5 romantic things to do in Toronto for gay couples – Canada

Toronto is an exciting city in Canada to visit. It has over 40 million visitors each year and is home to 8,100 restaurants and bars. This is one of the most diverse places on our planet, with over 180 languages and dialects spoken.

Toronto is also a very fun place to come as a couple. We loved discovering the many tourist sites here, especially the CN Tower and the massive aquarium. Following our visit, we've put together our 5 favorite romantic things to do in Toronto to inspire your trip.

1. Romantic dinner at the CN Tower

The CN Tower is one of the most iconic buildings in the city. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, and when adding in the height of its antenna on top, it's the tallest freestanding structure in the western hemisphere, standing proud at 553m/1,815ft. It was built in the 1960s by the Canadian National Railway (CN) because they wanted a communications tower tall enough so that any radio or TV communications from it would not be obstructed by the many other high-rise buildings in the city.

As well as visiting the CN tower (those views!), it also has a revolving restaurant to dine at. We had one of our favorite romantic meals here at the tower's 360 The Restaurant. The food is delicious, with a mix of fresh seafood, steaks, and other local classics. Definitely one for a special occasion.

2. Visit the world famous aquarium

The Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is located just round the corner from the CN Tower and is one of the best we've been to. It has more than 20,000 exotic sea and freshwater specimens from more than 450 species. We love the underwater world a lot, especially after all our scuba diving experiences in Koh Tao in Thailand, and the Komodo National Park.

Since it opened in October 2013, the aquarium has become one of the most popular attractions in the city. The marine life here has plenty of space and are treated very well, which is very satisfying to see.

Look out for the chance to touch a stingray in the “Touch Tanks” – they are carefully supervised to ensure visitors don't stress or harm the rays in any way.

3. Ward Island for sunset views of the city

Toronto has a group of small islands just south of the mainland in the western part of Lake Ontario. Ward Island is our favourite for the best views of the city. You can come here with a public ferry from downtown Toronto, which takes around 15 minutes each way, or catch a guided cruise to learn more about all the islands while you take pretty photos!

We loved it here – we came in the afternoon with a few drinks and sat by the beach watching the sun setting over the big city. You also get the best night views of the city skyline here, with the planes crossing every few minutes as they land at the nearby Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Definitely one of our favourite romantic spots.

4. Shopping in the Distillery District

The Distillery District is one of our favourite neighbourhoods of Toronto. It is named after the large whiskey distilleries that used to be based here.

Today the area is mainly lined with restaurants, bars, outdoor markets, sculptures and stage performances, all along small cute cobblestone streets. In December, the annual Toronto Christmas Market takes over the entire area.

You can do a walking tour to get yourself oriented if it's your first time in the city. Look out for the giant heart sculpture here, which is a must for your Instagram gallery:

5. Catch a drag show in the gay village of Toronto

Toronto has one of the best gay scenes in North America, with one of the largest gay pride festivals in the world. It's a lot of fun here, and even has its own permanent rainbow crossing installation at the intersection of Davie and Bute streets.

We loved coming here for a fun night out, especially watching the drag shows at Woody's and also at Crews & Tango bar, then dancing at Fly on a Saturday night. To read more, check out our 5 favourite gay hangouts in Toronto and also gay events happening in Toronto.

Also, watch our vlog about gay Toronto, and if you enjoyed watching, please subscribe to our YouTube channel:

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

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For more inspiration:

• Find out what it's like to grow up gay in Toronto in our interview with Barry
• Then check out our gay travel guide to Montreal
• Tantalize your tastebuds at the best gay restaurants in Montreal
• And have fun at the best gay events in Montreal
• Head to the other side of Canada with our gay travel guide to Vancouver
• And not far from Vancouver, you can enjoy Whistler gay pride – the only one in the world on the snow!
• If you love the snow, check out these gay ski weeks and weekends around the world