Toronto

Toronto is Canada's largest city, home to over 2.9 million people who collectively speak more than 140 languages. It is one of the most genuinely multicultural cities on Earth, not in a brochure-friendly way but in a block-by-block, Tuesday-afternoon kind of way.

Walk from Chinatown to Little Portugal to Greektown on the Danforth and you'll eat three continents worth of food without spending much. The city's slang is its own dialect, called Multicultural Toronto English (MTE), born out of the Caribbean, Somali, and Jamaican immigrant communities in neighbourhoods like Regent Park and Scarborough. Drake didn't invent it.

He just made everyone else aware of it. The city refers to itself as "the 6ix" (from its two area codes, 416 and 647, and its six boroughs) and locals do not take kindly to the old nickname "Hogtown." Toronto has a real chip on its shoulder about being taken seriously globally, which makes 2026 a particularly big moment.

Hosting six FIFA World Cup matches and a FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York, the city is genuinely proud. Tipping is expected and non-negotiable: 18–20% at restaurants, 10–15% for taxis. Remove your shoes at the door if you're invited into someone's home.

The legal drinking age is 19. Cannabis is legal and sold through licensed stores only. All prices are in Canadian dollars, which run roughly 0.

72 USD at current exchange rates.

Tip 18–20% at restaurants without being asked. Servers earn far below living wage without it, and skipping it is genuinely rude.. Remove your shoes when entering a home.

Every time. No exceptions. Socks are fine..

Say 'sorry' constantly. Canadians apologize as punctuation. Do not read it as weakness..

Pronounce Spadina correctly: it's 'Spa-DY-na,' not 'Spadeena.' Locals will notice.. Don't call Toronto 'Hogtown' or 'T.

O.' in casual conversation. 'The 6ix' or just 'Toronto' is fine..

Queue properly at Tim Hortons. Cutting in line is one of the few things that will actually annoy people.. The TTC will arrive when it arrives.

Arguing with delays is considered a rite of passage, not a productive activity.. Carry exact change if paying cash on buses and streetcars. Drivers cannot make change..

Expect to pay 13% HST on top of listed prices for food, drinks, and goods. The sticker price is never the final price.. Book CN Tower tickets online in advance.

Walk-up lines move slowly and prices don't drop at the door.

Toronto is genuinely one of the safer major cities in North America, ranked among the world's safest by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection for 2026. That said, like any large city, it has pockets worth knowing about. Downtown Toronto, the Distillery District, Harbourfront, Kensington Market, and Yorkville are safe day and night.

Petty theft and pickpocketing happen mostly in crowded tourist areas and on busy transit during rush hour — keep bags closed and phones pocketed on the subway. Avoid Moss Park (around Jarvis and Queen East) especially after dark; it has a known concentration of open drug use and higher crime. The Jane and Finch corridor in the northwest is not a tourist area and is best avoided at night.

Parts of Parkdale and Regent Park are improving but still warrant awareness after midnight. Women traveling alone report feeling comfortable in well-lit downtown areas. Keep to well-lit main streets at night, avoid cutting through parks after dark, and use Uber or Lyft instead of walking long distances in unfamiliar areas late.

The tap water is completely safe to drink throughout the city. No malaria or tropical health risks. Emergency number is 911.

The TTC app SafeTTC lets you report safety concerns directly to Transit Control via text (647-496-1940) or in-app — useful if you feel uncomfortable on a train or bus.

Toronto's transit system is the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), Canada's largest, covering subway, streetcar, and bus routes across the city. The flat fare is $3.30 CAD per ride using a PRESTO card, contactless debit, or credit.

That fare gives you a two-hour transfer window, so one tap gets you across multiple vehicles. Cash is accepted on buses and streetcars but you won't get the two-hour transfer and drivers carry no change, so bring exact. For tourists, the TTC day pass at $13.

50 CAD is the best move — unlimited rides all day across subway, streetcar, and bus. Buy it as a PRESTO Ticket from a Fare Vending Machine at any subway station or at most Shoppers Drug Mart locations. Big news for September 2026: monthly fare capping launches, meaning riders who tap PRESTO, debit, or credit automatically ride free after 47 paid trips in a calendar month.

No upfront monthly pass needed. Kids 12 and under ride free on both TTC and GO Transit. Two new lines opened recently: Line 5 Eglinton (February 2026) and Line 6 Finch West (December 2025), which expand coverage considerably into previously underserved areas.

The PRESTO app lets you check your balance and reload. For late-night rides, Uber and Lyft work reliably throughout the city. Prices surge during World Cup match days, bad weather, and after TIFF screenings.

Expect it. Union Station is the hub for GO Transit connections to suburban areas and Pearson Airport. The UP Express train runs from Union Station to Pearson (YYZ) in about 25 minutes for $12.

35 CAD on PRESTO.