Four days gives Toronto a comfortable amount of time, covering downtown, the city's distinct neighbourhoods, and a popular day trip without feeling rushed. Day 1 starts downtown. The CN Tower's observation deck offers views over the city and Lake Ontario, with a glass floor for those wanting a small thrill and the more serious EdgeWalk — an exterior walk around the tower's rim — for those wanting considerably more. Spend the afternoon in the Distillery District, a pedestrian-only area of restored Victorian-era industrial buildings now housing galleries, shops, and restaurants, and finish the evening in the Entertainment District. Day 2 is for Toronto's neighbourhoods, which is really the city's central appeal. Kensington Market's bohemian vintage shops and global food stalls feel genuinely lived-in rather than curated for visitors, and it sits within easy walking distance of Chinatown. Spending an afternoon moving between these and other ethnic neighbourhoods — Little Italy, Greektown, depending on your route — gives a real sense of how thoroughly immigration has shaped the city. Day 3 is for the Toronto Islands, reached by a short ferry from the downtown harbourfront. These car-free islands offer beaches, bike paths, and some of the best skyline views back toward the city, all just minutes from the financial district by boat. Renting a bike on arrival makes covering more ground straightforward. Day 4, if you have it, is the classic Toronto day trip: Niagara Falls, about 90 minutes away. Despite genuinely heavy tourist crowds, the falls themselves remain spectacular, and a boat tour or the Skylon Tower observation deck both offer worthwhile ways to see them beyond the standard viewing platforms. A few practical notes: get a TTC day pass for unlimited subway, streetcar, and bus travel — it pays for itself quickly in a city this spread out. Tipping 15–20% is standard at restaurants and bars, similar to US norms. And if planning the Niagara Falls day trip, book transport a few days ahead in peak season, since popular tour buses and trains do fill up.