Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.1/5
Based on 8 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour worth booking?
Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour is a 1.3-hour experience in Toronto, Canada, from $10 per person. It scores 52 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.1/5 rating across 8 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 52 / 100
- Rating
- 4.1/5 (8)
- Duration
- 1.3 hours
- From
- $10 per person
Explore the colourful streetscape of two of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods with Jane Herman of On the Town Tours. Start this self-guided GPS audio tour in one of the most “Instagrammable” spots: the south side of
What you get
- VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
- Lifetime access to this tour in English
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
About this experience
Explore the colourful streetscape of two of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods with Jane Herman of On the Town Tours. Start this self-guided GPS audio tour in one of the most “Instagrammable” spots: the south side of the Art Gallery of Ontario and end the tour at Kensington Market. Along the way, you'll pass by the iconic OCAD University and Chinatown. Jane expertly helps you navigate your way through the proliferation of street artists, vintage clothing stores, speciality markets, and unique eateries, providing invaluable suggestions about where to stop along the way. The tour is ready whenever you are. It plays audio automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smart phone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline. Start the tour in the app and put your phone in your pocket. The directions are clear and easy to follow and are great for both tourists as well as locals looking for a fun afternoon.
What's included
Included
- VoiceMap App for Android and iOS
- Lifetime access to this tour in English
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- Transportation
- Food/Drink
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
What you'll see and do
Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is an art museum in Toronto. Its collection includes close to 95,000 works spanning the first century to the present day. The gallery has 45,000 square metres of physical space, making it one of the largest galleries in North America.
Pass by without stopping
Kensington Market
Kensington is a vibrant, historic multicultural neighbourhood and marketplace featuring over 240 unique shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. There’s also a large population of writers, artists and musicians living alongside a diverse immigrant community.
Pass by without stopping
Chinatown
On most days, the flavor of Chinatown literally spills right out onto the sidewalk. You'll pass an array of produce markets and grocers featuring mounds of exotic looking herbs, fruits, vegetables and dried seafood. Vendors line the sidewalk, some of them selling wares right out of grocery carts and pop-up tables.
Pass by without stopping
Grange Park
Grange Park is a prominent and well-used public park in downtown Toronto. The Park lends its name to the Grange Park neighbourhood in the vicinity of the park. Historically, the park was the backyard of The Grange, a manor that eventually was expanded and became the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Pass by without stopping
Ontario College of Art and Design
The Ontario College of Art and Design University is a public university located in Toronto. The school is Canada's largest and oldest educational institution for art and design. OCAD University offers courses through the Faculties of Art, Design, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and alternative programs.
Pass by without stopping
The Kiever Shul
The congregation of the historic Kiever Synagogue originally resided in the Ward. They purchased the property in 1914 from the Denison family estate and built a new synagogue.
Pass by without stopping
Kensington occupies a tract of land that was originally owned by the Denison family. George Taylor Denison used the land now occupied by the park as a parade ground for his volunteer cavalry troop, which he commanded during the Rebellion of 1837.
Pass by without stopping
Toronto Chinatowns are ethnic neighbourhoods in and around Toronto, with a high concentration of ethnic Chinese residents and businesses. These neighbourhoods are major cultural, social and economic hubs for the Chinese-Canadian communities of the region. There are multiple Chinatowns in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Toronto
This tour starts in Grange Park on the south side of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Before arrival, install the VoiceMap app and use the code provided on your ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart any time and complete at your own pace.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 8 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
8 verified traveler reviews for Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Avoid this one.
Complete disaster from the very beginning. The instructions never said exactly where to begin the tour. All I knew was to start in or near Grange Park. Once I figured out on my own to start at John St, the audio kept starting at the beginning. Temps were in the mid 90s and we got hot and tired enough of trying to figure out where to proceed since the audio was no help. So we just gave up. Luckily the cost wasn't very much so not getting what we paid for was a little less painful. Total waste. Would not recommend.
Response from the operator: Hi there, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with your experience. When you were having technical difficulties, did you contact VoiceMap support via email or telephone? We are contactable by both telephone and email, so if you have technical difficulties, please reach out to us so we can identify what is going wrong. Again, I'm sorry about the poor experience you had.
via Tripadvisor
Kensington market is a must see when visiting Toronto
What a groovy and eclectic area. If you are looking for vintage clothes, fresh fish or amazing food from around the world then look no further. Kensington market features so many different shops and restaurants that you need to set aside plenty of time to stroll the streets and check out the vendors. Clean is not the way I would describe the area but the people are friendly and it definitely feels safe. I’ve even brought my kids here before. It’s got a cool vibe and should not be missed
via Tripadvisor
Visit with great caution
On the way back from Casa Loma we took the subway to get off for your visit. We toured part of Chinatown and to get to the market the streets were dirty, neglected, with some closed shops, with an appearance of latent insecurity, many drugged people shouting and taking drugs, so we decided to abort the visit and head instead to the downtown area.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
The day to remember
Everything that was happen there and it was my first experience it was my first time to visit European countries and it was very nice I wish to go back with my family for more days
via Viator
Definitely recommend.
Great way to spend an afternoon. Your brought us through very hip locations and by great food. Our stop for dumplings was perfect, and Wanda’s Pie in the Sky did not disappoint.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 1.3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- 6+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 3
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 52
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Toronto.
How much does Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour cost?
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Prices start at $10 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Toronto usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour take?
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Plan for about 1.3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Toronto is not rushed.
Is Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 52 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.1/5 across 8 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable food & drink in Toronto, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 6. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 1.3-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour?
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Around 3 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Toronto can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Toronto and add a light layer if any part of the 1.3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Kensington Market and Chinatown: A Self-Guided Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Toronto within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Toronto?
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On Outty we rank every Toronto experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Show me the City! A Small Group Walking Tour of Toronto, Niagara Falls Canada Day Tour From Toronto + Boat Cruise Option, Niagara Falls Tour from Toronto: Boat Ride & Journey Behind Falls. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Toronto?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Toronto?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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