You are planning a professional or tourist stay in Ontario in the Queen City and you are wondering about the dangerous neighborhoods in Toronto. Indeed, to choose your hotel or your rental, you want to avoid difficult areas and choose among the best neighborhoods to stay in Toronto.

So here is a guide that reveals which are the dangerous neighborhoods in Toronto in 2024 but also the best neighborhoods in the city. In addition, you will find a Google Map to better locate the best neighborhoods to stay in Toronto.

This article is based on statistics and rankings, data collected on economic media, in the local press and on forums. It is therefore a summary of data that does not include any prejudice or discrimination.

Toronto dangerous city in 2024?

While Canadian cities are generally less crime-ridden than major American cities ( Baltimore , Detroit , Memphis , Chicago ), some are unfortunately starting to catch up. Indeed, for the past decade, crime statistics in Toronto have been steadily rising.

See the Figaro article: Toronto, Canadian capital of crime or the article from the newspaper ledevoir.com which explains that the number of shootings or gun discharges increased by 60% between 2015 and 2020.

In recent years, violence and drug trafficking have remained a problem for the city of Toronto. This is evident from the article by the Montreal Police Service or FranceLive.fr: Five dead in a shooting in a Toronto suburb.

But what about today? Is Toronto a dangerous city in 2024?

No , even though Toronto has a higher crime rate than Montreal , Ottawa , or Vancouver , in 2024 it remains a city that cannot be described as dangerous. Indeed, according to the latest ranking by Numbeo.com, Toronto's crime index is only 41.24.

This rate is in the lower range. On the list of the 53 most crime-ridden cities in North America , Toronto ranks near the bottom in 38th place.

Why is Toronto becoming more criminal?

In recent years, Toronto has seen more violence and gun crime. This increase in insecurity in Toronto can be explained by the gang phenomenon that is developing in the city. There would be in particular the famous MS 13 which is one of the most dangerous gangs in the world. Suddenly, the war of gangs and territories develops in Toronto with all the violence it generates.

Is Toronto safe for tourists?

YES Toronto is a safe city but you should always remain cautious.

Indeed, as we have just explained, the crime that exists in Toronto is mainly linked to gangs and various illegal trafficking. It is not directed directly against tourists and it is concentrated in areas where tourists have no interest in going.

As a result, tourists can serenely enjoy the tourist sites of Toronto, its good restaurants, its theatres, museums, art galleries and all its entertainment!

However, as in all tourist places, visitors can be victims of petty crimes (pickpockets, scams, theft of luggage or telephones).

On the other hand, to choose your hotel, it is preferable to avoid certain districts of Toronto to privilege a district close to the tourist sites.

Toronto Neighborhoods

The city of Toronto has almost 3 million inhabitants. It is the 4th most populated city in North America. It is a very sprawling city that also includes 15 small islands located on Lake Ontario about 1,5 kilometers south of downtown Toronto.

Toronto is divided into six main boroughs: York, East York, North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, and Old Toronto. For details on all the boroughs, please visit the official Toronto website.

Regarding the main areas to stay in, we will limit ourselves to the center of Toronto ( Old Toronto ), which is the part of the city where tourists and business people go.

Old Toronto includes:

• Toronto's main tourist attractions;
• The Financial District, Toronto's business district with its huge and beautiful skyscrapers;
• Historic residential neighborhoods like Old Yorkville Village, Rosedale, The Annex, Forest Hill, Lawrence Park, Lytton Park, Moore Park, and Casa Loma;
• More popular and poorer neighborhoods like St. James Town, Regents Park, Moss Park, Alexandra Park and Parkdale.

Map of Toronto neighborhoods

Here is a map that can be enlarged to locate, in particular, the best areas and neighborhoods to avoid in Toronto, which we will discuss below:

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Dangerous neighborhoods in Toronto?

No , there are no dangerous neighborhoods in downtown Toronto where tourists would risk their lives. However, according to numerous websites and forums, there are still a few areas to avoid in Toronto at night:

• Regent park
• St.James Town
• Moss Park

To form your own opinion, you can consult the crime maps on the official Toronto Police website.

Neighborhoods to avoid in Toronto

There are no dangerous neighborhoods in central Toronto, but according to various rankings such as areavibes.com , here are the neighborhoods to avoid outside the city center :

Click on the links to get their Google Maps location

• Parma Short
• Crescent Town
• Parkway Forest
• Main Square
• Scarborough
• Flemingdon Park
• Malvern
• yorkdale (article on Narcity)
• Black Creek
• Thorncliffe Park
• Oakridge

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Best neighborhoods to stay in Toronto

Difficult to designate which are the best neighborhoods to stay in Toronto. Indeed, Toronto has many very pleasant neighborhoods where you can stay safely. But to choose the best neighborhood to stay in will depend on your tastes, your needs and your expectations. For example, for a family stay, the best neighborhood will be a quiet area, with gardens, parks, zoos, retail. But for a young bachelor, the best area will be a very lively place, with pubs, restaurants and nightclubs.

So, without choosing the best neighborhoods to stay, I will simply give you the list of the most popular or fashionable neighborhoods in 2022:

• Harbourfront : Quiet area and close to tourist sites
• Distillery : Preferred neighborhoods for accommodation in the historic city
• entertainment district : Tourist district with theatres, bars, entertainment and lively nightlife.
• Yorkville : Ideal district for a chic stay with luxury boutiques.
• Liberty Village et King West Village : Favorite neighborhoods of the LGBTQ community.
• The annex et Little Italy : Neighborhoods popular with students and for those who prefer nightlife, concerts and culture.

But perhaps you'd prefer to identify the most interesting neighborhood for tourists visiting Toronto?

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Best area to stay in Toronto for tourists

To be closest to Toronto's tourist attractions and biggest entertainment, I recommend staying in the Entertainment District.

Entertainment District: Toronto's most touristic district

This is the ideal neighborhood to enjoy the best attractions and shows in Toronto:

• CN Tower
• Rogers Center
• Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
• Princess of Wales Theater
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• Bars, restaurants, nightclubs

Where is the Entertainment District located?

The entertainment district is located right in the center of old Toronto between the Financial District and the beautiful Harbourfront district along Lake Ontario. Its central location is ideal for easily exploring other tourist areas of Toronto.

Where to stay in the Entertainment District?

This is a very nice hotel with an excellent location in the ideal Entertainment District which adjoins the Harbourfront.

Indeed, it is 600 meters from the CN Tower and only 10 minutes walk from the beach, the aquarium, the Hokey hall of fame or Toronto Union station.

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Where to stay cheap in Toronto?

If you are looking for a nice hotel well located in the centre for visiting Toronto and with good value for money, here is the Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar.

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How to visit Toronto?

For tourists looking for convenience, the best way to see Toronto's top sights is on a panoramic bus tour:

And for tourists who prefer the more interesting side of guided tours, here is how to discover the most emblematic sites of the city by bike: