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For couples · Toronto · Canada

Romantic things to do in Toronto

Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.

Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team

Photo: Hutima, CC BY-SA 4.0

Quick answer

Toronto's romantic side shows on the waterfront and the islands, in the lit-up skyline and in intimate restaurants around Little Italy and Ossington. Summer evenings on the islands and winter nights in the Distillery District are the classic dates. Couples tend to stay in Old Town and St. Lawrence.

Key facts

Romantic ideas
5
Couple-friendly sights
3
Area for couples
Old Town and St. Lawrence
Best months
May and October

Romantic ideas

1.Sunset from the islands

Take the ferry to Ward's or Centre Island and watch the skyline light up across the harbour from the water's edge.

2.Dinner at the top of the CN Tower

The revolving 360 Restaurant turns a full circle about every 72 minutes, and a dinner reservation includes access to the tower.

3.Distillery District in winter

Mulled drinks, lights and cobbled lanes during the winter-village season.

4.A show on King Street

See a touring musical or play at the Royal Alexandra or Princess of Wales theatres.

5.Cherry blossoms in High Park

Walk under the cherry trees near Grenadier Pond during the brief spring bloom.

Sights couples love

Toronto Islands, Toronto
Photo: JK Liu, CC BY-SA 4.0

Island · Toronto Harbour

Toronto Islands

Take the ferry to Ward's Island in the morning, walk or cycle west along the boardwalk, and return from Centre Island or Hanlan's Point at sunset for skyline photos.

Time needed
Half a day to a full day
Cost
Low cost
  • Outdoors
  • Kids
  • Views
  • Photo spot
  • Couples
High Park, Toronto
Photo: Jeff Hitchcock from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0

Park · High Park

High Park

Take Line 2 to High Park station and walk south through the park to Grenadier Pond and the zoo.

Time needed
2–3 hours
Cost
Free
  • Free
  • Kids
  • Outdoors
  • Nature
  • Couples

Where couples should stay

$$$ · Best for first-timers, food lovers, couples and culture

Old Town and St. Lawrence

Toronto's original town site around King and Front streets east of Yonge holds St. Lawrence Market, the wedge-shaped Gooderham Building, St. James Cathedral and the Front Street theatres, with the pedestrian Distillery District a short walk east. It is central but calmer than the Entertainment District, and streetcars run along King Street.

Good
Historic buildings and food markets; Walkable to downtown and the island ferry; Quieter at night
Watch out
Fewer hotels than downtown; The Distillery District is a walk from the subway
Nearby
St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District, Gooderham Building, Jack Layton Ferry Terminal

Romantic day trips

  • Niagara Falls (About 1.5–2 hours by car, train or bus) — The Horseshoe Falls drop about 50 metres across the Canada–US border, with the American Falls beside them.
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake (About 1.5 hours by car) — A preserved 19th-century town of inns, gardens and shops where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, surrounded by wineries known for icewine.
  • Stratford (About 2 hours by car) — A small town on the Avon River best known for the Stratford Festival, a major repertory season of Shakespeare and musicals that usually runs from spring to autumn.
  • Prince Edward County (About 2.5–3 hours by car) — An island-like peninsula on Lake Ontario with wineries, farm-to-table restaurants and the long freshwater dunes of Sandbanks Provincial Park.

For dinner

Share local specialities such as Trinidadian roti, Poutine and Dim sum. Food courts in the PATH underground and in malls give quick, inexpensive weekday lunches.

Questions travellers ask

+Is Toronto romantic?

Toronto's romantic side shows on the waterfront and the islands, in the lit-up skyline and in intimate restaurants around Little Italy and Ossington. Summer evenings on the islands and winter nights in the Distillery District are the classic dates.

+What is the most romantic thing to do in Toronto?

Sunset from the islands: Take the ferry to Ward's or Centre Island and watch the skyline light up across the harbour from the water's edge.

+Where should couples stay in Toronto?

Old Town and St. Lawrence: Victorian streets, St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District.