Things To Do in Toronto on a Rainy Day

You can easily fill two or three hours of a rainy day visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). One of Toronto's streetcars will drop you off right in front of the Frank Gehry designed building. In addition to the gallery's extensive Canadian and international collection, there are always intriguing special exhibitions going on.
 

Also in the neighbourhood: The AGO is right in the middle of the city's bustling Chinatown.

Toronto has a range of shopping experiences for the thrifty to the indulgent. If the weather is not agreeable to a walk down Queen Street - my favourite shopping outing - indoor malls abound.

The Eaton Centre - though it no longer houses the iconic Canadian department store that is its namesake - is the city's top draw and offers more than 250 stores. The bright and airy domed shopping mecca is also part of the PATH, so you can access miles and miles of more retail space underground.

Other shopping centres in Toronto include  Yorkdale - featuring many high-end retailers - on the Spadina subway line and the Pacific Mall, which is North America's largest Chinese Asian mall.

Also in the neighbourhood: The AGO is right in the middle of the city's bustling Chinatown.

Right next to the "Museum" subway stop, the ROM is a great indoor pursuit on a rainy day.

Highlights - aside from the striking architecture of the building itself - include one of Canada's largest permanent collections of dinosaurs bones, Chinese temple art and a bat-cave simulation.

Also in the neighbourhood: The Gardiner Museum of glass and ceramics, the Bata Shoe Museum and Yorkville shopping district.

Be sure to take advantage of Toronto's extensive network of underground shops and retail space, the PATH. The 29-kilometre (18 mi) of pedestrian tunnels connect some of the city's biggest attractions, including Union Station and six subway stations, the Eaton Centre, Air Canada Centre, the Hockey Hall of Fame and more.

New to Toronto in 2013, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada features at least 45 exhibits that display saltwater and freshwater species from around the world. An underwater tunnel has you walking right through Dangerous Lagoon, full of sharks, barracudas and more.

The aquarium is not home to dolphins, seals or other mammals, as this kind of captivity is no longer seen to be humane. For example, the care of the mammals kept at Marineland in Niagara Falls was exposed as cruel. 

Toronto has a diverse, happening theatre scene. From Broadway hits to more intimate, cerebral productions, you will find a production to suit your taste at a Toronto venue.

For something a little different and more local, try Soulpepper - an artist-founded, classical repertory theatre company in Toronto's unique and historical Distillery District.

Always a good place to be on a rainy day, movie theatres abound in Toronto whether you're looking for the latest Hollywood blockbuster or a small indie flick.

Check out the Scotiabank Theatre on Richmond at John. The 14-screen multiplex (including IMAX & 3D) offers the latest Hollywood films, a licensed lounge and there is a bookstore on the main floor.

A rainy day may not be the best time to take in the panoramic views of Toronto you get from this 1,815 ft ft high tower, but the city’s number one attraction will probably be less crowded. In addition, if the weather forecast calls for the rain to end, try making a reservation for the restaurant. Enjoy a sky-high meal and then visit the observation deck afterwards. Admission to CN Tower is included in your restaurant reservation and you will skip any entrance line-up.

This women’s only spa puts a modern twist on ancient therapeutic water therapy. The circuit of restorative plunge pools, saunas and steam has been used in many cultures to increase circulation, improve joint mobility, detoxify and generally soothe weary bodies.