How to spend 12 hours in downtown Toronto
Who says layovers can’t be fun? My suggestions for how to spend 12 hours in Toronto, Canada.
So here’s the thing: 12 hours will never be enough time to fully explore a city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try!
Oh, Canada, home of hockey, maple syrup, and hot prime ministers by the name of Justin Trudeau! Toronto is the northerly nation’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. I would also say that it’s the coolest, though given that it’s my hometown I may be a litttttttle biased.
Anyway, with only 12 hours, you’ll have to move fast to get a taste. Because I love you and want you to have a good time, I made a video of some of the things you should check out during your short stay in the T-dot.
Have I convinced you that Toronto should be on your travel radar? Good! Here are a few more details on how to spend your time in my beautiful hometown.
Head downtown
Toronto’s downtown core is its heartbeat, and exploring on foot is where it’s at. For a bit of history, check out Old City Hall, and for a great photo op head next door to Nathan Philips Square, where you can catch your breath at the fountains and take a selfie in front of the Toronto sign. Head to Dundas Square (Toronto’s version of NYC’s Times Square), which is great for people watching or listening to free live music (or car horns, depending on the day and the traffic). You can stroll Yonge Street (the longest street in the world) or ride an iconic TTC streetcar along Queen St.
Get some local or international eats
What about food? Grab some grub at any one of the restaurants in the area. Toronto has a banging international food scene so ethnic cuisine like Thai, Jamaican, or Brazilian is at your fingertips, but if you’re craving a caffeine and sugar fix make sure you stop a Tim Hortons, a quintessentially Canadian coffee house. For those who are looking for more savoury Canadian fare, have a poutine! This fries-topped-with-gooey-cheese-curds-and-gravy combo is heavy, but totally worth throwing your diet out the window for. Cop one of these in nearby Kensington Market (try a restaurant called Moo Frites) or in the Distillery District (there’s a stall selling them just beyond the entrance). If you head to Distillery, make sure you down a Canadian brew!
Shop til you drop
Shopaholic, recovering shopaholic, or simply in denial of your shopaholic tendencies? Take advantage of the weak Canadian dollar by getting your shop on at the Eaton Center. Make sure to stop at Roots, Canada’s premier brand. Tell them Oneika sent you.
Visit the CN Tower
After you’ve exhausted yourself with all the walking and shopping, see more of the city from atop the CN Tower, Toronto’s tallest structure at 1,815 feet. If you’re feeling super adventurous, you can do the EdgeWalk, Toronto’s newest and most thrilling attraction. This is where you have the chance to walk around the OUTSIDE perimeter of the CN Tower, 116 stories above ground– why not seize the day and do it? You can take your sightseeing to new heights (pun totally intended).
Hockey Hall of Fame
While I’m more into living history, a visit to one of Toronto’s museums is well worth your time. My personal recommendation is the Hockey Hall of Fame, because what is a trip to Canada without hockey!?!
And voila! Just like that, 12 hours are up and it’s time to go. You’re well-fed, intellectually stimulating, and probably exhausted from all the walking and shopping. Goodbye Toronto! Our time was short, but we’ll definitely be back!
Have you ever been to Toronto? Would you be interested in going?
