Six Days Means You Can Actually Live in Toronto for a Bit

Most itineraries this long start repeating themselves by day four. This one doesn’t, because Toronto has enough distinct neighborhoods to justify a full week without ever doubling back. One correction up front: the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium sit next to each other but are separately ticketed. There’s no combo deal baked in, budget for both if you want both.

Day 1: Downtown baseline

Breakfast at St. Lawrence Market, unless you’re arriving on a Monday, when the South Market building is closed and half your options vanish. Grab the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery, around 10-12 CAD, a strong stop but not “the” Toronto dish, this city doesn’t run on one signature plate. Afternoon at the CN Tower, general admission from about 45 CAD, book online to shave a couple bucks off. Walk over to Ripley’s Aquarium afterward if you want it, remembering it’s its own ticket. Evening at Harbourfront Centre with dinner somewhere along the water. Four Seasons or Shangri-La cover the luxury end if that’s the budget.

Day 2: Entertainment District and the Islands

Morning at the Art Gallery of Ontario, general collection often free or pay-what-you-can under 25, special exhibitions ticketed separately. Afternoon on the Toronto Islands ferry, about 9.57 CAD round trip, no timed entry required. I’d rank this above the CN Tower observation deck for value: better skyline angle, way cheaper. Bring a picnic. Dinner back on the mainland in Little Italy.

Day 3: Distillery District and Kensington Market

Breakfast near the Distillery District, then spend the morning wandering it properly, free to enter, cobblestone streets, converted warehouse boutiques and cafes. In the evening head to Kensington Market for the street art and the food diversity, dim sum or tacos both do well here. If you’re around in summer, check whether it’s a Pedestrian Sunday, the market goes car-free and it’s a different experience entirely.

Day 4: Museum day

ROM in the morning, dynamic pricing roughly 20-31 CAD for adults, with a summer promo through early September giving free entry to visitors 4-17 and half-price for 18-24. Book ahead. Afternoon at the Bata Shoe Museum, a genuinely odd little collection worth an hour, then a walk through the University of Toronto campus if the weather cooperates. Dinner somewhere doing farm-to-table if you want a break from ethnic food crawling.

Day 5: High Park and Roncesvalles

Morning in High Park, the city’s biggest park, with Grenadier Pond, trails, and a cherry blossom grove if you happen to catch the season. Afternoon in Roncesvalles Village, a quieter strip of shops and eateries that doesn’t get the tourist traffic Queen West does. Dinner back downtown with something ambitious, modern Japanese or similar.

Day 6: One thing you skipped, then farewell

Use the last full day to backfill whatever fell through the cracks. Casa Loma if you haven’t done it (from about 32 CAD, secret passages and all), or shopping along Yonge Street and Queen West if that’s more your speed. Don’t try to squeeze in Niagara Falls on a single spare afternoon; the round trip alone eats most of a day, it’s worth doing but not as an afterthought. Close with a proper dinner somewhere you’ve been wanting to try since day one.

Practical notes

Toronto’s multicultural makeup means the food scene spans more cuisines than most cities cover in a lifetime; lean into that instead of hunting for one iconic dish. Public wifi is widely available. CAD is the currency; US dollars get accepted in some spots but at a bad exchange rate, so just get CAD. Check seasonal hours before visiting anything, some attractions trim schedules outside peak season.

On transit: PRESTO or contactless tap runs 3.30 CAD a ride across subway, streetcar, and bus, and a Day Pass at 13.50 CAD unlimited covers up to two adults and four kids on weekends. Stick to the subway lines (1, 2, 5, 6) whenever your route allows; the streetcars are slower and get stuck in traffic more often than they should. Uber and Lyft both operate here if you need a car late at night.