Big names such as Drake and Jim Carrey hail from Toronto, and though it's barely 2 hours away from New York, not many might know of this bustling city - and that's a shame! Especially when Toronto offers a plethora of attractions and even halal food for Muslim travelers. I'm not one to fancy city life, but the fact that Toronto offers a good mix of the city and country - it's truly the perfect place to be☺️
Credit: giphyIn case you've never heard of Toronto, here are 10 reasons why you should visit this city at once ✈️
#HHWT Tip: Plan your time well when exploring Toronto. Take note of the opening and closing time of the places, especially on Sundays as it's marked as their 'family days'.
1. CN Tower
Overlooking the city of Toronto, the CN Tower stands at 553m tall and is one of the most symbolic landmarks of Toronto! It offers you amazing views of the whole city, and there is even a section in the tower which has a glass floor. You can truly see yourself on top of the world here?
If being on the inside is not good enough for you, talk a walk outside instead. That's right! On the roof of the CN Tower's restaurant, at 356m above the ground. The tower offers Toronto's tallest extreme urban adventure where you will enjoy a 1.5 hour experience with a 20-30 minutes outdoor walk. Toronto can't get anymore stunning than this?
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Address: 301 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6
Opening Hours: 9am to 10.30pm daily
Ticket prices: Senior (65+) $30.00, Adult (13-64) $35.00, Child (4-12) $25.00
Nearest subway station: Union Station
Halal Food Near CN Tower
Baba Geddo
Tacos, shawarma and falafel are just some of Baba Geddo's specialities! Sink your teeth into the tender meat of the tacos, which makes the perfect companion to the crunchy nachos - all nicely wrapped. The best part of this establishment serving Egyptian food is that it has a full halal menu and is alcohol free!
Credit: @impulsivityapp on Instagram
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 69 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5V 2C5
How to get there:15mins walk from CN Tower
Opening times: 11.00am to 10.00pm daily
2. Yonge-Dundas Square
Akin to Singapore's Orchard Road, this is the place to go for shopping in Toronto! Toronto Eaton Centre is the biggest shopping mall in the city and if that is still not enough, there are malls surrounding the Centre too.
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There are many international and familiar brands there, and all at a cheaper price because many of these brands originate from America. Apart from these, some must-visit stores unique to the region include Nordstrom, J Crew, Ardene (really cheap and products are of decent quality), the Disney Store and Indigo (they have really amazing products and books)! And in case you're looking for brands such as Kate Spade, they are located at the top floor of Eaton Centre.
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Address: 220 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 2H1
Opening hours: (Monday to Friday) 10am to 9.30pm, (Saturday) 9.30am to 9.30pm, (Sunday) 10am to 7pm
Nearest subway station: Dundas Station
Halal Food Near Yonge-Dundas Square
The Halal Guys
While I was in Canada, the only place I could try this renowned food chain was when I crossed over to New York. But there's no need for that anymore as The Halal Guys opened a Canada outlet in downtown Toronto last year!
Credit: The Halal Guys (Toronto, Ontario) on Facebook
Try the chicken or beef rice platters, or if you're looking for something a tad lighter, choose their wrap. One thing's for sure - their signature white sauce is a must-try?
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 563 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z2, Canada
How to get there: 3mins walk from Yonge-Dundas Square
Opening times: 11.00am to 10.00pm daily
3. Casa Loma
Experience the grandeur Toronto has to offer at Casa Loma! This castle has 5 acres of garden, 98 rooms, secret passageways, stables and - wait for it - an underground tunnel of its own ? If you've always wanted to experience a tinge of royalty, this is the place for you.
Credit: @casalomatoronto on Instagram
Considering how the land surrounding the castle is as beautiful as the interior of it, you would definitely have to take your time in roaming around that much space!
P.S. Remember to take many photos to remind yourself of the few hours you've spent as someone of a royal descent?
Credit: [bastian.] on Flickr
Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8
Opening Hours: 9.30am to 5pm daily
Ticket prices: Adults (18-59) $25, Seniors (60+) and Youths (14-17) $20, Children (4-13) $15, Children (under 3) free admission
Nearest subway station: St Clair Station
Halal Food Near Casa Loma
Steak and Cheese Factory
Poutine is one of Canada's local dish, and it's really delicious (I mean, i ate it at least once a week...) But this restaurant takes it a notch higher by adding steak and eggs to the cheese curds and brown gravy normally found in poutine. Yum! ?
Credit: @steakandcheesefactorytoronto on Instagram
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 50 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5B 1J6
How to get there: Take a straight bus 97, 98 or 320 from Yonge St at Balmoral Ave, alight at Yonge St at College Park
Opening times: (Mondays to Saturdays) 11am to 9pm, (Sundays) 11.30am to 9pm
4. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
The name 'Ripley' itself is synonymous with astounding, and truly this aquarium is bound to amaze you with nine different galleries of marine life, and some 16,000 marine animals! This is one place which will really make you feel like you're in the sea - without getting wet. Perfect for those who are afraid of getting wet☺️
Credit: Chimpr on Flickr
Unlike many other aquariums which does not offer visitors any activities other than to view their marine life, Ripley's Aquarium has a myriad of activities for visitors to wholly immerse themselves in the experience. One of such activities is the stingray experience, where you can get up close and personal to stingrays (under safe conditions, of course!)
Credit: @ripleysaquaca on Instagram
Address: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9
Opening Hours: (Sat to Wed) 9am to 11pm, (Thurs - Fri) 9am to 6pm
Ticket prices: Seniors (65+) and Youths (6-13) $17.98, Adult $27.98, Child (3-5) $6.98
Nearest subway station: Union Station
Halal Food Near Ripley's Aquarium
Burger Factory
Apart from their amazing burgers and tornado fries, try one of the desserts only available in Canada, funnel cakes! It tastes best when topped with ice cream, powdered sugar and drizzled with chocolate sauce ?
Credit: @halalfoodie on Instagram
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 265 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4
How to get there:15mins walk from the Aquarium
Opening times: (Mon to Wed) 11am to 11pm, (Thurs to Sat) 11am to 1am, (Sun) 11am to 10pm
5. Hockey Hall of Fame
You can't say you've experienced true Canadian spirit without going for at least one of their ice hockey matches. It's almost like watching the NBA - live! And it's not just the game which would amaze you. The cheers of the audience, coupled with the entire ambience of the hall will leave you with an experience to remember.
Credit: @danitalari on Instagram
If you're not a fan of ice hockey, you don't have to sit through a whole game. The good news is, you can still experience the wonders of ice hockey at your own time - in an entire building dedicated to hockey! In there is a hockey museum as well as a one-stop shop for everything hockey?
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Address: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8
Opening Hours: (Mon to Fri) 10am to 5pm, (Sat) 9.30am to 6pm, (Sun) 10.30am to 5pm
Nearest subway station: King Station
Halal Food Near Hockey Hall Of Fame
Sukhothai
Now, this is not just any thai food. This is the best halal thai food in Toronto. I've lost count of the number of times I've eaten there ? Be sure to taste some of Sukhothai's unique dishes such as Panang Salmon!
Credit: @sukhothaifood on Instagram
Note: This establishment serves alcohol so dine at your own discretion.
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 52 Wellington St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C7
How to get there:4mins walk from the Hockey Hall of Fame
Opening times: (Mon to Fri) 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 10pm, (Sat to Sun) 5pm to 10pm
6. Canada's Wonderland
Acres and acres of fun await you at Canada's Wonderland! Scream your heart out on the roller coaster, but make sure you open your eyes to witness the stunning view surrounding you. With both the dry park and wet park for you to play in, it's a must to dedicate at least an entire day to this attraction ?
Credit: @canadaswonderland on Instagram
Address: 1 Canada's Wonderland Drive, Vaughan, ON L6A 1S6
Opening Hours: Varies according to season. Check out the schedule before visiting
Nearest subway station: Nil. Take GO Transit Route 60 instead.
Halal Food Near Canada's Wonderland
Teriyaki Experience
Located in the Wonderland itself, this restaurant serves Japanese food - in particular, sushi! One would not expect halal sushi in Western countries, but Canada never falls short of halal cuisine. All chicken and beef items served here are halal ☺️
Credit: @teriyakiexperience on Instagram
7. Toronto Island
If you need a quick escape from the hustle and bustle of city life in Toronto, hop on a boat and you'll reach almost a whole new world in a matter of minutes! Even if you don't, this place is still worth a visit - especially when it offers such spectacular views of Toronto for a cheap price?
One of the best parts of the island, apart from its beaches, is its amusement park! I really loved the old-school feel the park had. Children are bound to love this park too!
Credit: Norman Maddeaux on Flickr
Also nestled in the heart of the island are boat houses which make for a pretty cool sight. I mean, it's not everyday you get to see boat houses up close. And if you're lucky, you might even see people building their own boat houses!
Credit: Tomatoes From Canada
How to get there: 8mins walk from Union Station, take the ferry. Check out the ferry schedule to plan your trip
Ferry rates: (Adult) $7.50, Students (15-19) and Seniors (65+) $5, Juniors (2-14) $3.65
There is no halal food on this island so if you're planning to stay the entire day (which you should!), it would be best to pack some food and have a nice picnic on the island.
8. Chinatown
This might not be the most aesthetically appealing place in Toronto, but it's appeal is in a different sense. This is the place to go to for cheap souvenirs! I think I bought most of my souvenirs here? And for Asians living in Canada, this is the place to go for Asian supermarkets and cheaper groceries!
Credit: @maritzamurcia on Instagram
How to get there: Alight at Dundas Station. Take bus 505 to Chinatown.
Halal Food Near Chinatown
The Burgernator
This restaurant lies in the Chinatown district and offers an eclectic array of burgers! To top off the amazing menu, the restaurant is owned by a really friendly Muslim☺️
Credit: @tburgernator on Instagram
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Address: 269 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2M1
How to get there: 11mins walk around Chinatown
Opening times: (Mon to Sat) 11am to 10pm, (Sun) 11am to 8pm
9. Kensington Market
Located a stone's throw away from Chinatown is Toronto's 'hipster' spot. Here, you will find many thrift shops and buildings decorated with cool-looking graffiti! This place is like the Western version of Singapore's Arab Street ?
How to get there: Alight at Dundas Station. Take bus 505 to Kensington Market.
Halal Food Near Kensington Market
The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles
You might walk past this restaurant while you're in Kensington Market! The restaurant has a full-halal menu, serving amazing waffles among many other food items. And unlike great waffles which come with ice cream, this one tastes even better when topped with chicken and drizzled with sauce ?
Credit: @dirtybirdto on Instagram
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 79 Kensington Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2K2
Opening Hours: (Sun to Thurs) 11am to 8pm, (Fri to Sat) 11am to 10pm
10. Royal Ontario Museum
If you think the Art Science Museum in Singapore looks 'different', you must have not seen the Royal Ontario Museum. Now, this is unique.
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It has many exhibits but one of the main stars of the museum is the dinosaur exhibit! Go back in time as you see the dinosaurs up close and learn more about them. And of course, be sure to snap many pictures while you're at it☺️
Credit: @rojalaw on Instagram
Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6
Opening Hours: 10am to 5.30pm daily
Nearest subway station: St George Station
Halal Food Near Ontario Museum
Paramount Fine Foods
It's hard to find establishments which are halal-certified, as many of them are either Muslim-owned or have a halal menu. But this restaurant right here, is truly a gem! It serves one of the best halal food in the city and the ambience of the restaurant is perfect to bring your other half, or even family to dine. Each of their main course comes with a basket of homemade pita bread, straight from their wood-burning oven. I must say, sometimes I go just for the bread because it's that good ?
Credit: @paramountfinefoodsofficial on Instagram
Halal status: Halal-certified
Address: 1250 Bay St, Toronto, ON M5R 2B1
How to get there:8mins walk from the Museum
Opening times: (Sundays to Thursdays) 8am to 10pm, (Fridays to Saturdays) 8am to 11 pm
BONUS: Toronto Botanical Gardens
Many of you might be thinking "uh..a botanical gardens? I have that back home." But don't dismiss this Garden just yet! This is one of Toronto's hidden gems, and is especially gorgeous during fall (September to early December).
Nature is your best friend here - and your natural backdrop for stunning photos. Lay down on a pile of leaves, or sit on the logs around the Garden. This garden is definitely worth a visit during fall!
Address: 777 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3C 1P2
Opening Hours: (Mon to Fri) 9am to 5pm, (Sat to Sun) 10am to 5pm
Nearest subway station: Eglington Station. Take bus 54, 320 or 354 to the Gardens.
Halal Food Near Toronto Botanical Gardens
Pizza Land Halal Restaurant
Though the name of this restaurant is alluded to pizzas, the star of their menu is their wings! Dipped in BBQ or honey sauce, the chicken here is often raved about. The entire establishment is halal?
Credit: @hungryhiba on Instagram
Halal status: Halal meat available
Address: 1801 Lawrence Ave E #4, Scarborough, ON M1R 2X7
How to get there: Take bus 54, 320 or 354 to Pizzaland (12mins ride)
Opening times: (Mon, Wed, Thurs) 11am to 10pm, (Fri) 11am to 11pm, (Sat) 12pm to 11pm, (Sun) 12pm to 10pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
If you're going to Toronto for only a few days, I would recommend buying the Toronto City Pass to save money on attractions. The booklet you get will also contain many tips for visiting the different attractions! I'm sure you would find Toronto to be as amazing a place as I did☺️