How to Spend 3 Days in Toronto (My Hometown!)

I grew up in Toronto and spent the first 18 years of my life living in the city. And while I live in Vancouver now, most of my family and friends still live in Toronto, so I go back to visit at least once a year.

As a kid, my family moved a lot, but always within the city of Toronto. So I got to grow up shopping at St. Lawrence Market, playing at Woodbine Beach, getting dim sum in Chinatown, taking swim lessons in the Annex, and always going to the Ex every August.

This summer, I got to spend 10 weeks in Toronto with my husband, our dog and our baby daughter. We stayed in my parents’ basement for the summer and had visits from my mom and mother-in-law, who both live in Vancouver.

I know the city well, but one of the cool things about Toronto is that it’s constantly changing. There are always new shops and restaurants, events and festivals, shows and games, and traffic jams!

Being able to show off the city to my husband and mother-in-law this summer – taking them to my old haunts and rediscovering new corners of Toronto – was such a blast. It’s what inspired me to put together this 3 day Toronto itinerary.

Below I’m going to tell you exactly how you should spend 3 days in Toronto, based on my insider knowledge of my hometown. We’ll hit the big touristy spots but also spend time enjoying the diverse neighbourhoods and cuisines that make Toronto so special.

Toronto is a big city and there is a lot going on. It would be impossible to fit it all into three days, even though my itinerary below is pretty jam packed. But that just means you have to start planning your return trip!

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Day 1: Toronto icons, museums and food neighbourhoods

Be warned that this is a BUSY first day in Toronto!

Breakfast at St. Lawrence Market

We’re starting your three days in Toronto off strong with breakfast at the iconic St. Lawrence Market on the southeast side of the city.

The market has been around since 1803 and now hosts over 120 vendors selling ready-made food, produce, flowers, artisan goods and so much more!

My mom and I used to live close to St. Lawrence Market and would regularly stroll through on the weekends, picking up snacks or funky vintage finds.

There’s the main South Market that’s open every day, except Mondays, and is where you’ll find tons of delicious options for breakfast. If you happen to be visiting on a Saturday, check out the North Market, which hosts a farmer’s market.

This summer, my stepmom and my mother-in-law headed down to St. Lawrence Market for a morning of tasty bites and shopping. They ate oysters and sausage rolls, and brought home fresh berries, peach pie and sunflowers for the rest of us to enjoy!

Or if you don’t have a local like my stepmom to show you around, check out this St. Lawrence Market food tour! St. Lawrence Market would be the perfect place to go on a food tour – plus try legendary Canadian peameal bacon in its birthplace!

Head up the CN Tower

From St. Lawrence Market, it’s a 20 minute walk (or you can take the streetcar) to the CN Tower. Going up the CN Tower is absolutely something you must do in Toronto!

If you don’t know, the CN Tower is a Canadian icon. Built from 1973-1975 and standing 553 metres (1,815 feet) tall, it was the tallest freestanding structure in the world until the Burj Khalifa took the title in 2009.

So suffice to say if you’re looking for a great view of Toronto, you’ll find it atop the CN Tower!

I’ve been up the CN Tower a few times as a kid and as an adult. When I brought my now-husband, Colin, to Toronto in 2015, we headed up as it was his first time in Toronto.

So it was extra fun to go back up the tower with him 10 years later – this time with our daughter, his mother and his cousin in tow!

You’ll definitely want to buy your tickets for the CN Tower in advance. You’re booking for a specific time and only ticket holders for that time will be allowed in.

You can book your visit to the CN Tower with the Toronto CityPASS, which gives you discounted admission to Toronto’s top attractions!

After passing through security, you’ll walk through some exhibits sharing the tower’s history, smile for a souvenir photo, and then board one of the elevators to the Main Observation Level.

Riding up the glass elevator is exhilarating (or terrifying, if you don’t like heights). They fly up at a speed of 22 km/hour (13.7 mi/hr), reaching the top in under a minute. For a ride that fast, they’re actually very smooth. But expect your ears to pop!

(Fun fact: You can actually climb the stairs up the CN Tower but only twice a year during their fundraising climbs. Even more fun fact? My stepmom, sister and I did this climb when I was a kid!)

When you reach the Main Observation Level, you can take your time walking around. It’s basically a giant circle with glass windows.

Along the way you’ll find benches, restrooms, window art, and bistros you can get food from with tables and chairs.

I encourage you to walk all the way around the observation deck (don’t worry, it doesn’t take too long). You’ll get different views over the city the entire time, looking out over downtown, Rogers Centre, Lake Ontario, etc.

Plus, by walking around, you’ll be able to find areas that are less crowded and better for photos. Despite visiting in August (aka summer tourist season), we managed to snag lots of great view spots.

After walking the Main Observation Level, head down a flight of stairs to the Lower Observation Level. The views from here aren’t as good (slanted windows with bars) but there are a few places you’ll want to check out.

First: the glass floor. The glass floor is a highlight of visiting the CN Tower and you definitely have to try standing on it – if you’re brave enough! Even though I know the glass is rock solid, I was still shaking inching my toes onto the glass!

On this level you’ll also find some cool art displays, an outdoor section (only the top parts of the windows are open), and a fun little station where you can lean out over the view.

If you really want to experience the view from outside, try the EdgeWalk! And for more great views elsewhere in the world, check out the Brighton i360 in England.

There’s also The Top, which is 33 storeys higher than the Main Observation Level and the highest observation platform in the Western Hemisphere. Note that you do have to pay a supplement ($12 CAD/$9 USD) to go up to this level.

We tried to go up to The Top during our visit and headed to the kiosks on the Main Observation Level to buy our supplemental ticket. But we would’ve had to wait over 30 minutes for the next available time slot, so we skipped it.

So the lesson here: If you want to go up to The Top, buy your supplemental ticket from the kiosks as soon as you reach the Main Observation Level. Then, while you’re waiting for your time slot, you can explore the Main and Lower levels.

Once you’re done soaking in the view, you’ll head back down the elevator (you board these from the Lower Observation Level and may need to line up) and exit through the gift shop.

Or for an even more epic view, take a helicopter ride over the city of Toronto!

Have lunch on board a harbour cruise

From the CN Tower it’s a short walk over to the Toronto Harbour where I recommend you board a harbour cruise to see the city from the water!

Growing up in Toronto, I didn’t know how rare it was to not only have a huge city on a lake but for the lake to be as big as Lake Ontario.

The number one thing I heard from my west coast family visiting Toronto this summer was, “Wow, Lake Ontario is huge! You can’t even see the other end of it!”

Which made me think, “Huh, I guess you can’t!” I had never considered that odd as a child but it really is a unique thing about Toronto. It almost feels like you’re on the ocean (minus the waves and salt water).

So all to say, Toronto Harbour is pretty big and this cruise will feel much more like a sail on a very still ocean, rather than crossing a tiny little lake.

To make the most of your time on the water, book a harbour cruise with lunch included. Or, if you’d rather eat on land, you can just book a sightseeing harbour cruise.

There’s also the ferry you can take over to the Toronto Islands, but unfortunately you don’t have time to explore them properly with only three days in Toronto.

We did a harbour cruise this summer and it provided such a cool view of the city. As you pull out of the harbour, sit on the righthand side for the best views.

You’ll see the Queen Quay Terminal, waterfall building, Toronto Star building, Red Path Sugar and sugar beach, Roger’s Centre and, of course, the CN Tower.

(You’ll also see my aunt and uncle’s condo building as they live right on the harbour front. Hi, Auntie Grace & Uncle Bing!)

Our cruise took us out close to Centre Island on the Toronto Islands, so we got a little taste of the islands even if we didn’t have time to get out and explore them.

And don’t miss a photo off the back of the boat with the entire Toronto skyline behind you. It’s one of the best photo opps in the city!

• Book your cruise with lunch, brunch or dinner here

• Book your sightseeing cruise (no meal) here

Or grab lunch at STACKT Market

If you opted for just the sightseeing harbour cruise, you can grab lunch at STACKT Market. This awesome marketplace is full of tons of food choices, plus other shops and artisans.

There’s also The Well nearby which is worth a walk through for more shopping and cool architecture!

Visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

After your harbour cruise, I recommend spending the rest of your afternoon at the Royal Ontario Museum.

The ROM is one of the top 10 cultural institutions in North America and home to over 18 million artifacts across 40 galleries and exhibits. You could spend an entire week at the ROM and still not experience it all.

I grew up visiting the ROM often with my school or with my parents on the weekends. The dinosaurs were always my favourite part and I remember being terrified of the bat cave (don’t worry, they aren’t real bats!).

Going back as an adult this summer, I’m thrilled to report that the ROM is fun for visitors of all ages! We were a group of six visiting, ranging in age from seven months to 65 years old, and we all loved our visit.

When we visited this summer, the dinosaur exhibit was under construction, but they still had a good number of dinos out for us to see. Next up was a section full of prehistoric animals, which I was really impressed by!

We wandered through the rocks and gems gallery, got up close to large animals in the biodiversity exhibit, and braved the bat cave (which really wasn’t as scary as I remember it being from my childhood).

One of the highlights of our visit was a special space the ROM has created for kids. They had tons of kid-friendly activities, like a dinosaur fossil puzzle and lego, plus a reading nook.

They even had an area for babies, where Baby C could happily roll around on the carpet, play with stuffed dinosaurs and read books.

And there was a bin where you could put any toys your child put in their mouth so they could be disinfected before the next child played with them – brilliant!

Upstairs we wandered through exhibits on Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt, plus a gallery on Asian art before we made our exit. I’m sure we missed a ton though, because the ROM is that big!

Get your tickets to the Royal Ontario Museum here – or save money and visit the ROM as part of your Toronto CityPASS!

Get dinner in Yorkville, the Annex or Koreatown

After all that museum time, you’ve likely worked up an appetite. Luckily you’re right next door to some of Toronto’s best foodie neighbourhoods.

Toronto is known for its delicious food and diverse food neighbourhoods with cuisines from all over the world. From the ROM, you’re a short walk from Yorkville, the Annex and Koreatown.

Here are a few recommended restaurants you can try:

• Gyubee Japanese Grill
• Cafe Landwer
• The Fry
• RASA
• Okonomi House Restaurant
• Petit Potato
• The Owl on Bloor (this is the family restaurant of my friend from high school!)

See a show!

While not as busy as New York’s Broadway or London’s West End, Toronto does have a thriving theatre scene. So while you’re in town, I recommend you see a show!

There are theatres both small and large in Toronto featuring every type of art you can imagine: play, musical, ballet, comedy, symphony, poetry, improv, etc.

Soulpepper Theatre and Mirvish Productions are two of the bigger theatre companies in Toronto. Mirvish owns a few of the big theatres in the city and will often host Broadway touring shows or out-of-town trials.

I’m pretty sure Mirvish had Come From Away and & Juliet before they made their Broadway debuts!

I’ve been lucky enough to see tons of shows in Toronto as a kid and as an adult and can’t recommend a night at the theatre more highly. There’s nothing like seeing people perform live to really wow you.

Day 2: Shopping, eating and more in Downtown Toronto

Once again, buckle up for a busy day in the city!

Stroll through Kensington Market

We’re starting your second day in Toronto the same way we started your first, visiting another vibrant and delicious market!

Kensington Market is actually a neighbourhood, not a single market, where you’ll find tons of independent restaurants and artisan stores. It’s a really fun place to hunt for a unique souvenir or vintage find, and of course, to eat all the best food!

I used to live right near Kensington Market and it was always fun to stroll through. I bought an awesome 80’s dress from one of shops and some truly hideous Christmas sweaters. And I always have to get the Jamaican beef patties!

The best way to visit Kensington Market would be on a food tour. That way, you can learn more about the area and taste all of the best stuff. Book this top-rated Kensington Market food tour and get ready to drool!

If you’re still hungry after your food tour, check out:

• Latin Taste
• Blackbird Baking Co.
• Golden Patty
• The Heartbreak Chef
• Seven Lives Tacos

But don’t eat too much! Because your next stop is more food…

Get dim sum in Chinatown

Right next door to Kensington Market is Chinatown. I was basically raised in Chinatown. My parents both lived in or near Chinatown at different points of my childhood, my elementary school was a few blocks away, and my grandparents lived there (and still do!).

Chinatown was also where we went for every big family dinner, for fresh fruit and groceries, for delicious buns or Vietnamese milkshakes, and, of course, for dim sum.

Rol San is my go-to dim sum spot in Chinatown. It’s where I went as a kid and I’m pretty sure the same guy who ran the host desk and managed that restaurant like a pro still works there.

If you’ve never had dim sum before, think of it as tapas-style Chinese brunch. Everything is served in small dishes and shared family-style.

There are a lot of dumplings, and many of the dishes have pork or shrimp, but there truly is something for everyone. I’ve been to dim sum with vegetarians, pescatarians and non-adventurous eaters and they’ve all loved it!

(However, if you’re gluten-free, dim sum can be tough. My best friend who is gluten-free loves dim sum and was very sad to have to give it up. There is a restaurant in Toronto that serves gluten-free dim sum, Riz 100% Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen, but it’s north of the downtown core.)

Admire the masterpieces at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

Belly full from your Chinatown and Kensington Market adventures, you can walk over to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).

I used to live across the street from the AGO and my school was nearby, so it was a place I visited often. I can remember traipsing through the galleries to find paintings by the Group of Seven (famous Canadian landscape painters of the 1920’s & 1930’s).

The AGO boasts over 120,000 works ranging from contemporary to classical so is somewhere art lovers could easily spend a full day exploring. Inside you’ll find paintings, photography, prints, sculptures and more.

Since you unfortunately don’t have all day to spend at the AGO on this Toronto itinerary, I’d focus primarily on the Canadian Art – both Indigenous art and works by other famous Canadians, like the Group of Seven and Emily Carr.

It would also be worth checking out whatever temporary exhibit is on during your visit. There are also workshops, talks and performances you can attend.

Get your tickets to the Art Gallery of Ontario here!

Be wowed by Yonge & Dundas Square

Yonge & Dundas Square is Toronto’s version of Times Square. Expect to see giant billboards, screens and flashing lights, mobs of tourists, people dressed up and/or trying to sell you something, and lots of shopping.

Young & Dundas is also where you’ll find the Eaton Centre, downtown Toronto’s main shopping mall. This is the shopping mall where I grew up and spent much of my middle and high school years at.

I worked at the Eaton Centre (The Gap and Bath & Body Works), took annual photos in front of the Eaton Centre Christmas tree, and many times sat surrounded by shopping bags on the edge of the big fountain in the centre of the mall.

Fun fact: My parents actually met at the Eaton Centre! They both worked at a restaurant in the mall, Mr. Green Jeans (sadly, now closed), and that’s where they met. A lot of my family actually worked at this same restaurant.

All to say, if you’re looking to do some shopping or want to see the bright city lights, head on down to Yonge & Dundas.

Go shopping on Queen St. West

For even more shopping, walk a few streets over from the Eaton Centre and you’ll be on trendy Queen Street West.

This is another favourite haunt of my youth. My friends and I would shop for CDs at HMV (god, I’m old), try to get seats to tapings of shows at Much Music (Canada’s version of MTV), and browse through all of the clothing and accessory stores.

My dad used to work right off of Queen St W, I worked at Paramount Theatre and a nearby restaurant, my mom and I would often get crepes on Queen St, and even my bank where I got my first credit card is on this street!

Queen Street West has changed a lot since my teenage years – I don’t think you can buy CDs there anymore – but it’s still a very cool place to walk around and shop.

Snap a photo at Nathan Phillips Square

Between the Eaton Centre and Queen St W lies Nathan Phillips Square, the site of Toronto’s City Hall, a skating rink and the Toronto sign.

Nathan Phillips Square is a pretty popular spot in downtown Toronto. In the summer, the fountains are turned on and the square often hosts food trucks and festivals. In the winter, the fountains are turned into an ice rink for public skating.

I did a lot of skating on this ice rink as a kid. I can still remember my sixth grade crush offering to tie my skate laces, which 11 year old me thought was a sign of true love.

The popular Toronto sign now also lives at Nathan Phillips Square. So even if there’s not a festival happening or ice skating available, you at least have to snap a photo with the Toronto sign.

Behind Nathan Phillips Square you’ll see two semi-circular buildings, which are the current Toronto City Hall buildings. And across the street, the much more historic and beautiful building, is Old City Hall.

This summer, they were running tours of Old City Hall, which unfortunately we didn’t get to attend. But check if they’re still on during your Toronto visit!

Wander through U of T campus

North of Nathan Phillips Square is where you’ll find the campus for the University of Toronto. This is the largest university in Canada and often ranked within the top 25 universities in the world!

Like most things on this itinerary, I also have a history with U of T, despite not being a student there. I grew up attending U of T summer camps and lived most of my youth within a few blocks of the campus.

My stepmom worked in the athletic department of U of T, so I also spent a lot of time hanging out at her office by the pools.

I’ve attended plays at U of T, watched sports games and swim meets, dined on campus, hung out in the libraries, and even took photos for my friend’s wedding on the stunning grounds.

Which is why I’m recommending you visit – because parts of U of T are really picturesque. The campus is full of old buildings and beautiful landscaping that anyone is welcome to enjoy. University College and Hart House are two of my favourites.

If you have more time, you can check to see if U of T has any shows or games happening that you can attend.

Eat at my favourite Indian restaurant for dinner

After a full day of downtown exploring, you must be getting hungry again. For night two in Toronto, I’m recommending my favourite Indian restaurant.

Full disclosure: I’m a pretty basic Indian food eater. So yes, I’m about to recommend butter chicken. But I promise this is going to be the best butter chicken you’ve ever had!

The restaurant, aptly named Little India Restaurant, is located back on Queen Street West. My mom discovered the place back when I was in high school and all these years later, it still serves up food that makes my mouth water.

Their butter chicken is lick-the-bowl-clean, cry-if-some-of-it-spills delicious. Seriously, I would bathe in the sauce if I could.

I recommend also ordering their garlicky and doughy naan bread, fragrant shrimp biryani, and stuffed-full veggie samosa (with the chutney, of course!).

PS: Don’t like Indian food? What about Thai? We ate at Le Lert on College Street for my birthday this summer and it was delicious! Really yummy food, colourful drinks and funky decor.

PPS: If you don’t like Indian or Thai (you’re missing out!), you’ll find plenty of other choices for food from all over the globe in downtown Toronto.

Go to a game!

Toronto is the only city in Canada to have NBA basketball, MLB baseball and NHL hockey teams. There’s also MLS soccer and CFL football teams, plus women’s teams for hockey (PWHL) and basketball (WNBA).

And that’s not even counting all of the other, less-televised, professional and semi-professional teams Toronto has, including sports like rugby, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, handball, and more.

So suffice to say, if you’re interested in a sport of any kind, you’ll probably be able to find a game on while you’re visiting Toronto.

I’m not hugely into sports, but have been lucky enough to attend quite a few games in Toronto.

When I was a kid, the Toronto Blue Jays were not a very good team. Which was great for my friends and I, since we could attend games dirt cheap!

My dad has always been a huge Toronto Raptors fan, so I grew up watching basketball games on TV and attending a few games in person. I wore my Vince Carter #15 jersey with pride!

This summer, my husband, Colin, and his mom, went to a Toronto Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre (previously, the Skydome). They had an amazing time (the Jays won!), with the dome open giving them a great view of the CN Tower.

(It also made us much more invested in the Jays’ World Series run in Oct/Nov 2025, which sadly ended in a loss.)

If, like me, you’re not a big sports person, I still encourage you to attend a game in person. The atmosphere in person is way more fun that watching the game on TV – plus there are snacks, merch and always stuff around the arena to enjoy.

Day 3: Explore the east or west side of Toronto

We’ve made it to the last of your 3 days in Toronto and you’ve already packed so much in. Hopefully you’re game for one more day of exploring Canada’s biggest city.

Since you’ve now seen the icons and top museums of the city, plus spent a lot of time downtown, I’m going to introduce you to a different side of Toronto on day three.

Because as much fun as downtown Toronto is, the real reason people fall in love with Toronto, keep coming back or even make their home here, is because of the vibrant, delicious and diverse neighbourhoods all around the city.

Today is choose-your-own-adventure: Do you want to explore the east side of Toronto or the west? Check out my proposed itineraries below to see which one interests you more!

Option 1: East side of Toronto

Shop on the Danforth

The Danforth is one of the most well-known and important streets in Toronto, running east/west on the east side of the city. It follows the subway line, making it very convenient to get around.

The Danforth was originally famous for the Greek population that lived there, and the very delicious Greek food that sprouted up. But it’s evolved to include all kinds of cuisine, plus great parks and shopping.

I used to live by the Danforth (we moved a lot when I was a kid!) and my best friend lives there now. I have family who live in the area, I attended dance and theatre classes on the Danforth, and I worked at a daycare there. So I know the area well!

This summer, Colin, Baby C, our dog Ellie, and I rented an apartment on the Danforth for a few days. This allowed us to explore a different part of the city from where my parents live and hang out with our loved ones who still live there.

Here are a few shops I loved exploring during our time on the Danforth, that I think you’ll enjoy too:

Arts Market

I absolutely loved this place! It’s a huge store (don’t miss the basement) full of little stalls and shelves, each dedicated to a different local artisan.

They had jewelry, clothing, candles, vintage finds, paper goods and so much more. I bought a card but was very tempted by their Toronto-specific bags and t-shirts.

Ampersand Bakehouse

This place has delicious cupcakes and is also a super cute space. They’re very kid-friendly with a full diaper changing station in the bathroom (complete with a diaper genie!) and area for kids with a mat, toys and books.

Little Ones Closet

If you have a small kid, you’ll want to visit this amazing secondhand clothing store. They had a great inventory (lots of pieces, but not so many that it was overwhelming) that was well-organized and very reasonably priced.

The bins at the front where you could get three items for $10 were the best bargain. We ended up buying some much-needed pants for Baby C who was quickly growing out of the ones she had.

Face to Face Games

This is a suggestion from my husband, Colin, who is much more into board games and role-playing games than I am. We went into this store and had a great time browsing the different games on offer.

The staff seemed super knowledgeable and they even have tables at the back, so must host game nights!

Get Greek or Ethiopian for lunch

After a morning of shopping, enjoy the culinary specialties of the Danforth by tucking into a Greek or Ethiopian lunch. Both cuisines are prominent on the Danforth and you’ll find lots of Greek and Ethiopian restaurants to choose from.

We met my friend Jonathan for Ethiopian food while we were staying on the Danforth. We tried to go to Lucy, a well-rated restaurant near us, but they were closed.

So we walked a block or two to Rendez-Vous Ethiopian & Eritrean Restaurant and it was delicious!

I went with one of their meat and veggie platters so I could try a little bit of everything. It was all served on top of injera, a fermented flatbread, that also doubles as your utensil since Ethiopian food is eaten with your hands.

Baby C was a big fan of the injera too!

I can also highly recommend Mezes, a popular Greek restaurant on the Danforth, for your lunch today. We visited with my parents, aunt and uncle, all of whom raved about it!

Mezes is a cool spot with fresh, bright decor and a busy atmosphere. But what makes it is definitely the food. We ordered a bit of everything and it was all delicious. My favourites were the dip platter, calamari and lamb chops!

Spend the afternoon at the Beaches

After lunch, it’s time to hit the beach! Did you know that Toronto has beaches?

It’s true. There’s a neighbourhood on the east side of Toronto called The Beaches. It’s just south of the Danforth, where the city meets Lake Ontario.

No, these aren’t going to be your Caribbean beaches with crystal clear water and palm trees. But for a city in the middle of Canada, these beaches hold up!

I used to live in the Beaches (like I said, I’ve moved a lot!) and loved the neighbourhood of shops and restaurants. Of course, hanging on the actual beach itself is also a lot of fun.

(Though I will say, as a Toronto local, we don’t actually swim in the lake at The Beaches. More times than not, the water was considered unsafe for swimming during my childhood, so I’ve been taught to avoid it. But there’s plenty of other fun to be had!)

While staying on the east end this summer, Colin, Baby C, Ellie and I made a trip down to the Beaches. We had a blast watching a beach volleyball tournament, grabbing lunch and ice cream from the food trucks, and playing on the playground.

Stroll through the Distillery District

Finally, you can end your day on Toronto’s east end by visiting the Distillery District. This picturesque part of Toronto is full of industrial Victorian-era architecture and cobblestone streets.

Lots of movies are filmed here and it’s the site of Toronto’s main Christmas market. As a teenager, I was in a theatre company that performed in the Distillery District, so spent lots of time in the area.

It’s a fun place to stroll around and take photos, or you can spend more time learning about its history on a walking tour or segway tour.

There are lots of places to have dinner and drinks, such as Archeo, Mill Street Brewpub or BOKU Japanese Eats.

Option 2: West side of Toronto

Or, maybe you’ll choose to spend your final day in Toronto on the west side of town. Here’s the itinerary I recommend:

Cafe hop and shop along Ossington Ave

When I was in high school, Ossington was not considered a very cool street. My friend lived on Ossington and I went to a theatre class on the street four times a week. The only things nearby were a Polish bakery, a sketchy Thai place and a laundromat.

Suffice to say, Ossington has had a considerable glow up in the (many) years since I was in high school. It’s now one of the coolest streets in Toronto with so many restaurants, cafes, boutiques and more.

When Colin, Baby C and I visited Ossington this summer, I was so impressed. We started by browsing Cozey, a Canadian furniture store, and then picking up coffee and a sourdough cookie at Dear Grain.

There are lots of cool, higher-end clothing stores on Lower Ossington, mostly out of my price range. But there are some more affordable options too, plus I like to window shop!

Refuel for your morning of shopping by grabbing a coffee and treat at Jimmy’s Coffee, Forget Me Not Coffee or Bakery Cafe Cuervo y Marquis.

Take a break at Trinity Bellwoods Park

Once you’ve browsed or bought to your heart’s content, make your way to Trinity Bellwoods Park.

This large park (it’s 14.6 hectares!) is a favourite amongst Toronto’s west siders. It’s a popular place to meet up for a lunchtime picnic in the summer or for some recreational family-friendly fun.

Within the park you’ll find baseball diamonds, tennis courts, volleyball courts, picnic areas, playgrounds, an ice rink and an off-leash dog area. Something for everyone!

Kick back and enjoy another coffee while relaxing on the grass!

Have lunch at The Lunch Lady

There are tons of great restaurants along Ossington and on Queen St W (the two major streets that border Trinity Bellwoods). But I have to recommend one of my favourite meals we had this summer at The Lunch Lady.

The Lunch Lady is a high-end Vietnamese restaurant on Lower Ossington. It’s definitely a hot spot, so try and make a reservation if you can.

We visited with my friends, Kim and Joe, and their baby. It was great to catch up with them and hilarious to have two little babies at the table, shouting at each other from their high chairs and crawling along the bench seats.

In order to try a bit of everything, we went for the tasting menu. And, while expensive, it was so so delicious! It’s already on my list to go back when we’re in Toronto next year.

My favourite dishes from the tasting menu were the tamarind clams and the perfectly tender steak. We got a side order of pork belly skewers for our kids (yes, our 8 and 11 month olds were eating pork belly!), which were also delicious.

Wander around High Park

After lunch, I suggest you head farther west to spend the afternoon at Toronto’s largest and most famous park, High Park.

High Park is HUGE! I visited regularly as a kid and going back this summer as an adult, I was blown away by what a giant place it is. You would need multiple days to cover it all.

Since you only have an afternoon, choose one part of High Park to explore based on your interests.

If you’ve got kids with you, the Jamie Bell Playground is a hit. It’s designed to look like a castle, which I really enjoyed as a child. This summer, the day camp kids were tearing that place up!

If the weather is nice, there’s an outdoor pool, a wading pool and a splash pad. Or if you’re visiting in winter, there’s an ice rink.

You can catch a show at the Canadian Stage Amphitheatre, ride the Trackless Train, take a self-guided public art walk through the park, visit the Colborne Lodge Museum, and see animals at the High Park Zoo!

I had forgotten all about the zoo so it was a nice surprise when we visited High Park with my dad this summer. We all enjoyed seeing the animals on display (and it’s free!).

Of course, there are tons of trails and gardens to explore at High Park. There’s a cafe if you get hungry, and lots of spots for a scenic picnic.

We had a fun afternoon with my friend and her daughter just walking around Grenadier Pond and playing on the grass in the park.

Let’s Go to the Ex (oh, baby!)*

The Canadian National Exhibition (aka The CNE aka The Ex) is an institution and a core memory of many Toronto summers. It’s Canada’s biggest annual fair and has been running for over 150 years.

The Ex has something for everyone: amusement park rides and fair games, huge pavilions full of stores, plenty of food trucks with interesting eats, plus a petting zoo, concert stage, airshow, parades, tournaments, shows and more!

Sounds great, right? It definitely can be! But it can also be crowded and overpriced (though there are tons of ways to get discounted entry tickets, particularly if you buy them in advance).

If you are in town when the CNE is on, I think it’s worth going to (especially if you’ve got kids with you). Even if it’s a little chaotic, it’s still a good time.

That being said, the Ex is only open for the final two weeks of August leading up to Labour Day in September. So you’ve got a short window to visit!

PS: If you’re not visiting Toronto during that time period, you can spend your final night attending another show or sports game, hitting up a local festival, or just enjoying a leisurely dinner or night out.

There’s always something to do in Toronto!

*= “Let’s go to the Ex (oh, baby!)” was a popular jingle on the radio that advertised the Ex each summer

Have extra time in Toronto?

I packed quite a bit into your three days in the city. But believe it or not, there’s even more to see and do in Toronto!

If you have a few more days, here are eight more suggestions to fill your Toronto itinerary:

1. Visit the Toronto Zoo

I grew up going to the zoo and we visited again this summer with Baby C and it was such a blast. The Toronto Zoo is huge (you could easily spend a full day there) and just northeast of the city.

2. Visit Ripley’s Aquarium

For another large space filled with animals, check out Ripley’s Aquarium. We visited this summer and really loved walking through the underwater cave (but be warned, this place gets busy!).

3. Spend a day on the Toronto Islands

In my itinerary above, I recommend a harbour cruise. But if you have more time, you can take the ferry boat over to the Toronto Islands and spend half a day strolling around and going on rides at Centreville Amusement Park.

4. Take a day trip to Niagara Falls

Visiting Niagara Falls is a must-do experience while visiting Toronto. I’ve been a few times but we took my mother-in-law this summer for her first trip and she loved it.

Check out my guide on how to plan a Niagara Falls trip from Toronto!

5. Tour the Hockey Hall of Fame

I did this with Colin when he first visited Toronto with me in 2015 and despite not being a huge hockey fan myself, I had a ton of fun! Colin, who is a huge hockey fan, also really enjoyed the visit.

6. Visit Casa Loma

Did you know Toronto has its own castle? While not as extravagant as a French chateau in the Loire Valley, Casa Loma is pretty dreamy! Get your Casa Loma tickets here.

7. Explore more Toronto neighbourhoods

My itinerary above took you to a few cool places in the city but there’s plenty more to explore. Plus, there’s so much more great Toronto food to eat!

Go for drinks and dinner in Little Italy, check out the scenery at Scarborough Bluffs, vintage shop in the Junction, admire the homes in Forest Hill, and eat foods from all over the world!

8. Slow down my itinerary above

If you have more time in Toronto, another idea would be to follow my original 3-day itinerary above but at a slower pace. You could easily stretch that itinerary out over four or five days and not have to jam so much into each day.

That would also give you time to do both the east and west side options from Day 3!

PS: The Toronto Zoo, Ripley’s Aquarium and Casa Loma are all included in the Toronto CityPASS. Buy the pass to save almost 50% on admission!

Where to stay in Toronto

For the first 18 years of my life, I lived in Toronto full time but as you’ve read in the itinerary above, I moved around the city A LOT. So I’m familiar with many of the neighbourhoods.

There are lots of cool places in the city where it would be fun to stay so you can soak in the atmosphere, eat at great restaurants, etc. Places like the Danforth, Lower Ossington and Kensington Market would be great for this.

But most of the hotels are concentrated around downtown Toronto and so are many of the city’s icons you’ll want to visit, like the CN Tower and Harbourfront. So it might make more sense logistically to be downtown.

No matter where you choose to stay in the city, prioritize being on a major transit line, preferably by a subway station. As I’ll get into in the next section, being by transit will make it much easier for you to get around.

How to get around Toronto

If you’re able to base yourself right in the heart of downtown Toronto, you can do a lot of my suggested itinerary above on foot.

If mobility is an issue or for anything that’s too far away to walk, hop on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). The TTC is Toronto’s network of public transportation buses, streetcars and subways.

Every Torontonian will gripe about the TTC (it’s a favourite pastime) but truthfully, it’s not so bad. It will get you where you need to go relatively quickly, reliably and affordably.

The TTC stretches from downtown Toronto all the way out to the suburbs of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. But it’s largest concentration of buses, streetcars and subways will be in the downtown core.

I would strongly recommend NOT driving in Toronto. For one, you don’t need to. The city is very accessible on foot or by TTC.

But more importantly, driving in Toronto is the worst. If you think Torontonians complain about the TTC, just get them started on city traffic!

Toronto’s traffic is awful. We borrowed my parents’ car a lot this summer and often found ourselves stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It’d be 2pm on a Tuesday in the suburbs and we’d still hit traffic!

It was impossible to predict when we’d arrive anywhere. What Google said would be a 20 minute drive quickly became a 45 minute drive thanks to traffic.

And once you finally get wherever you’re headed in your car (late and frustrated, because of the traffic), you’ll then have to pay out the nose for parking.

I hope I’ve sufficiently scared you off driving in Toronto (please, don’t do it!). Besides the TTC, Toronto also has bike share programs, GO Transit if you’re staying farther out, taxis, and ride share programs (Uber, etc).

My top 3 tips to make the most of your 3 days in Toronto

In order to make the most of your three days in Toronto, here are my top three insider tips:

1) Check event schedules ahead of time

There’s always something going on in Toronto no matter when you visit – from Broadway shows and professional sports games to huge concerts, festivals and markets.

Make sure you check out what’s going on during your trip dates so you don’t miss out. The City of Toronto website, Destination Toronto and Blog TO are good places to see what’s on.

2) Dress for the weather

Toronto is a city of extremes. It can be boiling hot in the summer and absolutely freezing in the winter. The weather can change a lot from day to day, so you want to be prepared.

Don’t just look at the temperature either – factor in precipitation, humidex and wind chill. 5C on a sunny day is very different than 5C in the pouring rain that feels like -5C because of the wind chill.

3) Embrace Toronto’s multiculturalism

One of my favourite things about Toronto is how multicultural the city is. It’s the reason why the city is so vibrant (and delicious!).

While you’re visiting, be sure to check out the different international neighbourhoods in Toronto and definitely dig into some new cuisines. You’ll find some of the best food in the world in Toronto, so don’t miss out!

Wrapping up your Toronto itinerary

So with my tips and itinerary above, I hope you have an incredible three days in Toronto. There really is so much to see, do and eat in the city that I’m sure you’ll be coming back for more.

I took Toronto for granted growing up there. But as I visit each year as an adult and reflect on my childhood, I realize I was so lucky to have grown up in such a diverse, exciting city.

Sure, the traffic sucks. And a humid August day in Toronto isn’t fun.

But it’s hard to beat delicious dim sum, riding the ferry to the Toronto Islands, cheering on the Raptors, seeing a Mirvish theatre show and, of course, spending time with all my friends and family!

I hope you enjoy visiting Toronto and it wins a place in your heart.

Don’t forget: If you’re going to places like the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium and Toronto Zoo, you can save tons of money with the Toronto CityPASS.

Check out my full Toronto CityPASS review to see if it’s right for you! Or start planning your Toronto day trip to Niagara Falls with my guide.