10 Things to Do in Toronto in Winter

If you plan to travel to Toronto between December and March, consider that this is Ontario's winter season, which tends to be quite cold. Temperatures range from 5°C to -10°C, with slushy winds and snowfall. However, Canadians still manage to have a good time and put on food and cultural festivals. These include the Iced Wine Festival, the Toronto Festival of Lights and the Hamilton Winter Festival.

Plus, there's no excuse for staying indoors, as you'll be able to explore an underground city that interconnects all the major landmarks. Pack your gloves and warm clothes to enjoy the best things to do in Toronto in winter, such as welcoming the Chinese New Year in February or enjoying the ice sculptures at the Ice Festival. Of course, don't miss the skating rinks and snow wars in the main local parks.

Winter comes to Toronto with the best plans for the whole family, including the annual Winterlicious Food Festival. It's a great event for foodies to enjoy if you're looking for things to do in the city in February, as it takes place during the first two weeks of this month. You'll have the chance to explore French, Japanese, Canadian, Mexican, Middle Eastern cuisine and more.

Note that around 200 restaurants are participating with a wide range of flavours on offer. There are culinary events such as wine tastings, food tours of Toronto, themed dinners, food exhibitions and cooking classes. This festival has been held in the city since 2003, so you'll want to book your place in advance. The cost of the experience varies depending on the number of restaurants and events you want to attend.

The festival will also take you on a tour of Kensington Market, located in the city centre. Here you can learn more about Toronto's food history, while sampling different types of dishes and snacks. It's an unforgettable culinary experience where you'll discover typical food stalls as well as Latin American and Asian options, as this colourful market has been the starting point for many immigrants who have set up businesses in the city.

Snowstorms can occur in winter, especially between January and February. Seeing snowfall is a very special event, but sometimes it can be difficult to get around the city. In Toronto the fun doesn't stop, as there is a network of pedestrian tunnels, better known as the Underground City or Toronto's PATH. It interconnects with Downtown and is approximately 30 kilometres long. Special events are held in winter.

The Underground City has more than 1,200 shops, as well as cafes and restaurants. It's a perfect place to stay sheltered from the cold and snow, without missing out on the fun. From the tunnels you can find exits to hotels, shopping malls, underground stations, train stations and some of Toronto's best museums.

There are at least 125 access points on the street and signs indicating which street you are on in the underground. If you plan to be in Toronto for at least 3 days, I recommend taking a tour of this area of the city.

If you are in Toronto in winter, you should know that this season coincides with the Lunar New Year celebrations. It is an event that brings together the Asian community and hundreds of tourists in Chinatown. It features lion dancing, Chinese calligraphy workshops, traditional food stalls, colourful lantern shows, tea ceremonies and traditional rituals. In Chinatown you'll also find mahjong competitions, a Chinese board game.

It's one of the best things to do in Toronto in January, as there are commemorative activities throughout the month. Each year a different animal is celebrated according to the Chinese calendar. Additionally, you'll find many free events, such as LunasFest at the Varley Art Gallery in Unionville about an hour from downtown. It's a celebration dedicated to indigenous Chinese communities, with family entertainment and cultural performances.

If you're planning some things to do in Toronto in January, I suggest taking a quick trip to Niagara Falls to enjoy the Niagara Icewine Festival or Niagara Icewine Fest. It's a completely free wine and food event that turns Queen Street into a winter flea market. You can visit the Canadian wineries where Icewine is made and sweeten your palate.

Icewine is made from semi-frozen grapes, which concentrates the sweet and sour flavours better. In addition to tastings, you can enjoy live entertainment and attend special events, which offer guided tours of the vineyards and around the falls. There are also barbecues and bonfires that combine snacks, marshmallows and roasted chestnuts with wine.

There is also no shortage of winter villages, and some people choose to go up to see the falls. There are also skating rinks in the surrounding area which, of course, have the appropriate safety measures in place. If you have children or pets, it's very important to avoid approaching the falls when they appear to be frozen, as the ice doesn't actually solidify completely and can break at any movement.

If you're on the lookout for things to do in Toronto in February, the Bloor Yorkville Icefest is not to be missed. The city's cultural district turns into a winter wonderland. Specifically, it takes place in the Village of Yorkville Park where ice sculptures are the stars of the show. This annual celebration features ice carving classes and outdoor shows.

The high-relief figures are stunning, usually castles, mermaids, dragons, carriages and other classics that remain on display for several hours. There are also some based on inspirational stories, so it's worth knowing the background to each exhibition.

Additionally, you can learn more about the history of this cultural festival and appreciate the light shows during the evening hours. A good option is to join a tour of Toronto with a professional guide to get to know the area and the surroundings of the city in depth.

The Distillery District is a famous local area where the Festival of Lights takes place every winter. Specifically, it takes place from January to March and is inspired by the Amsterdam Festival of Lights. It's considered the biggest art festival in the region, as the days are shorter and darker during this season and the glowing lights add colour to the city's streets.

Upon arrival you'll find an open-air gallery with cultural exhibitions, live entertainment and activities ideal if you're looking for things to do in Toronto with kids. On the other hand, many people come to see the great fire-breathing dragon, a metal sculpture that has sounds, lights and special effects.

Additionally, the Distillery District is a lively area where you can take a tour to enjoy the Victorian architecture and learn more about what was once the largest distillery in the world. And if you're looking for things to do in December in Toronto, you'll want to take advantage of the Christmas market set up in its quaint little streets.

Christmas comes alive in Toronto during the winter, which adds a magical touch. That's why you can't miss the Christmas markets that add colour, flavour and joy to the city. You can sip mulled wine, buy roasted chestnuts or just do some Christmas shopping. Be prepared to experience local traditions, such as lights, caroling, multicultural meals and more.

It's definitely the best plan if you're looking for things to do in Toronto at Christmas. Here are a few options of flea markets you can visit at this time of year:

• One of a Kind: an open-air bazaar that has become a tradition for Canadians. You'll find a variety of handcrafted goods, as well as live art demonstrations. There is even a family programme with activities for children.
• Kensington Market: a market where you can sample seasonal produce and fruits, as well as enjoy outdoor Christmas plays.
• Distillery District Christmas Market: a market that comes alive after the Toronto Christmas lighting. You'll find live entertainment, food tastings and mulled wine huts.

In Ontario there are plenty of winter entertainment options, so I recommend driving to Hamilton, a city located forty minutes from Toronto by car. It is a mini harbour town, where Hamilton's Winterfest is held. It's the perfect opportunity to enjoy more than 50 winter activities, including tours of the city and its main parks. It's an urban event, ideal for enjoying a city break and getting to know the surrounding area.

In addition, Canadians host beer tastings and food tastings to keep warm. The live music performances are highly anticipated, as they are in charge of national and international artists. At this event I recommend you take advantage of the dance and cooking classes, as well as the arts and crafts stalls, comedy nights, Valentine's Day party and small outdoor galleries.

Snow is the star of the Canadian winter, with snowfall usually arriving between January and February. Some people prefer to stay sheltered and seek out plans indoors. However, adventurous spirits will certainly want to get out and take a look at the postcard-perfect white-washed city. Some people choose to enjoy snow wars, draw angels on the ground or make snowmen.

The best areas to enjoy these plans are the surrounding outdoor trails, public parks, winter villages and winter camps.

For example, Bluffers Park is a park in west Toronto where many people come as a family to ski or play in the snow. Centennial Park is another park that gets snowed in during the winter and offers recreational activities for all ages. Of course, High Park is not to be missed as it offers a vibrant atmosphere and you can rent snowshoes and skis to enjoy the snowfall.

Winter in Toronto is beautiful, but some days can be extremely cold. To keep warm, I invite you to explore the city in search of the best hot chocolate in the region. This traditional drink will help you relax after enjoying the winter activities. If you're near the St. Clair West neighbourhood, head to Cocoalatte, a coffee shop with a variety of options such as hot cider, steaming chocolate and Chai Latte.

Also, if you're looking for things to do in the city in March, you can enjoy Missaugua's Colombian Chocolate Festival. It's an event where samples prepared with strong and bitter cocoa are served, which gives a special touch to the drink. It's held at the Casa Cultural Colombiana, where you'll learn how to drink hot chocolate with bread and cheese.

You can also take part in some of Toronto's best food tours and immerse yourself in a chocolate trail through the quaint local streets.

• Be sure to pack warm clothes and warm clothing.
• On very cold days, don't forget to use the Underground City, to get around comfortably.
• Transportation in the city is often expensive, but you can save money by using daily or weekly passes, which are ideal if you plan to be in Toronto for at least 3 days.
• Be careful where you walk, there are slippery areas and ice formations that don't completely solidify.