Oh, Canada!: All the Exciting Reasons to Visit Toronto in 2025

If you’ve never ventured to Canada, this is the year to plan a trip to America’s northern neighbor.

By Patricia Harrison

There are many reasons visitors adore Toronto. Canada’s largest city is beloved for its walkability, culturally diverse food scene and proximity to world-renowned natural wonders. While classic attractions such as thundering Niagara Falls, sky-scraping CN Tower and stately Casa Loma are always worth checking off your list, Toronto also has a constantly evolving landscape of attractions with fresh developments and experiences popping up all of the time. Read on to learn more about new things to see and eat in the city—plus recommendations on where to stay.

Casa Loma

Dining

Toronto, Canada's largest city, is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. In fact, it is the most linguistically diverse city in Canada with about 200 languages spoken by residents. That makes Toronto a hub for culinary talent and a fantastic place to take in the latest food trends and enjoy flavors from around the world. Over the past couple years, several noteworthy bars and restaurants opened their doors in the city. Splurge on the seven-course tasting menu at Savor Thai, where Bangkok-born chef Prasopchok Trakulphat has dazzled patrons with dishes inspired by his grandmother’s recipes and gussied up with molecular gastronomy. (If you can’t get a reservation at Savor Thai, try Trakulphat’s popular Kiin).

For an only-in-Toronto dining experience, venture to and/ore, an intimate spot featuring an ambience influenced by owner Jaime Donovan’s previous career as a mining engineer. There, you can sample modern inventive bites by executive chef Missy Hui in a whimsical Alice in Wonderland–inspired environment with a cave (yes, really). Or try Bar Goa, chef and restaurateur Hemant Bhagwani’s third eatery in Toronto. It boasts his interpretations of the cuisine of Goa, a coastal vacation destination in India via beautifully presented tapas and large-format proteins.

Royal-Ontario-Museum | romanslavik.com - stock.adobe.com

Arts and Culture

Toronto has dozens of museums and cultural institutions to explore, from the Royal Ontario Museum and the Aga Khan Museum to the Hockey Hall of Fame and Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre. At the Royal Ontario Museum, the exciting 2025 exhibition lineup includes Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., which examines the history and legacy of one of the Holocaust's most devastating sites (now through September 1, 2025), and Sharks, a deep dive into the world of one of the ocean’s most majestic creatures (October 11, 2025 through March 22, 2026).

Meanwhile, the Art Gallery of Toronto features 15 exhibitions this year from creatives based in Toronto and around the world, including Nigerian-Canadian visual artist Oluseye, local filmmaker and mixed media artist Joyce Wieland and Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. If you love shoes, don’t miss the Bata Shoe Museum’s nostalgia-sparking Dressed to Impress exhibit (now through March 16, 2025), which explores the fascinating and colorful footwear trends of the 1980s. Or pop into the Little Canada, an attraction featuring small-scale replicates of iconic sights and scenes in and near Toronto such as Niagara Falls and the CN Tower. This past fall, it added exhibits modeled after the cityscapes of Victoria, Vancouver, and other British Columbia destinations—a feat that took more than 25,000 hours.

Where to Stay

Hilton Toronto
This newly renovated downtown property’s facelift, which was completed in March 2024, includes a redesigned lobby and guestrooms. Patrons can also now feast on moules-frites, French onion soup, and other Parisian-forward bistro bites at Frenchy, Hilton Toronto’s new on-site eatery (the restaurant also serves a lovely afternoon tea on Sundays).

InterContinental Toronto Centre
Tucked at the center of Toronto’s financial district, the InterContinental has an indoor saltwater pool, 8,000-square-foot spa and spacious rooms with stunning views of the skyline and Lake Ontario. Start your day with a feast at Azure Restaurant’s breakfast buffet, which features everything from hearty hot dishes such as scrambled eggs and congee to pastries and cold cuts.

Kimpton Saint George
This welcoming gem in Toronto’s Bloor-Yorkville neighborhood is beloved by visitors for its pet-friendly rooms and convenient perks such as free bicycle rentals and in-room beauty services. Grab a drink at The Fortunate Fox, the property’s cozy gastropub, which has a great selection of whiskeys and mezcals.

Book these hotels, and more, using the TSA rate code in the GDS. Non-GDS users can book these hotels using tripXpress.

Banner photo: Toronto Skyline