• The rendezvous site is indoors, situated within the Great Hall, reachable from Front Street. This is an elevated room sporting enormous windows on each side, a high ceiling, and flags adorning one wall. The room also has an information desk underneath a central clock, and the names of multiple cities that were original stops for the trains that used the station are inscribed on the walls. Why such a detailed description? Because there are several other areas in the station, such as a large tourist information center and a spacious food court, which can be mistaken for the Great Hall, and even a big clock outside the station. However, only the Great Hall combines the key features: a clock, an information desk, and a large room with a high ceiling. Your guide will be waiting near the information desk!

• Behold the impressive CN Tower! This impressively tall structure was once the tallest free-standing structure globally until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. However, the CN Tower continues to be a source of pride for its city, Toronto, due to its mammoth height, which greatly enhanced the area’s TV and radio reception in the 1970s, and it also contributes to an internationally recognizable skyline.

• The cost and time to build the railroad across Canada were substantial. To generate revenue, the railroad companies erected luxurious hotels nearby each train station in all major cities and towns along the rail tracks. They persuaded affluent people to explore Canada by rail. The Royal York Hotel, a grand railway hotel located in Toronto, was inaugurated in 1929, just before the onset of the worldwide economic downturn. Despite several hurdles, like the Great Depression and emergence of rival hotels, the (Fairmont) Royal York Hotel continues being a cherished landmark symbolizing Toronto’s prosperity. Although the hotel’s lobby no longer welcomes tour groups, the hotel’s external aesthetics are worthy of admiration.

• Santiago Calatrava’s design creates a structure compelling enough to even have architects grab their cameras for a keepsake photograph. Creating an ethereal public space are towering vaulted ceilings constructed from white steel and glass, which conveys an aura of welcome and inspiration. Do check out the photos!

At this point, your guide will elaborate on Toronto’s private public space and provide a peek into the PATH, the subterranean network of food courts and corridors connecting downtown buildings’ basements to the close-by subway stations.

• Although this tour doesn’t include a visit (the tour lasts only 90 minutes), visitors intrigued to explore more about hockey can easily find their way back to this least conspicuous attraction without asking for directions.

At this place, your guide will divulge some details about Canada’s official national winter sport and might even disclose why the Toronto Maple Leafs are unlikely to bring home another Stanley Cup.

• Delve into the history of the underground network as you traverse a part of it. Don’t drift away from your guide, navigating PATH could be tricky. You would prefer to enjoy the tour rather than misplacing yourself and ending up inaugurating a Cinnabon franchise at one of the food courts.

• Meander among Canada’s towering skyscrapers while you get insights about big Canadian banks, the calamitous Fire of 1904 (certainly not great for John Croft), and an inkling of the commuting experience to a job that promotes ‘buy low and sell high’ mantra. Ever smelled money? You could sniff it here because most of Canada’s money is here.

• Even though details about this building are detailed during the Old Town History Tour, your guide might reveal a few tidbits about this place because they might just not resist themselves. You might want to know more, but that’s covered on another tour!

• The concluding stop in this Downtown Toronto Tour is the renowned City Hall, which proudly features in our city’s logo fronted by the less iconic, but frequently photographed ‘Toronto sign.’ Is it time for a group photo, or perhaps a selfie?

Constructed in 1965, this futuristic edifice not only signified Toronto’s aspirations towards greatness as a modern metropolis, provincial capital, and national center of culture and finance, but also depicted our affection for concrete.

Ending your downtown tour at this democratic place like Nathan Philips Square, a popular public spot en route City Hall where locals gather to commemorate public holidays, celebrate moments of public pride, and host farmer markets and protests alike, seems to be an excellent idea. What’s more, public restrooms are conveniently located too.

• English-speaking Tour guide

• Gratuities