A A multicultural city on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto is Canada's capital of creativity and diversity, home to a miscellany of sporting events, galleries, festivals and renowned restaurants, along with a healthy dose of outdoor activities. These are the best places to stay and play.

Perched on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto - or "The Six", as it's known to some locals - is a melting pot of culture from all corners of the world. The most populous city in Canada, it's celebrated for its creativity - in film, music and artistry - and diversity, both of which have shaped the warm (figuratively and, from June until October, literally), welcoming metropolis it has become.

Residents love Toronto for its fusion of busy-city excitement and easy outdoor escapism. Downtown, where sports fans congregate to cheer on 2019 NBA champs the Toronto Raptors, tourists flock to see the CN Tower and the streets buzz with people, the pace feels electric. From sports games and art galleries to renowned restaurants, musicals and festivals, including the famed Toronto International Film Festival, there is endless entertainment. Yet you'll also find pockets of calm at the many beaches and green spaces.

There are ample opportunities for activity in Toronto. During the warmer months, the lake is a funfair for surfers, kayakers and swimmers, and in winter there is ice skating aplenty as well as numerous indoor activities, including bouldering and obstacle courses. Cycling is one of the easiest ways to navigate the city, thanks to the extensive network of bike paths and trails, and bicycles can be borrowed from any of 465 stations peppered across the city. Public transport is another inexpensive and efficient way to explore.

If time and budget allow, hire a car and head out to some of Toronto's neighbouring gems, such as Niagara Falls and the nearby wineries or Prince Edward Island.