48 Hour Weekend in Toronto Itinerary

Day One

Morning

Start your morning right with breakfast in Victoria’s or a nearby local favorite like Petit Dejeuner. It offers Belgian-Canadian comfort food made with seasonal ingredients and you’ll never see the bottom of your coffee cup. After breakfast, walk right out our door on King Street to stroll through Old Town Toronto, the city's oldest neighborhood. This area includes the ten-block town site that was founded as the Town of York in 1797. For a century, this was the heart of the community. The first permanent City Hall was erected here in the 1840s following the incorporation of the City of Toronto in 1834. 

Walk east to the corner of King and Church to discover the St. James Cathedral built in 1853. A landmark with the tallest church steeple in Canada, St. James' boasts a Gothic Revival exterior with a stained Tiffany glass window and contains one of the few carillons in the country. Throughout the season, visitors can enjoy the Music in St. James Park concert series.

Further east at King and Jarvis, visitors will happen upon St. Lawrence Hall which became the cultural center of the city after its opening in 1851. The Hall was later restored to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday and reopened as the National Ballet of Canada. From there, make your way to Gooderham & Worts Distillery at 55 Mill Street. The Distillery was built in 1832 by the original owner of the King Edward Hotel, George Gooderham. The Distillery is now a protected piece of history in the modern commercial and residential enclave known as the Distillery Historic District.

Afternoon 

Enjoy lunch at one of the eclectic restaurants in the Distillery District before walking back to Jarvis Street to explore the St. Lawrence Market with over 120 specialty merchants. From here you can head back to the Omni King Edward Hotel and enjoy our Traditional Afternoon Tea. This long-standing Toronto social ritual is a special way to end an afternoon after being immersed in the city's history.

Evening 

Toronto is an avid sports town and no visit is complete for sports fans without catching a game Hockey or Basketball game at Scotiabank Arena. After the game, head to The One Eighty located on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre. The jewel of the venue is the outstanding view! Spanning 1,500 sq. ft. the North and South patios feature seamless glass panels for unobstructed views of Downtown and North Toronto.

Day Two

Morning

After your busy first day in Toronto, relax and enjoy a customized in-room breakfast or in the private Royal Club Lounge. Next, choose from an extensive list of museums to visit. Our Clef D’ors Concierges will be pleased to navigate you through the 29 museums Toronto has to offer and provide you with all the latest exhibits from the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada's largest museum of art, world culture and natural history, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Bata Shoe Museum.

Afternoon

For lunch, try nearby Richmond Station, co-owned by a "Top Chef Canada" winner. No trip to Toronto would be complete without taking advantage of some of the best shopping the city has to offer. You’ll find plenty to browse and buy, all within walking distance of The Omni King Edward. Less than 10 minutes away you will find the premier shopping mall, Eaton Centre, offering over 100 brand named stores.

After lunch, dust off your skates (or grab a rental) and check out Nathan Philips Square, home to City Hall and the “TORONTO” sign. The square turns into a skating rink in the winter months. For other outdoor skating options, you can also walk down to the Bentway, where this path under the Gardiner Expressway is transformed into a skating rink as well. 

If you still haven’t had enough shopping head north to Yorkville, one of Toronto’s most affluent neighborhoods. Begin by exploring the many designer shops and boutiques lining Bloor Street. Starting at the intersection of Bloor and Avenue Road, head east toward Yonge Street. This stretch of Bloor Street is known as the “Mink Mile” due to its concentration of high-end designers like Tiffany, Chanel, Gucci and Hermès. Whether you’re browsing or buying, you’ll feel like the crème de la crème as you admire the endless selection of luxury goods. Make your way over to the Holt Renfrew Centre, home to high-end department store Holt Renfrew’s flagship location. With four floors of retail space, a salon, spa, restaurant and café, Yorkville’s Holt Renfrew can be compared to Saks Fifth Avenue in New York or Harrods in London.

Evening

Some of the featured shows this winter include Come From Away, Ain’t too Proud, The Play That Goes Wrong and Dear Evan Hansen.

You can also take in a live show at the Canadian Opera Company, where you can see programs like, Hadrian, Elektra and Cosi Fan Tutte this season.

Seasonal Pick

If you're traveling to Toronto before the winter holidays, the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District is a must see. It runs between November 15 and December 23 and features local artisans and unique vendors. 

If you have more time...

Take a trip (90 minutes) to Niagara Falls and experience its natural majesty. See the Falls from the promenade or if you are more adventurous take the Hornblower cruise, gondola or zip line along the Niagara Falls Parkway, enjoying the view of the Falls from above. 

Let us take care of your trip to Niagara – our Niagara Falls package includes your stay at the luxurious Omni King Edward Hotel and a comprehensive tour of Niagara Falls with a licensed tour guide. This package includes roundtrip transportation from Omni King Edward Hotel, free WiFi, Niagara-on-the-Lake visit, winery visit & tasting, and free time in Niagara Falls.

Or visit the great city of Montreal and enjoy its vibrancy and charm this season while staying at Omni Mont-Royal. Located six hours north-east of Toronto this historic city is home to year-round festivals, exquisite cuisine, beautiful landscapes and of course, poutine.