Classic Eastern Canada by Rail
Travel from Toronto to Quebec City by VIA Rail, connecting Niagara Falls, the Thousand Islands, and historic French-speaking cities.
Travel from west to east along the VIA Rail Corridor, stopping at Kingston to see the Thousand Islands, with no driving required. Spend about two nights in each city for a balanced pace. This itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors to Canada who prefer not to drive. Niagara Falls is treated as a day trip, which means missing the night illumination but saves you from moving your luggage an extra time.
The Maid of the Mist and Thousand Islands cruises operate from approximately April to November; this route is not recommended in winter.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrive in Toronto & Explore the Harbourfront
Toronto & Niagara Falls（CN Tower、Harbourfront Centre）
Take the UP Express airport train to Union Station (approx. 25 minutes), then explore downtown on foot.
Stay: Downtown Entertainment District
Day 2 · Toronto Markets & Museums
Toronto & Niagara Falls（St. Lawrence Market、Distillery Historic District、Royal Ontario Museum、Casa Loma）
Travel by foot, subway, and streetcar; one-way travel within the downtown area takes about 20 minutes.
The South Market of St. Lawrence Market is closed on Sundays and Mondays; plan your visit from Tuesday to Saturday.
Stay: Downtown Entertainment District
Day 3 · Niagara Falls Day Trip
Toronto & Niagara Falls（Niagara City Cruises (Voyage to the Falls)、Journey Behind the Falls、Niagara Falls、Niagara-on-the-Lake）
Join a day tour or take public transit; travel time is about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, returning to Toronto the same night.
Stay: Downtown Entertainment District
Day 4 · Train to the Limestone City of Kingston
Kingston & Thousand Islands（Kingston City Hall & Market Square、Fort Henry National Historic Site）
Take the VIA Rail train from Toronto to Kingston (approx. 2.5 hours), then take a 15-minute taxi ride from the station to the historic downtown.
Stay: Downtown Kingston Waterfront
Day 5 · Thousand Islands Cruise & on to Ottawa
Kingston & Thousand Islands（Gananoque、Thousand Islands Cruises） → Ottawa
Take a taxi or chartered car to Gananoque in the morning (approx. 40 minutes), then take the VIA Rail train to Ottawa in the evening (approx. 2 hours).
A passport and US entry permit are required to land at Boldt Castle; they are not needed for regular sightseeing cruises.
Stay: ByWard Market
Day 6 · Parliament Hill & the Canal in the Capital
Ottawa（Parliament Hill、Rideau Canal & Ottawa Locks、National Gallery of Canada、ByWard Market）
Downtown attractions are within walking distance; it takes about 10 minutes to walk from ByWard Market to Parliament Hill.
The Centre Block is undergoing rehabilitation; check the official website for the latest tour arrangements.
Stay: ByWard Market
Day 7 · Museum of History & on to Montreal
Ottawa（Canadian Museum of History） → Montreal（Old Montreal & Old Port、Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal）
Cross the river to visit the museum in the morning, then take the VIA Rail train to Montreal in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Old Montreal
Day 8 · Mount Royal & the Streets of the Plateau
Montreal（Jean-Talon Market、Le Plateau-Mont-Royal & Rue Saint-Denis、Mount Royal Park、Schwartz's Deli）
Travel by metro and foot; it takes about 20 minutes from Old Montreal to the foot of Mount Royal, and city buses are sufficient.
Stay: Old Montreal
Day 9 · Train to Old Quebec
Greater Québec City（Old Québec、Château Frontenac & Dufferin Terrace、Quartier du Petit-Champlain、Place Royale & Notre-Dame-des-Victoires）
Take the VIA Rail train from Montreal to Quebec City (approx. 3.5 hours), then walk about 15 minutes from the station up to the Old Town.
Stay: Upper Town
Day 10 · Montmorency Falls & Île d'Orléans
Greater Québec City（Montmorency Falls、Île d'Orléans）
Take a half-day tour or chartered car to visit the falls and the island (approx. 80 km round trip), then head to the airport by evening.