Toronto holidays

1. See the city from the CN Tower, a landmark so tall it makes helicopters look like droning bees. If it’s a clear day, stand on the highest of the three observation decks, SkyPod, to see as far as Niagara Falls. You might even feel the tower swaying in the wind. Then take a sigh and a seat in the rotating 360 Restaurant with panoramic views. Ask a waiter to pop open a bottle from the highest wine cellar in the world and toast to the cityscape stretched out around you.
2. Catch a sports game. Join a crowd of blue jerseys cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Afterwards, walk over to the Hockey Hall of Fame to see the Stanley Cup – you can’t chug champagne from it like an NHL champion, but your friends can pap you posing with it. If baseball’s more your thing, see a Jays game in the Rogers Centre. Stand with a hot dog in one hand and a foam finger on the other, ready for the Toronto Blue Jays to ‘play ball.’.
3. Frolic in a Gothic Revival mansion. Casa Loma was built in the early 20th Century by a Canadian financier. Behind the sandstone walls you’ll find 98 rooms, 21 fireplaces, a few ghosts (if you believe) and one portrait of the pop star Prince. Snaking underneath it all is a tunnel to the stables where a secret research laboratory was set up during World War II. There’s even an escape room in one of the towers, as well as an orchestra to serenade guests on summer evenings.
4. Muse at museums. At the Art Gallery of Ontario, gaze at works by European masters before moving on to contemporary eyecatchers. The Indigenous collection is particularly interesting – try to see Manasie Akpaliapik's Respecting the Circle. More artworks and artefacts abound at the Royal Ontario Museum, where you can meet Gordo the Barosaurus skeleton and marvel at a Martian meteorite.
5. Go to a beach. Take a short ferry ride from downtown to The Islands, a group of 15 islets connected by willow-draped paths and lakeside boardwalks. Cycle through parks and picnic on Muskoka chairs before exploring sandy beaches and dipping into wildflower meadows. If you’d rather not take a ferry, head to The Beaches east of downtown instead. In this aptly named neighbourhood on Lake Ontario’s shore you’ll find swathes of sand and stretches of boardwalk.
6. Make the trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls and board a boat tour. Hear the bellowing rushes of water, feel the mist on your face, stare up at the clamouring cascades, and don’t expect this to be a good hair day. Let’s just say you’ll be thankful for the fetching poncho included in the tour. Come dusk, the falls are illuminated and sometimes fireworks glitter over the water. Combine a Niagara Falls trip with a visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a 19th Century village, to window shop in its Heritage District and sip on sweet-like-nectar Icewine.

Many of the best Toronto hotels are in the city’s downtown area. You might recognise the Fairmont Royal York’s grand exterior and lavish halls from blockbuster films and TV shows. Stay at this landmark hotel to follow in the footsteps of royalty and bask in its opulent surroundings. Ritz-Carlton Toronto is another luxurious option sitting nearby. Get comfortable in one of the hotel’s plush rooms featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with city, CN Tower or lake views. Alternatively, stay in the Sheraton Centre Toronto to be close to the theatre district and swim in the biggest indoor-outdoor pool in the downtown area.

Chelsea Hotel Toronto, the largest hotel in Canada, is ideal for cheap holidays to Toronto. This downtown-based megahotel is also superb for families thanks to its array of amenities including a fun zone with an indoor waterslide.

Hilton Toronto is a great option for Toronto holiday packages. Sitting in the downtown area, this modern hotel is within walking distance of top attractions like the CN tower. Take some time out of sightseeing to swim in the outdoor pool surrounded by skyscrapers.

The Toronto time zone changes depending on the season. From early spring to late autumn, Toronto is on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Otherwise, the city is on Eastern Standard Time (EST).

The weather in Toronto is ‘whack-on-the-sunscreen’ warm in the summer and ‘wrap-yourself-in-a-big-coat’ cold in the winter. High season is June to September, when the temperature can reach up to around 28 degrees Celsius. Spring and early autumn are also great times to visit as the sun should still be shining but it won’t be as hot as high season and the tourist attractions should be less busy.