Toronto in 2 Days: everything you need to know

Ontario's capital is a multicultural city with an undeniable charm. If you don 't have much time to explore it, I recommend organising an itinerary around the main locations. This way, you'll be able to enjoy the best things to do in Toronto and make the most of every minute of your trip. On the first day you can focus on exploring the sights and attractions in Downtown and Oldtown, such as Little Canada, CN Tower and the famous Natha Phillips Square.

You can also enjoy the street art in Graffiti Alley, the flashing billboards in Yonge Dundas Square and the history of the world's most famous former distillery in the Distillery District. If you want to explore the city further, you can take advantage of some of Toronto's best food tours, venture into Kensington Market and Chinatown for a multicultural experience. Also, don't miss a glimpse of the impressive castle at Casa Loma or the tunnels of the Underground City.

In two days you can cover the main sights and areas of Toronto, as well as visit less crowded places free of tourists. In general, I recommend using the first day to get to know the best locations between Downtown and Oldtown. The advantage is that it's very easy to get around, as most attractions are within easy reach by car, train or the underground tunnels. You can enjoy the events in Nathan Phillips Square, see the illuminated signs in Yonge Dundas Square, appreciate the miniatures in Little Canada, and much more.

If you want to enjoy a tour of Toronto and see the city from above, I recommend venturing to the CN Tower. Local street art is also a must-see, with a variety of murals in Graffiti Alley. Finally, just a few minutes away is District Distillery, a neighbourhood built on the site of a former distillery.

Nathan Phillips Square

You can start your day in Nathan Philips Square, the city's most central square. Here you'll find the famous Toronto Sign, making it a great place to get your picture taken. This square hosts a variety of multicultural events, and is also a prime shopping area with food trucks, art exhibits and ice rinks during the winter.

In fact, if you're planning some things to do in Toronto at Christmas, this location is a must on your itinerary. Many of the best tours of the city include this square as a must-see stop, as you'll find here:

• Toronto Old City Hall: an iconic building, which served as city hall until 1966. You can climb the clock tower to see the city from above.
• Toronto City Hall: a modern building, which has become an icon of the city.

Yonge-Dundas Square

To get to your second stop of the day, you only need to walk five minutes along Bay St and Edward St, starting from Nathan Phillips Square. This is Yonge Dundas Square, a square between Yonge Street and Dundas Street, known as Canada's version of New York's Time Square, or London's Piccadilly Circus. Here the illuminated signs steal the attention of passers-by, and during the day you can enjoy street music, open-air performances and street stalls.

In this area you'll find a water fountain ideal for cooling off if you're visiting Toronto in summer, and it's also within walking distance of the Eaton Centre Shopping Centre, so you can take shelter from the weather for a while. While walking around the area, you can check out the Metropolitan University of Toronto and the CAA Ed Mirvish theatre where local plays and music shows are performed.

Little Canada

In Toronto there is a place where you can enjoy different Canadian attractions in miniature version, of course it is Little Canada. It's a theme park located one minute from Yonge Dundas Square, which you can access via Dundas St E or through the Underground City. It's a great option if you're looking for things to do in the city with kids, as you'll be able to see displays of the local medieval castle, better known as Casa Loma.

You'll also find small replicas of the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, as well as monuments from Ottawa and Quebec. You can find skip-the-line tickets from 36 euros per person. Please note that this ticket does not usually include the cost of workshops and access to the 3D Lit area.

CN Tower

If the miniature version of North America's tallest tower impressed you, then you have to come and see the CN Tower in person.

It's just a ten-minute drive from the Little Canada spaces and offers the best views of the city. Here you'll find a revolving restaurant, observation deck and even a museum. Plus, if you're adventurous, you can walk a ramp into the Toronto sky. Entrance to the tower costs approximately 40 euros, although there are attractions inside at an additional cost.

Graffiti Alley

To continue enjoying **Toronto'**s charm, head to your next stop for the day at Street Art. You can take a walking or cycling tour to appreciate the local art and history. In this area you'll find impressive murals as well as street art exhibits. This location is a six-minute drive from the CN Tower on Front St W. It is very famous, as it was one of the first legal street art streets in Toronto.

District Distillery

Finally, you can end the day in District Distillery, a neighbourhood built on the site of a former distillery, once the largest in the world. It's a 20-minute drive down Front St E and Richmond St W. Note that the underground tunnels make for a shorter walk. Here you will find shops, restaurants and a pleasant atmosphere. You'll also see old buildings, but the most interesting thing is the events you can enjoy in the area, especially in December when it's Christmas time in Toronto.

Before your time in Toronto is up, you have to give the markets and galleries a chance. They have a peculiar energy, which will surely put you in a good mood. Therefore, you can't leave the city without checking out Kensington Market and Chinatown, where the multicultural contrast is evident in every corner. The neo-Gothic castle at Casa Loma, on the other hand, is also a quintessential landmark.

Kensington Market and Chinatown

When it comes to the best food tours in Toronto, Kensington Market is a must. It's the perfect place to sample dishes from around the world, as well as enjoy a multicultural experience surrounded by smells, tastes and sounds. In the 1920s it was owned by Jewish families, who sold crafts, food and artefacts. Because of its age, it is an authentic Canadian tradition, where you can sample seasonal produce. This local icon is located in a picturesque neighbourhood, which is home to foreign communities.

After visiting the market, a five-minute walk down Spadina Ave will take you to the famous Chinatown. This is a Chinatown that brings together the entire Asian community. You'll find free events, food stalls and customs from China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Pakistan, India and Japan. It has established itself with tea houses, herbal medicine shops, inexpensive handicrafts and more. If you're looking for things to do in Toronto in February, I recommend stopping by this area for the annual Chinese New Year celebrations.

Art Gallery of Ontario

The next stop on your itinerary is the Art Gallery of Ontario, an eight-minute drive from Chinatown on Dundas St W. It's a landmark building with a futuristic structure that houses important works by artists from every continent. For example, you can take a look at paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, Rubens and other famous exponents. It is considered one of the best museums in Toronto, as you will find indigenous and African art.

You can find tickets from 28 euros without queuing, to appreciate all the works housed inside. Note that there are some temporary exhibitions, which may be free or at an additional cost. Among the paintings you can find the Massacre of the Innocents by Pedro Pablo Rubens, which depicts the execution of minors by order of King Herodes.

Casa Loma

Get ready to feel like you're in a fairy tale at Casa Loma. It's a neo-Gothic castle, a thirteen-minute drive from the Art Gallery of Ontario. It's very popular due to the variety of events and festivals held on the grounds, especially the many things to do in Toronto at Christmas.

Its corridors hold memories of ancient times, so you can take a tour of the grounds to see the royal halls, the rooms of its creators and some of the best local museums.

Also at Casa Loma you can explore the Great Hall, take a stroll through the acres of garden and check out the stables near the estate. Underground tunnels connect the castle, with interesting secret passageways. The Toronto City Pass includes this attraction. However, you can also pay the entrance fee of around 25 euros.

Getting around Toronto is very easy, as there are several different lines of transport. The most convenient option is by car or taxi, but on some days traffic can lengthen transfer times. For this reason, it is convenient to use the Toronto Transit Commission network, which includes different options : underground, bus and tram. With the same type of ticket you can access any of the lines from anywhere in the city.

Cheaper options

• Metro: has two lines: the yellow line connects the north to the centre, while the green line takes you from east to west and vice versa. This is a good option if you need to organise transfers between the airport and Toronto, but are on a tight budget. It runs from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., but is usually open later on Sundays. You can find tickets from 3 euros per person.
• Tram or Street Car: This is a more comprehensive method of transport than the train, although the two complement each other. It is ideal if you want to get around Downtown, although in winter they tend to have long waiting times. The main advantage is that it runs 24 hours a day and costs from 3 euros for a single ticket, which does not include possible transfers on the metro and bus.
• Bus: If you want to get around Toronto but don't want to spend a lot of money, you can take the bus. It is the bus line that reaches the most corners of the city and has a night route.

More comfortable options

• Taxi: it is the most comfortable way to move around the city, but also one of the most expensive. The advantage is that the fare is usually flat, so no meter is used. You can order them at home through the government line, by dialling 416-TAXICAB, or order one through certified apps such as UBER. It is not advisable to take clandestine taxis, for your safety.
• Bike if you want to take a ride outdoors, you can rent a bike (an ideal option if you plan to stay for a couple of days). There are public bikes at friendly rates, but from 5 euros you can use bikes for several days or simply plan a bike tour of Toronto.
• Trains and external buses: If you plan to make excursions from Toronto to other places on your own, it's best to use the network that connects the suburbs to the surrounding area.
• The PATH: you can explore the city via the underground tunnels, which allow you to get from one end of the city to the other in less than five minutes, as well as explore restaurants, shops and galleries. For access from the outside, you can head to signposted points, which include metro and train stations, car parks, shops and more. You can use the Underground City map to guide you.