Things to Do in Toronto in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Toronto
Long-run averages for March
42°F (5°C)
High Temp
26°F (-3°C)
Low Temp
2.8 inches (71 mm)
Rainfall
⚠ Rapid freeze-thaw cycles create pervasive black ice, in the mornings and evenings. Walking requires constant vigilance. Watch your step.
⚠ Lake-effect weather systems can roll in quickly, turning a clear day into a period of heavy, wet snow or sleet with little warning, disrupting ferry service and ground transportation.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + March brings Toronto's first real thaw. The ice on Lake Ontario thins and cracks, revealing water that shocks you with its blue. High Park smells of wet earth awakening. Winter loosens its grip.
- + The city's heavy hitters sit nearly empty. The Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre. You get echoing halls and corners without crowds. Stand before an Emily Carr as long as you want. Study dinosaur bones without being jostled. March delivers solitude.
- + Toronto's off-Broadway season hits full stride. The big theatres run their splashiest shows. Smaller stages matter more. The Factory Theatre and Tarragon premiere raw, risky Canadian work. This is when voices get heard.
- + Locals crave change. Chefs listen. Hearty braises fade. Bright, sharp plates emerge. Baldwin Street's old kitchens pivot. Kensington Market follows. The shift happens now.
Considerations
- − Honest assessment: March looks brutal. Grey slush dominates. Brown snowbanks line every curb. Trees stand skeletal against flat skies. Neon sale signs flicker in puddles. That's your color palette. Prepare accordingly.
- − The weather toys with you. A 5°C afternoon melts sidewalks. Night drops to -7°C. Everything ices over. Pack layers. Pack boots. Pack patience.
- − Above ground, silence. Below, chaos. The PATH stretches 30 km through downtown. Winter coats jam the corridors. Wet wool and fried food hang in the humid air. Commuters rule this realm.
Year-Round Climate
How March compares to the rest of the year
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0°C | -7°C | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Feb | 1°C | -7°C | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Mar | 5°C | -3°C | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
| Apr | 11°C | 2°C | 4.0 inches (102 mm) |
| May | 17°C | 8°C | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Jun | 24°C | 14°C | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jul | 27°C | 18°C | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Aug | 25°C | 17°C | 3.0 inches (76 mm) |
| Sep | 22°C | 14°C | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Oct | 16°C | 8°C | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Nov | 8°C | 1°C | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| Dec | 3°C | -4°C | 3.0 inches (76 mm) |
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Distillery District Food & History Walks
The Distillery District rewards March visitors. Cobblestones glisten with melt. Victorian brick and timber block the wind. Balzac's coffee roasts nearby. The smell wraps around damp stone and wood. Tours recount 19th-century whiskey barons. Better move: duck into a heritage pub. Low ceilings. Dark wood. Local stout. The grey world disappears.
Booking Tip: Small walking tours work here. Year-round options exist. March means space. No summer crush. Book a few days ahead. Architectural and culinary history tours run regularly. Check the widget below.
Toronto Islands Winter Landscape Photography
This sounds punishing. It isn't. The ferry runs reduced winter hours. Spray freezes on the rails. Wind bites hard. The islands stand empty. Amusement rides sit silent. Bare branches frame the skyline. The CN Tower cuts through low, racing clouds. No tourists block your shot. Stark. Dramatic. Unmistakably Toronto.
Booking Tip: Photography workshops handle the logistics. Winter composition demands specific skills. Ice complicates ferries. Let experts navigate. Book seven days out. Groups stay small. See the booking section.
Kensington Market & Chinatown Culinary Tours
Kensington Market slows down. Vintage stalls remain. Sidewalks clear. Senses sharpen. Blackbird Baking Co. pumps yeasty warmth onto the street. Jerk chicken sizzles on Augusta Avenue. Chinese grocers display fish on ice. Talk to shopkeepers now. Sample Portuguese custard tarts. Grab Vietnamese banh mi. No lines.
Booking Tip: Food tours flood this neighborhood. March demands indoor stops. Historical context matters more. Find operators with kitchen access. Family-run steamy back rooms justify the cost. Book a few days ahead.
Behind-the-Scenes ROM or AGO Tours
The Royal Ontario Museum's marble halls feel sacred in March. Footsteps echo. Air stays cool and still. Behind-the-scenes tours reveal fossil prep labs. Most visitors miss these rooms. The Art Gallery of Ontario offers similar solitude. Frank Gehry's spiral staircase awaits. The Thomson Collection of Canadian works hums with climate control. July crowds make this impossible.
Booking Tip: Museums and licensed partners run these tours. Peak season sells out fast. March opens up. Book two weeks ahead. Check the widget for 'VIP' and 'Curator' options.
St. Lawrence Market Historic Food Exploration
St. Lawrence Market shelters you. The upper floor holds steady at 18°C. Smells collide. Peameal bacon sizzles at Blacksmith's Bistro. Sharp cheddars wait at cheese counters. Butter tarts sweeten the air. March tours slow down. Learn why this building fed Toronto for generations. Taste history. Bacon on a bun. Pickled egg. Done.
Booking Tip: Morning tours win. End with classic Toronto breakfast. Beat weekend crowds. Watch vendors unpack. Most tours accept walk-ups. Reserved spots secure guides who know the sellers by name.
Where to Stay in Toronto in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
★★★
Budget
Best Western Plus Travel Hotel Toronto Airport
From $123 / night
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Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Toronto Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Locals treat March as the last month of 'inside time.' This means the city's board game cafes (like Snakes & Lattes), indie cinemas (the Revue, the Fox), and public library branches are where you'll find the real Toronto hiding out, engaged and quiet.
Don't bother with the CN Tower's main observation deck on a grey day. Book the 'EdgeWalk' if it's running (weather dependent) or go for lunch at the 360 Restaurant. The price of the meal includes elevator access, and you'll get the same view through cloud-scud without the lineup.
The best 'spring' indicator isn't a calendar. It's when the hot dog vendors reappear on major downtown corners. The smell of steamed buns and grilling onions cutting through the cold air is a more reliable sign than any crocus.
TTC day passes are your friend. Jumping on and off streetcars and subways to escape the weather is a way of life. The transfer system is time-based, so a single fare can get you a lot of warming up if you plan your hops right.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming a sunny day means it's warm. The March sun in Toronto is a liar. It looks bright but carries little heat, and the wind off the lake will slice right through a light jacket.
Trying to do too much geographically. Travel between neighbourhoods takes longer with winter road conditions and packed transit. Pick a zone (West End/Downtown/East End) and explore it for a day.
Forgetting that many patios and outdoor attractions, like the Riverdale Farm or the Toronto Zoo's outdoor exhibits, are still closed or very limited. Always check 'seasonal availability' before trekking out.
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Top-rated things to do in Toronto this March
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