Experience Toronto through a variety of attractions and exciting things to do

The Strathcona Hotel enjoys a top location in the heart of downtown Toronto, Canada’s largest city. Just outside our doors you will find the historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Union Station and VIA Rail across the street, as well as the world-class GoodLife Fitness adjacent to the hotel. Hotel guests can obtain discounted passes at front desk.

The Air Canada Centre is only two blocks away, and the Rogers Centre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, CN Tower, and more all easily accessible in the midst of the theater and financial district. Opening in 2013, the Ripley's Aquarium will make a great addition to downtown Toronto's attractions.

Toronto is a major destination for the performing arts with more than 50 ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, two symphony orchestras, and a wide variety of theatres.

The Yorkville neighborhood is one of Toronto’s most elegant shopping and dining areas where celebrities from all over North America can be spotted. True shopaholics may want to check out the Eaton Centre, one of North America’s top shopping destinations and the city’s most popular tourist attractions with millions of visitors annually.

The city is also home to a wide variety of festivals and production houses for domestic and foreign film and television. Annually, Toronto hosts of one of the most famous Gay Prides Festivals in the world; from mid-July to early August, the Caribana festival takes place and is considered one of North America’s largest street festivals. The Royal Ontario Museum is a major venue for world culture and natural history while the Toronto Zoo is one of the largest in the world.

Our concierge has gathered a listing of the more popular things to see and do and tourist attractions in Toronto below, or if you have any special requests, simply stop by and ask.

Organized Sporting Events

For the sports lover, Toronto’s main sporting venues are the Air Canada Centre, the Rogers Centre, and BMO Field. Check out the event schedules for all the Toronto teams by clicking below.

• Toronto Argonauts 
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Toronto Blue Jays

• Toronto Raptors 
• Toronto Football Club

The Performing Arts

For the latest theatrical productions, you can see the schedules of the more popular venues below.

• The Second City
• The Princess of Wales Theatre
• The Royal Alexandra Theatre 
• Roy Thompson Hall

• The Sony Centre
• The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre 
• Canon Theatre

Sports and Exercise

Toronto has everything to keep you occupied, if you are into inline skating, jogging, biking or just looking for a nice walk by the lake. Toronto is at the heart of the 350 km (219 miles) Lake Ontario Waterfront trail.

The Toronto stretch, known as the Martin Goodman trail, provides either a leisurely, or intense trek, from the Eastern Beaches to the Western Beaches. Most of the Toronto portion of the path is uninterrupted and well-marked, making it perfect and safe for cycling, inline skating, walking, or jogging.

Other city parks close to the downtown core are:

• Ashbridge's Bay Park

• High Park

A downloadable map of all city paths and cycling routes is available from the City of Toronto website.

Just across the water lies Center Island a great place to visit for the day. It's a short and inexpensive ferry ride to experience the other side of Toronto with its beautiful parks, trails, and beaches.

Don't forget your clubs! Toronto is also very close to many golf courses. Use this tool to help locate the perfect course for you.

And, of course, let's not forget good old-fashioned Canadian eateries. Whatever your taste, Toronto's restaurants have some of the most delicious food in the World. Find great dining in the city.

Shopping

For the shopping enthusiasts, the city of Toronto is famous for its great shopping. The Toronto Eaton Centre is Canada's third largest shopping mall with over 300 shops, services, and restaurants.

Located in the heart of the shopping district, and mere moments from our front doors, is the heart of Toronto's shopping experience. Don't stop there, with many more specialty shops along Queen Street West and Yonge Street. Toronto is a shopping lovers dream.

Shopping areas not to be missed are:

• The Eaton Centre

Hours:

• Toronto Shopping at its best. 

• Mon-Fri: 10:00am - 9:00pm
• Sat: 9:30am - 7:00pm

• Sun: 12:00pm - 7:00pm

Underground Shopping Network - PATH

A true labyrinth of shopping, accessible just across the street. The Underground City Shopping area covers the entire downtown core. With over 15km of subterranean walkways, office complexes, hotels, food courts and countless other amenities.

Enjoy over 20 city blocks of hidden attractions, containing approximately 1,200 stores and services, ranging from "brand-name" stores to unique specialty shops.

Yorkville

Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto's most upscale outdoor shopping area, is in the heart of the city, only minutes from our hotel. It's a fascinating blend of old and new.

Beautifully restored Victorian houses, flower-filled courtyards, an award-winning park, sophisticated streets, and near-hidden lanes are home to 700 shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums.

Harbourfront and Queen's Quay Terminal

The Queens Quay Terminal provides much of the shopping and dining portion of the Harbourfront experience. Here you can find more than 50 specialty and one-of-a-kind stores, restaurants, and galleries, all on the waterfront. The complex could be described as a one-stop shopping location.

Hours:
Daily 10:00am - 6:00pm

Kensington Market

Kensingston Market is a haven of fresh fruit, vegetables, and dry goods stores. Some of the best local produce and meat shops are in this tight knit community. The seafood, dry goods and dollar stores on Spadina are just a few blocks away.

Kensington Avenue itself also houses several tiny cafes and the best vintage clothing stores in the city.