Where to Stay in Toronto (Best Areas & Places)

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I lived in Toronto for seven years as an adult and still visit regularly. I’m here to help you choose where to stay in Toronto for your travel style.

For first-time visitors to Toronto, I recommend staying in the Entertainment District at the Shangri-La Hotel. However, if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Hyatt Regency Toronto is the way to go.

Of course, this is only scratching the surface. Toronto has some seriously cool neighborhoods & hotels. I recommend making a choice based on what kind of trip you want to have. In this article, I’ll take you through the best areas of Toronto and what makes each special.

But first, here’s a list of my top pick hotels, by category:

Best Places to Stay in Toronto

If you’re short on time, these are my top picks: 

• 🏆 Best Overall Hotel – Shangri-La Toronto
• 📍 Best Location – Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer
• 💎 Best Luxury Hotel – Four Seasons Yorkville Hotel
• 👪 Best for Families – Chelsea Hotel
• 💻 Best for Business – Marriott Downtown
• 🔔 Best Boutique – The Drake Hotel
• 🏙️ Best Near Rogers Centre – Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer
• ✈️ Best Near Pearson Airport – Alt Hotel Toronto Airport
• 🛏️ Best Budget – Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre
• 🔑 Apartments – Search Airbnb rentals in my #1 neighborhood

Click here to see all top Toronto hotels or here for apartments.

Ok, now scroll down for a deep dive into the pros (and cons) of each area of Toronto: 

8 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Toronto

Toronto is geographically split into East and West, with Yonge Street (pronounced young) acting as the de facto dividing line. As a visitor, you’ll find that most of Toronto’s sites lie west of Yonge Street and south of St. Clair (some locals would say south of Bloor, but I think there’s wiggle room here). I recommend choosing a neighborhood in this general area.

Of course, there are exceptions to this depending on your travel style. Most of the neighborhoods in this article are in the west, but a couple are in the east.

I’ve personally lived in three of these areas and frequented the others, so you’re in good hands. Welcome, dear reader, to my old stomping grounds. 

Entertainment District

👉 Best Area For First Timers & Business | ✨ Best Entertainment District Hotels: Shangri-La Toronto • Hyatt Regency Toronto • Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer

First-timers looking to hit the big Toronto sites should stay in the Entertainment District. This is where you’ll find the iconic CN Tower, Rogers Centre (the stadium), Scotiabank Arena, Ripley’s Aquarium, TIFF Lightbox, and a ton of restaurants and bars.

By far, my favorite hotel here is Shangri-La Toronto. It’s fancy. It’s 5 stars and has all the amenities you could ever need, including a convenient airport shuttle. It’s where I used to book music industry execs when they came to the city for business (part of my old job duties).

If you’re looking for a more budget stay in this area, then the Hyatt Regency Toronto is a good option. But if budget-friendly is what you’re going for, there are better neighborhoods overall.

Pros of Staying in the Entertainment District:

• Walking distance to all the major sites
• Tons of great restaurants and bars
• Lots of hotel options

Cons of Staying in the Entertainment District:

• Hotels are pricey
• Very busy area & can be loud

Beaconsfield Village & West Queen West

👉 Best Area For Millennials & Young Professionals | ✨ Best Beaconsfield / West Queen West Hotels: The Drake Hotel • Gladstone House • 1 Hotel Toronto

Beaconsfield Village & West Queen West are adjacent artsy neighborhoods perfect for travelers in their 20s and 30s. This is the area to experience a more local side of Toronto without getting totally residential. Here, you’ll find music venues, locally-owned coffee shops, boutiques, and art exhibitions. I lived in West Queen West for years and it’s my favorite area of the city.

On hot summer days, you’ll find people packing into Trinity Bellwoods Park with picnic gear in tow. Wintertime means everyone catches shows at music venues like The Great Hall. 

The best hotel in the area is The Drake Hotel. It has all the amenities and features artwork from local creators. I recommend lounging on its all-season rooftop patio or catching a music performance at its venue, The Drake Underground. (PS – no, the hotel has no affiliation with the Toronto artist of the same name.)

Pros of Staying in Beaconsfield / West Queen West:

• Lots of local restaurants and bars
• Slightly more affordable than downtown
• Great local parks 

Cons of Staying in Beaconsfield / West Queen West:

• Not super close to the main attractions

Yorkville

👉 Best Area For Luxury Travelers | ✨ Best Yorkville Hotels: Four Seasons Yorkville Hotel • The Hazelton Hotel • W Toronto

High-end shops, trendy wine bars, fine dining, swanky galleries, and celebrity-ridden hotels. Yorkville is Toronto’s most luxurious neighborhood and is where to stay if you have an unlimited budget. But even if you don’t fit into this camp, don’t necessarily skip Yorkville on your trip to Toronto. 

There is a ton of great history here (in case you care, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young both got their starts in Yorkville’s bohemian streets of yore) and one of my favorite casual restaurants, Hemingway’s, is in Yorkville. It’s also home to the Bata Shoe Museum, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Gardiner Museum. 

The Four Seasons Yorkville Hotel is honestly unbeatable. Even if staying at the hotel is out of your budget, I recommend visiting its spa. For something a little more easy on the wallet, I recommend W Toronto.

Pros of Staying in Yorkville:

• High-end everything
• Cute neighborhood feel with heritage buildings
• Right on the subway line

Cons of Staying in Yorkville:

• Very expensive

Downtown Yonge

👉 Best Area For Action | ✨ Best Downtown Yonge Hotels: Chelsea Hotel • Marriott Downtown • DoubleTree by Hilton

If you want to be in the center of Toronto’s action, then stay in the Downtown Yonge area. Yonge-Dundas Square is Toronto’s smaller answer to NYC’s Times Square, with towering skyscrapers and billboards galore.

Here, you’ll find the Eaton Centre (Toronto’s major mall), Nathan Phillips Square, and tons of shops along Yonge Street. This area is also home to the iconic Massey Hall (I used to work there!), and many theaters. The restaurants here tend to be chains, but there are local gems too.

Just be aware that, while Yonge & Dundas is perfectly fine during the day, nighttime can get a little seedy. Especially if you go north on Yonge or east on Dundas. The square itself is very touristy and can attract scammers, but is overall safe.

In this area, I recommend the Chelsea Hotel. This is generally where I stay when I’m looking for a semi-budget-friendly downtown hotel.

Pros of Staying in Downtown Yonge Neighborhood:

• Right in the heart of Toronto
• Very walkable and right on the subway line

Cons of Staying in Downtown Yonge Neighborhood:

• Very touristy & loud
• Can be scammy
• Can get a little seedy at night

The Village (Church – Wellesley)

👉 Best Area For LGBTQ+ & Budget Travelers | ✨ Best Hotels in The Village: The Anndore House • Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown • Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre

Not to be confused with Liberty Village (an entirely different area), The Church – Wellesley Village is Toronto’s LGBTQ+ enclave. Coincidentally, it’s also home to many of Toronto’s best-budget hotels that are still within walking distance of downtown. 

This area is artsy with tons of locally-owned shops, bars, and restaurants. Every June, the Toronto Pride Parade makes its way up Church Street, and Halloween brings a whole week of spooky fun. It also has a great club scene if you’re looking to get your party on.

The Anndore House is The Village’s best hotel. This 4-star spot has lofts and rooms that are meticulously designed.

Pros of Staying in The Village:

• Great community feel
• Lots of local restaurants, bars, & shops
• More budget-friendly hotels

Cons of Staying in The Village:

• Can be loud & rowdy on the weekends

The Annex

👉 Best Area For Local Culture & Students | ✨ Best Hotels in The Annex: Kimpton Saint George Hotel • Captain House

The Annex is located just west of Yorkville and is largely a residential neighborhood. It’s right next to the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus and tends to attract students and young professionals.

This neighborhood is home to one of Toronto’s most famous music venues, Lee’s Palace (for a raucous good time, head upstairs to Dance Cave – the ghost of my 20s still haunts the place.) Or, for something a little calmer, head down the street to Bloor Hot Docs, a local movie theater showing mostly indie gems & cult classics.

Also, I know that it’s not in The Annex per se, but Casa Loma is located just north of here, and is Toronto’s only “castle”. I definitely recommend you check it out. Especially at Halloween when they turn it into a haunted house. 

The best hotel in The Annex is the Kimpton Saint George Hotel. It’s a four-star hotel with city views & a concierge service.

Pros of Staying in The Annex:

• Local feel
• Lots of great restaurants and bars
• Not too expensive

Cons of Staying in The Annex:

• Not very many hotels
• Far from most of the sites

Old Toronto & Old Town

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Old Toronto Hotels: Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown • The Ivy at Verity • The Omni King Edward Hotel

I know, it sounds weird, but Old Toronto and Old Town are technically two separate neighborhoods, despite being side-by-side. They are if you look at a map, anyway. For the sake of this, I’m lumping them together. 

Just a stone’s throw from the Entertainment District, Old Toronto is the best place to stay for families. You can easily get to (even walk to) all the big Toronto sites from here, but Old Toronto is slightly quieter and has cheaper options than further west. 

The neighborhood where Toronto began, Old Town’s main draws are the Hockey Hall of Fame and St. Lawrence Market. It’s also within walking distance of the Distillery District (THE place to be leading up to Christmas) and the Esplanade.

In this area, Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown is the best budget option. Or, if you want to keep it elegant, The Ivy at Verity is a fab 5-star hotel. 

Pros of Staying in Old Toronto:

• Close to a lot of the main sites
• Lots of history & walking tours
• Cheaper options than a few blocks west

Cons of Staying in Old Toronto:

• Touristy
• Fewer bar & restaurant options than in other areas

Toronto Pearson Airport

👉 Best Area For Layovers & Day Trips | ✨ Best Airport Hotels: Alt Hotel Toronto Airport • Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport • Sheraton Gateway Hotel

When looking at Toronto hotels, you might notice that options near the Toronto Pearson International Airport are abundant and cheap. These are good hotels if you’re only in town for a day or so. However, I caution against staying here if you’re in Toronto for longer.

Yes, these hotels are well-reviewed and budget-friendly, but they’re very far from downtown and there are next to no attractions here. Public transportation is a hassle and doesn’t run all night. Further, Uber and cabs can get expensive, especially if you want to enjoy Toronto’s nightlife.

I only recommend booking an airport hotel if you’re in town on a layover and have a flight to catch. Otherwise, use the money you would have spent on a cab and spend it on your downtown hotel. 

How do I know this? I once stayed at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport on a multi-day visit (wasn’t my idea). It’s a great option if you’re looking for an airport hotel, however.

Pros of Staying near Toronto Airport:

• Cheap hotels & lots of options
• Close to the airport for early flights & quick trips

Cons of Staying in Toronto Airport:

• Really far from downtown
• Hard & inconvenient to get around
• Mostly chain hotels & restaurants 

Tips for Staying in Toronto

Visit Kensington Market, Chinatown, & Little Italy

Okay, so you’re probably wondering why I left Kensington Market, Chinatown, & Little Italy off my list of places to stay in Toronto. They’re three incredibly popular, fun, and centrally-located neighborhoods, after all. 

But the skinny is that there are simply no great hotels in these neighborhoods. Further, residents of those areas hate vacation rentals. Like, don’t go to Kensington Market and tell a local you’re staying at a vacation rental. I’m serious. It’s not a way to make friends.

However, there is one good hostel in Kensington Market, The Planet Traveler Hostel.

I love all of these neighborhoods and you should absolutely factor them into your vacation plans, but I don’t have hotel recommendations for you in good faith. 

Don’t Rent a Car

Honestly, renting a car in Toronto isn’t worth the hassle. Parking is atrocious and drivers are nuts (trust me, I used to be one of them). Take the streetcars, buses, and subway instead. Or, use Uber, Lyft, or good ol’ cabs to get around – there are a ton of drivers always at the ready.

The only exception to this is if you want to take a day trip from Toronto. In that instance, I recommend using the search engine Discover Cars to find the best rental option for you and reading my guide to driving in Canada. Or, you can take the GO Train to popular destinations like Niagara Falls. 

Get a PRESTO Card

Further to my transportation point, I recommend purchasing a PRESTO transit card for your time in Toronto. You can get one of these from the vending machines at the airport, where you can also load it with money.

Then, just tap the card every time you hop on a street car or the subway. Streetcars are practically a Toronto attraction in and of themselves and will save you some money getting around.

For Cheaper Hotels, Visit During the Off-season

There are certain times of year that you definitely want to avoid in Toronto if money is a concern. Hotel prices always spike during the summer when the weather is hottest. Then, prices go even higher in September during the Toronto International Film Festival. 

I personally loved going to TIFF every year when I lived in Toronto, but if you want to save a buck, avoid it like the plague. I also have a whole guide to when to visit Canada for more information.

FAQs

What are the best areas to stay in Toronto for first-timers?

The best area to stay in Toronto for first-timers is the Entertainment District. This area has the most iconic Toronto sites and a high concentration of hotels. 

What are safe areas to stay in Toronto?

Safe areas to stay in Toronto include the Entertainment District, Old Toronto, Beaconsfield Village / West Queen West, The Annex, and Yorkville. Generally speaking, Toronto is a very safe city. There are some areas to avoid in the north, but none of them are listed in this article.

What are the best parts of Toronto to stay on a budget?

If you’re on a budget in Toronto, then I recommend staying in The Village (Church – Wellesley) or Beaconsfield / West Queen West. You’ll find affordable hotels in these areas that are still nice.

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Thanks for reading my guide to where to stay in Toronto! I hope I helped narrow down your search. Toronto is such a fun city, you’ll have a blast exploring its nooks and crannies. Up next, check out my essential travel tips for Canada.

Enjoy the 6ix!