Do also check out these top sights for a quintessential Toronto experience:

• Royal Ontario Museum (16-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

• St. Lawrence Market (17-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

• Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada (17-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

• Casa Loma (20-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

• Canada’s Wonderland (23-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

• Toronto Islands (37-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

Prefer to explore the hidden gems in Toronto? In this article, the Pan Pacific Toronto team recommends our favourite under-the-radar attractions—many of which only locals know about. 

We hope you will enjoy exploring our dynamic metropolis, and look forward to hosting you!

Unless you have a phobia of dolls (known as pediophobia), a trip to the “Crazy Doll House” in the otherwise unobtrusive neighbourhood of Leslieville is a must if you relish quirky outings. 

Yes, it may be unnerving to face hundreds of collectible dolls, action figures, and stuffed animals—all sitting on the front lawn of a Leslieville home—and have them staring right back at you. But once you get past the feeling of being watched, you will begin to appreciate this makeshift doll museum. Do take some memorable Toronto souvenir photos, and keep your eyes peeled for beloved toys from your childhood, guaranteed to bring on the nostalgia pangs! 

Get directions to Leslieville Doll House (18-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

Want to see a house that literally looks like it has been sliced in half? There is such a home in Toronto!

Built in the 1890s, this Victorian-era house was one of six identical and connected homes. Later, in the 1950s, property developers fought to buy over homes in the area, but one owner firmly resisted all offers, which was how this “Half House” escaped the clutches of demolition. 

After you have had a quick look and snapped your photos, you can head to the nearby Queen Street West neighbourhood. Once touted as one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, this is where you can enjoy swanky restaurants, hipster cafes, indie shops, and street art.

Get directions to Half House (18-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

Credit: Photo by Lilian on Unsplash

Planning to spend time at the ultra-hip Queen Street West? Right across is Graffiti Alley, home to some of Toronto’s best street art. Take this chance to get acquainted with prominent street artists in Toronto, such as uber5000 and Elicser Elliott, and snap as many Instagram-worthy photos as your heart desires. 

Get directions to Graffiti Alley (20-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

Credit: Photo by Justin Ziadeh on Unsplash

The name “Toronto Necropolis” may conjure up images of a macabre mortuary, but the place is surprisingly serene and peaceful. At this mid-19th century cemetery, you can see the graves of famous Canadians such as Toronto’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, and the first Canadian-born black surgeon, Anderson Ruffin Abbott. 

Do also look out for traces of High Victorian Gothic architecture. For instance, the chapel at the entrance to the cemetery was designed by architect Henry Langley, known for his Gothic Revival church designs.

Get directions to Toronto Necropolis (16-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

Are you a historic architecture buff? Make a trip to Toronto’s Guild Park, which is home to over 70 architectural facades (such as old bank facades), statues, columns, and arches—some of which date back to the 1800s. 

To do a self-guided tour, bookmark this guide for background information and tips on where to take the best architectural pictures at Guild Park. 

Get directions to Guild Park (22-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)

One of Toronto’s oldest buildings, Campbell House was built in 1822 for Canadian judge William Campbell and his wife. The heritage house is an early example of Georgian architecture—a building style that is still favoured by Toronto’s wealthier set today. 

After you have toured Campbell House, you should also explore the adjoining permanent outdoor installation “Lost & Found,” featuring stone fragments from Toronto buildings demolished in the 1960s and 70s.

Get directions to Campbell House (18-minute drive from Pan Pacific Toronto)