Shopping in the Greater Toronto Area
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Greater Toronto Area, Ontario.
The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is divided into five regional areas, each offering an explosion of shopping opportunities. Bargain hunters and designer divas alike will find their shopping safe haven somewhere in the GTA, whether it be at a discount outlet or a high-end fashion boutique.
THE CITY OF TORONTO
Because of its distinctive neighbourhoods and multicultural mind set the city of Toronto has a highly diverse shopping scene. The city's abundant retail areas offer an array of shopping options characteristic to the area. Queen West is a funky district, home to eclectic boutiques and vintage clothing shops, and the well-known Kensington Market is no stranger to vintage shops either. Browsing retro, vintage and classic furniture and clothing is a must-do activity in these neighbourhoods and nifty independent designers can also be found here.
Shoppers who crave extravagance should make their way to Bloor-Yorkville, an all-in-one shopping area featuring high-end designer boutiques like Gucci and Prada. On the other hand, the Financial District's Toronto Eaton Centre offers a more affordable shopping centre experience.
DURHAM REGION
The Durham region is situated northeast of Toronto. Shopping malls and plazas are scattered throughout Oshawa, making the city a convenient spot for some serious retail therapy. As the largest city in the Durham region, Oshawa is also home to the region's largest mall, the Oshawa Centre. Major department stores like The Bay, Zellers and Sears can be found here. Although there are other malls—like the Harmony Shopping Centre and Five Points Mall—to satisfy mall mongers, shopping in downtown Oshawa offers a more unique experience with its specialty shops and boutiques.
Mall experiences await in Pickering as well. The Pickering Town Centre contains major chain stores with fashions for men, women and children. Catching a flick with the family at the mall's movie theatre is a great way to wrap up an afternoon of shopping.
HALTON REGION
The city of Burlington, a Hamilton and Toronto bedroom community located in the Halton region, contains all kinds of retail experiences. The Mapleview Shopping Centre and Burlington Mall feature plenty of popular chain stores, while downtown Burlington provides a charming shopping environment complete with unique stores and cobblestone streets. Milton and Oakville also boast a shopping mall or two, and in downtown Oakville, shoppers will find design houses, boutiques and brand-name clothing shops.
PEEL REGION
Southwest of Toronto, the Peel region's city of Mississauga has a deluge of shopping establishments. Square One is Ontario's largest mall. Featuring over 350 stores, this complex is a one-stop shopper's paradise. Although, for unbelievable discounts and deals bargain hunters should head to the outlet stores at Heartland Town Centre or the Dixie Outlet Mall.
The city of Brampton is located just a little way north of Mississauga. Every-day items are available at its shopping malls, department stores and independent shops.
YORK REGION
Just north of Toronto, the York region's cities of Vaughan, Thornhill and Markham all have shopping areas and malls to explore. The Promenade in Thornhill and the Vaughan Mills Mega-Mall both impress with boundless brand-name purchasing possibilities, while just minutes from Vaughan, visitors can peruse the Village of Kleinburg's historic streets in search of unique shops selling arts and crafts. In Woodbridge there are also many artisan spots; numerous boutiques, cafes and specialty shops can be found in its old-fashioned square, Market Lane.
Markham offers a distinctly Asian retail experience at Pacific Mall and Market Village, both expansive complexes with an enjoyable cultural twist.
THE CITY OF TORONTO
Because of its distinctive neighbourhoods and multicultural mind set the city of Toronto has a highly diverse shopping scene. The city's abundant retail areas offer an array of shopping options characteristic to the area. Queen West is a funky district, home to eclectic boutiques and vintage clothing shops, and the well-known Kensington Market is no stranger to vintage shops either. Browsing retro, vintage and classic furniture and clothing is a must-do activity in these neighbourhoods and nifty independent designers can also be found here.
Shoppers who crave extravagance should make their way to Bloor-Yorkville, an all-in-one shopping area featuring high-end designer boutiques like Gucci and Prada. On the other hand, the Financial District's Toronto Eaton Centre offers a more affordable shopping centre experience.
DURHAM REGION
The Durham region is situated northeast of Toronto. Shopping malls and plazas are scattered throughout Oshawa, making the city a convenient spot for some serious retail therapy. As the largest city in the Durham region, Oshawa is also home to the region's largest mall, the Oshawa Centre. Major department stores like The Bay, Zellers and Sears can be found here. Although there are other malls—like the Harmony Shopping Centre and Five Points Mall—to satisfy mall mongers, shopping in downtown Oshawa offers a more unique experience with its specialty shops and boutiques.
Mall experiences await in Pickering as well. The Pickering Town Centre contains major chain stores with fashions for men, women and children. Catching a flick with the family at the mall's movie theatre is a great way to wrap up an afternoon of shopping.
HALTON REGION
The city of Burlington, a Hamilton and Toronto bedroom community located in the Halton region, contains all kinds of retail experiences. The Mapleview Shopping Centre and Burlington Mall feature plenty of popular chain stores, while downtown Burlington provides a charming shopping environment complete with unique stores and cobblestone streets. Milton and Oakville also boast a shopping mall or two, and in downtown Oakville, shoppers will find design houses, boutiques and brand-name clothing shops.
PEEL REGION
Southwest of Toronto, the Peel region's city of Mississauga has a deluge of shopping establishments. Square One is Ontario's largest mall. Featuring over 350 stores, this complex is a one-stop shopper's paradise. Although, for unbelievable discounts and deals bargain hunters should head to the outlet stores at Heartland Town Centre or the Dixie Outlet Mall.
The city of Brampton is located just a little way north of Mississauga. Every-day items are available at its shopping malls, department stores and independent shops.
YORK REGION
Just north of Toronto, the York region's cities of Vaughan, Thornhill and Markham all have shopping areas and malls to explore. The Promenade in Thornhill and the Vaughan Mills Mega-Mall both impress with boundless brand-name purchasing possibilities, while just minutes from Vaughan, visitors can peruse the Village of Kleinburg's historic streets in search of unique shops selling arts and crafts. In Woodbridge there are also many artisan spots; numerous boutiques, cafes and specialty shops can be found in its old-fashioned square, Market Lane.
Markham offers a distinctly Asian retail experience at Pacific Mall and Market Village, both expansive complexes with an enjoyable cultural twist.
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