🇨🇦 Toronto in 4 Days: Solo Trip Guide

Toronto was one of my favourite long weekend escapes from Boston - only 2 hours by plane and shockingly affordable compared to most North American cities. 4 days is the perfect amount: enough time to hit the best food spots, do a Niagara Falls day trip, and still feel like you've actually explored the city rather than just rushed through it. Highly recommend as a solo trip!

✈️ Getting There

• Boston → Toronto ~2hrs, ~$200 round trip

• Flew Porter into Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) - flies right downtown, free bus to Union Station included

• Overall great experience, except it was crazy bumpy upon landing

☁️ Weather

• March/April: 0–10°C — bring layers, don't underestimate it

🚦Transportation

• Pay by credit card everywhere, no need for much CAD cash

• TTC subway + bus covers everything - download Transit Go app, tap in/out with credit card

• Lyft/Uber works well for longer distances

🏨 Where To Stay

• Anndore House - ~$100/night, spacious + bright rooms, 3 mins to subway, great restaurants nearby. Solid value for Toronto.

🗺️ Itinerary

📅 Day 1:

Airport → Check into Hotel → Lunch @ Sang-ji (Korean food) → Bubble Tea → Aga Khan Museum → Dinner @ Akira Back → Musical 

• Aga Khan Museum: ~$15 entry, stunning architecture + great for photos — exhibits a bit small but worth a visit

• Akira Back: fusion Japanese, ~$60pp — must order the Tuna Pizza + Brother from Another Mother. Book ahead.

📅 Day 2:

OEB Breakfast Co. → St. Lawrence Market → Berczy Park → Jockey Hall of Fame → Eaton Centre → Graination (film developing!) → Stussy → Chinatown Lunch → University of Toronto → The Well + Yorkville → Machi Machi

• St. Lawrence Market: one of the best food markets in North America, don't skip

• U of T campus: Fisher Rare Book Library + Trinity College look like Hogwarts

• Machi Machi: best bubble tea of the trip

📅 Day 3: Niagara Falls Day Trip

Union Station → FlixBus → Niagara Falls → PAI Thai Dinner → Bubble Tea

• FlixBus: ~$20 round trip, ~2hrs each way — book in advance

• Niagara Falls: go to Power Station viewpoint for the best angle

• PAI Thai: ~$35–40pp — order the prawn, chicken satay, pork rice bowl

📅 Day 4: Islands, Museums & Fly Home

Afuri (Ramen) → Ferry to Ward's Island → Casa Loma → Bata Shoe Museum → Royal Ontario Museum → Subway to Airport

• Casa Loma: Gothic castle, super worth it

• Ward's Island: 15min ferry, totally peaceful + great city views

💡Tips

• Toronto is more affordable than NYC or London — stretch your budget here

• Get film developed at Graination — great souvenir idea

• Book Akira Back ahead of time, it fills up

• Stussy on Bloor is worth a stop if you're into streetwear