This is a pretty cool city center! I stayed at the Sheraton near the large TORONTO sign. It gets crowded with street vendors and people during the day. I remember staying out late and grabbing a hotdog at 2am. read more

During our day of exploring areas of Toronto, we stopped by Nathan Phillips Square to check it out. It was a beautiful day for a Friday afternoon that was originally forecasted for rain and cooler weather - ended up being very sunny and warm. When we arrived, we saw some games taking place over in the field area. I went over to ask a player what was going on and he let me know it was an annual rugby tournament in support of a local charity and for us to stay and watch. He was a great example of the kind, welcoming demeanor we typically experienced throughout our visit in Toronto. We stayed for a bit to watch, took a photo "with" the Toronto sign that's there and then headed to the next spot on our self guided tour. A good place to relax, people watch and have lunch in a public square. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Ice skating rink with beautiful views near Eaton mall too. They had free skating rentals on Saturday for the holidays and it was a nice experience and vibe to skate together in celebration! read more

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Food, performances and the crowds.. oh the Humanity. Went after 9 pm and it was still crowded. Had food and dessert .. really should not have done so! Oh well! They are on tomorrow as well. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Taste of India festival stage - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I don't know Nathan, but his Square is a solid spot for communities to gather. A great space to visit, whether for events or just to take it all in. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Lovely little outdoor square with the iconic Toronto sign. Great spot for pictures. Right next to Eaton center so conveniently located off the path. For the holidays they've got a lovely light show at night. Ice-skating also. read more

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I would easily give 5 stars if I was able to get closer to the infamous TORONTO sign. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful sight to see, however close you can get. At the time I was there, the ice skating rink was not open. The area is both busy and serene, if that makes sense. Being from a metropolitan city, I speak the language of hustle and bustle. It's a big open space and prime for people-watching, if you're into that sort of thing. If you grab something quick from a food truck, there's ample space to sit and enjoy it. Also, close to a lot of other attractions. read more

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I love Nathan Philips Square as there's alway some exciting event happening here; food events, Nuit Blanche, cultural events, etc. It's easily accessible by subway, streetcars and there's a GreenP parking close by, if you're driving (which I don't recommend). There are many hotdog and street food trucks available if y'u want to buy comfort food at a fair price. Also, the new Toronto sign with indigenous art is very nice. read more

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This is a neat and hip little hangout spot located in central downtown Toronto. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance, but the easiest parking location is the commercial garage located right under the square. That is what I did. The Square also has a few bus stops as well, if you wish to take public transit. It is named after Nathan Philipps, mayor of Toronto from 1955 to 1962 and dates back to 1965. There have been many modifications and upgrades since then. The Square is a decent size, spanning 12 acres and is located in the shadow of Toronto's city Hall. It is a symbol of peace and remembrance. The Square features the world-famous LED multi-color changing Toronto sign. It is definitely worth checking out. The sign serves as the backdrop to the Square's water features that is a reflecting pool in the warmer months and a full-fledged skating rink in the winter. I visited in the winter, so the skating rink was in full effect. In addition to the sign, the Square has a peace garden, which was created as a memorial to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a stage and several pieces of public art that include the Three Way Piece No.2: Archer The Square offers skate rentals, but a lot of people had their own. It is Canada. The Square also has a snack bar and usually has a food truck or two about on high traffic days. You will find a few cement benches to sit on while you are here and stairwells throughout the park that lead down to the underground parking garage. This spot is used to host some of the city's special events including the Cavalcade of Lights, New Year's Celebrations, Remembrance Day Celebrations, concerts, festivals and rallies. The Square is a popular spot among locals and tourist alike. The place was packed when I was there with skaters and visitors, but it was New years Eve. They did shot the skating off at 10PM that night. I really enjoyed hanging out at the Square. There is not a lot to do, outside of ice skating, but there is so much to see. Be sure to get a picture in front of the Toronto sign while you are there. It was a bit busy, but nothing too unbearable. The line for the skate rental was ridiculous, but I stayed away from it. Anyway, this is a must see while you are in Toronto and I highly recommend checking it out. read more

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This review is for the ice rink at Nathan Phillips Square, based on a mid-day, mid-week visit. First - there's ample and cheap parking underneath the square in a multi-level underground lot - you access it off of Bay Street. Second, Nathan Phillips Square is the only rink in the city that rents skates. Adult rentals are $15 for 2 hrs. Beware that the skates may not be very sharp. There are many many rinks all over the city that are free if you have your own skates. Third, the quality of the rink ice is terrible. The surface was gouged and rough from so many skaters and did not appear to be regularly maintained. In other cities the rink is smoothed with a zamboni every couple or three hours. The quality of the surface made skating challenging and dangerous for novice skaters and we saw many wipe outs. Fourth, this rink is crowded at all times of day and night, and people take baby strollers and pets out onto the ice with them, so this is definitely a skate-at-your-own-risk kind of place. That said, the festive holiday lights and Toronto sign make it great for photos, so it's sure to remain popular despite the poorly maintained surface. Finally, there are public restrooms, plenty of benches and a fast food kiosk right there at the square, making it easy to change, grab a hot beverage or snack, or sit and wait/watch the skaters. And there's also a first aid booth just in case... read more

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Toronto has many beautiful parks and this is another gem. It is perfectly situated for incredible views of the Toronto skyline. The park has several food trucks, restrooms, a water feature (that becomes a skating rink in winter) and the iconic Toronto sign. It is the home of several festivals throughout the year. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Nathan Phillips Square truly is a vibrant hub for cultural events and community gatherings. Not only just to take pictures of the Toronto sign. read more

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What a lovely space in the middle of downtown Toronto. I was in town for a few days and when I travel I love to just walk. I could walk for miles just exploring. And that's exactly what I did... and I ended up right smack dab in the middle of this lovely square. The giant Toronto sign surely makes for an Instagrammable photo op. The letters light up, there's a nice city skyline in the back, and the fountains too, of course! It's a rather touristy area but it's magical in its own right. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this space and I highly recommend it if you're into touristy type stuff or simply exploring. I hear in the colder months they have ice skating here! read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Visited during the holidays and got to check out the Holiday Fair in the Square. Admission free! On a weekend, it's chaos navigating around trying to find parking. Skating: The line ups for the skating are long so best to bring your own. The seating space is limited especially on the weekend so most people were sitting along the rink edge to put their skates on/off. The rink it self was busy and every so often they had the Zamboni come out. Food: pricey, paid $18 for a funnel cake which in my opinion was over-fried and too sweet. Unfortunately, it was discarded after a few bites. Most of options include: poutine, tiny donuts, beaver tails, corn dogs, bubble tea, hot chocolate stations, burger/fries etc. There is a children's area (limited options) and markets through out the fair. The lights are the most exciting part, the area is lit up with the most prettiest twinkle lights! Overall, worth checking out read more

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We had a great experience during VegFest 2024. The venue is easily accessible. Large, clean, making it a great location for food festival. read more

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Clean minimalistic setting to enjoy the city and its denizens in the heart of downtown Toronto. Nice to see this space get so much use.

Great place to people watch or relax. Depending on the weather you have ice skating or water in front of the Toronto sign. Unfortunately, if you're trying to get a selfie or a good picture in front of the sign, good luck. You'll always have people photo bombing your pictures. Take a decent selfie with as little heads as possible and move on to the next location read more

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If you're looking for that iconic Toronto sign, then definitely make a stop by Nathan Phillips Square! Came here with a friend and during the Christmas holidays, this place is pretty festive. In the month of December, there is a Christmas holiday fair going on + the ice rink in which you can skate on. In the evening time, the lights come up, so if you're looking for IG worthy pics, come at night! For the fair itself, there were vendors for food and merchandise. There is also a cozy little spot by the fire and Christmas trees if you wanted to sit and chill. For the ice rink, found it to be too intimidating to join in due to the vast amount of people skating at the same time. If you're a beginner, I would recommend checking out the other ice rinks that has less people and/or have a bigger rink. With so much to do in just this area, I highly recommend checking it out not only for tourists but for people with families or dates as well! read more

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Nathan Phillip Square during the Winter season is a definite place to be! I went with my wife on 04 December 2022 during the evening and we managed to capture so many great pictures and explore the vendors in that area. There were vendors ranging from food (hot dogs, middle eastern food, asian food, snacks) to fun games and activities for all ages. There were even rides for small children, however it should be noted that you have to pay to use these attractions. The ambiance during the Christmas / Winter season was simply wonderful. Be prepared to take pictures with Santa (for a small donation) and lots of selfies with all the Christmas trees, lights and the Toronto landscape in the background. The water in Nathan Phillip Square is also frozen over and you can jump on with your skates. There is also a skate rental place right next to the skating arena if you haven't got skates. As a beginner in skating, however, I'm glad I didn't jump into the rink as there were lots of people, many of whom were already good at skating. If you're looking for a place to practice skating, check out the skating rink at Union Station -- you can also rent skates here for free. read more

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A small lovely park in the city center. It's definitely not convenient to drive and stop at since it's in downtown Toronto and there's really no parking in the area. The square is known for the iconic Toronto sign that's of course a photo op for everyone visiting and right by it is a pool of water with benches around to relax at too, although it can be difficult with all everyone trying to get pictures. Next to the park are the Toronto City Hall buildings as well. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Here you will find the giant Toronto sign along with many tourists taking photos in every corner of the sign. Nathan Phillips Square is an open plaza that is just located right infront of Toronto City Hall. It is located between Queen Street West and Bay Street. The open plaza is huge. You will also find a very giant man made fountain. Once in awhile they will have artwork display either in the plaza or in the man made fountain. read more

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Our next family Toronto adventure take us to Nathan Phillips Square with a category of 4.6 and more than 33,381 reviews this is one of most visited place in Toronto for local and international tourists. With under 19 degrees cold wheather we going to take our photo from this icon Toronto sign at the Phillips Square. read more

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See the sign. Take some pics. Take a selfie. Beware of the homeless and panhandlers. City Hall is the building behind the "Toronto" sign and Old City Hall is across the street on your right. Next! read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It's a good place to stroll by splly if u r visiting. I'm sure it's a fun place while the rink is open. A few mins from the CN tower, I'd say a good place to check out as it has some good old buildings view read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Holy (fill in whatever word you want here)! I've hit 1800 Yelp reviews. Time flies when you have tons to say, I suppose. Well, this review is fitting. It's Nathan Phillips Square. So many thoughts and memories. So exhausted to write everything down after making a large Thanksgiving meal! Let's get the embarrassing part out of the way. Ever since the Toronto sign (the temporary one) was installed at NPS, I never headed down to my hometown to see it. It took a new permanent sign, a day off from work after cramming three workdays into two, and Poke Guys to get me down here. Better late than a decade from now! I love NPS. I have memories of coming down here with my mom as a kid to see the Santa Claus Parade. She'd get roasted chestnuts because she loved them. It was a challenge for me to eat them, but I grew to love them, too. I enjoyed getting an ice cream or munchies at either a food truck that was parked in front of NPS or getting something at the food stand. I remember coming down here with my mom when it was Chinese (Lunar) New Year. She managed to get me out of elementary school to see the dragons dance, enjoy the food that we could get, and soak up our culture. I will always cherish that memory. The library is still kicking around. However, due to the pandemic, there's security everywhere. It's actually perfect to take photos of the Toronto sign. There weren't too many folks out and about when I shot my pics at around 1 pm on a Monday afternoon. I parked underneath NPS. I had no idea that there was a parking lot until I saw the sign, which shows how much of a commuter I was when I did visit the area. I consider this lot to be affordable compared to most lots in the downtown core. In the wintertime, you can skate at NPS and rent skates if you don't have any. It's a decent place to experience cultural events, but that was pre-pandemic. Ah, good times! I also figured out recently that there are public washrooms around the skate rental and food stall. I used it and it was fine. It was great returning to this cool place. I'll try and visit it more often. It's nice to be a tourist in your hometown. (385) read more

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T O R O N T O !! When in Downtown, visit Nathan Phillips Square to see the iconic 3-D sign. The sign illuminates in various colors throughout the year to show support for various causes. On our visit, the sign was lit up in support of the Toronto Raptors - the 2019 NBA Champions! They dethroned the Golden State Warriors to win the franchise's first-ever NBA title!! The pie design on the left represents a medicine wheel which was installed June 21, 2018, to raise awareness for National Indigenous Peoples Day. The maple tree leaf on the right is the national symbol of Canada. The large fountain in front of the sign is converted to an ice skating rink during wintertime. The arches that rise over the water represent freedom. Other things to do at the Square....grab food and beverage from the food trucks, play checkers at the picnic tables, walk up on the bridge to take more photos of the sign from a different perspective, and check out the new City Hall buildings behind the sign. read more

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You don't need much time, but this was definitely on my agenda when I realized that I'd be coming up here for the weekend. I braved the cold and decided I really wanted a photo here, at night, once the Toronto sign was illuminated. You can see the wonderful sign from across the street, along with many people in the area that are ice-skating. I am visiting from New York, but in some ways, I see this place as a much smaller version of our Bryant Park. Anyhow, if you're visiting the city, I'd say take a few minutes in the night to stroll past here and get some great shots. I was even nice enough to find some wonderful people who were ice skating to take photos from me from the ice. I must add that while I was only here for about 15 minutes tops, I saw at least two people get hurt from falling on the ice, so beware! read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is the central hub of all municipal activities within the 6ix. The public square plays host to many events that happens within the city. Be it hosting local markets to showcase their goods (crafts, foods, products), hosting international sporting events (Pan Am, Invictus) to Cultural Events produced the city (Doors Open, Nuit Blanche, Cavalcade of Lights and New Years countdown). Many people ( local and from a far) flock here to take selfies with the UFO, reflecting pool and even the Toronto sign to remind them where they are... There is plenty to do here and it is constantly changing with no end of entertainment value going forward. read more

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! The time spent with a love one at Nathan Phillips square was an amazing experience! Although it was cold and raining most of the night, the atmosphere was fun and lively. The DJs and artists performing were great! It was my first time hearing of Candace Weapon and his songs are awesome and available on spotify (sweet!). There were about like 10 food trucks available, so you are never hungry or thirsty. They had POUTINE!! hot dogs, sausages, pop, and water. Some hot dog stands even take credit and debit cards! :-O. There was also hero burgers and tim hortons on site, which was great!! because you could get warmed up with the hot beverages. The Toronto sign and ice skating ring were beautiful. It was great seeing people from all over the world come to Nathan Phillips square to celebrate the new years. The count down fireworks were magical. I had a great time with my partner in crime. We would definitely visit here again!! I wish you all a great New year :-D read more

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Very cool space, there is a halal burger place right inside which was nice. There are food trucks and carts nearby too for ice cream and snacks and drinks. read more

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Usually a dry atmosphere with a couple of tourists munching on hot dogs transformed into a magical winter wonderland with twinkling lights and a soft hum of Christmas music. Rows and rows of stalls selling various items from must have Christmas ornaments and themed gifts, to scarves and hats and so much more. There was plenty to see with performers dotted around the square and we managed to catch a winter fairy dance and fire blower. There was even an opportunity to meet Santa! My favourite had to be the cosy fireplaces to sit around as you all sip on that warm hot chocolate or delectable treats you buy from the various food stalls. And the fun doesn't end there as the once quite boring water feature in the middle of the square has frozen over and glazed with so many ice skaters! There's skate rentals if you fancy a go - although there were too many people on the rink for me and my very poor ice skating abilities so I was more than happy to watch from the sidelines! Definite must visit! read more

When visiting Toronto, this is one of the must see places...the big TORONTO sign! On my list and it was a good 30 min walk from the harbour side... Best to go later in the day around sunset or so to see the illuminating colors of the sign and the reflection of the water. Very peaceful around there just watching... Yes, always a crowd of people standing in front to take pictures. If you go upstairs, it's a better view and you can get the full sign w/o being right in front of it. If you drive, there is a parking lot around. read more

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Such a beautiful view this location is close to the Eaton centre. I always wanted to see the Toronto sign it Is gorgeous. I thought this would be close to the cn tower but they are not They are in two completely different locations read more

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I love Nathan Phillips Square. It's a big event space that surrounds New City Hall. It now has the big "Toronto" sign that is popular with tourists, but that was erected long after I left Toronto. I love it for the beautiful reflecting pool that in the winter freezes over to become a skating rink. I love the beautiful light displays around Christmas. As a kid, I loved the free cake that would be given out there on Canada Day (who are we kidding, I still love free cake, but haven't been in Toronto for Canada Day in ages, so not sure if they still dole out free cake). And of course there's the New Year's Eve Celebrations at Nathan Phillips Square. I still remember ringing in the millennium there. Y2K, baby! Haha. Oh the fireworks were fantastic! I also loved getting fries at the chip wagons that lined Queen St by Nathan Phillips Square. So bad, yet so good, lol. There are few things that make me miss Toronto more than pictures of the CN Tower, and pictures of Nathan Phillips Square. read more

Oh, so there's supposed to be either a pool of water or an ice rink. Well, when I visited the place, the space had sad puddles of water in it lol I reckon they're getting ready to put in the ice rink as it's almost November. Anyway, cool landmark. Went at night and it was really pretty. I went on an uneventful Friday night and it wasn't crowded, pretty relaxing place. Definitely check it out if you have the chance. Though, I must mention this. So sometimes (or most of the time) I see tourists being stu--- silly. For instance, people were trying to sit on the O's of the Toronto sign for a photo op, but uhh at night those people are just gonna be tiny indistinguishable silhouettes in the pictures lol. I mean, I'm a tourist myself and I could easily take a picture of a person sitting on one of the O's and say "look it's me! I swear it's me!!" but I ain't a liar. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Pool of water dried out, but sign is still pretty - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We stopped by Nathan Philips Square after dinner to check out the Toronto sign that's right smack in the middle of the Square. It was fairly quiet and we were able to grab some nice photos with the sign. You can take a picture of it really up close - there are no barriers or fences around it - or you can take a photo of it from across the "pond" in the middle. I hear that it gets turned into an ice skating rink during the holiday season. It was definitely all water when we visited! We drove by the Square another time during the day and it definitely had a very different look. If you're time restricted and can only visit once, I would definitely recommend visiting at night instead of during the day. read more

Even if you only have a few minutes to spend - Nathan Phillips Square is a pretty awesome spot to walk through while visiting Toronto. The square itself is lovely - open, water fountain feature right in the middle, plenty of benches situated all around with views of all sorts of lovely architecture - the old City Hall in its Romanesque glory, and the 'new city hall' with its glass and concrete and modern style. I love the stark contrast of the neighborhood. The best part of this square though is without a doubt the giant TORONTO letters - which create the ultimate and best touristy moment. Hubs and I spent way too much time posing in front of the letters but we came home w/ a couple really great photos. Bonus - the giant letters light up at night! And if you sit there and watch it for a bit it ends up being a light show - changing between red/white/blue to pink/green/yellow. I can't decide if I like the daytime or nighttime views better... if you've got the time and are close by - try and visit the square both during the day and after the sun sets. No visit it complete without a goofy photo in front of the Toronto letters!! read more

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Nathan Phillips Square is one of the most recognized landmarks of Toronto aside from CN Towers. Large open area great for communities events and celebrations: New Year Countdown, Canada Days, Cultural Days, Weekly Farmer's Market, Art Events and Carnivals etc. Love the Christmas lights and winter skating during the holiday seasons probably a highlight of growing up in the City. Why the 3 stars? It is getting really dirty and smelly. Garbage, Bird Poop, Urine Smell really turned me off. I hope the City would have clean the area more frequently. read more

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Cool place to get some great shots with the Toronto Sign.Right in middle of downtown and which is just 1.2 km from St.lawrence Market hence it was an easy walk for us after having a fresh breakfast . Not too crowded early morning hence could get some solo shots. You can walk to Chinatown and graffiti alley easily from here.osgoode hall which is right next to it is also beautiful. There is a walkway one stair above to click pictures as well. read more

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A cool place to check out whether a tourist or a resident of Toronto or the surrounding GTA. The 3D sign is not to be missed and apparently, they turn the fountains into an ice skating rink during the colder months. How cool is that! It's also a great activity to do after getting some shopping done at the nearby CF Eaton Centre, or before. It is a clean place but it does get a little crowded. However, that's what you'd expect out of a touristy spot like this place. read more

Nathan Phillips Square - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Toronto, Ontario