01 Nov What to do when you have a stopover in Toronto
Considering a transfer in Toronto? You might want to extend your time in-between flights, because it’s only a 30-min train ride to the city center from the airport and there’s a lot you can see and do. Here are some tips if you have a stopover in Toronto.
Have lunch at the CN tower
The CN tower is thé trademark of Toronto. Most people just go up to see the view around the city, but there’s an even better way to spend your time up there: have lunch at 360 The Restaurant. Lunch at this restaurant may seem a little bit expensive (2-course lunch is $56; 3-course is $69), but compared to the general admission ($35) it is not that big of a difference. The main advantage of having lunch here is that you don’t have to get in line, you can just get to the reservation desk of the restaurant, you can take a separate elevator (for which there also is no line) and once you’re at your table in the restaurant you can see all over Toronto in just 45 minutes while having a great meal. www.cntower.ca
View over Toronto from 360 The Restaurant
Stroll down the Old Town
There’s a lot to see in Old Town Toronto. Start your walk at The Toronto City Hall, which lies right next to the Old City Hall. A little bit further north you’ll find Yonge-Dundas Square, which gives you a little bit the impression you’re on Time Square in New York or Piccadilly Circus in London. This is a lively square that hosts community celebrations, theatrical events, promotions, and concerts. End your walk at St. Lawrence market; in the North building you’ll find weekly farmer’s markets and antique markets and the South building locates the number 1 food market in the world, with over 80 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, fish and sandwiches.
Visit Chinatown and Kensington Market
Want to see a completely different side of Toronto? This city has one of the largest Chinatowns in North America and it is definitely worth a visit. Even the street signs are in Chinese in this neighborhood. You’ll find a lot of small Asian shops and markets, as well as great restaurants which are relatively cheap. And while you’re in the area, don’t forget to take a detour to Kensington Market, which is also a very vibrant, little bit alternative, neighborhood with lots of nice bars, food stores and shops.
Watch the Toronto Maple Leafs
If you’re into sports and have a bit of money to spend, you should definitely go and see an ice hockey game of the Toronto Maple Leafs. They play around twice a week; tickets range from $50 to $400. Other interesting sports to see are Basketball (Toronto Raptors), Baseball (Toronto Blue Jays) or Football (Toronto Argonauts). If you’re more into museums around sports, you should pay a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame, which gives a lot of info on the history of ice hockey and has a great hall of fame that exhibits great players, teams and trophies.
Take the ferry to Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a nice contrast to the crowded city center of Toronto. It takes only 10 minutes to get here by ferry. You can have a tasty picnic in one of the scenic picnic spots, take a walk or bike tour to one of the beaches or you can go canoeing or kayaking on the water and see the impressive skyline of the city. Perfect for a stopover in Toronto! For kore info check out www.torontoisland.com
Please note that from November 9 (2016) onward you need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to visit or transfer through Canada by air. This costs $7 and you can easily get it online.
Love,
Dionne
*Dionne is one of our guest bloggers from the Netherlands, currently living in Den Bosch. In everyday life she works as a marketing-communications professional. She loves to travel to distant destinations, but I also enjoy a city trip closer to home. Read her article about 7 highlights in Cuba here!
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