Toronto is one of Canada’s major cities that is worth visiting at least once. I mean, you see the CN tower and instantly you will know it is Toronto. 2 days in Toronto will scratch the surface of what to do, but will still give you plenty of time to see all of the major sites. Below is a guide for what to do during 2 days in Toronto.
Where to Stay
The majority of these activities in this list are in downtown Toronto, so choosing a hotel that is in the area will save you from traveling back and forth if you are on the outskirts. If you stay in downtown Toronto you are able to walk to all of these activities.
I stayed at the One King West Hotel, which was downtown and within walking distance to the majority of attractions. There are SO many others near-by to choose from.
How to get to Toronto from the airport
Toronto Pearson Airport
The easiest way to get downtown from Pearson Airport is to take the UP Express train to Union Station. It’s really easy, I promise. Just follow the signs in the airport.
You can buy your ticket online before you go, or with a credit card using one of the Kiosks (just keep your eyes peeled for the Kiosks as you are following the signs). The train is very comfy. Union Station is located in downtown Toronto and within walking distances to a lot of hotels (The One King West Hotel as well!)
Billy Bishop Airport
If you arrive at Billy Bishop Airport, there are FREE shuttles you can take to downtown Toronto (can you track where the shuttles are too!).
Billy Bishop is also so close that you can literally walk to downtown Toronto from the airport. It’s quite a pleasant walk along the waterfront – this is what we did since the Shuttle was delayed by an hour, and the hotel was a 35 minute walk away). I wouldn’t recommend doing this if you are a solo female at night, though (during the day would be fine). I don’t recommend walking anywhere at night when alone, but that’s just me. The streets were busy at 11pm when we arrived. It felt very safe. During the day it would be a great way to see Toronto.
Uber is another option of course. Billy Bishop is a very small airport, so it’s very easy to find the shuttle stop and Uber pick-up spots. They are outside the airport door when you arrive.
How to get around Toronto
The majority of sites listed below can be walked to if you are staying in downtown Toronto. Renting a car is not recommended. Below are a few options if you don’t want to walk everywhere, or if you are seeing an attraction that is further away from downtown and need a ride:
- Uber or Lyft are apps that can be used for getting a car.
- Public Transportation is also an option: Subway, Streetcars and Buses. I recommend using The Citymapper App to navigate your way around the public transportation system. You can pay as you go (exact cash required), or buying a PRESTO card at the Airport or at a Subway stop.
- Using a Hop-on-Hop-off service. Since the majority of attractions listed below are on the hop-on-hop-off route, then why not make it extra exciting on one of these Sightseeing buses.
What to Do During 2 Days in Toronto
The map below shows the location for the activities listed in this post. Purple are day 1 activities, blue are day 2 activities, and yellow is optional if you have more time!
Suggested Reading: 13 travel mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Day 1 in Toronto
1. St. Lawrence Market
Start off your morning with a trip to St. Lawrence Market. It is an indoor market that has a combination of produce and meat, prepared food like meat pies, pastries, cakes, and coffee. There are a couple of ATMs on site if you don’t have cash on you (a few places accepted credit card, but most were cash). There are also a few spots to sit and eat both inside and outside of the market.
2. Berczy Dog Park
This won’t take up a lot of time, but it’s worth stopping by since it’s a couple of blocks away from St. Lawrence Market. It is a huge water fountain with tons of dog statues trying to get a bone at the top. Try and find the cat statue amongst all of the dogs, and see what the cat is looking at! (I’ll give you a hint: it’s little bird sculptures).
3. Toronto Islands
You could spend an entire day on Toronto Island! There is SO much to do here. Toronto Island has 3 Islands: Centre Island, Ward Island, and Hanlan’s Point. They are connected by bridges and walkways so you can walk from one end to the other. The views of the Toronto skyline and CN tower are also incredible from here.
To get to the Toronto Islands you will need to take a Ferry. Tickets for the Ferry can be purchased online before you travel to Toronto, or in person before you get on the ferry.
There are 3 ferry routes to Toronto Island. Centre Island Ferry is the busiest ferry since that is where the majority of the action is. The other ferries aren’t as busy so it’s faster to board, and also to get a good seat to see the view as you cruise along.. Once you are on Toronto Island it is about a 35 minute walk between each Ferry Terminal.
Good to know: Leaving Centre Island can take a LONG time during peak summer season! There is a line to the ferry which can sometimes take hours. You don’t need to buy a ticket to get off of the Island. BUT, if you don’t want to wait for a really long time you can pay extra money to take a water taxi OR walk about 35 minutes to another less-popular ferry on Ward Island or Hanlan’s Point.
4. Nathan Phillips Square
To see the iconic Toronto sign, then head on over to Nathan Phillips Square. There are a few nice and older buildings surrounding the area as well.
5. Watch a play
If you love Harry Potter, then watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play is definitely recommended. There are LOTS of other plays, concerts, and shows to watch while in Toronto as well if they’re scheduled for the evening.
The Ed Mirvish Theatre is around the Eaton Centre area of Toronto which strongly reminded me of Times Square in New York. So if you are interested in that, then check out that area before the play.
reminds me of Times Square.
Day 2 in Toronto
6. Breakfast at KOST
Start your day by eating breakfast with an EPIC view of the CN tower. Try and get there early (at like 8:30 or 9am) when it isn’t as busy. First of all, KOST is a rooftop restaurant located within a hotel. Walk through reception to get to the elevators. The restaurant has lots of indoor seating as well, and is at least 45 stories high. There is a rooftop pool that’s about knee-deep, lounge chairs, and normal tables for eating. At night, I bet it is such a vibe.
But can we talk about those VIEWS?! I mean, first of all the CN Tower is right there. And why eat IN the CN Tower when you can eat LOOKING at the CN Tower? You can see all of Toronto Island from there, which is fun to look at after you’ve walked all around it the previous day. It also has incredible views of the city as well from 3 sides.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Don’t even think about showing up without one! I just happened to be lucky and they gave us a table. You don’t have to be a guest of the hotel to dine there, but you DO need a table reservation to eat there.
7. Ripley’s Aquarium
After breakfast, make your way over to the CN tower to visit the Aquarium! I went with a fish lover so I had originally allocated 4 hours there. But we were actually there for 2.5 hours. The Aquarium is SO fun for all ages. Entrance is a bit expensive, but it is 100% worth it.
8. Go up the CN Tower
I have done this before, but I didn’t do it on this trip. I personally wouldn’t recommend it if you’ve already seen the views from KOST. It is expensive and there are usually lines to get in.
BUT there is a glass floor which is thrilling to walk on, the elevator ride up is fast and fun, and you do see a 360 view of Toronto from VERY high up. It’s also the CN Tower, an iconic landmark in Toronto! So if you haven’t been before, then go for a ride up to the top!
At the CN Tower, there’s also activities like actually walk and hang off of it for those who seek adrenaline, and a rotating 360 restaurant!
9. Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a castle about an hour from downtown Toronto, so you will need to either walk the entire hour, take a 15 minute Uber ride, OR go on a Hop-On-Hop-Off Sightseeing tour and get off at the Casa Loma stop.
If you had to choose between going up the CN Tower or going to Casa Loma, then I would choose Casa Loma. The grounds surrounding the castle are stunning, the rooms are so elegant, and there are beautiful views of the city (and CN tower!) from the Castle.
If you love Harry Potter (or just castles in general), then this is a perfect activity to add to your itinerary!
10. Distillery District
The Distillery District is a neighbourhood closer to St. Lawrence Market and the activities that are done on day 1. So if you have extra time on Day 1 then it can be visited on Day 1. But, no worries if you didn’t visit on day 1, this is why it’s mentioned for what to do in Toronto on Day 2 (in the evening)!
The Distillery District has such a cool atmosphere with brick buildings, artwork, and places to eat. It is pedestrian only, and has a fun nightlife. Walking tours are also available to get an in-depth tour!
If you have extra time in Toronto
11. Watch a Blue Jays Game
The Toronto Blue Jays are Toronto’s baseball team, and they play at Roger’s Centre which is right next to the CN Tower. So, if you have extra time during your 2 days in Toronto and you like baseball, then dress up in blue, put on some sunscreen, and watch a game! See their schedule and buy tickets here.
12. Toronto Zoo
I’m a bit wary of visiting zoos – I always want to make sure they treat their animals right and are ethical. The Toronto Zoo is AZA certified, so if you have extra time during your 2 days in Toronto then it is worth checking out. It is about 30 minutes outside of downtown Toronto and can be accessed by public transportation.
13. Go to Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls are only an hour from Toronto, so if you have an extra day in Toronto then I would highly recommend going! If you don’t have a car in Toronto, then there is an hour long train ride available departing from Union Station. There is also a sightseeing bus that visits Niagara Falls as well.
Have you visited Toronto – what is your favourite thing to do, and what would you recommend during 2 days in Toronto? Let me know in the comments below!
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