Toronto Day Trips
Toronto day trips - enjoy some great sightseeing and
visit some of Toronto's top attractions by public transit
If you have just one day, or several days to see Toronto, you can follow one or more of the following day trips to explore many of Toronto's favourite attractions.
The key to seeing more is to plan ahead and follow a logical path from one location to another. By doing this you can cover a lot of area in a day using the transit system.
You can follow these tours as is, modify them, or even plan your own to suit your personal tastes by using the resources available throughout this site.
I generally recommend purchasing a day pass when starting your tour each day so you can ride the system all day long without worrying about purchasing additional fares.
You can add an additional day or two days to any of our suggested day trips with the highly recommended Niagara Falls Day Trip and/or with a day trip to Toronto Zoo/Rouge Park which are each a full days outing on their own. In season, The Canadian National Exhibition or Canada Wonderland can each provide a full day of family activity.
Day Trip 1: A castle, a park, a historic distict,
and Toronto's most recognized landmark
Leg 1 - Explore the magnificent Casa Loma.
Plan to arrive at Casa Loma in time for it's opening at 9:30 am. Start by making your way to Dupont Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Line. From Dupont Station walk 2 blocks north on Spadina Road to Davenport Road then follow the stairs up the hill directly ahead of you. Allow about 2 hours to explore the grounds, gardens, exterior and interior of Casa Loma before walking back to Dupont Station.
Time: 2.5 Hours
Leg 2 - Stroll through Queens Park and Tour the Ontario Legislative Building.
From Dupont Station take the subway south to Queens Park Station and walk north along Queens Park Crescent towards the Ontario Legislative Building. View the commemorative statues and the intricate architecture of the Legislative Building and take a free guided ½ hour tour of the inside.
Time: 1.5 Hours
Leg 3 - Visit the Distillery Historic District.
From Queens Park Station continue south to on the subway to St. Andrew Station take the #504 King streetcar east to Parliament Street. Enjoy a late lunch or afternoon coffee in one of the many restaurants before exploring the old architecture and the many unique boutique shops and galleries throughout this car free neighbourhood. Afterwards take the #504 streetcar west back to King Station.
Time: 2.5 Hours
Leg 4 - End your day with a ride up the elevator of the CN Tower. for an expansive view of the city.
From King Station continue south to on the subway to Union Station and follow the sky walk to the CN Tower. Choose from one of their admission packages and ride the elevator up to the viewing levels for a spectacular 360° view of Toronto. Since this is at the end of your day trip you can enjoy the sunset and the night time view as well, prior to heading back down. Afterwards, walk back to Union Station and make your way back to your hotel for a well deserved rest after a busy, but rewarding day exploring Toronto.
Time: 2.5 Hours
Total Time: 9 Hours plus hotel connections
Day Trip 2: A musical park and an island oasis
Leg 1 - Explore the Toronto Music Garden
Make your way to Union Station and take the #510 Spadina streetcar and get off at Spadina Avenue far side Queens Quay West. Walk west along Queens Quay to the Park Entrance and spend an hour exploring this inspirational 3 acre themed garden located right on the Toronto Harbourfront.
Time: 1.0 Hours
Leg 2 - Take a stroll along the Toronto Harbourfront District
After a walk through the Toronto Music Garden make your way east along Queens Quay West exploring the and the parks and marinas, galleries and shopping along the way. Grab some grub at one of the many eateries at Harbourfront Centre or along Queens Quay. Continue exploring in to the east until you reach Bay Street and head to the Ferry Docks to the south (at the south end of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel).
Time: 2.5 Hours
Leg 3 - Take the ferry over to Centre Island at the Toronto Islands
Take the ferry to Centre Island and enjoy spectacular views of the Toronto Skyline. At Centre Island you can enjoy strolling along car free walkways among beautiful parks, gardens and fountains. If you wish you can rent a boat from the Toronto Island Boathouse and paddle around the the islands. If you have kids, spend some time at the Centreville Amusement Park. finally take the ferry back to downtown Toronto to make your way back to your hotel
Time: 5 Hours
Total Time: 8.5 Hours plus hotel connections
Day Trip 3: A beautiful park, historic buildings,
a museum, and a garden
Leg 1 - Enjoy the diversity of High Park
Make your way to High Park Station on the Bloor-Danforth Line and walk south on High Park Avenue ½ block to the park entrance then continue south into the park. Explore the natural and beautifully landscaped areas throughout the park from the network of trails. If you have children stop by the children's play area and don't forget to check out the Zoo. Afterwards head back to the subway and go east to St. George Station.
Time: 2.0 Hours
Leg 2 - Explore the historic buildings and landscaped grounds of the University of Toronto
From St. George Station walk ½ block south on Bedford Road and ½ block east on Bloor Street West. Follow the path just before the Royal Ontario Museum into the University of Toronto Grounds and explore grounds and view the architecture of the many historic buildings located on the campus. Have some lunch at one of the campus restaurants before making your way back to the Royal Ontario Museum.
Time: 1.5 Hours
Leg 3 - Tour the many exhibits of the renowned Royal Ontario Museum
Check out the many exhibits in the largest museum of natural history and world culture in Canada. View millions of artifacts from around the globe and throughout history in 40 different galleries. Afterwards make your way back to St. George station and continue east on the Bloor-Danforth Line to Sherbourne Station.
Time: 3 Hours
Leg 4 - Visit Allan Gardens
From Sherbourne Station on the Bloor-Danforth Line take the #75 Sherbourne bus south to Sherbourne at Gerrard Street East. A path into the gardens starts at the northwest corner of the intersection. This is a great deal -- admission is free. Enjoy the conservatory and six greenhouses with an area of over 16000 square feet that showcase rare varieties of beautiful tropical plants from around the world as well as the landscaped grounds outside the conservatory. Afterwards you can return to the Bloor-Danforth line the way you came or you can get to the Yonge-University-Spadina Line via the #506 streetcar westbound from Carleton Street at Jarvis Street.
Time: 2 Hours
Total Time: 8.5 Hours plus hotel connections
