Toronto is Canada's largest city and one of the most culturally diverse places in the world. The 553-metre CN Tower stands tall on the shore of Lake Ontario as a landmark with no real rival. Here you'll find historic quarters tucked into small lanes, a castle in the middle of the city, a quiet island just 15 minutes offshore, and a fresh market that's been open for more than 200 years. The real thing to know is that winter (December to March) gets bitterly cold, down to minus 20 degrees, so if you come then you need to pack serious cold-weather gear. But summer through autumn (June to October) is comfortable and genuinely beautiful.
#1 CN Tower
The landmark tower of Toronto and Canada, 553 metres tall, it was the tallest structure in the world for 34 years, right up until 2010. The LookOut at 346 metres gives you a 360-degree panorama of Lake Ontario and the city skyline. The SkyPod's glass floor lets you look straight down to the street below, while the EdgeWalk lets you walk around the outside of the tower at 356 metres with nothing between you and the drop — made for people who love an adrenaline hit.
- Book tickets online in advance at cntower.ca, CAD 43-50 per person, which helps you skip a lot of the long queue.
- Go in the morning, 9:00-10:00, before the tour groups arrive — the view is clearer and the photos come out better.
- The 360 Restaurant on the tower rotates slowly through a full turn; lunch is cheaper than dinner and includes tower admission.
#2 Royal Ontario Museum
The largest museum in Canada and one of the top 10 in the world, with a collection of more than 13 million pieces spanning natural history, archaeology and world cultures. The highlight is the newly expanded dinosaur hall enlarged in 2025, along with an Egyptian collection, Greek and Roman antiquities, and Asian art that's remarkably complete for the Western Hemisphere. The building itself is well worth seeing — the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal extension, designed by Daniel Libeskind, is a very bold piece of architecture.
- Admission is CAD 25-30 per adult; the Toronto CityPASS already includes the ROM, which saves you a lot.
- On some Tuesdays there's ROM After Dark, open until 21:30 and aimed at adults in particular.
- Pick up a building map at the counter first — with several floors and several wings it's very easy to get lost.
#3 Casa Loma
A European-style Gothic castle in the middle of Toronto, built by businessman Sir Henry Pellatt between 1911 and 1914 for 3.5 million Canadian dollars in the money of the day. Inside there are 98 rooms, secret tunnels, two towers, an armoury and beautiful marble stables. The front gardens are planted with seasonal flowers, and the view from the tower takes in the CN Tower and the Toronto skyline clearly. It's been used as a filming location for many movies, including X-Men.
- Admission is CAD 30-35 including the secret tunnels; open every day 9:30-17:00.
- Wear flat shoes because you'll be climbing several flights of stairs, and you have to duck your head in parts of the secret tunnels.
- The Blueblood Steakhouse inside the castle serves good-quality food; book ahead if you really want to eat inside the castle.
#4 Toronto Islands
A cluster of small islands in the middle of Lake Ontario that act as Torontonians' green lungs. It's only a 15-minute ferry ride from the Jack Layton terminal, but the atmosphere is quiet and completely different from the city. Centre Island has the Centreville amusement park, good for families with kids, while Ward's Island is calmer and better for cycling and picnics. The best view of the Toronto skyline is from these islands — a spot photographers from all over the world love.
- The return ferry fare is CAD 9 per adult, leaving every 15-30 minutes from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.
- Rent a bike at the dock on Centre Island for about CAD 15-20 an hour and ride around the islands all day.
- Summer weekends get very crowded and the ferry wait gets long — better to go on a weekday or in the morning before 10.
#5 St. Lawrence Market
A fresh market that National Geographic ranked the best food market in the world in 2012. It's been open since 1803 — more than 220 years. Inside the historic building there are over 120 stalls selling meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables, seafood, bread and ready-to-eat food. The signature item is the peameal bacon sandwich, hot fried slices of Canadian pork rolled in cornmeal that you'll only find here in the whole world. The prices are reasonable and the quality is excellent.
- Open Tuesday to Saturday 5:00-19:00; on Sunday there's an additional antique market, and it's closed Monday.
- You have to try the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery — the queue is long but well worth it, around CAD 7-8.
- The ground floor is the fresh market; upstairs has a range of prepared-food stalls, good for breakfast or lunch in the old-market atmosphere.
#6 Distillery District
A creative quarter set in Victorian whisky-distillery buildings more than 150 years old, so well restored that it's been listed as a national architectural heritage site of Canada. Today it's full of art galleries, artists' studios, cafes, fine restaurants and a theatre. The old cobblestone walkways are closed to cars, which keeps the atmosphere quiet. During the Christmas season the tea market and lights are the most beautiful in Canada.
- Free to enter, open every day; most shops are open 11:00-18:00, but the restaurants stay open late.
- During the Toronto Christmas Market (late November to December) it gets very crowded — better on a weekday evening.
- Try the Mill Street Brew Pub, local craft beer in a genuine old distillery building, a lovely setting for dinner.
Where to stay in Toronto for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Toronto — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
The Hazelton Hotel
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Le Germain Hotel Toronto Maple Leaf Square
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Four Seasons Hotel Toronto at Yorkville
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details
Tours, tickets & activities in Toronto
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Toronto — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Before You Pack
Toronto is at its most beautiful in autumn (September to October), when the leaves turn yellow and red right across the city, and in summer (June to August), when the weather is warm and the Waterfront is lively. Plan for at least 3-4 days to take in all the highlights. The Toronto CityPASS can save you as much as 40% on admission to the main attractions.