The most heavily populated city in Canada, Toronto is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city; the country's financial, commercial and cultural centre with a rich multi-cultural heritage of more than 80 ethnic groups, speaking more than 100 languages. It has a lively stock exchange, soaring futuristic architecture, museums, art galleries, performing arts companies, fine restaurants, large shopping complexes, a waterfront and hundreds of parks.

The city is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and sports distinctive neighbourhoods as well as the longest street in the world, Yonge Street, as its main north-south artery. Toronto's main landmark is the CN Tower, which is the world's tallest free-standing structure with glass-fronted elevators that rise 1,815ft (553m) to indoor and outdoor observation decks. The city also boasts the 'Skydome', which is a multi-purpose entertainment complex with a retractable roof, billed as the world's greatest entertainment centre.

In the 17th century Toronto was a small French colony; then came the American Revolution which encouraged scores of British loyalist families to flee north. Many settled beside the lake establishing a town known as York, which slowly grew in importance as an administrative and manufacturing centre. In 1834 the name was changed to Toronto, an Indian word meaning 'meeting place'. The new name proved worthy when about a century later the city's English character began to be buried beneath the conglomeration of cultures brought in by a massive tide of immigrants from all corners of the world. Old English pubs and Victorian and Edwardian architecture survive among the skyscrapers, but Toronto is today a lively and cosmopolitan city and Canada's commercial capital.

It does get pretty cold over the winter months of November to March so if you are averse to chilly weather plan your visit over the mid-year period. Toronto just might be the destination that has it all - reason enough to visit and enjoy what has been described as Canada's 'world within a city.'

Casa Loma

Address: 1 Austin Terrace Toronto

Admission: C$20.55 (adults), C$11.32 (children). Other concessions are available Open daily, from 9.30am to 5pm

Telephone: (416) 923 1171

CN Tower

Address: 301 Front Street West Toronto

Admission: Rates vary from C$22.99 to C$34.99, depending on the ticket type: concessions are vavailable In summer, open daily from 9am to 11pm. Phone or check website for other seasonal hours

Telephone: (416) 868 6937

Royal Ontario Museum

Address: 100 Queen's Park Toronto

Admission: C$24 (adults), C$16 (children). Other concessions are available. Admission is half-price on Friday afternoons from 4.30pm, and free on Wednesdays after 3.30pm Open daily, from 10am to 5.30pm (until 8.30pm on Friday)

Telephone: (416) 586 5549

Toronto Zoo

Address: Meadowvale Road, Scarborough Toronto

Admission: C$23 (adults), C$13 (children). Other concessions are available Open daily, from 9.30am to 4.30pm (11 October to 31 December); 9am to 6pm (6 September to 10 October); 9am to 7.30pm (21 May to 5 September)

Telephone: (416) 392 5900

Niagara Falls

Address: Toronto

Admission: Admission tickets vary depending on which attractions are visited. See website for details Different attractions have different opening hours and seasons. Check website for details

Distillery Historic District

Address: Mill Street Toronto

Admission: Monday to Wednesday from 11am to 7pm; Thursday and Friday from 11am to 9pm; Saturday from 10am to 9pm; Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Hours of restaurants, cafes and shops may vary

Telephone: (416) 364 1177

Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art

Address: 952 Queen Street West Toronto

Admission: By donation Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays

Telephone: (416) 395 0067

Toronto Islands

Address: Toronto Island Ferry Docks, foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay Toronto

Admission: C$6.50 (adults), C$3 (children). Concessions are available

Telephone: Toronto Island Ferry: (416) 392 8193

Gardiner Museum of Ceramics

Address: 111 Queen's Park Toronto

Admission: C$12 (adults); C$6 (students); Free for children under 12 years. Half-price admission every Friday, between 4pm and 8pm Monday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm; Friday from 10am to 9pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm

Telephone: (416) 586 8080

Kensington Market

Address: Area bordered by Spadina Avenue, Dundas Street, Bathurst Street and College Street Toronto

Admission: Open seven days a week. Most opening hours are from 11am to 7pm, although fresh produce stalls usually open earlier, and restaurants usually close later

Harbourfront Centre

Address: 235 Queen's Way Toronto

Hockey Hall of Fame

Address: 30 Yonge Street, Brookfield Place Toronto

Admission: C$15 (adults), C$10 (youths). Concessions are available Hours vary slightly according to the season, but are generally from 9.30am or 10am, to 5pm or 6pm

Telephone: (416) 360 7765

Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People

Address: 165 Front Street East Toronto

Admission: Generally, tickets prices are between C$10-20 per show Consult website for show times

Telephone: 416 363 5131

African Lion Safari

Address: 1386 Cooper Road, Flamborough Toronto

Admission: Spring and Autumn (7 May to 24 June; 6 September to 10 October): C$24.95 (adults), C$19.95 (children). Summer (25 June to 5 September): C$29.95 (adults), C$24.95 (children) Summer: Open daily, from 9am to 5.30pm. Autumn: Open daily, from 9am to 4pm

Telephone: (519) 623 2620

Ontario Place

Address: 955 Lake Shore Blvd. West Toronto

Admission: Admission to the grounds is free in 2011. Individual attractions will charge separate admission prices Opening hours vary from attraction to attraction, and depend on the season. Check website for details

Telephone: 416 314 9900

Paramount Canada's Wonderland

Address: 9580 Jane Street, Vaughan Toronto

Admission: C$31.99 - C$54.99 depending on the package Open daily, from 11am to 6pm

Telephone: (905) 832 8131

High Park

Address: 1873 Bloor Street West Toronto

Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park

Address: 3667 Concession Road 6, Orono Toronto

Admission: C$15 (adults), C$10 (teens and seniors), C$7.50 (children) Open daily, from 10am to 5pm

Telephone: (905) 983 5016

Toronto Pride

Where: ‘Unity' takes place at the National Trade Center; the Pride Parade follows a route down Yonge Street; the Dyke March route is north on Church to Bloor, west on Bloor to Yonge, south on Yonge to Wood and east on Wood to the South Stage. Other events take p,Toronto

When: 24 June to 3 July 2011

Canada Dry Festival of Fire

Where: Reserved seating available on Ontario Place pier or on Mariposa Harbour cruise boats, otherwise watch from anywhere on the lake shore,Toronto

When: 1 July 2011

Cavalcade of Lights

Where: Nathan Phillips Square,Toronto

When: 26 November 2011

Contact

Where: Various galleries, museums, art centres and other public places in Toronto,Toronto

When: 1 - 31 May 2011

Toronto Jazz Festival

Where: Numerous locations in downtown; main stage at Nathan Phillips Square,Toronto

When: 24 June to 3 July 2011

Toronto Taste

Where: ,Toronto

When: 12 June 2011

Toronto International Film Festival

Where: Various,Toronto

When: 5 - 17 April 2011

Rock Paper Scissors International World Championships

Where: Steam Whistle Brewing,Toronto

When: October 2011 TBA

Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival

Where: ,Toronto

When: 6 - 17 July 2011

WinterCity Festival

Where: Various, including Nathan Phillips Square,Toronto

When: 27 January to 9 February 2012

Bellini's Ristorante

Address: 101 Yorkville Ave Toronto

Food Type: Italian

Bistro 990

Address: 990 Bay Street (Downtown) Toronto

Food Type: French

Lai Wah Heen

Address: Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut Street (Downtown) Toronto

Food Type: Chinese

Senses

Address: 318 Wellington Street West Toronto

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

North 44

Address: 2537 Yonge Street (Uptown) Toronto

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Vanipha Lanna

Address: 471 Eglington Avenue West (Uptown) Toronto

Food Type: Oriental

Truffles

Address: Four Seasons Hotel, 21 Avenue Road, Yorkville (Downtown) Toronto

Food Type: French

The Boiler House

Address: 55 Mill Street Toronto

Food Type: International

360 Revolving Restaurant

Address: CN Tower, 301 Front Street West (Downtown) Toronto

Food Type: International

Bangkok Garden

Address: 18 Elm Street, Toronto Toronto

Food Type: Thai

Canoe

Address: 54th Floor, Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, 66 Wellington St. Toronto

Food Type: International