Toronto, Canada

I have scanned a few reviews here and I feel like I am listening to the rambling of a completely different city being described. I have lived in Toronto, NYC, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Montreal and Denver. Toronto is a great city but the time to visit is from May to September. Whats great? Everything. It's safe with a great club scene, clean, plenty of immigrants, beautiful women etc. The best quality is probably that Toronto is undefined. It's still growing and has no definitive identity. That being said Toronto is not up to par with New York. But the truth is : Toronto is a seriously hated on city - no question about it - and I think most of it has to do with insecurity and percieved "unfriendliness" of Torontonians. I have seen it a million times when I bring visiting friends to Toronto. They go to club and try to approach a pretty girl - they get a cold shoulder. They, then, go on about how much they hate Toronto. Toronto is not perfect - people can be cold. And the soul is missing sometimes but some of the comments here are just ridiculous and plain imaginary name-calling. For example, "no nightlife" in Toronto is just absolutely ludicrous. Might I remind you that Peter Gatien, who is btw the lengendary "King of Clubs of New York" decided to open CiRCA in Toronto. Clubland in Toronto is also well-known as the place with more clubs per capita than any other city in North America other than Miami. I have lived in NYC for 10 years and I can tell you - there are definantly more clubs per square foot in Toronto (In addition, despite all the NYC enthusiasm here, NY is quickly becoming a haven for frat-boys and Sex in the City fanatics). Guvernment is not my favorite place but it consistently ranks as a top 10 club in international DJ/Club mags. There is a very vibrant nightlife in Toronto. The city is well-known for this. As for the multi-culturalism or the diversity everyone is sort of both reluctantly admitting to and then discrediting by claiming these big divisions. Well, I grew up in a school filled with Jamaicans, Italians, Pakistanis, various east-Asians, Portugese etc. and we all got along without any issues at all. Most my friends have groups like this. And sorry folks, I hate to keep hammering, this but I have lived in NYC. I love the place alot but you wont find that kind of intergration: the racial groups are very divided, especially with African-American males. Just ask any mixed-race kid from the New York area (And btw, I only compare with NYC becuase I have lived there and so many folks here appear to use it as the benchmark) Also, the whole idea that Toronto is some place goody-two-shoes live and raise families is another falsehood which I can imagine must come from the psyche of someone who has never ridden the beaten-path. There is no bragging about excessive drug-use in Toronto because it is an epidemic but people who know the city, know very well that Toronto club/bar scene is a haven for cocaine and all kinds of drugs - its not some kind of hand-holding utopia. In addition, there are plenty of risque sex/ strip clubs which would be banned in many North American cities and a homeless situation which is very pervasive. Obviously, this is not something to brag about. It's real shame but the whole "goody-two-shoes" misperception just reflects a poor understanding of Toronto and it's core problems - good or bad. The worst thing I'd say about Toronto is sort of related. Torontonians can be phony in the sense that they often pretend to be "holier than thou" and "moral" and yet, be kind of two-faced and back-stabbing. There is this whole neo-Victorian secrecy going on in the city where people can be very manipulative, but that's nothing you will notice in a short trip. 5 stars becuase a city that brings so many cultures together and has so much ambition doesnt deserve such hate.

I lived in Toronto for over 20 years.

I don't think I'll ever return.

Public transit is a joke.
Local politicians are a joke.
Efficient public infrastructure never gets built.
Taxes are ridiculous.
Traffic and road rage are abundant.

Toronto, by virtue of its population (it's larger than most US cities, NYC, LA county, Chicago, and Houston being the exceptions) should be much, much more than it is - but inexperienced, inefficient, and lazy politicians and bureaucrats at the municipal and provincial (Ontario) level are only outmatched by an electorate that couldn't care less what happens in the city. Everyone in Toronto is just out for themselves.

The city is very racially mixed - definitely true and characteristic of its immigrant populations - but rather than mixing into a melting pot of cultures (and barring the odd special event every now and then) immigrant groups have managed to entrench themselves in various pockets around the city or its suburbs, leaving a void of national, provincial, and municipal pride that rings through loud and clear.

Toronto is OK if you're a resourceful family who prefers to do things on your own without relying on the generosity or assistance of others, OR if you're integrated into a racial group that knows this and thus chooses to remain insular.

As others have commented, Toronto has no soul, a position I completely agree with. Its various immigrant groups only further entrench themselves in their own little (or now large) communities, leaving Toronto to wallow in nothingness.

You can fault Americans for many things, but "not caring" (i.e. about what happens to their cities, counties, states, country) is not one of them. Ultimately the problem with Toronto is that no one really seems to care what happens to it, so incompetent people get elected or put into positions that deserve better leadership, while public sector unions feed at the trough like swines.

For a tourist, there are some nice things to see and do in Toronto - probably enough to keep one busy for up to a week. The Toronto Islands are a great place for families to hang out (in summer) - there's a very nice and kid-friendly amusement park there; the Science Center is the best in North America (if not the world); there is a scattering of architecturally-significant buildings open to the public (Casa Loma, the Royal Ontario Museum), and the museum in its own right is just fantastic. Toronto holds the largest parade in North America (the annual Santa Claus parade), but as is typical of the population, the cheers for the McDonald's characters outdoes Santa himself by a 2-to-1 margin. The attractions are why I grudgingly give it 3 stars. Without them, two stars at best.

As a tourist, be prepared to pay, fight traffic, deal with rudeness, and get shuffled along like everyone else.

Toronto is one of the best cities I have ever been in. I want to go back soon! Friendly people are all around this city who are willing to help you out. The city is beautiful and very clean. I can't wait to go back. There are many things to do in the city and the public transportation is wonderful.

It's not that Toronto is a bad place, or a dangerous place. It's neither. But unfortunately it is a very drab, dull and featureless place in a typical midwest north american fashion.

I’ve lived in many other North American cities, as well as in Europe. Here is the unvarnished truth about why Toronto SUCKS:

For starters, this is an ugly looking city architecturally speaking. Look at the downtown core: gray concrete and class corporate hi-rises. Corporate everything, with a sterile little Starbucks at virtually every corner. What is there to do here? What do people do in Toronto? Work…and shop at Eaton Center for excitement on the weekend. Just awful. You can walk for blocks and blocks in any direction in downtown Toronto and it’s the same: massive, impersonal anonymous concrete and glass hi-rises. Nothing beckons you or even raises your curiosity. You simply keep walking to where you’re headed.

Midwest “flatness” both literally and figuratively: like the totally flat, boring landscape here there is a ‘flatness’ to the mindset of Torontonians: boring midwest propriety dominates. Proper people raising proper families, trying to get ahead, working for ‘the man’. Some call this ‘midwest work ethic’; I call it just plain BORING. Like so many other dreary midwest cities, the dominant paradigm of “work, breed, consume, die” prevails. Totally corporate, totally conservative=totally Toronto. In a word, it’s a banker’s paradise. But if you’re not working 9-5 for a major corporate franchise, there’s something wrong with you. “What? Not working 9-5? What’s wrong with you???” Where are the artists? The free thinkers? The dreamers? They’ve all moved away to places that INSPIRE them…

Repressive, prohibition era alcohol regulation: what’s there to like about the mean-spirited and pricey LCBO and “the beer store” monopoly? Nothing. Ripping off Torontonians with the hands-down highest prices while challenging banks with their “we’re closed every chance we can get” policy is extremely irritating to any person whose lived anywhere else on the planet surface. A 6 pack of Labatt’s in Detroit Michigan (or anywhere USA) costs $5.00! Same 6 pack of Labatt’s here costs $13.00 after taxes. And like banks which close for any flimsy, obscure national holiday they can dream up—the LCBO and “beer store” are closed too. Not to mention inconvenient: every other modern industrialized civilization sells beer, wine and liquor at the corner store. Have they all gone mad? Have they all become alcohol soaked sots? No, they haven’t. So there’s no excuse for keeping the status quo monopoly in Ontario. Unless you like getting gouged, schlepping out of your way, and having to ‘plan ahead’ to buy your booze when the monopoly feels like being open. This fact alone has driven many talented artists, visionaries, and freemasons from gray concrete and steel Torontoland.

I’ve saved the best for last: Toronto’s much vaunted holy grail: DIVERSITY. “We’re the most diverse city in the world! Yay!” Am I the only person who mumbles “meh”, when hearing this hollow Toronto claim to fame? Newsflash Toronto: every large city in the world is packed with immigrants nowadays, not just you. New York, London, Vancouver, San Francisco, etc, etc. All these cities—just like Toronto—are packed with immigrants from every corner of the Earth. But unlike Toronto they have REAL qualities to set them apart: NYC has Broadway and incredible high energy nightlife; London UK is the hub of Europe, bustling with energy, with history, castles, and incredible music scene; Vancouver has it’s glorious mountains and ocean vistas; San Francisco has it’s free thinkers, it’s hippies, it’s incredible sun and ocean year round. Further all of these cities have diversity. Heck, any large city almost anywhere nowadays has diversity. But for Toronto to make it’s claim to fame to be “diversity” is really, really lame. I’m sorry, but it’s true. In fact to claim “diversity” as the best you can come up with for a city this size is really embarassing…and implies a major lacking of anything else going on here. Heck—Detroit may be a industrial wasteland nowadays but at least it is “the motor city”—which is a hell of a lot better than being the “city of diversity”. Wow, is that LAME. I feel sorry for you, Toronto.

Another reason Toronto sucks: the weather. From November into April, bitter cold, gray skies, snowing or pissing rain. Just awful. And for the rest of the year it’s usually fucking gusting windy! The wind here never let’s up…it’s always howling and gusting away, which sucks. This is an easy crititicism to make of Toronto, so enough said on this one.

I’ll end my rant on a lighter side note: I have a new idea for the City of Toronto logo: a fat immigrant lady pushing a wheeled grocery cart. When I move from Toronto next month, this will be the image ingrained in my memory. Fat, older or middle aged ladies pushing wheeled shopping carts around! They’re everywhere here, and they’re on a mission. Get out of their way—or else! I cannot think of a better logo for this fair city :-D

I have lived in Toronto for almost four years now, and I have a nice quality of life, but I find the city lacks a "certain something". It is progressive, clean, fairly safe, and has a nice multiculturalism from the immigration over the past 20 to 30 years. On the other hand, I find it is pretentious, uptight, watered down, and kind of "fake nice". It is kind of the opposite of New Orleans, which has so much personality and history, but such a dark side of poverty and racism.

The architecture is bland, especially for a city with so much new money and new buildings going up. The CN tower is cool, but otherwise it is a city with lots of concrete highrise apartment buildings, identical glass condo buildings downtown that are ruining the view of the lake, and cookie cutter housing complexes in the suburbs.

Some say that this is a city where people live their lives to work: it is mostly about wearing the suit and carrying the briefcase and commuting to work. On the other hand, it somehow maintains a pretty good restaurant scene, and it does have the various other things to do: pro sports, theatre, music, etc.

I would probably give it 4 starts, because it is a nice place to live, but I find this place too full of itself, so I am knocking one star off as punishment.

I have been to the airport a million times-yes, I know that an airport is not a city-It seemed dirty and in need of an upgrade, but it was efficient which is always a plus. I did get around to actually visit the city for a week in January. I wont mention that I froze my ass off, it seems unnecessary.
For the actual review:
The city seemed pleasant enough, it looked like a financial center. It reminded me of Atlanta in that it may be a nice place to live but no real incentive to visit. There was no real night life and not enough attractions to speak of- theCN tower was cool, I guess- So week seemed pretty boring. I will admit that I was only there a week and may have missed some more entertaining aspects of the town, but if they are there than they need to advertise better.

There are more entertaining Canadian cities to choose from.

As a current resident of Toronto, and after living in Quebec City, Montreal, St.John's and Nice, France, I can honestly say I have a difficult time adapting to generity and blandness of Toronto. I respect it for its modernity, its progression, its open mindedness and access to virtually any type of food, commodity or entertainment. However, these things essentially mean nothing because this city has no soul. It is like a large, well decorated bowl of bland, lukewarm soup. Yes it is multicultural, but the cultures don't actually blend. They walk on the same streets and eat in the same restaurants, but run home at 6pm and close their doors to the world outside. The city comes 'alive' during business hours and that is unacceptable.
If you want culture, if you want a city with history, flavour, style, charm, sass and TRUE identity, go to Montreal. If you want architectural beauty, go to Quebec City. If you like business suits, briefcases, small talk and personal space, then welcome home.
I nearly threw up after seeing that Toronto even ranked among the best cities in North America. Please!

A pleasant enough if unspectacular major urban centre with an ethnically diverse citizenry that hasn't noticeably affected the flavour of the city beyond its offering of restaurants.  For Canada's biggest and richest city they have confounding difficulty icing a decent hockey team.  The average Torontonian is a typical well mannered Canadian except for the occasional urge to tell the rest of us to SHUT THE FUCK UP.  Actually, Calgary may be richer.

Haters need to SHUT THE FUCK UP! Torontonians are not arrogant, full of themselves, or think that they're the centre of Universe, let alone Canada. We don't compare ourselves with mega world class cities like NYC, London, Paris, etc, because it would be completely pointless to do so. I don't know why other Canadians hate us so much. We're the financial centre of the country, but we're nice people. We pride ourselves on our multiculturalism, financial situation and what that brings to the city. As for wanting to be an American city... that's bull shit. I've been around the world and everyone imitates American culture. Also, we are not even close to being the most dangerous city in Canada. In fact, we're one of the safest cities in North America, especially for our size. I love this city, it has a lot to offer, and I can't wait for its future developments.

Hope to move there in the future. Will be nice to live in a REAL city for a change (unlike the worst excuse for a city I have ever lived in, Atlanta!)

Toronto is a great town. Open-minded and progressive with a huge international and multi-ethnic influence. You'll see pizzerias, Thai restaurants, Jamaican restaurants, within a stone's throw of each other. Pretty cool.

It's got an impressive downtown area, easily among the biggest and the best on the continent. Think Midtown Manhattan or Downtown Chicago. Efficient transport, too.

I wish the subway was as impressive-looking as the Montreal Metro, but oh well.

To all Americans: Please realize there are more Toronto haters in Canada than there are dogsleds. Don't believe the hype: The Montrealers (who are btw, mostly ex-Torontonians) will say Toronto isn't sophisticated or "too American", which can be interpretated to mean, they don't like all "those colored folks walking around" and "people in Toronto make too much money". They like to hold onto some strange notion that there are more European but I meet so many more ex-Montrealers and Eastern-Mediterreans in Toronto than I do anywhere else in Canada. And Vancouver folks will say it's ugly. But everytime I go to Vancouver, I think "This sure is beautiful but god-awful boring". Don't get me wrong. I like it, as I do all Canadian major cities but the nightlife is really lacking - and well, Montreal is a great city but no one will face this - the only jobs you can get after your ready to pay off your student loans are telemarketing-related.  The so-called superior Montreal night-life resembles alot of booze cans in Toronto - you can hardly differentiate it.  What gleams at the surface in Toronto, is for the unadventurous. There is enough madness and avenues in Toronto's underground that anyone can find a fitting place for their tastes.  The best thing about Toronto is that unlike, Montreal, it is still evolving.  It hasn't reached any peak. It's identity is still in motion and transforming.  Even the haters will always classify Toronto in terms of it's continual evolution. They will say: "Toronto is trying to be New York or trying to be this or that". Then, they huff and puff and say it's bland and boring.  We are just a bunch of freaking immigrants trying to make a living. Don't blame us if that scenery ends up looking a little like NYC. ...They don't want to admit it, but summer in Toronto - there's more energy there than anywhere else in Canada.  And yeah, that includes Montreal, where that dark decedance tends to loom everywhere. You jealous Canucks/Quebeckers.  Stop dissing T.O. becuase you got in some arguement with a cabbie or someone looked at you funny. Its pathetic.  I'm sorry for not knowing where your little town is.  This city is not just a bunch corporate goons. And yes,.. I've lived in the fast-food- happy "cultured" NYC for ten long years... , but my lazy crass self is very happy to call 'unsophisticated' Toronto home again.

A flaccid, boring, New York wannabee of a city, that doesn't have the sophistication in its entire metro area that NY has in two blocks.

It is peopled by ignorant, arrogant, unfriendly people who seem to think that Canada stops fifty miles away from Yonge Street.

It is easily the most uninteresting city of its size on the continent. Once called Hogtown, it should have stuck with the name.

And yes, I've been there, all too bloody often.

and by the way i think new york was named after york in england

CN Tower is very cool...and Chinatown is amazing, make sure you have a meal there, it was great! One of the best Chinatowns I've been to in North America. Very nice downtown area. Skip Casa Loma though, that was a bit of a letdown.

where to start? Awesome city!

all you guys have to stop comparing toronto to new york. forget about new york, all you americans are bad mouthing the city for no reason. i bet half of you have never even bin there. sure theres some mean people there, what city doesnt have mean people? and obviously its busy! its the biggest city in canada, not to mention the 5th largest in north america. bottom line dont compare one city to another, there different in their own little way.

The most underrated city in North America, bar none. Vancouver is no comparison.

model global city for teh world to look up at.

I'm from Montreal but spent some years in Toronto. At first, I was pretty indifferent to the place but after some time, settling in, I realized Toronto has many hidden treasures, you just have to dig a little below the surface. There is a very energetic house/electronic scene. There are more cultural/ethnic differences here too, which is not apparent until spending solid timethere. For all those people hating Toronto, I didn't care for Toronto snootiness either. But just remember, that while Toronto was once called 'Hogtown', it was also called 'York' and if you read a little history that famous city across the border, that Toronto is always accused of trying to imitate, was actually named after Toronto. Just as many grand ideas float down south of the border, folks.

I was in Toronto once and the people there were the exact opposite of their American counterparts: polite and courteous. We Americans can learn a lot from our Canadian cousins in Toronto.

Beautiful city on the lake. I loved my stay there. Lots to do. The people are great. I would give it 5 stars but I hate the cold.

What is Toronto cuisine? No...the bagel and smoked meat are Montreals. Torontonians have this need to tell you how CLEAN their city is. Thats' fine but quite frankly most "world-class" (people from Toronto are OBSESSED about telling you that their city is world-class) cities have grit. This city has interesting patchwork of neighborhoods near the center city, but the majority of the GTA is flat, bland suburbia. And as you get to the Niagara horsehoe...pretty darned polluted. There are plenty of actors to come out of Toronto...but one of my friends who grew up there called the Victorian-English shadow that hangs over the head of the city as "stifling". Torontonians need to remember their city was called Hogtown not too long ago. Your attitude of Toronto as being the center of it all is what many folks in Atlanta say too....a major chump town. Cities like Montreal or San Francisco have soul, cool landscape, and a vibe...Toronto's soul might as well be Phoenix or Des Moines with a few more dollars and a lake.

I am growing more than a little tired of reading other's ridiculous reasons for dissing Toronto. Toronto is no New York clone. Well, I have lived in New York, which is, sure, a great city, but I hate to break it to you - the crowd moving there right now are some of the most 'uncool' all-American suburban sorority/fraternity types who have not got a clue about what being cool is. And let's not forget the 16th-century hyper-racist and homophobic paranoi that still looms all over that so-called progressive 'liberal' city. Plenty of what New Yorkers and foriegners alike assume started in NYC actually started in Toronto/Montreal. How about those legendary night-clubs like the Tunnel and Limelight? Designed by Toronto natives. So read up: the Toronto versions are not the clones but the originals. Saturday Night Live? Toronto (SCTV). The so-called 'New York' Magazine, Vice ? Montreal. Stroll through SOHO/NOHO and Toronto/Montreal clothing lines are everywhere, from the super-embarassing to the not-so-embarassing? American Apparell, M.A.C. Lipstick, Aldo, Transit, Le Chateau, SouthPole etc. And I really hate to say it but those ugly 'furry' boots all the wanna-be models are wearing were much more pervasive in Toronto before they ever were in New York? Blame the cold weather. When I moved to New York 6 years ago, everyone I met listened to either rock/hip-hop and house music/drum'n'bass/progressive were foriegn words? Now, New York is finally jumping on the bandwagon. Don't get me wrong, I love NYC but I have seen just as many trends go down South as those going up North. Much of what is considered NEW YORK is imported from somewhere else and everyone simply assumes it originated in New York becuase so many use the NY label for marketing purposes. So next time, some movie or MTV video execs decide to use Toronto as a LA/NY don't blame us. Blame the Hollywood producers and New York Directors. Oh,..oops..I forgot half-of-those are actually Canadians too.

Toronto is way too Americanized. I find that Canadians feel they have some sort of entitlement to try to act and appear American but they're just as foreign as any other country. How can Torontonians act like they're sophisticated and the center of the world when they live in a non-descript, diplomatically irrelevant country? I find Toronto and Canada in general to be bleek, boring, dull and grey. This is mainly because it exists in the shadow of the world's cultural and military super power, the United States, so the people will never be as cool as their American super heros. I find it humerous to see Canadian teens wearing oversized NBA jerseys, fake platinum chains and baseball caps to appear like American rappers. Look at the CN Tower for example - talk about inferiority complex, build a giant elevator leading to a restaurant to try to seem important on the world stage, ha!

Toronto has no soul, they try to pretend they do thought. They try to copy all the other great north american cities. It has nothing unique to itself.. except maybe the fact that it's population is 50% immigrant! ( im NOt exacgerating).

Toronto has no soul, they try to pretend they do thought. They try to copy all the other great north american cities. It has nothing unique to itself.. except maybe the fact that it's population is 50% immigrant! ( im NOt exacgerating).

Toronto is a great city! Very diverse. Great restaurants, pubs, and bars. Fabulous music scene. Great theatre scene. What more could you ask for in a city.

The public transit system is EXCELLENT and puts any other city in Ontario to shame. If I lived in Toronto, I'd sell my car, because you don't need it except to leave the GTA. However, I do find that Toronto is a VERY arrogant and stuck up city that doesn't care about anyone else in the country. It is a black hole that sucks in everything in its surroundings, despite its very high cost of living. You can get a house for under $60,000 in London, but you can't even get a house for $125,000 in Toronto, I don't think. Toronto stole the television stations in Barrie and Paris (Brantford). And crime...forget it.

Whoever thinks Toronto is "world class", "friendly", "sophisticated", "center of the universe" or any combination of these, should go immediately to the ER and have their head checked. You shouldn't be walking the streets without some sort of prescription drug (although if you are a Torontonian you are probably taking some sort of anti-depressant or ilicit drug) I have unfortunately lived here for 2 years and it is the biggest wannabe copycat I have seen since Shawn Desman. Oh, New Yorkers like to honk their horns, I'll honk mine too. Oh, New Yorkers wear big ugly furry boots with tassles hanging off of them that look like a dog threw up, I'll take Daddy's Amex and buy a dozen pairs. The people are STUCK UP, especially the gold digging bitches (Toronto has the DUMBEST girls on the face of the earth) who only talk to people with a "C" in front of their title. Toronto will never be New York no matter how much it wants to imitate our friends from the south. Remember what happened to Milli Vanilli? GET YOUR OWN IDENTITY! I give it 1 star only because I am Canadian and am, since moving to Toronto, embarrassed to say that.

One of the world's great cities! Recognized by the U.N. as the most multi-cultural city in the world and it has the restaurants to prove it. Plus international bookstores, cinemas, clothing stores, etc. etc. A clean, safe city that still manages to be exciting. Big-league sports, great theatre, vibrant music scene, shopping, museums, a new opera under construction ... even the architecture is getting more interesting.

Toronto sure seems like it is trying hard to outshine New York. And in some respects, it's, arguably, better. People are more laid-back and it seems less-divided between groups. There's less traffic and better-looking girls. But it lacks the energy, spontaniety and friendliness of New York becuase it trades these in for orderliness, snootiness and 'playing it safe'. There are some glimmers of 'energy' in the club scene, especially if you like house music. But there is this superficiality and phoniness to Toronto that is hard to describe. It's better than 80% of North America's cities. But like another cool city, San Fransisco, I got to ask : where's the soul ? However, I am more optimistic about Toronto's future. If they loosen up a little, I will give it a 4.

YES, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT TORONTOSUCKS. THEY ARE CONCEITED AND HAVE NO REASON TO BE, THEY ACT LIKE HICKS AND DON'T KNOW IT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO WRAPPED UP IN THEMSELVES AND HAVE NEVER BEEN AROUND PEOPLE OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE LEAVING THEIR WOMEN TO HAVE A LACK OF CLASS WHICH LEAVES THEM TO BECOME "women of the night" BUT IT'S A PLUS FOR THE MEN. I ENJOY THE DIFFERENT CULTURES, BUT I THINK THEY ALL NEED A TASTE OF AMERICA, TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT ALMOST "EQUALITY" MEANS.

I have only visited Toronto once, for about 4 days, and as a result I have mixed feelings about the city. On the positive side, it has escaped the fate of so many American cities which have suffered catastrophic population loss and the resulting blight, poverty and homelessness. Toronto seems to be stable, compact and fairly prosperous. But visually speaking, it's rather boring. Flat and uninteresting, with few buildings of architectural merit. And "The Village" is nothing like similar neighborhoods in New York, Boston and New York. Worst, I found people to be rather unfriendly. I'll take New Yorkers any time.

To all tose who say Toronto I have to say get over yourselves. In any city you'll find arrogant and ignorant people, any city has crime. The fact is Toronto is vibrant and always has a lot going on. Multitculturalism is celebrated and respected and crime is low compared to other cities. This isn't fake, many people agree, the Rolling Stones love us. Cost of living is also low compared to other metropolises Canada has a few fabulous cities (Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary) but you know almost 1 in four Canadians live within an hour and a half of the city, this is why it gets a lot of attention.

Toronto is not the city it used to be. Having lived here 36 out of my 37 years I have seen a drastic decline in the standard of living. What was once a very good city is quickly becoming a joke. I'm not sure when it all went wrong but it sure happened in a hurry. What used to be a friendly, clean, somewhat affordable city is now a dirty, ignorant, and extremely expensive place to live. The once proud health care system is in shambles. And the actual care you receive is average at best. Multiculturism is a complete failure in my opinion. Not all, but many newcommers to Toronto couldn't care less about this city, and are looking for a free ride on the taxpayers back. Alot of these people refuse to adapt to our standards and instead continue to be ignorant, pushy, and just plain annoying. So in closing, if you are for some crazy reason planning to come to Toronto for a visit or for good, don't bother it's so not what you think it is. But if you must, one word of advice. Keep your head down, don't smile or say hi to anyone you don't know and by all means stay away for the housing projects if you value your life.

If you travel to America and even parts of Canada, there are many misconceptions about Toronto. Many mistakenly view Toronto as an average Mid-Western American city (This is always someone who has either never been to Toronto or simply had a short lay-over connecting flight). Others will say it is a 'mini-New York' which reflects a more thorough visit but still, a sort of superficial understanding. This will unfortunately lead some to misconcieve Toronto as a hostile place filled with thugs or wanna-be thugs. While this is probably not so true about New York either, I can tell you that thugged-out behavior is not a Toronto trait and probably will never be. Some of the resentment towards Toronto, by other Canadians, is probably becuase Torontonians can come off as a little 'arrogant', 'snobby' and 'high-and-mighty' sometimes or becuase it is too urban or ethnic for some people's tastes. First and foremost, Toronto is very multi-cultural. It is a very ethnically-rich city without much of the group-seperation and divisions that ruins many other similar cities of it's diversity. Despite what you might here about growing crime, Toronto may also be one of the safest metropolitan city in North America. Everyone knows that the crimes-rates in Toronto have been dropping for years. This has not changed. The crime-rate has fallen to all-time lows even this year (2005). Immigrants in Canada are often very educated, regardless of their ethnic origin. Toronto is not an average American city, but maybe percieved that way by those who have not fully experienced it. I love this city. I think it is the most under-rated place in the world. I have travelled a whole lot and I mean this. We have every walk of life here - french, swedish, russian, greek, portugese, brazilian, vietnamese, jamiacan, italian, egyptian, british, chinese, indian etc. I have traveled alot to all the so-called 'great cities of the world' and not to take anything away from some of these intriguing places, but Toronto often very easily measures up, when considering clubs, bars, theaters, restaurants, interesting neighborhoods, transportation, festivals, shops and people. If your still not convinced about Toronto, you will be - we are growing sooo fast.

it be the poop*except for Quebec\loserhomofrenchyland

Nice city. Nice night life when you are in the downtown area. But everywhere else, you are pretty much done at 9pm esp during the weekends. Ahhh..bedroom city. Kinda like Baltimore. Everything's expensive too. Not too many competition that's why...

Ok, I just went to Toronto last weekend for Caribana, and I think this city, or country is creating some serious issues. First of all, immigration is out of control in Canada, especially in Toronto. I am from the Caribbean, but the Canadian government is seriously just letting any and everyone in from Guyana, Trinidad, the islands, India and some Asian countries in. It's getting to borderline ridiculous levels. Are they honestly surprised that crime is increasing there now? The immigrants' kids love to think that they are thugs like the American rappers, who hold a lot of influence there. On the upside, the influx of immigrants adds a lot of diversity and flavor to the city, but on the other hand, it has virtually pushed the other native Canadians, even the ones who themselves immigrated from the islands 20 years ago, aside. And the sprawl...oh my, Matamy houses and all that are just popping up like weeds around Oakville and Milton, among other places...it's insane, everyone's buying, 20K immigrants are coming in the city a month, isn't that insane? Will the Canadians stop the nonsense before Toronto becomes NYC x 2, crimewise? And in regards to the poster Tony, perhaps he hasn't been to Toronto in awhile, there was an article that detailed how much immigrant gangs are growing in Toronto and Vancouver. You can't just let a bunch of people in that can't get jobs, you know. That usually equals crime. No matter what race they are.

I don't live far from here. Less than a hour flight. There are all kinds of fun festivals here, like Caribana in the summer. Who are you kidding ? I don't see New York as any more 'sophisticated'. Did you know eraser-head Donald 'You're Fired' Trump lives in New York ? Toronto is very under-rated here in the USA. Toronto has a great night-life too.

What is with people saying that Toronto is a 'NYC wanna-be?' I've been living in Toronto for all my life and it's a great multi-cultural place! People should honestly stop saying all this crap about how Toronto sucks, especially if you haven't even been to Toronto!

Probably a draw with Chicago as my favorite city-and unlike American cities,crime isn't a real serious threat.

People are saying Toronto is CLEAN! Geez, you cant even see the tops of the building during summer when the air around the city is thick and brown. This problem has gotten much worse in recent years though. It used to be much cleaner. My mother moved to TO about 5 years ago, so I go there to visit often. There's a lot to do there and there is always some sort of event going on. The people there are a lot friendlier than Ottawa, where I live. It is expensive by Canadian standards, but it's on par or cheaper than many big American cities, and certainly way cheaper than European Cities. I'm not really into the nightclub scene, so I can't comment on that. I hear it's good, but not as good as Montreal. It's a fun place to visit.

Just spent 2 months here, visiting some friends at University of Toronto. As has been said, Toronto looks like it has a high quality of life. There are some gorgeous women here. Funny, almost everyone I meet is from somewhere else in the world. There are some cool shops and bars mostly on the Queen St. and College. Yonge St. is the main drag. Disagree that this is an average American city though. It's seems much bigger than most and with less slummy areas. This place has some huge clubs but nothing compared to London. This is not quite a New York either. Only US city that I have been to that seems somewhat similar might be San Franzsisco or Chicago, perhaps ?

Clean, small easy to get around. Great city by Canadian standards. The amount of nightlife and public transit need some work. Found it identical to any large American city, next time I'm over the pond I'll stay in New York, a true world class city.

An average city, the place seemed rather dull, but the people were friendly at least.

Toronto. The good - cultural diversity, tolerance, clean, easy to navigate, range of restaurants and entertainment options. Toronto. The bad - dull, pretentious, very unfriendly and cold people (for comparison, New Yorkers are much more friendlier and open), self absorbed, severely lacking in character, a nightlife that is all but asleep by 3am.

Great city, lots to do and many different and interesting people to meet here. Amazing nitelife and very very safe city. This city is definetely worth at least a visit.

Toronto has some of the best qualities of New York and London but in a slightly smaller city without all the annoying race talk (New York) and class talk (London). If the world knew how many times Toronto posed as New York/Chicago in American films, music videos and TV commercials, they would realize why some of them are so disappointed when they visit some US cities. For a population of about 4 Million, there is a huge variety of clubs, restaurants and bars. Toronto is also very clean and well-organized. A first look at Toronto can make it appear very decievingly plain but Toronto is an extraordinairly diverse city with more cultures/ethnicities than anywhere that I have ever been. Despite all those good qualities though, Toronto loses one star for some of the more prissy and stand-off-ish city dwellers who are beginning to think that they are god's gift to the world before they have truly defined their city in a world context.