Kensington Market & Chinatown: Cultural Walk

Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Toronto’s Kensington Market and Chinatown on this engaging 3-hour walking tour. Explore unique vendors, specialty stores, and learn about the history of these multicultural neighborhoods.

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kensington Market - In Kensington Market, over a coffee or tea at a local cafe, you’ll learn how the neighbourhood has evolved from a working-class Jewish market into a working-class bohemian market. Several waves of immigrant settlement over the past century have splashed colours, sounds, and flavours from the four corners of the earth throughout…
What's Included
  • Experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of Chinatown
  • Sample a local snack from a street vendor or market stall
  • Stop for a coffee or tea at a neighborhood café
  • Walk through Toronto’s Kensington Market and Chinatown with a local guide
  • Discover hidden laneways filled with vibrant street art
  • Explore Kensington Market’s bohemian vibe and indie shops
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
  • Additional snacks and beverages
Additional Information

Embark on a small-group walking tour of Kensington Market and Chinatown, two of Toronto’s most vibrant and ethnically-diverse districts. On this three-hour journey encounter local and global cultures simultaneously, as you stroll through lively streets brimming with distinctive markets and specialty shops. Absorb the historical background of these…

Location
Dundas St West at McCaul St
Meet at the SW corner of McCaul St and Dundas St West, beside the Art Gallery of Ontario
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(150 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rkellee
Sep 8, 2025
Visit to a different part of the big city - Wonderful introduction to Kensington and Chinatown. Jackie, our guide, shared stories about the history of the areas and personal experiences. It was truly an insider’s look at the communities and not to be missed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Denis_f
Aug 31, 2025
A neighborhood to discover - First of all, I would like to highlight the exceptional work of our guide, Robert; he was very friendly and knowledgeable. This tour aims to introduce you to the different cultural communities that have helped build these vibrant neighborhoods. Through anecdotes and meetings with local merchants, you will understand that it is possible to preserve your identity in a big city like Toronto. You will also discover new restaurants and shops away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Review provided by Viator
Jackie_w
Jul 19, 2025
Sips, Stories, & Surprises around every corner! - Our tour guide Kieran really brought this experience to life. He had a lot of interesting and knowledgeable information to share and was very well-spoken in his way of storytelling. It was really refreshing that he showed interest in our backgrounds and experience within the city (as it was far from our first time in Toronto) to be able to connect, relate, and share information. He was engaging and helpful, humorous and witty, and overall connected with us beyond what we expected going into it. The coffee shop trip being included was a plus. We missed him as soon as our tour was over! Thanks again Kieran!
Review provided by Viator
Jacob_h
Jul 5, 2025
A good way to learn about... - A good way to learn about the history of Toronto! I'm glad I took a tour of this area as it helped showcase the highlights.
Review provided by Viator
Ariannav752
May 20, 2025
Kensington Market & Chinatown tour - Had an amazing tour with Joann. I was the only one and she still ran the tour. A real knowledgeable guide. She pointed out many landmarks that I've passed often and didn't know much about. As it was just me, she was great at customising the tour. There were two stops at great local businesses for food and drink which were included. Interesting tour and great value.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M1215yq
May 11, 2025
AMAZING MUST-DO TOUR !!!! - Our group of 4 loved this tour! We did a city tour afterward and it felt so boring in comparison. This one was fun, interesting, unique, and full of cool stories. If you're visiting Kensington/Chinatown, you have to do this - without it, you'd miss the deep history and meaning behind what you're seeing. You would miss out on a lot.. Kieran gave us a deeper appreciation for the area - the beautiful art (!!) , the history, and the stories behind the buildings and people. Kieran was a FANTASTIC guide - friendly, funny, welcoming, and a great speaker & storyteller. He shared so many meaningful stories and fun facts. We loved it! Made the tour so interesting and fun! One thing to note: the tour says 3 hours, but if your group is small, it might be shorter. That didn’t bother us at all - we care more about quality than the exact length. It still felt full and complete. The pace was great too. I liked that it wasn’t rushed and had a good balance of walking, listening, and a little resting. I also loved the coffee shop Kieran took us to—it was quirky, fun, and sparked some conversation and laughs… (but I won't give away the details!) This tour is more for people who enjoy something unique, fun..... especially if you appreciate diverse cultures, local history, and understanding how a neighborhood came to be the way it is. It’s not your average city tour, and that’s what makes it so special and fun. Overall, a beautiful, memorable experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Soraya
May 7, 2025
Knowledgeable tour guide and rich neighbourhood history - Tour guide was very knowledgeable. A lot of historical detail which gave an appreciation for the neighbourhoods. It was also fun strolling through the neighbourhoods which helped gave a better feel or their energies. Coffee stop was nice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alice_c
Apr 24, 2025
Jackie was a fantastic,... - Jackie was a fantastic, knowledgeable and engaging tour guide! She seamlessly wove in the history of Toronto, while pointing out key graffiti artists, and showing us the best spots for local bites. The diversity and history of the Kensington Market and Chinatown area was made much more compelling with Jackie’s guidance. My kids (14 and 16) and I loved the experience. Thank you!
Review provided by Viator
745maudem
Aug 13, 2025
OK - Tour was MEH. Sights and locations were interesting however I just felt like it was a lot of walking and not a lot of information. Expected much more from our guide, felt like I could have done the self-guided option and learn more that way.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_h
Aug 14, 2025
Guide didn’t show up.... - Guide didn’t show up. After 45 minutes we called Viator who immigrated issued a refund. We walked the expected tour route ourselves afterwards. Would have liked it to have been guided.
Review provided by Viator
From $61
up to 12 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).