The Toronto Layover

On my way to Mexico in April 2025, I ended up with a long layover in Toronto—two nights, to be exact. Since I was traveling solo, I booked into the Samesun Hostel. It turned out to be a great find: affordable, central, and with staff who couldn’t have been more helpful.

I’d flown in on a bargain flight from Dublin and once I landed, I set about finding the cheapest way into the city. Toronto has a direct train line from the airport to downtown, which is ideal if your flight times align. Mine didn’t—I was leaving at the crack of dawn—so while I used the train on arrival, I had no choice but to rely on an Uber when heading back for my early departure.

To get my bearings, I laced up my shoes for a 5k jog through the city, then freshened up before heading out to dinner. That night, I treated myself at Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen. I went for curried goat with mango chutney, jasmine rice, and a ginger beer—absolutely delicious. The food was divine, the vibe effortlessly cool, and the location spot on. I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.

Since I only had one full day, I’d already decided it would be dedicated to Niagara Falls. Early Saturday morning, I walked through quiet city streets toward my tour meeting point. There’s something refreshing about being out before most of the city wakes up, coffee in hand (thank you, Tim Hortons). What I hadn’t anticipated, though, was how visible Toronto’s homelessness problem is—particularly in the early hours when the streets are empty. As a solo traveler, it did leave me feeling a little uneasy at times.

The tour itself was excellent. We stopped at a maple syrup farm on the way (free tastings included!) before arriving at the iconic falls. Once there, the bus dropped us off for a couple of hours to explore. The falls were every bit as powerful and awe-inspiring as I’d imagined, and wandering around the town of Niagara was… an experience. It’s a bit like a Canadian Blackpool—arcades, Hershey’s, neon lights, and quirky attractions galore. Not really my scene, but plenty to keep you busy. Still, the falls themselves make the trip more than worthwhile.

Back in Toronto, I rounded off the day with dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory—a quirky, vintage-style restaurant where the décor is as much of an attraction as the food. For just £24, I got bread with whipped garlic butter, soup or salad, a main, refillable soft drinks, coffee or tea, and even ice cream. The food was tasty, the value unbeatable, and the whole place felt like a throwback. Definitely worth checking out.

Toronto struck me as a small, walkable city with plenty of charm, though the scale of its homelessness problem did make parts of my stay feel a little uncomfortable. That said, I’d still recommend it to anyone passing through.

Practical Tips for a Toronto Stopover

Getting around: The UP Express train from Pearson Airport is the cheapest and easiest way into downtown—unless you’re flying at awkward hours, when Uber/Lyft are your best bet.
Where to stay: Hostels like Samesun are great for solo travelers—central, budget-friendly, and social without being overwhelming.
Budget: Meals in Toronto can range widely—street food or poutine for under £6 sit-down restaurants like Chubby’s around £25 and the Old Spaghetti Factory is unbeatable value.
Day trips: Niagara Falls is the obvious choice, but if you have longer, Toronto also makes a good base for exploring nearby wine regions.
Best for: Short stopovers, solo travelers looking for a walkable city, and anyone keen to tick Niagara Falls off the bucket list.

If you’re planning a trip to Toronto and still need to sort out where to stay, I’ve got a link that might come in handy. It’s what I use to browse hotel options—it’s easy to compare places and prices all in one spot.

My stop in Toronto was short and sweet, but it gave me just enough of a taste to know I’d happily return for a longer stay.