Toronto Division: Hotels for Nature and Culture

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Editor's Choice

Pure Luxury

“Call me spoiled - but I love to be treated like a queen when traveling. Only the best is good enough for me. Hotels that make my vacation a dream of luxury and seduction are my choices. Pay attention to the (violet Medal) for luxury accommodation.”

Tatjana Herzegova, Kiew, Ukraine

Editor's Choice

Sustainable Travel

“There is only one earth and we should go out and see it. I like hotels, which look for sustainability. It is not only protecting the ecology, but also taking care for the local business and culture. I recommend the medal for eco accomodation. Let’s protect our earth. Sustainable travel is travelling with responsibility.”

Markus Lenk, Düsseldorf, Germany

Island trails, parkland, museums and historic sites offer different ways to experience a trip to the Toronto Division. When choosing your accommodation, first consider which experiences you want to focus on: waterfront paths, nature and wildlife, history, or art and culture. The places below offer specific ideas; for getting around the city, the Toronto Transit Commission and PATH can help you find your way.

Parks, Waterfronts and Trails

Toronto Island Park is connected by shared paths, trails and bridges. Along its waterfront, you can enjoy a 1.5-kilometre walk with views of Lake Ontario, Tommy Thompson Park and Ward’s Island Beach. Toronto Island also has a network of paved and unpaved trails. If you plan to take a ferry for your visit, you can travel from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to Toronto Island year-round. Check the schedule in advance, as schedules and service conditions may change.

High Park offers a different natural setting: its roughly 23 hectares include tallgrass savannah, prairie and forest. The park is also home to the High Park Animal Display, Canada’s oldest animal exhibit. The Scarborough Bluffs extend for about 15 kilometres along the shore of Lake Ontario. The parks along the bluffs offer trails, beaches, gardens, and sports and recreational facilities. These varied landscapes and parks make it possible to focus a day more on walks, the waterfront or other recreational activities.

The Toronto Zoo also combines wildlife and walking: it is home to more than 5,000 animals and has over 10 kilometres of walking trails. Those who enjoy spending time on trails will find a different kind of outing here than along the waterfront promenade or in the parks along the Scarborough Bluffs.

History, Architecture and Collections

Fort York offers a tangible connection to the city’s history. The Battle of York reached its violent climax there in 1813 during the War of 1812. Seven historic buildings still stand on the site; all were built between 1813 and 1815. Visitors can explore the historic buildings on guided tours and through special programs. For a history-focused visit, the historic site itself can be the main attraction.

The museums offer different points of focus. The Royal Ontario Museum presents art, culture and nature from around the world and across different eras. Toronto’s Aga Khan Museum is dedicated to a growing permanent collection of more than 1,200 masterpieces, including manuscripts, paintings, ceramics and textiles dating from the 9th to the 21st century. Those interested in exploring architecture and historic interiors can discover ornate rooms, secret passages and landscaped gardens at Casa Loma. In the car-free Distillery Historic District, Victorian architecture and cobblestone streets shape the area’s character.

The CN Tower offers its own vantage point: the main level of the observation deck has floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass floor. At the St. Lawrence Market Complex, culinary discoveries take centre stage; the destination has more than 120 vendors and farmers. The mix of vendors may change.

Getting Around and Choosing Accommodation

The Toronto Transit Commission, or TTC, is the city’s main public transit agency. It operates subways, streetcars and local buses. Union Station and the Union Station Bus Terminal are directly connected to local transit, taxis, car sharing, airport services and regional transit. PATH is a mostly underground pedestrian walkway in the downtown core. Stretching 27 kilometres, it connects underground shopping, transportation and entertainment facilities.

If you plan to visit several city attractions, you can use the TTC and PATH to help you navigate local transit; for Toronto Island, the ferry schedule is a separate planning consideration. This can help you choose hotels based on the experiences you actually have planned, without combining the different places into a single outing.

Discover more destinations: Toronto, Brant County, Wellington County, Regional Municipality Of Halton, Greater Sudbury Division, Cochrane District, Dufferin County, Peterborough County.

For the main travel overview: Ontario.

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