FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Toronto
There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Toronto each year.
The main ones are listed below.
A national holiday celebrated in honour of England's Queen Victoria, originally established as a way of recognizing Canada's ties with the British Empire. A variety of events are held on this day in Toronto and across Canada: military parades, exhibitions, guided tours, etc.
July 1 : Canada Day (national holiday)This celebration marks the day in 1867 that Canada was officially declared a dominion, or self-governing nation. Events include official ceremonies, parades, free concerts and fireworks.
First Monday in September : Labour Day (national holiday) Mid-November : Santa Claus Parade (local event)A Toronto tradition since 1905. Inaugurated by the Eaton's department store with a single float, it now includes over 25 floats, 24 bands, and more than 2,000 costumed participants, applauded by throngs of enthusiastic spectators.
Late November–late December : Christmas Market (local event)Toronto has embraced this European tradition and its Christmas market now ranks as one of the world's finest. It offers a warm, friendly atmosphere, Christmas decorations and unique gift items produced by folk artists and craftspeople, not to mention a variety of live entertainment and mulled wine!
Second Monday in October: Thanksgiving (national holiday)Originally a Christian religious observance, for many years Thanksgiving has been a secular holiday in Canada, as it is in the United States, celebrated by Canadians of all faiths. Families come together to prepare and enjoy a large feast at home. The meal typically includes roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce as well as various side dishes and ends with an assortment of pies (pumpkin, pecan, apple).
December 25 : Christmas (national holiday) 26 décembre : Boxing Day (national holiday)On Boxing Day and during the entire week following Christmas, stores clear out their leftover inventories by running sales. A chance to grab some great deals!
CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Toronto
Toronto has a humid continental climate. Summers are hot and humid while the winters are very cold. The difference in temperatures from one season to the next can be considerable. During the winter months, low temperatures can reach −20°C (−4°F). Summer is the best time to discover the city and the beauty of the Canadian countryside (lakes near Toronto, forests, many sporting activities).| Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -7/19 | -1/30 | 61/2.4 | Not the best period to go |
| February | -6/21 | 0/32 | 55/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
| March | -2/28 | 5/41 | 54/2.1 | Not the best period to go |
| April | 4/39 | 11/52 | 68/2.7 | Not the best period to go |
| May | 10/50 | 18/64 | 82/3.2 | Not the best period to go |
| June | 15/59 | 24/75 | 71/2.8 | Good period to go
|
| July | 18/64 | 27/81 | 64/2.5 | Good period to go
|
| August | 18/64 | 27/79 | 81/3.2 | Good period to go
|
| September | 13/55 | 21/70 | 85/3.3 | Not the best period to go |
| October | 7/45 | 14/57 | 64/2.5 | Not the best period to go |
| November | 2/36 | 7/45 | 84/3.3 | Good period to go
|
| December | -3/27 | 2/36 | 61/2.4 | Good period to go
|
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is located 23 kilometres (14 miles) north-west of the city centre.
- Two terminals
- Terminal 1
- Terminal 3 (Air France)
Getting from the airport to Toronto and back
- By car
- Accessible via Highway 401 and Highway 409 or Highway 427, with a travel time of about 25 minutes.
- Several parking facilities are available:
- Cell Phone Lot (obligation de rester dans la voiture), gratuit pendant 45 minutes.
- Express Park (dépose-minute du T1), 5 $ les 30 minutes.
- Daily Park (short-term parking garages near the terminals), CAD 3 for 20 minutes
- Value Park Garage (covered, long-term parking near the terminals), CAD 12 per day
- Several car rental agencies have counters on Level 1 of the parking garages adjacent to both terminals.
- By rail
- The Union-Pearson Express (UP Express) connects Terminal 1 with Union Station in central Toronto. Trains run daily every 15 minutes from 5:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and the travel time is about 25 minutes. One-way fares are CAD 27.50 (adults), CAD 23.40 (seniors and students), CAD 13.75 (children aged 6–12), and CAD 55.00 (families). Lower fares for the first three categories apply when purchased with a PRESTO electronic fare card (one-time activation fee of CAD 6.00), available at the airport's UP Express station.
- By shuttle
- Terminal Link, a free shuttle, connects the terminals and Value Park Garage at Viscount Station, where some rental car shuttles pick up customers. Trains run every 4 minutes at peak times and every 8 minutes during off-peak periods.
- By bus
- Several public bus lines offer service to central Toronto from the airport (GO Transit, MiWay, Brampton Transit, and Toronto Transit Commission), with fares starting at CAD 6.
- Private transit companies also offer services at the airport.
- By taxi
- Within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), fares for taxis are predetermined, based on the time and distance to your destination, about CAD 60 to the city centre.
- A fuel surcharge may be applied. Based on the average price per litre of petrol over the previous three months, this may range from CAD 0 to CAD 5.
- Services : shops, bars and restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
- Telephone : : +1 (0)416 776 3000
- Website : http://www.torontopearson.com
GETTING AROUND Toronto
Toronto offers many convenient options for getting to every part of the city: by car, public transport, bicycle, taxi and on foot. Simply choose the one that suits your needs!
By car
Renting a car is the best way to explore the area around Toronto (the city is not very far from the border with the United States). Highways 2, 401 and 407 and Queen Elizabeth Way connect Toronto with nearby cities. To travel to the United States, the closest international crossings are those in Windsor, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls.
By public transport
Toronto's public transport system is among the most extensive and efficient in North America. Getting around the city is very simple. Each day, about 2 million people use public transport in Toronto.
Fares: :
- CAD 3.00 for a single fare purchase
- CAD 8.40 for three tokens
- CAD 28.00 for ten tokens
- CAD 11.50 for an unlimited 1-day pass
By taxi
Taxis are not difficult to find in Toronto because several taxi companies operate throughout the city. Fares are regulated and tipping (15 to 20 percent of the fare) is required. You can hail taxis in the street or dial 416-TAXICAB, which gives access to all companies operating taxis in Toronto.
By bicycle
Toronto has many cycling paths. You have two options for obtaining a bike, either by using Bike Share Toronto, the public bike-sharing network (800 bicycles and 80 stations in central Toronto, CAD 7 for a 1-day pass or CAD 15 for a 3-day pass), or by renting a bike from one of the 100 bike shops in the city. Be sure to pick up the Toronto Cycling Map, which shows bike lanes, shared roadways, signed bicycle routes and multi-use trails.
On foot
Walking is a very pleasant way to visit Toronto, ideal for exploring the city's architecture, its many parks and other features. In colder weather, you can stroll along the PATH, Toronto's underground pedestrian walkway linking 28 kilometres (18 miles) of shopping, services and entertainment.
Visitor information
Upon your arrival in Toronto, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Ontario Travel Information CentreOffers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
- Address : 65 Front Street West, Toronto, ON M5J 1E6
- Telephone : +1 (0)416 314 5900
- Website : https://www.ontariotravel.net
Currency and Exchange Rates
The currency used in Canada is the canadian dollar ($).
USD 1 = CAD 1.27
CAD 1 = USD 0.79
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
Medical information
Medical care and hospital stays are expensive in Canada. It is therefore strongly recommended to take out travel health insurance before travelling to Toronto. In the event of a hospital stay, expenses must be paid before leaving the hospital.
VaccinationsThere are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Canada.
For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
- Address : 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
- Website : http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
- Telephone : +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
- To make a vaccination appointment:
- online (click here)
- call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
Tap water is safe to drink in Toronto.
Administrative formalities
Until March 16, 2016, citizens of the European Union do not need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. However, acceptable travel documents and identification must be presented at the border.
Neither visas nor Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTA) are required for U.S. citizens.
For foreign nationals from other countries, see the information on the Citizen and Immigration Canada website: http://www.cic.gc.ca
Essential phrases
Good to know
of time difference with
Tel Aviv-Yafo
End of daylight saving time: first Sunday in November
Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
And what about tipping?
In Canada, tipping is expected and is sometimes included in the bill. Before leaving a gratuity, check to be sure that it has not already been included. For waiting staff and taxi drivers, you should tip between 15 and 20 percent of the bill before tax. Tip hotel porters CAD 2 per large bag. In a bar, you can leave at least CAD 1 for a drink.