Itinerary for a family holiday in Toronto

Toronto is not only one of the best cities in North America, but it is one of the best cities in the world. It is a jewel in eastern Canada’s crown and is regarded as one of Canada’s most vibrant cities.

Being the cultural and entertainment hub of Canada, there are so many things to see in Toronto that it can be hard to decide what to do in the time you have. This can become even harder when you have to think about keeping the whole family entertained.

To help you along, we have created a four-day itinerary for a family holiday in Toronto that ranges from exhilarating sports and cultural wonders to the best spots to eat that people of all ages can enjoy.

An itinerary for a family holiday in Toronto

Day 1

• Start your day off at the top of the CN Tower
• Enjoy a spot of lunch at the 360 Restaurant
• Walk around Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
• Eat out in the Entertainment District

Day 2

• Discover Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands
• Have fun at the Centreville Amusement Park
• Dine out at one of Toronto Island’s restaurants

Day 3

• Wander around Canada’s largest zoo
• Test your science skills at the Ontario Science Centre
• Enjoy the vibrant Distillery District

Day 4

• Walk amongst dinosaurs
• Spend the afternoon at the Art Gallery of Ontario
• Experience a castle in the middle of Toronto

Alternative Option

• Go on a day trip to Niagara Falls

Once your flight to Toronto has landed, you should start your holiday by visiting the most iconic feature of its skyline: the CN Tower. You can ride the glass elevator and enjoy the best views in the city.

Ensure you take in the floor-to-ceiling panoramic Window Walls and the glass floor. For brave families, you can try the EdgeWalk, which is the world’s highest “hands-free” external walk.

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Enjoy a spot of lunch at the 360 Restaurant

The CN Tower is famed for its stunning views, but it is also home to a revolving restaurant. The 360 Restaurant offers incredible views over the city, but there are child-friendly menu options and an array of choices for adults, too.

Walk around Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

Right next door to the CN Tower is another of Toronto’s most-loved attractions, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Here, you can immerse yourself in a marine world full of thousands of aquatic animals and get closer than ever before through interactive and hands-on experiences as well as unique animal encounters.

Rebecca Stanisic, the writer behind A Little Bit of Momsense, spoke about her family's experience of visiting the aquarium and their highlights: “The highlight was the shark tunnel, although seeing the jellyfish in person was pretty impressive.

“There are hands-on activities throughout the Aquarium, like a mini slide and a tunnel where the kids travelled under the sharks. I wish I could share the picture I happened to snap of my eldest in the tunnel as he looked up and saw a shark above him. Ha, so much freak out. They repeated the tunnel over and over again!”

Eat out in the Entertainment District

If you want to eat out on your first night in the city, the Entertainment District is a great place to visit. Located in Downtown Toronto, this area boasts an array of restaurants along King Street West.

You could also look at going to watch a show at the theatre before or after your dinner!

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On the second day of your family holiday in Toronto, you should start by exploring Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands.

It is just a short stroll from Downtown Toronto to the city's Waterfront area, and there are many options for brunch or lunch. From here, you can go on a boat tour of the inner harbour and Toronto Islands.

If you want to go on a day trip, another option is to catch the ferry over to the Toronto Islands and explore them by cycling or walking around them. Other family-friendly activities you can enjoy whilst you are there include water-based activities such as stand-up paddleboarding and pedalos.

Have fun at the Centreville Amusement Park

Located on the islands is the Centreville Amusement Park, and with more than 30 rides and attractions, it is a great place to spend the afternoon with the family. Attractions like the Haunted House, Log Ride, Roller Coaster, antique horse carousel, a small Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and minigolf are just some of the activities parents and children alike can enjoy.

The attraction is closed during the winter months, but it opens throughout spring, summer and autumn.

ALSO READ: What’s Toronto famous for?

Dine out at one of Toronto Island’s restaurants

There are a plethora of cafes and restaurants on the Toronto Islands, and you can enjoy dinner on the shores of Lake Ontario before you head back to the city.

The different restaurants and cafes on the islands are:

• Island Cafe
• Rectory Cafe
• Carousel Cafe
• Pizza Pizza
• Pizza Pizza - by the pier
• Centrevilla food court
• Toronto Island BBQ and Beer Co.
• Toronto Island Marina bar

You can start your day by heading to Toronto Zoo, which is the largest zoo in Canada. There is no shortage of ways to see hundreds of animals, as there are walking routes, tours and a drive-thru safari.

At the zoo, you can see animals from all over the world, including tigers, apes, lions, and bears. The zoo is divided into different regions: Indo-Malaya, Africa, the Americas, Australasia, Eurasia, Canadian Domain and the Tundra Trek.

Some of the zoo's most popular attractions are the Tundra Air Ride, a climb ropes course, a Kangaroo walk-thru, a Serengeti Bush Camp experience, and Splash Island, which is two acres of waterslides, water-spouting animals, waterfalls, and tipping buckets.

ALSO READ: Frequently Asked Questions About Toronto

There are lots of events planned throughout the year, so keep your eye out on their website for the latest news.

Test your science skills at the Ontario Science Centre

After seeing some of the world’s most incredible animals, you need to be awed by the live science demonstrations, real-life rainforest and actual meteorites from Mars at the Ontario Science Centre.

Despite the Ontario Science Centre waiting for its new permanent home at Ontario Place, they are delivering science experiences throughout the city in temporary locations.

These experiences have included learn-through-play for children at the Harbourfront Centre and new exhibitions being displayed at CF Sherway Gardens.

Enjoy the vibrant Distillery District

The Distillery District is calling all foodies as there is so much choice on offer to families visiting.

From coffee shops and bakeries to pizzerias, tapas eateries and top-class restaurants, there is something to suit any taste bud.

After your meal, you can walk around the iconic cobblestone streets, explore the art galleries and boutique shops, and sample some of the drinks in the breweries. There are various walking tours that you can go on throughout the day and into the evening.

At the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), you can expect to see spectacular displays like dinosaurs, mummies, and knight’s armour. Canada’s largest museum is home to more than 18 million pieces of artwork, natural history specimens, and cultural objects spread across 40 galleries and exhibition spaces.

This museum is a great family-friendly attraction full of interactive displays that will keep children and visitors of all ages occupied.

The museum’s café is a great spot to enjoy lunch after a morning of exploring different cultures from around the world.

ALSO READ: 5 family-friendly things to do in Toronto

Spend the afternoon at the Art Gallery of Ontario

If you are in Toronto for an extra day, you should go on a day trip to Niagara Falls. It will be a day you never forget as you visit one of the world’s biggest waterfalls.

There is so much to see and do here during the day, including boat trips to the foot of the waterfall, zipline tours to the falls, helicopter tours over the three waterfalls that make up Niagara, and the Journey Behind the Falls, which takes you behind the thundering Horseshoe Falls via tunnels.

After exploring the waterfalls, you can head to the Skylon Tower for a birds-eye view and to enjoy a delicious meal.

If you have time, try to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake, which is a 19th-century village in the heart of Ontario Wine Country. It is dubbed the prettiest town in Ontario, and it has a historic centre with horse-drawn carriage rides available. There are plenty of wineries just a short distance from the town, and you can go on tours to explore these.

ALSO READ: Top things to do at Niagara Falls

Book your family holiday to Toronto today!

There is so much to do in Toronto, and this itinerary for a family holiday will give you a few ideas about the attractions and activities to look forward to during a trip to this iconic Canadian city.

If you want to book a family holiday to the city, speak to one of our expert advisors and book a holiday to Toronto today!