8 Things to Do During Christmastime in Toronto

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After spending 3 & 1/2 days in Toronto searching for the best things to do in winter, I concluded that many of my top suggestions involve things to do when it gets dark: Christmas villages all lit up, seeing a holiday light display at a historic castle, a haunted steakhouse that doesn’t open til 4…you get it. Finally, at the end of this post, I talk about the best ways to get around Toronto, because it can be confusing, and I want the best for you 🩷.

For Even More Toronto Fun, Explore Activities from Get Your Guide Here

Is Toronto Good to Visit in the Wintertime?

First things first: Toronto is underrated – especially during the holidays.

Truthfully, I never really thought about coming to this city until I had to re-book and re-plan my entire European Christmas vacation (it’s a long story, and quite frankly, not worth my time to type it + your time to read it). All you really need to know is that when my awesome friend Lance suggested I to go to Québec City to see their European-esque Christmas markets, I sat down to book my trip and thought “what the hell, why not also check out Toronto?!”

So I did. And I’m SO GLAD I did. After 3.5 days spent in the heart of downtown, it’s safe to say that the kindness of the locals, endless food options, holiday charm, internationally recognized Christmas market, and overall city vibe has put Toronto on my list of North American cities to brag about. Want to have the best winter vacation in one of my newest favorite cities? Keep reading…

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Website Disclaimer: This post has been updated to include dates/times relevant to the 2024 holiday season. I last visited Toronto during the 2022 holiday season. Although everything is accurate as of the publication of this post, it is important to keep in mind that prices, attractions, and other things may change with time.

8 of the Best Things To Do in Toronto at Christmastime

1. Visit the Distillery Winter Village

• 2024 Opening Date: Nov 13th, 2024
• Click this link for tickets

This one is an absolute must, which is why I listed it first. The Distillery District – a rustic-chic area in Downtown Toronto – is transformed into a winter wonderland that gives the feeling of a traditional European Christmas market. Known as The Distillery Winter Village, it captivates all who visit with thousands of string lights, carolers, and a massively huge Christmas tree.

They have vendors selling everything from food and drinks to fuzzy socks, hats, and other Christmas gifts. You could easily spend half a day here (or even longer!) if you wanted to. In addition to the market vendors, the shops span everything from small clothing and gift stores to larger stores that have a little bit of everything. If I could, I would spend an entire week just eating and drinking my way through the village.

I (shamelessly) loved it here so much that I went twice during my time in Toronto. The way they have the market set up is so beautiful that you could walk around for hours and never get bored. In case you still aren’t convinced, The Distillery Winter Village recently received global recognition on 2 different international lists of the best Christmas markets in the world.

Distillery Winter Village also has countless shops, restaurants, cafes, and bakeries to choose from. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to eat at every restaurant, because there were too many, but the ones I tried and loved were Madrina Bar y Tapas (a Barcelona-inspired tapas restaurant) and Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie (BEST French onion soup of my life!!). There’s also a really cool brewery called Old Flame Brewing Co. that’s the perfect spot to grab a beer and warm up from the cold. Not to mention, they brew the most awarded craft lager beer in Canada!

• Related post (speaking of tapas) – All The Cool People Are Eating Tapas Right Now (and You Should Be Too)

2. See the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Phillips Square

**At this time, Cavalcade of Lights Dates for 2024 are still TBD**

Nathan Phillips Square is located in the heart of Downtown Toronto, right next to Toronto City Hall. This is where the famous ice skating rink and massive “Toronto” sign is located.

Toronto has been announcing the arrival of the holiday season with the Cavalcade of Lights here since 1967. The plaza at Nathan Phillips Square is decorated with over half a million LED lights and Toronto’s official Christmas tree. It lasts til around 10:00 pm, and is a sight to behold.

I would encourage you to just walk around this area for a bit. The Christmas lights with the city in the background is beautiful, and there are vendors where you can get food and drinks.

You can rent skates for $15 (or $10 for kids!) and skate for up to 2 hours. For those that like the ambiance of skating in the evening under city lights, you can rent skates in the evening up until 9:45 pm. For more information on skate rentals, click this link.

3. Tour Casa Loma – Christmas at the Castle & Holiday Lights

Dates: Variable; check out their website linked below to see dates/times and purchase tickets.

This one is another absolute-must. Casa Loma is full of history thanks to it’s original owner, Sir Henry Pellatt, but you know I went there for the Christmas decor, rooftop views, and outdoor holiday lights show. *shrugs*

When purchasing tickets, there are a few different options to choose from. It is worth noting that the ONLY way you are able to tour the inside of the castle at Christmastime AND see the holiday light display outside is to purchase the “Christmas at the Castle” ticket and then do the “Holiday Lights” add-on at checkout.

If you can only do one or the other, I would recommend choosing the Holiday Lights tour. It takes you through the gardens in the back of the castle, into an underground tunnel, and finally to the stables where you meet Santa Claus. Just when you think it’s over, there is more to see. The amount of detail and effort that went into creating this winter wonderland is unmatched.

• To purchase the Christmas at the Castle and/or Holiday Lights add-on ticket, visit the Casa Loma website here.

If you just want to tour the castle, you can purchase this ticket. Furthermore, you are only able to do the Christmas tours certain days of the week, and the Holiday lights tour specifically starts after 5pm.

There are two towers in Casa Loma – the Scottish Tower, which is circular, and the Norman Tower, which is square. The photo below shows the view from the Norman Tower. Make sure to go up inside at least one of these and check out the panoramic rooftop view over the whole city.

4. Grab a Drink at Miracle Pop Up: Toronto

Location for 2024: 875 Bloor St. West at the home of Third Place

Miracle Pop Up is a company that puts Christmas pop-up bars in cities across North America. The menu is mostly holiday themed drinks that are served in souvenir mugs. Oh – and they have drag queen shows on select dates! It is festive, fun, and tacky in the best way. They do not take reservations, but drag queen shows usually require tickets. As you can imagine, these bars can get crowded and fill up fast, so plan accordingly!

• Pro Tip: Miracle charges a $5 cover fee for entry, which is applied to your bill once you order.

The best way to stay informed about everything Miracle Pop-Up related is to follow their Instagram page in the respective city you are trying to visit. For Toronto, their Instagram handle is @miracletoronto. Or, you can click here to view the Miracle Pop Up Toronto website.

5. Eat at The Keg Steakhouse + Bar – Mansion

Address: 515 Jarvis St.

Okay, so this is NOT Christmas-related whatsoever, aside from it being decorated for Christmas inside. But you need to eat, right? And this place is soooo goodddd.

A great way to practically guarantee that I’ll check out a bar or restaurant is to tell me that it’s located in a haunted building. There are multiple Keg Steakhouses in Toronto, and even though I’ve only been to the Mansion location, I’m convinced it’s the coolest. Pair the Victorian aesthetic with the holiday decor and ghost stories and you’ve got yourself the perfect dinner reservation.

I ordered their blackened chicken because I’m not much of a red meat girlie, and it was 10/10. If you’re a steak person, I can only imagine how good your meal would be. Don’t forget to ask your server/bartender about their paranormal experiences – almost everybody that works there has had one.

6. Get Fancy at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel

The most famous hotel in Toronto, the Fairmont Royal York has been graced by the presence of celebrities, United States presidents, and British royals, just to name a few. James Brown and Tina Turner have performed in the ballrooms. If you’re familiar with NYC, think the Plaza Hotel. It’s fancy.

Two of the main bars, The Library Bar and Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails, have fantastic drink menus and small food bites. During Christmastime, the Fairmont Royal York has a holiday-themed bar – The Thirsty Elf – on the mezzanine floor (I admittedly didn’t get to check out this one as it was VERY crowded). For more of a sit-down meal, check out Reign (next to Clockwork Champagne & Cocktails), a Canadian brasserie which features French-inspired dishes.

• The photos I took of the Fairmont Royal York do NOT do it justice. If you are in Toronto, it is a must-see hotel, even if you just go in to walk around. It is stunningly beautiful, especially at Christmas.

7. Go Shopping at the Toronto Eaton Centre

The largest shopping mall in Toronto, the Eaton Centre is a great place to spend the day if you want to get out of the cold. They have countless stores and restaurants to choose from, and it is (of course) decorated for Christmas in the wintertime. Hardcore shoppers could easily spend half a day here if not more. You can get warm up, get your Christmas shopping done, grab lunch, and then figure out your plans for the rest of the evening.

8. Catch The Snowfall at Yonge-Dundas Square

• Pro Tip: This is soon to be renamed Sankofa Square, so you may hear it called by either name.

Similar to Times Square in NYC, Yonge-Dundas Square is lit up with live billboards, city lights, and a bustling plaza. Located right across from Toronto Eaton Centre, the Square is an area where a lot of events take place, from concerts to festivals and more. When I was there, they had a large Christmas tree in the center and music playing nearby.

I was also lucky enough to catch a winter snowfall here my first night in Toronto! I just happened to stumble upon this plaza while walking from my hotel, and around that time, the snow started to pick up. Between the music, the snowfall, and the lights from the stores and billboards, it gave me that romantic, Christmas-in-the-city feeling that you feel in movies.

Check out the Yonge-Dundas Square/Sankofa Square website to see events happening during your visit. Even if there isn’t anything planned, it’s worth it to walk around the square and pop in one of the shops, bars, or restaurants.

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What’s the Best Way to Get to Toronto?

• The main airport to fly into for international flights is Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Travel time from the airport to downtown can range anywhere from 20 minutes to over an hour, depending on traffic.
• Location-wise, I stayed at the Holiday Inn on Carlton St. in Downtown Toronto. Although this was a great location and had a subway station within walking distance, I found myself having to Uber a good bit to get where I wanted to go in a reasonable amount of time.

Which brings me to my next point…

What’s the Best Way to Get Around Toronto?

Let me be SO honest with you: Transportation was by far my least favorite thing about Toronto. Traffic is horrible, and the subway/rail system isn’t super built up and somewhat unreliable. Many times, I found that the subway/buses/streetcars were delayed from the time it gave on my transit apps.

I spent about 50% of my time Ubering around Toronto, and the other 50% on the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission – aka, subway, bus, or streetcar). That’s not to say Toronto isn’t walkable – it’s definitely walkable depending on the area. But a lot of the things I wanted to do required me taking some other form of transportation in addition to walking.

Toronto Transportation Tips

• You are able to purchase a PRESTO card for the TTC, which you can load money on and use on any form of public transportation. You can also purchase 1 trip, 2 trip, and all-day individual tickets.
• In terms of taking the TTC, I felt like I had to utilize the buses/streetcars more than the subway due to the subway not having routes to where I was wanting to go. This was another downside for me, as I find the subway system easier to navigate than the buses.
• Finding the right location to wait for buses/streetcars can be confusing. Often times, I would be standing on a street corner, and there would be a bus stop on each side of the street, plus one adjacent to the street I was standing on. Some of them have the bus route shown; others do not. Many times, I had to ask people nearby if I was standing at the correct stop because it wasn’t always obvious.

Were those really tips, or just me venting? Regardless, at least you know now…

Pro Tip: Take Advantage of The Path System

Similar to the Pedway System in Chicago, Toronto’s Path System is an underground walkway spanning more than 30 km. Another great way to spend your time while getting out of the cold, The Path offers restaurants, shops, and more, all while connecting to various buildings, subway stations, hotels, and tourist attractions.