Situated along the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is one of Canada’s major cities, which also happens to be its largest city. It is a dynamic city boasting of diversity and all touristy things. The city is packed with an array of towering buildings that fills up the skyline and make for a breathtaking cityscape. Toronto has always been one of the favorite tourist destinations in Canada for all the right reasons. It is home to countless tourist attractions, including museums, galleries, islands, worldwide famous CN Tower, and not to mention, Niagara Falls, which is only a 1 to 2-hour drive from the city. The reasons to visit Toronto are many, and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time, but committing a few tourist mistakes might make your trip a lot less fun and happening. While everybody needs some time to get used to the new environment and a completely different place, the best way to enjoy the destination is to explore it like a local, and everything will become 10 times more fun and amazing. To help you make sure that you make the most of your Toronto trip, we have put together a list of a few common mistakes that you should avoid making as a tourist.

 

Choosing Downtown as your base

Although Downtown is a very popular area in Toronto and is home to some of the main tourist attractions, choosing it as your base is probably not the smartest thing to do. Toronto might not have the most advanced subway system, it certainly has other means to get you around the city like TTC. Instead of choosing downtown as your base, look for other options like one of the city’s many cool neighborhoods that won’t only offer you a different perspective on the city but will also save you a lot of money. You can easily find a plethora of accommodation options in the neighborhoods such as Airbnb or vacation rental.

 

Visiting the major attractions only

Like we said, for you to feel comfortable in a new place, it’s important to feel like a local and not a tourist. And the best start to it can be by exploring small places other than just the most popular ones, such as CN Tower and Ripley’s aquarium. While you should certainly check all the attractions, including the famous ones in the city, don’t forget the less popular or small ones too. Some of the attractions are located outside Downtown in the neighborhoods of the city, and exploring them will help you understand what makes the city so lively and vibrant.

 

Eating at chain restaurants only

Toronto boasts of fascinating cultural scenes, being home to a population of all different cultures, the cuisines offered here are pretty diverse. No matter what cuisine you’re craving for, you will find almost everything in the city ranging from Italian and Indian to Lebanese and Ethiopian. And when it comes to finding an eating spot, don’t limit yourself to the chain restaurants only, there are other amazing options as well, including family-run eateries, small and world-renowned restaurants, and much more.

 

Not packing for cold weather

If you are planning to visit Toronto during winters, make sure that you pack according to the weather and carry some warm clothes and footwear. It can get extremely chilly in Toronto during winters, especially when you are out and about in Downtown. Not carrying winter attire would be one of the silliest mistakes to commit, therefore, think and act smart and pack all the necessary winter stuff, including some layers and a solid pair of boots if it snows.

Not making the most of free attractions and things to do

This is especially for those who are traveling on a budget, missing out on free attractions and things to do would mean losing an excellent opportunity. There are many attractions and things to do in the city that can either be visited for free or are budget-friendly. The visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario is free on Wednesday evenings between 6 pm and 9 pm, similarly, you can also visit the astonishing Aga Khan Museum for free on Wednesday evenings between 4 pm and 8 pm.

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