The best areas to stay in Toronto

Planning a trip to Canada and the Great Lakes Region? Discover our selection of the best neighborhoods to stay in Toronto

Bordered by Lake Ontario, Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the State of Ontario. Toronto is the fifth most populous city in North America. With 2,731,571 residents in the city itself, and 5,928,040 people throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Toronto is ranked as one of the best cities in the world to live in. It is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, with 49% of the population born outside of Canada. Be careful though, the price of your accommodation in Toronto will be high, as it is the most expensive city in Canada.

Founded in the early 19th century, Toronto is made up of 242 neighborhoods, but most of the interesting sites are concentrated in the historic downtown and the former inner suburbs. Between Old Toronto, Toronto Entertainment District, Yorkville, Chinatown, Kensington Market, and King West. Each neighborhood offers a different atmosphere, from boho to chic, from business to arts and culture. Here is our selection of the best areas to stay in Toronto.

Distillery District and Old Toronto

Photo Credit : Flickr – Ian Muttoo

Toronto’s historic district, it is also young. The Gooderham and Worts distillery district is a pedestrian zone where you can find red brick buildings typical of Victorian architecture – named after British Queen Victoria – with more than forty buildings and ten streets listed as part of Canada’s historical heritage. Don’t miss out on a snack at St. Lawrence’s Market, frequently referred to as the world’s best market. The Victorian buildings have been renovated into clothing shops, art galleries, theaters with concerts all year round, bars and restaurants, making the area a place where social life does not stop at night. It is an expensive neighborhood to stay in Toronto, but very central.

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Entertainment District

Photo Credit : Flickr – wyliepoon

The entertainment district has been nicknamed as such because it is where you will find most of the musical outings to enjoy the performing arts, festivals, and concerts. The Toronto International Film Festival is held there every year in early September. Cinemas, sports events, comedy clubs, theatres, discos, and bars will delight your evenings. During the day, relax in Roundhouse Park, the neighborhood’s green lung, near the famous CN Tower. Don’t miss Steam Whistle Brewery, the local brewery. This is your home, the best place to stay in Toronto if you want to combine sports, celebration, culture, and proximity to the city center.

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Yorkville

Photo Credit : Flickr – Open Grid Scheduler

Yorkville, is a gentrified hippie district that has become a haven for haute couture, this is the right place to stay in Toronto if you love chic shopping and fine dining. In the center of the area, you will be drawn in by the Mink Mile, one of the most luxurious shopping streets in all of North America. Tiffany, Chanel, and Hermès are all brands you can find for your high-end purchases.

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The Annex

Photo Credit : Flickr – John Vetterli

Neighboring Yorkville district, The Annex, offers an entirely different atmosphere: adjacent to the University of Toronto, the neighborhood is frequented by young students who, naturally, do not frequent the fashion world. There is a plethora of cafés, theaters, bookstores, art galleries, bars, and restaurants frequented by a trendy population of night owls looking for cultural discoveries and an unquenchable thirst for art.

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Kensington Market

Photo Credit : Flickr – Ryan

A marketplace straddling Chinatown and Little Italy, Kensington Market is a multi-cultural and cosmopolitan district, one of the oldest and busiest in the city. A Scottish and Irish immigration area in the 1880s, the area is also home to West Indian, Latin American, European, and Vietnamese immigrants. In fact, there is an incredible concentration of bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops, especially east of Bellevue Square Park. To immerse yourself in different cultures, this is the perfect place to stay in Toronto.

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