City in Ontario, Canada
Toronto for solo travelers
Is Toronto good for solo travel?
Canada's biggest and most diverse city: great food, neighbourhood life and an easy first North American stop. Winters are cold, rents are high and transit is patchy.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Solo women | Generally comfortable for solo women. Use rideshare late, watch drinks in clubs and sit near the driver or in the designated waiting area on the subway. |
How to meet people in Toronto
Hostels in Kensington, run clubs and Meetup groups, board-game cafés, language exchanges and coworking events; neighbourhood food tours work well.
Good things to do alone
- Eat through Kensington Market and Chinatown
- Take the ferry to Toronto Islands
- Walk the Don Valley trails
- See a TIFF or Hot Docs screening
- Day trip to Niagara Falls on GO
Where to stay in Toronto
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Queen West–Ossington | Cafés, bars and galleries; popular with younger visitors |
| Downtown (Yonge–Dundas) | Transit hub, attractions, first nights in the city |
| Kensington Market–Chinatown | Cheap food, hostels, second-hand shops |
| The Annex | Quiet, leafy, near university cafés and subway |
| Leslieville–Riverside | Long stays: brunch spots, parks, streetcar to downtown |
Solo travel across Canada
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Montreal | 5/5 | Widely spoken |
| Toronto | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Banff | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Quebec City | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Whistler | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Ottawa | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Calgary | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Victoria | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Jasper | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Halifax | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Tofino | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Kelowna | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Niagara Falls | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Edmonton | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Yellowknife | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Mont-Tremblant | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Prince Edward Island | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Toronto good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Canada's biggest and most diverse city: great food, neighbourhood life and an easy first North American stop.
How do you meet people in Toronto?
Hostels in Kensington, run clubs and Meetup groups, board-game cafés, language exchanges and coworking events; neighbourhood food tours work well. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Toronto?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Toronto safe for solo female travelers?
Generally comfortable for solo women. Use rideshare late, watch drinks in clubs and sit near the driver or in the designated waiting area on the subway.
More about Toronto
Going to Toronto solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Toronto meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.