4 Things to do in: Toronto (on a budget)

I was super nervous to be flying on my own, so naturally, when I landed in Toronto, It completely slipped my mind to let the immigration officer know that I needed to activate my IEC visa. This is basically a document that allows you to work and live in Canada for up to 2 years.

** I’ll either create a video or a post on here with more information on how to apply for the IEC Visa**

After around an hour of stressing & fighting back the tears, after being told by the immigration officer that I wouldn’t be able to activate my visa. I managed to sort it all out and leave the airport with my 2 year IEC.

‘Ey’ – This was the first thing I noticed upon arrival.

No matter where you are in Canada, (in my case Mississauga and Toronto) I’m telling you, this word will haunt you for days, if not weeks. I’ve been back in the UK for like a month now, yet I can still hear it echoing at night.

Anyway, let me get down to business and give you my 4 things to do on a budget in Toronto.

1. Grafitti Alley

Discovered on my Instagram explore page, Graffiti alley is just that; a small alleyway in downtown Toronto covered from top to bottom in…you guessed it, graffiti. My suggestion would be to go before it gets dark out, as I didn’t notice any street lights & the area seemed to be a little dodgy.  The alley was flooded with photographers and models when I visited so I would say its a very photographable (is this a word?) location, just make sure to crop out the garbage bags.

Price = $0

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Taken by a stranger

2. Toronto sign – queen street west

You cannot travel all the way to Toronto and not take a picture of/with this sign. As generic as it may seem, it is a great way to pass the time & people watch. just in front, there is a flight of stairs which brings you to a bridge overlooking the sign and the traffic (both people & vehicles) below.

Price = $0

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Outside the Toronto sign

3. Shark club sports bar and grill

Located just outside the Eaton Centre on Yonge Street, stands the Shark club sports bar and grill. The atmosphere combined with the food makes this a good all-rounder, perfect for casual dinner dates. The menu is pretty extensive as far as menus go. I’m a really fussy eater, yet I managed to find a few things that met my dietary requirements. Given its central location and amazing view, it’s surprising that shark club sports and bar grill does not burn a hole in your wallet.

Price = $40 (2 course inc a drink/on average)

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  Danni & I at Shark club

4. Niagara Falls

Ok, so Niagara Falls isn’t actually in Toronto, but who would I be if I didn’t add it to the list.

However much it costs is down to you, you could visit Niagara and not spend a penny or you could go all out and break the bank. In my case, the only thing I spent on was souvenirs. (If you’re looking for a souvenir shop, there is one in the Eaton centre which is pretty inexpensive).

The side streets towards Niagara are filled with various excursions such as; haunted houses, 5D cinemas & many more. Unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage of this, but it is most definitely on the cards for next time.

Honestly, I cannot describe just how beautiful the Falls are, the pictures definitely don’t do it justice. It’s one of those things that you need to see in person, even add it to your bucket list if need be.

As I went in September, it was quite cold and misty, so we didn’t spend long and I wasn’t about to risk my cameras getting wet.

If you bring your passport with you, you can always walk across the bridge to New York. It’s crazy to see just how close 2 separate countries really are.

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So there you have it, my top 4 things to do in Toronto, wasn’t too sure on how to structure this post so I hope this was ok 🙂 

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Canada, it was amazing to meet family members I never even knew I had, and just to experience life as a Canadian.

Until next year Toronto….