Verified guide · October 2026 · Luc ‘n’ Steve on Leave
Top Activities in Toronto: 10 Must-Do Things for Visiting Toronto
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Wondering what to do in Toronto? You’ve come to the right place. Between the CN Tower towering over the skyline, an aquarium where sharks glide right over your head, world-class museums and a trip out to the legendary Niagara Falls, there is no shortage of things to do in Toronto — the hard part is choosing.
We sifted through the activities in Toronto to keep only 10 essentials, each verified as active in October 2026 from official sources or recent traveller reviews. For every activity: the real average price, how long to plan, the best time to go and our practical tips. As for us, we’ll be in Toronto ourselves from October 19 to 26, 2026 — this guide doubles as our own roadmap for visiting Toronto.
Toronto activities at a glance
| # | Activity | Duration | Average price (adult) | Status verified Oct. 13, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CN Tower | 1.5 to 2 hrs | $47 | ✅ Active |
| 2 | Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada | 1.5 to 2.5 hrs | ~$44 | ✅ Active |
| 3 | Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) | 3 to 4 hrs | ~$26 | ✅ Active |
| 4 | Casa Loma | 2 to 3 hrs | $45 | ✅ Active |
| 5 | Toronto Islands (ferry) | Half day to full day | $9.57 (round-trip ferry) | ✅ Active |
| 6 | Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) | 2.5 to 4 hrs | $30 | ✅ Active |
| 7 | St. Lawrence Market | 1.5 to 2.5 hrs | Free admission | ✅ Active — closed Mondays |
| 8 | Distillery District | 2 to 3 hrs | Free admission | ✅ Active |
| 9 | Niagara Falls day trip | ~9 hrs | From US$51 (Viator) | ✅ Active |
| 10 | Hockey Hall of Fame | 1.5 to 2 hrs | $25 | ✅ Active |
Budget tip: the Toronto CityPASS bundled 5 major attractions (CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium included, plus 3 of your choice among Casa Loma, the ROM, City Cruises Toronto and the Toronto Zoo) at $134.96 plus taxes per adult in October 2026, to be used over 9 consecutive days. Heads up: City Cruises is seasonal and stops its cruises during the winter. Details on the official CityPASS site.
The 10 must-do activities in Toronto
1. Climb the CN Tower
Description: the symbol of Toronto. A glass elevator takes you up to the main observation level at 346 m, with a glass floor and — for the brave — the « The Top » option, even higher. On a clear day, the view stretches across all of Lake Ontario.
Why it’s great: it’s THE Toronto photo, and the best way to get your bearings right after you arrive. The EdgeWalk, a hands-free walk outside the tower at 356 m, remains an experience found nowhere else in the world (from $199, seasonal).
Practical tips: book a timed ticket online, come in via the SkyWalk from Union Station, and pair it with Ripley’s Aquarium, literally at the foot of the tower. Hours observed: 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily.
Toronto tour + CN Tower on Viator → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — cntower.ca
2. Dive into Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Description: at the foot of the CN Tower, a large aquarium where you walk through an underwater tunnel while sharks, rays and turtles glide overhead, between colourful reefs and hypnotic jellyfish.
Why it’s great: the « Dangerous Lagoon » tunnel alone is worth the visit, and the touch pools are a hit with kids. A perfect Plan B (or A) on rainy days.
Practical tips: fall weekends can get very busy — aim for a weekday time slot. The aquarium is part of the CityPASS if you’re going for the combo with the CN Tower.
Book on Viator → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — ripleys.com
3. Explore the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Description: Canada’s largest museum: spectacular dinosaurs, world cultures, minerals and temporary exhibitions, in a building where historic architecture meets a bold crystal addition.
Why it’s great: you could spend a whole day here without seeing it all. It’s Toronto’s most complete cultural activity, for kids and grown-ups alike.
Practical tips: get off at Museum station, target 2 or 3 galleries instead of the whole museum, and note the 15% discount for PRESTO card holders announced by the ROM. Temporary exhibitions may require a surcharge. Free-admission tip: on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, the ROM is free from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (most galleries; special exhibitions excluded) — Tuesday, October 20, 2026 is one of those days. And from September 25 to November 29, 2026, the « Free Main Floor » program makes the main floor free every open day, with advance booking.
Book on Expedia → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — rom.on.ca
4. Visit Casa Loma, Toronto’s castle
Description: a 98-room castle built in the early 20th century by an eccentric financier: grand halls, secret passages, a 244 m tunnel to the stables and gardens overlooking the city.
Why it’s great: a total change of scenery in the middle of the city — you’d swear you were in Europe. In October, the seasonal Halloween event « Legends of Horror » (October 3 to 31, 2026, separate ticket) turns the castle and its tunnel into a haunted experience.
Practical tips: open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.). Wear good shoes: towers, stairs and the tunnel are all on the program.
Book on Expedia → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — casaloma.ca
5. Escape to the Toronto Islands
Description: a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown, a string of car-free islands: beaches, bike paths, picnics and the best view of the Toronto skyline.
Why it’s great: the contrast is striking — nature and calm on one side, the big city as a backdrop on the other. It’s also the cheapest activity in this top 10.
Practical tips: departures from the Jack Layton terminal. In fall, the schedule is reduced — check it the day before, bring a windbreaker (it’s always cooler on the water) and take the Ward’s Island ferry, often less crowded.
Harbour and islands cruise on Viator → Official site (verified) (City of Toronto)✅ Verified active — toronto.ca
6. Admire the AGO — Art Gallery of Ontario
Description: more than 90,000 works — Canadian and Indigenous art, European masters, contemporary art — in a building redesigned by Frank Gehry, born in Toronto, with its great sculptural wooden staircase.
Why it’s great: the building alone is worth the visit, and the late evenings (Wednesday and Friday until 9 p.m., per the hours observed) offer a calmer, almost intimate visit.
Practical tips: St. Patrick station is a 5-minute walk away. Pair it with neighbouring Chinatown for dinner, or with Kensington Market within walking distance.
Toronto hotels on Expedia → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — ago.ca
7. Eat your way through St. Lawrence Market
Description: more than 120 vendors under one historic roof in the heart of Old Toronto: cheeses, breads, seafood, specialties from around the world… and the famous peameal bacon sandwich, a Toronto invention.
Why it’s great: it’s been Toronto’s pantry for over 200 years — you eat local, varied and affordably here, right alongside Torontonians doing their shopping.
Practical tips: closed on Mondays. Hours observed: Tue.–Fri. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arrive hungry and do a full lap before choosing.
See our Viator shop → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — stlawrencemarket.com
8. Stroll through the Distillery District
Description: a former Victorian distillery complex turned into a pedestrian village: cobblestone streets, art galleries, designer shops, microbreweries and patios.
Why it’s great: in the evening, the lighting and the patios make it one of Toronto’s most pleasant neighbourhoods — perfect for an aperitif or a nightcap. Starting November 12, 2026, the Distillery Winter Village takes over with its holiday atmosphere (tickets required at peak times).
Practical tips: about a 15-minute walk from St. Lawrence Market — pair the two. Weekdays are calmer; on weekends, there’s often live music.
See our Viator shop → Verified 2026 reviews (Tripadvisor)✅ Verified active — 2026 traveller reviews
9. Take a day trip to Niagara Falls
Description: the big excursion from Toronto: the drive to Niagara, a boat cruise at the foot of the Falls, a trip behind the curtain of water depending on the package, and often a stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a charming wine village.
Why it’s great: the Falls are about 130 km from Toronto — it would be a shame to be this close and not go. With an organized tour: zero logistics, you just enjoy it.
Practical tips: choose a package with free cancellation and the cruise included, bring a light rain jacket (you will get wet — that’s the fun of it) and save this day for the end of your stay.
Book the excursion on Viator → Day trips from Toronto (Viator)✅ Verified active — 2026 tours on sale on Viator
10. Touch the Stanley Cup at the Hockey Hall of Fame
Description: downtown, in Brookfield Place, the museum of Canada’s national sport: NHL trophies, a recreated dressing room, interactive games to test your shot… and the real Stanley Cup, which you can be photographed with.
Why it’s great: even if you’re not a diehard fan, the place tells the story of a whole slice of Canadian culture. For a Quebecer, the recreated Montreal Canadiens dressing room is worth the detour.
Practical tips: from September 8 to December 23, 2026, hours observed: daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A few minutes’ walk from Union Station, the CN Tower and St. Lawrence Market — easy to fit into a downtown day.
Book on Viator → Official site (verified)✅ Verified active — hhof.com
Activities by category
Short on time? Here’s how to combine these activities into days that make sense, based on your travel style — the numbers refer to the cards above.
👨👩👧 With family
Sample day: start with Ripley’s Aquarium in the morning (kids love the shark tunnel and the touch pools), follow with the CN Tower, literally next door, then let them burn off energy at the interactive games of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Another day: the ferry to the Toronto Islands in the morning (beaches, bikes), and the dinosaurs of the ROM in the afternoon. Scheduling tip: both museums close around 5:30 p.m. — save the Islands and the CN Tower for the end of the day.
💸 On a budget
An almost-free day, on foot and by transit: the ferry to the Toronto Islands ($9.57 round trip, free access) with a picnic bought at St. Lawrence Market, a stroll along the Harbourfront, then — if it’s the 3rd Tuesday of the month — the ROM, free in the evening (4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.); its main floor is also free every day from September 25 to November 29, 2026 (advance booking). The Distillery District costs $0 admission at all times. And if you’re aiming for 3 or more major paid attractions, run the numbers on the CityPASS ($134.96 plus taxes for 5 attractions). For a place to sleep without breaking the bank, our Toronto hotel picks on Expedia are built on traveller ratings and reviews.
🌳 Outdoors
Sample day: rent a bike as soon as you arrive on the Toronto Islands — from Ward’s Island to Centre Island and then Hanlan’s Point, almost entirely car-free — and come back at sunset for the golden skyline. The next day, the Niagara excursion takes over for nature on a grand scale. In between, the harbour cruise (card 5) gives you the city from the water in 1 hour, and going up the CN Tower at dusk remains Toronto’s finest « vertical outdoor » panorama. In October, the fall colours on the Islands are a show in themselves.
🏛️ Culture
Suggested order: the ROM on a weekday morning (3 to 4 hrs minimum, or its free evening on the 3rd Tuesday), the AGO on a Wednesday or Friday evening — open until 9 p.m. on those days, per the hours observed, in a calmer atmosphere — and Casa Loma on another morning, before the groups. Lunch between two museums: St. Lawrence Market, a Toronto institution for over 200 years. The Hockey Hall of Fame rounds out the cultural portrait… the sporting one, that is.
🌙 Toronto at night
A combination that works: late afternoon in the Distillery District (patios, microbreweries), up the CN Tower at dusk to watch the city light up, then a free evening downtown. In October, add « Legends of Horror » at Casa Loma (October 3 to 31, separate ticket) for a Halloween night in a castle. And if the Falls call to you at night, some Niagara tours on Viator show the Falls illuminated in the evening. Also check the aquarium’s calendar: it sometimes hosts special evening events.
Frequently asked questions — visiting Toronto
How many days do you need to visit Toronto?
Plan on 2 to 3 days for downtown (CN Tower, aquarium, museums, market, Distillery District) and add a full day if you take the trip to Niagara Falls. With a week, like ours from October 19 to 26, you can do everything without rushing and go back to your favourite spots.
When is the best time to visit Toronto?
From May to October for the Islands and the patios. Fall brings beautiful colours and smaller crowds; winter is cold, but the museums, the aquarium and the Distillery Winter Village (starting November 12, 2026) take over.
Is the Toronto CityPASS worth it?
If you’re planning at least 3 major paid attractions, yes. In October 2026, it was priced at $134.96 plus taxes per adult for 5 attractions to visit over 9 consecutive days (CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium included, plus 3 of your choice among Casa Loma, the ROM, City Cruises Toronto and the Toronto Zoo), with advertised savings of up to 38%. Note that City Cruises is seasonal and stops its cruises during the winter.
Can you visit Toronto without a car?
Yes, very easily: all 10 activities in this guide are downtown or reachable by subway, streetcar, ferry or organized tour. We travel without a car ourselves, everywhere.
Is Niagara Falls worth a day trip from Toronto?
Yes, especially for a first stay in Ontario. The organized tour (about 9 hrs, from US$51 on Viator) coordinates transportation, the boat cruise and free time — no car to rent, no parking to hunt for.
What daily budget should you plan for activities in Toronto?
As a rough estimate: one major paid attraction per day ($25 to $47), a meal at the market ($15 to $25) and transit — roughly $80 to $150 per person per day, lodging extra. Days built around the Islands, the market and the Distillery District cost much less.
Ready to visit Toronto?
Book your Toronto activities in advance — time slots for the CN Tower, the aquarium and the Niagara excursions go fast, especially on weekends. And for lodging, take a look at our shop: addresses selected from traveller reviews, the kind we’d recommend to friends.
Our Viator shop → Our Toronto hotel picks on Expedia →A question, a Toronto favourite you’d like to suggest? Write to us through the site — we read everything, and we’ll update this guide after our stay from October 19 to 26, 2026. And if Toronto makes you want to see more of the world, browse our other destinations.
Sources and verification
Each activity was verified as active on October 13, 2026 from its official source or from traveller reviews dated 2026: CN Tower (cntower.ca), Ripley’s Aquarium (ripleys.com), ROM (rom.on.ca), Casa Loma (casaloma.ca), Toronto Islands (toronto.ca), AGO (ago.ca), St. Lawrence Market (stlawrencemarket.com), Distillery District (2026 reviews), Niagara excursions and Hockey Hall of Fame (hhof.com and Viator). The « Official site (verified) » links on each card lead directly to these sources. Prices observed on that date — always double-check the current rate when you book.
