Month guide · Toronto · Canada
Toronto in January
What January is really like in Toronto: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Priscilla Jordão from São Paulo, Brasil, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -1°C (30°F), lows of -7°C (19°F), about 12 rainy days and roughly 9.3 hours of daylight. 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.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -1°C (30°F) / -7°C (19°F)
- Rainy days
- About 12
- Daylight
- About 9.3 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Toronto: days average -1°C (30°F) against a yearly average high of 13°C (55°F), and nights fall to about -7°C (19°F). Rain falls on roughly 12 of its 31 days. Compared with December (2°C (36°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 0°C (32°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:48
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:05
- Daylight
- About 9.3 hours
Winter (December–February). 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.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Winterlicious — prix-fixe menus at hundreds of restaurants (usually from late January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Aquarium · Entertainment District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Late-evening sessions and weekday mornings are much quieter than weekend afternoons.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Yorkville
Royal Ontario Museum
Canada's largest museum mixes natural history and world cultures, from dinosaur skeletons and a walk-through bat cave to Chinese temple murals, Egyptian mummies and First Nations art.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · Grange Park
Art Gallery of Ontario
Head first for the Group of Seven rooms, then climb Gehry's spiral staircase at the back of the building.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Market · Old Town
St. Lawrence Market
Toronto has had a market on this site since 1803.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
- Shopping
What to pack
For highs near -1°C, lows near -7°C and 12 wet days: 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.
Is January a good time to visit Toronto?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Toronto in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Toronto?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. 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.
+How warm is Toronto in January?
Average highs are around -1°C (30°F) and lows around -7°C (19°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Toronto in January?
Expect rain on about 12 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.