Toronto Attractions by Car: What to Do, How Far It Is and How to Get There

What are the best Toronto attractions to see by car?

Toronto rewards people who plan their first day by geography rather than by wish list. The downtown attractions are close together, the museums sit a short distance north, and the best outings (Niagara, the wine country, the lakes of Muskoka) lie an hour or two beyond the city limits. A car matters less in the first group and a great deal in the third.

This page is the hub for what to see, with a distance from downtown and from Toronto Pearson for each entry. Distances are approximate road figures in kilometres with miles for visitors from the USA and the UK. Opening times and entry arrangements change, so we link to each attraction's own site, and you should check there before you set off.

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The downtown core: CN Tower, Ripley's and the waterfront

The CN Tower is the landmark you will see from the highway before you see anything else. Its website describes the Main Observation Level, the Lower Observation Level and The Top, which it calls the highest viewing platform in the Western Hemisphere, as well as EdgeWalk, a hands-free walk around the exterior of the main pod, 116 storeys above the ground, and the 360 Restaurant. The tower is about 1 km (0.6 miles) from Union Station and roughly 27 km (17 miles) from Pearson, so a flight arrival and a late-afternoon visit work well together if you travel light and your bags go straight to the hotel.

Close by, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is at 288 Bremner Boulevard, within walking distance of the tower. It suits wet weather, children and the end of a day when you want something indoors.

Between them lie Union Station, the waterfront and the stadiums, which means the area is pedestrian-friendly and hard to drive through on event nights. If a game or concert is on, ask the desk about the best drop-off point; chauffeurs know which streets close.

Toronto Islands

The Toronto Islands are Toronto's escape: car-free parkland, beaches and views of the skyline from across the water. Ferries run from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street, close to the Westin Harbour Castle. According to the City of Toronto, ferries run year-round, with Centre Island, Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island served from mid-April to mid-October, and only Ward's Island in the winter schedule. Some sailings do not permit vehicles, and the schedule changes with the season, so read the City of Toronto ferry schedule before you plan around a particular sailing.

The terminal is about 1 km from Union Station and 28 km (17 miles) from Pearson. A chauffeur can drop you at the terminal gate, which saves a long walk with bags, but the island itself is a walking and cycling destination.

Markets and neighbourhoods

St. Lawrence Market is at 92-95 Front Street East, about 1 km from Union Station. At the time of writing, the North Market farmers' market runs on Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the South Market is open Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Mondays. Holiday hours differ.

The Distillery District, a pedestrian-only area of restored industrial buildings east of downtown, is about 3 km (2 miles) from Union Station. Kensington Market and Queen Street West, a short drive west of the core, are the places for vintage shops, cafes and street life. Yorkville, to the north, is the place for upmarket shopping and galleries; our hotels hub explains how the districts differ.

Museums and galleries

The Royal Ontario Museum is at 100 Queen's Park and describes itself as Canada's leading museum, home to 18 million artworks, artifacts and specimens. It is roughly 4 km (2.5 miles) north of Union Station, and about 30 km from Pearson. The Art Gallery of Ontario, on Dundas Street West, is about 2.5 km from Union Station and is usually combined with Chinatown and Kensington Market on foot.

Both are easy to reach by chauffeur, which matters most in winter when a heated door-to-door ride beats a wait on a streetcar platform.

Casa Loma

Casa Loma, at 1 Austin Terrace, is billed as Toronto's majestic castle, with tours, private events, onsite dining and a gift shop. The website said it was open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. when we last read it, though some areas close for events, so check before travelling. It is about 5 km (3 miles) north-west of the CN Tower and about 30 km from Pearson. Its hill and its stairs make it a good example of a place where a driver who knows the approach saves time.

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo is in the east of the city and is the one attraction here that is genuinely far from downtown: about 40 km (25 miles), typically 40 to 60 minutes by road, further in peak traffic. Its website lists seasonal hours, with weekday and weekend hours that differ and last admission one hour before closing, so check before you go. The zoo is a day on its own, and families usually book it as a return trip with a wait.

Distances at a glance

These are approximate road figures. The booker shows the exact fare for your address and vehicle before you confirm.

Niagara Falls and the Niagara Parks

Niagara Falls is the outing most visitors add to a Toronto trip. It lies about 130 km (80 miles) from downtown and usually takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, longer on summer weekends and Friday afternoons. The Niagara Parks Commission lists Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara City Cruises, the White Water Walk, the Butterfly Conservatory, the Whirlpool Aero Car, a Zipline to the Falls, the Power Station and Tunnel and guided walking tours among its attractions, and describes a 56 km Niagara River Parkway. See Niagara Parks for current offerings.

A chauffeur helps with Niagara for two reasons. First, you can move through the day without searching for parking in a busy tourist district. Second, you can set a return time once and not worry about a missed train. A day-long booking, or an arrival at Pearson followed by a drive straight to the Falls, is arranged through the Niagara Falls car service. For those heading to the American side, the cross-border car service covers the crossing, which is run from Toronto, and the Buffalo airport page covers arrivals on the US side.

Beyond Niagara: wine country, Stratford, Muskoka and Blue Mountain

Several beautiful day trips lie within a couple of hours:

• Niagara-on-the-Lake, a wine-country town about 140 km (87 miles) from downtown and normally around 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Stratford, known for its theatre festival, about 150 km (93 miles) west and roughly 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. Travellers going via Kitchener-Waterloo often break the journey there.
• Muskoka, the lake district north of the city, about 170 km (105 miles) from downtown and roughly 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes; see the Muskoka car service page.
• Blue Mountain and Collingwood, the ski and hiking area on Georgian Bay, about 160 km (100 miles) and roughly 2 hours.

All of those are approximate. The northbound highways are crowded on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings in summer and ski season, so build in time.

Seasons and events

Toronto changes with the calendar. Summer brings patios, the Islands and festivals; autumn brings colour and the film festival; winter brings skating and hotel breaks. The events hub lists the big dates. The Toronto International Film Festival is usually held in September, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is a summer fixture and the National Bank Open brings tennis in the warm months. Check each organiser's site for dates, because they shift from year to year.

The best way to see each place

The hourly chauffeur service is the best fit for a day of sightseeing: one car, one driver and a route you change as you go. For groups, the group transportation page covers Sprinters and coaches, and the private tours with driver page describes guided options. Special days (a wedding chauffeur booking, for example) can be built around the same sights.

Three sample days

First morning in the city (half-day). Arrive at Pearson, check in, then walk to the CN Tower and Ripley's in the afternoon. Dinner along King Street West.

Family day. Toronto Zoo in the morning (40 to 60 minutes from downtown), then back to the Islands ferry or the aquarium. A Luxury SUV seats up to six with five to six large bags, which suits two parents, three children and luggage.

Full day to Niagara. Leave downtown at about 8 a.m., reach the Falls in about 1 hour 30 minutes, spend the day on the Niagara Parks attractions, then return after dinner. Because the chauffeur waits or returns as arranged, you avoid parking and timetable pressure.

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More guides

Our blog carries longer features on individual attractions, seasonal ideas and neighbourhood walks. For planning a first visit, read the travelling to Toronto guide, and for pickup logistics go to the black car service Toronto page or the Toronto airport transfer page. If you are in town for a conference, the Toronto business travel guide lists venues and hotels.