Walking Tour of Toronto's Kensington Market and Chinatown
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From USD49.88
Price varies by group size
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Walking Tour of Toronto's Kensington Market and Chinatown
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Safety measures
2 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Good for avoiding crowds
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Overview
Discover two of Toronto's most colorful and multicultural neighborhoods — Kensington Market and Chinatown — on this guided, 3-hour, small-group walking tour. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of Toronto’s legendary Chinatown. Then explore the unique, bohemian atmosphere of Kensington Market, one of Toronto’s most popular and eclectic neighborhoods. Learn about the history of these areas and visit the locally-owned and operated eateries, unique shops and produce markets while wandering the hidden lanes and alleyways, whose brick walls are filled with stunning graffiti and street art.
- 3-hour small-group walking tour of Kensington Market and Chinatown
- Learn about these two eclectic neighborhoods from your professional local guide
- Explore unique shops; visit historical sites; and admire stunning graffiti and street art
- Small-group size with a maximum of 12 people ensures a personalized experience
- Check out locally-owned and operated eateries, shops, and produce markets and make sure you keep a tally of all the places you’re going to want to come back to later (trust us)
- Stop for a coffee or tea in one of the local cafes and sample one of the many international foods available in the neighbourhood at a local shop
- This tour is carbon neutral, operated by the world’s largest travel B Corp accredited company.
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This walking tour begins at the southwest corner of McCaul Street and Dundas Street West beside the Art Gallery of Ontario. Meet and greet the guide and the rest of the small group and prepare for two hours of adventure around the Kensington Market and Chinatown neighborhoods.
Together, Chinatown and Kensington Market are often bustling, friendly places to visit. Each has its own distinctively different reputation for local and international delicacies, unique vendors and specialty shops — like nowhere else in Toronto. Because they are located right next to one another, it provides a perfect opportunity to explore both in a relatively short amount of time.
Kensington Market is a distinctively multicultural neighborhood, evolving from a working-class Jewish market into a working-class bohemian market. With so many different immigrants settling here over the past century, there is now an ample variety of colors, sounds and flavors from all over the world. Witness the vintage shops, cafes, bakeries and bars, plus the plethora of bare brick walls that have been artfully covered with stunning graffiti murals and street art.
One street over is Chinatown, an area that was first developed in the late 19th century. Enjoy learning about the local stories and interesting history of Canada's largest Chinese community and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. It’s also one of the busiest areas of the city, with shops, restaurants, historic monuments and more extending along Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue, located to the west of the center of the city.
The tour ends at the Dragon City Shopping Centre.
Together, Chinatown and Kensington Market are often bustling, friendly places to visit. Each has its own distinctively different reputation for local and international delicacies, unique vendors and specialty shops — like nowhere else in Toronto. Because they are located right next to one another, it provides a perfect opportunity to explore both in a relatively short amount of time.
Kensington Market is a distinctively multicultural neighborhood, evolving from a working-class Jewish market into a working-class bohemian market. With so many different immigrants settling here over the past century, there is now an ample variety of colors, sounds and flavors from all over the world. Witness the vintage shops, cafes, bakeries and bars, plus the plethora of bare brick walls that have been artfully covered with stunning graffiti murals and street art.
One street over is Chinatown, an area that was first developed in the late 19th century. Enjoy learning about the local stories and interesting history of Canada's largest Chinese community and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. It’s also one of the busiest areas of the city, with shops, restaurants, historic monuments and more extending along Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue, located to the west of the center of the city.
The tour ends at the Dragon City Shopping Centre.
Itinerary
In Kensington Market, over a coffee or tea at a local cafe, you’ll learn how the neighbourhood has evolved from a working-class Jewish market into a working-class bohemian market. Several waves of immigrant settlement over the past century have splashed colours, sounds, and flavours from the four corners of the earth throughout Kensington Market, and yet there is not a McDonald's or Starbucks to be seen. Large multinational corporations are decidedly unwelcome, and unlikely to migrate their way in anytime soon. One of the many highlights of this tour is a visit to a local food vendor to awaken your taste buds to Kensington Market’s international flavour.
Aside from its aversion to corporations, the neighbourhood is known for its festivals (Pedestrian Sunday is a favourite), vintage shops, cafes, bakeries, hole-in-the-wall bars, and the many, many bare brick walls that have long been covered with graffiti murals (often at the request of the buildings’ owners). These murals are nearly all stunning, and have become one of the iconic features of the neighbourhood. Your local guide will be happy to elaborate on any element of the neighbourhood you find particularly interesting on this Kensington Market tour in Toronto – we all love this area a lot!
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Free
As we said, right next door to Kensington Market is Chinatown, one of Canada's largest Chinese communities, and one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. One of the busiest areas in the city, there’s always something happening, and always tales to tell. On this part of your Toronto tour, your guide will enlighten you with some favourite local stories and intriguing history surrounding Toronto’s Chinatown. Along the way, you’ll also likely get restaurant recommendations, which can really come in handy for after your Toronto Chinatown tour – trust us, there are a lot of places to eat around here.
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Free
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