4 Day Toronto Itinerary: How to Spend a Weekend in Toronto
This post “Exploring Toronto in 4 Days” is not sponsored, but contains some affiliate links. For more information on the sponsored post and/or affiliate link policy, please click here.
After months of planning, I finally spent a weekend in Toronto, Canada. Read more on how I spent four days in Toronto and popular attractions to visit on a weekend in Toronto.
Getting to Toronto
The ride from NYC to Toronto was about 8-12 hrs via Megabus with two rest stops in upstate New York, Buffalo Airport, Buffalo bus station, and US/Canadian Customs and Border Protection. I took the last bus out of NYC so I arrived in the late morning/early afternoon.
Toronto Itinerary Day 1 – Birthday Celebration in the City
I rested most of my first day, but the Saturday night, my cousins and I went to C Club Karaoke and Lounge for a birthday gathering. I didn’t really enjoy myself because it was a college bar.
Most of the night was spent avoiding 19 and 20-year-olds because they didn’t know how to control their liquor or hormones. I sure missed the US’ 21+ drinking age limit.
Toronto Itinerary Day 2 – Exploring Toronto City Center
Sunday after taking the Go Train from Rouge Hill to Union Station, my cousin and I took a walk around the city center to visit the CN Tower. The CN Tower is formerly the tallest Tower in the World and the Tallest Free-Standing Structure in the Western Hemisphere.
We rode to the top via the glass-windowed elevator. I’ve been to the Empire State Building twice, but the height of the CN Tower was pretty intimidating for me. The site at the top of the CN Tower shows breathtaking views of Lake Ontario and even as far as Niagara on a clear day.
On our way to Eaton Centre, we passed by the Steam Whistle Brewery located in the Historic Distillery District. The brewery tour ended for the day so we took pictures on and around the trains in the area.
Before going back home, we went to Chinatown for souvenirs and other items needed for my first Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner. That evening we attended a beach fete set inside an indoor beach volleyball court.
Toronto Itinerary Day 3 – Food, Family, and Football
On Monday Columbus/Thanksgiving Day, I attended a peewee football game for the Scarborough Thunder at Birchmount Stadium. While it was just a kid’s game, I was excited because my cousins won. (Go Thunder!)
After the game, we had dinner at my aunt’s house and I was able to meet other family members that migrated to Canada from Trinidad. We ended the night eating homemade ice cream and playing board games and dominos.
Toronto Itinerary Day 4 – Day Trip to Niagara Falls
On the last day of my extended weekend in Toronto, we took a day trip to Niagara Falls which is a collection of three waterfalls on the United States and Canadian borders. Since it was a weekday, there was little to no traffic on the road.
The road trip was spontaneous, so we didn’t plan on taking the Hornblower or Maid of the Mist tours. I definitely plan on visiting Niagara Falls again to walk over the bridge and take the tour. Much like the Atlantic City Boardwalk; a lot of casinos, hotels, some shopping, food, mini-golf, and bowling are in the area. We spent most of the afternoon walking around the gardens and taking photos in the area.
 | Niagara Falls Small-Group Day Tour from Toronto – $79.91 Enjoy a small-group 8 to 9 hour guided tour of Niagara Falls from Toronto. Your tour guide will pick you up and drop you off at your downtown Toronto hotel or location. The tour includes historic sights, as well as a visit to the picturesque town of Niagara-on-the-Lake and free time at Niagara Falls (where you can ride a boat and climb the Skylon Tower among other activities). Your guide has over 25 years of experience and is extremely punctual, knowledgeable, friendly, entertaining and most importantly, a safe driver. |
Other Things to Include in a weekend in Toronto
The only disappointing thing about my trip to Toronto was not getting my passport stamped when entering Canada, but Toronto is one of my favorite cities in North America. I’ve since visited during the summer for Caribana and can’t wait to go back.
Even though this was mainly a family trip, there are WAY more things to do in Toronto in four days. If you’re planning an extended weekend in Toronto, here are some must-see attractions of things to do in Toronto in four days.
- St. Lawrence Market – Located in Toronto’s Old Town district, St. Lawrence Market is one of the most popular attractions in Toronto. There are three main buildings: the St. Lawrence Hall, the South Market, and the North Market. Here you can purchase food, crafts, and more. If you visit on the weekend, there is a Saturday Farmers’ Market in the North Market.
- St. James Cathedral – If you’re a fan of visiting religious sites, St. James Cathedral is a Gothic-style Anglican church with the tallest steeple in Canada.
- The Distillery District – Toronto’s Distillery Historic District is a popular entertainment destination and a National Historic Site. If you visit Toronto during the holiday season, the Toronto Christmas Market is held here.
- Royal Ontario Museum – One of the best museums of Natural History, the Royal Ontario Museum is home to over 6,000,000,000 items! It showcases art, culture, and nature from around the world from historic times to the present day.
- Bata Shoe Museum – High on my list for my next trip to Toronto, the Bata Shoe Museum is the only museum in North America solely dedicated to footwear (see what I did there). This museum showcases a range of shoes from ancient Egyptian sandals to modern-day shoes worn by celebrities and designers.
- Casa Loma – Love castles? Visit Casa Loma which is a historic gothic house museum and landmark in Midtown Toronto.
- Yorkville – If you love to shop, the Yorkville shopping district is like the Champs-Élysées in Toronto. It is home to international and Canadian boutique stores. Popular stores are Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Swarovski, and more.
Read More Travel Guides and Tips
48 Hours in Portland, Maine: Things to Do & See
A First-Timer’s Guide to Visiting London in 4 Days
A Guide to Spending 4 Days in Tulum, Mexico
Have you spent an extended weekend in Toronto?
