48 Hours in Toronto

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 summer, 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. Be on the look-out for our own Chef Daniel Schick this summer as he performs cooking demonstrations using locally-sourced products from the market that he incorporates into his “Sunday Brunches”.

From here you can head back to the Omni King Edward 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. Over the Canada Day weekend be sure to enjoy one of our sesquicentennial events, namely the Dominion High Tea.  

Evening 

Toronto is an avid sports town and no visit is complete for sports fans without catching a game at the Rogers Centre or BMO Field. Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team; BMO Field is home to Toronto FC soccer team and the Argonauts football team. 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. For our Canada Day celebrations head over to Nathan Phillips Square for a great spot to take a picture and share with your friends! 

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. Be sure to check out Hudson Bay’s limited edition Grand Portage Collection, unique Canadian gifts commemorating our 150th birthday.

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

Toronto’s active theatre scene makes it a must-stop while in the city. Shows scheduled this summer at the Royal Alexandra include Carole King Musical, The King and I and Hitchcock’s thriller North by Northwest.

Take in a live concert at Budweiser Stage where John Legend, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Green Day, Steve Miller Band and more will perform this summer. When the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors are on their summer break, the Air Canada Centre becomes a concert venue and this season they have lined up Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Bob Dylan, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and more.

After enjoying the performance of your choice, end the evening with a nightcap at the Consort Bar. Step into our living room and make yourself comfortable and try a signature favorite, like the Taylor & Burton Martini. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton once lived in the King Edward while Burton was performing Hamlet in 1964.

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.