Cheap Hotels in Toronto

Cheap Areas to Stay in Toronto

Toronto has plenty of neighborhoods and districts totally dedicated to cool cafés and cheap eats – perfect for the shoestring traveler. Head for the likes of West Queen West to get budget beds in revived redbrick townhouses, or opt for Chinatown, where university halls are surrounded by bargain holes-in-the-wall touting wallet-friendly portions of steaming noodles and stir fries. And for the hostels, where backpackers congregate with travel tales of adventures in the Rockies and Great Lakes, look to the area south of Bloor Street.

Cheap Hotels in Toronto

Set on the side of quiet Chalk Farm, with great access to the up-coming artsy area of Yorktown, the Toronto Plaza Hotel is a tried-and-tested budget option. Also on the fringes of the city is the Quality Inn & Suites at Mississauga, which has ski storage and a gym just a stone's throw from Pearson International Airport. And for those who want to be in the heart of the action for less, the Holiday Inn Express in the midst of Old Toronto is a fine option. Expect cozy, modern rooms, and free WiFi throughout.

Where to find cheap food in Toronto

From chili-scented food bazaars to ad hoc food trucks, Toronto is a town primed for the low-cost eater. Start with a bout of sweet and sour in Chinatown, where stylish restaurants tout intricate saku tartar and ground pork and black bean combos next to earthy dim sum joints that cost next to nothing. Then there's Greektown, cutting its way through the heart of North York, and offering a smorgasbord of succulent lamb shish kebabs, falafel, and moussaka. Little India is another cheap and uber-tasty area well worth a visit.

Cheap Things to do in Toronto

If the sun's a-shining, why not make a beeline for the shores of Lake Ontario? This natural jewel is totally free, and there are beautiful stretches of public sand in the appropriately-named Beaches district, not to mention endless waterways amongst the Toronto Islands, where Hanlan's Point Beach is, shall we say, more bohemian than the others – its clothing optional. Soaking in the energy of the St. Lawrence Market is perfect for those who love to trawl endless stacks of trinkets and antiques for the perfect souvenir, while the curious Bata Shoe Museum has reduced rates for students. You can also flit between chic cafés sipping coffee in West Queen West, before heading for a free brewery tour, or casing out the nearby street art masterpieces of so-called Graffiti Alley.

Cheap Ways to Get Around Toronto

Toronto's downtown area – between the bohemian streets of West Queen West and the Entertainment District – is all pretty walkable. However, to make things easier on the legs, you could always opt to rent a bike from the Bike Share Toronto program, where prices start at just $7 for a 24-hour period. Hopping on and off trams and buses can be made cheaper by using the regional Greater Toronto Area Pass, which includes all the outer districts and towns, like Mississauga and Yorktown – both also worth the journey.