Toronto is Canada’s largest city and overall, the fourth largest city (by population) in North America. Not only is it my hometown, but one of the most diverse and multicultural cities I have ever visited.
There is something for everyone here in Toronto and definitely worth a stop when traveling to Canada.
One of my favourite aspects about Toronto is that we get all four seasons here: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. While our winters can be quite harsh and our summers hot and humid, the fall season makes it all worthwhile.
I love the vibrant colours of the changing leaves — bright red, orange and yellow. I highly recommend visiting Toronto in the summer or early fall (May – October) as this is the nicest time of year.
If you only have one full day to explore the city, I suggest staying two nights and arriving in the evening on the first night.
A great way for first timers to get around the city is to take a Hop On Hop Off bus tour. This is a very popular bus tour in the city and you get 48 hour unlimited hop on hop off privileges.
If you prefer to explore the city via public transit, you can purchase a TTC Day Pass. It is valid for unlimited public transit travel for 2 adults (or 1 adult and 5 children 19 years or younger, or 2 adults and 4 children 19 years or younger).
One thing you may notice in my one-day itinerary is that I didn’t list any museums, art galleries, etc. Toronto has an amazing collection of museums, historical homes, and art galleries that are worth visiting but they can eat up an entire day.
However, if you only have one day to spend in Toronto and looking to get a taste of the city — I don’t recommend spending it indoors at a museum. Visit these places during the colder months or when you have more time to spend exploring this wonderful city.
Table of Contents
Booking your flight
When flying into Toronto, there are a couple airports that you can choose to arrive: Pearson International or Porter (Toronto City Airport).
The advantage of Porter is that the airport is located in downtown Toronto, but only Porter Airlines flies in and out of here. Pearson is the next best option since it serves domestic and international flights.
I recommend searching and booking flights with Skyscanner. This is my favorite website for getting the best deal on flight tickets.
When arriving at Person airport, you can choose to take public transportation to your hotel or catch a taxi. If you’re taking public transportation, hop on the Pearson Express train direct from the airport to Union Station.
Related: 23 secrets to booking cheap flights
My must-have Toronto accessories:
Click the product to shop
Booking your hotel
Before booking your trip, check ahead to see what major events will be happening in Toronto.
Sometimes these events or conferences can make the rate of hotels skyrocket or sell out quickly — leaving only very expensive or undesirable places left with a vacancy.
If you are wanting to visit Toronto for a particular event, such as TIFF — do plan ahead of time and make sure to book your hotel well in advance. Not only will you be able to get a good rate, but you will have more accommodation options available too.
I like to use travel discount websites such as Hotwire or Booking.com to make hotel reservations.
Depending on what your travel plans include, I recommend staying in Downtown Toronto, the Entertainment District or the Financial District neighborhoods as these provide a central base for sightseeing and my one day Toronto itinerary.
Related: 18 ways to save money on hotel accommodation
TORONTO: ONE DAY ITINERARY
Evening you arrive
If you are planning a quick weekend trip, plan to arrive in Toronto Friday night and head straight to your hotel to check-in and drop off your luggage.
Everyone is ready to start the weekend on Friday night in Toronto, so go ahead and join in the city fun.
I would suggest picking one of Toronto’s vibrant neighborhoods to visit for your first evening. Relax and unwind with a nice meal, then explore the surrounding area before getting a good sleep in preparation for the next day of sightseeing.
Some of Toronto’s popular neighborhoods include: Downtown Yonge, Queen Street West, Yorkville, Chinatown, Kenginston Market, Greek Town, Little Italy, Koreatown, Harbourfront, West Queen West, Gay Village, King West, Annex, Entertainment District and Financial District.
My favorite Toronto travel guides for 2020:
Click the product to shop
Morning
Get up early and head to the St. Lawrence Market. With 120 vendors, merchants and artisans, this historic market has been thriving in Toronto since 1803. Grab something delicious to eat for breakfast here or at a neighborhood cafe.
After browsing through the St. Lawrence Market, take a short 15-minute walk to explore The Distillery District. This historic area represents the largest (and best preserved) collection of Victorian Architecture in North America.
There are a number of unique boutique shops, restaurants patios and art galleries here that are worth checking out. This is a popular spot for photography so don’t forget to bring your camera!
If you’re interested in taking a tour of this area, I highly recommend the St. Lawrence Market and Old Toronto Food tour available on Viator. This includes a 3-hour walking tour of the area with stops at 12 vendors inside the market for delicious food and treats.
Hop on the streetcar and head to the CN Tower. This was the world’s tallest tower, building and freestanding structure from 1976-2010. If you’re feeling brave, sign up for EdgeWalk. You’ll get the opportunity to walk around the top of the CN Tower hands-free.
Afternoon
By now you have probably worked up an appetite. Hop on the streetcar and head north on Spadina Avenue towards Kensington Market and Chinatown.
Walk around here and grab a bite to eat for lunch.
If you are visiting Toronto during the summer months — Kensington Market has an event called Pedestrian Sundays that takes place on the last Sunday of the month.
The street is closed off to car traffic and many shops set up food stands outside their storefront.
Walk south on Spadina Avenue until you reach Queen Street. From here you can head west along Queen Street (between Bathurst and Gladstone) and explore the second-hippest district in the world, as named by Vogue.
Alternatively, you can hop on the eastbound streetcar along Queen Street towards Eaton’s Centre (at Yonge Street) to do some shopping at the mall.
This is the main tourist mall in Toronto, but if you have time, my favorite mall is Yorkdale — just hop on the Yonge-University subway line and ride Northbound to Yorkdale station.
Looking to do some luxury shopping? Get on the Yonge-University line and head Northbound to Bloor station.
From here, walk west along Bloor Street to browse high-end shops like Holt Renfrew, Davids, Tiffany, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes just to name a few.
If shopping is not your thing and you are looking to explore some of Toronto’s history — why not visit the University of Toronto’s downtown campus.
I suggest visiting King’s College Circle where you can explore Convocation Hall, University College, Hart House and Knox College. The architecture dates back to 1856 to the present and is rated the top University in Canada.
TIP: You can get an amazing view of the CN Tower from the grass field at King’s College Circle.
Evening
Start your evening off with a nice dinner, followed by a Broadway show or sports game.
If you’re not feeling the theatre, why not attend the ballet, opera or a symphony performance instead?
Another idea is to check out a comedy performance at Toronto’s Second City, Comedy Bar or Yuk Yuk’s.
If live music is your cup of tea — perhaps an evening concert will hit the spot. Toronto has a collection of live music venues and bars that are worth checking out.
Looking to spark some romance? Why not take a sunset cruise in Toronto’s Harbourfront.
Enjoy Toronto’s skyline from Lake Ontario as it lights up in the evening. It’ll definitely be a night to remember!
Whatever you decide to do, check ahead to see what is happening the evening you are in town and get tickets in advance.
While you may be able to still score tickets last minute, many big name shows tend to sell out fast in Toronto. Planning ahead also gives you the opportunity to find a discount on tickets or get a special promotion.
Night
After a long day, if you still have energy and looking for some late night fun — why not go dancing?
Toronto has a number of dance clubs and bars that play a variety of music: from today’s top hits to 1950s rock and roll.
An alternate idea is to head to a game board cafe. There are a few in Toronto with the most popular ones being Snakes & Lattes and Castle.
These cafes are open until late and offer a selection of delicious eats and drinks. Go ahead and play one (or two) of the hundreds of board games available at these cafes. It’s the perfect way to end your one-day itinerary in Toronto!
I hope these suggestions for a one-day itinerary in Toronto have been helpful and you enjoy your time! Happy sightseeing everyone!
Have more time to spend in Toronto?
If you have more time to spend in Toronto, you may want to check out these other fun activities:
- Day trip to Niagara Falls
- Small-group Toronto beer tour
- Toronto Inner Harbour and Island Cruise
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
- Walking tour of Toronto’s Kensington Market and Chinatown