Self-Guided Toronto Walking Tour with Audioguide on Your Smartphone

Key facts

What's included

Itinerary

1. Stop 1

   Toronto City Hall is one of the city’s most recognizable modern landmarks. Opened in 1965 and designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, it features two curved towers surrounding a central council chamber. Its bold form, open civic square, and modernist design reflect Toronto’s post-war growth and urban ambition.

   10 minutes

2. Stop 2

   Toronto Public Library is one of Canada’s largest public library systems. Its branches connect the city’s neighbourhoods with reading rooms, archives, cultural programmes, and community services. The institution reflects Toronto’s civic identity, diversity, and long tradition of public access to knowledge.

   10 minutes

3. Stop 3

   Nathan Phillips Square is Toronto’s main civic square in front of City Hall. Opened in 1965 and named after former mayor Nathan Phillips, it became a central space for public gatherings, celebrations, protests, and winter skating. Its reflecting pool, arches, and modernist setting reflect Toronto’s civic identity and post-war urban growth.

   10 minutes

4. Stop 4

   Old City Hall is one of Toronto’s most important historic civic buildings. Completed in 1899, it served as the city’s municipal headquarters before the modern City Hall opened nearby. Its Romanesque Revival architecture, clock tower, stone carvings, and courthouse function reflect Toronto’s late 19th-century growth and civic ambition.

   10 minutes

5. Stop 5

   Dreaming is a monumental sculpture by Catalan artist Jaume Plensa in Toronto’s Financial District. Installed at the Richmond-Adelaide Centre, it shows an elongated female head with closed eyes, creating a calm presence among the surrounding office towers. The work reflects themes of silence, inner life, and human scale within the dense modern city.

   10 minutes

6. Stop 6

   Bishop’s Block is one of the oldest surviving building fragments in downtown Toronto. Built around 1830–1840 for John Bishop, a butcher and landlord, it once formed a row of early townhouses on Adelaide Street West. Its preserved façade connects the modern Shangri-La Toronto complex with the city’s 19th-century urban beginnings.

   10 minutes

7. Stop 7

   St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is a historic church in downtown Toronto. Founded by a Scottish Presbyterian congregation, it reflects the city’s 19th-century religious and immigrant history. Its Gothic Revival architecture, stone façade, stained glass, and urban setting connect Toronto’s financial district with older layers of civic and spiritual life.

   10 minutes

8. Stop 8

   Roy Thomson Hall is one of Toronto’s leading concert venues. Opened in 1982, it is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and is recognized for its circular glass exterior. Its modern design, central location, and role in major performances reflect Toronto’s cultural life and architectural ambition.

   10 minutes

9. Stop 9

   Canada’s Walk of Fame is a series of commemorative stars set into the sidewalks of Toronto’s Entertainment District. It honours Canadians who have made major contributions to film, music, sports, science, literature, and public life. The landmark reflects Toronto’s role as a cultural stage and Canada’s wider creative identity.

   10 minutes

10. Stop 10

    The Pasture is a public sculpture by Canadian artist Joe Fafard at the Toronto-Dominion Centre. Created in 1985, it features seven life-size bronze cows set against the towers of the Financial District. The work brings a rural image into the heart of downtown Toronto, reflecting Fafard’s prairie roots and his warm, humorous approach to public art.

    10 minutes

11. Stop 11 Pass by

    The Hockey Hall of Fame is one of Toronto’s major sports landmarks. Housed in a historic former bank building at Brookfield Place, it celebrates the history of ice hockey through trophies, memorabilia, player stories, and interactive exhibits. Its connection with the Stanley Cup makes it a central symbol of Canada’s hockey culture.

12. Stop 12 Pass by

    The Gooderham Building is one of the city’s most distinctive historic landmarks. Completed in 1892 for the Gooderham family’s distilling business, it stands at the meeting of Wellington Street and Front Street. Its narrow wedge shape, red-brick façade, and mural wall reflect Toronto’s commercial growth and late 19th-century architectural character.

13. Stop 13

    St. Lawrence Market is one of Toronto’s most historic food markets. Its roots go back to the early 19th century, when this area became a centre of trade, public life, and city government. The market’s stalls, brick halls, and local specialties reflect Toronto’s commercial heritage and the everyday food culture of the old town.

    10 minutes

14. Stop 14

    Banksy Street Art showcases works attributed to the world-famous anonymous street artist. These stencil pieces often carry social commentary, humor, and ambiguity, connecting Toronto’s urban landscape with global street art culture.

    10 minutes

15. Stop 15

    The Esplanade is a historic street near the St. Lawrence Market district. Once a hub for trade, railways, and warehouses, today it features brick buildings and public spaces that highlight Toronto’s shift from port city to vibrant downtown core.

    10 minutes

16. Stop 16

    Eagle by Dean Drever is a striking public sculpture at Yonge Street and The Esplanade. It depicts a powerful bald eagle emerging from a building’s façade, symbolizing themes of strength, travel, and environmental awareness within Toronto’s urban art scene.

    10 minutes

17. Stop 17

    The Lower Simcoe Street Underpass Murals are a collaborative public art project involving Indigenous youth artists. These murals bring Indigenous stories and perspectives into the city’s busy downtown, emphasizing water, memory, and community themes.

    10 minutes

18. Stop 18

    Woodpecker Column is a public sculpture by Fastwürms, featuring two large woodpeckers on a tall black column. Located near the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, it adds a touch of natural wilderness to the urban landscape, reflecting Toronto’s natural history.

    10 minutes

19. Stop 19 Pass by

    CN Tower is Toronto’s most iconic landmark. Completed in 1976, it stands tall with observation decks and a slender concrete shaft. It symbolizes Toronto’s modern growth, engineering prowess, and global city status.

20. Stop 20 Pass by

    Toronto Railway Museum at Roundhouse Park showcases the city’s railway history, featuring locomotives, railcars, and stories from the steam era. It highlights Toronto’s development through transportation and industry.

21. Stop 21

    Rogers Centre is a major sports stadium with a retractable roof, home to the Toronto Blue Jays. Opened in 1989, it reflects Toronto’s sports enthusiasm and innovative engineering.

    10 minutes

22. Stop 22

    Lake Ontario forms Toronto’s southern boundary. Its waters have shaped the city’s trade, climate, and waterfront development, offering scenic views and recreational spaces.

    10 minutes

23. Stop 23

    Harbourfront Centre is a vibrant cultural hub on Toronto’s waterfront. It hosts festivals, performances, and art exhibitions, transforming former industrial lands into a lively public space.

    10 minutes

Meeting point & pickup

Meet at the starting point

- The tour begins near Toronto City Hall.
- This is a self-guided experience; no guide will be present.
- Launch the TouringBee app, select the "Toronto walking tour," and follow the route on your device.

Cancellation & confirmation