Toronto is the most populated and most popular city in Ontario. (File photo)
Covering one million square kilometres of Canada, Ontario is one of the most visited regions in the country. Home to the upbeat and cosmopolitan Toronto, as well as world renowned attractions including Niagara Falls and CN Tower, Ontario is popular with both domestic and international travellers and receives around 3.43 million tourists each year. While the majority of tourists come from the US given the proximity to the northern border, many people also travel from the likes of Europe, China and Mexico to get a taste of what Ontario has to offer.
If you’re planning a visit to Ontario anytime soon, or even if you have a brief stop over en route to another destination, there’s so much to do in Ontario that it can be difficult to narrow it down. Below, you can find an intensive guide to 24 hours in Ontario, from where to stay to activities to try out and the best places to eat.
Flying into Ontario
As the southernmost province in Canada, Ontario borders on Quebec to the east, Manitoba to the west, and James Bay and Hudson Bay to the north. The most populous cities in Ontario are conveniently grouped together in the Southeast region and includes the capital city, Toronto, as well as major cities Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and Burlington. Each of these cities lies within close proximity to each other, with Ottawa being roughly a 5-to-6 hour drive from Toronto, making it easy to travel between these cities by car.
Exploring Toronto
As the most well known of Ontario’s cities, Toronto lies on the border between the US and Canada and is home to a number of famous attractions, with Niagara Falls being the most popular. No trip is complete to Toronto without visiting Niagara Falls and while it is a tourist trap, it is also home to one of the most breathtaking natural views and cannot be missed. If you’re looking to skip the high-season crowds at Niagara Falls, the best time to go is between late October and early May each year.
Other top attractions in Toronto include:
- Casa Loma – A gothic-style mansion constructed between 1911-1914 for financier Sir Henry Pellat. The historic building is now a signature landmark and museum and features live performances at certain times of the year.
- CN Tower – a 553.3-metre-high communication tower, featuring an observation deck. The CN Tower was the world’s largest freestanding structure until 2007 when the Burj Dubai surpassed it.
- The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest and most comprehensive museum and showcases art, culture and nature from around the world.
- Casino Ajax featuring the Getaway restaurant – the casino itself has an impressive 500+ slots, for reference Jackpot City Casino in Ontario has 300! The restaurant accepts Comp Dollars, and a menu that caters for all tastes.
Places to Stay in Toronto
1 Hotel Toronto features a rooftop pool with stunning views of the city’s skyline. (File photo)
There are a variety of places to stay in Toronto depending on the needs of your group. If you don’t have much time in the city, then spending the extra cash to stay downtown is often worth it. However, if you have more than 24 hours and don’t mind the commute to the downtown area, there are some unique places to stay, too, from amazing hotels to large AirBnBs that are great for big groups.
Some of the top-rated hotels include:
- 1 Hotel Toronto – Located in a prime location for the downtown bars and restaurants, 1 Hotel Toronto brings all of the natural beauty of Ontario into the architecture and design of the hotel for a refreshing stay while being in the heart of the city.
- Ace Hotel Toronto – If location is most important to you then this is the hotel to choose. Located at the intersection of Queen Street West, Chinatown, and King West, the Ace offers charmingly sophisticated decor, many opportunities to people watch, and access to Toronto’s top restaurants, bars, and shopping and entertainment complexes.
- The Bisha Hotel and Residence – With all marble and velvet interiors, this hotel offers an added level of luxury while offering unbeatable views of the CN Tower.
Water Activities in Ontario
Niagara Falls attracts hundreds of thousands of travellers every year. (File photo)
With over 250,000 lakes, Ontario features 20% of the world’s fresh-water shores. That means there’s a huge variety of water activities that can be found in Ontario from boat tours of Niagara Falls to river rafting, kayaking, and so much more.
Overall, there’s a huge amount to discover for tourists in Ontario. With cosmopolitan cities, as well as locales bordered by forests and mountains, there’s something for everyone when visiting one of the best provinces in Canada.
