Toronto is an exciting, colorful place, with fantastic energy, incredible food, and breathtaking city views. It’s also the capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. Being from Buffalo, New York, Toronto has always been an easy trip to make. It’s a pretty straight shot two-hour drive away. I had the pleasure of visiting a few times in my early twenties, but due to the pandemic, I hadn’t crossed the border into Canada in over two years. The last weekend of April, I changed that with my first trip back to Toronto in almost a decade.
This was my first time visiting where I had the chance to explore the city, check out the main attractions, have some fantastic meals, and truly fall in love with what Toronto has to offer. You could easily spend a full week in Toronto without getting bored. I unfortunately only had three days. However, I managed to make the most out of it and I’m going to outline exactly how my time was spent.
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Know Before You Go
Whether you’re driving or flying, there are some restrictions regarding COVID-19. A day before entering the country go to the ArriveCAN website or app to fill out a mandatory travel information form. It will ask you for your passport information, and your vaccination information. It takes just a few minutes to fill the form out and doing it properly will ensure you have a smooth entrance into the country.
Day One In Toronto
Attempt to arrive in Toronto in the early afternoon so that you’ll have the majority of the day. I arrived just around 1 pm and picked my friend up from the airport who met me from Calgary. From there, we headed to our accommodation to get checked in. We choose to stay in Kensington Market, which in my opinion, was the most perfect area. We were within walking distance to plenty of things and the neighborhood itself is filled with tons of cool bars and great restaurants. If you’re torn on where exactly to stay, I couldn’t recommend this area more- especially if you’re a bit of a foodie.
Stop #1: Lunch at Juicy Dumpling
After getting checked in and settled in, our first stop was for lunch. The neighborhood of Kensington Market also borders Chinatown, a fantastic place for great food. We chose Juicy Dumpling, a no-frills, counter-serve style spot with some of the most highly rated dumplings in the area. We got a bunch of different stuff to share, which I highly recommend doing, but you honestly can’t go wrong!
Stop #2: Top of the CN Tower
After lunch head on over to the CN Tower, which is Canada’s most recognizable and iconic building. At 1,815 ft tall, the CN Tower defines the Toronto skyline and is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting for the first time. A general admission ticket to go up to the LookOut level will run you $43 CAD, but I promise you, it’s worth it! From here you’ll get spectacular 360-degree views of Toronto that you won’t get anywhere else. Buy your tickets ahead of time, here.
Stop #3: Walk around Roundhouse Park
Right behind CN Tower, you’ll find Roundhouse Park. It’s part of a railway museum where you can check out some really cool, old, restored trains just while walking around. You’ll get really nice views of the city skyline and Steam Whistle Brewery & Ripley’s Aquarium are also nearby. It’s an all-around fun, exciting area to check out.
Stop #4: Grab cocktails and apps at Bar Ravel
Bar Ravel is an incredible Spanish-inspired bar with fantastic cocktails, great small plates, and an ambiance unlike any other. Once you walk inside, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported somewhere else. The bar is designed with very unique wood panels and beautiful details. One thing I found odd, however, was the lack of seats- it’s more of a standing bar, which is only ideal for a quick drink and an app. We got the octopus which was delicious and a few wonderful tequila-based cocktails.
Stop #5: Dinner at Taco Taco
Taco Taco is an awesome little Mexican spot with great options, especially if you want to try some tacos that are a little unusual. For example, they have a bacon cheeseburger taco and a tandoori chicken taco, which were both outstanding. They also have a full bar and on certain nights there’s even live music!
Day Two in Toronto
Day two, being the only full day, is jam-packed with some of the greatest sights Toronto has to offer, along with discovering cool neighborhoods, and eating great food. Thankfully, Toronto is a very walkable city. We managed to get to almost all of our stops by walking, which is also a great way to really take in the city and feel fully emersed in it.
Stop #1: Check out the Toronto Sign
After getting up and ready for the day, head over to the Toronto Sign. It’s located in Nathan Phillips Square, which is right in Downtown Toronto. It will give you an opportunity to take in the hustle and bustle of the city and admire some of the beautiful buildings. The Toronto Sign is fun to check out during the day or even at night. Either way, you’ll be getting the cool city-skyline backdrop, which makes for a great photo op.
Stop #2: Eat Poutine
Canada is known for its poutine. Although its popularity reigns in the region of Quebec, it’s still something worth trying in Toronto, especially if you’ve never had it before. For those of you who are not familiar, poutine is a dish of french fries and cheese curds topped with gravy. It’s decadent, savory, kind of heavy, and so delicious! There are many places where you can find poutine, however, we took advantage of a popular food truck also located in Nathan Phillips Square.
Stop #3: Lounge on Sugar Beach
After indulging in poutine, you’ll need an opportunity to walk it off. From Downtown Toronto, take a walk down to the waterfront and then over to Sugar Beach. Unfortunately, swimming isn’t allowed. But you will find a nice stretch of sand, along with comfy lounge chairs and big pink umbrellas. It’s the perfect place to relax by the water and take in the views.
Stop #4: Stroll down Graffiti Alley
From there, head over to Graffiti Alley, located in the Fashion District. Graffiti Alley is vibrant, colorful, and filled with incredible street art and murals created by local artists. It’s definitely worth taking a stroll down just to admire some really cool art.
Stop #5: Dinner at RASA
RASA is an incredible restaurant located in the Harbord Village neighborhood. The menu is globally inspired, the aesthetic is dark and sleek, and the ambiance is cozy yet tranquil. My favorite thing about RASA was their amazing tasting menu. I couldn’t recommend it more! With the tasting menu, which they portion to fit however many people you have, you’ll get to try all of the best things that their menu has to offer. And when I tell you, each and every bite was out of this world, I’m not exaggerating in the slightest. Make your reservations, here.
Stop #6: Take the ferry to Toronto Islands
After dinner, head to Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on the waterfront. For $8.70 CAD you can buy a round-trip ferry ticket heading to Ward’s Island. It takes just about 15 minutes to reach the other side. I would suggest going around sunset for the most beautiful ride, but regardless of when you go, you’ll get the absolute best views of the city! They only get better once you reach the island and walk along the beach. Just be sure to double-check the ferry schedule and know when the return ferry arrives. Later in the evening, they come less frequently.
Stop #7: Get drinks in the Distillery District
Once you return back to Toronto, head to the Distillery District. This area is really lively, especially in the evenings. It’s a great place to get a late bite or some drinks to end the night with. We personally loved El Catrin Destileria. It’s super trendy and stylish with a great ambiance, delicious Mexican small plates, and tons of tequilas and mezcals.
Day Three in Toronto
After a super busy day two, take your final day in Toronto to slow down a little bit and get out of the city for a few hours. There’s nothing better than getting to experience not only the fun and excitement of a new place but the surrounding areas of it as well.
Stop #1: Scarborough Bluffs
After getting up and ready for the day, and maybe a bite to eat, put on your walking shoes and head to Scarborough Bluffs. Scarborough Bluffs is just about 40 minutes outside of the city. Here, you’ll be immersed in beautiful nature that you would have never thought was so close to a major city. There’s a beautiful lake, stunning cliffs, nice walking paths, and all-around beautiful views. It’s a perfect place to start the day and enjoy some time in the fresh air.
Stop #2: El Rey Mezcal Bar
After you’ve gotten your fill of the outdoors, head back to the city for a great lunch and one final meal in Toronto. A perfect spot to try is El Rey Mezcal Bar back in Kensington Market. This cozy Mexican restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, a great bar with a fantastic variety of mezcals and tequilas, and delicious small plates. Their tacos are super tasty and the dishes are small enough that you can easily try a few things without being overwhelmed.
Stop #3: Head Back Home
After lunch, it will officially be time to get packed up, depart Toronto, and head back home. Toronto is the perfect destination for a fun, exciting weekend. It’s filled with so much character, energy, and all-around good vibes that you can’t go wrong.
I hope this three-day itinerary is helpful for anyone hoping to visit Toronto in the near future and is useful for putting some fun plans into place. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below, and as always, happy travels!
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