Welcome to Toronto, Where is a kind of New York operated by the Swiss.CN Tower
Defining the Toronto skyline at 553.33m (1,815ft5in), the CN Tower is Canada’s most recognizable and celebrated icon. The CN Tower is an internationally renowned architectural triumph, an engineering Wonder of the Modern World, world-class entertainment and dining destination and a must see for anyone visiting Toronto. Each year, over 1.5 million people visit Canada’s National Tower to take in the breathtaking views and enjoy all the CN Tower has to offer.
Read More
1. It has some of the best educational centres in the World
Whether your child is in elementary school or college, Toronto offers top educational facilities so that your kids can get a high-level learning experience. The city’s public schools are great, and there are a number of highly regarded private schools as well. The University of Toronto, York University, Ryerson University and Humber College, which are some of the best colleges in North America, have a wide range of courses and subject areas so that every youngster can study to their heart’s content.
3. It’s famous for its multiculturalism
Toronto is famous for being culturally diverse, since the local population is made up of more than 200 different ethnic groups, which speak more than 140 dialects and languages. According to a study conducted in 2006, 47% of the city’s population had a different mother tongue than English or French. The most popular languages spoken are Chinese, Italian, Punjabi, Filipino and Portuguese.
5. It’s easy to get around
Although a relatively large city, Toronto is very easy to navigate, either on foot or by public transport. The city is built on a plain grid and block system, so you’ll probably never get lost when you’re walking around. The city’s subway network is one of the simplest in the world, with only two primary lines. The Toronto Transit Commission rates aren’t at all expensive – a ride will cost you $3, and you can even buy a day pass for $10.75 and get on and off as many times as you wish.
7. Business is flourishing
Toronto is one of the top financial centres in the world, and is also home to 8 out of the 10 fastest-growing IT companies in the country. The city ranks high in terms of employment of young people. The Youthful City Index rated the city 3rd in the world in terms of its economic status in 2014. The city is also a leader in innovation sectors such as energy efficiency and electric vehicles, and has the 2nd largest number of biotechnological companies in the world.
9. Festivals are held year-round
As one of the leading cultural centres of North America, Toronto is home to many world-class events and festivals, which add color and even more diversity to local life. The Toronto Jazz Festival is one of the largest jazz events on the continent, held every year for ten days in late June through early July. The famous Toronto International Film Festival is also held yearly in the month of September, and today has become one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the world. There are also a number of free festivals and events in which one can participate, such as the Busker Fest, the Caribana (the largest street festival in North America), the Nuit Blanche, the Pride Festival and the Taste of Danforth Festival.
2. It’s safe
Toronto has a long reputation of being one of the safest metropolitan cities in North America. According to a 2012 study, the homicide rate in the city was 2 per 100,000 people, which is very small compared to Chicago (18.5 per 100,000 people) or Boston (9 per 100,000 people). The city’s robbery rate is also low (207.1 robberies per 100,000 people) in comparison with Chicago (588.6 robberies), New York City (265.9 robberies) .
4. The food is similarly diverse
Because so many different cultures live together in just one city, the food scene is unbelievably colourful, whether you’re in the mood for Chinese dumplings, Italian pasta, Vietnamese noodle soup, some Greek salad, or an Ethiopian injera, you will definitely find the restaurant serving the dish of your choice right around the corner. If you’re looking for something Canadian, poutine, butter tarts and samon jerky are national favorites.
6. It’s close to nature
Whenever the city’s many skyscrapers and tall, glass-façade constructions start to get you down, you can escape the concrete jungle by heading to one of the many green parks the city has to offer, such as Ashbridge’s Bay Park, Bluffer’s Park, High Park, Rouge Park, or Riverdale Park. You can also hop on the closest ferry and get to the calm Toronto Islands in half an hour, to enjoy a lovely day of paddling on the lake or even swimming at Manitou Beach or Centre Island Beach.
8. It has a very active and colourful nightlife
Whether you’re into partying ‘till the break of dawn, or you just want to grab a beer and shoot some pool with your buddies, Toronto has something for everyone. There’s a wide variety of venues on offer, including sports bars, pool bars, rooftop bars, arcade bars, do-it-yourself cocktail bars, nightclubs, pubs and cafes.
10. It’s one of the best Canadian cities for shopping
No matter what you’re looking to buy, you can most certainly come across it in Toronto. It has two great malls: Yorkdale Mall and Eaton Centre – the latter has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction. Queen Street is the place to go when searching for unique boutiques, whilst Bloor Street is famous for its numerous high-end shops. If you’re looking for organic, freshly grown produce be sure to check out Kensington Market and St. Lawrence Market – the latter was declared the best food market in the world by National Geographic.