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Where to Stay in Toronto in 2024 | Best Areas & Hotels

Where to Stay in Toronto in 2024 | Best Areas & Hotels

If you’re in the mood for a vibrant, energetic city with a rich dining scene, world-class museums, and thriving nightlife, read on to find out where to stay in Toronto.

The Best Places to Stay in Toronto

Where to Stay in Toronto map in vector format featuring the best areas of town

Out of the many areas to stay in Toronto, the following parts of the city are among the most popular:

  1. Old Toronto: The best neighborhood for people who are first time in Toronto.
  2. Entertainment and Fashion District: Ideal neighborhoods for those seeking vibrant nightlife.
  3. Etobicoke: The best area to enjoy Toronto’s scenery.
  4. Yorkville and Midtown: Best for people willing to spend more on expensive restaurants and high-end boutiques.

The Best Areas & Hotels in Toronto

Toronto is a very popular destination and gets booked really fast. It’s no surprise to us as the city has something to offer to just about anyone. The unique and culturally diverse neighborhoods, the international cuisine, and the many accommodation options cater to even the pickiest travelers.

1. Downtown Old Toronto

Retro buildings photographed from the opposite street in Downtown Old Toronto, one of the best places to stay in Toronto, and modern buildings can be seen standing taller in background.

f11photo/Shuttertstock

Toronto’s Old Town, also called Old Toronto, is one of the oldest and liveliest parts of the city. This part of the city got its name in 1815, and to this very day, it retains its original Victorian-era buildings, open green spaces, and outdoor artwork.

If we had to name just one reason why you should visit Old Toronto, that would be its remarkably preserved old charm and culture reflected in beloved landmarks such as St. Lawrence Market, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the Flatiron Building.

Toronto’s Old Town consists of numerous small neighborhoods, such as the Financial and Entertainment Districts, the Distillery District, and the Fashion District, each embodying the unique spirit of the particular part of town.

If you’re hunting tourist attractions, then in Old Toronto, you can find the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, and Casa Loma Castle.

Shopping hubs include the huge Eaton Centre mall and St. Lawrence food market, while the dining scene ranges from casual Kensington Market eateries to hip, upscale restaurants. Ferries depart from the harbourfront to the peaceful Toronto Islands.

Old Toronto Budget Hotels

  • Samesun Toronto is a hostel in the city center. It offers both private and shared rooms. All rooms are air-conditioned and have shared bathrooms, as well as nice balconies; some also have city views. Another good thing about this hotel is that breakfast is included in the room price.
  • Chestnut Residence and Conference Centre is a nice three-star hotel in Downtown Old Toronto, just a ten-minute walk from the busy Yonge Street. All rooms have free Wi-Fi and private bathrooms. There are also family rooms if you’re traveling in a large group. The hotel has a fitness center and a restaurant, which are rare in budget stays.  

Old Toronto Mid-Range Hotels

  • Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre is a four-star hotel in the upper mid-range budget. The hotel has spacious, stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi, a TV, a mini-fridge, a safe, and a coffee maker. There’s also a gym and a business center. The hotel’s Carlton restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and guests can also have a drink at the hotel’s Thirty Bar.
  • Hotel Ocho is a three-star hotel in Toronto’s Old Town. It dates back to 1902 but has been renovated since, and now has modern, stylish rooms with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and a TV. The hotel also has a restaurant and a lounge you can relax in. You can also rent a bicycle from the reception and explore Downtown Old Toronto.

Old Toronto Luxury Hotels

  • Shangri-La Toronto is a luxury five-star hotel between the famous Financial and Entertainment Districts in central Toronto. The hotel is a sight for sore eyes, with an indoor pool, a fitness center, a yoga studio, and a superb restaurant. It’s a true luxury experience in one of the best Toronto neighborhoods.
  • The Westin Harbour Castle Toronto is a four-star waterfront hotel with amazing views of Lake Ontario and Toronto’s skyline. It has an indoor pool, a fitness center, and rooftop tennis courts for tennis lovers. The rooms are spacious and super-comfortable, featuring the famous Westin Heavenly Bed, free Wi-Fi,  and a private bathroom. A big plus is that the hotel is pet-friendly for those of you traveling with your beloved furry friends.

See All Hotels in Toronto

2. Entertainment and Fashion District

A busy modern architecture glass mall with bird sculptures hanging by the arch ceiling at the Entertainment and Fashion District, one of our picks on the best places to stay in Toronto.

Toronto, Canada – July 29, 2017: The Eaton Center Shopping Mall’s Stunning Multi-Level Architecture and Flying Birds Sculpture/Facto Photo/Shutterstock

The Entertainment and Fashion District is part of the wider area of Old Toronto. This is where the majority of Toronto’s theaters, nightclubs, restaurants, and pubs are located. Here, you can also visit the Bell Lightbox Cinema, the home of Toronto’s International Film Festival.

Old textile factories and warehouses that were once fabric shops and apparel boutiques are now studios, offices, and condos in the famed Fashion District.

Additionally, this district boasts a bustling dining scene, with a variety of modern foreign eateries and classic diners. 

If you’re looking for places where you can party all night, the famous King Street West has a number of dance clubs that pull large crowds into the early hours of the morning. Graffiti Alley is a lengthy boulevard decorated with vibrant, always-changing street art.

Entertainment and Fashion District Budget Hotels

  • The Palmerston is a dormitory-style hotel in the Fashion District that offers shared mixed and female-only rooms. Some of the rooms also have a kitchenette with a fridge, a stovetop, and a microwave.

Entertainment and Fashion District Mid-Range Hotels

  • The Alexandra Hotel is a budget-friendly two-stars hotel just five minutes away from Kensington Market and Chinatown by car. The rooms are neat and clean, with private bathrooms, a kitchenette, free Wi-Fi, and a TV for a super comfortable stat. The hotel also offers free parking and laundry facilities on each floor.
  • The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar is a charming two-star hotel in the Entertainment District. It serves both as a hotel and a jazz bar, and it’s a beloved spot among locals, located on the trendy Queen Street West. Each room has free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and TV. Some rooms have a private bathroom, and some have a shared bathroom.

Entertainment and Fashion District Luxury Hotels

  • The Ritz-Carlton Toronto is a five-star hotel from the famous Ritz brand in Downtown Old Toronto, near the iconic CN Tower. The hotel has super-stylish rooms equipped with flat-screen TVs, large windows, and a private bathroom with deep soaker tubs. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s sauna and the fitness center, which is open 24 hours.
  • The SoHo Hotel is a four-star luxury boutique hotel in the Entertainment District. It has an indoor pool and a fitness center; if you want, you can hire personal coaches to have one-on-one exercise sessions. The hotel rooms are sleek and minimalist, with heated bathroom floors, free Wi-Fi, and a TV. There’s room service for a romantic breakfast in bed
  • 1 Hotel Toronto is a beautiful five-star hotel in Toronto’s Fashion District. It has an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and a wellness spa center. The rooms are spacious, decorated elegantly beige with private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and room service. There are also family rooms if you’re traveling in a pack. The hotel has a nice restaurant, a great bar, and a terrace where you can chill and have an evening meal.

See All Hotels in Toronto

3. Etobicoke

People walking, jogging and biking on a vehicle-free road surrounded by trees in Etobicoke, one of the best places to stay in Toronto, and buildings can be seen in background.

TORONTO, CANADA – 07 12 2021: People having rest in Humber Bay Shores Park before modern condo buildings of Humber Bay Shores, a historic and scenic part of Etobicoke district of the city of Toronto./Vadim Rodnev/Shutterstock

Etobicoke is a suburban neighborhood on the west side of Toronto. It’s perfect for nature lovers and golf enthusiasts since it has a lot of parks and golf terrains. If you’re looking for more of a city life vibe, though, you should probably avoid this neighborhood.

The 525-acre Centennial Park is a true joy to stroll through with its 12,000 square feet of plants and three greenhouses. It also has a 120-acre golf course, many picnic areas, seven soccer fields, cricket pitches, and wetlands.

And if you want to find out more about Canadian life in the 19th century, Etobicoke also has a very nice museum called Montgomery’s Inn. It was first opened in the 1830s and used to be a shelter for travelers, who would spend the night in their rooms playing games, eating, drinking, and hanging out with other guests and locals.

Almost 200 years later, it’s still a place that unites people from all over the world, albeit in the form of a museum. Nowadays, visitors can see the insides of the inn and learn how it was run in the past.

They can also eat from the kitchen and drink at the bar, so it’s a 100% original experience of the past! And if you want to get a bit of a city feel, go to City Center West, the busiest area in this neighborhood (not as busy as the Old Town, though).

Here, you’ll find malls, shopping places, numerous eateries, and fast food restaurants. And while you’re in the City Center West, don’t forget to visit Dundas Street West and check out its history-themed murals.

Etobicoke Budget Hotels

  • Green Acres Motel is a budget-friendly motel that offers comfortable rooms with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, a TV, and free Wi-Fi. However, keep in mind that the motel has no breakfast options.
  • Super 5 Inn is a budget-friendly two-star hotel near Pearson International Airport with free parking. The hotel has free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour open desk. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, a fridge, and a microwave, so you can even have some light meals in your room.  

Etobicoke Mid-Range Hotels

  • Stay Inn Hotel Toronto is a modern two-stars hotel fifteen minutes away from Pearson International Airport (by car). The hotel has sleek, comfy rooms with free Wi-Fi, a TV, a fridge, and a work desk. A plus is that breakfast is included in the room price.  
  • Monte Carlo Inn Toronto West Suites is an elegant three-star hotel near Pearson International Airport (by car). All rooms have free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, private bathrooms, a coffee machine, a refrigerator, and a microwave. Continental breakfast is included in the price of the room.  

Etobicoke Luxury Hotels

  • The Westlake is a nice four-star hotel in Etobicoke. It has modern, clean rooms with free Wi-Fi, a private bathroom, a private kitchen, air conditioning, and a TV. Guests can also use the shared lounge or relax with a book on the terrace. The hotel offers family rooms if you’re traveling in a pack.
  • Old Mill Toronto Hotel is a classy four-star hotel with spacious rooms, free Wi-Fi, TV, and private bathrooms. Also, all rooms have a fireplace that can be used any time of the year and a whirlpool tub. The hotel has a spa and wellness center, as well as a restaurant — called the Old Mill — which is a great choice for dining in the evening. There’s also the Home Smith Bar that features live jazz music.

See All Hotels in Toronto

4. Yorkville and Midtown

A historical structure with clocks on its tower in Yorkville and Midtown, which has a small park beside it is surrounded by tall modern skyscrapers, one of our picks on the best areas to stay in Toronto.

Jon Bilous/Shutterstock

A little to the north of the city center lies an area called Midtown. It’s a charming place full of museums, stores, restaurants, and old and new buildings, which eclectic architecture admirers will simply love.

Although Yorkville is part of Midtown, it’s considered a small mini-neighborhood. It’s also more expensive in terms of accommodation and dining options. There’s one big reason for this — it’s a favorite spot for celebrities, and this has made the prices in the neighborhood soar.

But if you want to catch a glimpse of someone famous while you’re in Canada, visiting Yorkville is your best bet! Yorkville is also home to the Mink Mile, one of the priciest shopping streets in the world that houses high-end retailers like Chanel and Burberry, among others.

Both locations provide a wide selection of hotels in the luxury and upper mid-range, so you can pick the one that best suits your needs. If you’re looking for a nice place to stay with your family that’s also close to Downtown Old Toronto, for instance, Midtown is the perfect spot.

It offers many parks and natural areas, and it’s calmer and more relaxed than Downton Old Toronto. However, if you want a strictly peaceful area, or a cheaper one, stay away from Yorkville and Midtown.

Yorkville and Midtown Mid-Range Hotels

  • The Anndore House is a four-star hotel that gets as close to luxury as it can in the middle price range without breaking your budget too much. The hotel features an indoor pool, a fantastic restaurant, welcoming staff, and all the amenities you need for a comfy, luxurious stay. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, a TV, and — our personal favorite — an i-pod compatible vinyl record player. The hotel is located in the posh Yorkville neighborhood.
  • Town Inn Suites is a comfy three-star hotel that offers rooms with private bathrooms, TV, and free Wi-Fi. There are also whole suits you can rent equipped with kitchen appliances – a whole mini-apartment in Toronto just for you!

Yorkville and Midtown Luxury Hotels

  • Kimpton Saint George is a four-star luxury hotel in Toronto. You can exercise in the hotel’s fitness center, eat at their fantastic restaurant or sip cocktails at the bar. The staff is incredibly helpful and pleasant, and the hotel rooms are quite stylish and modern, with free Wi-Fi and complimentary tea and coffee service.
  • The Four Seasons Toronto is a five-star hotel, one of the most luxurious ones in all of Toronto and beyond. With its indoor swimming pool, fitness, spa, and wellness center, it offers world-class service for all its guests. It’s expensive, but it’s worth every cent you spend on it.
  • The Hazelton Hotel is another gorgeous five-star hotel with sleek and modern interiors. The hotel has an indoor pool, fitness center, spa, cinema room, and restaurant. All the rooms have private marble baths and free Wi-Fi with lots of light in them and lots of space.

See All Hotels in Toronto

Over to You — Book Your Trip Today!

Toronto is a big city with an equally big heart. It has a lot to offer for different kinds of tourists. Even better is that there’s a place to stay for all budgets and travel types.

Our recommendations for the best areas to stay when you visit include:

🏆 Best for First TimersOld Toronto
🎉 Best for NightlifeEntertainment and Fashion District
🌳 Best for Nature LoversEtobicoke
🥂 Most LuxuriousYorkville and Midtown

The city gives its beloved inhabitants and welcomed tourists all it can all year round, making it well worth the visit. Happy travels!