7 Non-Touristy Things to Do in Toronto

Toronto is a gorgeous city but most people are always going to same tourist spots and let me tell you, they get boring real quick. So here's a list of fun things to do in Toronto that will keep you entertained during your trip!

1: Go walking (preferably at night) to Dundas Square.

Okay, let's get the most "tourist" thing out of the way. Dundas Square is a great medium between very touristy and local. Yes, it's the heart of downtown but it's not as popular as the CN Tower. However, it's one of my favorites places in Toronto. Dundas Square look like a mini Times Square. I posted a picture of it on my Instagram and a couple of my friends asked if I was in NYC. I mean, if you're on a budget and don't have enough money to go to New York, maybe just opt for Toronto? I specified going at night because, personally, I love seeing cities at nighttime, with all of the pretty lights. Toronto's downtown satisfied my love for that particular activity. I really recommend going (plus it's free)!

2: Go drink some cool drinks at The Lockhart.

Calling all my Harry Potter fans! Yes, this one is for you. The Lockhart is bar that's half hipster and half Harry Potter themed. It's a great bar that will make you fangirl (or boy) hard. It has a bunch of memorabilia and quirky little trinkets related to Harry Potter. The drinks are all based off, you guessed it, Harry Potter! Also, they have Magic Nights every first and third Tuesday of every month and they have Trivia Nights every second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Okay, if you aren't a fan of the series you might not want to go there but trust me the drinks are really good (I really recommended the Royal Tea or the Better Beer) and the atmosphere is truly amazing.

3: Go bar hopping on Dundas Street (Little Portugal area).

Since we are on the subject of drinking alcohol, why not go on a true Torontonian bar hopping experience? So Toronto has a mediocre nightlife, however, their bars are pretty cool. So what I recommend doing is going on a hipster (ish) bar hopping tour! Dundas Street West has a lot of awesome bars ( from Ossinghton to Landsdown Ave) and most of them have this hipster vibe to them. Most of them you can just chill out with some friends after work or if you pick the right ones you can have a night you will never forget (or maybe you will, depends how much you drink). My favorites bars are Swan Dive, Black Dice Cafe, Loveless Cafe, and The Lockhart (yes I really love that bar)! Happy Bar Hopping!!

4: Go walking in High Park.

Ah, High Park, the Central Park of Toronto. Wait, is Toronto just a mini version of NYC?? All conspiracies aside, High Park is a beautiful place, great to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city. The best time to go is in the springtime when the cherry blossom trees are out. It's soooo beautiful and peaceful. If you're visiting Toronto on vacation, definitely go there to actually relax. Maybe read a book or have a cute picnic so you can take even cuter Instagram pictures!

5: Go to the beach!

Yes, yes, Toronto has a bunch of beautiful beaches. If you didn't know the city is actually right on Lake Ontario (which is a part of the Great Lakes). Most of the beaches are located in the Beaches area. The Beaches is a gorgeous, picturesque part of the GTA, that makes you feel like you're in The Hamptons. It's a great place to go if you want a quick getaway from the city. Go have a picnic or a little beach party with some friends and some cold ones, I highly recommend it!

6: Go walk around Liberty Village.

Okay, so I might be a bit bias here, but I absolutely love Liberty VIllage! I went to school there for four months and let me tell you, there's nothing you wouldn't love about that place. It's a modern, hipster neighborhood with a plenty of old brick buildings and a boatload of cool coffee places and restaurants. I love to walk in that neighborhood and see all of these young, awesome business people walk around. Everyone that you see there looks like they belong. Liberty Village just looks perfect.

7: Visit some known filming locations!

If there's one thing you should know about me, it's that I love movies (I feel like love is an understatement). The reason I was in Toronto is because I was doing an acting program there. Whether it's on Netflix or at the movie theatres, most people these days watch a lot of TV and movies. You probably didn't know that a lot of them are filmed in Toronto. Some of my favorite movies and TV shows are filmed there, here are a few: Good Will Hunting (1997), American Psycho (2000), Hairspray (2007), Mean Girls (2004), The Lost World: Jurrasic Park (1997), Suicide Squad (2016), Shazam! (2019), Suits (2011-), Prison Break (2005-2009), Black Mirror (2011-), Orphan Black (2013-), and Gilmore Girls (2000-2007). There's a genre of movies and TV shows for everyone and who knows which celebrities you might see if you go exploring the city! Happy exploring!