Toronto 7 Day Itinerary

A full week in Toronto means you can finally stop repeating yourself, one castle visit is enough, one museum sprint is enough, and there’s no rule saying every single day needs a stop at the CN Tower’s observation deck. Here’s a week that spreads the landmarks out and gives the neighborhoods their own days.

Day 1: Tower And Kensington

Start at the CN Tower before the crowds build, general admission from about 45 CAD adult online, 32 senior or youth, 16 kids 3-5. Ripley’s Aquarium sits next door but is a fully separate ticket starting around 33 CAD. Spend the afternoon in Kensington Market among the vintage shops and international food stalls, and grab dinner at a Northern Thai kitchen downtown, a reliable, specific pick rather than a generic “try local food” gesture. Stay somewhere near the waterfront, the InterContinental or similar puts you close to both today’s stops.

Day 2: The Museums

Morning at the Royal Ontario Museum, over 6 million specimens spanning dinosaur fossils to ancient artifacts, dynamic pricing roughly 20 to 31 CAD adult, with kids 4-17 free and 18-24 half price from June 19 through September 7. Afternoon, the Art Gallery of Ontario, whose general collection often runs free or pay-what-you-can for under-25 visitors, though special exhibitions are ticketed separately. Between the two, walk up to Yorkville for upscale window shopping if your legs still work. Dinner at a Mediterranean spot with fresh, locally sourced ingredients rounds out the day.

Day 3: St. Lawrence Market And The Distillery

Morning at St. Lawrence Market for artisanal foods and the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery, 10 to 12 CAD, genuinely worth the short line, but skip this day entirely if it lands on a Monday, when the South Market building is closed. Afternoon, the Distillery District, cobblestone and free to wander, with a stop at Steam Whistle Brewing if a tour and tasting appeals. Dinner at a Greek restaurant with fresh seafood closes the day well, staying near the waterfront keeps tomorrow’s transit simple.

Day 4: Kensington’s Neighbor And Graffiti Alley

Morning, back to Kensington if you want a slower second look, or spend it in nearby Grange Park for a quiet walk. Afternoon, find Graffiti Alley properly this time: it runs south of Queen Street West between Spadina and Portland, not inside Chinatown or Kensington itself despite constantly getting filed there. It’s an easy half hour of wandering and photographing ever-changing murals. Dinner back at that same reliable Thai kitchen, or branch out to an Italian spot with a good wine list if you’d rather not repeat a restaurant.

Day 5: Theatre And Art

Morning, check what’s playing at one of the historic downtown theaters and book a matinee or evening show for later. Daytime, return to the AGO if Day 2 felt rushed, or use the day for Yorkville shopping if art fatigue has set in. Byblos or a similar Mediterranean spot is worth a second visit if you liked it the first time; consistency isn’t a flaw in a seven-day trip.

Day 6: Distillery Repeat, Done Right

If Day 3’s Distillery District visit felt too quick, this is the day to go back and actually sit at a cafe patio for an hour instead of just walking through. Pair it with a return trip to St. Lawrence Market, this time for lunch rather than breakfast, and pick up something from the food court you skipped the first time around. Greek or Canadian comfort food for dinner, whichever you didn’t try on Day 3.

Day 7: Toronto Islands

Save the best value morning for last. Ferry round trip to the Toronto Islands runs about 9.57 CAD adult, 6.15 student or senior, 4.51 kids 2-14, no timed slot needed, just buy online through the express lane or in person. The skyline view looking back at downtown beats most of what you paid to see all week, and it costs less than a museum ticket. Spend the afternoon on a beach or biking the island paths, then head back for one last dinner wherever in the city you liked best.

Getting Around All Week

Tap PRESTO or contactless for 3.30 CAD per TTC ride across subway, streetcar, and bus. Favor subway lines over streetcars whenever your route allows it, the streetcars bunch and stall in traffic while the subway stays fast. A Day Pass at 13.50 covers unlimited rides and, on weekends, up to two adults and four kids on one pass. Pearson connects to Union Station via the UP Express, 28 minutes, 9.25 CAD with PRESTO or 12.35 cash.

Pack layers regardless of season, Toronto’s weather shifts fast. And skip the idea that poutine is Toronto’s signature dish, it’s a Quebec import you can find here, but the city’s real food identity is the dozens of diaspora kitchens running side by side rather than any single plate.