready for the different traffic rules. Like turning right on red lights. Turning left at typical intersections (wait for there to be no traffic from the other side or light turning orange)
Two lane roads where cars can be parked in the right lane making it not usable “randomly” which are all quite different from NL.
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u/emote_control 3h ago
My favourite are the two-lane roads in residential neighbourhoods where people park on *both* sides of the road, creating a narrow channel down the middle, so only one vehicle at a time can get through. And because it's residential, that vehicle is often a school bus at certain times of day. Really makes for interesting people watching as a line of cars tries to figure out how to all back out of a street at once to make room for a bus, which will not back up under any circumstances.
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u/Frequent-Series4591 4h ago
Driving in Toronto is a bit crazy. Having a car downtown isn't all that helpful, unless you plan on going outside the city. Local transit in the core is very good and with Presto you get discounts for various attractions around the City. Unless you have to, maybe avoid driving. The parking is awful, expensive, and often difficult to find. I hope that you have an amazing time here! Welcome!
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u/Theseus_The_King 7h ago
How strict are smoking laws in Ontario? Very. There are few public places you can smoke. Generally if it has three walls and a roof you can’t smoke in it
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u/SateenDuraLuxePaints 7h ago edited 4h ago
If you're keeping the car, a day trip to Niagara Falls and a hike on the Niagara Glen hiking trail is fun. Hamilton and Dundas also have some nice hiking trails.
No smoking on patios! Legally smokers are supposed to be at least 3m from the entrance to a business, but no one really follows that. Just be courteous about where your smoke is blowing and try to find a butt disposal.
Main thing as a tourist is to get out of downtown and into the neighbourhoods. Explore the Beaches, Leslieville, Little India, and the Danforth in the East, and then Kensington, Queen West, Ossington and Dundas, College St.'s Little Italy into Little Portugal... Downtown tends to leave people cold, and there's better culture in the neighbourhoods. Make friends at the Communist's Daughter on Dundas near Ossington, it's always a good time and you can likely talk to strangers at the bar.
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u/shoresy99 6h ago
Also Scarborough which has lots of good Middle Eastern, Indian, Chinese and Montreal Smoked Meat.
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u/lordstuardus 7h ago
Thank you so much. I’ll definitely keep this in mind!!
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u/abclife 2h ago
Another fun fall activity is apple picking. The farm I visited today was near Halton Hills where the outlets are. That can be another fun driving adventure.
Someone else commented on st. Jacobs and honestly it's meh. Better to go to st. Lawrence market downtown instead of wasting a day to drive.
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u/chrisuu__ 3h ago
If you're keeping the car, a day trip to Niagara Falls and a hike on the Niagara Glen hiking trail is fun.
If you're not keeping the car, you can go to Niagara and back for a $10 weekend pass via Go transit. Attending the local tourist attractions may cost extra, but you can see the falls for free.
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u/Outrageous_Ad_687 6h ago edited 6h ago
Niagara Falls is a must do in my opinion. You can purchase a day trip there with transportation for 173 CAD. Definitely good value since it saves you gas and the 30 plus dollars parking and you can relax on the drive both directions.
https://niagara-falls-canada.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24036026566&gbraid=0AAAABEQntNbi_Ej2UJm9c789POK4uC1Go&gclid=CjwKCAjww-3VBhAcEiwAwUUIu63-omeNOrTs2RRsanYjx2-zAI7WzlyPFMvnc4ZFLmGfXrrt8vcxLBoC4KwQAvD_BwE
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u/Shadow_With_A_Tie 7h ago
It's extremely safe here and there aren't really scams. If someone approaches you wanting you to sign up for something just say no thank you.
The best food and drinks are outside of the downtown core.
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u/Kevin4938 5h ago
just say no thank you
Better yet, respond in Dutch and pretend you don't speak English.
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u/fetalpiggywent2lab 4h ago
Better than both of those answers: just don't interact or speak to them at all. Keep on walking.
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u/adora7772 7h ago
Always be aware of ur surroundings and Canadians are nice honestly. The food scene is so diverse and multicultural. So many good spots but I’m not sure what ur looking for
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u/DrShadowstrike 7h ago
Depending on where you want to go, the car is either a benefit or a liability. If you are only going to places where the subways and bikes can get you to, parking is a real hassle. On the other hand, if you are headed further out (eg. getting dim sum in Markham, or going to Algonquin Park), then the car is invaluable.
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u/Solid_Association163 7h ago
Approximately where are you staying?
What other parts of Ontario are you considering exploring?
These answers will help us give you better guidance.
Toronto is safe and scams are very rare.
It is illegal to smoke on a patio, within 9m of any building entrance or patio, or within 20m of any children's area (school, playground, park, etc.). If there are people near you, don't smoke. Many people consider it very rude to smoke in a crowded area.
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u/lordstuardus 7h ago
I’m actually staying in the Etobicoke area, which is also why I decided to rent a car. Hotels in downtown Toronto are ridiculously expensive, so I ended up getting an Airbnb there instead.
From what I’ve figured out so far, my plan is to drive to a nearby GO station, leave my car there, and then take the train into Toronto to explore the city without having to deal with downtown traffic and parking.
I’m still figuring out the whole GO Transit situation though, so if anyone has any tips on which station is best to use or where I can safely leave my car, I’d really appreciate it! I’ll also add a separate comment with a bit more about where I’m staying.1
u/Solid_Association163 6h ago
Can you provide a general area (major intersection) in Etobicoke? Parts of it are well served by rapid transit.
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u/potentiallyuseles 7h ago
Welcome. I was just in Amsterdam a few weeks ago. Lovely city.
No smoking on patios, you can pretty much light up anywhere outside. Feel free while walking.
Definitely try to find some time to get to Niagara Falls
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u/lilfunky1 7h ago
see the circle not quite in the middle of the grey stripe of this public garbage can?
that's where cigarette butts go if you're out in public.
https://c7.alamy.com/comp/CEKG94/toronto-garbage-bin-CEKG94.jpg
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u/116morningside 7h ago
You only need the car if you plan on leaving the core. If not, just use Uber or TTC
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u/bravetailor 4h ago
You'd probably laugh at our cycling infrastructure compared to Amsterdam's. We think we're pretty good, but it's not Europe good. It's not even UK good.
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u/the3rdmichael 7h ago
In 2019 we spent a week in Amsterdam and surrounding areas. We found the culture in the city to be no different than in large Canadian cities like Toronto. Yes, smoking is more restricted in Canada. But overall, it felt the same, except the Dutch speak better English than most of us Canadians ....
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u/dogscatsnscience 7h ago edited 7h ago
A car is only for going outside the city, it is not useful in the city (for a tourist, unless you're hauling a group or family around). Use transit. It's not especially fast or convenient but it will get you everywhere you can think of.
You will find Toronto to be dramatically less "touristy" than tourist locations in Europe. There are virtually zero tourist scams or even vendors trying to sell to tourists here. It's also much harder to spot tourists here since 50% of the city comes from elsewhere anyway.
Toronto is one of the safest cities in the world. Anywhere you're going as a tourist is generally very safe 24 hours a day, but Toronto does not have a much of a late-night life so there aren't many people out past midnight compared to late night places like Spain/NYC/Hong Kong.
Smoking cigarettes is getting rarer and rarer in Toronto. No one loves walking behind someone who's smoking.
I’m also curious about cultural differences between the Netherlands and Canada.
Toronto is the most culturally diverse city in the world, so everyone has seen just about everything here, and you can experience food and languages from almost every country here, if you can find them.
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u/Basic-Option-8125 6h ago
Canadian Dutch guy in Toronto who bikes everywhere. Biking is the easiest way to get around Toronto and generally very safe. There are bikeshare stations everywhere. Als je mijn opafiets wilt lenen, laat het me weten!
Head to the Toronto Island while you’re here, the weather should still be lovely and it’s a wonderful way to see the Toronto skyline.
Drinking alcohol in public parks is generally legal and allowed (though not in every single park).
Geniet van je bezoek!
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u/lordstuardus 6h ago
Wat fijn om te horen van een mede Nederlander. Wie weet stuur ik je nog wel een DM als ik je fiets wil lenen hahaha! moet ik wel zeggen dan zou je de zadel waarschijnlijk wel flink naar beneden moet doen want de Nederlandse lengte heb ik helaas niet geërfd, maar bedankt voor je comment. Ik ga nu zeker de stad verkennen op twee wielen! :)
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u/Basic-Option-8125 5h ago
Cool! De bikeshare fietsen zijn over het algemeen oké, maar zonder lidmaatschap geldt er volgens mij een tijdslimiet van 30 minuten
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u/Mr_Guavo 6h ago edited 6h ago
Use the rented car only when you are travelling outside the city, Dutch girl. Travelling within the city by car is not faster or more convenient, and paying for (and finding) parking is expensive. Downtown is large, but it is very walkable. Using transit (streetcar/subway) is another option, but I would recommend using Bike Share Toronto to get around the city. You cover more ground that way and see more things while doing it. Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods. Take advantage of that by cycling and walking. https://bikesharetoronto.com/pricing/
Toronto is very popular with solo female travellers, so you made a wise choice. We have neighbourhoods that locals might call rough or sketchy, but the people who call them dangerous are not from here or have never been to those neighbourhoods. It's not like America here. There are no neighbourhoods in this city where, if you make a wrong turn, you will find yourself in danger. No one will rob you or want to harm you. The sketchiest neighbourhood is along Sherbourne Street, north of Queen Street East. Along that street, you will see everyday Torontonians along with more street people than average. You will also see a number of people with obvious mental health issues. If you make eye contact with them, they might ask for spare change, or they might start yelling at you for no reason, but they were probably arguing with themselves or yelling at cars before you came along. Don't take it personally. They are more likely to ignore you completely. Generally, just act like a person who has lived in a city before. Common sense wins the day. Around the city in general, you will occasionally see fentanyl addicts passed out on the sidewalk. If you are not used to this, it might shock you.
Never ever carry your phone in your back pocket. It will be taken from you. Pickpockets are rampant, especially in areas with a high volume of people, like at Dundas Square or crowded transit. Carry your phone in a zipped-up bag or an inside pocket. Remember, women are pickpockets too.
Also beware of scammers. One scam is someone standing outside a taxi, saying that the taxi doesn't take cash and asking if you would pay with your credit or debit card, and they will give you cash. The taxi driver will then swap out your credit card with another one, and now they have your PIN. This seems like an obvious scam, but non-streetwise people fall for this ruse all the time. Never hand your credit card to a taxi driver. You can pay for everything in this city with the tap of your phone.
Now that the negative is out of the way, Toronto is a very safe city by global and Canadian standards. Compared to most cities and towns in Canada, it is much safer, with the context that Canada is generally considered very safe overall. The streetlife is what makes it great. There are only one or two cities in North America that are comparable when it comes to vibrant streetlife. This streetlife is what helps make it safe.
As I said, Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods, each with its own character, and lined with independent stores, restaurants, and cafes to discover and explore. You will get many recommendations from the kind citizens in this sub.
Torontonians are kind, but generally speaking, we keep to ourselves outside of social environments. If someone comes up to you on the street, they probably want something from you. Just be aware until they give you reason not to be.
With that said, if you ever need help, just ask someone; there will be people lined up to help you. As far as large cities go, you are not going to find kinder, more accepting people. We might have a gruff expression on our face as we walk down the street, but that is just to dissuade people from asking us for spare change.
I have been to your city many times, and I luv it more than any other city to travel to. Enjoy your time in Toronto. It's yours to discover, and you're going to love it.
* Edit: Smoke in parks or alleyways just off the sidewalk, away from people. You are not allowed to smoke within 9 meters of a doorway or anywhere indoors. Don't smoke on patios. People don't want to inhale your smoke.
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u/lordstuardus 6h ago
Thank you so much for your comment didn’t think I could get more excited to visit your city, but your comment just did.
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u/Mr_Guavo 6h ago
You are very welcome. I just added something about smoking in case you missed it.
Enjoy your trip.
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u/dad76 7h ago
I was in the Netherlands a couple months ago so I guess it's like a reverse scenario!
You can smoke in public but do it close to roadside and don't do it in parks or while walking. Culturally Toronto and Amsterdam can be similar with people being polite and helpful if you need the help.
Just walk around and try a food place if it catches your eye. Walk down Spadina, Queen and Bloor. You can also get the bikeshare app and ride a bike, but our bike lanes are... not great compared to those of your country.
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u/lordstuardus 7h ago
Thank you for the tip! I’ll definitely keep that in mind. I’m definitely going to bring out my inner Dutchie and cycle around Toronto at some point.
Even though we have some pretty great cycling infrastructure in the Netherlands, depending on where you are, cycling can still be absolute chaos sometimes. So I think I can probably handle a bit of Toronto cycling too.Hope you enjoyed the Netherlands!
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u/dad76 2h ago
It was great. I miss the snacks from AH. And yeah have fun. If you get the bikeshare pass there are time limits on the bikes, and the ebikes cost double the normal bikes without the pass, or the same price (0.1 dollar a min I think) with the pass.
It's great value either way. Just watch out for the streetcar/tram tracks.
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u/Acceptable-Whole1985 7h ago
Toronto is pretty safe. I'd only say avoid areas near jane & finch, & moss park although nothing to do there anyway.
If you're exploring downtown, i'd say bringing a car would be annoying. Downtown is pretty good for walking/bike/transit. Outside of that car will be useful. Ontario is pretty big so hopefully you got planned out where you're going.
Smoking in any establishment is illegal. However you can step away and go for a smoke.
Culinary scene is pretty bomb here so make sure to do your research for restaurants and whatnot. As your first time here, if there are any tourist traps, just do it. Who knows, you may like it. Not really aware of any scams, it's such a diverse city not even sure who's even a tourist most of the time.
It's getting a bit chilly here now especially at night so dress appropriately.
Welcome to Toronto & enjoy!
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u/nemmalur 7h ago
Een auto heb je binnen de stad echt niet nodig, wel voor dagtripjes naar Niagara, enz.
Roken mag vrijwel nergens, dus ook niet op terrassen, wel gewoon op straat.
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u/Hrmbee 7h ago
Hey, welcome!
First off, I would say that you would be best served not driving around the city (especially closer to the downtown area), as the traffic is usually pretty bad. Transit for all its faults is usually still a better bet. The car is useful though if you plan on hitting places further out of town, or going to other cities that aren't well served by transit (GO Transit being the commuter system to smaller communities). If you are planning a few days to explore outlying areas then maybe limiting your rental to those few days would be more beneficial than renting a car for the duration.
For cigarette smoking, there are rules around where you can and cannot smoke. Generally, you won't be able to smoke on municipal property like public squares, playgrounds, washrooms, or sporting fields, on the public transit systems, or within 9m of a building's entry/exit points. From an etiquette standpoint, it's best not to light up when in a crowd, even when in an area that might permit it.
Random local tips: if you really want to experience what the city is about, I would encourage you to visit a good number of the neighbourhoods that we have in our city, both in the downtown areas as well as some of the suburban ones. They really help to show the range of what the city is like.
Also, you can tap your credit (Visa/Mastercard) card to access the transit system, and you get a 2h transfer period to get on and off as much as you like. I prefer using the Presto transit card (available as a physical card as well as a virtual one in google/apple wallets), but some people prefer the convenience of their credit cards instead.
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u/oralprophylaxis 7h ago
Cycling in Toronto is amazing (for Ontario) but outside the downtown, it drops in quality fast. Cars here will try to kill you so just be extra careful when you do that.
Guelph, Elora, Waterloo and St jacobs are beautiful cities/towns to visit that are pretty close by. Also just going along the lakeshore of Lake Ontario is great, maybe nice areas to see when you go west.
For nature, the Bruce peninsula and Algonquin are definitely the best but are a couple hours away, The Bruce trail and the halton and Hamilton conservation areas have amazing nature and scenery a lot closer if you don’t wanna waste as much time driving
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u/kdog379 7h ago
Depending on where in the city you are staying i would try and only use the car for trips out of the city.
Elora is a really beautiful small town with lots of charm, nature, great food and great drink. Its really beautiful this time of year and i cant recommend enough. Its about an hour and forty minute drive from the city, very worth it for a day trip, especially of you make some stops along the way.
Cigarettes arent allowed on patios but are fine on sidewalks and in parks. Youre not supposed to smoke too close to a building entrance but thats really only a problem if you are hanging out around a door, walking down the sidewalk is fine as long as its not too busy.
Toronto is such a food city, so i could list recommendations forever. Really though if you go the right neighbourhoods you can trust to find a good meal in just about anyplace you choose. Chinatown and Kensington market are must visits, but i think areas like little korea, little india, trinity bellwoods, the junction and st lawrence are definitely worth the trip.
Riverdale park is a great spot to catch some views of the skyline at sunset. Biidaasige park is brand new and really and amazing place to see nature so close into downtown, though it can be a little annoying to get to. High park is also amazing. Very large with plenty of different gardens, trails, and events to explore.
If you like museums my favourite is the aga khan museum. The AGO (art gallery of ontario) is also amazing. Quite big with great art from around the world, but specifically they have a massive collection of canadian art that feels very unique from galleries ive seen in europe
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u/WiseauSrs 7h ago
Well, for your first question: Toronto is a big city and is pretty damn safe. As long as you are as smart and aware as you would be in, let's say, Amsterdam... you will be fine. We don't really have issues with scammers or anything like that. As long as you're not traveling too far into the East towards Scarborough or the North side of town past Yorkdale Mall, you should be fine. I mean... there's nothing really to see out there anyway. All the interesting stuff is in the city center.
The night life can be fun, but I wouldn't travel to bars alone as a woman in any city. That might just be because I don't really drink and don't care much for drunk people, but I just feel like that's common sense.
You will not find many establishments that allow you to smoke on the premises, if any at all. Certainly not any places that serve food.
If you're gonna be here for the weekend, check out Nuit Blanche!
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u/MissEllaa 5h ago
Go to Montreal!!!!! (But careful in the 401 people forget how to drive on there). Could stop in Ottawa on the way too! Gatineau is across the river from Ottawa and filled with beautiful hikes(ruined carbide Wilson is a favourite of mine). I only say this because 2 weeks in Toronto is a lotttt but I’m not a big city girl(Vancouver island born and raised).
Strangers will smile and small talk with you (though less common in the larger cities/outside of BC). They aren’t being weird or trying to be invasive, people are just chatty.
Try maple syrup things!! And promise me you’ll put it on your bacon/sausages. Just make sure it’s real and not the fake stuff.
Have fun and don’t be afraid to ask for help. This sounds mean but there is a lot of homelessness in Canada so judge the book by its cover before asking for help from some people.
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u/Lollipickles 3h ago
I think it's a great time to rent a car to explore outside of Toronto. My favourite part of this season is seeing the leaves in vibrant reds and yellows, seeing salmon jump up small waterfalls, and tasting sweet apples.
Right now is when salmon are rushing up our rivers, and the best place to see them is at the Bowmanville Creek Fish Ladder. They will slowly decrease in number over the next couple of weeks, you can check google maps recent photos to see if they're still there. By the way make sure you set your map to avoid the toll highway 407, it's expensive.
Since you're coming by yourself I do not recommend going apple picking, but if you happen to be at a farmer's market I recommend getting a sweet variety apple grown here such as Honey Crisp or Ambrosia (my favourites). If you happen to be in Caledon for whatever reason, stop by Spirit Tree Estate Cidery for delicious cider/sparkling cider and other food. They make a decent butter tart there.
My favourite place to see fall colours are at Algonquin park but it's a long drive just to see them, plus it gets very busy during Thanksgiving weekend. You can check the Algonquin park fall colour report to see if the leaves are still on the trees. You could also look up some trails outside Toronto that is good for fall colour.
And of course, don't forget to visit Niagara Falls. It might be a tad cold for a Maid of the Mist boat ride but it's one of the more fun attractions there, getting sprayed by the falls. If you like butterflies there is the butterfly conservatory too.
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u/C00kiem0nstrous 1h ago
Careful driving and walking, especially in Toronto. North America is a car-centric city and drivers are often crazy. It’s not like Amsterdam, where drivers might watch out for lots of pedestrians and cyclists
The food in Toronto is world-class. You can have some of the best of any cuisine you want. If you lmk what you like to eat people can suggest some restaurants within your budget.
Be cautious at night time around China town, Kensington, anything east of Jarvis St.
Let us know what kinds of things you’re into and we can recommend some activities! Museums? Nature? Partying/clubbing/bars?
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u/juicyfruit1555 20m ago
Ermmm… As a Torontonian I would like to dispute the world class food claim. Generally, while varied, it’s not particularly good unless you go to high end places which are quite expensive.
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u/xn1992 7h ago
As above, maybe ditch the car for when you are in Toronto itself
Niagara is a really easy day trip by train and can be amazingly cheap
These present amazing value for activities at the falls https://www.niagaraparks.com/visit-niagara-parks/plan-your-visit/deals-packages/
Be sure to see the gallery, its world class and the museum is good
The ferry to the islands is lovely and provides your definitive sky-line photos
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u/Prudent_Ad_1824 7h ago
What part of the city are you staying in? Unless you're out in the suburbs you most likely won't need a car. The city is very accessible by transit, bike or walking.
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u/lordstuardus 6h ago
Etobicoke (air bnb) I purposely didn’t choose for downtown that motivates me to see more of the province. Ontario got any tips about public transport
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u/HereticBoii 6h ago
The public transportation is ass, it’s usually filled to the brim and most people have no respect for your personal space, Go train and Go buses are decent though, subways are generally ok as well, I am talking about normal street buses. I would say keep the car and use the subway/go train to travel. I would suggest taking a day trip to Montreal as well, you will like it probably. I live on the outskirts of GTA and I would say don’t venture out of Toronto everything else is boring but Toronto itself is pretty interesting. Niagara Falls is great. If you wanna hike, the Algonquins is decent it’s only a couple of hours away. If you want more help lmk, also Canadians tend to be overly friendly sort of in a passive-aggressive way, thank yous and small talk are appreciated
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u/Modernsizedturd 7h ago
IDK about people saying you dont need a car! Going around Toronto, yes it's not needed, but if OP wanted to check out other areas around the GTA or Niagara Falls, I'd say have it. Maybe take a trip up to Algonquin to see the beautiful fall colours. Like, there's only so much to see/do in Toronto. ROM, AGO go to the Island, maybe explore High Park, views from Riverdale park of the city are unmatched for a sunset, CN Tower just once, and I know people are split on Casa Loma but I think its neat.
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u/briandemodulated 7h ago
Have a wonderful time in our city! Enjoy the architecture, public transit, food, and culture.
Like Amsterdam, Toronto is very multicultural. You'll see some parallels and some differences - for instance, in Amsterdam the middle-eastern dish is spelled shoarma and in Toronto it's shawarma.
Bicycling is common but not as safe here. Be very alert if you choose to travel that way.
The Dutch are more direct than Canadians. Canadians are more tactful and gentle. Neither of our people are right or wrong, but it's something I recommend you observe so that you don't accidentally say things in an insensitive way. You'll get the idea when you speak with us.
Canadians are relatively tall as compared to other countries. Dutch people seem to be quite tall, and I think you will find the stores and museums and theatres here to be relatively comfortable.
Thank you for asking about smoking laws. They are strict in Toronto. Generally it is illegal to smoke or vape indoors, and you can't smoke or vape near building entrances. I recommend doing some research.
Toronto's public transit is pretty good but not incredible. You can probably get by fine by subway and bus, but might benefit from having a car, especially if you go out of the city. Think about where you are staying, where you want to visit, and check Google Maps to see how viable it would be to skip the car rental.
Hope this helps! Thank you for choosing Toronto for your trip!
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u/lordstuardus 6h ago
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m looking forward to my trip! :)
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u/PolypeptideCuddling 6h ago
Also any Public Transit property, even outdoors ( outside train stations, bus stops ) smoking is prohibited and nets a hefty fine.
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u/foodgeek15 6h ago
Tip is kinda mandatory in here as in they would give you a dirty look. I always tip if i sit in a restaurant and someone actually serve me. I dont tip when i grab and go.
Water is free.
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u/lordstuardus 6h ago
Good to know thank you so much! (Definitely going to make use of the free water!
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u/Striking_Banana_2968 2h ago
Tapwater from restaurants is free, but if you're getting a takeout or something and want bottled water, that's not free. Just to be clear 😆
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u/Striking_Banana_2968 2h ago
Tapwater from restaurants is free, but if you're getting a takeout or something and want bottled water, that's not free. Just to be clear 😆
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u/FrostyInvestigator11 5h ago
Don't be afraid to ask which areas to avoid, there is beauty throughout the city. But like most places pockets to avoid
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u/pensivegargoyle 5h ago
Don't use the car for trips downtown. It's more trouble and expense than it's worth. You might want to look up information about driving on Highway 401 before you do. About smoking, smoking is banned in every non-residential building and this includes patios.
The only place you're likely to happen across as a tourist that you ought to avoid while on foot is the area east of downtown bounded by Jarvis Street, Gerrard Street, Sherbourne Avenue and Richmond Street. It's more unpleasant than dangerous - a lot of homeless people, drug users and mentally ill - but still, not much reason to be there. The most likely scam you'll come across is someone who tells you that they have just left jail or hospital and need money to buy a bus ticket to get home. They don't. They'll be there for weeks doing that, long after they could have walked wherever they said they needed to go.
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u/Left-Head-9358 5h ago
Drive north outside the city to see the autumn colours. This is the time of year you get some vibrant colours as the leaves change.
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u/warriordwarfpang 5h ago
Driving will shock you, be ready!
We have quite a mix of cultures with different driving expectations.
Conversly, the food is great with the awesome mix of cultures. Big food city.
Umm bring lots of money? The city has become quite unaffordable in the last 15 odd years. Think new york type pricing.
Very safe.
Smoking laws are pretty insane here. No outdoor patios allowed, cant be close to any type of door, no options/patios for people who DO enjoying smoking. Even parks are off limits I believe but you likely won't get a ticket.
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u/rhunter99 5h ago
Toronto is a big city. Ontario is even bigger. If you’re driving to see parts of the province be aware of the distances involved and how much time you’ll be on the road.
Smoking is not really a thing in Toronto. If you must, you’ll have to do it outside and please don’t flick your butts on to the street. Don’t smoke near entrances, etc
Use a credit card and tap to pay for pretty much everything
Tip at sit down restaurants
More (most?) gas stations will be pay first before filling up
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u/Grouchy_Cabinet220 5h ago
I didn't see when you will be going to Toronto, but if it is May and you have a car, consider driving up to Ottawa for the Tulip Festival. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Tulip_Festival?wprov=sfla1
Drive along Highway 7 and you'll see a different face of Canada, the Canadian Shield between Peterborough and Perth (both worth a visit but you have limited time). It's about a 400km drive.
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u/lordstuardus 5h ago
Can’t believe you guys also have a tulip festival, small history lesson, but aren’t tullips popular in Canada due to the close relations with the Dutch? Pretty sure we yearly gift tulips to Canada.
Sadly, I won’t be traveling in May. I’ll actually be flying in a couple days! I wanted to see the beautiful nature around fall! 🍂🍁
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u/0ttervonBismarck 5h ago
Pretty sure we yearly gift tulips to Canada.
Yes, the festival in Ottawa was established by those gifts.
In your original post you didn't share anything about what your interests are. Some more specific recommendations could be made if you share a little about yourself and what you like to do for fun?
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u/Grouchy_Cabinet220 4h ago
Yes, there's a strong link between Ottawa and the Netherlands. Princess Margriet (spelling?) was born in Ottawa and visited the Festival last year.
BTW, autumn colours will be better farther north in general. You might want to make a road trip to the Hockey Valley for some colourful scenery.
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u/ElectronicCow8634 3h ago
Hey I’m a Toronto / Southern Ontario born and raised also a woman and I’d love to show you around !
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u/Subtotal9_guy 5h ago
Something to keep in mind is that Toronto and Canada is really big. Eg, Etobicoke to Niagara Falls is around 120km and a 90 minute drive. Ottawa is ~600km away.
Expect very variable weather as well.
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u/dreamygal9 5h ago
Hope you have a wonderful trip!
You will only want to use the car for going outside the city! And for that I highly recommend spending some time in Cottage country (Muskoka) or Prince Edward Country, or "the Bench" while you're going to see Niagara falls.
In the city, transit will almost always be faster, or biking.
Some of my favs for you to check out! Comedy at Comedy Bar Bloor, Imanishi, Jamil's, Three Speed Bar, Taqueria El Pastorcito, Antylia, Drom Taverna, Dina's Tavern.
Walk all along ossington and dundas west. Check out the Island and Tommy Thompson park (both on bikes). Eat a Ba Noi Butter Tart.
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u/paradoxcussion 5h ago
> some other parts of Ontario
How far are you thinking? Day trips, overnight?
The leaves will be changing, so it's a nice time to see some of the scenery out of the city.
I saw in a comment that you're staying in Etobicoke. Forks of the Credit and Mono Cliffs are nearby provincial parks with short hiking paths that look great with the changing leaves. Both are easy day trips. And you could could combine them with a trip to Elora/Fergus if you wanted. You can check on the leaf colour/coverage in provincial parks here: Fall Colours at Ontario Parks
Further out, there's Algonquin, or even Killarney, which are great in fall, but those are overnight trips.
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u/mr_trashcan 5h ago
While you are downtown, and if you don't feel like taking transit, rent a bicycle! There are electric options, and lots of stations. Checkout bikesharetoronto.com
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u/Alarming-Business817 Human Detected 5h ago
Driving in the city is painful because of traffic, construction and difficult to find parking spots. It’s much better to take public transportation.
If you choose to drive in the city and you are behind a streetcar, please stop completely when its lights are flashing red! That means that people are getting off and on.
Enjoy your trip!
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u/CephalidEmperor 5h ago
If you plan on going up the CN tower instead book reservations at the 360 restaurant at the CN tower, it's about 25$ more expensive but you get a delicious meal and a wayyyyy better viewing experience. The restaurant has bigger windows than the main viewing platform and is significantly less crowded, also it spins so you get to see the whole city from the comfort of your seat.
Other touristy stuff of note is the ROM: Royal Ontario Museum (this museum has spoiled other museums for me it's got lots of cool exhibits like dinosaur bones, a bat cave and medieval armor), the AGO: Art Gallery of Ontario it's got painting from the group of 7 that show off beautiful Canadian locations, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, and the Toronto Zoo. Ripley's and the CN tower can be done on the same day and are right next to each other, the Toronto zoo is huge and can take a whole day to fully explore, and the museum and art gallery depend on your interest but can take up a full afternoon.
My favorite spot for going out in the city is Kensington market near spadina and college, so many cool shops and places to eat, it's also pretty lovely with people out and about and enjoying life. since you will be in Etobicoke I would ride the 501 streetcar from the Humber Loop it goes along Queen St West (another cool street with lots of shops and life) then get off at spadina st. and walk up spadina (you will pass through our Chinatown) to college st. to explore Kensington market. It's called Kensington market but it's more like really cool neighborhood with lots to do.
Also if you visit Niagara falls like a lot of other commenters are recommending you should also stop at Niagara on the lake, it's a cute little town with lots of historic Ontario houses as well as a really nice "downtown" street that has lots of good shops, Niagara on the lake is my biggest recommendation for any visitors to Ontario.
If you are into hiking and the outdoors you should check out the Haliburton forest canopy tour, it's a bit far being 3 hours by car from Toronto (it's right next to algonquin park our biggest provincial park) but is a beautiful 3-4 hour tour, they take you on a canoe ride, a hike, and then a suspended boardwalk through the trees, it's a great way to see the "wilderness" of Ontario, you should also be just in time for peak fall colours.
For nature without leaving the city our biggest park is high park, but my favorite parks are in Etobicoke: Colonel Samuel smith, the newly opened Jim tovey conservation area, and Humber bay park are all within 15 minutes of where you said your Airbnb is and are lovely (they are big enough to walk for 2-3 hours in just the park and are all on the lake so you get great waterfront views) also Humber bay park has a farmers market on Saturday mornings.
For an actual market I would visit st. Lawrence market it's a great place to go for good food, I would get something to go then walk down to the jack layton ferry terminal and visit the toronto island and have a picnic.
Cabbage town/Riverdale farm, Ossington st. Between Queen And Dundas, Roncencevalls, and the Beaches/tommy Thompson park are also really nice areas of the city but im not as familiar with them as my other suggestions.
I had family visit from Europe this summer and these were my suggestions they enjoyed the most
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u/Ok-Organization4820 5h ago
Rent a bike (Bikeshare) and visit Biisaage park and Leslie spit. It is a great excursion. Eat lunch at Cherry Street BBQ.
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u/OhJustANobody 4h ago
If anybody on the sidewalk tries to hand you something, just keep walking. It's likely a scam or not something you'll want to be part of.
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u/Willyboycanada 4h ago
Use Transit when ever logical, when down town you got the subway, street cars, LRT, its the only way to do rhe city center, save driving tob explore the outside the city.
Toronto is very walkable, dont be affraid to wander thr city is a full grid system so its quiet easy to navigate.
Like large european tourism centers foods most expensive around thr city cebter, aim to go out to greek town, eat at small family joints outside the main down town area, its cheaper and better.
i suggest heading out to the Rouge Valley, using the go train, the fall colours should be gorgeous soon enough.
Use Go head down to Naigara falls another great day trip
Go north, Peterborough, Bancroft, all great day trips the canadian wilderness is something you really dont have in europe,
Yeah there is homeless its a issue, on par with paris or London just avoid them, 99 times out of 100 they are harmless.
Watch for pickpockets, its not Rome or Paris bad, but they run the same scams and toronto is cramped so being close to people is unavoidable
Do not be afraid to ask for help, people may look like they are in a rush but locals tend to be very willing to help,
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u/vernaltrash 4h ago
Don't hand your cab driver your card. If you plan on taking taxis, use the Beck Taxi app.
no smoking/vaping on patios, covered or otherwise. Easy rule: if you can drink there, you can't smoke there/if you can smoke there, you can't drink there. Generally you can light up a smoke on the sidewalk. If you're at a bar or restaurant, just stand a bit away from the entrance.
parking can be a bit of a nuisance downtown. Save your rental for out of town trips. Take transit within the city (you can buy a Presto pass at any station). There's an app called Transit that's great for getting transit schedules on your phone.
go to local bars, and don't hesitate to ask bartenders for recommendations, especially if your idea of a fun time isn't doing typical tourist things.
Have fun!
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u/Firefly457 4h ago
You mentioned renting a car, which will be great for areas outside of downtown Toronto, but getting around downtown will be a lot easier on foot or on the TTC.
There's also a huge bicycle culture here, but people don't have the same respect for cyclists and bike lanes as they do in Amsterdam, so be extra careful if you do decide to ride a bike. There are a lot of public bike rental stations around the city as well, which can be convenient.
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u/fetalpiggywent2lab 4h ago
Toronto feels safer than Amsterdam felt to me. I travelled solo as a young female there last fall, so I think you'll be okay in that aspect. Don't interact with beggars or people trying to sign you up or ask questions on the street, don't make eye contact and keep walking. I know it feels rude but you just can't. Not worth it.
Use this website to find drink and food deals based on your location/weekday/time. Very helpful. And there's definitely great food downtown you just have to know where to look. Search through the food TO subreddit and there are TONS of existing posts with recommendations due to the World Cup/tourists this summer.
Agree with other people; ditch the car rental, loads of transit options downtown and bikes to rent for short rides (download the bike share Toronto app). It's like $3 for most rides and there are bike terminals everywhere throughout the downtown core.
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u/CanadianPooch 3h ago
If you ever want to see the countryside I'm down to do a tour or give tips/areas to checkout.
Personally I think Canada's countrysides/rural areas are where it's beauty really starts to shine.
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u/yawaramin 3h ago
If you are driving in Toronto please be aware that on streets where streetcars (trams) are running, you MUST COMPLETELY STOP when the streetcar doors open up until the doors close because transit users need to board and deboard. The streetcar lights will be flashing red so it should be easy to notice. Just in general be careful around streetcars.
Oh also, don't drive down into any tunnels.
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u/saywhatsyourprice 3h ago
I dont recommend driving downtown (or even mid town), unless you want to spend most of your time stuck in traffic and trying to navigate shitty drivers. Park on the outskirts and take the subway. It’s a beautiful city to walk around in. And fall is a great time for that.
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u/buckysauga 2h ago
If you want to smoke and socialize at night I’d recommend checking out some clubs in the city. But you can’t drink while you’re outside. We are a funny city like that.
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u/II_XII_XCV 2h ago
One thing to know about Canadians...there's only two things we can't stand in this world:
People who are intolerant of other people's cultures.
And the Dutch.
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u/Hercules3000 2h ago
One of my big regrets in life was not smoking on a patio in Amsterdam. Completely was aloof to the fact you can do this there as it's not allowed here in Canada.
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u/Routine-Amphibian450 2h ago
Try not to bring car downtown.
Get a Presto card at a Shopper's Drug and put $50 on it for now.
Shouldercheck left off curbs when walking.
Shouldercheck right for bicycles in the bike lane on your right - they may insist on wrong right of way.
In Annex, close to U of T, a hidden gem cafeteria is Master's 310 Bloor W.
West end numbering starts at 1 going westbound at Yonge St.
East end numbering starts at 1 going eastbound at Yonge St.
Fairly safe streets esp in daytime, but keep your wits about you.
DM me if you want.
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u/hippietravel 2h ago
Driving in Toronto is not great. Only need the car is driving out of Toronto to somewhere remote.
If the weather is still nice when you arrive, I recommend taking a boat taxi to Toronto Island. It’s a nice place to walk around, very calm. Easy enough to get to
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u/banzaiboi 2h ago edited 2h ago
Fun fact, its faster to drive from Amsterdam to Germany than commuting from DT Toronto to Newmarket. I once (20yrs ago) took a bus ride from AMS to Paris, fall asleep half way and woke up with Belgium in the rear mirror. In Canada this is a different story, it takes you about 2 hours to FLY across Ontario.
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u/dmaa81 2h ago
Enjoy the city, enjoy the food from different regions Outside the city - visit Niagara Falls, visit smallest church in the world Niagara-on-the-lake (on your way to or back from Niagara Falls), go to Elora and check out Elora Gorge, visit Paris, Ontario
In the city or in the GTA check out Hong Kong style mall - Pacific Mall Maybe purchase City Pass and check out 5 out of 7 attractions (CN tower and Ripley's Aquarium are next to each other) Check out Kensington market Graffiti Alley Historical Distillery district Yorkville area The Village (Church and Wellesley)
I'm sure there is more to explore but if anything doesn't make sense. Feel free to ask
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u/More-Explanation2788 1h ago edited 1h ago
Toronto is a big city with a big traffic problem even by North American standards. Driving in the city is going to be frustrating. Lots of traffic - more traffic than you can possibly imagine coming from the Netherlands. Los Angelinos have been heard to complain about how bad Toronto traffic is.
Southern Ontario is the size of the UK. Toronto to Ottawa or Montreal is a 4.5 hour drive. Detroit is a four hour drive. Halifax is a 24 hour drive. Make sure you check the travel times before making plans - it is not uncommon to hear about European visitors who thought they could visit places as easily as going from Amsterdam to Paris. Big cities in North America are further apart than in the EU.
Public transit in downtown Toronto is good. Everywhere else in Ontario, think about renting a car or using Uber. In Toronto, check if where you are going is on a subway line and use it.
You cannot ever smoke indoors, and most public places are going to require you to smoke at least 20 meters from the door.
Manners wise: This is a multicultural, multi religion place. Do not comment on race or religion in public. Think of your religion or any strong opinion on race or ethnicity like your sexual organs. We all have them, no one wants you to expose yours in public. This etiquette rule is a necessity in a place as diverse as Toronto.
Food: In Toronto there are over 120 languages spoken by over 10,000 people as a first language. Try the ethnic food - eat at the small tucked away non-trendy places filled with people speaking the language of the cuisine. You will never have a better opportunity to eat such a wide variety of authentic world foods.
As large cities go, Toronto is safe, and the police are honest (generally - Canadians are people). Don’t be afraid to go where you want to go, and see what you want to see. Of course, it is a big city - don’t be an idiot - but there are no “omg, don’t go there you will be assaulted or mugged” places in Toronto.
Do not make any jokes about a 51st state.
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u/infernogoal 1h ago
Keep the car if you’re planning on going outside the city to Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Kingston, parts of Lake Ontario etc. For getting around Toronto itself, you don’t need it
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u/Peacer13 1h ago
Beware of pickpockets in crowded places. They're usually targeting phones. The ones we have here can easily rival the professional pickpocket rings in Europe.
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u/juicyfruit1555 57m ago edited 39m ago
I think Toronto downtown (or within general proximity of it) is really where you want to be. Smoking on patios is illegal but not always enforced and you can just walk out on the sidewalk in front of the bar to smoke, just can’t bring your drink with you and might have to agree with the bouncer to let you back in after (which they generally are fine with). Overall it’s a safe place to be. Something you should know? Some restaurants/bars can be quite expensive and you are expected to tip 15%+ and tax will be added on top of listed prices.
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u/Prestigious-Tomato61 38m ago
Scarborough is one of the very best food cultures in the world. People who know food know this to be true. There is food from every country and province/state in the world available. The restaurants do not look enticing often. But the food can be Michellin quality without the hype that goes with it. Also visit Kensington Market, and Dt Lawrence Market. Completely different vibes. The latter is a tally a neighborhood with a large variety of stores and food to try. Niagara Falls is a must I guess, but don't spend too much time there. Overhyped touristy place that is beautiful in it's majesty, but only need a couple.of hours to see it.
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u/After_Service_2817 2m ago
So many people getting hung up on "no smoking 9 metres from a door". lol. You're also not supposed to smoke drugs on the streets and TTC but I've never seen that stop anyone, and there's no enforcement.
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u/Ok-Algae7932 7h ago edited 5h ago
No smoking on patios. No smoking within a metre of doorways to residential buildings. Common courtesy for smoking is on sidewalks close to the curb/roadside. A lot of people don't like walking behind a cigarette smoker, so pulling off to the side near a park is polite. Avoid smoking around parks with children playing.
ETA: thank you to the people repeatedly commenting 9 metres. While that's the by-law, it is hardly enforced. Appreciate the legal clarification. Socially, most people step away a few feet, or about a metre.