Travel the World - in Toronto
- Danielle Dybiec
- Jul 9
- 6 min read
If you can't make it overseas this year, think about heading to Toronto instead! It's a friendly, clean, and safe city filled with walkable neighborhoods characterized by a variety of nationalities and cultures that together make Canada's largest city a vibrant, multicultural destination worth exploring - and admiring.
4/30/25 article below by Heather Greenwood Davis is from Virtuoso's guide to Toronto, created with support from Toronto and can be found here.
See the city’s famous international pockets, from Koreatown to Little Portugal.
In Toronto, the world is only ever a block or two away. To live in Canada’s largest city is to be global by osmosis, surrounded by more than 250 ethnicities and 190 languages spoken across 150 neighborhoods. People of color and immigrants make up more than half of Toronto’s 3 million-strong population, and the resulting heritage festivals, dining experiences, and cultural events make Canada’s largest city intriguing for travelers looking for the cosmopolitan, the cultural, and the welcoming all in one.
“It doesn't matter where you're from, what language you speak, what religion you believe in, or what orientation you have,” says local culinary tour guide Jusep Sim. “Toronto is the only city where you can find a community for every single person to plug into.”
Reach many of these communities by car in less than 20 minutes from the downtown core, and experience their convergence in the city's social hubs such as Leslieville, The Annex, and Kensington Market. From public art installations to music venues and neighborhood grocers, Toronto’s cultural centers supply the stages for global connection – real people, living history, and the kind of fusion that’s only possible in one of the world’s most multicultural cities.
Toronto's diverse neighborhoods span the city's six original boroughs.
Little Jamaica
Location: Six miles northwest of Downtown, along Eglinton Avenue West between Keele Street and Marlee Avenue.
History: A Caribbean hub since the early 1960s, Little Jamaica was one of the first Black communities in the country.
Atmosphere: By day, the neighborhood sports a “work hard, play hard” spirit. Reggae and soca music carry through open balconies above shops selling fresh fruit juices, and barbershop windows frame pantomimes of the animated conversations inside. Filling the air with fragrant spices, restaurants such as Rap’s serve the staples: jerk chicken, ackee and saltfish (Jamaica’s national dish), and escoveitch (fried and marinated red snapper).
Must-dos: Snap a photo alongside the vibrant Reggae Lane murals by longtime Little Jamaica resident Adrian Hayles. The 1,200-square-foot mural at 1584 Eglinton Avenue West is a tribute to the many Toronto musicians (among them, Leroy Sibbles of the Heptones) who’ve left their mark on the genre. Don’t leave Little Jamaica without trying a Randy’s patty – a golden pastry shell stuffed with beef, chicken, or vegetables – paired with a soft coco bread. When the iconic spot announced a temporary closure in 2022, fans circled the block for one last bite.
Koreatown
Location: Two miles northwest of Downtown on Bloor Street West between Christie and Bathurst streets.
History: Following World War II, many Koreans fled to Canada to escape Japanese occupation. By the 1970s, about 10,000 Koreans called the area home, and the concept of Koreatown was cemented. While the area is changing with new waves of immigration, it remains a Korean cultural hub.
Atmosphere: Today, the popularity of K-pop and K-beauty has led to a fascination with all things Korean. Head to Inner Beauty for Korean brands such as Etude House, COSRX, and Innisfree. And at Sarah & Tom you’ll find all the posters, books, and music that keep K-pop fans coming back. On Friday nights, the neighborhood’s karaoke lounges, including Echo Karaoke, are packed with amateurs drinking soju and singing their hearts out in the private rooms.
Must-dos: Wait your turn for a shot in the photo booth at Hanji Gifts. Sunrise House serves traditional bites such as beef bulgogi and mandu (pan-fried dumplings); for walnut cakes and hotteok (fried rice-flour pancakes filled with sweet syrup and nuts), Hodo Kwaja is the go-to.
Little India
Location: Four miles east of Downtown, along Gerrard Street East between Coxwell and Greenwood avenues.
History: In the 1970s South Indian entrepreneurs started building this stretch of eastern Toronto, just blocks from the waterfront. Now it’s one of Toronto’s most established neighborhoods, where theaters show Hindi and Punjabi films, and shops showcase authentic jewelry and textiles.
Atmosphere: Little India remains a village, drawing people from around the city and visitors from around the world. The Gerrard India Bazaar BIA started in 1982 and is believed to be North America’s biggest South Asian street market. Travelers source everything from fragrant spices to vibrant sari fabrics in mom-and-pop stores where the welcome is consistently warm.
Must-dos: Many a Toronto kid, of all backgrounds, can recount trips to Little India with family or friends for a bag of hot samosas or a meal at Lahore Tikka House. Time your visit during Diwali, the fall festival of lights (October 20 this year), and you’ll be met with festive folk dances, decorative light displays, and brilliant fireworks.
Little Portugal
Location: Two miles west of Downtown, the 16-block area is bordered by College Street, Dundas Street West, and Dovercourt Road.
History: Portuguese immigration to Toronto – mostly from the Azores – began in the 1950s, peaking in the late 1960s and early ’70s, when another wave of immigrants followed their family members in search of job opportunities. Though the neighborhood has changed over the decades, it remains a gathering place for Portuguese speakers. By 1987, the portion of Dundas Street West that runs through Little Portugal was renamed Rua Açores.
Atmosphere: A free spirit pervades Little Portugal’s art, culture, and music, from the Latin vibes at Lula Lounge to the intimate taverns where live indie rock thrives (Dakota, Sweaty Betty’s, and The Communist’s Daughter among them).
Must-dos: Get oriented by the giant rooster statue at the Lakeview Avenue Parkette (1212 Dundas Street West), then browse shops such as Saudade for Portuguese design pieces ranging from handmade soaps to gold filigree jewelry. The Do West Fest in early June is a great example of Little Portugal at play. Visitors are welcome to join the street dancing and family activities that mark this weekend celebration.
Little Tibet
Location: Three miles west of Downtown, spread over six blocks bordered by Queen Street West, the Gardiner Expressway, and Atlantic Avenue.
History: A steady influx of Tibetans to the Parkdale neighborhood in the late 1990s and early 2000s means this corner of Toronto now claims the largest concentration of Tibetans outside Asia.
Atmosphere: Parkdale has long served as a gateway for Toronto’s newcomers, thanks to its historically lower rents and location just outside the city center. Today, humble Tibetan restaurants, shops, and religious gathering spaces live alongside newer plant-based cafés and restaurants.
Must-dos: Try Toronto’s best regional Himalayan dishes, including those from Bhutan and Nepal. Momo – steamed or fried dumplings filled with meat or vegetables – are tasty starters at Shambhala Kitchen and Himalayan Kitchen. Wash them down with butter tea (the inspiration for trendy bulletproof coffee). Pop into the Karma Sonam Dargye Ling temple to learn about Buddhism or join a regularly scheduled meditation.
Greektown
Location: Five miles east of Downtown, Greektown runs along Danforth Avenue, largely between Chester Avenue and Dewhurst Boulevard.
History: In the 1950s and ’60s, thousands of Greek immigrants landed in the Danforth neighborhood of central-east Toronto. Greektown has since grown to become one of North America’s largest Greek neighborhoods, with 7,500 residents and a beloved roster of taverns, food festivals, and family-run shops.
Atmosphere: Summers in Greektown are always a good time. Fans flock to the streets strung with patriotic blue-and-white flags. The loud chatter rising from Mezes’ patios and the crisp white linens on the tables at Pantheon are sure signs that you’re in the right place. Join local families and indulge in large plates of skewered souvlaki, rich moussaka, and grilled seafood. Gatherings here are as good for your mood as they are for your stomach.
Must-dos: No visit is complete without a slice of baklava and other sweet treats from the 31-year-old Serano Bakery. But the neighborhood also has a musical streak: Built in 1919 as a movie theater, The Danforth Music Hall now draws local, national, and international touring acts, from Rihanna to Dave Chappelle.
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