I’m really excited to interview Sandy Yong, author of The Money Master book, about Toronto, Canada. Sandy’s tips for the best things to do in Toronto are awesome because she was born and raised in the city. She has seen the city grow over the last three decades and even jokes that there are two seasons in the city – winter and construction.
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Having fun at the Canadian National Exhibition
Toronto, Canada
Toronto, Canada is the capital city of the province of Ontario and is the largest city in Canada by population. It is located in the southeast corner of the country on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The city is the business and finance center of Canada and is recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world.
We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out Tourism Toronto, the local convention and visitor’s bureau. They are a wealth of information and can help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.
While visiting Toronto, I recommend getting the CityPass. You’ll save 36% on the top five attractions in Toronto.
If you’d like to learn how to travel for free using airline miles and hotel points, check out my free 7-day email course.
Eating the secret menu at Burger Priest
Best things to do in Toronto
- Art Gallery of Ontario (reviews) – For arts, there is the Art Gallery of Ontario
- BATL – The Backyard Axe Throwing League (reviews) – For group activities you can try axe-throwing at BATL Axe Throwing
- CN Tower (reviews) – For sightseeing, you can check out the CN Tower.
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (reviews) – For sightseeing, you can check out Ripley’s Aquarium.
- Royal Ontario Museum (reviews) – For arts, there is the Royal Ontario Museum
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park (reviews) – For group activities you can try trampoline dodgeball at Skyzone.
- SPIN Toronto (reviews)
- Toronto Heli Tours (reviews) – Take a helicopter tour of the downtown area for a unique perspective of the city
Best places to eat in Toronto
- Amsterdam BrewHouse (reviews) – Enjoy local craft brews on their outdoor patio overlooking the water.
- Canoe (reviews) – Canoe located on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower in the financial district. Canoe is owned by Oliver and Bonacini restaurants which they own and operate various fine-dining establishments around the city.
- Chatime (reviews) – The Alley, Cha Time, Gong Cha are my favourite bubble tea shops. There are tons of them here in Toronto.
- DEQ Terrace and Lounge (reviews) – They have a restaurant called DEQ which has a nice patio and it is heated at night when it gets chilly.
- EAT BKK Thai Kitchen Leslieville (reviews) – Eat BKK which offers Bangkok style street food and the restaurant has a very cool and funky vibe. I love their fried morning glory appetizer, which is tempura battered papaya and carrot salad.
- Gong Cha – The Alley, Cha Time, Gong Cha are my favourite bubble tea shops. There are tons of them here in Toronto.
- Heart Sushi (reviews) – Heart sushi at Fairview Mall. I love their aburi (torched) sushi.
- Jerusalem Restaurant (reviews) – Jerusalem restaurant near Leslie & Sheppard. It is an AYCE buffet with belly dancers performing with a live band and it is very entertaining.
- Kinka Izakaya (reviews) – Kinka Izakaya is a great place for groups of people and birthday celebrations. It is a lively environment and they serve drinks and Japanese tapas for people to share.
- Pizzeria Libretto (reviews) – Known for Neapolitan-style pizza and their fresh ingredients.
- Real Sports Bar (reviews) – For sports fans, Real Sports Bar & Grill is a massive restaurant that has these jumbo sized tv screens to watch your favourite sports team. In Toronto, we have the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays, TFC and Argonauts. If you can get tickets to see them live in action, you can cheer them on!
- The Alley (reviews) – The Alley, Cha Time, Gong Cha are my favourite bubble tea shops. There are tons of them here in Toronto.
- The Burger’s Priest (reviews) – Burger Priest is hands down my favourite burger joint in the city!! They make fresh made patties with melted cheese and they even have a secret menu with outrageous burgers.
- TOCA Restaurant (reviews) – There’s also the TOCA restaurant which is a fine-dining establishment. Inside the restaurant, there is a cheese cave, which houses 35 different varieties of cheeses!
Best Places To Stay In Toronto
- Four Seasons Hotel Toronto (reviews)
- Hilton Toronto (reviews) – Hilton Toronto is also in the downtown area. I’ve been there for a business conference.
- Hyatt Regency Toronto (reviews) – Hyatt Regency Hotel which is closer to the Chinatown area.
- InterContinental Toronto Yorkville (reviews) – Located in the upscale neighborhood with designer stores in the area. Some celebrities are known to be spotted in this area.
- Kimpton Saint George Hotel (reviews)
- Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre (reviews) – Marriott Downtown at CF Eaton Centre: central location if you want to be in the heart of the city. Lots of shopping, restaurants, festivals around the area.
- Shangri-La Hotel Toronto (reviews)
- The Broadview Hotel (reviews) – A gorgeously renovated boutique hotel housed in a former strip club. It was built in 1891.
- The Ritz-Carlton (reviews) – My favorite luxury hotel in the city is the Ritz Carlton which in the downtown area, next to Roy Thompson Hall and close to the Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Centre (aka skydome). The Ritz Carlton has an amazing spa which is great for couples or a girl’s celebration. They have a restaurant called DEQ which has a nice patio and it is heated at night when it gets chilly. There’s also the TOCA restaurant which is a fine-dining establishment. Inside the restaurant, there is a cheese cave, which houses 35 different varieties of cheeses!
Getting around Toronto
The local airport is Toronto Pearson International Airport. It is located in the northwest end of the city and is 30 kilometers from the Toronto Entertainment District. Use our Expedia tool below to find flight, hotel, and rental car options.
Another option is the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport that is on the downtown waterfront area. Porter Airlines runs here and is a great option for those who have business meetings downtown.
Sandy says that, if you’re staying downtown, there’s no need to rent a car. You can purchase a PRESTO card, which connects you to all of the local transportation. To venture outside of Toronto to nearby cities like Brampton, Hamilton, and Oakville, buy a Group Day Pass from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) for only $13 for unlimited travel.
Uber and Lyft are excellent ways to get around.
Driving and parking downtown can be challenging. If you need to rent a car, click here for the best offers from Avis, Budget, or Hertz.
If you only need a car for a couple of hours, you can rent by the hour with Zipcar. Join now to get $25 loaded into your account.
Texas-style BBQ at Adamson Barbeque
Places we talked about on the podcast
Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with Sandy Yong about Toronto, Canada. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.
- Red dots = best places to eat in Toronto, Canada
- Green dots = best things to do in Toronto, Canada
- Yellow dots = best places to stay in Toronto, Canada
Who is Sandy Yong?
Sandy Yong is an author and public speaker about personal finance and real estate investing. By day, she is a Content Product Manager for a local television station in Toronto.
Her book, The Money Master, teaches a step-by-step plan on how individuals can overcome their fears and achieve financial independence.
Our listeners can click this link to download a FREE digital copy of Sandy’s book.
You can connect with Sandy Yong at her website and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Click here to download our one-page guide of Sandy’s tips for Toronto.
Big thanks to today’s affiliate partner – ZipCar
I avoid renting cars as much as possible when I travel, but sometimes you just need a car for a few hours. That’s where ZipCar comes in. You can rent their cars by the hour, or by the day… and both gas and insurance are included in one flat rate.
Use our link to join at WeTravelThere.com/zipcar to start out with $25 worth of credits in your bank.
Stay tuned for our next episode
Dustin on Camelback Mountain
Listen to the next episode when Dustin Heiner of Master Passive Income comes back on the show to discuss his new hometown of Phoenix, Arizona. We’ll climb Camelback Mountain and find out where the best fish tacos and enchiladas are in the city. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.
What’s your favorite part of Toronto, Canada? Send us a Tweet, let us know in the comment section below, or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!
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