What's it really like?
Gay travelers love to visit Toronto as it’s a city of diversity, with over 200 ethnicities and 140 languages represented. As a result, the broad LGBTQI community is widely welcomed, too.
What’s so hot about gay Toronto is that all the neighborhoods pepper the city, like Chinatown, Koreatown, Greektown, Little Portugal, and Little Italy. With so many ethnic communities, the range of cuisines on offer makes this city a haven for foodies.
Apart from having two gayborhoods, one former and one current, Toronto hosts a range of LGBTQ+ events and festivals throughout the year. Pride is held every June and runs for the entire month, culminating in a parade on the last Sunday. There are also two film festivals, Queer West and Inside Out Toronto.
Getting around Toronto is easy. The subway system has four lines, and the city boasts one of North America’s most extensive streetcar systems. There are 15 small islands in the Ontario River, accessible by ferry from the harbor.
Toronto’s climate is humid continental, making gay Toronto a vibrant yet seasonal hotspot. July is the hottest month, averaging 28°C (82°F), and January is the coldest, averaging -9°C (15°F). The best time to visit relates solely to what the traveler is looking for. Summer is the peak season, with many outdoor festivals and activities, and the city prices reflect the period. Spring and Fall are more temperate and are considered the most comfortable times to travel. Winter is for those looking for a Christmas Wonderland experience.
Toronto is ranked as the most expensive city in Canada, and the hotel prices certainly reflect that, so bear that in mind when considering this destination.
Gay Toronto is the ultimate playground when the sun goes down. With 17 gay or gay-friendly bars dotting the city, there’s a spot for every mood, whether you’re in the mood to dance or just sip a classy cocktail.
In gay Toronto, the bulk of the bars are in a single block between Alexander and Maitland Streets in the Church-Wellesley Village gayborhood. There are still two bars left in the former gayborhood of Queen West, each worth visiting for very different reasons. A few other bars are scattered around the suburbs for those seeking a night away from all the action.
Cover charges are standard in Toronto bars, mainly on Friday and Saturday nights. Thankfully, not too many gay venues have them. If they do, you can try to avoid them by arriving really early.
In Toronto, the drinking age is a ripe 19, so if you still have that fresh-faced glow, better have your ID handy at the door—bouncers love a good carding moment.
The introduction of hook-up apps hasn’t affected playtime in gay Toronto. The city boasts three sauna/bath houses, and they’re the perfect spots to unwind and make new friends. Two of them are in the Church-Wellesley Village gayborhood, and the other one is tucked away in the suburbs—think local guys!
Spa Excess and Steamworks Toronto are right in the middle of the gayborhood, open 24/7—because who needs sleep, right? Conveniently sandwiched between bars and other nightlife delights. Guests must be 18+ to enter, and IDs may be checked. All three spots offer college student discounts, so brace yourself for the youthful energy surge during those times.
Accommodation in gay Toronto ranges from luxury 5-star to comfortable 2-star; it’s worth noting that hotels here are priced higher than in other Canadian cities.
Most of the gay-friendly hotels are in or border the Church-Wellesley Village gayborhood, with a couple located in the former Queen West hub.
Big names like Park Hyatt, W, Holiday Inn, and Courtyard by Marriott are all present, alongside Canada’s own Fairmont and chic boutique properties like The Hazelton, The Drake, and Victoria’s Mansion.
Swimming pools are few and far between; there are some, but they’re indoor and don’t all operate year-round. The city is extremely pet-friendly; dogs and cats are welcome at most properties, are given exclusive amenities, and some stays are free.
Gays and the Law
Canada has always been a country at the forefront of gay rights, and gay Toronto, in Ontario, was at the heart of this movement. Ontario was the first jurisdiction in North America to perform same-sex marriages in 2003.
Some historical events in gay Toronto include the first ‘Gay Day Picnic’ in 1971 and a joint raid on four bath houses in 1981. Nicknamed ‘Operation Soap,’ it sparked several protests that began the gay rights movement.
Getting Tested
In Toronto, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea infections are rising. If an STI test is required, The Village Pharmacy group has locations across Toronto where drop-ins are welcome.
PrEP is best sourced at The PrEP Clinic in pill or injection form. If a course of PEP is required, any hospital emergency room is the best place.
Local Neighhorhoods
There are two gayborhoods in gay Toronto, one former and one current. The current one is called the Church-Wellesley Village (The Village for short). It begins at the corner of Church and Wellesley Streets and travels three blocks down Church Street to Wood Street. Between Maitland and Alexander Streets are the largest group of venues, taking up every property on both sides of the street. A rainbow crossing marks this section of the gay strip.
The former gayborhood of Queen West is now more of an alternative lifestyle hub; there are some gay-friendly bars still there, but nothing like before.
The main tourist places in gay Toronto, like the CN Tower and the Art Gallery, are in the downtown area, adjacent to the harbor and the Ontario River. Catching a ferry out to one of the 15 Toronto Islands is well worth doing. Downtown is also home to the entertainment area, the world’s third-largest English-speaking theatre district.
Yorkville, where most 5-star hotels are, is Toronto’s cultural and shopping district in gay Toronto. It’s also the place to wine and dine at very classy restaurants.
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