Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sits on the shore of Lake Ontario. You’ll know the skyline with the CN Tower from photos, but above all, the city is a patchwork of neighbourhoods, each with its own feel, from the glass towers of the banks to the brick buildings of the Distillery District.
Distances are greater than the map makes them look, and the winters are cold. That’s why it matters whether you stay by a subway station, by the lake or in the middle of the nightlife. Here are my six recommendations for where to stay in Toronto, with hotels in three price ranges.
Contents
The Best Areas in Toronto
- Downtown & Financial District - best area for first-time visitors and winter trips
- Entertainment District - best area for the CN Tower, sport and theatre
- Old Town & Distillery District - best area for food, the market and history
- Yorkville - best area for luxury, shopping and museums
- Queen West & King West - best area for nightlife, restaurants and design hotels
- Harbourfront & South Core - best area for the lake, the Toronto Islands and Billy Bishop airport
Below, I’ll take you through the six areas one by one, each with three hotels in different price ranges. First, the practical details that apply to all of them. From Toronto Pearson (YYZ) airport, the UP Express train runs to Union Station in the city centre in 28 minutes, with departures every 15 minutes. A single adult ticket costs 12.35 Canadian dollars according to the train’s own fare list, and its airport station is in Terminal 1. In the city, you get around on the TTC’s subway, streetcars and buses. You pay by tapping a payment card or your phone on the reader, a ride costs 3.30 Canadian dollars according to the TTC’s fares, and if you transfer within two hours, you don’t pay again.
1. Downtown & Financial District - best area for first-time visitors and winter trips 🏙️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: You’ll be staying in the centre. From Union Station, it’s just over 1 km up to CF Toronto Eaton Centre and Sankofa Square.
- 🚇 Transport: Line 1 from Union, King, Queen and TMU stations along Yonge Street and from St Andrew and Osgoode along University Avenue. The PATH walkway network links up a large part of the area underground.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 28 minutes on the UP Express from Toronto Pearson to Union Station.
- 💰 Price range: Mid-range to very expensive. This is where you’ll find the biggest choice of hotels in the city, but hardly any that are really cheap.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and busy during the day. The Financial District is quiet in the evenings and at weekends, when the offices are closed.
Downtown is the centre of Toronto and stretches from Union Station up Yonge Street and Bay Street to Sankofa Square and the CF Toronto Eaton Centre shopping centre. The southern part is called the Financial District, and this is where the banks’ high-rises stand close together around the corner of King and Bay. It’s where I’d stay on a first trip, because the airport train brings you straight to Union Station, and you have the Line 1 subway in both directions.
Beneath the streets is the PATH, which the city itself describes as a mostly underground network of walkways more than 30 kilometres long. It connects six subway stations, nine hotels and Union Station with shops and places to eat, and you can walk indoors to places such as the Hockey Hall of Fame, Scotiabank Arena and CF Toronto Eaton Centre. In winter, it’s worth its weight in gold, because you can get a long way without putting your coat on.
See hotels in Downtown and the Financial District here.
The transport links are the best in the city. Line 1 stops at Union, King, Queen and TMU stations along Yonge Street and at St Andrew and Osgoode along University Avenue, and from Union Station, the 509 Harbourfront and 510 Spadina streetcars run down to the lake. If you’re heading to Sankofa Square or the Eaton Centre, get off at TMU Station or Queen Station.
The downside is the atmosphere in the evening. The Financial District is an office district, and once the bankers have gone home, the streets are quiet, especially at weekends. If you want life outside your door late in the evening, stay up by Sankofa Square or choose the Entertainment District.
The hotels are large, and prices vary. When there’s a big trade fair or convention in town, the same room can cost several times as much as it does the week after, so try a few different dates before you book.
Places to Stay in Downtown & the Financial District
Fairmont Royal York Hotel - classic grand hotel right opposite Union Station
The Fairmont Royal York is on Front Street right opposite Union Station, so you can walk from the airport train to reception in a few minutes. The hotel is connected to the PATH, which is why it’s my first choice for a winter trip.
The standard rooms measure 23 square metres and come with a king-size bed or with two double beds for four people, while the Deluxe rooms are twice the size. You get an indoor pool with a skylight, a spa, a 24-hour gym and several restaurants and bars. A number of guests find the standard rooms and bathrooms smaller than the photos suggest, and say there isn’t enough wardrobe space for a longer stay.
One guest writes on Booking.com: “The hotel was amazing. Very clean and the staff were friendly.”
See photos and book Fairmont Royal York Hotel here.
One King West Hotel and Residence - suites with kitchenettes by King Station
One King West is on the corner of King Street and Yonge Street in the middle of the Financial District, less than 100 metres from King Station and around 450 metres from Union Station. All the rooms are suites with a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and a coffee machine. The smallest are studios of 33 square metres, and the largest measure just over 60.
It’s a good fit for a family or a longer stay where it’s nice to be able to make your own breakfast. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, a gym and a hot tub, but there’s no pool. The cheapest suites have no view, and guests mention dark rooms and small bathrooms.
Here’s what one guest says on Booking.com: “The location is exceptional, the food was very good and the staff at the hotel were very friendly and extremely helpful.”
See photos and book One King West Hotel and Residence here.
Chelsea Hotel Toronto - large family hotel with two pools near Sankofa Square
The Chelsea Hotel is usually the cheapest of my three suggestions in Downtown, and you should know that Toronto has virtually no real budget hotels in the centre. The hotel is on Gerrard Street West at the northern end of the area, just under 300 metres from College Station and just under 400 metres from Sankofa Square. It’s a kilometre and a half to Union Station, so plan on taking the subway.
It’s a very large hotel and best suited to families. There are two indoor pools, one for families with a waterslide and one for adults, plus a kids’ club, a playroom, a gym and a restaurant. The standard rooms measure just over 25 square metres, and some have two double beds for four. The decor is dated, and a few guests feel the cleaning is rushed.
One guest sums it up on Booking.com: “The hotel has good facilities and the rooms are large and comfortable.”
See photos and book Chelsea Hotel Toronto here.
2. Entertainment District - best area for the CN Tower, sport and theatre 🎭
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Just west of the Financial District. From the CN Tower, it’s around 600 metres to Union Station.
- 🚇 Transport: Line 1 from St Andrew and Osgoode and the 504 King and 501 Queen streetcars.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 28 minutes on the UP Express to Union Station, then on foot. My estimate is a 10 to 15-minute walk to most of the hotels.
- 💰 Price range: Mid-range to very expensive. Prices go up when there’s a game, a concert or the film festival.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and full of people. At weekends, there’s noise from bars and nightclubs until late.
The Entertainment District lies just west of the Financial District and is the neighbourhood with the things most people come to Toronto to see. The CN Tower, the Rogers Centre baseball stadium and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada sit side by side at the southern end, and the Royal Alexandra and Princess of Wales theatres are on King Street West. The area runs from Queen Street West in the north to the Gardiner Expressway in the south and from University Avenue to Spadina Avenue.
It’s my pick if you only have a few days and want to be able to walk to most things. You can go up the tower in the morning, watch the Toronto Blue Jays play in the afternoon and walk back from a musical in the evening without using any transport at all. Between the sights, restaurants, bars and nightclubs are packed close together, so there’s life here until late.
See hotels in the Entertainment District here.
The subway runs along the eastern edge of the neighbourhood, where Line 1 stops at St Andrew and Osgoode, and the 504 King and 501 Queen streetcars cross the area. If you arrive on the UP Express, you can walk from Union Station to the CN Tower along the SkyWalk. It’s around 600 metres.
What you’re paying for is the location. Almost all the hotels are large and modern, so you’ll have to look for charm elsewhere. At weekends, there’s noise from the bars around King Street West until well into the night, and on game days and concert evenings, the pavements are packed.
Prices follow the calendar of events. They go up when there’s a game, a concert or the film festival, so book early if you’re travelling for a particular event.
Places to Stay in the Entertainment District
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto - five-star luxury with views over the city or the lake
The Ritz-Carlton is on Wellington Street West at the eastern end of the area, around 300 metres from St Andrew Station and 350 metres from the CN Tower. The rooms measure 42 square metres, and you can choose between views over the city or Lake Ontario. The corner suites measure 60 square metres.
There’s an indoor saltwater pool, a spa, a gym and several restaurants, and it’s my suggestion if your trip is a celebration. It’s one of the most expensive hotels in this guide. One guest mentions that the bar was taken over by corporate events every afternoon, so on weekdays the atmosphere can feel more business than holiday.
One guest is full of praise on Booking.com: “Amazing hotel! Superb location. Beautiful rooms.”
See photos and book The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto here.
Sutton Place Hotel Toronto - large rooms and an indoor pool on King Street West
Sutton Place is on King Street West, right between the theatres and the restaurants, around 400 metres from the Royal Alexandra Theatre and 550 metres from the CN Tower. It’s just over 600 metres to St Andrew Station. The rooms measure 42 square metres, which is a lot in this price range, and they come with a king-size bed or with two queen-size beds for four.
The hotel has an indoor pool, a gym and a restaurant. Choose it if you want to stay in the middle of everything without paying luxury prices. A few guests are let down by the little things: a fridge that’s noisy at night and housekeeping that doesn’t always restock the bathroom.
One guest describes the hotel on Booking.com: “Great central location, modern and clean, great size rooms.”
See photos and book Sutton Place Hotel Toronto here.
Riu Plaza Toronto - large modern hotel with a much-praised breakfast buffet
The Riu Plaza is usually the cheapest of the three and is on Widmer Street, a side street between King Street West and Queen Street West. It’s around 550 metres to both Osgoode and St Andrew stations and 650 metres to the CN Tower.
The smallest rooms measure only 17 square metres, so choose one of the larger types of 24 to 25 square metres if there are two of you with big suitcases. There are also rooms with two double beds for four. The hotel has a bar, a gym and a breakfast buffet that many guests single out, but there’s no pool. The lobby and the bar can be crowded and noisy, and a few guests mention low water pressure in the shower.
Short and sweet from one guest on Booking.com: “Everything was perfect!”
See photos and book Riu Plaza Toronto here.
3. Old Town & Distillery District - best area for food, the market and history 🍴
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 800 metres from Union Station to St. Lawrence Market and just under 2 km to the Distillery District.
- 🚋 Transport: Line 1 from King Station and the 504 King streetcar east to the Distillery District.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 28 minutes on the UP Express to Union Station. From there, I estimate a 10 to 15-minute walk east to the hotels.
- 💰 Price range: Mid-range to expensive. There’s less choice of hotels than west of Yonge Street.
- 👮 Safety: Safe around the market and in the Distillery District. In the evening, it’s quieter here than west of Yonge Street.
Old Town lies east of Yonge Street and is the oldest part of Toronto. Destination Toronto writes that the neighbourhood sits on the original ten blocks the city started out with, and that today it’s full of Victorian industrial architecture and home to a famous food market. The buildings are lower here, with more brick and fewer glass towers than in the rest of the centre.
The market is St. Lawrence Market, and you can easily spend a morning eating your way through the stalls. On Saturdays, there’s a farmers’ market, and on Sundays, an antiques market. Close by stands the Gooderham Building, one of the most recognisable buildings in the city. From King Station, you walk to the market south along Yonge Street and east along Front Street East. Check the market’s opening days before you go.
See hotels in Old Town and the Distillery District here.
Around a kilometre further east is the Distillery District, a preserved Victorian-era neighbourhood with cobbled streets, galleries, shops and places to eat in the old brick buildings. In winter, the streets are decorated with lights and a Christmas tree. From King Station, the 504 King streetcar runs east to Parliament Street, and from there, you walk the last stretch south.
Old Town is my pick if you want good food and a little more peace than west of Yonge Street, while still being able to walk to Union Station. There’s less choice of hotels here, and almost all of them are at the western end by Yonge Street. In the evening, the streets are quiet once the market has closed. The CN Tower and the Rogers Centre are just under a kilometre and a half from the market, so expect a walk or a streetcar ride.
Places to Stay in Old Town & the Distillery District
The Omni King Edward Hotel - classic grand hotel by King Station
The Omni King Edward is on King Street East, around 150 metres from King Station and 400 metres from St. Lawrence Market. It’s an old-school grand hotel, and one guest describes the architecture as magnificent and the interior as elegant. The rooms measure just over 32 square metres, and the suites range from 51 to 70.
The hotel has a restaurant, afternoon tea, a spa, a sauna and a gym, but there’s no pool. I’d choose it for a romantic trip where the hotel itself should be part of the experience. The price varies a lot with the calendar, so it can be anything from a bargain to very expensive.
One guest points out on Booking.com: “The staff were really helpful and attentive.”
See photos and book The Omni King Edward Hotel here.
The Novotel Toronto Centre - large rooms and a pool near St. Lawrence Market
The Novotel is on The Esplanade, around 350 metres from St. Lawrence Market and 500 metres from Union Station, so you can walk from the airport train. The rooms measure 31 square metres, and there’s a larger type of 38 with two queen-size beds for four people.
You get an indoor pool, a sauna, a hot tub, a gym, a restaurant and a bar, which makes the hotel a good choice for a family. Breakfast isn’t included in the price, and a few guests feel the hotel is a little expensive for what you get.
One guest says on Booking.com: “Excellent hotel, with friendly staff, good breakfast and everything was clean, tidy and comfortable.”
See photos and book The Novotel Toronto Centre here.
Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown - simple chain hotel with breakfast included
The Holiday Inn Express is usually the cheapest of my three suggestions in Old Town and is on Lombard Street, around 400 metres from St. Lawrence Market and 500 metres from both King Station and Queen Station. The rooms measure 20 square metres, and some have two queen-size beds for four.
A breakfast buffet is included in the price, and there’s a gym, but no restaurant or pool. It’s a hotel for you if you’re out all day and just want a clean room and a decent bed. Opinions on the breakfast are mixed, and some guests mention noise from the air conditioning.
On the location, one guest writes on Booking.com: “The location was excellent and the room was comfortable with all amenities.”
See photos and book Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown here.
4. Yorkville - best area for luxury, shopping and museums 🛍️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Around 3 km north of Union Station. You take the subway to the sights by the lake.
- 🚇 Transport: Line 1 from Museum and St George, Line 2 from Bay and both lines from Bloor-Yonge.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 28 minutes on the UP Express to Union Station, then Line 1 north to Museum or Bloor-Yonge.
- 💰 Price range: Expensive to very expensive. It’s usually the most expensive area in the city, and the cheaper hotels are east of Yonge Street.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, well kept and quiet in the evening.
Yorkville is around 3 kilometres north of Union Station, centred on Bloor Street, and it’s Toronto’s most exclusive address. The neighbourhood is known for Victorian houses, designer shops, galleries and good restaurants, and the stretch of Bloor Street with the expensive brands is called the Mink Mile. Several of the streets are cobbled, and you can get around most of it on foot. This is where the city’s luxury hotels are most densely packed.
The Royal Ontario Museum is in the southwest corner of the neighbourhood, and from most of the hotels, you can walk there in a few minutes. Just south of the museum is Queen’s Park. Yorkville is my pick for a shopping trip, a romantic break or your second trip to Toronto, when you’ve seen the tower and would rather have quiet streets and good cafés outside your door.
You’re not cut off from the rest of the city, even though you’re some way from the lake. Line 1 stops at Museum and St George and runs directly to Union Station, and I estimate the journey at 10 to 15 minutes. Line 2 stops at Bay in the middle of the neighbourhood. At Bloor-Yonge, at the eastern end, the two lines meet.
The downside is the price. Yorkville is usually the most expensive place to stay in the city, and the few cheaper hotels are east of Yonge Street in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood. You’ll also have to take the subway every time you want to go to the CN Tower, the waterfront or St. Lawrence Market.
On the other hand, it’s safe and calm here, and you’re spared the noise from the bars in the Entertainment District. It’s a neighbourhood where you go for an evening stroll without giving it a second thought.
Places to Stay in Yorkville
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto - five-star luxury in the heart of Yorkville
The Four Seasons is on Yorkville Avenue, around 150 metres from Bay Station and 300 metres from Bloor-Yonge. Even the smallest rooms measure 46 square metres, and the suites start at just over 60.
The hotel has a heated indoor pool, a spa, a gym, a restaurant and 24-hour room service. It’s the most expensive hotel in this guide and only an option if your budget is generous. Breakfast isn’t included in the price, and one guest was disappointed by the view of office buildings, so ask about the view if it matters to you.
One guest describes their stay on Booking.com: “The hotel staff are very attentive, the hotel is very well appointed and the rooms are large, spacious and modern.”
See photos and book Four Seasons Hotel Toronto here.
The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto - four-star hotel with a pool by the Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Sonesta is on Bloor Street West, around 150 metres from the Royal Ontario Museum and just under 300 metres from both Museum Station and St George Station. The rooms measure 34 square metres and come with a king-size bed or two queen-size beds for four people.
You get an indoor pool, a gym, a restaurant, a bar and a terrace at a price that’s usually far below the neighbourhood’s five-star hotels. It’s my suggestion if you want to stay in Yorkville without paying top prices. Guests mention slow Wi-Fi, and the sofa bed in the rooms that have one doesn’t get much praise.
Here’s how one guest sums it up on Booking.com: “The hotel felt very luxurious without being too formal.”
See photos and book The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto here.
Town Inn Suites Hotel - large suites with kitchens near Bloor-Yonge
Town Inn Suites is my budget-friendly suggestion and is on Church Street in Church-Wellesley Village, just south of Bloor Street. It’s around 350 metres to Bloor-Yonge and just under a kilometre to the shops in the middle of Yorkville.
You stay in a studio or a suite, and space is the hotel’s strength. The smallest measure 46 square metres, many have a kitchen, and the largest suite has two bedrooms and room for five. The hotel has no restaurant, so you’ll have to buy breakfast elsewhere. A few guests mention weak water pressure in the shower and an old, noisy air conditioning unit.
One guest remembers their stay like this on Booking.com: “It was wonderful. The hotel was extremely clean and the staff were very friendly and accommodating.”
See photos and book Town Inn Suites Hotel here.
5. Queen West & King West - best area for nightlife, restaurants and design hotels 🍸
- 📍 Distance from the centre: The eastern end is less than 1 km from Union Station, and the western end is just under 4 km away.
- 🚋 Transport: The 501 Queen and 504 King streetcars. The nearest subway stations are Osgoode and St Andrew on Line 1 at the eastern end.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 28 minutes on the UP Express to Union Station, then a streetcar or a taxi west.
- 💰 Price range: Ranges from some of the cheapest rooms in the centre to expensive design hotels. The choice is small.
- 👮 Safety: Safe, but lively. Bars and music venues stay open late, especially at weekends.
West of the Entertainment District, the city changes character. Queen West is the street of independent clothes shops, vintage, music venues and bars, and it’s one of Toronto’s best-known places for a night out. Behind the street is Graffiti Alley, which is covered in street art, and further west, you come to Trinity Bellwoods Park and the stretch called West Queen West. At the far western end, the street runs into Parkdale, which is known for its vintage and antique shops.
King West is a couple of streets to the south and more polished. This is where you’ll find the restaurants, rooftop bars and nightclubs, and it’s where several of the city’s expensive design hotels are. I’d choose the area if you’ve come to eat well and go out, or if you’ve been to Toronto before and want to stay somewhere the locals go out themselves.
See hotels in Queen West and King West here.
There are two things you should know before you book. The first is that the choice of hotels is small, and they’re spread out over more than three kilometres, from Osgoode Station to the western end of West Queen West. The second is that there’s no subway station west of Osgoode and St Andrew. Further out, you rely on the 501 Queen and 504 King streetcars, which are slower than the subway.
On the other hand, it’s easy to get around the neighbourhood on foot, and the streetcars run straight into the centre. If you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room away from the street, because bars and music venues stay open late, especially from Thursday to Saturday.
Places to Stay in Queen West & King West
1 Hotel Toronto - five-star design hotel with a rooftop pool in King West
1 Hotel Toronto is on Wellington Street West by Bathurst Street in King West, just under 2 kilometres west of Union Station. The 504 King streetcar stops at Bathurst Street nearby. The rooms measure 35 square metres, and there’s a type of 39 with two queen-size beds for four.
Guests describe the style as rustic and eco-conscious, with lots of nature in the decor. On the roof is an outdoor pool that’s only open in the warmer months, and the hotel also has a restaurant, a rooftop bar, a gym and a spa. One guest found the gym and spa closed during two stays, so ask in advance if that’s important to you.
One guest writes about the hotel on Booking.com: “Super friendly staff, great sized room, comfy beds and beautiful decor.”
See photos and book 1 Hotel Toronto here.
Gladstone House - boutique hotel with art and live music in West Queen West
Gladstone House is on Queen Street West at the western end of West Queen West, just over a kilometre west of Trinity Bellwoods Park and just under 4 kilometres from Union Station. The 501 Queen streetcar runs past on Queen Street West. The hotel is in a historic Victorian-style building, and guests mention both the old hand-operated lift and the art on the walls.
The rooms are small: the smallest measure 17 square metres and the largest 30. In return, you have a restaurant, a bar, a gym and live music in the building, and the neighbourhood’s bars and places to eat right outside the door. It isn’t the place to stay if you want to see the big sights on foot, and parking is a hassle, according to guests.
One guest loved the atmosphere and writes on Booking.com: “Everything. It was neat, warm and cosy, with beautiful lighting.”
See photos and book Gladstone House here.
The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar - simple rooms above a jazz bar by Osgoode Station
The Rex is the cheapest hotel in this guide and one of the few places in the centre where the price is genuinely low. It’s on Queen Street West at the eastern end of the street, around 150 metres from Osgoode Station and just under 500 metres from Nathan Phillips Square. On the ground floor, there’s a jazz and blues bar with live music.
Don’t expect more than you pay for. The smallest rooms measure 9 square metres, some share a bathroom and toilet down the corridor, and the building has no lift. Breakfast is coffee, tea and toast. You can hear the music in the rooms, but according to guests, it usually ends around 11 pm, and the walls are thin. One guest writes that the place is more like a hostel than a hotel. Choose a room with its own bathroom, and bring earplugs.
One guest gives the staff top marks on Booking.com: “The hotel staff I would rate 6 out of 5. Literally.”
See photos and book The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar here.
6. Harbourfront & South Core - best area for the lake, the Toronto Islands and Billy Bishop airport ⛴️
- 📍 Distance from the centre: Just south of Union Station. From the station, it’s around 600 metres down to the lake at Queens Quay.
- 🚋 Transport: The 509 Harbourfront and 510 Spadina streetcars run from Union Station down to Queens Quay.
- ✈️ Time from the airport: 28 minutes on the UP Express from Toronto Pearson to Union Station. From Billy Bishop (YTZ), a free shuttle bus runs to Union Station in around 15 minutes.
- 💰 Price range: Mid-range to expensive. There are few hotels here and no real budget hotels.
- 👮 Safety: Safe and quiet. In winter, a cold wind blows in off the lake, and the promenade is emptier.
South of Union Station is South Core, a newer neighbourhood with office towers, apartments and Scotiabank Arena, where the Toronto Maple Leafs ice hockey team plays. Carry on under the Gardiner Expressway and you’re at Lake Ontario and Queens Quay, the waterfront street that the rest of Harbourfront runs along. It’s around 600 metres from the station to the lake.
Here, you have the lake, the promenade, the cycle paths and the Harbourfront Centre arts venue right outside your door, and in summer, there are festivals and concerts along the water. From Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, the city’s ferries sail to the Toronto Islands all year round, and from mid-April to mid-October, there are three routes, to Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island. The crossing takes around a quarter of an hour, and an adult return ticket costs just under 10 Canadian dollars.
See hotels by Harbourfront and in South Core here.
The area is also the obvious choice if you’re flying to or from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), which is on an island off Bathurst Street. You get there through a pedestrian tunnel, and the airport says the walk from kerb to check-in takes under six minutes. There’s also a free ferry, which takes around 90 seconds to cross.
The drawbacks are few, but real. There are only a handful of hotels here, and none of them are cheap. In winter, a cold wind blows in off the lake, and there are fewer people on the promenade. If you’re going to Yorkville or Queen West, you first have to go up to Union Station or take the 509 Harbourfront or 510 Spadina streetcar.
Places to Stay in Harbourfront & South Core
Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square - boutique hotel by Scotiabank Arena
Le Germain is on Bremner Boulevard in South Core, around 150 metres from Scotiabank Arena and just under 300 metres from Union Station. It’s half a kilometre to the ferry terminal and the water. The hotel has only three room types: a king room of 37 square metres, a large room of 56 with two queen-size beds for four, and a suite of 87.
It has one of the highest guest ratings in this guide, and I’d choose it if you want somewhere more personal than the big chain hotels, close to both the station and the lake. There’s a restaurant, a bar and a 24-hour gym, but no pool. One guest finds the breakfast selection too small, and you should expect crowds around the hotel when there’s a game or a concert at the arena.
One detail a guest singles out on Booking.com: “The bedding was fantastic.”
See photos and book Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square here.
The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto - large hotel right by the water and the ferry
The Westin Harbour Castle is on Harbour Square right on Lake Ontario, around 150 metres from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and just under 600 metres from Union Station. The standard rooms measure 28 square metres, and the rooms with lake views are a little larger.
It’s a large hotel with lots of facilities: an indoor pool, a gym, tennis courts, a kids’ club and several restaurants. I’d choose it for a family and if you want to go out to the islands several times. Ask for a room with a lake view. According to guests, the housekeeping is hit and miss, and a few have changed rooms because of noisy air conditioning.
Here’s how one guest remembers the hotel on Booking.com: “The hotel was conveniently located and had great amenities.”
See photos and book The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto here.
Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown - hotel on Queens Quay with a rooftop pool in summer
The Radisson Blu is usually the cheapest of the three, but it isn’t a budget hotel. It’s on Queens Quay West, around 200 metres from Harbourfront Centre and 450 metres from the CN Tower. It’s just over 800 metres to Union Station and around 1.3 kilometres to Billy Bishop airport.
The rooms measure 28 square metres and come with lake or city views, and there are suites of up to 46. On the roof is an outdoor pool that’s open in the summer season, and the hotel also has a restaurant and a gym. The windows don’t open, and one guest complains about mould in the grout of the shower.
One guest praises the hotel on Booking.com: “The hotel was fantastic, very modern, very clean.”
See photos and book Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown here.
Where should you avoid staying in Toronto?
I wouldn’t stay out by Toronto Pearson unless you have a very early flight. The airport is around 20 kilometres from Union Station, and although the UP Express is fast, you’ll spend 28 minutes each way, plus waiting time, every time you go into the city.
I’d also be wary of cheap hotels that have Toronto in their name but are in North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke or the neighbouring city of Mississauga. The city is very large, and if the hotel is far from a station on Line 1 or Line 2, the journey can easily take an hour each way. Look at the map before you book.
If you’re a light sleeper, avoid rooms facing King Street West in the Entertainment District and Queen Street West at weekends. And don’t make Niagara Falls your base if it’s Toronto you want to see: the falls are a day trip.
If I had to choose one area for a first trip, it’d be Downtown and the Financial District for the transport links and the short distances. The Entertainment District is the choice if you only have a few days and want to stay by the CN Tower, and Old Town is for you if you’d rather have the market, brick buildings and a little more peace.
Yorkville is for you if you have a big budget and want to shop, Queen West and King West are for those who want to go out in the evening, and Harbourfront is the place if the lake and the Toronto Islands matter most. In all six areas, you can manage without a car.
Factor in the time of year. Winter is cold: Destination Toronto says that January temperatures are typically between minus 7 and minus 1°C, and February is just as cold. That’s when it’s nice to stay by a subway station or the PATH. In summer, July is 18 to 27°C and August 18 to 26°C, according to the tourist board, and the nights can be muggy, so choose a hotel with good air conditioning.
Keep an eye on the calendar too. Hotel prices in Toronto swing wildly with trade fairs, conventions, concerts and sport, and one week can be several times as expensive as the next. If you can move your trip by a few days, there’s often a lot of money to be saved.
As I said, Niagara Falls is a day trip. GO Transit runs to Niagara Falls every day of the week, all year round, and with a combined ticket for GO and the local WEGO buses, you can get from the station all the way to the falls. Allow a couple of hours each way, and set aside a whole day. Remember your paperwork too: what you need to enter Canada depends on things such as your citizenship, so check the rules with the Canadian authorities before you book.
Many travellers combine Toronto with more of Canada. I’ve written similar guides to where to stay in Montreal and the best areas in Vancouver. If your trip continues across the border, you can read about where to stay in New York, where to stay in Chicago and the best areas in Boston.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?