Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. Meaning that at no additional cost to you, We earn a small commission if you make a purchase. We only recommend companies we've used and trust and the income goes to keeping our site running and ad free. Read our full disclosures and privacy policy here.
Toronto is a city found on Lake Ontario opposite from Rochester, New York. As one of the largest cities in Canada, there is so much to do in Toronto. There are so many things to do that a long weekend is really just dipping your toes into the water. Luckily, a close hop from the US makes for an easy long weekend in Toronto.
Shortly after some of our closest friends moved to Toronto, we decided to head over to visit them. Planning a weekend trip to Toronto was hard because there was simply so much we wanted to see. Here we will detail all the must-see touristy things and which ones are worth skipping.
Learn everything about Toronto with our Toronto City Guide!
First-Time Visitors Itinerary for a 48 Hour Weekend in Toronto
Well, here it is! The itinerary for a long weekend in Toronto. I find that going Saturday-Monday is better in terms of crowds. So we are operating on the assumption that you’re arriving in Toronto late Friday night and Day 1 is Saturday morning.
Day 1: See the Top Tourist Destinations
Morning:
We start the day by making our way down to the Kensington Market area of Toronto. There is a trolley that stops nearby. This area is near Chinatown. So there will be plenty to see when walking around.
Of course, you need breakfast when you’re out! There are a couple of great options in Kensington Market and Chinatown. We went to Fika because it looked like such a fun and relaxing cafe. It is based on the Swedish term of Fika with delicious Swedish treats.
Once breakfast is complete, set forth and explore for the rest of the morning making your way through Chinatown and towards downtown (University Avenue). From here we will head towards lunch and some of the more iconic Toronto tourist sights.
A weekend in Toronto would not be complete without some poutine! So for lunch, we shall get ourselves some poutine. Either by trolley or by walking there. It is about a 20-minute walk from FIKA to Smoke’s Poutinerie in Adelaide.
Smoke’s Poutinerie has several locations within Toronto, but this one will bring you to Old Toronto. We will do some more in-depth exploring of Old Toronto tomorrow. For today we will get poutine and head over to the CN Tower.
Afternoon
The CN Tower was the tallest structure in the world until the Burj Khalifa was built. As a tourist attraction, you can go to the top to get an incredible view of the whole city. Additionally, you can do a “tower walk” which allows you to rappel on the outside of the top of CN Tower. I wanted to do this one, but Larry was not interested.
Not everyone finds the CN Tower to be that interesting and may choose to skip it, if that’s the case for you then I’d recommend roaming around downtown and slowly making your way to Dundas Square.
There are some wonderful, large malls near Dundas Square. There is also the Toronto sign that is great for photos. I will say Dundas Square is pretty underwhelming, but it’s a decent anchor to head to dinner.
For the first day, we recommend making a reservation at O. Noir for a unique dinner option. It’s one of the few dining-in-the-dark options in Canada. Check out our whole review here. A reservation is required for dinner here and then walking around the Church-Wellesley area. O.Noir is about 10 minutes away on the yellow line.
Enjoy exploring this area after dinner. Maybe get a second dessert (our preference). That mostly wraps up day 1!!
Day 2: Explore Unique Spots
Morning
Another glorious day in Toronto for our weekend trip! We are going to head out to get breakfast first then enjoy some more exploring of Toronto. For Brunch we will be heading over to What A Bagel. They have so many delicious options for breakfast that are all bagel themed.
From breakfast, we will be heading over to St. Lawrence Market. This large market has so many different vendors and artisans. Everything from groceries, butchers, and huge swaths of rice & spices. It is such a fun place to explore. It is about a 30-minute walk from breakfast or a 20-minute ride on the red line.
I really enjoy exploring different markets in different cities when we visit. I think it really gives you a unique insight into the local culture. From St. Lawrence Market we will slowly roam down to the Distillery District. It is a 13-minute walk to the Distillery District.
This lovely area of Old Toronto includes many different buildings to explore, some cute shops, cafes, and wonderful lunch spots. With all the walking around this weekend in Toronto, the Distillery District is a great place for a lunch break.
Afternoon
Once you’re done exploring the Distillery District we are going to backtrack a little towards Koreatown. It is quite a far walk so I’d recommend taking the train, but if you feel up to getting more steps in go for it! We actually stopped for a snack/dessert at the Poop Cafe in Koreatown.
From Koreatown, you’ll explore that area on the way to Queen Street West. Queen Street West is a popular area in town that includes many restaurants and shopping. They even have a lab that allows you to make your own lipsticks!
Along Queen Street West and Richmond Street West is Graffiti Alley. This fun alley has so many different murals which really speak to the personality of Toronto. Another fun stop after selecting dinner in this area is heading over to On Third Thought to get some delicious ice cream. We got some Mexican food at Queen Street West, but there are so many tasty options. This area is a great place to explore as you close out your day 2!
Optional Day 3 in Toronto
Last day of our weekend in Toronto! We will be traveling home this evening so we want to do something that’s fun, but also pretty relaxed.
So we will be heading over to the BATA Shoe Museum or the Royal Ontario Museum. Before that, we obviously have to get breakfast! Given that we will be near the University of Toronto there are many different cafes for breakfast. My choice is Egg Bae.
From here you can walk through the University of Toronto and either hit up the BATA Shoe Museum or the Royal Ontario Museum. If you don’t take a lot of time you could probably go to both the museums. I love shoes so off to BATA we went!
Before heading to the airport I’d recommend getting lunch. The train station is across the street from the BATA and takes about 40 minutes to get to the airport. You do have to change trains so I’d recommend either getting lunch near the museum or where you change trains towards the airport.
Travel home!
Additional Things to do in Toronto
Of course, there are many additional things to do on a weekend in Toronto. I couldn’t include all of it this weekend, but it’s possible some of the activities are not fun for you so you might want to swap it out for something else.
Niagara Falls
A short drive out of Toronto is Niagara Falls. This impressive waterfall is a must-see. It sits on the border between the US and Canada. There are many wonderful tours to get you to Niagara Falls so you don’t need to rent a car.
Check out this fun tour of Niagara Falls including a misty boat ride!
Toronto Islands
Since Toronto is on the lake of course there are some islands floating out there! There are many fun things to do on the Toronto Islands. If you visit Toronto in the summer then the islands should make it onto your weekend itinerary. There is an amusement park, some beaches, and beautiful views of the Toronto skyline.
Science Centre
A little out of the city, the Ontario Science Centre can be a must-see for many. Larry and I really enjoy going to science museums. If you are traveling with children this one can be a must-do! There are so many interactive exhibits for children to play with.
Explore AGO
If you are an art lover then the Art Gallery of Ontario is for you! Located in downtown Toronto, you will pass by the AGO when you’re walking from Chinatown to Downtown. So if you want to add this to a pit stop it fits in perfectly on Day 1.
Foodie Tour
There are many great food tours in Toronto. This one is in the Kensington Market area which allows you to try a bunch of different international foods. If you’re a beer lover check out this beer food tour that takes you through several historical pubs in Toronto.
There are so many delicious places to eat in Toronto. Check out some of our favorites here.
Casa Lomo
A little north of the University of Toronto is Casa Lomo Toronto’s Castle. This beautiful castle was built in 1914 and is seen as a heritage site of Canada. It is open to the public for tours and to explore the beautiful gardens. If the BATA Museum or the Royal Ontario Museum don’t speak to you then Casa Lomo might.
Take Fun Day Trips
There are so many amazing day trips to take from Toronto. You don’t only have to go to Niagara Falls. There are over 20 different fun destinations you could go to as a quick day trip from Toronto. These spots range from fun water activities like Wasaga Beach to charming small towns in Brantford or even to get some skiing in. There truly is so much to do in the greater Toronto area.
Things to Know about Spending 48 Hours in Toronto
Best Time to Visit Toronto
Winters in Toronto and most of Canada for that matter can be tough. Winters are good for snow-related outdoor activities, but I would avoid Toronto then. You’ll end up missing out on a lot. Summers can be enjoyable as the breeze that comes off the lake makes the heat easier to manage.
We actually went in the fall for Canadian Thanksgiving. Since it was still the beginning of fall, we got cool weather, no rain, and the ability to visit so much of the city. I would highly recommend going to Toronto during the fall, especially early fall like October.
How to Get Around Toronto
Toronto has public transportation that is very accessible. They have buses, trolleys, and underground trains. We used public transportation and it was very easy to use and navigate.
There is a train from the airport that takes you downtown, but you’ll need to purchase a different ticket to ride the local transportation within Toronto.
For your weekend in Toronto, I’d recommend getting a PRESTO card with a day pass. The fare is $13.50 for each day pass. This will take you on all the different modes of transportation and you don’t have to worry about walking too much.
Toronto is a very walkable city! Between trolley stops and bus stops, you can really walk around to see many different tourist locations. We walked a lot throughout Toronto. Google Maps worked great to give us the difference between the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and walking.
Best Places to Stay in Toronto
✅ DoubleTree Toronto Downtown: This is a centrally located hotel! A couple of blocks from both Dundas Square and the Toronto Sign. By being downtown you are close to all the different public transportation stations.
✅ The Omni King: This is a fun, luxurious hotel. Found in Old Toronto you will be centrally located so most of the activities for your weekend in Toronto.
✅ Westin Harbor: With beautiful views of the Lake, this hotel lets you enjoy the beauty of Toronto’s waterfront. This one is particularly great for summer.
Final Thoughts: A Weekend in Toronto
Toronto truly has so much to offer for a nice weekend getaway. As such a large and diverse city you can experience so many different cultures and foods here. While a weekend in Toronto may not feel like enough time, it’s the perfect way to get your feet wet in Canada before visiting for longer.
