8 Excellent Hotels in Downtown Toronto

Toronto is the largest and most important urban center in Canada and one of the largest metropolises in the entire Western world. The city is located on the northern shore of Lake Ontario and is the center of what is known as the Golden Horseshoe. In downtown Toronto and the waterfront, there are numerous excellent city hotels ranging from three to five stars. These hotels are often located in skyscrapers, offering a stunning urban view from the room window. The city's airport is also an excellent spot for finding accommodation, surrounded by masses of new top-quality business hotels from major chains and numerous motels. The heart of the city is Nathan Phillips Square, and it's worth finding a place to stay as close as possible to it on Queen Street West or in the tall towers adjacent to the CN Tower in the harborfront.

The Toronto Harbourfront skyline
The Toronto Harbourfront skyline

So before you rush to find a flight to Toronto, want to get to know Canada's big city a little?

For the complete travel guide to Toronto, click here…

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Luxury Hotels in Downtown Toronto

Fairmont Royal York Gold Experience

The flagship luxury hotel of the local Fairmont chain offers a chance to combine a stay in Toronto with a visit to one of the city's most important historic sites. Built in 1929, this historic and large hotel was officially the city's gateway.

The historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Old Town Toronto
The historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Old Town Toronto

Although the facade exudes vintage charm, the hotel's interior is modern and refreshed, with large, well-equipped rooms, a luxurious lobby, top-notch culinary offerings, and an abundance of amenities. The hotel isn't cheap but offers a memorable experience worth every Canadian dollar.

To book a stay at the Fairmont Royal York Gold Experience, click here…

 

The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto

The luxurious branch of the high-end chain from Maryland (now Marriott) is perched in the upper floors of a skyscraper one block north of the CN Tower. The unquestionable star of Toronto's skyline dominates from the hotel's windows and is an integral part of the lodging experience. The hotel itself exudes luxury and power, with large, well-equipped rooms, a spacious lobby, and top-notch culinary offerings. The hotel isn't cheap but offers a particularly glamorous Toronto experience.

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Excellent 4-Star Hotels in the Heart of Toronto

Le Germain Hotel Maple Leaf Square

A fantastic four-star hotel adjacent to the Air Canada Centre, just a block and a half east of the CN Tower. It's the low-rise building in the prestigious Maple Leaf Square complex, housed in a modern black building with equally modern interiors. The hotel features large, very comfortable rooms, spacious public areas, excellent culinary standards, and a range of indulgences. It beautifully blends meticulous modern design with a fun urban lodging experience.

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One King West Hotel and Residence

The One King West is one of the oldest and finest hotels in downtown Toronto. It's located at the intersection of bustling King Street and Yonge Street, just two blocks south of the giant Eaton Centre and Nathan Phillips Square. This is a very popular four-star hotel that has managed to maintain a high standard over the years. The hotel features spacious and stylishly designed rooms, high-level service, a cozy lobby and restaurant, and excellent culinary standards.

Click here to book your stay at One King West Hotel and Residence…

The CN Tower above Toronto's skyline
The CN Tower above Toronto's skyline

InterContinental Toronto Centre, an IHG Hotel

The luxury brand of the British hotel giant is situated in the Metro Convention Centre, right next to the CN Tower. It's a four-star hotel with five-star service and amenities. The rooms aren't large, but they are very comfortable. The hotel's facilities provide an excellent hospitality experience, including very high dining standards, a luxurious lobby, and to top off the day, a particularly enjoyable indoor pool.

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Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre

The Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre is one of the most central hotels in Toronto. This downtown hotel of the Maryland-based hospitality giant (there's also a great hotel at the Rogers Centre, next to the CN Tower) is right on Nathan Phillips Square, adjacent to the beautiful City Hall buildings and the massive Eaton Centre shopping mall. The hotel offers spacious and clean rooms, a pleasant lobby, and good culinary standards. There is also a nice indoor pool for guests' enjoyment.

Click here to book a room at Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre…

Downtown Toronto viewed from Casa Loma
Downtown Toronto viewed from Casa Loma

 

Good 3-star Hotels in the Heart of Toronto

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Toronto Downtown

The Hampton Inn in Downtown Toronto is located a fifteen-minute walk from Nathan Phillips Square in the northeast part of downtown. This is a good three-star hotel from the giant Hilton-owned chain, featuring large and very comfortable family rooms, basic breakfast, and a modest lobby. The hotel is an excellent option for affordable accommodation in central Toronto, with the feel of a motel that has wandered into the city center (if you think motels are something negative, you're mistaken… motels in North America are great, especially from the big chains).

Click here to book a stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Toronto Downtown…

 

Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown, an IHG Hotel

The Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Toronto is located two blocks north of the popular St. Lawrence Market and within reasonable walking distance from Nathan Phillips Square and Queen Street East and West. The three-star hotel from the British hotel giant (the brand itself is American like Elvis Presley and also comes from Memphis, Tennessee) offers a fun urban experience at a completely reasonable price. The hotel is very tidy and efficient, with relatively large rooms, an inviting lobby, and a basic but good breakfast restaurant. It's a very convenient hotel for family stays with basic but entirely sufficient conditions.

Click here to book a place at Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown…

Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto
Nathan Phillips Square in downtown Toronto

 

4 Tips from Guy for a Perfect Stay in Toronto

The city of Toronto is the capital of Ontario province and the largest city in Canada. Surrounding the city is a metropolitan area where almost a quarter of Canada's population resides. Toronto is a city with plenty to see and do. The towering CN Tower is the symbol of the city, overlooking the Harbourfront, the city's former transportation hub now filled with major tourist attractions.

Downtown Toronto is also packed with attractions. Around the central Nathan Phillips Square are old houses, modern skyscrapers, excellent museums, and bustling ethnic neighborhoods. Queen Street is the main shopping thoroughfare and right next to the square is the massive Eaton Centre, perfect for wandering and shopping. Toronto is a very attractive destination for a trip and has it all – famous attractions like the CN Tower, bustling streets with restaurants and entertainment venues, fascinating historic and ethnic neighborhoods, and an enormous abundance of shopping, both in open streets and in giant malls right in the city center.

Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto
Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto
  1. Where to stay in downtown Toronto? – The entire downtown Toronto area is brimming with numerous urban-style hotels, ranging from small three-star hotels to luxurious five-star hotels. The city center also boasts a great variety of large four-star business hotels from top American (and Canadian) chains. There is a cluster of luxury hotels slightly east of the CN Tower, including the historic Fairmont Royal York opposite Union Station, the luxurious InterContinental, and the Ritz-Carlton near Roy Thomson Hall. There are also luxury hotels near Nathan Phillips Square, such as Shangri-La and St. Regis.
  2. Downtown Toronto Tower Hotels – The three and four-star hotels in the city center are usually located in tall towers, sometimes occupying multiple floors and sometimes the entire building (in some four-star hotels). These are fantastic city hotels offering an impressive urban view experience.
  3. Accommodations in Business Hotels and Motels near Toronto Pearson International Airport – For those arriving in Toronto with a car, it’s advisable to stay near the airport, where prices are generally more affordable and travel to the city can be managed via public transportation. The motels near the airport include all the well-known chains, including Marriott, Hilton, IHG motel brands, and more, as well as Best Western, Hampton Inn, and other roadside inns mainly along Ontario Highway 401 (Macdonald-Cartier Freeway).
  4. The Season – Summer in Toronto is the best time to visit. During summer, the city is warm to hot, with occasional rain that doesn’t significantly impact your trip.

 

Map of Recommended Accommodation Areas in Toronto

Where to stay in Toronto?
Where to Stay in Toronto? (Source: Google Maps)