A one week Toronto itinerary lets you see Toronto the way locals do — not as a checklist of skyline photos but as a working metropolis with neighbourhoods, ravines, museums, and the day trips (Niagara, Prince Edward County, Stratford) that round out the experience. Seven days gives you time for the iconic Toronto attractions and the deeper exploration: a half-day hike in the Don Valley, a Saturday at Kensington’s farmers market, a sunset paddle on the harbour, a day at Niagara wine country. This itinerary was built around a real first-time visitor’s pace and includes flexibility for weather, energy levels, and personal interests. By Day 7, you’ll have a Toronto memory map that includes the iconic, the local-favourite, and one or two stories you’ll tell when people ask “what’s Toronto like?”
Week-at-a-glance
| Day | Theme | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iconic skyline | CN Tower, Ripley’s, Distillery District, BarChef |
| 2 | Toronto Islands + Queen West | Ferry, Kensington Market, AGO, Ossington dinner |
| 3 | Casa Loma + Yorkville | Casa Loma, ROM, Yorkville luxury, Park Hyatt sunset |
| 4 | Niagara Falls day trip | Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries |
| 5 | Outdoor and ravines | Don Valley hike, Brick Works, Eglinton/Leaside lunch |
| 6 | Multi-cultural Toronto | Greektown, Little Italy, Chinatown, Indian Bazaar |
| 7 | Final flex day | Choice: Wonderland, Hockey Hall, Stratford, or Caribana |
Day 1: The iconic Toronto skyline
Follow Day 1 of our 3-day Toronto itinerary: morning at the Distillery District, midday at the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium, lunch at St. Lawrence Market, dinner and rooftop drinks. You can buy the Toronto CityPASS now to cover Days 1, 3, and 4. See our Toronto CityPASS guide.
Day 2: Toronto Islands and Queen West
Follow Day 2 of our 3-day Toronto itinerary: brunch in the Beaches, ferry to Toronto Islands for 3 hours, late lunch in Kensington Market, AGO, Ossington dinner, optional live music. See our Toronto Islands guide and Kensington Market guide.
Day 3: Casa Loma, ROM, and Yorkville
Follow Day 3 of our 3-day Toronto itinerary: breakfast in the Annex, Casa Loma morning, Yorkville lunch, ROM afternoon, luxury shopping, Park Hyatt rooftop, high-end dinner. See our Casa Loma guide, ROM guide, and luxury shopping Toronto.
Day 4: Niagara Falls day trip
7:00am — Early start
Niagara Falls works best as a full day. Several options to get there:
Self-drive: 90 minutes via the QEW. Rent a car for the day from Pearson Airport or downtown — see our car rental Toronto guide.
GO Train + WeGo bus: The GO Train runs to Niagara Falls (2 hours) seasonal weekends; the WeGo bus connects to all major attractions. Round-trip $40.
Day tour: Several Toronto operators run organized day trips — the popular Niagara Falls Tour from Toronto ($90–$150) includes pickup, falls visit, niagara-on-the-lake winery stop, and pickup. Easiest option for non-drivers.
10:00am — Niagara Falls
Park or arrive at the Niagara Parkway. The Hornblower Niagara Cruise (the Canadian counterpart to the U.S. Maid of the Mist) takes you up to the base of the Horseshoe Falls — adult $35, allow 90 minutes including queue. The Journey Behind the Falls (a tunnel into the rock behind the falls) is the second-best value.
2:00pm — Niagara-on-the-Lake
15 minutes from the falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) is a preserved colonial town that’s also Canada’s wine-tasting capital. Stop at Inniskillin Wines (the world’s most-recognized ice wine producer) and Peller Estates. Lunch at Peller Estates Restaurant or the more casual Backhouse.
5:00pm — Drive back to Toronto
Allow extra time on summer Sunday afternoons (holiday traffic). Aim to be back downtown by 7pm. See our full Niagara Falls from Toronto guide.
8:00pm — Casual dinner
You’ll be tired. Stay in the neighbourhood of your hotel. Pizzeria Libretto (multiple locations) or Mother India (multiple locations) are both excellent low-key Day 4 options.
Day 5: Outdoor Toronto and the ravines
9:00am — Coffee at Ezra’s Pound
Start at Ezra’s Pound (238 Ossington Ave) for coffee and pastry — the West Queen West local favourite.
10:00am — Don Valley / Brick Works hike
Take an Uber or the 28A Davisville bus to the Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Ave). The Brick Works combines a historic 1889 brick factory turned sustainability centre, a Saturday farmers market (best in the city), and the trailhead for the Don Valley loop. Walk the 5 km Brick Works–Beltline–Mt Pleasant Cemetery–Don Valley loop (allow 90 minutes). See our hiking trails Toronto guide.
12:30pm — Lunch in Mount Pleasant Village
Mount Pleasant Village is the underrated north-end neighbourhood. The Federal Bistro (621 Mount Pleasant Rd) for an excellent French lunch, or Edna + Vita for the city’s best Italian sandwich.
2:30pm — Casa Loma gardens / Sherwood Park
Walk west along Eglinton or south down Yonge to Sherwood Park (190 Sherwood Ave), one of the prettiest mid-Toronto neighbourhoods. Or visit Spadina Museum (next door to Casa Loma) — a 1866 Victorian mansion with original furniture.
4:30pm — Coffee and a book
Take the 1 University-Spadina south to Bloor, walk to Type Books (883 Queen W). Browse Toronto’s best independent bookstore — particularly strong on Canadian fiction and essays.
6:30pm — Dinner at Aloette
Day 5’s dinner at Aloette (163 Spadina, ground floor below the Michelin-starred Alo) — Aloette is the brunch-and-dinner counterpart, casual but excellent French-Canadian, no reservation needed but expect a 30-minute wait.
9:00pm — Quiet drinks
The Cloak Bar (488 College, hidden behind a tailoring shop) for a speakeasy cocktail, or Bar Raval (505 College) for a lively nightcap. See our best bars in Toronto.
Day 6: Multi-cultural Toronto
9:00am — Greek breakfast in Greektown
Take the 506 Carlton streetcar east or the Bloor-Danforth subway to Pape, then walk south to Mr. Greek’s (568 Danforth Ave) for Greek breakfast — eggs with grilled halloumi and Greek toast. Or for a sit-down brunch, Pantheon (407 Danforth Ave).
10:30am — Walk Greektown
The Danforth from Pape to Donlands is Toronto’s Greek heart. The Annual Taste of Danforth festival happens in early August. Year-round, the Greek bakeries (Athens Pastries, Akropol) sell the best baklava in the city.
11:30am — TTC to Little India / Gerrard India Bazaar
Take the 506 Carlton streetcar east, transfer at Coxwell to the 22 Coxwell bus south, or take an Uber. The Gerrard India Bazaar on Gerrard Street East between Coxwell and Greenwood is one of Canada’s largest South Asian commercial districts — sari shops, sweet shops, biryani houses. Lunch at Lahore Tikka House (1365 Gerrard E) or BJ Supermarket Food Court.
2:00pm — Streetcar to Little Italy and Chinatown
Take the 506 Carlton streetcar back west all the way to College. Walk Little Italy (College Street between Bathurst and Ossington) — see our Little Italy guide. The 506 connects to Spadina, where you can transfer to the 510 Spadina to head north into Chinatown — see our Chinatown guide.
4:30pm — Late lunch in Chinatown
Asian Legend (the famous Sichuan), R&D Cantonese Cuisine, or Mother’s Dumplings for the city’s best handmade dumplings. See our multicultural food Toronto guide.
6:30pm — Dinner at Bar Buca or El Catrin
For Italian, Bar Buca (75 Portland) for casual Roman; for Mexican, El Catrin Destilería in the Distillery District for the city’s best mezcal program.
9:00pm — Live music
Tuesday-night Latin dancing at Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas W); jazz at The Rex Hotel (194 Queen W); or stand-up at Comedy Bar (1971 Bloor W). See our live music venues Toronto guide.
Day 7: Your flex day
Day 7 is the day you choose based on personal interests. Top options:
Sports fan
Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto FC at BMO Field. The Hockey Hall of Fame works as a half-day on a non-game day.
Theme parks (with kids)
Canada’s Wonderland, the country’s largest theme park, is 30 minutes north. Allow a full day. See our Canada’s Wonderland guide.
Theatre
Mirvish has a major Broadway musical running. Same-day rush tickets ($25–$40) make this the best deal of the week. See our Toronto theatre shows guide.
Stratford or Shaw Festival day trip
If your trip overlaps with the festival season (April–November), the Stratford Festival in Stratford or the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake makes for an unforgettable day.
If a major festival is happening
Plan around it: TIFF (early September), Caribana (late July/early August), Pride (late June), or the CNE (late August). See our things to do in Toronto for the full festival calendar.
Or take it easy
A “rest day” with a long brunch, an afternoon at a coffee shop with a book, an evening of TIFF Bell Lightbox or a final dinner at a restaurant you missed earlier in the week. Cities are best experienced when you slow down.
Customizations for your one week Toronto itinerary
If you visit in winter
Replace Day 4 (Niagara) with a winter ski day at Blue Mountain. Replace the Toronto Islands on Day 2 with the Distillery Christmas Market (mid-Nov–Dec 22) and ice skating at Nathan Phillips Square — see our ice skating Toronto guide.
If you visit in summer
Add a kayak rental on Day 5 — see our kayaking Toronto guide. Replace one of the multi-cultural neighbourhood lunches with a Toronto beach picnic — see our Toronto beaches guide.
If you have kids
See our family attractions Toronto guide. Replace BarChef with Centreville on the Toronto Islands; replace Day 5 with the Ontario Science Centre or the Toronto Zoo.
Practical tips
Where to stay
For a one week Toronto itinerary, single-hotel stays work well in: King West (Bisha, 1 Hotel Toronto, Ace), Yorkville (Park Hyatt, Hazelton, Four Seasons), or Queen West (Drake, Gladstone). All three zones connect via TTC in 10–15 minutes. See our where to stay in Toronto guide.
Total cost
For a mid-range one week Toronto itinerary, budget approximately CA$2,500–$3,500 per person (excluding flights), or CA$4,500–$6,000 per couple sharing. See our how much does Toronto cost guide.
Transportation
Buy a TTC weekly pass ($51.50) for unlimited transit on Days 1–7. Add Bike Share Toronto for Day 2 ($20 day pass) and a day rental car for Day 4 ($60–$120). See our TTC guide.
Keep planning your Toronto trip
For the practical groundwork behind a week-long visit, see our complete Toronto travel guide. Pair this itinerary with the rest of Toronto trip planning: things to do in Toronto, where to stay in Toronto, best restaurants in Toronto, Toronto CityPASS, 3-day Toronto itinerary, how much does Toronto cost, and what to pack for Toronto.
A one week Toronto itinerary done right shows you why locals love this city — book the reservations early, pace yourself, and you’ll leave with the kind of Toronto memories most weekend visitors miss.
