Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

6 Beautiful Small Towns Near Toronto That Are Dreamy Destinations For A Weekend Getaway

Time to plan that staycation!

Niagara-on-the-Lake. Right: Blue Mountain Village.

Niagara-on-the-Lake. Right: Blue Mountain Village.

Lead Writer, Travel

If you're looking to escape the big city for a weekend then these beautiful small towns near Toronto are worth having on your radar. Boasting endless activities and tons of charm, these towns are ideal for multi-day getaways.

From waterfall hikes to theatre performances and endless wineries, there is so much to enjoy in these destinations that will keep you busy all weekend long. Here are six beautiful small towns near the city to visit for your next staycation.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Address: Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Why You Need To Go: For a small town, this charming spot has tons of things to do. The historic downtown will whisk you away to Europe and you can enjoy the many local shops and restaurants.

The region is known for its wineries and boasts "some of the oldest and most established wine producing vineyards in Canada." You can partake in a variety of boozy and culinary tours while staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as catch a theatre performance at the Shaw Festival Theatre.

Tourism Niagara website

Stratford

Address: Stratford, ON

Why You Need To Go: Speaking of theatre, Stratford is another destination to have on your radar for weekend getaways. Located under 3 hours from the city, Stratford is known for its theatre scene and old-time charm.

While it is technically a city, Stratford has all those small town feels with quaint gardens and a beautiful main street. It's also the hometown of Justin Bieber and you can even do a tour of the celebrity's favourite spots.

Visit Stratford website

Blue Mountain Village

Address: 156 Jozo Weider Blvd., The Blue Mountains, ON

Why You Need To Go: This European-style pedestrian village is less than 3 hours from Toronto and you'll definitely want to spend more than a day exploring this spot.

The village has tons to offer during ever season, including hikes, outdoor events, shopping and more. It's especially magical during Christmas and is known for its incredible skiing opportunities.

Blue Mountain Village website

Dundas

Address: Dundas, ON

Why You Need To Go: This small town is just over an hour from Toronto, making it an ideal destination if you don't want to travel too far.

It's a quiet city escape with a charming main street as well as tons of waterfall hikes in the surrounding area. The HighAcre, a recently-opened South of France-inspired inn, is a dreamy place to stay and unwind.

Tourism Hamilton website

Picton

Address: Picton, ON

Why You Need To Go: Three hours from Toronto, you'll come across the beautiful small town of Picton. The town is full of history and has beautiful parks, delicious restaurants, shopping and more that will keep you busy all weekend long.

You can take a trip to some nearby wineries or visit Sandbanks Provincial Park as well.

Experience Picton website

Huntsville

Address: Huntsville, ON

Why You Need To Go: Just over three hours from Toronto lies Huntsville. This dreamy town in Muskoka is a beautiful place to unwind, especially if you love the outdoors. You can visit one of the provincial parks in the region, including Arrowhead, which features stunning hikes and a skating trail.

You can also explore the shops and restaurants downtown or hike to the scenic Lion's Lookout and take in the fall colours.

Town of Huntsville website

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Lead Writer

    Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

8 dreamy Ontario towns and cities locals say you should visit instead of Toronto

There are so many amazing places to explore in the province.

Gas prices in Canada are dropping in a bunch of cities tomorrow — but rising in a few others

Here's where to fill up today vs. wait for a better deal tomorrow. 👇

These Government of Canada jobs will pay you up to $110,000 if you know a foreign language

You'll use your foreign language skills to help protect Canada's national security.

These Canadian universities have free courses and here's what you can take online

You don't need to be a student to take classes on marketing, coding, astronomy and more.

Minimum wage just went up across Canada — but one province got left out

There's only one province that hasn't raised its minimum wage in 2025. 😬