The joy of Toronto is found in its abundance of lively city streets. From Queen West to the depths of Riverdale, everyone knows that every corner of the city has something to offer. And according to a recent list published in The Telegraph, Yonge Street isn’t just one of the best streets in Toronto, but in the world.
The list, published on Wednesday, ranked the 20 top streets in the world that you “must walk in your lifetime,” and gave Toronto’s longest street spot number 11. Lest readers are misled by the ranking, Yonge Street — unlike some of the other streets on the list — isn’t exactly built for a simple walk. Stretching 86 kilometres (or 65 kilometres, if you don’t count the Bradford-to-Barrie extension), it may be one of the most essential streets to walk in your lifetime, but expect to set aside a full day to do so — the full walk would take the average person well over 10 hours to accomplish.
The Telegraph gave Toronto’s Yonge Street the honour due to an array of exciting endeavours along the strip, noting: “It’s quite a whopper and has plenty of shops, entertainment and cultural sites, and passes landmarks like Sankofa (formerly Yonge-Dundas) Square, the Hockey Hall of Fame and plenty of civic buildings.”
If you’re looking at the downtown segment of Yonge Street, it’s certainly decked out with destinations and places to visit no matter what you’re looking to do.
Starting with the obvious landmark, Sankofa Square has been a part of Toronto since the early 2000s. Since its opening, it turned the area of Yonge and Dundas to an always-buzzing place for tourists or Torontonians and is just steps from multiple theatres, restaurants and entertainment for visitors.
Mainly, though, the square is so dazzling to so many because of its Times Square-esque vibe: bright billboards are plastered all over the intersection and the square itself is often host to concerts, festivals and other interactive events. It’s also home to the Eaton Centre, which draws tourists and locals alike thanks to its four floors of great shopping and a sprawling food court.
Other landmarks along Yonge Street include places like the Toronto Reference Library, known for its modern winding architecture and cozy spots to read and study. Art lovers also enjoy Yonge Street, as it’s known for places such as the Ed Mirvish Theatre and Massey Hall — both offering renowned shows all year long.
It’s not hard to see why Yonge Street would make the cut, as it rivals some of the world’s most historic and iconic streets.
The Telegraph list includes 20 streets, and Yonge Street is certainly in good company: others that are listed include The Strand in London, Champs-Élysées in Paris Avenida Atlântica in Rio de Janeiro and even Broadway in New York City.
