Toronto | The Pearl of Lake Ontario

As Canada’s largest city, separated from the U.S. by just a lake, Toronto is always a cherished dream for Chinese expats in North America. Four days and three nights are enough to explore both Toronto and the magnificent Niagara Falls, which is just an hour and a half away. 🚩 Entry into 🇨🇦: Within 3 days before your flight, fill out the entry form on ArriveCAN. Upon arrival, scan your passport at the kiosk and get your receipt. Additionally, when returning to the U.S. from Canada, you'll go through prescreening after security at Toronto airport, so once you land in the U.S., you can proceed directly to the domestic gate. 🚩 Transportation: In Canada, you can rent a car with a U.S. driver's license. Public transportation requires you to tap a card both when boarding and exiting, and you can easily use a U.S. credit card. ✨ For sightseeing, it's recommended to get a City Pass to save money. CN Tower is a must, while for the other five options (ROM, Casa Loma, Cruises, Zoo, Science Museum), I personally think the first three are enough—the zoo is a bit far. ✨ CN Tower: Go early or late. City Pass only gets you to the main observation deck, but for an extra $10, you can go to the top level and enjoy a panoramic view of Toronto’s skyline 🌆. ✨ Gooderham Building (p5): A historic landmark, it’s Toronto’s version of Shanghai’s famous building. ✨ St. Lawrence Market: A local food market where many Torontonians shop. The lobster rolls here are famous, but I found them average. ✨ City Cruises (p4): Board at the harbor and enjoy views of the downtown skyline from Lake Ontario. Sit on the second floor for the best view! It's included in the City Pass, but remember to book in advance 🚤. ✨ Casa Loma (p6, 7): Once a noble residence, the lookout tower offers distant views of the city's skyline. ✨ ROM: Toronto’s second most popular attraction, also requiring reservations. I think the biodiversity section on the second floor can be skipped, but the first and third floors are worth exploring. ✨ Niagara Falls: It takes about 2 hours to drive from Toronto, factoring in traffic. There’s no need to buy package deals or stay overnight at the casino. The two must-see attractions are the boat tour (buy tickets separately) and Behind the Falls. Once you have your boat ticket, the line moves quickly. They provide raincoats, and you'll only get slightly wet. Use a waterproof bag for your phone 📱. ✨ Toronto Sign & Old City Hall: These two landmarks are close to each other and are perfect for a quick photo stop 📸. ✨ Other nearby attractions: Explore the European-style town of Elora (p13, 14), the Puritan village and farmers market of St. Jacobs, various waterfalls in Hamilton, Dundurn Castle (p12), University of Toronto, and University of Waterloo. #Canada #CanadaTravel #Toronto #TorontoTravel #Ontario #ExploreOntario #UniversityOfToronto #UniversityOfWaterloo #TorontoLife