Looking to spend a weekend in Toronto and wondering how to spend your time in the big city? Keep reading for all the top information on what to do and see during your amazing weekend in Toronto!
Toronto is one of Canada’s most popular cities to visit. The huge skyscrapers, famous residents, and vibrant lifestyle are enough to entice any traveller. Toronto is like the New York City of Canada, it has the big city feel and the excitement of something always going on. What makes it special is the charms and specialties of Canada. The people, the food, the sights all make Toronto a wonderful city to visit.
A 3 day weekend in Toronto is just enough time to experience some of the best this city has to offer. Be sure to keep your eyes out for famous Canadian celebrities like Shawn Mendes, Drake, and more while here!
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Weekend in Toronto: 3 Day Toronto Itinerary
In This Post
Weekend in Toronto: Friday Night
Visit the Distillery District
If you arrive in Toronto on Friday the best place to head to is the famous Distillery District. This is an area of Toronto full of art, history, and culture and is the perfect place to spend your first night. The area is full of red brick buildings giving it an urban and unique feel. Here you will find a ton of different pubs, cafes, shops, events, and restaurants all of which offer a ton of exciting options for things to do in Toronto on your first day.
Wandering around the Distillery District and stopping in a shop or restaurant that catches your eye is the best way to explore here. If you are visiting in the warmer months most restaurants have outdoor patios which make dining even more exciting. If you are visiting in winter you can catch the Toronto Christmas market down here.
Weekend in Toronto: Saturday
Go to St. Lawrence Market
Your first stop on Saturday morning is a visit to St. Lawrence Market. This is one of Toronto’s best food markets that is open from 5 AM to 5 PM. This two-story food hall has stands serving everything from fresh pastries, to meat, to coffee, to fruit, and more! St. Lawrence Market is not open on Sundays, so a visit here during your weekend in Toronto must be done on Saturday.
View the Flatiron Building
The flatiron building (also know as The Gooderham Building) is an iconic building located very near St. Lawrence Market. It is a very popular building to visit to admire and take photos of, it is one of the most photographed buildings in Toronto! Its unique pie shape and red brick exterior stand out amongst the new infrastructure in Toronto.
It is not only a great building to walk to and admire its beauty, but it also is very historic and has a large heritage factor in Toronto. The Flatiron building was built in 1892 and was one of the most important office buildings of that time.
Soar to the Top of the CN Tower
The CN Tower is the most iconic and famous structures in Toronto. It makes the Toronto skyline recognizable within one second of looking at it and is used as a symbol of the city. The CN Tower is 553.3 m-high and sits right in the center of Toronto’s downtown district. It is a huge structure that everyone needs to see during their visit, and with a weekend in Toronto you don’t only have to see it, but you should also go to the top!
Tickets are available for trips to the top of the CN Tower here. You have the option to simply go to the top and walk around admiring the Toronto buildings and skyline from above or you can get a little creative. There are tickets for the 360 restaurant which is a restaurant atop the CN that spins very slowly providing various views of the city. There is also the edge walk, where you can hang over the edge of the tower for a thrilling adventure.
If you are afraid of heights beware. It is a lot higher than it looks and you may feel a little dizzy! But if you are looking for a little thrill during your weekend in Toronto, be sure to get it here.
See the Toronto Sign & Nathan Philips Square
The Toronto sign was installed in 2015 and since then has become an important thing to add to any Toronto itinerary. The letters come in different colors and this is the perfect place to grab a famous photo in the city. The sign is located in Nathan Philips Square, where there is a water pond in the summer and a skating rink in the winter.
Visit Yonge-Dundas Square
Yonge-Dundas Square is the Times Square of Toronto. The square is full of flashy billboards, street performers, and tons of people. This vibrant spot attracts both locals and tourists alike as it is always a place full of things to do and see. Many events are hosted here and you can always find plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. This is also where you will find the Toronto Eaton Center which is a huge shopping center packed with every store imaginable.
Admire Graffiti Alley
Graffiti Alley is a long alleyway in Toronto filled with all types of artistic and unique graffiti. This alley is full of some of the most creative street art murals in the city, all in one place. Graffiti Alley starts at the corner of Rush Lane and Portland Street, from here you will go east down Rush Lane.
Many people wonder if Graffiti Alley in Toronto safe? Yes! It is located right behind the busy Queen Street and is usually full of many tourists and locals capturing photos of the art. The best part? This is a completely free thing to do during your weekend in Toronto.
Shopping on Queen Street
Heading to Queen Street in the late afternoon to go shopping and explore the many unique shops and restaurants is the perfect thing to do. Queen Street is one of Toronto’s trendiest and best places to explore. You can find virtually everything you. From private boutiques with unique clothing to unheard-of restaurants selling beyond Instagrammable eats and more!
There is so much to see and do on Queen Street you could easily spend half a day here. But with the limited time with only a weekend in Toronto, you will have to budget your time. This is a great place to grab a bite to eat from one of the hundreds of restaurants or cafes. It is also a great place to get a tasty treat!
Enjoy an Evening Drink at a Rooftop Bar
Rooftop bars in big cities are a must. There is nothing better than overlooking a city full of skyscrapers after hours when all the lights are on and the windows are glowing. There are plenty of places to go for a rooftop drink in Toronto like Lavelle, which are classy and give you all the big city feels.
Weekend in Toronto: Sunday
Stroll through Kensington Street Market
Kensington Market is a bohemian area of Toronto full of indie shops, restaurants, and cafes. It is an art market that has everything to offer. From food to art to clothing, there is something to find for everything. This makes it the perfect place to head to on Sunday during your last day in Toronto. The market will surely be buzzing on this day and the vibrant atmosphere makes it all the more exciting.
Explore Casa Loma
A castle in Toronto? Yes! And it’s not an hour outside of the city but still inside it. This Gothic Revival style castle was constructed in 1914 as a place of residence but has since been turned into a museum. Visitors are now able to enter the castle for a fee and explore the various rooms and castle grounds. It is very interesting and everything is in excellent condition!
Go for a walk through High Park
After spending two days during your weekend in Toronto surrounded by concrete a getaway to a piece of nature in Toronto will be needed. The best place to escape to is High Park. This park has tons to do and see like playgrounds, gardens, and even a zoo! This zoo holds some pretty unique animals like capybaras and reindeer. Exploring this park for a few hours is more than enjoyable!
Venture Under the Sea at Ripleys Aquarium
Toronto is home to many museums and interesting exhibits to visit but few are as amazing as the Ripleys Aquarium located right beside the CN Tower. This aquarium is home to some pretty unique aquatic exhibits like huge tanks, and even a walk through a shark tank!
Go to a Sports Match
Sports are huge in Toronto! There are a ton of local teams playing high-level sports and the support is colossal. In Toronto, you have a team for NBA basketball, NHL Hockey, and MLB Baseball. There are stadiums around the city for the home games and they fill up very fast! However, getting tickets and watching a home game live is like nothing else. The vibrant atmosphere is something you can only experience live.
Are you feeling ready for your weekend in Toronto? Be sure to use this itinerary to guide your stay and you will surely have an amazing time.
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Love,
SSW
I’ve only been in Toronto for a few hours. After reading this article, I can’t wait to go back