Best time to visit · Toronto · Canada
The best time to visit Toronto
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: JK Liu, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Toronto is late May to early October, when days are warm, patios and the islands are open and festivals fill the calendar; September and early October are often the most comfortable. Winter (December to March) is cold and snowy but cheaper, with skating rinks, winter festivals and the underground PATH for getting around.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–October
- Shoulder season
- April and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 27°C (81°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high -1°C (30°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~12 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Toronto has a humid continental climate moderated by Lake Ontario: cold, snowy winters with frequent thaws, warm and humid summers, and changeable springs and autumns. Precipitation is spread evenly, falling mostly as snow from December to March.
March–May
Spring
Slow to arrive: March is often slushy, April changeable and May mild, green and pleasant, with cherry blossoms in between.
June–August
Summer
Warm to hot and humid, with long days, lake beaches, the islands and festivals such as Pride, the Caribbean Carnival and the CNE.
September–November
Autumn
September is warm and busy with the film festival; October brings crisp days and red maples, and November turns grey and cold.
December–February
Winter
Cold and snowy with wind off the lake; skating, holiday markets and indoor museums make the most of it, and hotel prices drop after New Year.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C | -7°C | 12 | 9.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 0°C | -6°C | 10 | 10.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 5°C | -2°C | 10 | 11.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 12°C | 4°C | 11 | 13.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 18°C | 10°C | 11 | 14.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 24°C | 15°C | 10 | 15.4 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 27°C | 18°C | 10 | 15.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 26°C | 17°C | 9 | 14 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 21°C | 13°C | 9 | 12.4 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| October | 14°C | 7°C | 11 | 10.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 8°C | 2°C | 11 | 9.6 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 2°C | -3°C | 12 | 8.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Winterlicious — prix-fixe menus at hundreds of restaurants (usually from late January) |
| February | Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatown and the suburbs (January or February); Family Day — Ontario public holiday (third Monday of February) |
| March | St. Patrick's Day parade (usually a Sunday in mid-March) |
| April | Toronto Blue Jays home opener (usually early April); Hot Docs — documentary film festival (usually late April to early May); High Park cherry blossoms (usually late April to early May) |
| May | Doors Open Toronto — free access to notable buildings (usually late May); Victoria Day fireworks (the Monday before 25 May) |
| June | Pride Toronto — parade and street festival (usually the last Sunday of June); TD Toronto Jazz Festival (usually late June) |
| July | Canada Day — fireworks and events citywide (1 July); Summerlicious — prix-fixe restaurant menus (usually July) |
| August | Toronto Caribbean Carnival grand parade (usually the Civic Holiday weekend in early August); Canadian National Exhibition — late-summer fair (mid-August to Labour Day) |
| September | Toronto International Film Festival (usually early to mid-September) |
| October | Thanksgiving — Canadian holiday (second Monday of October) |
| November | Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (usually early November); Santa Claus Parade (usually mid-to-late November); Distillery Winter Village opens (usually mid-November) |
| December | Distillery Winter Village (usually until late December); New Year's Eve concert and fireworks at Nathan Phillips Square |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November, and the sights are quietest in January–March and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Toronto?
The best time to visit Toronto is late May to early October, when days are warm, patios and the islands are open and festivals fill the calendar; September and early October are often the most comfortable. Winter (December to March) is cold and snowy but cheaper, with skating rinks, winter festivals and the underground PATH for getting around.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Toronto?
Usually in January–March and November. The coldest month, with snow on the ground, biting wind off the lake and short days; museums, the PATH and Winterlicious menus make it workable.
+What is the rainiest month in Toronto?
January, with about 12 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Toronto get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 27°C (81°F) and lows of 18°C (64°F).