The Canadian city to visit this winter

During the pandemic, Toronto endured some of the longest and strictest restaurant lockdowns of any city of the world – counting more than 360 days when residents were unable to sit down at an indoor eatery.

But as Canada's largest city has now reached an 85% vaccination rate among those 12 and older, its vibrant dining scene and walkable waterfront is bouncing back, welcoming back locals and fully vaccinated travellers as of August.

"The city is almost back to normal, if you are vaccinated and willing to wear a mask," said Toronto resident Felipe Vernaza, who runs the blog Your Coffee & Tea Essentials.

Why should I go now?

The reopening of indoor dining makes a winter visit to the city much more pleasant for vaccinated travellers – through patio dining is still open as well. Even though the city may be cold, winter can also be a gorgeous and less crowded time of year to visit, say residents.

Toronto's abundant parks, especially High Park (the city's largest), can be the most magical places to appreciate a fresh snowfall. "You can even skate in some of the ponds if the ice is thick enough," said Vernaza. "Toronto is a city that must be walked to be fully enjoyed, even if it gets cold."

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are also permitted in some parks (including High Park), though you have to bring your own equipment.

You may also be interested in:
• The island welcoming digital nomads
• The world's safest cities in 2021
• Four US cities bouncing back

Canada as a whole also quickly surpassed its southern neighbour, the United States, in terms of its overall vaccination rate, making it one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. This has allowed Toronto and its wider province of Ontario to make gradual moves towards lifting all pandemic restrictions by March 2022.

Travel with no trace