Exploring The Heart of Downtown Toronto
Description
We meet at Nathan Phillips Square, discuss the history and significance of the square, City Hall, and the Toronto Sign. We view the adjacent Spirit Gardens as a contemplative Indigenous cultural space. Next, visit the exterior of Osgoode Hall and then the Canada Life Building, and learn about its weather beacon. Afterwards, we visit Dreaming by Jaume Plensa, followed by two of Canada's tallest buildings. We move on to visit the lobby used in the legal drama Suits, starring Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex. We discover the history of ‘street skateboarding’ in the Financial District and world-renowned TD architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s. Then learn about the Financial District’s global relevance and history, and visit Tembo, the wholesome Mother of Elephants. Afterwards, discover Toronto’s PATH, and visit the Allen Lambert Galleria, followed by a visit to RBC’s headquarters. We view the CN Tower, and finally, we visit Union Station’s exterior and interior.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travellers will learn about the history and present of Nathan Phillips Square, how it hosted the largest event in Canadian History and the famous Toronto Sign located at the ice rink.
We view the adjacent Spirit Gardens, a contemplative Indigenous cultural space featuring sculptures and gathering areas, dedicated to honouring residential school survivors.
Next, we visit the exterior of Osgoode Hall, one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious law schools.
Afterwards, we view the Canada Life Building and learn about its history and the marketing campaign that involves its weather beacon.
Our guide will then lead us alongside the exterior of the stunning Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts and talk about its significance and its subtle architectural world record.
Afterwards, we visit Dreaming by Jaume Plensa, a monumental sculpture that invites quiet reflection amid the energy of downtown streets.
On Adelaide Street, we’ll view Canada’s two tallest buildings and learn about Michael Snow’s Lightline, which goes up the side of one of them.
We move on to visit the lobby used in the legal drama Suits, starring Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, and learn about the Royal Family's influence on its script. Your guide will talk about Toronto’s reputation as ‘Hollywood North.’
Down Bay Street, at the Toronto Dominion Centre, we discover the history of ‘street skateboarding’ in the city's Financial District. We learn about world-renowned TD architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s creation of the POPS Program for modern office plazas, and his vision for public spaces to bring residents together.
Our guide will talk about the Financial District’s global relevance and history, then take us on a short walk to visit Tembo, the wholesome Mother of Elephants, and learn about her World Record.
Afterwards, we move underground to discover Toronto’s PATH, learn about its size, economic impact, pandemic struggles and recovery, then get a masterclass on navigating it solo.
As we walk through the Path, we re-enter street level inside the Brookfield Place, known for its stunning atrium and blend of modern architecture and historical design.
Our guide takes us across the street to RBC’s headquarters, where we learn about the bank’s practical and prestigious investment in gold.
South of RBC, we view the CN Tower, a symbol of modern engineering, and learn about its original purpose. Finally, we visit Union Station’s exterior and interior, and discover its history, architecture, and significance as a transportation hub.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(19)
It's clear the love that Duncan has for the city of Toronto. He's curated an experience with the right blend of history and modern tidbits. Lots of local recommendations. I wish we had time to take his wine tour Taste of the Strait. It's a reason to come back.
It's clear the love that Duncan has for the city of Toronto. He's curated an experience with the right blend of history and modern tidbits. Lots of local recommendations. I wish we had time to take his wine tour Taste of the Strait. It's a reason to come back.
We had a fantastic experience on Duncan’s Toronto tour and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a different perspective on the city. What made this tour special was how thoughtfully Duncan blended Toronto’s culture, sports, politics, and local neighborhoods into one engaging experience. Viewing the city through the lens of a skateboarder, sports fan, and passionate local gave us insights we never would have discovered on a traditional tour. Duncan was exceptionally prepared, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about sharing his city. He had an incredible ability to connect history, current events, sports, architecture, and local culture in a way that was both informative and fun. Every stop felt intentional, and his stories brought Toronto to life. Beyond his knowledge, Duncan is simply a great person to spend time with. He was personable, engaging, and made everyone feel welcome. By the end of the tour, it felt less like being guided by a stranger and more like exploring the city with a knowledgeable friend. If you’re visiting Toronto and want an experience that goes beyond the typical tourist highlights, book this tour. Duncan’s passion for the city is contagious, and it’s one of the best ways to get to know Toronto.
I have lived in Toronto for over 50 years and thought I knew the city well. But when I took Savant Tours walking tour “Exploring the Heart of Downtown Toronto”, was I ever surprised. I knew nothing about the Spirit Garden which sits quietly adjacent to Nathan Phillips Square, with its spectacular sculpture of a canoe, and the sculpture of a turtle that represents the creation of North America. There is a domed structure for people to gather and contemplate. All is dedicated to residential school survivors. From there, our guide took us to locales I pass by every day, completely unaware of their history. The Canada Life Building with its weather beacon, the Toronto Dominion Bank designed by world famous architect Mies van der Rohe, who wanted his buildings to have dedicated space around them for the public to enjoy. We viewed two stunning sculptures I have never seen before: “Dreaming,” which brings a deep breath and a sense of peace amidst the hustle of downtown Toronto and “Tembo, the mother of all elephants. Our guide wove together the old and the new with clarity and a sense of humour. I now have a whole new appreciation for this spectacular city of ours. Highly recommend! Eve C.
Great chance to see all the interesting tourist attractions in downtown Toronto. The guide was informative, friendly and helpful. He also provided interesting background to the numerous sights we saw. It was well worth the $15 price.
The information was amazing, the length was perfect, he guided us perfectly, and showed many examples and pictures and videos.
Duncan gave an excellent tour, full of fascinating and little-known insights about the great city of Toronto. He was easy to understand, welcomed every question, and clearly cared about giving us a memorable experience. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour!
Duncan brought an interesting and enjoyable perspective to learning about Toronto. I particularly liked the information he shared about the new Reconciliation Garden next to Nathan Philips Square. He also gave examples or told stories about each site which were educational or entertaining. His information about the law society building and its fence was a good example of his unique style. As well, his information about the financial area and the 2020 statue of the mesmerizing head sculpture was fascinating. Even his interesting stories about skateboarding in the city made his tour one-of-a-kind. This tour is absolutely worth taking.
Duncan is a great tour guide. He's a local skateboarder with a deep knowledge of the city. The route he chose was well-designed and included plenty of hidden and overlooked art installations and buildings, as well as the famous PATH network. At the end, he provided a Google Maps map of personal dining recommendations throughout the city that was worth the price of the tour alone!
This was an awesome and informative tour of Toronto. Duncan has collected some interesting set of facts for place around Toronto that I didn't know even after staying here for almost 4 years. I would say it is worth it.
