Where to Stay in Toronto for the First Time

King Street West is the spine of this neighborhood, running from Spadina Avenue east to Bay Street. You are 5 minutes on foot from the CN Tower, 8 minutes from Union Station, and 10 minutes from the waterfront. Hotels cluster along Front Street West and Blue Jays Way. The Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena are both here, so expect noise on game nights. Walk north on Bay Street to reach the financial district coffee shops and lunch spots. Grocery options are limited but convenience stores sit at every corner. This is the most practical choice for a first visit to Toronto.

Best for

First-timerssports fansshort stays under 3 nights

Walk times

CN Tower 5 min
Union Station 8 min
Scotiabank Arena 6 min

Skip if: You want quiet evenings or a neighborhood feel. This area loses personality after office hours.

Local tip: Ask the hotel front desk for a PRESTO card top-up location. The subway and streetcar network from King Station covers the entire city for $3.30 CAD a ride.

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Yorkville

Toronto's upscale neighborhood for travelers who want comfort and culture

Budget $0-$0/night

Yorkville sits north of Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Bay Street. The Four Seasons and Hazelton Hotel anchor the luxury end on Yorkville Avenue and Hazelton Avenue. The Royal Ontario Museum is 5 minutes south on Bloor Street. Cumberland Street has a dozen restaurants within one block. Boutiques line Bloor Street from Bay to Avenue Road. The subway stop at Bay or Bloor-Yonge puts you anywhere in 20 minutes. It feels safe and walkable at all hours. The one drawback is price. Expect to pay more here than anywhere else in central Toronto.

Best for

Couplesluxury travelersmuseum-goersbusiness trips with an extra night

Walk times

Royal Ontario Museum 5 min
Bloor-Yonge Subway Station 4 min
University of Toronto St. George campus 12 min

Skip if: You are on a budget. Even mid-range hotels here cost 30% more than downtown equivalents for similar rooms.

Local tip: The Village of Yorkville Park on Cumberland Street has free benches and a chunk of the Canadian Shield embedded in the ground. Odd and worth 10 minutes of your time.

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Kensington Market

The budget pick with real Toronto character

Budget $0-$0/night

Kensington Market is a 10-block area bordered by College Street to the north, Spadina Avenue to the east, and Dundas Street West to the south. Augusta Avenue is the main artery, lined with vintage shops, Caribbean food stalls, and cheese stores. The Art Gallery of Ontario on Dundas Street West is a 10-minute walk. Chinatown starts at Spadina, one street over. Budget hotels and B&Bs sit on Dundas and College. The streetcar on College takes you east to the University of Toronto campus in under 15 minutes. Loud on weekends. Very quiet by 10pm Monday through Thursday.

Best for

Solo travelersbudget travelerspeople who want to eat well for under $15 a meal

Walk times

Art Gallery of Ontario 10 min
Chinatown at Spadina and Dundas 5 min
Trinity Bellwoods Park 12 min

Skip if: You need parking. Street parking is nearly impossible and there are no hotel lots in this area.

Local tip: Caplansky's Deli on College Street serves the best smoked meat sandwich in the city. Go at lunch before the line forms. Cash only for the cheapest items.

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Distillery District and St. Lawrence Market

Historic brick lanes and the best food market in the city

Budget $0-$0/night

This neighborhood runs along King Street East from Parliament Street east to Cherry Street. The Distillery District is a pedestrian-only complex of Victorian industrial buildings from the 1850s converted into restaurants, galleries, and shops. St. Lawrence Market on Front Street East is 8 minutes west on foot. It opens Saturdays at 5am and closes at 3pm. Hotels on King Street East and Front Street East offer more space and lower prices than downtown core equivalents. The King streetcar connects you west to the Entertainment District in 12 minutes. The LCBO flagship store on Front Street is one minute away from most hotels here.

Best for

Food loversarchitecture fanscouplestravelers who want character without paying Yorkville prices

Walk times

St. Lawrence Market 8 min
Distillery District entrance on Trinity Street 10 min
Union Station 15 min

Skip if: You have a show at Scotiabank Arena. It is 20 minutes on the King streetcar, not a quick walk.

Local tip: St. Lawrence Market's peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery costs $7 CAD and has been on the menu since 1970. Saturday morning only. Get there before 9am or you wait 20 minutes in line.

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