What to do in Toronto in 48 hours

Toronto is abuzz with activity and that’s why it is not only one of Canada’s most famous cities, but one of the most metropolitan centres in the world.

There are top class eateries, fascinating museums, a vibrant sports scene and attractions aplenty. Plus, its location means it’s the perfect starting point for adventuring further afield in Ontario.

We’d recommend spending at least 48 hours in the city as there is so much to see and do here. So if you’re planning a holiday to Canada and are looking to book flights to Toronto, follow our itinerary to help you spend an incredible 48 hours in the city.

Our suggested itinerary

Day 1

Morning – Visit the CN Tower

Afternoon – Leisurely wander around St Lawrence Market and the Distillery District

Evening – Soak up the atmosphere of the Amsterdam Brewhouse

Day 2

Morning – Go shopping at the Eaton Centre

Afternoon – Grab a bite to eat at Momofuku Noodle Bar

Evening – Watch the Blue Jays

Day 1

Morning: Visit the CN Tower

After waking up in the heart of downtown Toronto at the Sheraton Centre and revelling in the stunning views of Nathan Philips Square you’ll be ready for the day ahead.

The CN Tower needs no introduction as it dominates the city skyline. You can get views from 342m above the city and over the waterfront. By getting here first thing you’ll avoid the queues!

If you’re a bit of a thrill-seeker you can try the EdgeWalk, which is where you harness yourself to the outside of the tower and walk around the circumference of the roof. After testing your limits and enjoying the thrill of a lifetime you will receive a keepsake video, printed photographs and a certificate of achievement.

 

Afternoon: Leisurely wander around St Lawrence Market and the Distillery District

If you’re still shaking from the EdgeWalk experience you can jump on City Sightseeing’s Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus to see some more sights and learn about this exciting city.

At stop number 19 you can browse around the famous St Lawrence Market and enjoy a spot of lunch as there’s plenty of choice.

Cheryl from Canadian Affair, says, “You have to have lunch at St Lawrence Market, the fresh pasta is amazing! For a famous Toronto food, try the peameal bacon on a bun – it’s delicious!”

After a bite to eat you should leisurely wander around the Distillery District, which is only next door. In the district there are a number of great little boutiques and artisan shops like Bergo Designs.

Our very own Stacey highly recommends visiting the district. She says, “An absolute MUST is the Distillery Historic District! You can walk round by yourself to experience the atmosphere and see Mill Street Brewery, or there is a Segway tour you can do which gives you the history of the district. I’d definitely recommend it!”

 

Evening – Soak up the atmosphere of the Amsterdam Brewhouse

After picking up a couple of gifts you should hop back on the bus and travel to stop 17. From here you can enjoy a relaxed boat cruise around the harbour and the islands. It is also the place where you can get that famous photo of the Toronto skyline from the water.

After an adventurous day why not relax on the harbour front at the Amsterdam Brewhouse? The Brewhouse is extremely popular not only because of its food and in-house beer but because it has spectacular views of the waterfront.

Gemma, from our Operations team, adds, “The Amsterdam along the harbour is a great bar. They have a range of flavoured beers, cocktails and a great food menu including fresh oysters.”

 

Day 2

Morning – Go shopping at the Eaton Centre

Toronto has emerged as a popular shopping destination with stores for luxury designer items, fashion and vintage gifts around every corner.

If you want to explore Canada’s major brands, then the Eaton Centre shopping mall is the destination for you. It’s home to more than 250 retailers and restaurants and is ideally located in downtown Toronto.

The shopping centre attracts over 50 million visitors every year and is one of North America’s busiest shopping centres.

The striking glass galleria of the shopping centre also makes it a well-known Canadian landmark. If after your visit you have still not fulfilled your shopping needs you can head to Queen Street West, which is right next to the Sheraton Centre. It is full of local Canadian brands and boutiques.

 

Afternoon – Grab a bite to eat at Momofuku Noodle Bar

Toronto and its neighbourhoods boast a variety of different cuisines and it’s quite easy to see why so many people fall in love with the city’s food scene.

A popular restaurant is Momofuku Noodle Bar, located on the ground floor of Momofuku Toronto in the centre of downtown. The menu features bowls of ramen and a roster of dishes like steamed buns and rice cakes as well as lots of fried chicken dishes. The restaurant opened in September 2012 and the diversity of Ontario’s local ingredients inspires the menu.

If you’re still unsure about how good the food scene is in the city you need to watch John Quilter, YouTube’s Food Busker
He spent 48 hours in Toronto in the summer of 2016 and fell in love with it.

 

Evening – Watch the Blue Jays

The city of Toronto has a long history of sport. One of the most famous teams is the Toronto Blue Jays, a professional baseball team that plays in the American League East division.

The team play their home games at the Rogers Centre and watching the actual game is only half the fun. The ballpark food and all the entertainment that runs alongside it will make your visit one to remember.

Richard, who is a team leader at Canadian Affair, loved his experience at the baseball game. He said, “We loved watching the Blue Jays baseball even though we didn’t know the rules – the atmosphere was amazing and a great way to interact with the locals who soon caught us up to speed!”

If you are a sports fan, then you can watch lots of sports teams in the city:

• Toronto Blue Jays (Baseball)
• Toronto Maple Leafs (Ice Hockey)
• Toronto Raptors (Basketball)
• Toronto FC (Major League Soccer)
• Toronto (Canadian Football League)

Notes from Niagara

As we mentioned Toronto is a great starting point to explore further afield and one of the best day excursions you can go on from the city is to Niagara Falls.

The iconic falls are just a 1-hour 45 minutes’ drive from Toronto and there are plenty of ways to see them. There’s the Niagara Cruises Hornblower cruise, the Whirlpool Jet Boat tours and the Journey behind the Falls.

Team member Kathryn visited in October ’16, shortly after completing the Toronto Marathon: “We set off to Niagara Falls and to the Niagara Cruises Hornblower cruise. We were covered in our lovely red ponchos to fend off the spray from the falls… little did we realise that you’d need a full Gortex suit! What an amazing way to start the day! This 20-minute cruise takes you up close to the American Victoria Falls as well as into the Horseshoe Canadian falls. The name Niagara Falls translates in Iroquois as “Thundering water” and it’s quite apt. The noise is something you have to experience. Truly unbelievable!”

As you can see there are lots of attractions to see and activities to do in just 48 hours in Toronto. The city really doesn’t stop giving, and we can’t get enough.

Image Credit: CN Tower, Distillery District, Eaton Centre, Momofuku Noodle Bar.