Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is located on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. With over 2.5 million residents, it is the fifth most populous municipality in North America.
Toronto is at the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) which contains 6.2 million people, and is part of a larger combined region in Southern Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe, totalling over 8.1 million residents making up approximately 25% of Canada's population.
Toronto Information
Population: Approx. 2.6 million
Time Zone: GMT -5
Languages: English, French
Currency: Canadian Dollar ($CAD)
Currency Exchange: Purchase your CAD cash and travellers cheques before you leave Australia
Electricity: 110v - 60Hz
Toronto Climate
The climate in Toronto is moderated by its proximity to the Great Lakes (in particular Lake Ontario). Summer tends to be hot and very humid, while winter is severe with heavy snowfall. The average maximum temperature in January is 28°F (-2°C), while the average maximum temperature in July is 80°F (27°C).
Rainfall tends to occur throughout the year, but summer, though the sunniest season, is also usually the wettest. Autumn is perhaps the best time to travel to Toronto, as temperatures are less extreme than summer or winter, with mild days and cool nights.
Toronto Airport
Name: Toronto Pearson International Airport
Distance to city: 27km
Car Rental: Great choice of hire cars at mates rates from out car suppliers
Transfers: Shuttle buses are widely available outside the ground transportation area
Around Toronto
The largest art gallery in Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario has been recently redesigned by architect Frank Gehry. It has a great Canadian paintings exhibit and the world's largest collection of Henry Moore sculptures. The European paintings exhibit has a few excellent pieces and it has one of the world's most expensive paintings on view (Ruben's The Massacre of the Innocents).
Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) is an annual agricultural exhibition that is Canada's largest fair and the fifth largest in North America, with an average annual attendance of 1.3 million.
Spadina House is a historic mansion dating from the 1860s, the grounds contain a beautiful garden, which is free to walk around in. If you want to view the historic interior, you will need to pay.
A world-class facility, the Toronto Zoo is best accessed by car or GO Transit + TTC bus as a day-trip as it is located at the eastern reaches of the city. The zoo is divided into zones (such as Africa, South America, and North America) and features both indoor and outdoor displays. Open daily except for Christmas Day, and worth a visit in both the winter and summer months.
Source: Wikitravel. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel.
Delta Chelsea Hotel
3.5 Star Property
The Delta Chelsea Hotel is two blocks from Eaton Center and approximately a 30-minute drive from Pearson International Airport. Guests can enjoy the three dining rooms, three upscale lounges, a family recreation area, the Deck 27 Pool, and the Deck 27 Health Club (for guests 19 and older) with saunas, showers, lockers, a sun deck, and a licensed lounge.
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
4 Star Property
Located in the heart of Toronto's entertainment and business district, the Sheraton Centre Toronto is adjacent to shopping, theatre, fine dining and other city amenities. Its 2.5 acre oasis of waterfall gardens provides serenity in a metro Toronto location. The Sheraton is also directly connected underground to the Eaton Centre shopping complex, with six miles of shops and services running beneath the city streets.
Westin Harbour Castle Toronto
4 Star Property
Set on the shores of Lake Ontario, the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto offers luxurious accommodations in the heart of cosmopolitan Toronto. Its 977 rooms and suites overlook the lake and the city skyline and offer all the amenities and comforts. Hairdryers, coffeemakers, irons, refreshment centers, and bathroom amenities are only the beginning. Relax in the hotel's fitness center, with indoor swimming pool, squash courts, outdoor tennis court, massages, whirlpool, sauna, and steam room.
Metropolitan Hotel Toronto
3.5 Star Property
Located in the heart of Toronto's throbbing downtown scene, the newly-renovated Metropolitan Hotel is steps away from the CN Tower (the world's tallest free-standing structure at over 1,800 feet), the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Toronto's best theatres, the Skydome and other top attractions are also just a stone's throw away. Canada's only hotel with two four-diamond restaurants, the Metropolitan also pampers the body with a fitness center, pool and spa, and amenities like down duvets and terrycloth robes.
Courtyard Downtown Marriott
3 Star Property
The Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown near Yorkville and the Financial District is 17 miles away from the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and three miles from the Toronto City Centre Airport (YTO). The hotel is close to attractions like the Rogers Centre (Skydome), the Air Canada Centre, the Eaton Centre Shopping Mall. CN Tower, Eaton Centre Shopping Mall, and Hockey Hall of Fame (NHL).
Hyatt Regency Toronto
4 Star Property
Located in the heart of Toronto Entertainment District in central downtown is the Hyatt Regency Toronto. Boasting 394 guestrooms including 32 well-appointed deluxe suites, this hotel demands attention on King Street West.
Dining
Toronto is generally considered to be one of North America's top food cities. It has the same variety as New York or San Francisco and the compact and safe downtown keeps them closer together. As one of the most (if not the most) multicultural cities in the world, Toronto has authentic ethnic cuisine like no other city in North America. It is easy to eat out in Toronto and have a superb meal for cheap.
Surrounded by the extensive fertile farmlands of Southern Ontario, Toronto has an abundance of farmer's markets - one is happening, in season, almost every day. Several markets are year round, while others are seasonal, generally running from May to October.
In Yorkville it's more about being seen than actually eating but there are a few hidden gems - Toni Bulloni is an Italian spot. Sushi Inn is one of the most popular (though decidedly low-end) sushi restaurants in the city. The Coffee Mill is a Hungarian bistro with a surprisingly varied menu. Yorkville, an area famous for sightseeing celebrities, often charges premium for otherwise mediocre meals. Mere 1 subway stop away from Yorkville, a meal of similar size and quality can be purchased for nearly half the price.
Source: Wikitravel. A list of contributors is available at the original article on Wikitravel.
