Getting to know Toronto: A beginner’s guide

I first came to Canada as an international student in 2019. I still remember my very first afternoon going downtown and feeling amazed! There were skyscrapers everywhere, busy streets, lots of traffic lights and crowds of people walking around. The lively and busy atmosphere actually reminded me of my hometown in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It felt so energetic that it instantly made me feel less homesick. I knew I would love spending the time to study here.

As TMU students, we are lucky because our campus is right in the heart of downtown Toronto. Everything we need is just a few minutes away on foot or public transit.

When you are new to Toronto, the subway can be confusing, and it’s easy to get on the wrong train. TMU Station is located on Line 1 (the yellow line), which is shaped like a giant "U". Line 1 is commonly used by TMU students, but there are a total of 5 subway lines that can get you to many areas in Toronto.  

Union Station is a very popular stop for TMU students who take a GO train, - a regional rail system that provides service to the cities surrounding Toronto, making it easy to go in and out of the city. Other stations close by campus, where some students live, are College, Wellesley, St Patrick, and Bloor-Yonge.  

With a little bit of practice, you will be very comfortable riding the subway to many areas in Toronto! Here’s a simple trick I learned to remember the directions of the trains on Line 1:

• Think of Union Station as the bottom center of the map:
  • The stations on the right side of Union (from King Station up to Finch) are the East side.
  • The stations on the left side of Union (from St Andrew up to Vaughan Metropolitan Centre) are the West side.
• The Line 1 rule: If you’re on the East side and want to go north to Finch, just take the Northbound train. If you’re on the West side and want to go north to Vaughan, also take the Northbound train.

If you expect to frequently use the public transit system, buy a TTC Monthly Pass. First, you need to go to Bathurst Station to get a TTC Post-Secondary Photo ID Card. Make sure to bring your TMU Student ID and your school enrolment letter. Also, the TTC's new monthly fare capping program (external link)  will begin September 1st, 2026, where riders who tap with the same PRESTO card, debit card, credit card, or mobile wallet will automatically receive free rides after 47 paid journeys in a calendar month.

For daily travel, I highly recommend downloading the Transit app or using Google Maps. They will show you the exact schedules for buses, streetcars and subway trains, and let you know of any delays.

Eating good food makes you feel at home! Here are the places near TMU that I go to all the time:

• H Mart: This is a Korean grocery store right across from our Student Learning Centre (SLC). It is my favourite place to get snacks after class. They also sell ready-to-eat meals like fresh kimbap, hot ramen and delicious Korean fried chicken.
• Egg Club: Located near the Daphne Cockwell Complex (DCC) and the George Vari Engineering building. They make amazing Japanese-style egg sandwiches on soft, thick toast. I always order The Classic, which has warm scrambled eggs, chives and a special sauce. It is cheap and delicious!
• Rolltation: When I don’t know what to eat, I just go there for sushi burritos and poke bowls. I usually get the Classic Salmon Poke Bowl with fresh salmon, rice, salad and sauce. The restaurant has plenty of seats, so it is great to visit with friends.
• Grocery shopping: For Asian ingredients, I go to T&T Supermarket. For other groceries, I go to Metro or Loblaws. Tip: Bring your student ID because they offer student discounts on certain days! If you want to save even more money, go to Chinatown on Spadina Avenue. The small markets there have the cheapest fruits and vegetables in the city.

Finding a good study spot is very important. Here are two places I love:

Cộng Cà Phê (3 Elm Street) - 5 min walk from campus

This Vietnamese café is a very short walk away from campus. It has a cozy, vintage Vietnamese style, and the staff are incredibly friendly. Whenever I miss home, I come here to drink Cốt Dừa Cốm Xanh (a sweet coconut green rice smoothie). They also have salt coffee and bạc sỉu. Drinking these Vietnamese drinks makes me feel less homesick.

The Student Learning Centre (SLC) - On campus

The SLC is a beautiful TMU building on Yonge Street which was my favourite study spot in my first and second years. Each floor has a different colour and a different purpose, for example:

• 6th Floor (The Beach): This floor has comfortable, giant beanbag chairs. It is perfect if you want to relax, eat lunch or take a quick nap.
• 7th Floor (The Forest): This floor is very quiet. Go here when you need to focus completely on your exams.
• 8th Floor (The Sky): This is a bright space with great views of the city. It is the best floor for working on group projects with classmates.

The activities you can do in Toronto will depend on the season. Winters are cold, and temperatures can drop below -20°C but, don’t panic! The snow also brings a lot of fun winter activities like ice skating, holiday markets and the opportunity to be cozy!

You must visit the Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District (a historic neighbourhood with beautiful old red-brick buildings). It’s a great spot all year round, but especially during the holiday season in November and December. At their annual Winter Village, you can see a giant, glowing Christmas tree, shop at small holiday stalls, drink hot chocolate, and eat warm foods like poutine (French fries topped with hot gravy and melting cheese).

When the weather gets warm, make use of some of Toronto’s best parks:

• High Park (a 20-minute drive from TMU’s campus): This is one of the biggest parks in Toronto. In the spring, you can see beautiful pink cherry blossom trees.
• Riverdale Park (a 30-minute walk from TMU’s campus): This park has a big grassy hill. Sit on the grass or a picnic blanket to watch a beautiful sunset over the entire Toronto skyline.
• Toronto Island: Take a 15-minute ferry ride to the island in the summer (students get a discount on ferry tickets!). It’s the best place to see the entire view of beautiful Toronto downtown. You can rent a bicycle, go kayaking or just relax on the beach with friends. It is the perfect escape from the busy city life. 

There is a lot more to see and learn about the city, but if you’re starting to explore, be sure to check out some of my recommendations. Moving to a new country is a big step, but Toronto is a wonderful city once you start exploring it. Good luck, I hope you enjoy your time!