Toronto travel guide

The patchwork city

With its patchwork of neighborhoods, skyscraper-studded downtown, and vast array of restaurants serving dishes from all over the world, Toronto has often been compared to New York City. But Canada's largest municipality is much more than some pale imitation of the Big Apple, as millions of visitors each year, including A-list Hollywood celebrities and shoestring backpackers, are discovering. Many visits begin at the city's most recognizable landmark, the CN Tower, which reigned as the world's tallest free-standing structure from 1975 until 2007. From there, visitors can wander the city's various ethnic and cultural enclaves: countercultural Kensington Market, Old Chinatown and East Chinatown, the trendy waterfront area known as The Beaches, artsy Riverdale, and always-popular Greektown, also known as The Danforth. Toronto also boasts a booming performing arts scene, several excellent museums, and a handful of major festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival, Pride Week, and Caribana. Sports fans can learn more about Canada's central passion at the Hockey Hall of Fame or at a Toronto Maple Leafs game.