Toronto 7-day itinerary

Start in Kensington Market, Toronto's most eclectic neighbourhood. Victorian houses converted into vintage shops, record stores, and spice markets. Augusta Avenue has the best graffiti and Bellevue Square Park. Breakfast at Jimmy's Coffee (C$5–7) or Seven Lives for Baja-style fish tacos (C$7 each). Walk through to Chinatown on Spadina for dim sum at Rosewood (C$4–6 per plate, traditional cart service). These neighbourhoods represent Toronto's multicultural DNA perfectly.

Subway to St. Lawrence Market, voted the world's best food market. Peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery (C$8) is Toronto's signature bite. Browse artisan cheeses, smoked meats, and fresh pasta. Saturday farmers market runs 5am–3pm. Walk to the CN Tower (C$43). The glass floor at 342 metres and the LookOut at 346 metres offer views to Niagara Falls on clear days. Continue to the Harbourfront for waterfront art galleries and Lake Ontario views.

Walk to the Distillery District: pedestrian-only 1830s whiskey distillery buildings now housing galleries, restaurants, and breweries. The cobblestones, industrial architecture, and string lights are magical at night. Dinner at El Catrin (C$18–28 Mexican) or Cluny Bistro (C$22–36 French). Mill Street Brew Pub (C$8–10 pints) brews on-site. The Spirit of York Distillery does cocktails with their own vodka and gin (C$14–16).

The ROM (C$23) is Canada's largest museum. The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal entrance is an architectural landmark. Dinosaur gallery, Chinese art collection, and the Bat Cave are highlights. The Indigenous galleries are essential for understanding Canadian history. The gem and mineral gallery has one of the world's best collections. Allow 3 hours. Breakfast at Future Bistro on Bloor (C$10–14) for huge diner plates.

Walk to the AGO (C$25, free Wed 6–9pm). Frank Gehry's renovation transformed the building with soaring wooden galleries and a glass-fronted facade on Dundas. The Group of Seven Canadian landscape paintings are the soul of the collection. The Henry Moore sculpture collection is one of the world's largest. Contemporary galleries rotate world-class exhibitions. Lunch at the AGO cafe (C$12–18) or walk to Baldwin Village for the best cheap eats strip: Ethiopian at Nazareth (C$14–16) or Thai at Salad King (C$10–14).

Walk through Yorkville, Toronto's luxury village. The 650-ton Canadian Shield rock in Yorkville Park is a geological marvel. Browse galleries and designer shops on Cumberland Street. For a less polished evening, walk south to the Annex, a university neighbourhood with independent bookstores (BMV Books, massive and brilliant), pubs, and the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema for documentary screenings (C$12). Dinner at Byblos (C$22–38 mains) for Eastern Mediterranean or Bar Isabel (C$16–28) for Spanish.

Ferry from Jack Layton Terminal (C$9 return) to the Toronto Islands. Bike or walk to Ward's Island for cottage gardens, a quiet beach, and the most iconic skyline view in Canada. Hanlan's Point has a clothing-optional beach and sunset views. Centre Island has Centreville amusement park for families. Rent a bike (C$10/hour) and explore the car-free paths. Pack a picnic. The island cafes are limited and pricey.

Return and head east to Leslieville, a gentrified neighbourhood on Queen East with indie coffee shops, vintage stores, and excellent brunch. The Stockyards (C$14–20) does legendary fried chicken and smoked meat. Riverside is the adjacent neighbourhood with the Broadview Hotel, a beautifully restored 1891 building with a rooftop bar offering the best skyline views in the east end (cocktails C$16–20). Walk through Jimmie Simpson Park and browse the antique shops.

Walk or subway to the Danforth, Toronto's Greek neighbourhood. The strip from Broadview to Pape is lined with Greek restaurants, bakeries, and cafes. Dinner at Messini Authentic Gyros (C$12–16) for the city's best gyro or Mezes (C$18–26 mains) for a sit-down Greek feast. After dinner, browse the bakeries for baklava (C$3–5/piece) and Greek coffee. The Danforth has a relaxed neighbourhood energy: families, old men playing backgammon, and the smell of grilled lamb.

Start on Queen West, Toronto's creative strip. Walk from Spadina west to Bathurst past indie record shops (Rotate This, Sonic Boom), vintage stores, and galleries. Turn down Rush Lane for Graffiti Alley, a full city block of murals, tags, and street art that changes constantly. Breakfast at Le Petit Dejeuner (C$12–16) for French-Canadian breakfast: creton, eggs, and thick-cut toast. Drake General Store has the best curated Canadian souvenirs.

Walk to Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto's most beloved gathering spot. On sunny days, the hill is packed with picnickers, dogs, and the occasional white squirrel sighting (they're real and famous). Cross Dundas West into Little Portugal, a working-class neighbourhood with excellent bakeries (natas from $1.50 at various Portuguese patisseries), hardware stores turned into cocktail bars, and the annual Dundas West Fest. Lunch at Pai Northern Thai (C$14–20), some of the best Thai food in North America.

Ossington Avenue between Queen and Dundas is Toronto's cocktail golden mile. Start at Bellwoods Brewery (C$8–10 pints), one of Canada's best craft breweries. Walk north to Bar Raval, a stunning Gaudi-inspired bar carved from mahogany (pintxos C$5–8, cocktails C$15–18). Cocktail Bar (its actual name) has creative C$14–18 drinks. For dinner, Foxley on Ossington (C$14–22 mains) serves Asian-Latin fusion in a tiny, buzzing room. Late night, Get Well has arcade games and cheap beer (C$5–7).

Take the GO Transit train from Union Station to Niagara Falls (C$19 each way, 2 hours). The seasonal Niagara Falls GO train runs direct on summer weekends. Walk from the station to the falls. Horseshoe Falls is the Canadian side and the more impressive of the two. The sheer volume of water (750,000 gallons per second) is staggering. The spray drenches you from the overlook. Table Rock Welcome Centre has the closest viewing platform.

The Hornblower boat cruise (C$30) takes you into the mist at the base of Horseshoe Falls. You'll get soaked and it's thrilling. Journey Behind the Falls (C$21) takes you through tunnels to an observation platform behind the waterfall curtain. The White Water Walk (C$16) along the rapids downstream is dramatic. Lunch on Clifton Hill, the touristy strip, overpriced but entertaining. Or pack a lunch and eat at Queen Victoria Park overlooking the falls.

The falls are illuminated every night in rotating colours. The effect on the cascading water is spectacular. From the Canadian side, you see both the American and Horseshoe Falls lit up. In summer, fireworks over the falls happen every night at 10pm. Grab dinner at a restaurant overlooking the falls. Table Rock House (C$20–35) has the closest views. Take the last GO train or bus back to Toronto. The ride back gives time to rest and process the scale of what you've just seen.

Head to Little India on Gerrard Street East, the largest South Asian market in North America. The neon signs, sari shops, sweet shops, and spice stores are a sensory feast. Breakfast at Udupi Palace (C$10–14) for South Indian dosas and uttapam, crispy rice and lentil crepes with sambar and coconut chutney. Walk through the textile shops and pick up chai masala or mango pickle as souvenirs. The neighbourhood is most vibrant on Saturday mornings.

Subway to Koreatown on Bloor between Christie and Bathurst. Korean BBQ at Korean Grill House (C$25–35 per person all-you-can-eat) or fried chicken at Galleria Supermarket's food court (C$10–14). Christie Pits Park is a beautiful ravine park where locals play baseball, soccer, and picnic in the summer. Walk south to Bloor West Village's coffee shops and bookstores. High Park (subway to High Park station) has trails, a zoo (free), and cherry blossoms in spring.

Dundas West between Ossington and Dufferin is Toronto's nightlife frontier. Start with dinner at Pho Tien Thanh (C$12–16) for some of the city's best Vietnamese, then walk the strip. Dock Ellis for natural wine (C$10–14/glass) and vinyl, Mahjong Bar for Asian-inspired cocktails (C$15–18), and Communist's Daughter, a tiny dive bar with no sign and C$6 tallboys. Late night, Handlebar for dancing and craft beer. The neighbourhood embodies Toronto's creative energy.

Subway to High Park, Toronto's largest public park (400 acres). Walk the trails through ravines and oak savannahs, visit the free zoo with bison, capybaras, and llamas, and find Grenadier Pond where you can fish or ice skate in winter. The cherry blossoms (late April) are Toronto's most anticipated natural spectacle. Breakfast at Cafe Neon in the Junction (C$12–16) or grab coffee and a pastry from a Roncesvalles bakery.

Walk to Roncesvalles, Toronto's Polish neighbourhood. Bakeries with pierogi (C$3–4 each), Polish delis, and the beautiful Roncesvalles Avenue streetcar corridor. Lunch at Café Polonez (C$14–20) for traditional Polish fare or Churrasco of St. Clair for Portuguese chicken (C$12–16). Walk north to the Junction, a resurgent neighbourhood with breweries (Junction Craft Brewing, C$7–9 pints), vintage shops, and excellent coffee at Crema in the Junction.

For a final Toronto evening, choose your adventure. Canoe Restaurant on the 54th floor of the TD Tower (C$35–55 mains) has the most stunning skyline views and elevated Canadian cuisine. Or keep it real with a farewell meal at Lahore Tikka House in Little India (C$12–18 butter chicken platters). Walk the Harbourfront one last time for nighttime lake views. Toronto is one of the world's most diverse cities. You've tasted a fraction, but that fraction was extraordinary.