Toronto in 3 Days: The Perfect First-Time Visitor's Guide

Dare I say I have a new favorite North American city? Three days in Toronto, and it completely stole my heart! Toronto has something to offer for everyone and has all the best parts of any major city - incredible food scene, stunning harbor views, diverse neighborhoods, and surprisingly affordable experiences. Here's everything you need to know for the perfect 3-day Canadian adventure.

Before You Go: Essential Planning Tips

Book These In Advance:

• Restaurant reservations for popular spots like Piano Piano and Pai

• CN Tower EdgeWalk experience - this world-record-holding attraction books up quickly!

• CN Tower observation deck tickets and Niagara Falls experiences if you want specific time slots (though we got ours same-day without issues)

Transportation Made Easy: Toronto is incredibly walkable, especially in the core areas. The PATH underground walkway system connects most downtown attractions, and rideshares are affordable and reliable. Public transit is excellent too - the TTC subway system will get you anywhere you need to go.

Best Time to Visit: Spring through fall offers the best weather, but honestly, Toronto shines year-round. Summer brings festivals and outdoor dining, while winter transforms the city into a cozy wonderland. We traveled in the summer and had perfect weather: warm and sunny without the Midwest humidity and heat we’re used to.

Day 1: Harbor Views & Baseball Energy

Where to Stay: Omni King Edward Hotel

Start your Toronto adventure at this historic luxury hotel right in the heart of Old Town. The location is unbeatable. You're walking distance to everything and perfectly situated between downtown (CN Tower), the harbor, incredible restaurants, and St. Lawrence Market. Plus, book with me and get exclusive perks (for free!) like:

• $50 Hotel Credit per stay

• Daily breakfast for two guests

• Complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability)

• Early check-in/late check-out (subject to availability)

• Last Room Available guarantee

Another fantastic option would be the Shangri-La Toronto (and I can still score you some amazing perks), but we absolutely loved the King Edward for its historic charm and prime Old Town location.

Morning: Harbor Discovery

After checking in, head straight to Toronto Harbor for your first taste of the city's waterfront magic. Grab an iconic BeaverTail pastry (trust me, it's a Canadian must-try!) and then hop on a guided boat tour with Toronto Harbor Tours (commissionable link). This was hands-down one of our favorite experiences. The views of the city skyline from the water are absolutely breathtaking, and our guide was both incredibly informative and hilarious. It was the perfect way to get an orientation to the city! You'll cruise through the Toronto Islands and get stunning perspectives of the Toronto skyline that you simply can't get from land.

Afternoon: CN Tower Views

Head to lunch at Amsterdam Brewhouse with amazing harbor views, a fun atmosphere, and fantastic food and drinks. Then make your way to the iconic CN Tower. We explored the main observation level (the views of the harbor, Toronto's multiple skylines, and the Blue Jays stadium are incredible!), but for real thrill-seekers, there's also EdgeWalk - the world's highest full circle hands-free walk on a building. You'll walk around the circumference of the tower on a 5-foot-wide ledge while harnessed to an overhead safety rail system. Talk about an adrenaline rush! If you want a specific time slot you can sign up in advance, but there’s typically plenty of availability, even in the busy summer season.

Evening: Piano Piano & Sports!

Grab dinner at Piano Piano, the most amazing local Italian joint. They have several locations throughout the city, each with their own vibe. We went with the Colborne location since it was right across the street from our hotel. We grabbed several appetizers and pastas to share - it was way too hard to pick just one!

Then cap off your first night with a Toronto Blue Jays game! Rogers Centre (originally called SkyDome) is a modern baseball stadium with such a cool blend of contemporary amenities and historic significance. The stadium went through recent renovations and is honestly one of the nicest baseball stadiums I've been to. Fun fact: it was the first stadium with a fully retractable roof when it opened in 1989! The Rogers Centre is absolutely massive, so you can definitely snag tickets day-of (unless you want premium seats - then book ahead). The energy is absolutely electric. Even if you're not much of a baseball fan, the atmosphere is incredible, and the stadium offers stunning views of the CN Tower. Such a uniquely Toronto experience! We were surprised with how much we loved this activity, and we’re now self-proclaimed Blue Jays fans (after the Cincinnati Reds, of course).

Day 1 Pro Tip: The harbor boat tour is weather-dependent, so check conditions in the morning and consider rearranging your schedule if needed.

Day 2: Markets, Neighborhoods & Cultural Diversity

Morning: St. Lawrence Market

Start your day at Balzac's Coffee on Market Street. This delicious local chain will fuel you for a day of exploring. What I like most about the different Balzac’s locations we visited throughout our trip is that each cafe is truly different and leans into the unique vibe and architecture of the neighborhood it’s located in.

Splurge and get the Canadian Maple Latte…when in Canada, eh? Then grab the world-famous peameal bacon sandwiches from Carousel Bakery (inside St. Lawrence Market directly across the street) and spend time wandering this food lover's paradise. If you're visiting on a Saturday, you'll catch the farmers market in full swing. We grabbed incredible strawberry berry bowls with marble cake, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries from one of the local farms. The fresh flowers, live music, and Saturday morning energy gave us the most authentic local experience. Everyone was out and about enjoying their morning, and we felt like true Torontonians!

Pro tip: Farmers markets happen on Saturdays, while the antique market takes over on Sundays. We loved Saint Lawrence Market so much that we came back on Sunday to experience both. Absolutely worth it!

Afternoon: Distillery District & Kensington Market

Walk to the Distillery District, Toronto's charming pedestrian-only historic area. This creative hub is way bigger than we imagined - plan to spend 2-3 hours here exploring the unique shops, art galleries, and grabbing drinks at the various patios. The preserved Victorian architecture mixed with modern boutiques and restaurants creates such a cool atmosphere.

Next, head to Kensington Market. We weren't sure what to expect (everyone told us it was a must-do, but we couldn’t find a ton of info online). We absolutely fell in love with this neighborhood! Getting there from the Distillery District can be a bit tricky (we took an Uber which was a longer ride than expected), but the best public transit route is taking the 504 King streetcar west to Spadina, then the 505 Dundas streetcar west to Kensington. Trust me, it's worth the journey! Toronto's incredible diversity is on full display here, and it honestly felt like every single culture was represented. The area is packed with vintage shops, cultural restaurants with incredibly affordable eats, and such a cool bohemian vibe.

Here’s some of my must-try spots that we discovered while in Kensington Market:

• Jimmy's Coffee (all the artwork and coffee names are themed around famous "Jimmys")

• Sleepy Pete's for incredible sandwiches

• Frank Ranalli's for pizza by the slice

• Café Marallo for excellent coffee

• Trinity Common for drinks

• The Organic Press for fresh juices and smoothies

Don't miss the cool flea market area and vintage shops. We spent hours hunting for unique sports jerseys and one-of-a-kind finds!

Evening: Chinatown and Dinner

Walk back to your hotel through Chinatown and explore this vibrant neighborhood. For dinner, head to Earl's Kitchen + Bar for fantastic pizzas and burgers in a really neat atmosphere.

Day 2 Pro Tip: Kensington Market is cash-heavy, so bring small bills for the best vintage finds and street food experiences.

Day 3: Island Paradise

Morning: Market Return and Ferry to Toronto Islands

We loved St. Lawrence Market so much we went back for breakfast to check out the Sunday antique market! Grab Montreal-style bagels at St. Urbain Bagel, then head to the harbor to catch the ferry from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (located at the foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay) to the Toronto Islands. Check the ferry schedule before walking over to the harbor! You can also take water taxis from several different private vendors lining the harbor.

Midday: Lunch and Biking

After getting off the ferry, walk through the marina to get lunch at Upper Deck for melt-in-your-mouth burgers with an absolutely amazing Toronto skyline view. Then rent bikes through Toronto Bike Share (look for the orange bikes - they're the best deal around!) and start your island exploration. If you want to grab bikes before lunch, head to The Riviera or Island Cafe on the other side of the islands.

Centre Island Beach was super busy, so we headed to Gibraltar Beach. It's smaller and quieter than the main beaches, perfect for a peaceful moment. The expansive water and waves lapping up on the shore makes it hard to remember that you’re actually seeing Lake Ontario and not the Atlantic. Although it’s easy to miss, don’t skip biking over to Algonquin Island, the residential-only section of the Toronto Islands.

The Cottage Dream (and Reality!): There are 262 homes on the islands in total, and we loved biking through the tiny streets to look at these charming cottages and dream of buying one! But… in order to have any chance at all of buying one of these high-demand homes, there's a waiting list that allows a maximum of 500 names. To even get on the list, you need to pay a fee to apply, then keep paying yearly to keep your name on it. When space opens up on the waiting list, new names are added through a lottery draw. The house and land lease are sold for a firm price set by the Trust with no bids or negotiation allowed, starting with offers given to the first name on the waiting list and working their way down the line. It's like real estate from another world!

Continue biking to Ward's Island to check out more cottage eye-candy, and stop at the pink trailer called Runaway Cafe on the way back before returning your bikes at one of the Toronto Bike Share hubs.

Evening: Thai and Gelato (the perfect combination)

Take the ferry back to Toronto and head to Pai for dinner. The Thai food here is absolutely incredible! Since Toronto’s culinary scene is so diverse, we definitely wanted to snag a spot at this highly-rated Michelin Guide Thai spot. They take some reservations but it's mostly walk-ins, and trust me, it's worth the wait. Then grab gelato at Mizzica. There's usually a super long line, but it's hands-down the best gelato in Toronto and the perfect way to end your island adventure day.

Final Toronto Tips

Transportation: The walking + rideshare combination works perfectly for Toronto. The city core is very compact and walkable, with reliable Uber/Lyft when your feet need a break.

Reservations: Book popular restaurants in advance, especially for weekend evenings. Toronto's food scene is competitive!

Weather: Toronto can be unpredictable, so pack layers regardless of the season. Spring and fall are gorgeous but can change quickly.

Hidden Gems: Some of our best discoveries happened while wandering neighborhoods like Kensington Market and the Distillery District. Leave time for spontaneous exploration!

Morning Fuel: Don't leave without trying Tim Hortons at least once. Grab a coffee and donut on your way out for the full Canadian experience!

Cultural Diversity: Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and the food scene reflects this beautifully. Don't stick to one type of cuisine. Adventure through the neighborhoods and try everything!

If you have more time…

Niagara-on-the-Lake (Day Trip)

We wish we had more time for this! It's more than worth a visit if you can swing an extra day. This quintessential Canadian town is packed with quaint cafes, charming cottages and bed & breakfasts, fantastic shopping, and stunning views of Toronto from across the lake. We're already planning to come back for a long weekend getaway!

Niagara Falls (Day Trip)

For the full waterfall experience, make the trip to Niagara Falls. Do the Journey Behind the Falls from the Canadian side, or hop over to the US side for the classic Maid of the Mist boat experience.

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