
Toronto is more than just a cosmopolitan city that welcomes immigrants from around the world; it's also a cultural hub of Canada. The city is home to renowned institutions like the Four Seasons Centre Opera and Ballet Theatre, Roy Thomson Hall, the retractable-roof Rogers Centre indoor stadium, and other cultural and sports centers.
For tourists, a visit to the CN Tower is a must. Until 2007, it held the title of one of the world's tallest TV towers, standing at 553.33 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city. However, Toronto has much more to offer than just the CN Tower.
All tourist routes pass through PATH, an underground city beneath the central part of Toronto. Shopping tours also lead through PATH, although most stores are located above ground on Bloor Street, Cumberland Street, and Yorkville Avenue. For fashion enthusiasts, Nathan Phillips Square hosts L'Oréal Fashion Week twice a year.
Families with children can enjoy exciting experiences at amusement parks like Ontario Place, Fantasy Fair, and Playdium, which offers virtual reality and electronic games. Water enthusiasts can visit Ripley's Oceanarium, Paramount Canada's Wonderland (featuring the world's largest tidal wave pool), or Canada's largest water park, Wild Water Kingdom.
The bustling metropolis on the shores of Lake Ontario attracts a diverse range of tourists, from adults with and without children, to couples, seasoned adventurers, and of course, young enthusiasts. Each of them can create cherished memories during their visit to the city.
Toronto is a cosmopolitan hub, and it effortlessly embraces various religious movements. It's no surprise to find a Masonic church next to a Hare Krishna temple. However, guided sightseeing tours will uncover many other facets of the city.
For instance, all sightseeing excursions traverse the heart of the city, including its underground marvel, the PATH network with its array of shops and restaurants. Later, you can ascend the towering CN Tower's observation deck. And that's just a glimpse of what Toronto has to offer.
Traveling in this direction can be relatively costly, given that the flight expenses often consume a significant portion of the travel budget. The most affordable round-trip tickets start at $537 USD per person.
Accommodation can also be a substantial expense. Staying in a mid-range hotel costs around $115 USD per night for a single person. Nevertheless, you can always find budget-friendly hostels and eateries to save on your expenses.
If you're looking to save money, consider booking a package deal for a Toronto getaway. The price for such a package, including flights and accommodations for a week, typically starts at about $1200 USD. The tripmydream service can assist you in finding attractive deals to suit your needs.
The city's attractions are primarily represented by stunning modern architectural monuments. City tours often include visits to the underground city of PATH and Chinatown. Walking routes in the city often lead to one of Toronto's natural parks, such as Toronto Islands Park on Lake Ontario, Queen Elizabeth Park, Hyde Park, and more. For family fun, the city offers numerous amusement parks, water activities, and various themed museum exhibitions. Toronto's restaurants, while honoring Canadian cuisine, also impress with a wide variety of international culinary options.
Direct flights to Toronto from Europe are operated by Air Canada, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, Air France, Iberia, and other airlines. Non-stop flights are available from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Warsaw. From other European cities, such as Prague, Budapest, Vienna, and Copenhagen, it is more convenient to fly with a layover.
The average round-trip ticket price ranges from 500 to 900 euros, but during peak season (summer and holiday periods), prices may reach 1200 euros or more. A direct flight takes 7–9 hours, while flights with layovers can take 12–18 hours.
Hotels in Toronto are available for every budget. On average, a four-star hotel will cost 250 CAD, accommodation in three-star hotels costs an average of 150 CAD. Budget options are hostels or one-star hotels for an average of 40 CAD. The highest cost of accommodation in the city is, of course, in five-star hotels - from 350 CAD per room.
The cost of a vacation in Toronto consists of visa, tickets, accommodation, meals, excursions and public transportation. If you stay in cheap hotels and eat in ordinary restaurants, the trip will cost about 1718 CAD for three days. The bulk of the cost will go to the flight.
| The budget for a trip to Toronto | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | 737 CAD | Accomodation | 150 CAD / day |
| Average check in a restaurant | 15 CAD | Transportation fare | 3 CAD |
| Sightseeing tour | 295 CAD | ||
| Total: about 1700 CAD (1320 USD) for 3 days | |||
Citizens of European Union countries do not need a visa to Canada for short-term visits (up to 6 months). However, they must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before traveling to Canada. The eTA can be applied for online.
Toronto Pearson Airport is a half-hour drive from the city considered one of the busiest airports in the country. On an island on Lake Ontario is another city airport, named after Billy Bishop. Billy Bishop Airport is a 15-minute drive from downtown.
It takes an hour and a half to get to Toronto from Pearson Airport by bus. The cost of the trip is 3 CAD. The Pacific Western Airport Express bus will take you to your hotel for 20 CAD. A cab will cost 70 CAD.
You can rent a car at the airport, train station or downtown streets. The price of car rental in Toronto depends on the company that rents the car. For example, a Kia Rio from Hertz costs just over 60 CAD per day, a Kia Rio from National costs 83 CAD per day, and a Kia Rio from Alamo costs 102 CAD per day.
Transportation in the city is represented by streetcars, buses, metro. The price of a trip from one point to another, regardless of transfers and modes of transportation, will be 3 CAD one way.
Toronto has a very high level of safety, especially on the city streets. Serious crime is rare here. But it's best to follow general rules of conduct and stay out of areas with a lot of black people.