How to spend 3 days in Toronto

Toronto is a city built from myriad identities. There's no single heartbeat here, no unified personality. Often described as one of the world’s most diverse cities, it has grown through successive waves of immigrants settling across the city in distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own character, stitched together by streetcar lines and lake views. 

You won’t be able to see everything in three days, but you’ll begin to understand the appeal, especially if you take the time to venture further afield. 

Day 1  

Start early at the CN Tower. Completed in 1976, it held the title of world's tallest free-standing structure for over three decades and remains an engineering marvel at 553 metres.  

After that, walk south towards Harbourfront and make your way to The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery . Housed in a former industrial power station on the lake, the often experimental exhibitions are presented in lofty brick rooms that carry traces of the building’s past. 

Feeling peckish? Head to St Lawrence Market, where Toronto's food culture reveals itself in artisanal goods and seasonal produce in one of the city’s oldest market buildings. The peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery is a Toronto rite of passage, and the sourdough and pastries from Blackbird Baking Co. are exceptional.  

Continue east to the Distillery District, where Victorian industrial architecture frames galleries, locally-owned boutiques and restaurants. The pedestrian-only streets and preserved brick buildings make it worth wandering, especially on market days.  

For dinner, Richmond Station delivers refined Canadian cooking courtesy of Top Chef Canada winner Carl Heinrich, with a seasonal menu on offer. If you’re itching for a nightcap, seek out After Seven, a speakeasy hidden behind a vending machine inside an ice-cream pop-up shop, where creative cocktails are served in an intimate setting. Alternatively, the rooftop lounge at the Park Hyatt Toronto’s Writer's Room Bar has long drawn Canada’s literary crowd. 

Day 2  

Your day starts at Chinatown, where Spadina Avenue hums with a particular kind of energy. One of North America's largest Chinatowns, it spills onto the pavement with sidewalk displays of bok choy and dragon fruit, glossy roast ducks hanging in windows and the scent of steamed buns drifting up from basement bakeries. 

A few blocks north, the pace shifts at the Art Gallery of Ontario , which houses a wide-ranging collection that runs from European masters to Canada's Group of Seven and contemporary installations. A fun activity is to ask for an Art Rate Monitor , a wristband that tracks your heart rate as you wander the galleries, revealing the work that most captivated you. 

From there, drift south to Kensington Market, where bohemian energy thrives in an eclectic enclave of vintage shops, street murals and a mix of global food stalls. Pop by Courage My Love , a popular vintage shop with a vibrant blue façade that’s been around since 1975 and is renowned for its C$5 (HK$26) racks and upcycled items.

Film aficionadas shouldn’t miss Casa Loma, the city’s hilltop manor built in the early 1900s and frequently used as a stand-in for grand European estates in films such as X-Men, Chicago, and The Handmaid’s Tale. Wander through wood-panelled halls, towers and hidden staircases, then out into the gardens and terraces overlooking the city.

Spend the evening at Ossington, one of Toronto’s trendiest strips. Dinner options include Côte de Boeuf, a French bistro serving dry-aged beef and steak tartare, or Pho Tien Thanh, a Michelin-recommended Vietnamese spot with hearty broths. Cap the night at Club Paris, an intimate wine bar.  

Day 3  

Start with a ferry journey to the Toronto Islands, a chain of car-free islands with bike paths, wooden bridges and small beaches.  

For lunch, return to the city and head to Restaurant Tiflisi, a family-run Georgian spot in the Beaches neighbourhood that earned its Michelin acclaim through sheer authenticity. The acharuli khachapuri — a boat of fluffy bread cradling melted cheese, butter and egg yolk — is the definition of indulgence, and the lamb khinkali arrives in a warm, hearty broth. Toronto's best meals often come from its most personal kitchens, where generations of recipes travel across continents and borders. This is one of those places.

Spend the afternoon wandering Toronto’s East End, a patchwork of neighbourhoods shaped by successive waves of settlement. Along Gerrard Street East, you’ll pass through Little India and East Chinatown, while nearby Danforth Avenue marks Greektown. The real pleasure here is in the aimless discovery. Stop into Re: Reading Used Books for shelves of second-hand finds, The Handwork Department for carefully curated vintage clothing, and The Scribe Bookstore for rare and collectible titles. 

Continue towards the RC Harris Water Treatment Plant. Built in the 1930s and opened in 1941, this Art Deco structure is truly monumental. The best time to visit is during golden hour, when the architecture takes on a theatrical quality. 

For your final meal, book a table at Belle Isle , a neighbourhood favourite with a recently refreshed Cantonese-inspired menu. The clay pot rice rotates seasonally, the soy sauce-braised chicken is a staple and the cocktail list is well curated. Comforting plates and thoughtful drinks in a friendly setting make this a fitting conclusion to your time in the city.