As the largest city in Canada, Toronto is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It is home to many beautiful attractions, including parks, trails, museums, and beaches. Besides, Toronto has a vibrant nightlife, making it the best place to visit.
Whether you are traveling to Toronto to live or visit its amazing attractions, it’s essential to have an idea of what you’ll experience in the city. In this article, we explore some unique things about Toronto that will make your stay or visit more fantastic.
Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Toronto
It is no surprise that Toronto is the fastest growing city in Canada in terms of international tourism. Let’s have a look at some of the things you’ve probably not heard about Toronto.
1. Toronto is the Most Multicultural City in Canada
Toronto is the most diverse city in the country with about half of its population born outside Canada. It has the highest number of immigrants from various parts of the world, including China, the UK, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Iran, Nepal, and many other places.
Toronto boasts over 200 ethnic groups with people who collectively speak more than 150 languages. Toronto residents from China, the UK, and Ireland represent some of the largest cultural groups, while people from Iran and Nepal forms the smallest groups.
2. Currency Exchange in Toronto
Toronto is the financial center of Canada with thousands of international investors setting up businesses in the city. As more foreign investors move into the city, the need for foreign exchange services also rises. Besides, international tourists also rely on these services.
Whether you are visiting Toronto as a foreign investor or an international tourist, there is no doubt you’ll need the Canadian currency to carry out transactions. Therefore, you must find the right place to exchange your money at the lowest exchange rates. Upon arriving in Toronto, you will find many currency exchange service providers such as banks. However, they charge higher markup fees than agencies that specialize in foreign exchange, like Knightsbridge FX, which is the best currency exchange in Toronto.
3. Toronto Holds Some of the Best Festivals in Canada
Toronto’s weather is so chilling, making it an ideal place to host some of Canada’s best festivals. In June each year, Torontonians usually celebrate the Pride Festival in Canada. It’s often one of the largest organized festivals in the country. Another incredible festival held in Toronto is the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s one of the most publicly attended festivals in the world, hosting more than 480,000 people from different parts of the world. Hundreds of films are usually featured in this festival.
Besides the two festivals mentioned, there are still over fifty festivals held in Toronto each year, including the Nuite Blanche, Caribbean Carnival, and the Summer Music Festival.
4. Toronto is Bigger than What You Expect to See
It’s no secret that Ontario’s capital, Toronto, is the biggest city in Canada. It has an area of 630.2 square kilometers with a population of about 2.93 million people. That has made it become an international center for arts, business, culture, and finance.
Fully packed with shiny glass towers, traffic avalanches, and immigrants, Toronto is the nicest place to visit. Its tall skyscrapers create a beautiful view, including the famous CN Tower. Due to its big size, Toronto contributes the largest to Canada’s economy.
5. Toronto Has the Most Beautiful Attractions
As mentioned, Toronto has many parks, beaches, trails, and museums that add more fun to its residents. Some of the must-visit attractions in Toronto include the Royal Ontario Museum, the Casa Loma Castle, and the Toronto Zoo.
You can also learn about 13,500 exotic marine and freshwater life when you visit Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto. It’s divided into nine galleries, each featuring a specific species of marine and freshwater life from various parts of the world.
Other stunning attractions to visit in Toronto include the Royal Alexandra Theatre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Bata Shoe Museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the High Park.
6. Toronto Has Only Two Airports
When flying to Toronto, it’s essential to have an idea of the airports you’ll arrive at during your journey. The city’s two airports include the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) and the Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
Toronto Pearson is the city’s largest airport that serves most international flights. The Billy Bishop Airport, on the other hand, serves most domestic flights within Canada. You can move around Toronto using car rentals or public transportation.
Final Words
Toronto has a lot of things to offer to international travelers. If you are visiting the city for the first time, stay relatively at the city center, close to a street-car stop or subway to move easily around the city. Also, avoid exchanging money at the airport. Otherwise, you might pay high markup fees on transactions and get the highest exchange rates.
