Sitting on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto is beautiful city to explore.  Boasting a beautiful harbor front, green spaces, parks, and museums, you can spend your time indoors or taking in the great outdoors.  Toronto is also home to the Western Hemisphere’s tallest tower and North America’s only castle!  Spending just a little over 24 hours in Canada’s largest city, I compiled a list of ten great things to do here on a quick trip to Toronto.

When we went

October 2024.  The skies were sunny and the temperatures were 50s-60s.  The fall colors were popping although surprisingly many trees were still green.  

Ten Great Things to do in Toronto

1.) Visit Casa Loma

How about a visit to a North America’s only castle?!  Casa Loma is located about 3 miles outside of the city of Toronto so you will need some sort of transportation to get here.  We took an Uber and it took us about 30 minutes for us to get here due to traffic, so keep that in mind for your visit.

So what is Casa Loma?  It just so happens to be the only “real” castle in North America!  It was built in the early 1900s by Sir Henry Pellat for the purpose of being his personal residence.  Pellat created the Toronto Electric Light Company in 1883, earning his fortune to fund this grand estate.

Casa Loma

Built in the gothic-revival style, Casa Loma took three years to build.  Sir Henry Pellat wanted large spaces to entertain and host events in addition to having secret passageways, an underground tunnel, suits of armor, and more to make this one of the most fantastical residences in North America.  In the days when there were only about 200 telephones in the city of Toronto, Casa Loma had over 50 of them! 

Casa Loma also featured a central vacuum system, over 20 fireplaces, stables, and gardens, making this quite the residence to upkeep.  In fact, Pellatt could not keep up with the upkeep nor pay his taxes so it was eventually seized after just ten years of living in it.

Today, Casa Loma is an amazing place to explore.  The Great Hall is impressive with its soaring ceiling filled with flags, suits of armor, and chandeliers. 

The Great Hall | Casa Loma

The rooms are quite intriguing to walk through, and there are many!  Check out the ostentatious guest suite, decorated in “Chinoiserie”, a style that became popular in the 17th century, emulating designs from Asia.

A guest suite | Casa Loma

Sir Henry Pellat’s room was massive and masculine, with dark wood furniture, a mini canon, and even a real tiger pelt on the floor.

Sir Henry Pellat’s Bedroom | Casa Loma

The Conservatory is the castle’s indoor garden, with large windows letting in natural light which is especially welcomed during Toronto’s long, cold winters.

The Conservatory | Casa Loma

Walking up the tiny circular staircases to explore the towers is a must to take in great views of the city of Toronto in the distance.

Toronto Skyline Views from the towers | Casa Loma

One of the most unexpected areas is the 800-foot long underground tunnel, which is 18 feet below the surface. 

The Tunnel | Casa Loma

Pellat had this constructed to allow ease of moving from the house to the stables and carriage houses in the harsh Canadian winters.  Today, it features the exhibit, “The Dark Side Tunnel Exhibit”, taking you through the passageway while sharing darker stories of Toronto.

We visited in October and it was decked out for Halloween.  The exhibits throughout the tunnel were so well done, just check out the photos!

The Tunnel, all decked out for Halloween | Casa Loma

The garden areas and stables are also worth checking out!

One of the gardens, all decked out for Halloween | Casa Loma

The spooky stable | Casa Loma

LOCATION:  1 Austin Terrace, Toronto

WEBSITE:  Casa Loma

2.) Go Up The CN Tower

As the tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere, a visit to the CN Tower is a must while in Toronto!  

The CN Tower

Begin your journey with a ride up to the main observation area which is 114 stories up. 

The entrance to the CN Tower elevator | CN Tower

The main observation area has panoramic windows, giving visitors fantastic views out to the city and beyond. 

The views of Toronto are magnificent from up here | CN Tower

One can even see Niagara Falls from here on a clear day!  The observation area consists of several levels.  You can also step out onto a section of plexiglass floor, giving you a view directly down to the city streets!

Besides taking in the views up here, the CN Tower’s restaurant, 360, rotates giving diners a spectacular view, taking 72 minutes to complete the spin. 

Dinner with the best view in Toronto | CN Tower Restaurant, 360

The 360 Restaurant also holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s highest wine cellar. 

The World’s Highest Wine Cellar | 360 Restaurant, CN Tower

Reservations are required to dine at the restaurant and if you spend $75/person you can access the observation area at no extra charge.  

If you are not afraid of heights consider doing the EdgeWalk.  At 116 stories above the streets of Toronto, simply lean over the edge with just a harness securing you.  It holds the acclaim for being the “world’s highest full-circle hands-free walk”.  Do you dare to do the EdgeWalk?!

LOCATION:  290 Bremner Blvd., Toronto

WEBSITE:  The CN Tower

3.) Meander the Music Garden

I visited the Music Garden in the morning hours and it was a lovely way to start the day.  It’s a unique space that ties in the beauty of nature to the poetry of music.

Morning in the Music Garden

Inspired by Bach’s Cello Suite 1 in G Major, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and landscape architect Julie Moore Misservy collaborated on the garden.  The end result is a peaceful respite along the harbor front with areas filled with large trees, flower gardens, and enchanted walkways. 

Beautiful gardens and walkways | Music Garden

The Music Garden represents six sections of the piece, which is a unique way to visualize music.  As you stroll, there are interpretive signs with music that was the inspiration for that particular area of beautiful gardens.

Interpretive signs with great views of the city | Music Garden

LOCATION:  470 Queens Quay W., Toronto

COST:  Free

4.) Stroll St. Lawrence Market

Built in 1850, the St. Lawrence Market was once named the best market in the world!

St. Lawrence Market

Featuring over 120 vendors, one can find meat and seafood vendors, ethnic bakeries, fresh produce, specialty products such as jewelry and souvenirs, and so much more. 

St. Lawrence Market

Just walking around the St. Lawrence market is a feast for the eyes. 

St. Lawrence Market

Go a step further and assemble a feast for later, whether items for a meal or a picnic in a park.

LOCATION:  93 Front Street E., Toronto

COST:  Free

5.) Dine in the Distillery District

Set among 19th century buildings and old whiskey distilleries, the Distillery District is a quaint area to walk around, shop, and grab a bite to eat.

In the wintertime the Distillery District converts to a cozy Christmas Market.  What a great excuse to visit here in the winter months!

We ate lunch at Pure Spirits Oyster House.  Our grilled chicken salads were good and the service was great!

Pure Spirits Oyster House | The Distillery District

LOCATION:  55 Mill St., Toronto

WEBSITE:  The Distillery District 

6.) Shop at Eaton Center

There are many great shopping places in Toronto, but if you’re near Eaton Center, it’s worth a stop in.  Featuring typical mall brands such as Lululemon, Alo Yoga, the Urban Food Court, and more, this is a great place to get some fresh duds and get a break from the weather during the winter months.  Plus it’s located almost directly across the street from Nathan Phillips Square, which we share next.

LOCATION:  220 Yonge St., Toronto

WEBSITE:  Eaton Center 

7.) See the Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square

The TORONTO sign, located at Nathan Phillips Square, has become an iconic destination in the city. 

The Toronto Sign | Nathan Phillips Square

Each of the sign’s letters measures 10 feet tall with the entire word measuring 74 feet long.  For great views from above, take the stairs to the elevated platform directly facing the sign.  The Toronto sign is illuminated at night, making it a great site in the evening hours as well.

LOCATION:  100 Queen St. W., Toronto

COST:  FREE

8.) Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame

The Hockey Hall of Fame is home to the Stanley Cup, the highest trophy in professional hockey.  While here, explore the exhibits on NHL players, hockey artifacts, and peruse the interactive exhibits.  

The Hockey Hall of Fame

LOCATION:  30 Yonge St., Toronto

WEBSITE:  Hockey Hall of Fame

9.)  Explore the Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum is home to artifacts featuring art, culture, and nature from around the world.  Having opened in 1914, it is Canada’s largest museum.

LOCATION:  100 Queens Park, Toronto

WEBSITE:  Royal Ontario Museum

10.) Take in the Views from Toronto Islands

Located just a 13 minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto, Toronto Islands (also known as the Island or Toronto Island Park) is a city escape with walking paths and bridges with great views of the Toronto skyline.  Ferries to The Toronto Islands leaves from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal 365 days a year.

LOCATION:  Ferry Dock:  Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queens Quay W., Toronto

WEBSITE:  Toronto Islands

A Great Day Trip from Toronto

Did you know Niagara Falls is just 80 miles from Toronto?  It makes for a great day trip, either with your own wheels or on a guided tour from Toronto.  

We visited Niagara Falls several years ago and found it breathtaking! 

Niagara Falls

Beyond the falls, Niagara Falls boasts a very touristy main drag with lots to keep the family busy.  If you want a break from the touristy crowds, venture just 16 miles north to the charming town of Niagara-on-the-lake.  With quaint shops, great eateries, and a break from the Niagara Falls crowds, we highly recommend a stop here.

On a Layover

If your next international trip has you going through Toronto, consider a longer layover here.  Being a hub for many international flights, spending a night in Toronto is a great way to break up a long trip.  You can hit just a few of these things on this list, especially the sites that are close together.  The public transport system, the UP System, leaves from the Toronto Pearson Airport and brings you all the way to Union Station downtown.  From here, many of the sites are located near one another and walkable.  I’ll soon be publishing my one-day Toronto itinerary with information on how to organize your day.