Day 1: Toronto Arrival

Arrive at YYZ and take the UP Express to Union Station. Check into your Toronto accommodation and head out to explore. Walk from Union Station along the Harbourfront — the waterfront path offers great views of the Toronto Islands and the CN Tower. The Toronto Island Ferry ($8.50 CAD return) to Centre Island is worth the trip if you arrive early enough — the skyline view from the island is the best in the city.

Head to the CN Tower ($40 CAD) or the free vantage point at Riverdale Park East for the classic Toronto skyline shot — the view of the towers rising behind the Don Valley is spectacular. Walk through Kensington Market in the evening for the bohemian vibe, street art, and cheap eats.

Accommodation: Downtown Toronto ($80–200/night). HI Toronto hostel from $45 CAD.

Day 2: Toronto City — Museums & Neighbourhoods

Start at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) ($23 CAD) — one of North America’s great museums. The Daniel Libeskind-designed crystal addition houses world-class exhibits including the First Nations gallery, dinosaur fossils, and a superb Chinese art collection. Allow 2-3 hours.

Walk through Yorkville — Toronto’s upscale shopping district with beautiful Victorian townhouses. Then head to St. Lawrence Market (Saturday is best for the farmers’ market) for lunch. The Peameal Bacon Sandwich from Carousel Bakery ($7 CAD) is a Toronto institution.

Take the subway to Chinatown and walk through Spadina Avenue. Then explore the Distillery District — a pedestrian-only Victorian industrial complex now filled with galleries, shops, and restaurants. The cobblestone streets and brick buildings are stunning at golden hour.

Entry: ROM $23 CAD. Distillery District (free).

Day 3: Niagara Falls Day Trip

Drive or take the GO train to Niagara Falls (1.5 hours from Toronto). Park at the Fallsview lot ($20 CAD) and head straight to the falls. The Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side is the biggest and most impressive — you’ll feel the mist from hundreds of metres away. Walk the entire length of the promenade from Table Rock to the Skylon Tower for the best angles.

Book the Hornblower Niagara Cruise ($35 CAD) — the boat ride takes you right to the base of the Horseshoe Falls. You will get soaked (the boat provides thin rain ponchos). Bring a waterproof phone case. The Journey Behind the Falls ($25 CAD) takes you through tunnels to observation decks directly behind the cascade — equally impressive and less wet.

Stay for the Niagara Falls illumination — the falls are lit up in different colours from dusk until midnight. Friday and Saturday evenings in summer also feature fireworks over the falls. Drive back to Toronto after dark, or book a hotel for the night if you want the full Niagara experience.

Transport: GO Transit $30 CAD return. Rental car $45+/day.

Activities: Boat cruise $35 CAD. Journey Behind the Falls $25 CAD.

Day 4: Toronto to Ottawa

Take the VIA Rail train from Toronto Union Station to Ottawa. The route passes through the scenic Kawartha Lakes region and along the St. Lawrence River. Book a VIA Rail Business Class ($160 CAD) for a meal and drinks included, or Economy (from $75 CAD advance fare) — both are comfortable.

Arrive at Ottawa’s Fallowfield Station or the main Ottawa Station. Drop your bags and walk to Parliament Hill — the Gothic-revival complex overlooking the Ottawa River is the symbolic heart of Canada. Free tours are available (book online in advance). The Peace Tower offers a great view of the city.

Walk through ByWard Market — one of Canada’s oldest public markets, alive with restaurants, bars, and street performers in summer. Grab a beaver tail (fried dough with toppings, $7 CAD) — the classic Ottawa treat. Watch the sunset from Major’s Hill Park.

Accommodation: Ottawa downtown ($80–160/night). HI Ottawa Jail Hostel from $40 CAD (yes, an actual former jail).

Day 5: Ottawa Sights — Museums & Culture

Ottawa has some of Canada’s best museums, most of which are free or cheap. Start at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau (free, across the Ottawa River) — the Grand Hall with its towering First Nations totem poles is stunning. Or visit the National Gallery of Canada ($20 CAD), which houses the famous Maman spider sculpture outside and an impressive collection of Indigenous and Canadian art inside, including works by the Group of Seven.

Visit the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that runs through the heart of the city. In summer you can rent a kayak or paddleboat on Dow’s Lake. Walk the Rideau Canal locks connecting the Ottawa River to the canal system — watching boats navigate the manual locks is fascinating. In winter, the canal becomes the world’s largest skating rink.

Walk through Elgin Street — Ottawa’s liveliest restaurant and bar street. End the evening at Tavern on the Hill for a rooftop view of Parliament Hill glowing in the twilight.

Entry: Most museums $15-20 CAD. Parliament Hill tours (free but book ahead).

Day 6: Ottawa to Montreal

Another short and scenic VIA Rail ride takes you from Ottawa to Montreal. Book the early train (around 8 AM) to arrive in Montreal by 10 AM with the full day ahead. From Montreal’s Central Station (Gare Centrale), it’s a 10-minute walk to the metro or a $15 CAD Uber to downtown hotels.

Check in and head straight to Mount Royal Park — the large park in the centre of the city designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (same architect as Central Park). Climb to the Kondiaronk Belvedere lookout for the iconic Montreal skyline view. In summer, the park is alive with picnics, musicians, and the Sunday Tam-Tams drum circle (a Montreal institution).

Walk through the McGill University campus — the historic campus has stunning architecture and is the heart of Montreal’s student energy. Then head to Mile End neighbourhood for the evening — this is Montreal’s hipster heartland with incredible bagels, street art, and dive bars.

Accommodation: Montreal Plateau neighbourhood ($80–180/night).

Day 7: Old Montreal

Explore Vieux-Montréal (Old Montreal) — the historic heart of the city with cobblestone streets, 17th-century architecture, and a European atmosphere. Walk along Rue Saint-Paul, one of the oldest streets in North America, now lined with galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Visit the Notre-Dame Basilica ($17 CAD) — the interior is breathtakingly ornate with deep blue ceilings, gold stars, and a massive Casavant organ.

Visit the Pointe-à-Callière Museum ($25 CAD) — Montreal’s archaeology museum built on the actual site of the city’s founding. The underground ruins tour is fascinating. Alternatively, walk through the Old Port — the waterfront park has the Montreal Ferris Wheel ($25 CAD), the Science Centre, and bike rentals.

Old Montreal at night is magical — the cobblestones, the gas lamps, the outdoor terraces. Book a dinner at a classic French bistro and wander the quiet alleys after dark.

Entry: Notre-Dame Basilica $17 CAD. Pointe-à-Callière $25 CAD.

Day 8: Montreal Food & Plateau

Start at Jean-Talon Market — one of North America’s oldest public markets. The fruit and vegetable displays are stunning, and you’ll find Quebec cheeses, maple products, and local charcuterie. Grab breakfast at Le Petit Marché stall (fresh juice and pastries).

Explore the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood — Montreal’s most vibrant area with colourful row houses (the famous outdoor staircases), independent boutiques, and incredible street art. Walk along Boulevard Saint-Laurent (the Main) and Rue Duluth. The street art on Saint-Laurent Boulevard rivals Berlin’s in quality and scale.

Experience a Montreal poutine crawl. Sample the iconic dish at three spots: La Banquise (classic, open 24h, $10-14 CAD), Frites Alors! (gourmet options, $10-14 CAD), and Poutineville (build-your-own, $12-16 CAD). Finish the evening at a Mile End dive bar or a craft brewery — Montreal’s microbrewery scene is excellent.

Entry: Jean-Talon Market (free). All walking activities.

Day 9: Montreal Day Trip — Mont-Tremblant or Quebec City

Option A — Quebec City (3 hours by bus/VIA Rail): Take the early VIA Rail or Orleans Express bus to Quebec City. Spend the day exploring Old Quebec — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the ramparts, visit the Château Frontenac (the most photographed hotel in the world), and wander the narrow streets of Petit-Champlain. Return by evening bus.

Option B — Mont-Tremblant (1.5 hours by car/bus): Visit this beautiful Laurentian mountain resort village. In summer, hike the mountain, ride the gondola, or kayak on Lake Tremblant. In winter, ski the slopes. The pedestrian village has colourful Quebecois architecture. Galland bus from Montreal runs twice daily ($40 CAD return).

Option C — Montreal staycation: Visit the Montreal Botanical Garden ($22 CAD) and the adjacent Biodôme ($22 CAD) — five ecosystems under one roof including a tropical rainforest, penguin pool, and Laurentian forest. The gardens are world-class, especially the Chinese and Japanese gardens.

Transport: Bus $40-80 CAD return. Rental car $45+/day.

Day 10: Montreal Departure

One last Montreal breakfast — your final chance for a bagel, smoked meat, or a croissant from a neighbourhood boulangerie. Walk through the Quartier des Spectacles (Montreal’s entertainment district with its distinctive red-lit facade).

Visit the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts ($24 CAD, free for permanent collection) or simply wander the Underground City (RÉSO) — 32 km of tunnels connecting malls, metro stations, and buildings beneath the city. It’s a quirky Montreal experience and useful if the weather is bad.

Take the 747 bus ($10 CAD) or a taxi ($40 CAD flat rate) to Montreal-Trudeau Airport (YUL). Allow 2 hours before your international flight — YUL can have long security lines. Au revoir, Montreal!

Transport: 747 bus $10 CAD. Taxi $40 CAD.