Toronto

The lakeshore landmark: CN Tower

The CN Tower opened to the public on June 26, 1976. At 553 m, it was the world's tallest freestanding structure until Dubai's Burj Khalifa overtook it in 2009. The Main Observation Level is at 346 m (114 storeys), and one level down, at 342 m, there's a glass floor. You'll probably stick to the edge at first; step out onto the glass and the rail lines and lakeshore roads below shrink to the size of your palm. At The Top, 33 storeys above the main level, you can feel the tower sway in the wind. Timed general admission is $47 for adults, or $59 with The Top (tax extra). There's also the EdgeWalk, which runs seasonally: a hands-free, full-circle walk around the outside, clipped to a line 116 storeys up.

Looking back at the city: Toronto Islands

From the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal on Queens Quay, it's a 15-minute ride to the Toronto Islands. An adult round trip is $9.57, and buying online ahead of time gets you on board faster. Centre Island, with a beach and the Centreville amusement park (closed in winter), draws a lot of families; Ward's Island has the quiet of a small village. Hanlan's Point is less crowded, and it has a clothing-optional beach. Coming back, take a ferry around sunset and stand at the bow.

Mornings at the market: St. Lawrence Market

Old Town sits on the 10 blocks where Toronto began. At its heart, St. Lawrence Market's South Market is packed with butchers, cheese shops and bakeries, and arguably the most popular order is the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery. The South Market is closed Mondays, and on Saturdays a farmers' market opens in the north building at 5 a.m. Walk east from the market and you reach the Distillery District, a national historic site where 47 Victorian industrial buildings of the Gooderham & Worts distillery have been restored, their red brick now home to galleries and cafés. The 2026 Winter Village runs from November 12 to January 3, 2027, with free entry every day before 4 p.m.

Cross a street, change countries: Kensington Market and Chinatown

Kensington Market is a jumble of grocers, street food and vintage clothing shops. If you're picturing a tidy shopping strip, it may feel a little rough around the edges, and that roughness is exactly what keeps you lingering. On the last Sunday of each month from May to October, Pedestrian Sundays fill the streets with performers and food stalls. Right next door is Chinatown, established in 1878 and one of Toronto's oldest neighbourhoods. Today it centres on the corner of Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. Have dim sum for lunch, wander over to Kensington with a coffee, and half a day is gone before you know it.

Museums and blossoms: the ROM and High Park

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is Canada's largest and most comprehensive museum, home to 18 million artworks, artifacts and specimens. The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal, the crystal-shaped wing that juts out at a slant, was designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. If you're here between late April and early May, stop by High Park. In 1959, Japan's ambassador presented 2,000 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees to the people of Toronto on behalf of the people of Tokyo, as thanks for Toronto taking in Japanese Canadians who'd had to relocate after the Second World War.

A day out: Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is usually about 90 minutes by car, though rush hour or weekends can double that. GO trains run every day of the year, but as a commuter service: from Niagara Falls into Toronto in the morning, with one return trip in the evening. If you're planning a day trip from Toronto, check the schedule first. From April to November, the Voyage to the Falls boat heads right into the mist of the Horseshoe Falls, and ponchos are free. Journey Behind the Falls is open year-round, so even in winter, when the boats rest, you can head 38 m (125 ft) down and walk 130-year-old tunnels through the bedrock ($33, ages 13 and up). You'll feel the vibration of the falling water underfoot before you see it. The falls are lit in color every night.

A suggested 5-day, 4-night itinerary

Day 1 — UP Express from Pearson Airport to Union Station (28 min) → lakeshore walk → sunset at the CN Tower Day 2 — Breakfast at St. Lawrence Market (closed Mondays) → Distillery District → Toronto Islands (ferry back around sunset) Day 3 — Dim sum in Chinatown → Kensington Market → Royal Ontario Museum → dinner in Yorkville Day 4 — Day trip to Niagara Falls (boat or tunnels → evening illumination) Day 5 — Walk in High Park → airport In winter, use PATH, downtown's underground walkway: more than 30 km lined with some 1,200 restaurants, shops and services.

What to eat

• Peameal bacon sandwich (St. Lawrence Market)
• Butter tart (Ontario's small pie)
• Poutine (fries, cheese curds, gravy)
• Dim sum (Chinatown)

Handy tips

• Flying into Canada on a visa-exempt passport, South Korea's included? You'll need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) before you leave. It's CAN$7 on the Government of Canada's official site.
• Price tags don't include tax. Ontario adds 13% HST at the till, so budget an extra 13% on everything from CN Tower tickets to menu prices.
• On the TTC (subway, streetcar, bus), tapping a credit card or PRESTO card costs $3.30 for adults, and transfers within two hours of your first tap are free. Pay cash ($3.35 for adults) and you don't get the two-hour transfer.