As the most populous city in Canada, Toronto is near the top of the list for places to visit in Canada. With sights like the CN Tower and Casa Loma, the city is also a great jumping off point for traveling to Niagara Falls. Situated in the southern part of Ontario, Toronto lies right on the shores of Lake Ontario, directly across from Buffalo. While you could spend years exploring different parts of Toronto, you could get a good taste of the city in just three days. Below is the itinerary I used when visiting Toronto, and I was very satisfied with my trip afterwards.
Day 1 - Toronto Islands & CN Tower
Start your stay in Toronto by getting out on the water with a visit to the Toronto Islands. Located just a short ferry ride away, the islands offer a bit of an escape from the city life with beaches, ponds, parks, and gardens. Spend a few hours taking in the islands, which offer some of the best skyline views of Toronto, headlined by the world famous CN Tower.
In the evening, head to the CN Tower for dinner at their restaurant. Located at the top of the tower, the restaurant offers 360 degree views over the city, while slowly rotating in a circle. You can visit the tower without going to the restaurant, but for just a bit more to eat and enjoy your time there, it is worth planning ahead.
Day 2 - Niagara Falls
Although it is not technically in Toronto, if you are visiting for a few days and you are this close to one of the most well known waterfalls in the world, you need to make the trip to go see it. Niagara Falls is about an hour and a half away from Toronto which makes for a perfect day trip. You can easily see the falls in half a day, but if you like to take things slow or want to get wild at the nearby wineries, you can opt to spend the night.
There are a few ways to see Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. The easiest (and cheapest) way is to walk the boardwalk alongside the falls. It will be crowded but you can find many different vantage points to admire the falls. To get a closer experience with more unique views, you can either take a boat ride or Journey Behind the Falls.
Experience the falls from the water with Niagara City Cruises. Truly get a sense of how powerful the falls are by getting up close and personal, but you will get soaked!
Journey Behind the Falls is another incredible option which will give you some of the best views of the falls. Walk through tunnels carved into the rock which open up right next to the falls, giving you unique views of Niagara Falls that you can’t get anywhere else. This is what I did on my trip and loved it. For more about my experience, check out Visiting Niagara Falls.
After visiting the falls, consider a 30 minute trip north to the beautiful Niagara on the Lake, a region filled with some of Canada’s top wineries. For an extra fun day, rent bikes and cycle your way from winery to winery.
After a full Niagara day, head back to Toronto by train or car.
Day 3 - Casa Loma & Toronto's Lakeshore
On your final day in Toronto, spend a few hours of your morning visiting Casa Loma, a castle-styled mansion that is now a museum and garden. They offer Symphony in the Gardens and various shows and concerts throughout the year. It’s best to book online in advance to plan your visit.
After Casa Loma you can take the day at a slower pace by walking along Toronto’s scenic Lakeshore. Soak in the views of the islands and of downtown Toronto. Cross over the Humber Bay Arch Bridge and enjoy your morning coffee by the water, or pack a lunch for a relaxing picnic.
Continue your walk through High Park, which is full of beautiful gardens, forest, ponds, and it even has a small outdoor zoo that is free to pass through. Spend the evening grabbing dinner and exploring more of Toronto’s bustling nightlife.
Three days is a great amount of time to take in Toronto while also getting to make a day trip visit to Niagara Falls. Include Toronto in your next trip to Canada and explore this fantastic city.
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