Things to Do in Toronto: Attractions and Day Trips by Private Car

The best things to do in Toronto are close together and wildly different in how you reach them. The CN Tower, the St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District are minutes apart; Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum sit uptown; Niagara Falls, Muskoka and Prince Edward County need a morning to reach. This guide sorts them by how you actually travel, so you spend the day looking at things instead of at traffic.

What are the best things to do in Toronto with a private car?

A private car does not replace the TTC. For two or three stops in the core, a subway ticket and a short walk are the sensible answer. A car begins to win when the day has more than three stops, when you are travelling with children, when the weather turns, or when the day trip runs to a schedule you control. You can also book a car by the hour for sightseeing, with the chauffeur waiting while you visit each place.

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Downtown highlights within a short ride

CN Tower and the waterfront

The CN Tower anchors the Entertainment District. Its Main Observation Level is one of several viewpoints; the "Top" sits 33 storeys higher, and the EdgeWalk is 116 storeys above the ground. Opening hours change by season, so check the CN Tower site before you plan. Your chauffeur drops you at the entrance nearest your ticket gate. Ripley's Aquarium, Rogers Centre and the convention centre are all within a short walk, so one drop-off can cover several stops.

St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District

These two are the natural pairing for a morning. The market is an old covered food hall east of the core, and the Distillery Historic District is a short hop further east, a car-free area of brick lanes, galleries and restaurants. A car is useful at the end of the day, when the pedestrian lanes and cobbles are a long walk from the nearest subway stop.

Casa Loma

Casa Loma, a castle on a hill, sits at 1 Austin Terrace and is open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm as of 2026; some rooms close on certain days, so confirm the Casa Loma site before you go. It is the one downtown sight that is awkward on transit, because it involves a steep climb from Dupont Station. By car from the core it is a 10 to 20 minute trip, and the chauffeur can drop you at the main entrance.

Royal Ontario Museum, the AGO and Yorkville

The Royal Ontario Museum and Yorkville's shops and cafés sit on and around Bloor Street, while the Art Gallery of Ontario is on Dundas Street West. The subway stops at Museum and St. Patrick. Taking a car makes sense for a long day or a formal dinner, when the walk between them is the weakest part of the plan.

Quick reference: downtown attractions by car

Times assume ordinary traffic. A hockey game, a concert at the arena, a ball game or a closed street can double them. The drop-off notes are the usual practice, and your chauffeur confirms the point on the day.

A one-day city itinerary by car

1. 9:00 Pick up at your hotel and drive to the St. Lawrence Market for breakfast.
2. 10:30 Walk or ride the short distance to the Distillery District.
3. 12:30 Lunch in the Entertainment District, then the CN Tower in the early afternoon, when queues are shorter.
4. 15:30 Drive uptown to Casa Loma for the late afternoon light.
5. 18:00 Dinner in Yorkville, with the car waiting or collecting you at a time you choose.

Hourly hire fits this pattern better than four separate bookings. The booker shows a fixed fare for the hours you choose before you pay. For vehicle choices, see our Toronto limousine page and the fleet.

Toronto Islands and the waterfront

The Toronto Islands are a short ferry ride from the foot of Bay Street, with beaches, bike paths and a skyline view. Cars are not needed on the islands, and the ferry is the right way across. The car's job is to deliver you to the terminal on time and meet you again afterwards.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport shares the island chain, and its pedestrian tunnel and free ferry are a good illustration of the neighbourhood. Our Billy Bishop page explains the crossing, which is only about 121 metres wide at the Western Gap.

Niagara Falls day trip

Niagara Falls is the classic day trip, about 130 km (80 mi) from downtown Toronto and usually 1 h 30 to 2 h by road; allow 2 h 30 on Friday afternoons or summer weekends. The Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) is the main route. Niagara Parks lists attractions at the falls, including Journey Behind the Falls, the Niagara Parks Power Station and Tunnel, the Butterfly Conservatory, the Whirlpool Aero Car and the Niagara Glen Nature Centre. The Falls Illumination runs year-round, so an evening return is possible.

A car shines at Niagara because the falls are only one stop. Niagara Parks lists a WEGO bus system, a shuttle to Niagara-on-the-Lake and GO Train and WEGO packages, which are sensible for a straightforward visit to the falls. If you want the Niagara River Parkway, a winery stop and the falls in one day, a car with a chauffeur is the practical choice. Read the Niagara Parks site for the current attraction list, and our pages on Toronto to Niagara Falls, the private Niagara Falls tour from Toronto and limousine service in Niagara Falls for the route.

Niagara-on-the-Lake and wine country

The Niagara River Parkway, which Niagara Parks describes as 56 km long, links the falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake along the water. A winery lunch followed by the old town makes a calm second half of a Niagara day. Nominate the designated traveller or choose a car so that nobody drives after tastings.

Muskoka

Muskoka is cottage country, a lake district north of Toronto. Its tourism board lists six areas: Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes, Bracebridge, Lake of Bays, Huntsville and Georgian Bay. The nearest town, Gravenhurst, is roughly 170 km north and about two hours by road; Huntsville adds another 45 minutes. Friday-afternoon traffic on Highway 400 is the slowest part of the trip. See the Muskoka tourism site for each area, and our Pearson to Muskoka page for the airport run.

Muskoka's lakes and trails are best from May to October, and many resorts have their own schedules. A car that waits makes a day return possible, but most travellers prefer a one- or two-night stay, with the car delivering the family and luggage at the front door.

Prince Edward County

Prince Edward County lies east of Toronto on Lake Ontario, about 2 h 30 to 3 h from the city. It has wineries, farm stands, beaches and a quiet main street culture. The 401 is the route, and the weekend traffic around Easter and in summer is heaviest. The trip is best as an overnight, or as a long day with a chauffeur who knows where to turn off the highway. Distances here are approximate; confirm timings for your pickup when you book.

Day trips compared: transit, tour, rental or private car

If a coach tour fits your timing, take it. Tours are good at logistics and cost less per head. The private car wins when you want to start late, stay at the falls for the evening illumination, bring children, visit a winery or leave the tour group's schedule behind.

Where the car drops you

Every attraction has a convenient drop point and an inconvenient one. At the CN Tower it is the entrance nearest your ticket gate. At Casa Loma it is the main entrance. For the Islands, it is the ferry terminal. For the Distillery District, it is the edge of the pedestrian area. For Niagara, your chauffeur can stop at the falls viewing area, a restaurant or a parking-free drop at your hotel. Your confirmation lists the exact points, and the chauffeur confirms on the day.

Seasonal notes

• Winter (December to March). Snow can slow roads to Niagara and Muskoka. The CN Tower and museums are indoors, and Casa Loma's rooms are warm. Allow extra time.
• Spring. Changeable weather; pack for rain and ask the desk about road conditions before a long day trip.
• Summer. Longest days, busiest roads on Fridays and Sundays, crowds at the falls.
• Autumn. Colour in Muskoka, harvest in Prince Edward County, and the film festival downtown in September. See our TIFF page.

Families, groups and special requests

Child, toddler and booster seats are on request. A Luxury SUV carries up to 6 passengers and 5 to 6 large bags; an Executive Sprinter carries up to 12 passengers and 12 bags. Water and phone charging are in most vehicles. Mini-coaches and coaches seating 20 to 56 are available on request. Browse the guides hub for related pages, and the Toronto hub and Canada hub for everything local.

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Before you set out

Arriving from overseas? Our guide for international arrivals covers entry rules and customs. For a hotel in the core, the downtown transfer page explains drop-off points. For other day trips from the airport, see Pearson to downtown Toronto, Toronto to Blue Mountain and Toronto to Casino Rama.