One of Toronto’s most iconic streets has just snagged a spot on the world stage, proving that our “main strip” is officially a global must-see.
In a recent ranking by the U.K.-based publication The Telegraph, Yonge Street was named one of the “20 streets you must walk in your lifetime.” Standing tall alongside legendary boulevards like the Champs-Élysées in Paris and Broadway in New York, Yonge was the only Canadian street to make the prestigious cut.
The list, curated by travel expert Chris Moss, highlights streets that offer a perfect blend of culture, history, and joyous atmosphere. While locals often view Yonge as the hectic backbone of the downtown core, The Telegraph praised it as a “whopper” of a thoroughfare, specifically noting its evolution from the shores of Lake Ontario up through the heart of the city.
The publication pointed to several key landmarks that make the stroll worth the trek:
- Sankofa Square: (Formerly Yonge-Dundas Square) The neon-lit heart of the city which many compare to a “mini Times Square”.
- The Hockey Hall of Fame: A historic must-visit for sports fans.
- The Eaton Centre: Toronto’s premier shopping destination.
- Massey Hall: The legendary concert venue that has hosted everyone from Neil Young to Bob Dylan.
Debunking the Myth
Of course, it wouldn’t be a story about Yonge Street without mentioning its famous identity crisis. For years, it was famously (and somewhat incorrectly) crowned the world’s longest street by the Guinness Book of World Records, thanks to a technicality that grouped it with Highway 11. In actuality, Yonge Street runs from Lake Ontario through Toronto all the way to the Manitoba border.
While that title has since been retired, The Telegraph notes that its sheer scale, stretching 1,896 kilometers long, still makes it an epic journey for any urban explorer.
Here are the other streets around the world included in The Telegraph’s list.
- Kyoto, Japan — Philosopher’s Path
- London, U.K. — Strand
- Sydney, Australia — George Street
- Samarkand, Uzbekistan — Registan
- Copenhagen, Denmark — Stroget
- Buenos Aires, Argentina — Avenida de Mayo
- Shanghai, China — Zhongshan Road
- Brasilia, Brazil — Eixo Monumental
- Damascus, Syria — Straight Street
- Los Angeles, U.S.A. — Sunset Boulevard
- Paris, France — Champs-Élysées
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Avenida Atlântica
- Bangkok, Thailand — Khao San Road
- New York City, U.S.A. — Broadway
- Berlin, Germany — Unter den Linden
- Madrid, Spain — Gran Via
- Havana, Cuba — Malecón
- Antigua, Guatemala — 5a Avenida Norte
- Wick, U.K. — Ebenezer Place
The Future of the Walk
The international recognition comes at a pivotal time for the street. With the city’s yongeTOmorrow project aiming to pedestrianize major sections and widen sidewalks, the “walk of a lifetime” is only expected to get better.
You can check out the full list of the world’s most essential streets here on The Telegraph’s website.
