Fun Things to do in Toronto with One Day

Only have one day in Toronto?

Don’t worry—my city, Canada’s largest, has a downtown core that’s filled with world-class attractions, great local eats, scenic strolls and more.

Whether you’re here on business with a free afternoon, in transit to Niagara or Montreal or places beyond, or just squeezing in a solo layover adventure, I’ve created this guide of fun, easy-to-reach experiences—no rental car required.

To be clear, there is so much more than this list of things to do in Toronto if you have a weekend or more. Each neighbourhood can be its own adventure. But for the shortest visits, I’m going recommend you stay downtown. Whenever I head to these areas, whether that’s cycling along the Martin Goodman Trail, checking out a free festival near city hall, grabbing a drink in Yorkville or catching the latest exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I notice a lot of happy tourists. It’s where you’ll find those picture-perfect settings and memorable Toronto moments.

For this purpose, I’m drawing a border about this downtown core: south of Bloor/Yorkville to Lake Ontario between Trinity-Bellwoods Park and the Distillery District. Let’s make your one day count!

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Top Day Tours to See Toronto Fast

One of the easiest ways to explore Toronto when you only have a short time is a tour. I’m not talking mega coaches with megaphones. I mean local guides with insider knowledge to share about the city’s history and organized transportation.

Hop-on-hop-off Sightseeing Bus of major tourist attractions

Free walking tours of downtown (tip your guide!)

Helicopter Tour to fly over the city

Toronto Harbour Tours aplenty, from a sightseeing cruise, to a tall ship, to a pirate themed adventure.

Haunted Distillery District at night

Downtown Guided Bike Tour

Kensington Market and Chinatown Food Tour

Before I get into my picks for things to do in Toronto in one day, here are some general tips for visitors.

How do I get around Toronto?

The public transportation is called the TTC, a network of buses, streetcars and a subway. You can tap with Apple Pay or debit card and one fare (around $3) is good for two hours, including transfers. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that Toronto transit has a lot of delays and detours. And it’s likely you will encounter some of the city’s homeless population when you ride, who may be exhibiting mental health or addiction issues. These things can be unpleasant for sure. I generally feel safe on our TTC but give people with problems a wide berth. And I don’t depend on it when I need to get somewhere fast.

Official taxis can be found parked outside of Union Station, hospitals and major hotels, or flag one down on the street if they have a light on. Uber and Lyft abound and have become the most popular way for visitors to get around.

I personally ride my bike almost everywhere, year-round. You can get around Toronto on bikes with Bike Share – look for stations where you can unlock a bike, or e-bike, for short rides and then dock them when you’re done. You will need a mobile phone with data to use this as most stations now only operate with the Bike Share app.

But the best way, if you have the mobility, is to walk!

Cash or card?

First things first: Canada is a sovereign nation with its own currency. When I worked in retail, I was shocked at how many foreigners, mostly Americans, expected us to not only accept US dollars, but give change back in it too. Yes, some businesses will accept American cash, at a not-great exchange rate. But you will get change in Canadian.

Many businesses have gone cashless. (Which I find all kinds of problematic but that’s a rant for another day!) You’ll have no trouble paying for almost everything with a tap of your credit, debit or Apply pay. One reason I like to carry cash when I travel is to leave money for the hotel cleaning staff, so keep that in mind if you’re overnighting here.

Local tip: Travelling through Union Station? There’s a TD Visa Infinite Lounge offering free coffee/tea/cookies and a comfortable space with good wi-fi. I like to work there when I’m waiting for a train. Just show your card to the attendant at the door.

Tipping is customary for many services, like bars and restaurants, as well as taxis. Like most places in the world, the % expected has gone up, but a %20 tip is considered polite. You can decide if you want to pay a tip for a take-out coffee, etc. Nobody will look at you weird if you don’t.

Exploring Toronto in one day

I highly recommend sticking to the downtown area. The major attractions are here, it’s pleasant for walking, there are great eats, and you’ll get to enjoy views of the great Lake Ontario. Let’s get started.

Toronto for Foodies

Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Any cuisine you can think of, you’ll find it here, from street food snacks to Michelin stars. Wherever you go, definitely do a search for local faves like butter chicken and Jamaican patties and try to sample something new to you. Vegans will find the donut selection quite heavenly. Here are some specific highlights.

I recommend starting your tour of Toronto at  St. Lawrence Market. There are more than 120 vendors at the city’s biggest food market, which has been running down at Front and Church streets since the early 1800s. A great place to come first thing in the morning for picnic supplies of local cheese and fresh fruits or decadent pastries. Closed on Mondays.

In the afternoon, try a Downtown Food Tour. My friends at Intrepid Travel run these cool Urban Adventure day tours too and you can see Chinatown and Kensington Market with a local guide on a three-hour walking tour. You can snack your way through the day.

For a dinner to remember, Toronto’s got a few Michelin star spots, if you like design food, especially Japanese. But I like to recommend Richmond Station, a beautiful space near downtown hotels that offers chef’s table seating and specializes in tasting menus inspired by local and seasonal products. (Including a vegetarian option!) Another special Toronto experience is the Supper Clubs from the Depanneur, featuring rotating local chefs, cooking classes and a monthly Indigenous Food Lab where you eat family at large tables with strangers.

End your day in Toronto having drinks with a view. The Writers Room, on the top of the posh Park Hyatt in Yorkdale offers gorgeous panoramic views from the patio and world-class service and cocktails. Down in the club district, Lavelle attracts a young crowd to its rooftop bar. Sober? Get more recommendations in my list of Top Places for Mocktails in Toronto.

Craig’s Cookies has multiple locations all over the city and is open late to keep up with the demand for after hours sweets because they are supremely delicious! If you order them into your hotel before bed I won’t judge.

Toronto for Adventure Seekers

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, stick to the area around the CN Tower and the lakefront and pack your day with these thrills:

There’s only one place on Earth you can do this: the world’s highest full-circle, hands-free walk around Canada’s most famous landmark. Start your day with the CN Tower Edge Walk.  Go 116 stories up – about 1168 feet/356 metres. They strap you into a harness, and then you can experience the ultimate thrill. Ages 13+. $200.

Just want the views with less heart-racing? Most visitors just take a high-speed elevator up to the Observation Decks for panoramic pov. At 113 stories up you can walk on a glass floor or step out onto an outdoor terrace. You can add-on a ticket to the “Top” which is located a thrilling 447m (1,465 ft.) up, the highest observation platform in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a timed ticket and cheaper if you buy in advance.

Inside scoop: a tourist recently asked me why it’s called the CN Tower – CN refers to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower in the 1970s. It’s currently owned by a Crown corporation, aka the government.

A helicopter tour of Toronto is short, but it’s exhilarating! Get the ultimate views on a 14-minute flight over the city’s top attraction with this tour from Heli Tour Toronto which takes up to three people (weight limit of 260 pounds, fyi). Alternately, there’s an 8-seater plane tour that’s a bit more affordable. Either way you’ll get the best photos ever

Toronto is a waterfront city, so in the summertime sporty types can get out on the water with a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle on Lake Ontario. It’s a great way to get over to the Toronto Islands too. Harbourfront Canoe and Kayak Centre does day rentals and is recommended. Make this a full day, or head out for sunset.

Read my full guide of things to do on the Toronto Islands.

One Day in Toronto on a Budget

You can still have a great day in Toronto on a budget. Stick around the Queen West/Kensington area and you’ll find cool things to see, do and eat. I recommend these things my own friends and family visiting.

Take a free walking tour. These are not zero-dollars, you should tip your guide. But the amount is up to you, and it’s a great way to orient in the city and meet other travellers. Book a timeslot with Toonie Tours here.

Ferry to Toronto Islands. This is always my top tip for any visitors to Toronto. Take the city ferry 15-minutes over to the Island, even just for a short boat ride and the views from the other side. Or read my full post on everything there is to do over there and make it your whole day.

Visit Graffiti Alley. The walls in the alleys just south of Queen Street West between Spadina and Portland are Toronto’s free outdoor art gallery, and a great backdrop for your next selfie. See my full review of Graffiti Alley with details here.

People Watch in Kensington Market
The streets between Spadina and Bathurst, Dundas and Queen are truly un-gentrifiable. No Starbucks. Just bohemian locals living their lives. Originally a Jewish market, now home to a bit of everything, including Latin American grocers, dim sum, and a Jamaican-Italian fusion hot spot called Rasta Pasta. On some Sundays in summer, it’s a car-free zone. Just around the corner on Dundas near Bathurst is a group of shipping containers turned lunch spots by start-up restauranteurs.  Grab an empanada and enjoy the show.

Catch a free concert. In the summer months, free festivals light up the city and you can hear top international acts or local faves from a variety of genres. Check out the Toronto Jazz Festival in Yorkville (June), Du West Fest in Little Portugal (June), MixTo at Trillium Park by the waterfront (July) and a Toronto summer treat,  Music in the Garden, a series intimate performances under a gorgeous willow tree with breezes from the lake. For classical and opera fans I recommend these free lunch time concerts in a beautiful concert hall near Nathan Phillips Square.

Of course, all year round there are great bands playing in clubs with no to low cover especially on Queen Street West. Check out the listings for venues like the Rex, Cameron House and Drom Taberna.

Happy Hour Drinks. So many of Toronto’s best bars and restaurants have special Happy Hour deals, generally between 3pm and 7pm. My personal fave is Lulu Bar, for delicious tropical drinks and Polynesian eats, located in the Well. If burgers and beer is more your thing you can’t beat the prices at popular patio Pennies, near Trinity Bellwoods Park. Here’s a full list of great spots for non-alcoholic mocktails in Toronto, too.

Explore using City Bikes. For $15 a day you can unlock a cruiser bike from thousands of Bike Share docks and enjoy unlimited rides up to 90 minutes each. I recommend taking the Martin Goodman Trail along the waterfront which is an easy ride away from cars.

Play some pinball. Old school arcades have popped up and they are some of the cheapest date nights around. This pinball enthusiast even created a map of where to find pinball machines in Toronto.

Toronto for art and culture lovers

What if you want to avoid tourist attractions and care more about art and culture and shopping than lake views? I have three great alternatives for you, depending on your budget.

For bohemian boutiques, vintage thrift shops and street eats, hit up Kensington Market. You are then steps from either Chinatown and the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Queen Street West which is a strip of shops like Doc Martens, Lush and Toronto’s main goth store, Borderline. Check out the unusual architecture of the OCAD building on McCaul street between Dundas and Queen.

Want luxury shopping, fine dining and independent art galleries? You can certainly spend your one day in Toronto all in Yorkville. Yorkville is our luxury shopping district. Historically, it was the centre of Toronto’s hippie scene in the ‘60s, with coffee houses and folk music. Today Bloor Street West between Yonge and Avenue Road is where you find the world’s most famous designers – Chanel, Burberry and the like, our upscale department store Holt Renfrew, and bespoke local boutiques and independent art galleries on the surrounding side streets. It’s also right near the Royal Ontario Museum, our most famous museum, and the Bata Shoe Museum, one of our most unique, and the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Arts, a lesser-known gem.

Inside scoop: That giant rock hanging out on Cumberland Street at the centre of Yorkville park is said to be one billion years old. It was moved here from the Canadian Shield in pieces by 20 flatbed trailers and reassembled here. Yes, you can climb on it.

The Distillery District, just east of downtown core but still accessible, has become a place where you can spend a whole day in Toronto indulging your interest in history, drinking, shopping and art. You can enjoy plenty for free just walking the Victorian era cobblestone streets and public art or take home something special from a local design shop. Either way you’ll probably stop for a drink at one of the many local breweries or distilleries. In December and January, it transforms into Toronto’s most famous Christmas market.

Inside scoop: Toronto has a beautiful light installation by James Turrell in the lobby of Bay Adelaide Centre. You can see “Straight Flush” from the outside if it’s closed.

At night, Toronto’s culture scene is absolutely filled with world-class entertainment for all budgets. Check out what Broadway musicals and big shows are on stage from Mirvish productions or something local at SoulPepper Theatre. The best in cinema plays at the TIFF Lightbox on King Street West. Massey Hall is our show stopping concert venue for all genres of music. And you’ll find great bands playing for donations or small cover charges along Queen Street West at spots like the Rex, Cameron House, Rivoli and Drom Taberna.

I hope these tips for things to do in Toronto in a one-day trip is helpful. Want more?

For my fellow Goth readers, check out my shopping guide to Toronto here.

Looking for a great Toronto hotel with a pool? I’ve got a handy guide here.

Cool things to do in Toronto at night that are safe for solo travels are right here.