4 Days in Toronto and Niagara Falls: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for a trip that fits a skyline, a lake island, world-class museums and one of the world’s most famous waterfalls into four days. This plan is perfect for first-time visitors who want the big sights without renting a car. You spend two nights in downtown Toronto, then take the train to Niagara Falls for one night so you can see the falls lit up after dark.

The pace is relaxed and fun. Each day is grouped by area so you spend your time exploring, not travelling between places. Every price and opening hour below was checked on the official site on 24 October 2026. Things change, so take a quick look at each attraction’s site before you go.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Old Town and waterfront	St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District, Toronto Island ferry, CN Tower at sunset
2	Museums and neighbourhoods	Royal Ontario Museum, Yorkville, Art Gallery of Ontario, Kensington Market
3	Niagara Falls	GO train, Journey Behind the Falls, boat tour (in season), Power Station tunnel, nightly illumination
4	Niagara Parkway and back to Toronto	Floral Clock, Niagara-on-the-Lake, train back to Union Station

Pick your days carefully: the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and St. Lawrence Market’s South Market are all closed on Mondays. If your trip includes a Monday, make it your Niagara day.

Day 1: Old Town, the lake and the CN Tower

Morning

Kick off your trip with breakfast at St. Lawrence Market, Toronto’s much-loved food hall, about a 10 to 15 minute walk east of Union Station. The South Market opens Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday from 7 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Mondays. On Saturdays the Farmers Market in the North building runs from 5 am to 3 pm, so come early for the best choice.

From the market, walk about 15 minutes east to the Distillery District. Its cobblestone lanes run between red-brick Victorian industrial buildings that now hold galleries, cafes and design shops. It is free to wander and looks lovely in the morning light.

Afternoon

Head back west to the waterfront and the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at 9 Queens Quay West, where Queens Quay meets Bay Street. It is about 10 minutes on foot from Union Station. City-run ferries to Toronto Island sail all year, but the routes change with the seasons. From mid-April to mid-October, boats serve Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island. The winter schedule (14 October to mid-April) runs to Ward’s Island only.

An adult round trip costs CAD 9.57 (ages 20 to 64), with cheaper fares for youths, older adults and juniors. Buy online: online tickets are valid until the end of the year you bought them, and online ticket holders get an express line at busy times. The view of the skyline from the island is the main reason to go. Centre Island is about a 35 minute walk from Ward’s Island if you want to stretch your legs.

Evening

Plan your CN Tower visit for sunset. The observation levels are open 10 am to 11 pm, with last entry at 9 pm. A Timed General Admission ticket costs, before tax:

• CAD 47 for adults (14 to 64)
• CAD 34 for seniors and for youths (6 to 13)
• CAD 18 for children (3 to 5)

Children 2 and under go free. You can add The Top, the highest observation platform, for CAD 12.

Book a timed ticket on the official CN Tower site. Tickets go on sale up to 30 days ahead. The tower is about 10 minutes’ walk from Union Station. Afterwards, head to King Street West for dinner.

Day 2: Museums, Yorkville and Kensington Market

Morning

Today is all about culture and colour! Take the subway (Line 1) north to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Canada’s big museum of art, culture and nature. It is usually open 10 am to 5:30 pm and is closed on Mondays. Admission prices were not listed on the visitor page when we checked, so check the official site and book there. Budget tip: on the third Tuesday of each month, the ROM is free from 4 pm to 8:30 pm.

Afterwards, wander into the neighbouring Yorkville area for coffee and a look around its boutiques and side streets.

Afternoon

Take Line 1 south to St Patrick station, the closest stop to the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) at 317 Dundas Street West. AGO opening hours:

• Monday: closed
• Tuesday and Thursday: 10:30 am to 5 pm
• Wednesday and Friday: 10:30 am to 9 pm
• Saturday and Sunday: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm

Adult single-day admission is CAD 30, youths (10 to 17) pay CAD 15 and children 9 and under are free. On the first Wednesday night of each month, entry is free from 6 pm to 9 pm if you book a free ticket online in advance.

From the AGO it is about a 10 minute walk west to Kensington Market and Chinatown, a colourful mix of vintage shops, street art and food stalls from around the world. Snack your way through instead of sitting down for a big lunch.

Evening

Continue south to Queen Street West for an easy evening of bars and restaurants. On a Wednesday or Friday, you could save the AGO for the evening instead, since it stays open until 9 pm.

Day 3: Niagara Falls

Morning

This is the big one: falls day! Get to Union Station early for the GO train to Niagara Falls GO. Niagara Parks says the GO Niagara train service runs daily. Check the current timetable on the GO Transit site before you go, because a new Lakeshore West timetable starts on 26 October 2026.

The easiest ticket is the GO Train and WEGO package sold by Niagara Parks:

Package	Weekday	Weekend
1-day	CAD 34	CAD 22
2-day	CAD 40	CAD 35

Every package includes the round-trip GO train and unlimited WEGO bus rides, including service to Niagara-on-the-Lake. The 2-day package also gives you two days on the Falls Incline Railway. Kids 12 and under ride GO trains free. For this plan, pick the 2-day package.

At the station, take a southbound WEGO bus to Table Rock Centre at the edge of the Horseshoe Falls. Start with Journey Behind the Falls. You go down 125 feet and walk through 130-year-old tunnels to viewing portals and decks right beside the falls. Admission is CAD 33 for adults and CAD 21.50 for children (3 to 12), plus tax. Online you can book a timed ticket for a one-hour entry window, which is worth doing at busy times.

Afternoon

If the boats are running, take the Niagara City Cruises “Voyage to the Falls”. It is a 20-minute trip to the base of the Horseshoe Falls, and a recyclable poncho is included. Tickets start at CAD 47.95 for adults and CAD 27.95 for children (3 to 12). The boats run seasonally, roughly spring to fall, so check availability for your date on the official site. Before sunset the boats sail right into the mist. After sunset they only go to the outer edge of the falls.

Then visit the Niagara Parks Power Station, a hydroelectric plant completed in 1905. A glass elevator takes you 180 feet down to a 2,200-foot tunnel that ends at a viewing deck by the river. Regular admission is CAD 33 for adults and CAD 21.50 for children. Niagara Parks suggests allowing about two hours.

Evening

Every evening from dusk, coloured lights shine on the falls during the Falls Illumination. Find a spot along the Niagara Parkway near Table Rock for the best view. The Power Station also reopens at night for its Currents: Niagara’s Power Transformed show. Stay the night near the falls (see Where to stay).

Day 4: Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake and back

Morning

Enjoy a gentle last day of flowers and pretty streets. Use your WEGO pass to head north. The Niagara-on-the-Lake shuttle is now part of the WEGO system, so you don’t need a separate ticket. You change buses at the Floral Clock. Take a photo at the clock, then continue to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a pretty historic town with tree-lined streets, cafes and wine country all around. Check the WEGO schedule the night before, because routes and frequencies change by season.

Afternoon

If you have time, stop at one of the gorge attractions on the way back, such as the White Water Walk or the Whirlpool Aero Car. Some Niagara Parks attractions are seasonal, so check the hours page before you set off. Then take WEGO back to Niagara Falls GO for your train to Union Station.

Evening

Back in Toronto, celebrate with a farewell dinner in the Distillery District or around St. Lawrence Market. Both are an easy walk from Union Station.

Getting there and getting around

Visa and entry: the rules depend on your nationality and how you arrive. Use the official Entry requirements by country tool on Canada.ca. If you need an eTA, apply only on the Government of Canada eTA page, where it costs CAN$7.

Pearson Airport to downtown: the UP Express train links Pearson Airport with Union Station.

• Trains run every 15 minutes. The first train leaves Pearson at 5:27 am and the last at 12:54 am.
• The trip takes about 28 minutes.
• A standard adult one-way ticket is CAD 12.35 (CAD 24.70 return).
• If you tap a PRESTO card, or a credit or debit card (including on your phone or watch), the adult one-way fare drops to CAD 9.25.
• Children 12 and under ride free with PRESTO.

Around Toronto: the TTC runs the subway, streetcars and buses.

• An adult fare is CAD 3.30 if you tap a PRESTO card or a credit or debit card, or CAD 3.35 in cash.
• Tapping gives you a free two-hour transfer. Paying cash does not.
• A PRESTO day pass ticket costs CAD 13.50.
• Children 12 and under ride free. Everyone 13 and over must tap their own card or device.

Most of this plan is walkable, so tapping your bank card when you do ride is usually simplest.

Toronto to Niagara Falls: take the GO train from Union Station to Niagara Falls GO, ideally with the Niagara Parks GO Train and WEGO package from Day 3. If trains are disrupted, Niagara Parks says GO buses keep running.

Around Niagara: WEGO buses run all year, linking Niagara Parks sites, hotels and the falls. If you buy them separately, passes cost CAD 16 (adult, 24 hours) or CAD 20 (adult, 48 hours), tax included. Children pay CAD 12 or CAD 16.

Where to stay

• Downtown core near Union Station: the most practical base. UP Express, GO trains and the subway all meet here, and the CN Tower and waterfront are a short walk away. Great for short stays and early trains to Niagara.
• Old Town and St. Lawrence: charming streets, the market on your doorstep and the Distillery District nearby. Good for food lovers and couples.
• Yorkville and the Annex: leafy and quieter, a short walk from the ROM. Good for museum fans and anyone who wants calmer evenings.
• Niagara Falls, Fallsview and Clifton Hill area (Day 3 night): stay close to the falls so you can walk to the illumination. The Falls Incline Railway in the 2-day package takes you up to the Fallsview hotel area.

Budget

Item	Typical cost
UP Express, airport to Union, adult one-way	CAD 12.35 (CAD 9.25 tapping PRESTO, credit or debit)
TTC ride, adult	CAD 3.30 tapped, CAD 3.35 cash
TTC PRESTO day pass ticket	CAD 13.50
CN Tower Timed General Admission, adult	CAD 47 plus tax
Toronto Island ferry, adult round trip	CAD 9.57
Royal Ontario Museum	Check the official site
Art Gallery of Ontario, adult	CAD 30
GO Train and WEGO 2-day package	CAD 40 weekday, CAD 35 weekend
Journey Behind the Falls, adult	CAD 33 plus tax
Niagara Parks Power Station, adult	CAD 33
Niagara City Cruises, adult	From CAD 47.95
Niagara Falls Pass (if travelling by 1 November 2026)	CAD 89, 109 or 129

The sights and transport above add up to roughly CAD 70 to 160 per day, depending on the day. Not included: flights, accommodation, meals and drinks, travel insurance and the eTA fee. Many Toronto prices are shown before tax, and sales tax (HST) is added when you pay.

Practical tips

• Closing days: the ROM, the AGO and St. Lawrence South Market close on Mondays.
• Book ahead: CN Tower (timed ticket), Journey Behind the Falls (timed entry), Niagara City Cruises (in season) and the ferry (online express line).
• Niagara Falls Pass: the Classic (CAD 89), Plus (CAD 109) and Premium (CAD 129) passes combine Niagara Parks attractions with transport. All 2026 passes are only valid from 20 April to 1 November 2026. After that, buy single tickets.
• Late-season trips: from mid-October the Toronto Island ferry only goes to Ward’s Island, and the Niagara boat tour is seasonal. Pack warm, windproof layers for the island, the tower deck and the spray at the falls.
• Money: cards and phone payments are widely accepted, including for TTC fares. Tipping is normal at sit-down restaurants.
• SIM and eSIM: buy a Canadian prepaid SIM or a travel eSIM before you fly, or check your home provider’s roaming rates. Mobile data makes live train and bus times much easier to use.

Heads-up

Toronto and Niagara are welcoming and easy to explore. A few friendly warnings will keep things smooth:

• Buy tickets only from official sources. The CN Tower warns against buying from anyone else, because you won’t be able to check that the ticket is valid. The Government of Canada eTA page is the official place to apply, and it costs only CAN$7. Avoid look-alike sites that charge extra.
• Petty crime: the UK government’s travel advice for Canada suggests not leaving bags unattended, keeping luggage out of sight in cars and keeping valuables and your passport somewhere safe.
• Cannabis and borders: recreational cannabis is legal in Canada. The same UK advice says it is illegal to take it across the Canadian border without permission. Leave it behind before you fly.
• No luggage on the boat: Niagara City Cruises does not allow suitcases, carry-on bags or roller bags, and you can’t bring your own food. Drop your bags at your hotel before heading down to the boats.
• Queues at the ferry: the city says waits can be 30 to 60 minutes or more at peak times, especially at weekends. Peak times are 10 am to 3 pm going to the island and 5 pm to 9 pm coming back. Go early or late.
• Keep your proof of payment: on the TTC, your tapped card or ticket is your proof of payment, and inspectors can ask to see it. Tap every time you board a streetcar or bus.
• Stay behind the railings at the falls and along the gorge. The rocks are wet and slippery, and the river is powerful.

FAQ

Can I do Niagara Falls as a day trip from Toronto?

Yes. The Niagara Parks 1-day GO Train and WEGO package costs CAD 34 on weekdays and CAD 22 at weekends. Staying one night, as in this plan, means you also get to see the falls lit up, which happens every evening from dusk.

Do I need a car?

No. The UP Express, TTC, GO trains and WEGO buses cover everything in this plan, and much of downtown Toronto is walkable.

Is the Niagara boat tour running in late October and November?

Niagara City Cruises runs seasonally, from spring to fall. Check the official site for your exact date. Journey Behind the Falls and the Power Station are open daily.

Do I need a PRESTO card?

Not really. On the TTC and on UP Express, tapping a credit or debit card (or your phone) gets you the same adult fare as PRESTO. Children 12 and under ride the TTC free.

Which days should I avoid for Toronto sightseeing?

Mondays, because the ROM, the AGO and St. Lawrence South Market are closed. Move your Niagara day to the Monday if you can.

Is it worth booking the CN Tower in advance?

Yes. It uses timed tickets, which go on sale up to 30 days ahead on the official site, and booking lets you pick a sunset slot. Also check its upcoming closures page, because the Main Observation Level has shorter hours on some dates.