Canada rewards the curious. It’s a country stitched together by storied rivers and forests, but it also dazzles with culture-rich cities. In this 7-day itinerary you’ll split your time between Toronto—Canada’s largest and most diverse city—and romantic Québec City, a UNESCO-listed jewel perched above the St. Lawrence River.

Toronto rose from a fur-trade outpost to a global hub where neighborhoods like Chinatown, Kensington Market, and the Distillery Historic District brim with food, art, and design. A day trip to Niagara Falls adds raw spectacle: thunderous water, misty boat rides, and vintage power-station history.

Québec City, founded in 1608, is North America’s slice of old Europe: ramparts, mansard roofs, and cafés that spill onto cobbles. You’ll wander Old Québec, taste Québécois classics, and chase cascades at Montmorency Falls. Practical notes: tap water’s safe, cards widely accepted, tipping is standard (15–20%), and summers are mild while winters can be beautifully brisk.

Toronto

Toronto is a mosaic of neighborhoods and cuisines—from modern Indigenous fare and Trinidadian doubles to ramen, dim sum, and farm-to-table tasting menus. Its skyline is crowned by the CN Tower, while the lakefront offers breezy ferries to the Toronto Islands and sunset cruises across the harbor.

Top sights include the Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium, the Distillery Historic District’s 19th-century brick lanes, and street-art-rich Graffiti Alley. In the evening, jazz seeps out of intimate clubs, and cocktail bars push boundaries with house bitters and theatrics.

• Stay: Browse stays on VRBO Toronto or Hotels.com Toronto. Specific standouts: The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto (spa, lake views), The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar (sleep above a storied jazz club), or Chelsea Hotel, Toronto (great for families).
• Arriving by air: Compare flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Pearson (YYZ) is the main hub; Billy Bishop (YTZ) serves select short-haul routes.
• Local flavor: Don’t miss St. Lawrence Market for peameal bacon at Paddington’s Pump, and Kensington Market for tacos, empanadas, and artisanal coffee.

Day 1: Arrival, Harbourfront & the Distillery

Morning: Fly into Toronto. For best fares and schedules, search Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Aim to land early afternoon.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs along Harbourfront Centre’s promenade. Grab an espresso at Boxcar Social (Harbourfront) and watch sailboats glide across Lake Ontario.

Evening: Head to the Distillery Historic District. Dine at Cluny Bistro (modern French, lively room) or El Catrin (regional Mexican, patio fire pits). Cap the night with a CN Tower visit for sunset-to-twilight views; the city lights bloom beneath your feet.

Day 2: Icons, Museums, and a Harbor Dinner Cruise

Morning: Breakfast at Dineen Coffee Co. (heritage interior, excellent cappuccino) then wander the Financial District to see PATH art and sculptures. Continue to the St. Lawrence Market—sample soft bagels at St. Urbain and fresh oysters at Buster’s Sea Cove.

Afternoon: Choose a museum: the Royal Ontario Museum (global civilizations and dinosaurs) or the Art Gallery of Ontario (Canadian masters, contemporary shows). Stroll Yorkville’s galleries and boutiques afterward.

Evening: Board a harbor dinner cruise for skyline views and DJ-led ambience: Toronto Premier Dinner Cruise on Odyssey. Expect multi-course dining as the lights shimmer on the water.

Day 3: Niagara Falls Day Trip

Morning: Depart on a guided tour for a stress-free day at the Falls: Niagara Falls Day Tour from Toronto. It typically includes scenic stops like the Whirlpool and time in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Afternoon: Ride the seasonal boat to the base of Horseshoe Falls; feel the mist and roar. If you crave extra adrenaline and time allows, consider the riverside zipline for sweeping gorge views: Zipline To The Falls.

Evening: Return to Toronto. Dinner on King Street West: try PAI (Northern Thai, famed khao soi) or Richmond Station (Top Chef Canada alum; seasonal Canadian plates). Nightcap at BarChef for avant-garde cocktails.

Day 4: Neighborhoods, Street Art, and Islands

Morning: Kensington Market food crawl: empanadas at Jumbo Empanadas, churros at Pancho’s Bakery, and a flat white at Café Pamenar. Pop through adjacent Chinatown for BBQ pork buns and produce stands.

Afternoon: Explore Queen West’s Graffiti Alley for vivid murals, then ferry to the Toronto Islands. Rent bikes to loop Ward’s to Hanlan’s Point with postcard skyline vistas.

Evening: Tapas and vermouth at Bar Raval (Gaudí-inspired woodwork) or Italian at Terroni on Queen West. Catch live jazz at The Rex—if you’re staying upstairs, you’re already home.

Québec City

Québec City feels like a living museum—stone walls, slate roofs, and a cliff-top promenade gazing over the St. Lawrence. French is the everyday language, and cuisine leans hearty: tourtière, poutine with local twists, and elegant, terroir-driven menus celebrating boreal ingredients.

Old Québec (Upper and Lower Town) charms with Château Frontenac, Terrasse Dufferin boardwalk, the Citadelle, and Rue du Petit-Champlain’s boutiques. Nearby, Montmorency Falls tumbles higher than Niagara, and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré draws pilgrims with shimmering mosaics.

• Stay: Compare top hotels and apartments on VRBO Québec City and Hotels.com Québec City. Look near Old Québec for walk-everywhere access.
• Getting there from Toronto: Fly Toronto (YYZ/YTZ) to Québec City (YQB), ~1h30 nonstop, usually $120–$250 one-way. Check schedules on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Morning departures keep your day intact.
• Taste notes: Seek maple-inflected desserts, artisanal cheeses from Île d’Orléans, and ciders pressed from the region’s orchards.

Day 5: Fly East and Walk Old Québec

Morning: Fly Toronto to Québec City. Book early for lower fares via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Taxi or rideshare to your hotel (15–25 minutes).

Afternoon: Orient with a guided wander: Québec City Highlights 3-Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based. You’ll cover the Upper Town, Frontenac, and hidden courtyards that most miss.

Evening: Dinner at Chez Muffy (stone-walled dining room, farm-to-table) or Le Saint-Amour (romantic, refined Québécois). Stroll Terrasse Dufferin for river views and street musicians.

Day 6: Montmorency Falls & Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré

Morning: Chase cascades and countryside on a half-day excursion: Half-Day Trip to Montmorency Falls and Ste-Anne-de-Beaupré. The falls tower 30 meters higher than Niagara; the basilica’s mosaics are luminous.

Afternoon: Return to the city for a casual bite at Le Chic Shack (gourmet poutines and shakes) near the Frontenac. Explore Rue du Petit-Champlain’s boutiques and the funicular up the cliff.

Evening: Tableside flambé at Restaurant Le Continental (classic steak Diane) or a creative tasting at Tanière3 (advance booking essential). For music, Bar Ste-Angèle hosts intimate jazz sets.

Day 7: Ramparts, Museums, and Departure

Morning: Coffee and croissants at Paillard, then walk the fortifications for rare views over Lower Town. History buffs should peek into the Citadelle (summer ceremonies) or the Musée de la civilisation.

Afternoon: Last-minute souvenirs—maple syrup, local cider, artisanal chocolates—before your flight. Compare return options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If time permits, grab a boreal-inspired lunch at Chez Boulay—comptoir boréal (spruce tips, wild berries, and game).

Evening: Travel home with a camera full of river vistas, neon skyline shots, and waterfall mist.

Optional Add-Ons (Seasonal or Extra Time)

• Toronto Islands beach afternoon in summer; skating under twinkle lights at Nathan Phillips Square in winter.
• Food crawl in Little Italy and Koreatown (kimchi pancakes, K-BBQ, gelato).
• Île d’Orléans tasting loop (ciders, cheeses, chocolaterie) near Québec City.

Estimated Intercity Travel: Toronto → Québec City morning flight: ~1h30 air time; budget $120–$250 one-way plus baggage. Add 60–90 minutes for security and boarding. Search and book via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Quick Booking Links:

• Toronto stays: VRBO | Hotels.com | Picks: The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, The Rex Hotel Jazz & Blues Bar, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
• Québec City stays: VRBO | Hotels.com
• Flights (international and domestic Canada): Trip.com | Kiwi.com

In one week, you’ll taste two distinct sides of Canada: Toronto’s global energy and Québec City’s time-capsule streets. Expect big-water drama at Niagara Falls, elegant dinners in stone-walled rooms, and river views you’ll replay long after you’re home.