Toronto.

Toronto's social life is as varied as its population, from the student bars around U of T and TMU to the clubs of King West, the patios of Kensington Market and the live music on Queen Street West. Sport is huge, with Raptors basketball and Leafs hockey downtown, and there's a festival, gig or gallery opening most nights. It rewards students who go looking for their niche.

• Kensington Market and Queen West are the go-to areas for cheap eats, dive bars and live music.
• Catch a Raptors or Blue Jays game downtown; student-priced tickets turn up on game-day apps.
• Ask the Toronto group on Studcasa which neighbourhoods and nights suit exchange students best.

Toronto is the most expensive city in Canada, driven by rent, so budget carefully. Expect around C$2,000 to C$2,800 a month all-in, with a single room downtown often exceeding C$1,200 on its own. Living a little further out along a transit line, or sharing, is the standard survival strategy. The upside is that much of the city, from festivals to free museum nights, costs nothing.

• A room downtown often runs C$1,000 to C$1,500; sharing or commuting from the suburbs cuts this sharply.
• The AGO and ROM offer free or discounted evenings; students should always ask for the concession rate.

Toronto's rental market is fierce and pricey, so start early and be ready to compromise on space or location. The Annex near U of T, the Church-Wellesley area and student residences are central options, while neighbourhoods along the subway lines, from the east end to North York, offer more room for less. Watch for scams and never pay a deposit before viewing.

• The Annex and Harbord Village are classic U of T student areas; expect to pay a premium.
• Live along Line 1 or Line 2 of the subway to trade a longer commute for cheaper rent.
• Use the U of T off-campus housing service and the Toronto group on Studcasa, and avoid any listing demanding a deposit before viewing.

The TTC runs the subway, streetcars and buses, and students can buy a discounted Post-Secondary monthly pass loaded onto a Presto card. The two main subway lines cover most of what you'll need, and streetcars serve the downtown core. GO Transit links the wider region. Traffic is heavy, so transit and, in summer, Bike Share Toronto are the sane way to move.

• Buy the TTC Post-Secondary monthly pass on a Presto card for the biggest student saving.
• Bike Share Toronto is cheap and quick for downtown trips from spring to autumn.

The University of Toronto is Canada's top-ranked university and one of the world's leading research institutions, strong across almost every field. Toronto Metropolitan University is known for its practical, industry-linked programmes, York for law and business, and OCAD for art and design. Classes at U of T can be very large in first year, so use tutorials and office hours. Exchange students are supported through each university's international office.

• U of T's Robarts Library is a vast central study hub; TMU's Student Learning Centre is a modern alternative.
• Coordinate course selection with your host university's exchange office, as popular courses fill fast.

The rules depend on your nationality and the length of your programme, so use this as orientation and confirm with the official Canadian immigration site. The key quirk is that a study permit is not required for programmes of six months or less, which covers many single-semester exchanges. Longer than six months and you'll generally need a study permit, applied for online before you travel.

Separately, most visitors need either an eTA for air travel or a visitor visa depending on nationality, so check both.

• Programme of six months or less, usually no study permit required
• Longer than six months, apply for a study permit online before arrival
• You'll still need an eTA or a visitor visa depending on your nationality
• Apply early; processing times swing seasonally and requirements vary by country

Toronto's food is its greatest asset: authentic cuisine from every corner of the world, often at neighbourhood prices, from Chinatown and Little India to Koreatown and Little Portugal. St. Lawrence Market is a landmark, and the peameal bacon sandwich is the local classic. Culture is endlessly varied and events-driven, with TIFF, Caribana and Nuit Blanche among the highlights.

• St. Lawrence Market is the essential food stop; try a peameal bacon sandwich at the Carousel.
• Eat your way through Kensington Market, Chinatown and Gerrard India Bazaar for the world on a plate.

The Annex and Harbord Village are the student heartlands by U of T, leafy and central. Kensington Market and Chinatown are bohemian and cheap to eat in, Queen West and Ossington bring the nightlife, and the Danforth, or Greektown, and Leslieville anchor the east end. North York and Scarborough are more affordable and well connected by subway and GO.

• The Annex for campus proximity; Kensington and Queen West for character, food and nightlife.
• Look to the Danforth, Leslieville or North York for more space and lower rent along transit lines.

Toronto is a launchpad for southern Ontario and the northern lakes. Niagara Falls and wine country are ninety minutes to two hours away, the beaches and hikes of cottage country and the Muskokas about two hours north, and Prince Edward County's wineries and dunes around two and a half hours east. Montreal is five hours by train or a short flight for a long weekend.

• Niagara Falls is ninety minutes to two hours away by GO train and bus.
• Prince Edward County, about two and a half hours east, pairs wineries with Sandbanks beaches.
• Blue Mountain and the Muskokas, roughly two hours north, cover skiing and lake country.

Budget realistically for rent and start your housing search months early; underestimating Toronto's cost is the classic newcomer mistake. Live near a subway or GO line to keep commutes sane, and take full advantage of the free side of the city, from beaches to festivals to gallery nights. Explore beyond downtown, because the neighbourhoods are where Toronto's character really lives.

• Start flat-hunting two to three months out and never transfer money before viewing a place.
• Get a Presto card on arrival; it works across the TTC, GO Transit and regional systems.