Toronto City Guide (Canada, 2026)

Backpacking in Toronto
🏆 Top pickcity ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The CN Tower is why most people book the flight, and the skyline from the lakefront earns its photos. What gets overlooked is that Toronto is really a ring of neighborhoods, where Portuguese bakeries, Ethiopian injera counters and Cantonese dim sum rooms sit a streetcar ride apart. Toronto sits on the northwest shore of Lake Ontario in Canada. Skip the tower’s glass floor if the line is long, because the view back at the skyline from the islands is better. The glass-and-condo downtown core is forgettable, and winter is long and gray. A cook at a Spadina dumpling counter once pointed at my tray and said, “Eat it before you talk, the steam is the best part,” and the broth scalded my tongue in exactly the right way. On a first day, I would breakfast at a market, wander west into the neighborhoods, and save the waterfront for evening.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Canada Travel Guide.

Best time to go: March - November
Population: 2.8 million [statcan.gc.ca]
Daily cost: US$114

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 city in CanadaWhat sets this place apart

Toronto works for backpackers because it packs several cities into one grid you can cover on a day pass. Hostels cluster downtown and along Queen Street West, so you can walk to live music rooms, cheap late-night food and the streetcar lines that fan out into the neighborhoods. Eating is the real draw. Few places in North America let you move from Sri Lankan to Korean to Jamaican cooking in a single afternoon, and the quality is high because these kitchens feed their own communities first. The city also sits on a useful line for a trip across eastern Canada. Union Station puts you on trains and buses toward Montreal and Ottawa, and the airport connects cheaply to the rest of the continent. Expect a high-rise, car-heavy core that feels corporate, and winters that push most of the fun indoors. … read more 👉

Toronto works for backpackers because it packs several cities into one grid you can cover on a day pass. Hostels cluster downtown and along Queen Street West, so you can walk to live music rooms, cheap late-night food and the streetcar lines that fan out into the neighborhoods. Eating is the real draw. Few places in North America let you move from Sri Lankan to Korean to Jamaican cooking in a single afternoon, and the quality is high because these kitchens feed their own communities first. The city also sits on a useful line for a trip across eastern Canada. Union Station puts you on trains and buses toward Montreal and Ottawa, and the airport connects cheaply to the rest of the continent. Expect a high-rise, car-heavy core that feels corporate, and winters that push most of the fun indoors. Give it three or four nights, spend them in the neighborhoods, and treat the downtown towers as scenery.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Toronto

CN Tower: The 553-meter landmark has a glass floor at 342 meters and an open-air deck above it. Admission runs about US$40 to 50, and the EdgeWalk, a hands-free walk around the roof, costs around US$130. Go on a clear weekday morning to avoid queues. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
Toronto Islands: A ferry from the foot of Bay Street (about US$7 return) lands you on car-free parkland with beaches, bike paths and the best skyline view. Rent a bike, head to Ward’s Island for the quiet cottages, and go on a weekday. Plan 3 to 5 hours.
St. Lawrence Market: The South Market holds more than 100 vendors. Try a peameal bacon sandwich (about US$8 to 10) and browse the cheese and fish stalls. Entry is free. Tuesday to Saturday are best, and Saturday also has a farmers’ market from early morning. About 1 to 1.5

… read more 👉

CN Tower: The 553-meter landmark has a glass floor at 342 meters and an open-air deck above it. Admission runs about US$40 to 50, and the EdgeWalk, a hands-free walk around the roof, costs around US$130. Go on a clear weekday morning to avoid queues. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours.
Toronto Islands: A ferry from the foot of Bay Street (about US$7 return) lands you on car-free parkland with beaches, bike paths and the best skyline view. Rent a bike, head to Ward’s Island for the quiet cottages, and go on a weekday. Plan 3 to 5 hours.
St. Lawrence Market: The South Market holds more than 100 vendors. Try a peameal bacon sandwich (about US$8 to 10) and browse the cheese and fish stalls. Entry is free. Tuesday to Saturday are best, and Saturday also has a farmers’ market from early morning. About 1 to 1.5 hours.
Royal Ontario Museum: Canada’s largest museum covers dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies and a strong First Nations collection, inside a jagged glass crystal addition. Adult tickets cost about US$20 to 24, and Friday evenings are quieter. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Kensington Market: A walkable tangle of vintage shops, taco counters, Caribbean spots and cheese and coffee roasters in colorful Victorian houses. It’s free to wander, and the last Sunday of each month in warm months is pedestrian-only. Go midday and stay 1.5 to 2 hours.
Art Gallery of Ontario: Home to a large Group of Seven collection, big Indigenous works and the spiral staircase designed by Frank Gehry. Adult entry is about US$22 to 25, and Wednesday evenings are often cheaper. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Distillery District: Pedestrian-only brick lanes of Victorian industrial buildings from the 1800s, now filled with galleries, craft studios and cafes. Entry is free. Come on a weekday morning for calm, or the evening for lit-up streets. Plan 1 to 1.5 hours.

Toronto also makes a good base for Niagara Falls, the wine country of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the limestone cliffs of Elora Gorge. Done at an easy pace, everything on this list fills about two full days.

Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsKey areas and districts to know

Toronto sprawls, but the parts a backpacker needs sit inside a few connected pockets, and most of them reward walking or a short streetcar ride.

Kensington Market and Chinatown: The best use of an afternoon. Narrow lanes smell of fresh-roasted coffee, fish stalls, vintage-shop dust and charcoal-grilled tacos, and the sidewalks are loud with bike bells and buskers. Spadina Avenue's Chinatown is next door for dumplings and bakery buns. Fully walkable, and cheap to eat in.
Queen West and West Queen West: Murals, record shops, thrift stores and bars along a long streetcar-rattled strip. Good for wandering and nightlife, though the far-west end gets pricier and more polished.
Downtown Core and Harbourfront: The CN Tower, Union Station and the lake. Glass towers block the wind and the crowds around

… read more 👉

Toronto sprawls, but the parts a backpacker needs sit inside a few connected pockets, and most of them reward walking or a short streetcar ride.

Kensington Market and Chinatown: The best use of an afternoon. Narrow lanes smell of fresh-roasted coffee, fish stalls, vintage-shop dust and charcoal-grilled tacos, and the sidewalks are loud with bike bells and buskers. Spadina Avenue's Chinatown is next door for dumplings and bakery buns. Fully walkable, and cheap to eat in.
Queen West and West Queen West: Murals, record shops, thrift stores and bars along a long streetcar-rattled strip. Good for wandering and nightlife, though the far-west end gets pricier and more polished.
Downtown Core and Harbourfront: The CN Tower, Union Station and the lake. Glass towers block the wind and the crowds around the tower feel heavy. See it from outside, skip the paid views unless the weather is clear, and walk the lakeside boardwalk instead.
St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District: Weekend mornings at the market mean the smell of peameal bacon and the clatter of vendors. The Distillery has red-brick lanes and cobblestones, pretty but built around shopping. Worth an hour, not a day.
The Annex and Yorkville: The Annex has student cafés and leafy streets near the university. Yorkville is designer boutiques, so skip it unless you enjoy window-shopping.
Toronto Islands: A ferry ride to car-free beaches, bike paths and a skyline view with lake wind in your face. Best on a clear day.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

A market-to-gallery day on foot and streetcar, built around eating well and staying in the west and east of downtown.

8:30 AM: St. Lawrence Market. Arrive early for a peameal bacon sandwich while the stalls are still setting up. Walk the aisles and pick up fruit for later. It’s the best breakfast stop downtown.

10:30 AM: Distillery District. Stroll east along the lakeside streets to the pedestrian-only brick lanes. Duck into the studios and galleries before the weekend crowds arrive. Ten minutes of wandering is enough if you’re not browsing.

12:30 PM: Graffiti Alley. Catch a streetcar west on Queen Street and walk the laneway just south of it, near Spadina. Local artists repaint the walls constantly, and it’s free. It’s a real working alley, so watch for delivery vans and stay out of private … read more 👉

A market-to-gallery day on foot and streetcar, built around eating well and staying in the west and east of downtown.

8:30 AM: St. Lawrence Market. Arrive early for a peameal bacon sandwich while the stalls are still setting up. Walk the aisles and pick up fruit for later. It’s the best breakfast stop downtown.

10:30 AM: Distillery District. Stroll east along the lakeside streets to the pedestrian-only brick lanes. Duck into the studios and galleries before the weekend crowds arrive. Ten minutes of wandering is enough if you’re not browsing.

12:30 PM: Graffiti Alley. Catch a streetcar west on Queen Street and walk the laneway just south of it, near Spadina. Local artists repaint the walls constantly, and it’s free. It’s a real working alley, so watch for delivery vans and stay out of private doorways.

1:30 PM: Kensington Market. Walk a short way north for lunch. Pick a taco counter or a Jamaican patty shop, then wander the vintage stores and cheese stalls along Augusta Avenue. Unlike downtown, this is where the city feels lived in.

4:00 PM: Art Gallery of Ontario. Cross Spadina Avenue to the AGO for the Group of Seven rooms and Gehry’s spiral staircase. Skip the temporary exhibits if you’re tired; the permanent collection is the draw.

6:30 PM: Harbourfront. Take a streetcar south to the water and walk the boardwalk as the city lights come on. Finish with the CN Tower looming overhead and a patio beer.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

July and August give Toronto its warmest, most festival-packed weather, but the shoulder months are better value.

Summer (June to August): Highs run 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F), with humid spells that can push past 30°C (86°F). Daylight lasts past 8:30 pm at peak. Patios, island beaches and street festivals are in full swing, and so are the highest hostel rates.
Fall (September to October): Highs of 12 to 22°C (54 to 72°F) and colorful trees in the ravines. Crowds thin and prices ease after Labor Day. The Toronto International Film Festival fills beds in early September.
Winter (December to March): Highs hover between -6 and 2°C (21 to 36°F), and nights are colder. Daylight is short, around 9 hours at the solstice. Skating rinks and the underground PATH walkway keep things going, and rates are lowest.

… read more 👉

July and August give Toronto its warmest, most festival-packed weather, but the shoulder months are better value.

Summer (June to August): Highs run 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F), with humid spells that can push past 30°C (86°F). Daylight lasts past 8:30 pm at peak. Patios, island beaches and street festivals are in full swing, and so are the highest hostel rates.
Fall (September to October): Highs of 12 to 22°C (54 to 72°F) and colorful trees in the ravines. Crowds thin and prices ease after Labor Day. The Toronto International Film Festival fills beds in early September.
Winter (December to March): Highs hover between -6 and 2°C (21 to 36°F), and nights are colder. Daylight is short, around 9 hours at the solstice. Skating rinks and the underground PATH walkway keep things going, and rates are lowest.
Spring (April to May): Cool, 8 to 18°C (46 to 64°F), with rain and blossoms in High Park in late April or May.

Book September and festival weekends early, and pack layers for any month except midsummer.

source: climatestotravel.comJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

The best areas for a budget bed in Toronto are Downtown West near Queen Street West and Spadina, and the Entertainment District or Kensington edge, where most hostels cluster. Dorm beds are easiest to find here, and you can walk to restaurants, bars and the main streetcar lines.
Queen West and the Spadina corridor suit travelers who want nightlife steps from the door. Expect street noise on weekends, especially near the club strip, so pack earplugs and ask for a room away from the street. Streets are well lit and busy until late, and 24-hour streetcar service helps if you return after midnight. … read more 👉

The best areas for a budget bed in Toronto are Downtown West near Queen Street West and Spadina, and the Entertainment District or Kensington edge, where most hostels cluster. Dorm beds are easiest to find here, and you can walk to restaurants, bars and the main streetcar lines.
Queen West and the Spadina corridor suit travelers who want nightlife steps from the door. Expect street noise on weekends, especially near the club strip, so pack earplugs and ask for a room away from the street. Streets are well lit and busy until late, and 24-hour streetcar service helps if you return after midnight.
The Church and Yonge area east of the core is the second option. It has a few budget beds, direct subway access on Line 1 and Line 2, and a quieter feel after dark, though some blocks near Dundas feel rougher at night. Pricing is a little lower than in the nightlife areas.
Book early for summer and early September, when dorm prices can double. Staying within a ten-minute walk of a subway or streetcar stop saves the most money on transport, and avoiding the suburbs near the airport is wise unless you have an early flight.

Best hostels in Toronto

Best quality hotels in Canada

🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

A TTC day of streetcars, subway and buses, paired with your own feet, is the easiest way for a backpacker to move around Toronto. The downtown core is flat and grid-like, so walking covers a lot, but the city is big and winter wind makes long walks miserable. Traffic crawls at rush hour, and the subway is reliable but limited to a few lines, so surface routes fill the gaps.

Walking: Free and the best way to cover Kensington, Queen West, Chinatown and the waterfront. Expect about 20 minutes between neighborhoods. Skip it in January or on humid August afternoons.
TTC subway, streetcar and bus: One fare is about US$2.25 (cash or tap with a card) and includes a two-hour transfer window. Service runs roughly 6 am to 2 am, with the Blue Night network after that. Streetcars on Queen, King and Spadina

… read more 👉

A TTC day of streetcars, subway and buses, paired with your own feet, is the easiest way for a backpacker to move around Toronto. The downtown core is flat and grid-like, so walking covers a lot, but the city is big and winter wind makes long walks miserable. Traffic crawls at rush hour, and the subway is reliable but limited to a few lines, so surface routes fill the gaps.

Walking: Free and the best way to cover Kensington, Queen West, Chinatown and the waterfront. Expect about 20 minutes between neighborhoods. Skip it in January or on humid August afternoons.
TTC subway, streetcar and bus: One fare is about US$2.25 (cash or tap with a card) and includes a two-hour transfer window. Service runs roughly 6 am to 2 am, with the Blue Night network after that. Streetcars on Queen, King and Spadina are slow, rattly and packed at rush hour, but they are the real Toronto experience. Day passes cost around US$8.
UP Express: A train from Pearson Airport to Union Station takes 25 minutes and costs roughly US$9 to 10. Clean and quick. The TTC 52 bus plus subway is cheaper at US$2.25, but it takes close to an hour.
Bike Share Toronto: Green bikes are docked across downtown. A day pass costs about US$7 to 10, with trips limited to 30 minutes at a time. The waterfront trail is lovely, but streets with streetcar tracks need care.
Ferries to the Islands: The ferry from the Jack Layton terminal takes 10 to 15 minutes and costs around US$7 return. Lines build on summer weekends, so go before 10 am.

Skip taxis and rideshares unless it is late and you are tired. They add up quickly, and surge pricing is common after concerts and games. Buy a Presto card if you stay more than a few days, since fares are capped on a weekly basis.

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Toronto costs roughly US$100 to 130 a day for a backpacker, with a total of US$114 in high season based on the figures below.

Category	Budget Range	Local Reality
Dorm bed (high season)	US$38 to 55	Summer and festival weekends push dorm prices up, and the cheapest beds sell out first.
Dorm bed (off-season)	US$25 to 38	November to March has the lowest rates, often with shared kitchens.
Meals	US$25 to 35	Patties, market sandwiches, Chinatown noodles and hostel groceries. Sit-down meals run US$15 to 25 plus tax and tip.
Local transport	US$4.50 to 9	Single TTC fares are about US$2.25 each, with a two-hour transfer window.
City transport pass	US$8 to 10	A day pass gives unlimited rides, worth it if you ride three or more times.
Basic activities and entry fees	US$10 to 25	Many neighborhoods and the waterfront are free,

… read more 👉

Toronto costs roughly US$100 to 130 a day for a backpacker, with a total of US$114 in high season based on the figures below.

Category	Budget Range	Local Reality
Dorm bed (high season)	US$38 to 55	Summer and festival weekends push dorm prices up, and the cheapest beds sell out first.
Dorm bed (off-season)	US$25 to 38	November to March has the lowest rates, often with shared kitchens.
Meals	US$25 to 35	Patties, market sandwiches, Chinatown noodles and hostel groceries. Sit-down meals run US$15 to 25 plus tax and tip.
Local transport	US$4.50 to 9	Single TTC fares are about US$2.25 each, with a two-hour transfer window.
City transport pass	US$8 to 10	A day pass gives unlimited rides, worth it if you ride three or more times.
Basic activities and entry fees	US$10 to 25	Many neighborhoods and the waterfront are free, while the Royal Ontario Museum costs around US$16 to 18 and the island ferry about US$7.
Miscellaneous	US$8 to 12	Laundry, coffee, a beer and sunscreen or gloves depending on season.
Total Daily Budget	US$114	High-season total using mid-range figures: bed US$45, meals US$30, transport US$7, activities US$15, extras US$10, minus overlap with a day pass.

Cook at the hostel and buy groceries at No Frills or Loblaws, which can cut food costs by half.

⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsExploring the surroundings

Toronto works well as a base for day trips, thanks to GO Transit trains and buses, though some spots need a tour or rental car.Niagara Falls: The thundering falls are worth the effort, especially from the Canadian side where the view is best. GO trains run daily and take about 2 hours, and buses take 2 to 2.5 hours, with total costs around US$30 to 50 return. Walk the promenade and skip the pricey attractions. Go midweek in June to September, and first-timers often underestimate the crowds by the falls at midday.

👉 Explore Niagara FallsHamilton Waterfalls: Hamilton has dozens of waterfalls, with Webster’s Falls and Tew Falls the best known, set in forested gorges. GO Transit gets you to Hamilton in roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, and a local bus or rideshare finishes the trip. Budget US$15 to 30. Spring … read more 👉

Toronto works well as a base for day trips, thanks to GO Transit trains and buses, though some spots need a tour or rental car.Niagara Falls: The thundering falls are worth the effort, especially from the Canadian side where the view is best. GO trains run daily and take about 2 hours, and buses take 2 to 2.5 hours, with total costs around US$30 to 50 return. Walk the promenade and skip the pricey attractions. Go midweek in June to September, and first-timers often underestimate the crowds by the falls at midday.

👉 Explore Niagara FallsHamilton Waterfalls: Hamilton has dozens of waterfalls, with Webster’s Falls and Tew Falls the best known, set in forested gorges. GO Transit gets you to Hamilton in roughly 1 to 1.5 hours, and a local bus or rideshare finishes the trip. Budget US$15 to 30. Spring has the heaviest flow, and summer weekends crowd the trails.

Niagara-on-the-Lake: A tidy village of wine estates and 19th-century storefronts about 2 hours from Toronto by bus and local transfer. Cycling between wineries is the best budget move, and tastings add roughly US$10 to 20 each. Visit in late summer when grapes ripen, and do not try to see more than three wineries in a day.

Elora Gorge: Limestone cliffs drop to a river where you can tube in summer for around US$25 to 35. There is no direct public transport, so the trip typically means a rental car or a shared ride, roughly 1.5 hours each way. Go June to August. Book tubing ahead on weekends.

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

Toronto’s food comes from its immigrant communities, so the local pleasure is variety. The classic is peameal bacon on a bun, cornmeal-crusted pork loin sold at St. Lawrence Market, salty and soft with mustard. Jamaican patties and roti from Caribbean bakeries in the west end are cheap and filling, usually around US$2 to 5. Dim sum and noodle soups in Chinatown along Spadina are best on weekend mornings, when steam carts and clattering plates crowd every room.
For budget eating, Kensington Market has tacos, empanadas and falafel stands, while the Annex and Koreatown on Bloor have all-night Korean fried chicken and hot pots. Expect around US$8 to 15 for a filling meal. Food courts in the PATH and the Eaton Centre are quick and cheap, though without character.
For drinks, craft beer is strong, … read more 👉

Toronto’s food comes from its immigrant communities, so the local pleasure is variety. The classic is peameal bacon on a bun, cornmeal-crusted pork loin sold at St. Lawrence Market, salty and soft with mustard. Jamaican patties and roti from Caribbean bakeries in the west end are cheap and filling, usually around US$2 to 5. Dim sum and noodle soups in Chinatown along Spadina are best on weekend mornings, when steam carts and clattering plates crowd every room.
For budget eating, Kensington Market has tacos, empanadas and falafel stands, while the Annex and Koreatown on Bloor have all-night Korean fried chicken and hot pots. Expect around US$8 to 15 for a filling meal. Food courts in the PATH and the Eaton Centre are quick and cheap, though without character.
For drinks, craft beer is strong, with breweries clustered in the Distillery District and Leslieville, and pints cost about US$6 to 8. Tipping 15 to 20 percent is standard at sit-down places, and tax is added at the till, so menu prices are lower than what you pay.

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

Toronto is one of the safer big cities in North America, and most trouble is petty. Pickpocketing and phone snatching happen on crowded streetcars, in Union Station and around Yonge-Dundas Square, so keep your bag zipped in front of you and your phone out of your back pocket. Bike theft is common, so lock yours to something solid and take your lights with you. Some stretches around Dundas and Sherbourne and the area around Moss Park feel rough after dark, with open drug use, and the best response is to walk with purpose and take another route. Solo travelers, including women, generally find nights straightforward on busy streets, and the subway and streetcars are used late. Rideshares are cheap enough for late return trips. Scams are mild: fake charity petitions and ticket resellers near events … read more 👉

Toronto is one of the safer big cities in North America, and most trouble is petty. Pickpocketing and phone snatching happen on crowded streetcars, in Union Station and around Yonge-Dundas Square, so keep your bag zipped in front of you and your phone out of your back pocket. Bike theft is common, so lock yours to something solid and take your lights with you. Some stretches around Dundas and Sherbourne and the area around Moss Park feel rough after dark, with open drug use, and the best response is to walk with purpose and take another route. Solo travelers, including women, generally find nights straightforward on busy streets, and the subway and streetcars are used late. Rideshares are cheap enough for late return trips. Scams are mild: fake charity petitions and ticket resellers near events are the usual ones, and a polite no works fine. In winter, the real hazard is the cold, so dress properly and watch for icy sidewalks.

Check Country Safety

FAQTraveler FAQ

Three days is enough for Toronto’s main sights, with a fourth day for Niagara Falls, about 2 hours away by bus or train. Spend day one around Kensington Market, Chinatown and Queen West, day two on the CN Tower area, waterfront and Toronto Islands (ferry about US$7 return), and day three at the Royal Ontario Museum or St. Lawrence Market.

Yes, Toronto is safe for solo backpackers, and its busy streets and late-running transit make it easy to get around alone. The main risks are pickpocketing on crowded streetcars and around Yonge-Dundas Square, plus a few rough blocks near Dundas and Sherbourne after dark. Rideshares for late returns cost around US$10 to 20, and hostels in Queen West and Spadina sit on well-lit streets.

Toronto is known for the CN Tower, its multicultural neighborhoods and food scene, and major sports teams like the Maple Leafs and Raptors. It also hosts the Toronto International Film Festival each September and sits close to Niagara Falls, about 2 hours away. You can sample Chinatown dim sum, Kensington Market tacos and St. Lawrence Market peameal bacon for around US$8 to 15 a meal.

⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Canadian cities near Toronto

Explore more nearby:

Kingston—Limestone fortress, prison tours, harbor cruises, lakefront market| 240 km away
Ottawa—Parliament lawn, canal skating, national museums, tulip basin| 352 km away
Montreal—Plateau murals, smoked meat, Mile End bagels, mountain park| 504 km away

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

Toronto rewards three or four nights. Two is enough for the big sights, but the neighborhoods only start to make sense on day three, when you stop checking a map and just follow the smell of baking bread. I would stay a day longer than planned, skip the tower’s glass floor, and spend that time eating through Kensington and Chinatown.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.

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👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpack

Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story

Canada🇨🇦 | citiesTorontoNeighborhood food, island skyline, CN Tower, Kensington lanes | things to do and best time to go

Backpacking in Toronto
🏆 Top pickcity ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 city in CanadaWhat sets this place apart

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Toronto

Things to do in Toronto

Private Transfer Toronto Pearson Airport To Toronto Hotels/Airbnb

St. Clair West and Casa Loma Food and Walking Experience

Guided Bicycle Tour - Toronto Waterfront, Island and Distillery

Private Toronto Airport Transfer Service to City centre Toronto

Niagara Falls in Spanish

Exploring The Heart of Downtown Toronto

Customizable Walking Tour of Toronto's Hidden Gems

Niagara Waterfall Adventure

Riverside and Leslieville Food and Walking Experience

Niagara Falls Day Tour from Toronto: Cruise & Behind Falls

🏘️ NeighborhoodsKey areas and districts to know

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutCanada Travel Guide

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

🚌 Day tripsExploring the surroundings

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

FAQTraveler FAQ

Other Canadian cities near Toronto

We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Canada🇨🇦 | citiesTorontoNeighborhood food, island skyline, CN Tower, Kensington lanes | things to do and best time to go

Backpacking in Toronto🏆 Top pickcity ranked #3By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026addMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73cbe0')

✨ Why go?Ranked #3 city in CanadaaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73dd42')What sets this place apartaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73dd4b')

💡 HighlightsaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73ee99')Essential experiences to have while visiting TorontoaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73eea0')

Things to do in Toronto

Private Transfer Toronto Pearson Airport To Toronto Hotels/Airbnb

St. Clair West and Casa Loma Food and Walking Experience

Guided Bicycle Tour - Toronto Waterfront, Island and Distillery

Private Toronto Airport Transfer Service to City centre Toronto

Niagara Falls in Spanish

Exploring The Heart of Downtown Toronto

Customizable Walking Tour of Toronto's Hidden Gems

Niagara Waterfall Adventure

Riverside and Leslieville Food and Walking Experience

Niagara Falls Day Tour from Toronto: Cruise & Behind Falls

🏘️ NeighborhoodsaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73f811')Key areas and districts to knowaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c73f81a')

⌛️ 1 dayaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c740492')What you can realistically do in a dayaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c740497')

🌤️ When to go?addMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c740dd0')Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offsaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c740dd6')

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutCanada Travel Guide

🛏️ Where to stay?addMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c741e08')How to pick the right areaaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c741e0d')

🚌 Getting aroundaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c7426dd')Moving around without the hassleaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c7426e2')

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)addMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c74317a')Typical daily expensesaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c74317e')

🚌 Day tripsaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c755efe')Exploring the surroundingsaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c755f0b')

🍲 FoodaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c7565b4')Local Cuisine & DrinksaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c7565b9')

🛡️ SafetyaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c756c49')Staying Safe: What Travelers Should KnowaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c756c4f')

FAQaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c756d12')Traveler FAQaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c756d17')

Other Canadian cities near TorontoaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c7599db')

We 💚 feedbackaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c759c25')What to keep in mindaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c759c2c')

👋 Meet the founderaddMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c759ca8')Who’s Behind Take Your Backpack?addMaskedRevealAnimation('6adbe4c759caf')

Backpacking in Toronto
🏆 Top pickcity ranked #3
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

✨ Why go?
Ranked #3 city in CanadaWhat sets this place apart

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Toronto

🏘️ NeighborhoodsKey areas and districts to know

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

🚌 Day tripsExploring the surroundings

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

🛡️ SafetyStaying Safe: What Travelers Should Know

FAQTraveler FAQ

Other Canadian cities near Toronto

We 💚 feedbackWhat to keep in mind

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?