Don’t wait for summer to plan your visit to Toronto. Here are ten reasons why April, May and June are the sweet spot for your next weekend getaway to Toronto.
1. Perfect walking weather
An eminently walkable city, Toronto is best explored on foot. Our spring weather makes this easy-breezy.
April kicks off the season with mild temperatures (12°C high, 4°C low). May brings warmer days (19°C high, 10°C low), while June transitions the city into summer (24°C high, 15°C low). For those who love racking up steps without working up a sweat, spring is your time to not shine!
2. Breezy bicycling conditions
Spring is also among the best times to bike and explore our waterfront, Toronto Islands, and downtown parks. Take in the blossoms, budding trees and urban wildlife without having to bundle up or worry about overheating.
With Bike Share Toronto stands across the city—and ample shops offering day or weekend rentals—now’s the time to get rolling!
3. Shoulder season perks
Early spring, particularly April and May, is Toronto’s shoulder season. That means shorter lines and fewer crowds at top attractions like Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the CN Tower, Toronto Zoo and the kid-pleasing LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
It’s also easier to snag a table at one of Toronto’s 14 MICHELIN Star-awarded restaurants, 23 MICHELIN Bib Gourmand-recognized and 56 MICHELIN Recommended restaurants.
4. Cherry blossoms and spring blooms
Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris and… Toronto? Absolutely! Toronto is a Sakura seeker’s delight. Hanami (flower viewing) is a popular April activity here, and you can peep cherry blossoms at Toronto parks, including High Park, Trinity Bellwoods Park, and Edwards Gardens.
Cherry blossoms are soon followed by waves of other blooms, which you can view across the city or at the Toronto Botanical Gardens.
ALSO SEE: Photograph Peak Blooms at the Toronto Botanical Garden
5. Street art strolls
Spring weather is ideal for street art tours. Stroll Queen Street West to discover public art at Queen West’s western edge, including downtown’s must-visit Graffiti Alley and eclectic Parkdale.
Street art and street food go hand in hand, so grab a bite at Market 707 (a 15-minute walk from Graffiti Alley), which features over 20 vendors hawking everything from Montreal-style poutine and Ethiopian vegan platters to Syrian kababs and more.
6. Fresh artistic viewpoints
True, seasonal showers are a thing. But if it rains, you can hide out at the coolest gallery exhibits and performances.
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) features Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama's INFINITY MIRRORED ROOM - LET’S SURVIVE FOREVER, with mirrored spheres suspended from the ceiling and arranged on the floor.
Now until June 7, 2026, Paul McCartney’s personal archive of more than 250 photographs offers a unique perspective on what it was like to be a Beatle at the start of Beatlemania (Paul McCartney Photographs 1963–64: Eyes of the Storm).
Catch up-and-coming theatre talent at Paprika 2026 (May 1–31, 2026), Native Earth Performing Arts’ showcase for the next generation of Indigenous performers, playwrights, directors and backstage talent. Also on deck: 2-Spirit Cabaret (June 17–30, 2026), a celebration of the strength, beauty, and talent of queer and 2-Spirit Indigenous people, featuring music, dance, drag, performance art, poetry, and comedy.
7. Blue Jays at the revamped Rogers Centre
The Boys of Summer return for the Blue Jays Home Opener on March 27, 2026, taking on the Athletics at the Rogers Centre.
Can’t make it for the opener? Plan a spring Blue Jays weekend around Victoria Day weekend (May 15–17, 2026 vs Detroit Tigers, and May 18, 2026 vs New York Yankees).
8. Live music & outdoor concerts
Hundreds of bands will participate in Departure (May 4–10, 2026) events across Toronto. The following month, the North by Northeast Music Festival (June 10–14, 2026) takes over the city to celebrate live music, comedy, art and film.
As the weather warms up, Toronto’s outdoor concert season begins. Electric Island’s 14th festival season starts May 16 and 17, 2026, with additional sessions slated for June 27 and 28, 2026 and beyond.
Of course, RBC Amphitheatre (formerly Budweiser Stage) is the place to catch big names in the wild. Spring headliners include Khalid (May 24, 2026), Martin Garrix (May 29–31, 2026), and Meghan Trainor (June 16, 2026).
9. Festival season
Locals who love film look forward to spring’s ground-breaking film festivals.
First up is the TIFF Next Wave Film Festival (April 2026 dates TBA), a unique film and music festival curated by and for youth. BONUS: free tickets for anyone under age 25!
Next is Hot Docs Festival (April 23–May 3, 2026), which screens feature-length and short documentaries from Canada and abroad.
Inside Out, Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ film festival returns (May 22–31, 2026) with a three-decade-long mandate to screen the best queer films from Canada and internationally.
10. Spring shopping
Spring is the time to re-up your wardrobe. There’s no better place to shop for warm-weather essentials than Canada’s fashion capital. Find in-demand brands, flagship stores, and fashion staples at the Toronto Eaton Centre, Yorkdale, and Square One shopping centres.
Or stroll trendy Queen Street West and Ossington for cool, indie labels.
If you’ve got the urge to splurge, you’ll find luxury designer labels in the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood, plus high-end department store chain Holt Renfrew.
The best part: now that you’ve got the threads, you can plan your next Toronto visit in style!
This story has been updated with new details since it was first published in March 2024.
