Canada’s largest city, Toronto, is a thriving multi-cultural metropolis, and home to around 3 million people. Situated on the shore of Lake Ontario, and a relatively short drive away from the world famous Niagara Falls, Toronto seemlessly blends towering sky scrapers with leafy parks.
It’s an ideal place for a long weekend away as it offers a little bit of eveything; great food, natural beauty and amazing sightseeing.
So if you’re planning a trip to Toronto hear are my top 9 things to do.
See Niagara Falls
No visit to Toronto is complete without experiencing the awe-inspiring power of Niagara Falls—one of the most famous natural wonders on Earth. Located just 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Toronto, this breathtaking destination is easily reached in under two hours by car, tour bus, or train, making it a perfect day trip or overnight getaway from the city.
The Canadian side offers the most panoramic views, including a viewing tower – Skylon, and everynight the falls are lit up and accompanied by an incredible fireworks display. The thunderous sound, towering mist, and sheer force of the falls make them a truly unforgettable sight.
Top Tips
Do the Voyage to the Falls Boat Tour (by Niagara City Cruises). You’ll get up close to the base of Horseshoe Falls and have an incredible immersive experience. Literally. As you get closer to the falls you will get absolutely soaked, to the point where it feels like you might have come out drier if you just jumped in and swam to the falls rather than got on the boat. Ponchos are a must, and make sure they’re done up tight, if water can get in, it will, and in large quantities.
For the best views and photos take the Journey Behind the Falls tour where you explore tunnels and observation decks directly behind the cascading water.
Catch a ball game
As with most big North American cities, Toronto is blessed with several sports team, and there is always at least one team in season at any given point in the yeae. It’d be criminal not to catch a game.
Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
Stadium – Rogers Centre, Downtown Toronto (Capacity 41,500). An incredible stadium, with a retractable roof, sat at the foot of the CN Tower. Also kitted out with desks and wifi so you can “work from dome” during weekday games!
Ticket Prices – The average is around $87 USD for a typical game at Rogers Centre—making it one of the most affordable MLB destinations. Prices do vary dramatically though, they can be as cheap as $15 for a weekday afternoon game, up to $150+ for big-matchups .
Regular Season – Early April to late September.
Toronto Raptors (NBA)
Stadium – Scotiabank Arena, Downtowen Toronto (Capacity 19,800). Formerly known as the Air Canada Centre, the arena is home to both the Raptors (NBA) and Maple Leafs (NHL). Located near Union Station in downtown Toronto, it’s a central hub for concerts, sports, and major events.
Ticket Prices – Average is around $252 USD per ticket.
Regular Season – Mid-October to mid-April.
Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Stadium – Scotiabank Arena, Downtown Toronto. Has a slightly reduced capacity for Ice Hockey of 18,800.
Ticket Prices – Regular season games average around $96 USD, this price point dramrically increases for the play-offs to an average of $394 USD.
Regular Season – Early October to mid-April.
Toronto FC (MLS)
Stadium – BMO Field, Exhibition Place (Capacity 30,000). BMO Field is an open-air stadium designed for Soccer and Canadian Football. It offers scenic views, excellent acoustics and a great atmosphere.
Ticket Prices – Between $120–$132 USD for regular-season matches. However lower-end tickets can be as cheap as $6–$10 USD on less popular matches.
Regular Season – Late February to early October.
Grab breakfast at Tim Horton’s
No trip to Canada would be complete without patronage to Tim Horton’s.
Canada’s beloved coffee and donut chain was founded in 1964 by NHL legend Tim Horton and businessman Ron Joyce and has since become a cultural institution.
With thousands of locations across Canada (and expanding more and moreinternationally), “Timmies” is a daily ritual for millions, and you won’t have to walk far to find one wherever you are in Toronto.
Grab a beaver tail
Another culinary delight not to miss in Toronto is the Beaver Tails. Despite the name, they don’t actually contain any beaver—the name comes from the pastries shape, which is flat and wide like the tail of the industrious little fellas.
The traditional topping is cinnamon and sugar, but there’s a huge range of toppings available, including savoury ones too.
Head up the CN Tower
Toronto’s iconic landmark. Standing at 553 meters (1,815 feet) tall, it was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world and remains one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Located in the heart of downtown, the CN Tower offers breathtaking 360° views of the Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario, and even the U.S. border on a clear day.
Standard General Admission starts from around $34 USD for adults, with concessions available for seniors and children, and lots of additional experiences available, such as doing an edge walk (not one for the faint hearted!).
Take a boat cruise from the harbour
Another incredible way to view the city, take an hour long boar trip from the harbour, where you can learn the hisotry of the city and it’s building while taking in it’s incredible skyline.
Visit the Ice Hockey Hall of Fame
If you’re a sports fans, the Ice Hockry Hall of Fame is a must-visit. Ice Hockey is the main sport in Canada, people live and breathe it the same way Europeans so with football (soccer).
Learn all about the history of the sport, from the original 6 NHL teams to the greatest players of all time, as well as seeing the Stanley Cup up close. You can also put your skills to the test with stick, and in goal, in the shooting gallery.
General Admission for adults is around $20 USD.
See Casa Loma
Perched atop a hill overlooking downtown Toronto, Casa Loma is a majestic Gothic Revival mansion that looks like it was plucked straight from a European fairytale. Built in the early 20th century by wealthy financier Sir Henry Pellatt, Casa Loma—Spanish for “Hill House”—was once the largest private residence in Canada.
With its soaring towers, secret passageways, lush gardens, and grandiose interiors, Casa Loma is a must-visit for history lovers, architecture buffs, and romantics alike.
General Admission for adults starts from around $30 USD.
Head to St. Lawrence Market
Located in Toronto’s historic Old Town, St. Lawrence Market is a bustling culinary and cultural hub that has been serving the city since 1803. Frequently named one of the world’s best food markets (including by National Geographic), it’s a must-visit destination for food lovers, history buffs, and curious travelers alike.
Walking through its stalls is like taking a global food tour—there’s Italian prosciutto sandwiches, Polish pierogi, Caribbean roti, Ukrainian borscht, and so on, all under one roof.
The market’s most legendary offering though is the peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery—a must-try that’s become almost synonymous with the market itself.