Toronto

Toronto is one of the world’s most multicultural cities — over half its population was born outside Canada — and that extraordinary diversity infuses every aspect of city life, from its food scene to its neighbourhoods and its cultural calendar. The CN Tower, soaring 553 metres above the lakefront, remains an icon of the city and offers spectacular views from its glass floor observation deck. Ripley’s Aquarium at its base is excellent for families.

The Distillery District, a beautifully restored Victorian industrial complex of red-brick buildings, is now home to galleries, boutiques, excellent restaurants and a lively events calendar year-round. Kensington Market, just west of the city centre, is a bohemian neighbourhood of vintage shops, international street food and a colourful, counter-cultural energy. The Annex and Yorkville offer a more upscale character — excellent independent bookshops, designer boutiques and some of the city’s finest restaurants.

Toronto’s museums are outstanding. The Royal Ontario Museum holds one of North America’s finest collections of natural history, world culture and art. The Art Gallery of Ontario — dramatically redesigned by Frank Gehry — houses an exceptional collection from European masters to contemporary Canadian art. The Aga Khan Museum in the north of the city is the only museum in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to the art and cultures of Muslim civilisation.

A day trip to Niagara Falls, just 90 minutes south of the city, is essential — the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side are genuinely breathtaking in scale. The Niagara wine region along the Niagara Escarpment produces excellent ice wine and Pinot Noir. Toronto is visited year-round, with summer (June to September) offering the best weather and the richest outdoor events calendar.