Lena’s Toronto Guide

Transit: We have Streetcars, Subway, Busses and Go Trains. The subway is quick, but there aren’t very many subway stops in Toronto. Busses and Streetcars are used interchangeably on major streets. The Go Train (and Go Bus) is mostly for travelling out of the city to surrounding areas. We also have typical Coach Bus companies such as Greyhound and Megabus to get to more distant cities.

Toronto is very expensive in general for food and drinks! We also have a high tax that is not shown ahead of time, but will be in your total. On top of that, we have an intense tipping culture. The norm for tipping is between 15-20%, minimum 10%. This is not mandatory, but it is almost expected.

Canadians are known for being polite, accommodating and can be friendly! Things like holding open doors and always saying “Thank you” are very normal here. People generally are not open to being approached by strangers in the street, but are okay with it in set spaces like Bars or other social spaces.

Walking is an easy way to get around Toronto, as the city is pedestrian-friendly. We have paid bike shares that you can use a credit card to use. You take the bike, pay for the chosen time, and you can drop it off at any of the company’s stops, which are all over the city. It is illegal to bike on pedestrian sidewalks.

You can try Grocery Stores instead of restaurants. Drinking at home before going out. Attending free events around the city. Many places in Toronto have a "Happy Hour" for cheaper food and drinks at a set time.

Before going anywhere in Toronto, especially on a weekend, it is better to buy tickets online ahead of time or make a reservation. Reservations can be made online or on the phone at most restaurants.

The most-used way of getting around Toronto is your maps app. This can help with transit timing, finding high-rated restaurants, phone numbers for booking for reservations, etc. If you don’t have mobile data, you can find free wifi at any Tim Hortons or Starbucks. I also recommend you download an “Offline Map” of Toronto to your app.

Toronto is a very large city, so just because it’s in the city doesn’t mean it’s nearby! Toronto is divided into named areas that you might hear the name of while you are here. Most popular: Downtown Core, Chinatown, the Gay Village, Harbourfront, Distillery District, Queen St West, Kensington Market, Entertainment District, Yorkville, The Beaches.