Key Takeaways
- Visiting the CN Tower, spending a day at Canada’s Wonderland, and taking a day trip to Niagara Falls are some of the best things to do in Toronto with family this weekend.
- If you’re thinking of a solo weekend trip to Toronto today, attend festivals, food tours, and concerts. Make sure to visit their museums and botanical gardens too.
- Toronto is the 2nd most walkable city in Canada, so city exploration in two days is feasible.
Whether it’s just you or your whole family, there are many exciting things you can do in the “Queen City” Toronto today that can fulfill your wanderlust. A few of them include spending a good day at Canada’s Wonderland, Niagara Falls, or attending one of the many festivals.
Certainly, more than a 2-day trip is needed to squeeze in all these listed 20 best things to do in Toronto this weekend. But I am optimistic it’ll give you a brilliant set of ideas!
Things To Do In Toronto With Family
1. Visit the CN Tower
If you think CN Tower is only an observation deck to get the best 360-degree view of Toronto, you’re absolutely wrong! There are so many thrilling and one-of-a-kind activities in CN Tower, with good dining options and a few shops for family souvenirs.
After eating at either the 360 or VUE Bistro, your whole family could try the basic timed general admission with access to the two primary observation levels with glass floors; but don’t be scared as these floors are totally safe and can withstand a total of 35 moose equivalent to almost 24,000 kilos, so you can let your kids jump around without any worries.
I bet you’d also like walking through the clouds with the exhilarating Edgewalk if you have the guts to walk at the edge of the 116th floor of the tower without anything to hold on to besides the harness. Definitely not for the faint of the heart, but I’ll tell you that the experience is unforgettable!
2. Spend a Day at Canada’s Wonderland
Thinking of something kids will truly enjoy? The amusement Park is a great choice, and no other theme park in Canada can outmatch Canada’s Wonderland.
Spending a day at Canada’s Wonderland for just $49.99 is one of the best things to do in Toronto this weekend with family, as it caters to fun and entertainment for all ages.
With a 134-hectare land area, imagine the space for hundreds of rides and attractions, from roller coaster rides and water rides to KidZville and World of Snoopy for toddlers.
If you plan to return to the park more often, I advise you to avail yourself of the Season Pass or the Gold Pass, valid for 7 months, which is an absolute steal for $94 – $125 per person.
3. Watch a Leafs Game
Be the ultimate Leaf fan by wearing your finest blue and white outfits with your whole family to support Toronto’s ice hockey team, Maple Leafs, with their matches!
Head over to the Scotiabank Arena at 40 Bay Street to watch their games live while enjoying a bottle of soda, a hot dog from the Dog House, a baby back rib sandwich, and plenty more food options.
You can purchase the tickets within the venue three hours before the game event at the United Station Galleria in front of Gate 1.
Alternatively, to avoid long queues, you can book your Maple Leafs game tickets online using Ticketmaster, where all event schedules are listed.
4. Check Out the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Wondering what’s inside Canada’s largest museum? It’s explored by millions of people a year.
It’s time to bring your kids along and check out the Royal Ontario Museum; I am sure you’ll be entertained by millions of artifacts and galleries!
More than the building’s modern and aesthetic crystal-like exterior facade, you can experience a journey back to the old world inside, from the gigantic dinosaur and mammal fossils and ancient treasures from around the world to a virtual program of the Burgess Shale which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Book your admission tickets in advance and be there between 10 AM and 5:30 PM; the general admission costs $26 and is discounted for children, seniors, and students. Just add approximately $13 to experience the T-Rex featured exhibit.
5. Visit the Toronto Islands
Yes, you read that right! Toronto isn’t just a single landmass with land-based tourism activities; it also has 15 small island chains at Lake Ontario, just a few-minute ferry ride from the southern urban area of Toronto, with a variety of island tours and water activities, and undoubtedly has the best view of the Toronto city skyline.
Take your family on a day trip to the Center Island beach, the most family-friendly among the beaches, and spend the day swimming, boating, kayaking, dining at the islands’ restaurants and cafes, and even biking, as the islands are a totally car-free zone.
Make it to the islands by booking a ferry ride from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal online or through the available dock booths for an average price of $9.11.
6. Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
Have you ever wanted to see the famous painting Massacre of the Innocents and the sculpture Corpus? How about a look at the gallery’s most renowned infinity mirrored installation, “Let’s Survive Together?” Head now to the Gallery of Ontario and witness these finest artworks firsthand!
A visit to one of the most-visited art havens in Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), is one of the best things to do in Toronto this weekend for free (for 25 years old and below) as you can immerse in thousands of arts in all forms, from photographs to paintings, music to films, installations to sculptures, and so much more.
For visitors who are 26+ years old, you can either pay $30 for a one-time visit or add another $5 for an annual pass; If you think that membership would fit, then pay $110, valid for one year with exclusive benefits.
The curators always feature new exhibits occasionally, so your fam jams at the AGO would always be worth it with an annual pass or a membership.
7. Attend a Food Festival
Being a culturally diverse city, Toronto is a paradise of food festivals worldwide. Be it Italian, French, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, Colombian, and Brazilian; you’ll taste world cuisine all year round!
You should attend one of Canada’s biggest food and drink festivals, TO Food and Drink Fest, every April. Here you can see Toronto’s top-tier chefs in action, hands-on mixology classes, wine-tasting, street food trucks, and live music to bring up the vibes.
8. Visit Ripley’s Aquarium
Isn’t it amazing to walk alongside 20,000 sea and freshwater creatures underwater? Visit Ripley’s Aquarium at Bremner Boulevard to get the best Waterworld escapade!
The adventure is not just to be amazed at the beautiful and colourful creatures in their habitats; it is also an educational experience where you and your kids can learn a lot about these creatures.
So, If you’d love to see the 10-ft sharks and pass through the longest underwater tunnels in the world, book your tickets online for $44 for adults, $29 for youth, and $12.50 for children.
9. Take a Day Trip to Niagara Falls
A family weekend trip to Toronto would only be complete with a day tour of the breathtaking Niagara Falls! And don’t just stop by for pictures but engage with many other activities within the tourist spot.
Try the Niagara Whirlpool Rapids on Niagara River for more adrenaline, be near Niagara Falls from the Hornblower Niagara cruises, or book a 15-minute helicopter ride over Niagara Falls to get the best aerial view.
You may also level up your Niagara family dining experience with an American-Canadian buffet lunch at the Fallsview restaurant overlooking the phenomenal falls.
10. Take Photos at the Scarborough Bluffs
Suppose you’re looking for some free things to do in Toronto today that will feed your eyes with beautiful and natural geological features. In that case, Scarborough Bluffs is one of the few places that come to mind.
Stretching over 15 kilometres, Scarborough has white-coloured cliffs and sandy beaches perfect for picture-taking spots for your whole family because of its immense beauty and breathtaking views.
In fact, the area has been a go-to place for wedding engagement photos and served as a haven for professional photographers.
Things To Do in Toronto Today
11. Visit the Toronto Botanical Gardens
Suppose you need somewhere to restore your mood and relieve your stress. In that case, one of the most calming and free things to do in Toronto today is to tour the 4-acre Toronto Botanical Gardens.
The garden complex isn’t just a showcase of various plant species and a show-off of 17 beautifully-arranged themed gardens; it is also a learning and interactive space with plenty of pop-up events like a farmers market, plant shows, nature camps for kids, and a lot more.
If you love plants, you may even ask a Toronto master gardener for some gardening advice.
12. Attend a Walking Food Tour
It’s time to taste Toronto’s most delicious delicacies you’ve never tried before with top-rated walking food tours — Mexican, Canadian, Indian, Chinese, name it, and they have it!
One of the most popular walking food tours you should try is available in Kensington Market, where all small local and affordable food businesses are located, so you’ll feel the area’s character and soul translated to food from donuts to pizzas, from beers to maples to wines, and from ethnic to international cuisines.
Even more interesting, these food tours have authentic secret dishes that will make your Toronto gastronomy experience unique.
13. Watch the Sunset at Riverdale Park
After a tiring day from all the Toronto tours and activities you’ve joined, it’s nice to just sit and relax on the green field of Riverdale Park while watching the sunset across the downtown Toronto skyline and feeling the breeze.
As one of the best parks in Toronto, Riverdale Park is a perfect space for jogging, playing baseball, ice skating, and tobogganing, all free.
14. Have a Picnic in the park
Would you believe me if I told you there are more than a thousand parks throughout Toronto? They do not call it the “city within a park” for nothing.
One of the best free activities you can do is set up a picnic with your friends and families while having a beautiful scenic backdrop with dashing green spaces.
Some of the parks you can try are High Park, Toronto Islands Park, Riverdale Park, and Trinity Bellwoods Park.
15. Watch a Concert at Harbourfront
If you want a memorable and fun evening, the Harbourfront Center is the perfect place to watch musical concerts!
Harbourfront is a concert ground for many Canadian artists – be it solo, duo, or group acts and whatever music genre- so it’s a total rock n’ roll venue.
16. Attend the Toronto Jazz Festival
Suppose you’re a music lover vibing something festive and outdoorsy. In that case, the Toronto Jazz Festival from late June to early July is something you should save on your calendar!
Aside from the fact that it’s one of the free things to do in Toronto today, the festival is not held typically for three or seven days, but 10 days of celebrating world music, which is absolutely more than enough.
Whatever genre of music you listen to, you’ll probably have something to relate to as it showcases a lot of performances from over 1,500 artists covering many genres, including r&b, hip-hop, pop, electro, funk, and of course, jazz.
17. Visit the Museum of Illusions
In the Museum of Illusions, everything is not what it appears to be, so be prepared to be mind boggled and teased with many visual illusions, logic games, holograms, and installations.
The museum may be small, but it is one of the most unique stops in Toronto for entertainment, as every exhibit confuses our minds and eyes on reality.
Some of the most popular exhibits you may try are the infinity room, anti-gravity room, vortex tunnel, and rotated room, which will stimulate your senses.
Book your tickets now if you’re ready to engage and snap your best photos to share them online to fool your friends!
18. Walk Around Kensington Market
Did you know that the Kensington Market in downtown Toronto was also known as the Jewish Market in the early 20th century due to immigrants? From then on, immigrant after immigrant has built up their livelihood, which is why the area has become a multicultural commercial area.
You’ll always enjoy walking around Kensington Market because, more than the diversity in food, restaurants, and cafes, the market is also a paradise for shopping with many indie shops, clothing stores, art shops, and boutiques.
19. Spend the Day at Cabana Pool Bar
Wear your most fashionable outfit and prepare to party under the sun at the Cabana Pool Bar with a view of Lake Ontario and the city skyline!
With special events held every weekend, you’ll always need more of this fantastic place to meet new friends, drink and eat fancy delectables, and dance the day away over loud party music.
There are pool games you can engage in, so it’s definitely a must-go for an exhilarating day!
20. Visit St Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market is one of Toronto’s oldest public markets and culinary focal spots for fresh-produced food. You’ll find everything — food, appliances, gifts, and even antiques!
The South Market is basically the food basics zone where you can buy all kinds of fresh food, including meat, veggies, cheese, seafood, fruits, rice, and anything baked.
On the other end, which is the North Market, serves as the local ground for the weekly Farmer’s Market and antique bargains.
One special travel tip is to come very early on a Saturday or Sunday to avoid huge crowds during the day.
FAQS
Toronto is known for the CN Tower because of its iconic architectural facade and being one of the tallest structures worldwide. Aside from that, you can get the best panoramic views of Toronto from its observation decks.
You can definitely squeeze in a few of the most famous landmarks and attractions in Toronto on a Saturday and Sunday. You just need to plan your trip ahead to avoid mishaps and delays.
It is unquestionably expensive to try and enjoy all the tourist attractions in Toronto. But, to save money while on a weekend trip in the city, opt for public places where admission is free.
Yes, multiple neighbourhoods in Toronto are walkable. In fact, Urbaneer ranked Toronto at #2 of the most walkable cities in all of Canada.
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