Seven Days, Ending With Niagara, Not Starting With It

A lot of week-long Toronto itineraries throw Niagara Falls in on day two or three, when you’re still jetlagged and haven’t figured out the city yet. Save it for last. By day seven you’ll know the transit system, you’ll be ready for a long travel day, and you won’t be rushing back into downtown chaos afterward.

Day 1: Downtown baseline

Breakfast at St. Lawrence Market, not on a Monday, the South Market building is closed that day. Afternoon at the CN Tower, general admission from about 45 CAD, book online to save a couple bucks. Evening: Ripley’s Aquarium if you want it, remembering it’s a separate ticket from the Tower despite sitting right next to it, or catch a Blue Jays game at Rogers Centre if the schedule lines up. Dinner somewhere doing Asian fusion well.

Day 2: Art and culture

AGO in the morning, general collection often free or pay-what-you-can under 25. ROM in the afternoon, dynamic pricing roughly 20-31 CAD, check for the summer promo running through early September (free 4-17, half price 18-24). Evening stroll through Yorkville for upscale shops and galleries, dinner at a steakhouse if you want to spend on one big meal this week.

Day 3: Islands and High Park

Morning ferry to the Toronto Islands, about 9.57 CAD round trip, no timed slot needed, this is a better half-day than most paid downtown attractions and costs a fraction as much. Afternoon at High Park, gardens and trails, and a small free zoo enclosure there that’s nowhere near the scale of the actual Toronto Zoo, that one’s a separate destination deep in Scarborough, 45 to 60 minutes out, don’t conflate the two. Dinner somewhere doing African-inspired cuisine along the lakeshore.

Day 4: Entertainment District and Graffiti Alley

Morning in the Entertainment District, TIFF Bell Lightbox worth a stop if film culture interests you (TIFF itself runs September 10-20 in 2026). Afternoon: find Graffiti Alley, which runs south of Queen Street West between Spadina and Portland, not inside Kensington Market like some guides claim. Dinner with waterfront views doing Canadian cuisine.

Day 5: Aga Khan Museum and Distillery District

Morning at the Aga Khan Museum for Islamic art and architecture, a quieter stop most short trips skip entirely. Afternoon in the Distillery District, free to wander, cobblestone streets, shops, and often street performances if you catch the right afternoon. Dinner at a spot known for innovative Canadian cooking.

Day 6: Kensington Market and Chinatown

Morning in Kensington Market, vintage shops, street food, art galleries packed into a walkable few blocks. Afternoon in Chinatown along Spadina between Dundas and College, distinct from Kensington even though they border each other, don’t treat them as one stop. Evening: comedy at Second City or live music at the Horseshoe Tavern, your call on which kind of loud you want.

Day 7: Niagara Falls

GO train round trip bundled with a 24-hour WEGO bus pass runs about 34 CAD, 40 for 48 hours, kids 3-12 ride for 9. Budget bus tours start around 77-99 CAD plus tax but frequently exclude the boat cruise and top-of-falls attractions from that advertised price, read the inclusions carefully before booking. It’s roughly two hours each way by train, 90 minutes driving, so this is genuinely a full day, don’t plan anything else around it. Clifton Hill nearby has the Skywheel and assorted attractions if you want something besides the falls themselves. Head back to Toronto for a farewell dinner somewhere doing Thai food well.

Practical notes

TTC covers the city with buses, streetcars, and subways, get a PRESTO card or just tap contactless, 3.30 CAD a ride. Their app helps with navigation if you’re unsure of routes. Uber and taxis fill in the gaps. Tip 15-20% at restaurants, tap water is safe to drink so bring a reusable bottle, and pack layers no matter what the forecast says the week before you land, Toronto weather doesn’t hold still.