What should I pack for Toronto?

Walking shoes with real arch support. Not fashion sneakers. Toronto is a sidewalk city, and the concrete from Queen West to the Distillery District will punish thin soles over 15,000 steps. The PATH underground network connecting Union Station to Dundas Square covers 30 km of tile floor, which sounds gentle until your third hour navigating it in flip-flops. If you plan on the CN Tower's glass floor (346 metres up, opened 1976), grippy rubber soles help with the vertigo more than you'd expect. One closed-toe pair for walking days, one casual pair for Ossington Avenue bar-hopping at night.

Toronto's summers hit 30-35°C with humidity that makes the air feel thick and warm against your skin. Pack 2-3 breathable cotton or linen shirts, lightweight pants, and a packable rain shell. Afternoon thunderstorms roll off Lake Ontario with almost no warning between June and August, dumping 15-20 minutes of hard rain before the sun returns. That rain shell earns its suitcase space 4 days out of 7. Sunscreen matters more than people expect at latitude 43°N. The UV index hits 8-9 on clear July days, and you'll feel it walking the exposed waterfront from Harbourfront Centre to Cherry Beach. Sunglasses with UV protection, a hat with a brim.

For winter visits (December through March), Toronto demands real cold-weather gear. Temperatures drop to -15°C regularly, with wind chill pushing -25°C along the lakeshore near BMO Field. A proper down or synthetic parka rated to -20°C, insulated waterproof boots (sidewalk salt and slush will destroy leather shoes within a week), thermal base layers, a wool toque, and lined gloves. The wind tunnels between the financial district towers on Bay Street amplify the cold until your exposed face stings. Mind you, indoor spaces run aggressively heated at 22-24°C, so layering matters. You'll be peeling off your coat every 20 minutes.

Electrical and tech essentials. Canadian outlets are 120V, 60Hz, Type A and Type B (the same flat-prong plugs as the US). If you're coming from Europe, Australia, or the UK, pack a North American adapter or buy one at Shoppers Drug Mart on arrival for CAD $8-12. A portable charger is worth its weight. Google Maps drains batteries fast when you're navigating the TTC subway (Line 1 and Line 2 cover most tourist routes), and cell signal drops between stations. Download offline maps before you leave the hotel. One more thing. The Royal Ontario Museum (opened 1912) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (opened 1900) both keep interiors at 18-20°C year-round for conservation, noticeably cool even in summer. A light layer in your bag prevents the shivering-in-a-gallery problem.