Toronto is one of those cities that truly takes you by surprise. We expected to like it- but we didn’t expect to love it. This vibrant, multicultural metropolis blends old-world charm with modern energy in a way that’s totally unique. Despite being one of the largest cities in Canada, Toronto feels surprisingly easy to navigate, thanks to its excellent public transportation system and walkable neighborhoods. On a sunny day, the city comes alive – bright, bustling, and full of charm. We visited Toronto in the fall, and it was absolutely stunning. The golden leaves, crisp air, and warm sunlight gave the city a magical feel. Honestly, we can imagine that every season in Toronto has its own special vibe, but autumn might just be the most beautiful time to visit.
Getting to Toronto is a breeze, thanks to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), which is well-connected with direct flights from major cities across North America and around the world. Whether you’re flying in from New York, London, or Vancouver, chances are there’s a convenient flight for you.
One thing to keep in mind, though: Pearson Airport isn’t exactly close to downtown Toronto. Depending on traffic, the drive into the city can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over an hour – even on weekends. If you’re arriving during rush hour, it’s worth planning ahead. You might want to explore other options like the UP Express train, which offers a reliable and traffic-free way to get to Union Station in just 25 minutes.
Where to stay in Toronto
When it comes to places to stay in Toronto, you’ll find just about every type of lodging you could want – from luxury hotels and boutique stays to stylish Airbnbs and budget-friendly options. The harder part isn’t finding a place – it’s choosing where to stay.
For a central, walkable location with a touch of upscale charm, we highly recommend staying in or around Yorkville. This neighborhood is one of the best areas to stay in Toronto, thanks to its excellent dining, trendy bars, world-class museums, boutique shopping, and beautiful parks. Plus, it’s well-connected to the rest of the city via public transit, making it a convenient home base.
Another great area to consider is Old Toronto, especially if you want to be close to historic sites, waterfront views, and vibrant city life. It’s packed with hotels, restaurants, and attractions – ideal for first-time visitors looking to experience the heart of the city.
Top Pick – the Park Hyatt Toronto
Not surprisingly, we chose to stay at the Park Hyatt Toronto – another beautiful Hyatt property, which was renovated in 2021.
We loved its location, beautiful interior design, excellent restaurant, spa and roof top bar. We could not have wanted for more.
The hotel houses a unique collection of Indigenous artists’ work from across Canada. The artworks are beautifully integrated into the hotel’s interior design. You can read more about the artists and specific works here.
As is true for any large metropolitan city, there is a lot see and do in Toronto. A little planning is required to make sure that you end up visiting what is of interest to you.
Here are our suggestions for spending two days in Toronto, with a focus on getting a feel for local life and nature, visiting world famous landmarks, and exploring the vast food scene.
Day 1 in Toronto
Spend time in Yorkville
Take a stroll through the beautiful Yorkville. This unique neighborhood is home to museums, luxury shops, excellent restaurants, and wonderful in city parks. It is particularly beautiful in the fall as its many trees change color.
- Visit the Royal Ontario Museum – its unique architecture is enough to capture your attention, but it is also Canada’s largest museum with art, natural history, and cultural exhibits. You can buy tickets online at the museum’s website.
- Stroll through Philosopher’s walk – located in the St. George campus of the University of Toronto, this walk weaves through a park setting and is open 24 hours a day. It is particularly beautiful in the fall.
- Shop or window shop the Yorkville Mink Mile. Tom Ford, Channel, Christian Louboutin and more luxury stores are located here. You can also see many murals and admire public artworks.
- Take a break and enjoy Italian coffee at Eataly Toronto or enjoy some Canadian ice cream (maple syrup flavor anyone😋?) at a local creamery – try Summer’s Ice Cream – a true local favorite.
Additionally, stop by and try any of the local restaurants and bars. Each has a unique atmosphere and decor, and you are sure to find one you like. See our Where to drink and eat in Toronto section for specific recommendations.
Visit the Distillery District
Make your way to Old Town Toronto. The pedestrian only Distillery District is a favorite of tourists and locals alike. Whiskey distillery buildings built in the 19th century house art galleries, shops, bars, and many unique restaurants. On the weekend, you might even catch a local farmer’s market set up in the main square. And in the wintertime, you can visit the Christmas market.
- Stop by the Spirit of York distillery, the only working distillery left in the district, for some unique local drinks. You can sample their production or ask for a specialty cocktail at the bar. Be sure to try the Hawthorne Berry Gin – unique, interesting, flavorful. Sample some of the local Genever – this Dutch gin-like drink is not found very often. A super enjoyable experience, complemented by the ever-helpful staff.
- If you are in a mood for a special treat, stop by the SOMA Chocolatemaker – yum 😋! Unique and so very tasty, you can watch and smell how their treats are made. Drink a cup of hot chocolate. A must stop if you are a chocolate lover.
- Visit the Yummi Candles store for some unique soy candles and bring a souvenir home.
There are too many interesting places to explore. Just wander around and enjoy the Distillery District.
Day 2 in Toronto
Visit the CN Tower
The CN (Canada National) Tower is the icon of the Toronto skyline. Still considered the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere, it rises 553.3 meters (1,815.3 ft) high above the city of Toronto. It houses two observation decks and a revolving restaurant.
It is estimated that the CN Tower attracts over 2 million international visitors a year.
You can buy a ticket for a timed entry online here or at the bottom of the tower. There are two options: a timed general admission or a Skypod + timed general admission. In our experience, the general admission to the main observation level is really impressive. You will have an unbelievable view of Toronto that very much worth the price of admission 😊!
The Skypod is located 33 stories higher and is a more compact space. If you choose to go to this level, you might feel the tower sway in the wind. We didn’t think that getting up to this level added any much that you didn’t get at the main observation deck. We recommend skipping it.
Additional things to do include dining at the 360 degrees restaurant (reservations required) or participating in the Brave the EdgeWalk experience – a unique exterior walk two stories above the main observation deck. We didn’t dare 😲!
A bit unsure of what to expect, we loved the experience and highly recommend visiting the CN Tower.
There is plenty more to see around the CN Tower, depending on your interests. You can visit the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Toronto Railway Museum, the Rogers Center (home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team), or the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Visit the Harbourfront
Just a short walk from the CN Tower is the Toronto Harbourfront. This area is located right off beautiful Lake Ontario. You can walk the waterfront parks and trails, passing by many galleries, theaters, and art sculptures. There are also plenty of street-level restaurants and shops. On a beautiful day, you can take the ferry to the Toronto islands and beaches just across the way. A beautiful area with a superb view of the Toronto skyline.
Where to drink and eat in Toronto
Toronto is a vibrant, multicultural city bursting with energy, flavor, and endless things to explore. With so many amazing neighborhoods, cuisines, and attractions to choose from, it was genuinely tough to narrow down where to go and what to try.
After exploring the city, here are a few of our favorite places and experiences in Toronto that we think every visitor should check out:
Restaurants
- Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie in the Distillery District – French-style restaurant, modern and very unpretentious, beautifully decorated. We had brunch at Cluny and it was oh-so-good 😋!
- Kasa Moto in Yorkville – super tasty Japanese food, beautiful setting, creative cocktails and an excellent wine selection. We recommend trying the Orange Wine from Canada’s Niagara Region. The restaurant has a nice patio. Reservations required.
- Park Hyatt Toronto Joni restaurant – we only tried Joni for breakfast but were super impressed by everything we tasted. The restaurant offers afternoon tea (next time for sure), and a tasting dinner menu. Reservations for dinner are recommended.
- Osteria Giulia in Yorkville – Wow, 😲😋 what an excellent restaurant! An intimate, one Michelin star restaurant tucked in Yorkville. Reservations must be made well in advance, as the restaurant is very popular. The food was exceptional, the service excellent; Osteria Giulia comes with our highest recommendation for a special occasion or just a super nice dinner.
- Bonimi Restaurant in the Islington area – for something different, we tried Bonimi Restaurant, which serves modern Serbian food. Very unpretentious spot with great Balkan specialties and excellent service.
Bars
- Hemingway’s Restaurant and Bar – iconic Toronto spot, New Zealand style pub with an excellent, year-round rooftop patio. Very lively. Reservations recommended.
- Bar Reyna in Yorkville – Mediterranean-inspired food and super creative cocktails. Heated patio, music, and very lively atmosphere. Reservations recommended.
- Park Hyatt Writers Room Rooftop Bar – superior location for cocktails and snacks. The skyline view of downtown Toronto is breathtaking. We visited multiple times during different times of the day and in the evening and were equally impressed. Another spot where you can sample Canadian wines. Reservations highly recommended as the bar is super popular with locals and tourists alike.
Toronto’s food scene is absolutely incredible – and honestly, choosing where to eat and drink was one of the hardest parts of our trip. With so many different restaurants, bars, and cafés across the city, two days just wasn’t enough to even scratch the surface.
From global cuisines to local favorites, Toronto is a foodie’s dream. We barely made a dent in the list of must-try spots, but what we did experience left us wanting more. One thing’s for sure: we’re already planning a return trip just to keep exploring the city’s amazing culinary scene.
What we loved about Toronto
- Beautiful city with warm, welcoming people
- A seamless blend of history and modern architecture
- Easy to get around with a reliable public transportation system
- Felt safe everywhere, even at night – a rare perk in a major North American city
- Fall made the city glow – colorful parks and stunning scenery
- Endless things to see, do, and explore
What to bring in the fall
- Layers of clothing as the weather changes a lot in the fall
- Comfortable shoes; will do a lot of walking
- Stylish clothing: Toronto is a very stylish city
- Sunglasses
- An umbrella. We like this one for travel, but Amazon has many reasonably priced options.
Check out our list of travel essentials on what to take and how to maximize your packing.
In closing, we loved our time in Toronto and hope to come back, perhaps in the spring!
If you have extra time, be sure to check out our post on Niagara Falls. It is an easy day trip from Toronto that we highly recommend, especially if you have not visited before.
Stay tuned for our specific recommendations on what to wear.
[All pictures taken by the Styled Traveler]
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