Stories · Canada
5 days in Toronto
Not a list: a thread to follow, at your own pace.
Toronto is earned slowly. This story follows a simple logic: the icons early in the morning, the neighbourhoods when the city wakes up, and evenings left to chance. 5 days, one thread, no stress.
Day 1 · Museums and culture
To start, it’s Art Gallery of Ontario. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (20,000 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise also check Tiqets.
Late morning, meet me at Rogers Centre. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.6 out of 5 across 40,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.
Lunch without a plan: the first noisy room you pass is often the right one.
In the afternoon, I make my way to St. Lawrence Market. This is where the city looks most like itself. Walk slowly, look at the shopfronts, listen. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 44,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: how to get there · what visitors say.
Keep the evening free. Toronto is a city that tells itself better at night.
Day 2 · The icons
In the morning, head to High Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.7 out of 5 across 27,263 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise go through Tiqets.
Then, I make my way to Rodney The Tree. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Travellers give it 4.9 out of 5 (324 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around ON M6R 2Z3: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
Later, head to Princes' Gates. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. 4.6 out of 5 across 974 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Toronto does the rest.
Day 3 · Museums and culture
Early in the morning, meet me at Hockey Hall of Fame. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (8,055 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
Around noon, it’s Allen Lambert Galleria. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (222 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.
For lunch, ON M5E 1X8 is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
After lunch, meet me at Berczy Park. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (3,922 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Toronto does the rest.
Day 4 · Museums and culture
In the morning, meet me at Royal Ontario Museum. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.7 out of 5 (44,307 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.
Around noon, it’s The Yorkville Rock. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. 4.6 out of 5 across 277 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
At lunchtime, stay around ON M5R 1A6: a noisy room, a dish of the day, and you’ve understood everything.
After lunch, I make my way to Village of Yorkville Park. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Travellers give it 4.5 out of 5 (2,036 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: here is the route by public transport; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Toronto does the rest.
Day 5 · With the family
In the morning, I make my way to CN Tower. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (89,958 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or also check Tiqets.
Late morning, I make my way to EdgeWalk at the CN Tower. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Travellers give it 4.8 out of 5 (839 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.
For lunch, ON M5V 3L9 is full of options: trust the rooms full of locals rather than the menus translated into six languages.
Later, I make my way to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. The kids will still be talking about it weeks later. So will the adults, though they admit it less. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 70,910 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise also check Tiqets.
In the evening, let go: a terrace, a walk, and Toronto does the rest.
If you’re still hungry
Other places I wish I could have fitted in: Nathan Phillips Square, Casa Loma, Allan Gardens, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto Zoo and Toronto Skyline Viewpoint. Slip them in wherever a day feels light.
My advice
Walk. Then take public transport: that is where you see the city live.
Book the busiest places the day before: queues have ruined more than one morning.
Keep a little local cash: the best addresses are often the least equipped.
And if you go, tell me what you loved. Toronto changes, and so do I.
A Triovol story · written by someone who would go back tomorrow
Opening hours, prices and closures change: a quick look at the venue’s website before you go avoids bad surprises.