Toronto, the city that brought you Drake and Degrassi High, somewhat flies under the radar when it comes to tourism but it delivers big time in the areas of food, shopping, sport, culture, nightlife and nature. Explore the urban woodlands, eat the best bacon sandwich you’ll ever get your hands on, watch a ball game and fall under a friendly Canadian spell as you work your way through our list of the best things to do on your first trip to Toronto.

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Skate in winter at Nathan Phillips Square

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Embrace Toronto's winter chill like the locals do with an outdoor skate. In the Christmas season, Nathan Phillips Square, home to Toronto City Hall, is one of the most festive places in the universe with a large and lovely ice rink lit up with fairy lights and snowflakes. You don’t need to pack your skates; rentals are available.

Take a picture with the Toronto sign

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Nathan Phillips Square is also home to the famous colourful 3D Toronto sign – it is pretty much a holiday requirement to get a photo in front of this before you leave.

Go to a Jays game

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Toronto is home to Major League baseball, basketball and hockey teams – so there is live sport happening in every season. From April to September, watching the Blue Jays play ball at the Rogers Centre (locals still refer to it as its original name, The Skydome) is a super fun, laid-back way to spend a day in the sun. You can almost always buy tickets to a Blue Jays game on the day – as long as you don’t mind sitting higher up – but seeing the Toronto Maple Leafs (National Hockey League) or Toronto Raptors (National Basketball Association) on court are in high demand, so it's important to book well in advance.

Tick off all the major sights then spend time uncovering Toronto's hidden gems. Plan your visit now.

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Head to the top of the CN Tower

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Don't fight it. It is actually impossible not to see the CN Tower, which is 553 meters tall and was once the highest freestanding structure in the world. Looking south from the main deck (346 metres high) on a good day will allow you to see right across Lake Ontario and over to New York State in the USA.

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Visit the Toronto Islands

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Toronto sits on the shores of Lake Ontario; one of North America’s Great Lakes, it’s vast enough to feel like an ocean. Out on the lake, just over 1.5 kilometres from the waterfront, is an archipelago of 15 islands known as the Toronto Islands. Ferries depart from Toronto Harbour every 15 to 30 minutes during the summer. The islands are pedestrian-only, so rent a bike, kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboards to take in its splendour. Or just relax on one of the beaches while taking in the beautiful view of the Toronto skyline before wandering through the surrounding parklands.

Visit an old brick factory

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Former brick factory Evergreen Brick Works has been transformed into a celebration of sustainable design. During weekends it comes alive with food trucks and local vendors selling farm fresh produce and handmade goods. There are also games (giant Jenga anyone?) and plenty of beautiful surrounding trails that go through a vast urban woodland.

Delicious craft brews, striking art and vast woodlands. Toronto is full of surprises. Book your flights here.

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Do the ROM

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The Royal Ontario Museum is a striking building on the outside, made up of huge metallic and glass points that appear to be bursting out of the ground. Inside is Canada’s largest collection of art, culture and natural history, which includes a broad range of artefacts from all over the world. And, yes, there are lots of dinosaur bones. When you’re finished, stroll through the Philosopher's Walk on the neighbouring University of Toronto grounds down to Queen’s Park.

Go where the hipsters go

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Queen West and Ossington are go-to spots for vintage fashion, dive bars and trendy restaurants. The eclectic Kensington Market features a diverse mix of street food, hole-in-the-wall boutiques and second-hand clothing stores in converted Victorian row houses. Leslieville, on Toronto’s east side is newer to the ranks of cool and is a great place for cafés and brunch.

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Eat at the St Lawrence Market

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The St Lawrence Market is Toronto’s go-to foodie destination, with more than 120 market stalls reflecting both global and local influences. Dubbed one of the best food markets in the world by National Geographic Travel, visitors will be spoiled for choice when it comes to following their appetite. The dish to order according to locals? Carousel Bakery's peameal bacon sandwich.

Tick off all the major sights then spend time uncovering Toronto's hidden gems. Plan your visit now.

Sample some local beer

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Toronto has a number of great local breweries – do your own pub crawl and visit Mill Street Brewery at the Distillery District, Steam Whistle Brewing at Roundhouse Park (right next to the Rogers Centre) and Amsterdam Brewhouse on Queens Quay.

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