Like any other big city with its panoply of overpriced fashion, costly accommodation, fine dining and steep parking rates, Toronto can easily milk your pockets dry. But this multicultural metropolis with its diverse array of activities and entertainment to suit all tastes can also be enjoyed on a budget. The key is knowing where to go. Here are some suggestions on how to see and experience Toronto without losing your shirt.
Culture vultures can feast their eyes on Chinese Temple Art or Jurassic dinosaurs for free on Fridays after 4:30 pm at the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen's Park), North America's 5th largest, or ogle Marilyn Monroe's red leather pumps at the Bata Shoe Museum (327 Bloor St. W, admission $8). You can also get a breath-taking view of the city from the 553-metre high CN tower (least crowded after 7 pm) without breaking the bank by purchasing a $55 CityPass which includes admission to six of Toronto's most notorious landmarks.
When hunger strikes, head to the entertainment district where streets buzz with life come Fridays. Upscale veggie fare at Fressen (478 Queen St. West), and Laotian cuisine at the Queen Mother Café (208 Queen St. West), are wallet-friendly and serve up great ambience to boot. A fun alternative is the Korean Grill House (214 Queen St. West), whose built-in table grills allow you to cook your own food, or the delicious wraps at Bistro 333 (333 King St. West), where you can later dance the calories away at Club Menage upstairs (ladies free Fridays). If you get the munchies after hitting the district's action-packed bars and lounges, Burrito Boyz (120 Peter St., everything under $6) and Naz's Falafel House (118 John St., $3.75 falafels) serve late-night grub until 4 am.
After a full-breakfast at Over Easy (208 Bloor St. West), you can explore the Gothic buildings, English courtyards and romantic walkways of the University of Toronto on a free guided tour (25 King's College Circle, 11 am). Theatre buffs can get same-day discount tickets at Yonge & Dundas Square until 6.30 pm.
Explore the Gothic buildings, English courtyards and romantic walkways
of the University of Toronto on a free guided tour.
The affluent Victorian neighbourhood of Yorkville with its upscale restos, antique shops, designer boutiques and cobblestone courtyards serves up some serious eye candy and shopping celebs. Although more drooling and gazing can be done on posh Bloor Street West (Toronto's Rodeo Drive) with its Gucci, Channel, Louis Vuitton and Prada flagship stores, real guilt-free shopping is to be had by combing through the inexpensive stores on the ground floor of the Eaton Centre and the eclectic shops lining Yonge Street where The Shoe Company (711 Yonge St.), H&M, and London-based chain Accessorize (320 Queen St. West), lure those on a shoestring budget. Meandering along trendy, bohemian Queen Street West is a must; you might savour premier coffee at Lettieri espresso bar or even snag affordable undergarments at Chocky's, casual wear at Bluenotes, or funky hand-crafted vinyl bags at Fleurtje. If you're feeling peckish after all that walking, don't miss the classy pan-Asian Spring Rolls (38 Dundas St. West), or Thai Salad King's curry dishes (335 Yonge St).
If you're aching for dessert, check out dessert parlour Café Demetre (400 Danforth Ave.), in Greektown which packs the house with gourmet ice cream, oversized sundaes, crepes and shakes; Greg's all-natural homemade ice cream (750 Spadina Ave., voted as Toronto's best) with unique flavours like roasted marshmallow and cinnamon nutmeg; and Future's Bakery (483 Bloor St. West), which offers over 30 cakes and pies.
Sunday is best spent rambling through Hogtown's diverse neighbourhoods after a hearty brunch at Le Petit Dejeuner (191 King St., $11) or at Toronto favourite Auntie's and Uncle's (74 Lippincott St., go early for the waffles). Kensington Market will appeal to bargain hunters with its oodles of vintage shops and knick-knack stores while the chaotic streets of Chinatown can be a great place for a $4-5 lunch. Those craving a more European ambience can roam through the quaint streets of Greektown or stroll through the charming streets of Little Italy and witness the bustling café culture at the numerous coffee bars and trattorias like Kalendar and Café Diplomatico along College Street.
Whether it be exploring, dining, shopping or sight-seeing, this multifaceted city of 2.5 million can easily be managed on a budget.
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