- City: Toronto
- Province: Ontario
- Country: Canada
- Time difference between the UK: Minus 5 hours
- Average June Temperature: 24℃ (warm, generally pleasant, but with the occasional humid day and the kind of breeze off Lake Ontario that makes you question whether you packed the right jacket or not)
Toronto, Ontario
Welcome to Toronto
Welcome to Toronto, Canada’s largest city and one of the most multicultural places on the planet, where you can walk down a single street and hear half a dozen languages before you’ve finished your coffee. It’s a city built on clean grids, waterfront views and a very Canadian ability to be both incredibly efficient and extremely polite at the same time.
Located on the north-western shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is the economic and cultural powerhouse of Canada. Around 3 million people live in the city itself, with more than 6 million across the wider metropolitan area. It’s a global city in every sense, with huge communities from across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and beyond shaping everything from food to football culture.
Sport is a big deal here. The city is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA), Toronto Blue Jays (MLB) and Toronto FC (MLS), meaning supporters will be stepping into a proper sporting city with year-round matchday energy. Toronto FC in particular have helped build a strong football culture, with BMO Field regularly generating a very decent atmosphere by North American standards.
One thing to know about Toronto in June: it can swing between perfect sunshine and sudden humidity that makes walking 10 minutes feel like you’ve committed to extra time in a sauna. Lake Ontario helps keep things balanced, but when the humidity kicks in, it properly kicks in. Carry water, use sunscreen, and don’t underestimate distances just because the city looks flat and organised on a map.
© Alamy
Getting there
Toronto is one of the most accessible World Cup host cities in Canada, with excellent international links and strong rail and road connections across Ontario and into the United States. The main transport hub is Toronto Pearson International Airport, though Billy Bishop Airport on the island near downtown is also useful for regional flights.
Getting around
Toronto is one of the easiest North American cities to navigate without a car. The grid layout helps, distances are manageable in central areas, and public transport is widely used.
Public transport (subway, buses and trains)
The main operator is the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), which runs the subway, streetcars and buses across the city.
Streetcars are also a big part of the city centre and are useful for getting around downtown and along the waterfront.
GO Transit connects Toronto with surrounding cities and suburbs, particularly useful if you’re staying outside the centre to save money.
Taxis and Uber
Uber and Lyft are widely available and generally reliable. They’re useful for late-night journeys or travelling in groups, though prices can rise during peak times or major events. Traditional taxis are also easy to find in the city centre.
Walking
Central Toronto is very walkable, especially around areas like Downtown, the Entertainment District, Harbourfront and parts of Midtown.
However, distances along the waterfront or between neighbourhoods can be longer than they appear, and winter infrastructure remnants (like underground PATH walkways) can make navigation slightly confusing at first. In June though, walking is one of the best ways to experience the city.
E-scooters
E-scooters and rental bikes are available in parts of Toronto, particularly around the waterfront and downtown core. They’re useful for short trips, but cycling routes can become busy around peak commuter times.
The subway has four main lines:
- Line 1 (Yonge–University)
- Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth)
- Line 3 (Scarborough) – limited service
- Line 4 (Sheppard) – shorter route
The stadium
World Cup matches in Toronto will take place at BMO Field, located at Exhibition Place on the city’s waterfront. FIFA is expected to refer to the venue as “Toronto Stadium” during the tournament.
The stadium is home to Toronto FC and is one of Canada’s key football venues. For the World Cup, it will be expanded to a capacity of around 45,000 spectators, making it a more compact but atmospheric stadium compared to some of the larger US venues.
Its location is one of its biggest strengths. Being right on the waterfront and close to downtown means supporters will have a much easier time accessing it than many other host stadiums in North America.
Getting to the stadium
The stadium is very well connected by public transport, which is a major advantage for supporters.
Eating and drinking
Toronto’s food scene is one of its biggest strengths, shaped by its incredible diversity. You can find almost every cuisine imaginable here, often at a very high standard.
The main supporter-friendly areas include Downtown, the Entertainment District, King Street West, Queen Street West and the Harbourfront. These areas are packed with sports bars, breweries, restaurants and late-night venues.
Expect plenty of classic North American sports bars showing football throughout the tournament, with large screens, outdoor patios and a strong matchday atmosphere, particularly when major nations are playing.
Food-wise, Toronto is famous for variety rather than one signature dish, but there are still a few essentials worth trying:
- Peameal bacon sandwiches
- Poutine (a Canadian staple of fries, gravy and cheese curds)
- Jerk chicken (reflecting the city’s Caribbean influence)
- Dumplings and Asian street food across Chinatown and Koreatown
Late-night shawarma, which is practically a Toronto institution
The city’s multicultural nature means you can eat extremely well without having to spend heavily, especially if you move slightly away from the main tourist areas.
Drinks are generally expensive compared to the UK, and tipping is standard at around 15–20% in bars and restaurants.
Things to see and do
Toronto has a strong mix of waterfront scenery, cultural attractions and urban neighbourhoods worth exploring.
The CN Tower is the city’s most famous landmark and offers panoramic views across Lake Ontario and the skyline. Even if you don’t go up, it dominates the cityscape and is hard to miss.
The Harbourfront area is one of the nicest parts of the city in summer, with walkways, bars, ferry connections and views across the islands.
Toronto Islands are a short ferry ride from downtown and offer beaches, parks and some of the best skyline photo spots in the city.
The Distillery District is a historic area full of cobbled streets, restaurants, galleries and bars, and is particularly popular in the evenings.
Other worthwhile spots include Kensington Market for independent shops and street food, and the Royal Ontario Museum for those interested in culture and history.
If you’re into sport, you could also visit:
- Rogers Centre – home of the Toronto Blue Jays
- Scotiabank Arena – home of the Raptors and Maple Leafs
- BMO Field – even outside matchdays, it’s worth seeing given its role in the tournament
British Consulate
The British Consulate-General in Toronto is located downtown and will support British nationals throughout the tournament alongside FCDO staff.
As always:
- Keep passports secure
- Use hotel safes where available
- Carry copies of key documentsBe aware of local laws around alcohol consumption and public behaviour
Accommodation
Toronto has a wide range of accommodation options, but prices are expected to rise significantly during the World Cup, particularly around matchdays and the knockout stages.
Downtown Toronto is the most convenient area, offering walking access to many attractions, transport links and nightlife, but it will also be the most expensive.
The Entertainment District is another strong option, especially for supporters wanting bars, restaurants and proximity to major venues.
Areas like North York or neighbourhoods further out along TTC or GO Transit lines can offer better value, though journey times into the centre will need to be considered carefully.
The waterfront area is particularly popular in summer and offers excellent views, but hotel prices here can increase quickly during major events.
As with other host cities, transport access is often more important than distance on a map. A slightly cheaper hotel near a subway line is usually far more useful than a central hotel with poor connections during matchdays.
