One of the common types of limousine service provided by Global Alliance to clients from out of town is a multi-hour city tour. For passengers interested in seeing some of the major sights and attractions of Toronto in a few hours, one of our experienced and knowledgeable chauffeurs can provide a guided driven tour of Canada’s largest metropolis. Although there is no set itinerary for a Toronto city tour, we will present a few major sights that are essential for a visitor interested in gaining the measure of the city.
CN Tower
The most distinctive and iconic feature of downtown Toronto’s skyline, the 553-metre high CN Tower was the tallest tower and indeed the tallest free-standing structure in the world for over 30 years. Named after the Canadian National Railway who provided the land and built the tower in the mid-1970s, the name has stuck in the public mind despite changes in ownership and management.
The bird’s-eye view from the main observation deck 342 metres above the ground remains unmatched; on a clear day, a keen-eyed visitor can see Rochester and the mist of Niagara Falls south across Lake Ontario and north as far as Lake Simcoe. The famous Glass Floor allows the less faint-of-heart visitor to stand on (perfectly safe) transparent glass and see the earth over a thousand feet below. The more adventurous patron can participate in the Edge Walk, moving around the roof of the tower’s Main Pod outside in the open air while tethered to an overhead rail system (this feature is closed during the winter and in periods of inclement weather and high winds). For a more sedate time, make reservations at the revolving 360 Restaurant for a unique and stunning dinner experience.
Toronto Harbourfront
Toronto is a city on the water, built for shipping and trading purposes at a strategic location on the north shores of Lake Ontario. Explore the modern-day harbour at your leisure, taking a relaxing boat tour or crossing to the Toronto Islands for a picnic in the park and the most spectacular views of the glittering downtown skyline. Various watersports are at your disposal along the shore, as well as waterfront restaurants, shops, and the arts and theatre complex of the Harbourfront Centre. Major redevelopment projects continue along the lakefront, especially further east in the former Docklands, so expect new and exciting attractions to pop up next to the water in the years to come.
Yonge-Dundas Square and Eaton Centre
Downtown Toronto’s cultural and commercial heart stretches out from the corner of Yonge Street and Dundas Street. Yonge-Dundas Square itself is an open concrete space where free festivals, public concerts, and retail fairs are held on a regular basis; ticketing centres offer admission passes for many other major city attractions. It is flanked by retail, a television studio, a movie multiplex, restaurants, and towering advertising billboards in the style of New York City’s incandescent Times Square. On its western edge is Toronto Eaton Centre, Canada’s fourth-largest shopping centre and by far its most-visited, boasting a million visitors a week and 50 million annually. Even a brief drive by this impressive public space is worthwhile, but feel free to take the time to explore the stores and grab a bite in the area as well.