Markham

Understand

Markham is host to a wide variety of technology company headquarters, which included video card maker ATI Technologies, Motorola, IBM Software Labs and Sun Microsystems (with the exact list prone to change as companies are acquired by rivals). The Town's slogans 'The Mark of Excellence' and 'Canada's High Tech Capital' are well emphasized, with a multicultural community, a variety of events and attractions, and an embracement of old town nostalgia and modern high-tech living. In 2021, its population reached almost 340,000.

Main Street

Note that the City of Markham has two streets called Main Street and they are in different parts of the city. Main Street Markham is essentially the same as Markham Road and runs north-south through the city's old town centre called Markham Village. "Main Street North" is a more specific name for "Main Street Markham". Various maps may identify the street as both "Markham Road" and either "Main Street North" or "Main Street Markham". (There is a "Main Street South" south of Highway 7, but it is not as interesting as Main Street North.) Main Street Unionville is further west of Main Street Markham and runs north-south through the heritage district of Unionville. The two Main Streets are over 4 km apart and both cross Highway 7 near the south end.

Heritage districts There are three heritage districts within the City of Markham where there is a cluster of 19th century structures. They are:

Main Street Unionville is the quaintest of the three heritage districts which is residential at the southern end and commercial (mainly eateries) at the northern end. Main Street Markham (a.k.a. Markham Village) still retains Markham's pleasant small town centre with a number of heritage buildings intermixed with more modern structures. Main Street Markham has more shopping opportunities than Main Street Unionville. Both have a number of eateries. Thornhill has a cluster of heritage buildings along Colborne Street, a quaint residential street. There are few eateries near this heritage district, and hardly any shopping opportunities. While Main Street Unionville and Main Street Markham may be each a day trip, Thornhill is mainly a brief stopover. Thornhill's advantage is that it is the easiest of the three districts to reach from Finch Station.

Tourist information Tourism Markham website

Getting there

By plane Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ IATA) in Mississauga is the nearest major airport.

By bus FlixBus. Service from Toronto Pearson Airport, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Kingston, and Ottawa. (updated Apr 2025)

By transit Public transit access from Toronto to Markham typically begins at Finch Station on TTC subway Line 1 Yonge-University, and then transferring to York Region Transit which offers bus service in York Region (including Viva express buses) serving Markham as well as other communities in York Region such as Newmarket and East Gwillimbury. However, if you are visiting Pacific Mall, the best way to access these malls by transit is via TTC route #53 (Steeles East) which departs from Finch Station on subway Line 1 Yonge-University. If you are travelling in the east-end, TTC route #43 (Kennedy) going north from Kennedy Station on subway Line 2 Bloor-Danforth and Line 3 Scarborough may be more useful for you. For Main Street Unionville, take the Viva Blue bus from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. From there, take either the Viva Purple bus (signed to Markville/Stouffville Hospital rather than Enterprise) or YRT bus route 1 to Main Street Unionville; cross the street to the north side to enter the heritage district. For Main Street Markham (a.k.a. Markham Village), take the Viva Blue bus from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. From there, transfer to Viva Purple (signed to Markville/Stouffville Hospital) to Vivastation Hwy 7 / Main Markham. GO Transit provides train and bus service from Toronto to Markham with stops at the Milliken, Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy GO stations. GO trains on the Stouffville Line operate to Mount Joy seven days per week from morning to mid evening. GO buses on routes 70/71 are an alternative when trains are not available. Keep in mind Unionville GO Station is 1.33 km from the south end of the Main Street Unionville heritage district. Markham GO station is about 400 metres north of Markham Village. The major stop for GO buses is 1 Unionville GO Station, with route 45B from Mississauga, route 54 from Highway 407 bus terminal and route 56 from Oakville and Oshawa.

By road Unsurprisingly for a suburb, most travel is typically done by private automobile, with numerous highways and arterials leading in and out of the town. Highway 404 goes north to south, starting at Green Lane in East Gwillimbury and ending in Toronto as the Don Valley Parkway. Going from east to west is the privately-held toll Highway 407, which begins in the east at Brock Road an

Getting around

By road The main street of Markham is nominally Markham Road (old Highway 48). There is a small downtown, which is largely lost in all the Toronto suburban sprawl. Like the rest of the Greater Toronto Area, Markham is laid out in grid fashion. The main east-west local avenues in Markham (from north to south) are Stouffville Road, Elgin Mills Road East, Major Mackenzie Drive East, Highway 7, 14th Avenue and then Steeles Avenue East which is the border between Markham and Toronto. Most businesses are located on Highway 7 and Steeles Avenue East. From west to east, the major roads are Yonge Street (border between Markham and Vaughan), Bayview Avenue, Leslie Street, Woodbine Avenue, Warden Avenue, Kennedy Road, McCowan Road, Markham Road (sometimes known as Highway 48) and then Ninth Line.

By transit If you are travelling by public transit, three transit agencies operate within Markham: YRT/Viva, GO Transit, and TTC (see the Get In section). Viva Blue, Viva Purple and Viva Pink are YRT bus rapid transit routes each having good service frequencies. Viva Blue runs north-south along the western boundary of Markham from Finch Station on Subway Line 1 Yonge-University. Viva Purple operates east-west through Markham. One can transfer between Viva Blue and Purple at the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. Viva Pink follows the route of Viva Blue from Finch Station to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal, then follows the route of Viva Purple to Unionville GO Station (which is 1.33 km from the heritage district Main Street Unionville). Use Viva Purple if need to go further east of Unionville GO Station. TTC route 53 Steeles East starts at Finch Station and runs along Markham's southern boundary with Toronto. Unlike YRT and Viva buses, TTC route 53 has overnight service from 2AM to 5AM, coming every 30 minutes. Rush hour frequencies are particularly good for this route (every 3-5 minutes), reflecting the fact that it is the 19th busiest TTC bus route out of 148. TTC route 102D Markham Rd offers half-hourly service from Warden Station on Subway Line 2 Bloor-Danforth into York Region through Main Street Markham. Customers paying by credit, debit or Presto card only need to pay once when boarding (either a TTC fare when boarding in Toronto or a YRT fare when boarding in York Region, but do need to tap off to validate the 2 hour transfer if crossing the municipal border at Steeles Avenue). Route 102D provides most of the local service within Markham Village along Main Street Markham.

See

1 Cathedral of the Transfiguration, 10350 Woodbine Ave (at the end of Cathedral High St; buses 24, 80). This impressive landmark is a Byzantine Revival cathedral which features the world's largest three-bell carillon. After lying idle and incomplete since 2006, a Slovak Greek Catholic congregation started using the church in 2017. The cathedral looks impressive from a distance such as east from Highway 404. (updated Jul 2017)

2 Markham Museum, 9350 Markham Rd (Hwy 48) (150 m north of 16th Ave; buses 16 & 102), ☏ +1 905-305-5970. Summer: M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su noon-5PM, closed on statuary holidays. This 25-acre (10 ha) open-air museum features nearly 30 buildings from Markham's past: houses, barns, sheds, a train station, a school, a general store, a church, a blacksmith, a harness shop, a saw mill, a cider mill, and many more. (updated Nov 2017)

Main Street Unionville

Unionville is a historic village that developed in the 1840s in what was then rural Markham Township. It's now amalgamated into city of Markham but the quaint period buildings have been preserved as a heritage conservation district, Main Street Unionville. Many of the old buildings now house pubs, eateries or other small businesses, and the area is worth a stop if you're in the area and have some time. From Highway 7 north to the railway grade crossing, Main Street is lined with elegant old houses which are private residences. From the railway grade crossing north to Carlton Road, Main Street is commercial with most businesses having a tourist orientation. Many of the businesses are located in former houses. Station Lane branches from Main Street just north of the railway grade crossing and has a few old residences as well as the former Unionville railway station and Stiver Mill; the latter two buildings serve a community functions today. Here are some sites of interest listed from south to north:

3 Evangelical Lutheran Church Parsonage, 109 Main St Unionville. Private residence. Built in 1879, a number of church ministers occupied the parsonage until 1918. The house was sold as a private residence in 1947 after a decline in church attendance. (updated Aug 2016) 4 William Eckardt House, 124 Main St Unionville (at Euclid Ave). Private residence. William Eckardt built this house circa 1852. Eckardt was a prominent local resident who helped bring the railway to Unionville. (updated Aug 2016) 5 Former Unionville railway station, 7 Station Lane. The Toronto and Nipissing (T&N) Railway built the station in the 1871; the last trains stopped here in 1991. The City of Markham now owns the histori

Do

Markham Jazz Festival. August. Held along both Main Street Markham and Main Street Unionville. (updated Jul 2016) Doors Open Markham. 10AM - 5PM. Held in late September. (updated Oct 2025) 1 Markham Remembrance Day at the Cenotaph (corner Markham Rd & Hwy 7 at the Markham Community Arena). Nov. 11. (updated Jul 2016) 2 Markham Fair, 10801 McCowan Rd (corner of Elgin Mills Rd E & McCowan Rd). Weekend before Canadian Thanksgiving. Country fair with horse pull, demolition derby, tractor pull. (updated Nov 2017)

Main Street Unionville Unionville Village Festival. first weekend of June. (updated Jul 2016) Unionville Heritage Festival. Labour Day (updated Jul 2016) 3 Unionville Remembrance Day Ceremony, 210 Main St Unionville (at Crosby Memorial Community Centre). November 11. (updated Jul 2016) Unionville Olde Tyme Christmas & Candlelight Parade, Main St Unionville. First Friday evening of December with festivities continuing through the weekend. (updated Jul 2016) 4 Thursday Nights at the Bandstand, Main St Unionville (Millenium Bandstand, at Fred Valley Dr). Thursday evenings, June through August. blues, jazz, funk, soul, vintage hits, classical guitar. (updated Jul 2016)

Theatre 5 Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd (by the Markham Town Centre), ☏ +1 905-305-SHOW (7469), toll-free: +1-866-768-8801, fax: +1 905-415-7538, [email protected]. Live theatre. Free parking in front of the theatre. (updated Oct 2025)

Buy

Shopping malls 1 CF Markville (Markville Mall), 5000 Highway 7 E (at McCowan Rd), ☏ +1 905-477-6600, [email protected]. M–F 10AM – 9PM, Sa 10AM – 6PM; Su 11AM – 6PM. Indoor shopping mall. (updated Oct 2025) 2 Pacific Mall, 4300 Steeles Ave. E (at Kennedy Rd), ☏ +1 905 470-8785, [email protected]. Year round including holidays: daily 11AM - 8PM. Pacific Mall is the largest Chinese indoor mall in North America with 400 stores selling a large variety of retail goods as well as herbs, prepared Chinese foods and entertainment. This is a great place to visit for cheap DVDs, computer parts, photography equipment, cellphone accessories and the like. Caveat emptor: Some vendors in the mall have a reputation for selling cheap, poor quality counterfeit goods. There was a police raid in June 2018 because of complaints. (updated Oct 2025) 3 First Markham Place, 3255 Highway 7 East (South of Highway 7, east of Woodbine Ave, west of Rodick Rd), ☏ +1 905-944-1629, fax: +1 905-944-9072, [email protected]. Daily 10AM - 8PM. A medium-sizemedium-sized mall with Chinese restaurants, food court, herbal products and stores. (updated Oct 2025)

Main Street Unionville Stores along Main Street Unionville are in small heritage buildings.

4 Susannah Designer Consignment, 151 Main St Unionville, ☏ +1 905-604-8528, [email protected]. M by appointment only; Tu–F: noon – 6PM;,Sa Su 1PM – 6PM. Offering name-brand products such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Chanel at lower prices. (updated Oct 2025) 5 Tucci Armadio, 154 Main St Unionville. Fashion boutique including Tom Ford. (updated Dec 2024) 6 Crock a Doodle, 159 Main St Unionville, ☏ +1 905-940-5670. Su–Th noon – 9PM, F Sa noon – 9:30PM. Sells unpainted pottery and kits to paint them. (updated Oct 2025)

Eat

Markham has a large variety of foods to choose from in a variety of price ranges. The Chinese population is especially high in this area (~40% in the last census), so if you enjoy Chinese food, this is the place to look for it.

Steeles Avenue 1 Congee Queen, 2930 Steeles Ave E (The Shops on Steeles and 404, just west of Hwy 404), ☏ +1 905-731-3880. Su-Th 11AM-10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Always a perennial weekend favourite. Named after the Chinese breakfast dish, the restaurant also serves many other stir-fried dishes, rice plates and soup noodles. Do try to share the Seafood & Chicken with Wintermelon Super Bowl Congee with a friend. Cheap. (updated Oct 2022) 2 Backyard Garden Restaurant, 3636 Steeles Ave E (turn at Ferrier St on Steeles), ☏ +1-905-415-8988. 11AM-10PM. Small little Chinese restaurant serving some excellent Sichuan and Hebei-style food. Several spicy options. (updated Sep 2019) 3 Heisei Mart, 3160 Steeles Ave E, Unit 118 (In J-Town), ☏ +1 905-305-0108. M closed, Tu–Sa 10AM – 7PM; Su 11AM – 6PM. Don't let the entrance deceive you. This Japanese restaurant is located inside the supermarket. It serves authentic udon, ramen, soba, curry and bento box (soba & sashimi). $8.90-14.98. (updated Oct 2025)

Main Street Markham 4 The Old Curiosity Tea Shop, 91 Main Street North (north of Dublin St), ☏ +1 905-472-9927. Tu-F 10AM-4PM, Sa 10AM-5PM, Su M closed. This tea shop is in a 1895 heritage building, a former bank branch. The interior is very attractively decorated. About $15 for tea & pastry. (updated Aug 2016)

Main Street Unionville 5 Jakes on Main, 202 Main St Unionville, ☏ +1 905-470-6955, [email protected]. Located in a historic Victorian mansion with patio and private party room on the second floor. Moderately priced. (updated Oct 2025) 6 Old Country Inn, 198 Main St Unionville, ☏ +1 905-477-2715. Tu–Th noon-8PM, F Sa noon-9PM. Austrian cuisine featuring schnitzel, located in a house built in the 1872 for a local doctor (updated Dec 2022) 7 Old Firehall Confectionary, B170 Main St Unionville. Chocolate lovers should at least look inside at the various fancy chocolates on display.

Yonge Street 8 York Farmers Market, 7509 Yonge St, Thornhill (east side of Yonge St south of Elgin Ave), ☏ +1 905-886-9992. W 10AM-4PM; Th-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 9AM-5PM; Su 10AM-4PM. A collection of small vendors selling mostly food items, many of them ready to eat. Small seating area with tables. (updated Oct 2025)

Elsewhere 9 Chauhan's Fine Indian Cuisine & Banquet, 2800 14th Ave (east of Woodbine Ave), ☏ +1 905-947-1234. Indian cuisine, lunch buffet, din

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range 1 Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Markham, 300 Commerce Valley Dr East (just south of Hwy 7), ☏ +1 905-709-8008, fax: +1 905-709-6008. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Aug 2016) 2 Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa, 8500 Warden Ave (just south of Hwy 7), ☏ +1 905-470-8500, fax: +1 905-477-8611. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Aug 2016) 3 Monte Carlo Inns - Downtown Markham Suites, 7255 Warden Ave (north of Steeles Ave E, at the corner of Warden Avenue and Denison Street), ☏ +1 905-752-2700, toll-free: +1 877-752-2788, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Despite its name, the hotel is not in "downtown" Markham. (updated Feb 2026) 4 Monte Carlo Inns - Toronto Markham, 8900 Woodbine Ave (north of Highway 7), ☏ +1 905-513-8100. (updated Jul 2018) 5 Park Inn by Radisson Toronto-Markham, 555 Cochrane Drive (Highway 7 & Highway 404), ☏ +1 905-479-5000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Dec 2024) 6 Delta Hotels Toronto Markham (formerly Delta Markham and Edward Hotel Markham), 50 East Valhalla Dr (just south of Hwy 7), ☏ +1 905-477-2010. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. (updated Dec 2024)

Go next

Newmarket has its own attractive heritage Main Street.