Toronto in 6 Days on a Budget (With Daily Costs)
6 Days in Toronto: Enough Time to Actually Slow Down
Six days is the sweet spot where you can cover downtown properly, get through several neighbourhoods at a relaxed pace, and still have a spare afternoon if the weather turns. This itinerary stays entirely inside the city; if you want to use Toronto as a base for a Niagara Falls day trip or the rest of Ontario, our Toronto-as-Ontario-base itinerary is built for exactly that. Here’s how to spend six days downtown, and what it’ll cost you.
| Day | Focus | Rough daily cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, CN Tower, Harbourfront | ~70-100 CAD |
| 2 | Casa Loma, Royal Ontario Museum | ~60-90 CAD |
| 3 | Toronto Islands, Queen West | ~30-50 CAD |
| 4 | Danforth, Little India, Toronto sign | ~30-50 CAD |
| 5 | Art Gallery of Ontario, Allan Gardens | ~20-40 CAD |
| 6 | St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market | ~25-40 CAD |
Book these before you go:
- CN Tower admission for Day 1, book online for a locked time slot (book CN Tower tickets on GetYourGuide )
- Your hotel for 6 nights, since Hotel X and The Broadview book out early in summer (check rates on Booking.com )
- Casa Loma tickets for Day 2, especially on weekends: buy ahead to skip the ticket line
Where to stay: budget travellers should look at HI Toronto Hostel. Mid-range, Hotel X Toronto or The Broadview Hotel both work well and put you within reach of transit. For luxury, the Fairmont Royal York sits right at Union Station, which is genuinely convenient for a trip this long since you’ll be coming and going a lot.
Getting around: get a PRESTO card on day one. A single fare is 3.30 CAD tapped, and a Day Pass is 13.50 for unlimited rides that day. Stick to the subway for anything longer than a 15-minute walk; the streetcars are slow and get stuck behind traffic constantly. Currency is the Canadian dollar, tipping 15-20% is standard at restaurants and bars, and pack for whatever season you’re visiting since Toronto swings hard between humid summers and brutal winters.
Day 1: Arrival and downtown basics
Take the UP Express from Pearson to Union Station, 28 minutes and 9.25 CAD with PRESTO. Once you’re settled, walk to the CN Tower (around 45 CAD general admission) and spend the afternoon along the Harbourfront by Lake Ontario. Dinner at Canoe if you want to start the trip with a splurge.
Day 2: Castle and museum
Casa Loma runs about 32 CAD and is worth the morning if grand old houses interest you, though there are stairs everywhere and no accessible route for strollers, so plan accordingly if you’re travelling with young kids. In the afternoon, the ROM has dynamic pricing (20-31 CAD adults, with free entry for 4-17 and half price for 18-24 through early September) so check current rates before buying. Evening, catch something at the Ed Mirvish Theatre or wander the Distillery District, then dinner at El Catrin for Mexican.
Day 3: Islands and Queen West
Take the ferry to the Toronto Islands in the morning, about 9.57 CAD round trip. It’s a better use of a few hours than most paid attractions downtown, cheap and genuinely scenic; go out before 10am to beat the worst of the weekend queue. Prefer it guided? Compare Toronto Islands tours on Viator . Afternoon, browse Queen West’s boutiques toward Trinity Bellwoods. Dinner at Pai Northern Thai Kitchen.
Day 4: Danforth, Little India, and the Toronto sign
This is the neighbourhood day, and it’s the one most short-trip visitors skip entirely. Morning and lunch in Greektown on the Danforth, souvlaki and loukoumades at one of the long-running tavernas along the strip. Afternoon, head to Little India on Gerrard Street East, billed as North America’s largest South Asian marketplace, for samosas, sweets, and a browse through the sari shops. Early evening, swing back downtown for Nathan Phillips Square and the illuminated Toronto sign, best photographed right at dusk before the crowds build, then walk south of Queen West between Spadina and Portland for Graffiti Alley on your way to dinner.
Day 5: Art and a quieter afternoon
The AGO’s general collection is genuinely free for Ontario residents under 25 via a no-cost annual pass, though check current rules since special exhibitions are ticketed on top. Afternoon, Allan Gardens Conservatory is a quiet, free stop if you need a break from paid attractions. Dinner at The Drake Hotel for something with a trendier edge.
Day 6: Market morning and departure
St. Lawrence Market in the morning for a proper food sampler, just remember the south building is closed Mondays so plan around that. Kensington Market in the afternoon for one last wander through vintage shops and street food before heading back to Pearson.
A few things worth knowing: the Hockey Hall of Fame is inside Brookfield Place, not its own building, so don’t waste time looking for a standalone entrance. If a Blue Jays, Raptors, or Leafs game lines up with your dates, Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena are both a short walk from Union Station and worth building an evening around. Our Toronto guide has the full cost breakdown behind everything above if you want to plan your budget before you land.