Explore More UK - Spring 2021

CITY GUIDE
PHOTOS: © ISTOCK; ALAMY
Toronto and
On the western
fringes of Lake
Ontario sits
bustling Toronto,
a multicultural
city where more than 200 cultures
are represented in the city streets.
With residents having roots in
all corners of the globe, world
foods, cultures and customs come
together seamlessly to make the
city what it is. Toronto’s arts scene
is unrivalled, with a bountiful array
of museums, theatres and galleries
like the Art Gallery of Ontario
which features more than 95,000
works, and the shard-like structure
of the Royal Ontario Museum,
which unveils a fascinating history
of Canada and beyond. Elsewhere,
architecture dazzles, with old red
brick juxtaposing against glass,
and King Street West next in the
pipeline with Frank Gehry designs
for twisting skyscrapers extending
up to 289 metres in the sky. Come
evening time, the sun sets and casts
a pink glow across the lake and
twinkling city lights flicker on and
set the stage for its nightlife.
Don’t miss
• Graffiti Alley, south of Queen
Street and west of Spadina, features
seven blocks of vibrant outdoor art.
• Caribana is the largest single-day
parade in North America. With
a route of 3.6km, the festival is a
day-long celebration of Caribbean
culture and heritage in Canada
• Toronto’s CN Tower is one of
the city’s most iconic structures
and offers the best views over the
surrounding landscape. Head up
for sunset and watch as the whole
city bathes in a golden orange hue.
• Perched east of Downtown,
the Distillery District is a
historic landmark and energetic
neighbourhood that once housed
a whisky distillery and today is
visited for its hip bars, boutiques
and outdoor galleries.
Fast facts
Toronto is extremely multicultural,
with a Little Italy, Little Portugal
and Chinatown. All areas are
marked with dual-language street
signs written in both English and a
language other than French.
Canada’s largest city is known for its
cosmopolitan charm, varied arts scene
splendid foodie offering
• There are over 8,000 restaurants
in the city ofToronto, meaning it
would take you some 22 years to
try them all if you tried a new
one every night.
• There are an estimated 10 million
trees in the city's public parks,
streets and squares, from maples to
backyard oaks.
INSIDER TIPS
Explore the arts
Discover the bohemian
neighbourhood of
Kensington Market,
where Victorian
buildings house boutique
shops and arts spaces.
Foodie favourite
Toronto’s rich and diverse
food scene is yours
for the eating. Head
downtown to the
St. Lawrence Market
to sample traditional
Canadian dishes.
Above: The
Toronto skyline
is dominated by
the CN Tower, a
communications
and observation
tower
74 VIKING.COM | SPRING 2021