Casa Loma is a massive, Gothic Revival mansion distinguished by its twin towers and sandstone exterior that rises above the surrounding neighborhood. Built between nineteen eleven and nineteen fourteen, the residence was the project of Sir…
Toronto’s Essential Sights
This self-guided tour guides you through the defining landmarks of Toronto's past and present, from historic neighborhoods to soaring modern marvels. It's the ultimate introduction to the city's unique architectural and cultural identity.
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1. Casa Loma
2. Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is instantly recognizable by the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, a jagged, contemporary structure of glass and aluminum that erupts from the historic stone facade. Opened in nineteen fourteen, the museum began as a…
3. Kensington Market
Kensington Market is identifiable by its narrow streets lined with Victorian-era houses that have been converted into small, independent storefronts. These buildings feature ground floors extended toward the sidewalk, a practice that began…
4. Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is recognizable by the striking, undulating glass and wood façade designed by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry. This sprawling museum complex now holds more than one hundred and twenty thousand works, but it…
5. Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square is defined by the sweeping, modernist curve of the twin towers of Toronto City Hall, which rise above a vast concrete plaza. Named for the mayor who championed its creation, the square spans nearly five hectares and…
6. CN Tower
The CN Tower defines the Toronto skyline with its tapered concrete shaft and distinct hexagonal core that rises one thousand eight hundred fifteen feet and five inches into the air. While it is now a globally recognized landmark, the tower…
7. Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is defined by a massive, forty-five-foot-high stained glass dome that crowns its central hall. This grand space, known as the Esso Great Hall, was once the primary banking floor of the Bank of Montreal, which was…
8. St. Lawrence Market
The St. Lawrence Market is anchored by a massive nineteenth-century brick building, distinguished by its sturdy, rectangular form and the historic yellow-brick facade that reveals the silhouette of the former city hall structure once…
9. The Distillery Historic District
The Distillery Historic District is defined by its dense collection of Victorian industrial architecture, featuring over forty brick and limestone buildings that span thirteen acres. These heritage structures, connected by narrow,…