What's The Weather Like in Toronto in January?
January is one of the coldest months in Toronto, Canada but the city is transformed into a winter wonderland. It's a popular time for people looking to enjoy winter activities such as skiing, ice skating, snowboarding and sledging.
How Cold Is Toronto In January?
The average daily temperature is a freezing -3ºC with highs of -0C and lows of -5C overnight.
How Many Sunshine Hours Are There In Toronto In January?
There's only three hours of sunshine in January, so it's best to find some cosy indoor activities for the evenings!
How Much Does It Rain In Toronto In January?
You can expect moderate rain in January. With an average of 10 rainy days and an overall rainfall of 40 mm.
Does It Snow In January In Toronto?
Toronto is famed for its beautiful snowy conditions in the water with January seeing around 21cm.
Is Toronto Windy In January?
Count on winds to range from a low of 0.02 m/s to a high of 14 m/s in January, with an overall average of 5 m/s. ]
Extreme Weather In Toronto
Toronto is unlikely to see much extreme weather, but it can get hit by extreme cold. Temperatures in January can drop to a low of -20 C.
Hotels for Toronto in January
Whether you're looking for a hip downtown hotel near the city's top attractions, a mid-range option in a quiet area or airport accommodations, Toronto hotels offer a wide variety of options and pricing.
Hazelton Hotel
In the upscale Yorkville district, the Hazelton Hotel exudes Old World style with dark tones offset by splashes of orange, rust, and green. Ostrich leather, plush fabrics and honey-hued lighting complete the feel of a private club. Enjoy massive guestrooms with luxe linens, dressing areas and minibars that overlook the fashionable Mink Mike shopping area.
Dine at a high-end eatery that specializes in French-Italian cuisine. Refresh at a lap pool and indulge in a treatment at an exclusive spa. You can also browse the Hazelton's extensive collection of art and catch a flick at its screening room.
Homewood Suites by Hilton Toronto Airport Corporate Centre
A popular choice for business travellers,
Homewood Suites by Hilton Toronto Airport Corporate Centre has guestrooms that span from studios to two-bedroom suites with flat-screen TVs, pull-out sofas, separate living areas and fully equipped kitchens. Though you may not need to cook much with a complimentary hot breakfast each morning and complimentary meals on evenings during the week. There's a business centre for work and for downtime you can use an indoor pool, a fitness centre or go practice your stroke on a putting green.
Best Western Plus Toronto North York Hotel & Suites
A solid mid-range option, Best Western Plus Toronto North York Hotel & Suites has guestrooms with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges and microwaves. Suites add living rooms, kitchenettes, pull-out sofas and terraces. You can do some laps at an indoor pool, soak in a whirlpool and get in a workout at a fitness centre.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Element Lounge Restaurant, which also hosts Karaoke on Friday nights. In the warmer months, the hotel as a $7 shuttle to Canada's Wonderland theme park, which is about 12 kilometres away.
Stay Inn
Set off the Gardiner Expressway, Stay Inn has casual guestrooms with 42-inch flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. Upgrade to a suite for a spa tub and a fireplace. Start your day with a free breakfast buffet and enjoy a beverage bar 24 hours a day.
While there is no restaurant on site, the hotel is a three-minute drive to dining options at the large Sherway Gardens mall. It's a ten-minute drive to the Dixie Outlet Mall and twelve-minute drive to the Toronto Golf Club.
Beaches for January for Toronto
Bluffer's Beach
While you'll likely find Bluffer's Beach covered in snow in January, the hills above the beach are wonderful for hiking in winter. You'll want to have your camera handy as you ascend the trails of the dramatic cliffs to reach magnificent views over the frozen shoreline. Bring your best hiking shoes as the trails are not maintained during winter.
Restaurants and Bars for Toronto in January
From upscale farm-to-table fare to on-the-go bites and cosy cafes, the Toronto foodie scene is an eclectic medley created by people who have come from across the globe to call the city home.
Scaramouche Restaurant
Scaramouche Restaurant offers about as upscale a dining experience you can have in the city of Toronto. Head chef and owner Keith Froggett greets many of the guests to ensure their exclusive experience receives personal touch. The highest quality ingredients are locally sourced for dishes such as scallops in a lemon saffron sauce with sage.
Savour farm-fresh offerings including tender lamb with eggplant relish and served with caramelized vegetable. Scaramouche is open from Monday to Saturday from 5:30 pm to 10 pm.
New Orleans Seafood & Steakhouse
New Orleans Seafood & Steakhouse brings Louisiana cuisine north to Canada. In a space that exudes southern hospitality, Cajun spices are used to craft dishes such as blackened chicken and pasta with zesty vegetables. Begin a meal with Cajun-style calamari, followed by jambalaya and complete the New Orleans-style dining experience with bananas foster.
True to its name, they specialise in fresh-caught seafood and Black Angus steak in a casual setting that makes you feel like you're in the laid-back Big Easy. The eatery is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 5 pm to 10 pm and is closed on Sunday and Monday.
DaiLo
DaiLo fuses traditional Chinese cuisine with French-inspired fare. In a dining space that's sophisticated and elegant without pretension, you can savour dishes such as smoked trout with satay sauce and betel leaves, and octopus with braised pork wrapped in jicama.
Stay safe with Chinese dim sum or go adventurous with fried watermelon rolled in chilli sambal. Top off the meal with kasu cake, a steamed treat crafted from rice flour and sake kasu, the byproduct sake brewing. DaiLo is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30 pm to 11 pm and is closed on Monday.
Seven Lives
Seven Lives serves Baja-style tacos at the Kensington Market. With a handful of barstools and a few cafe tables at an outdoor space, the unpretentious eatery specialises in seafood tacos such as blackened mahi-mahi and octopus with pumpkin-seed mole.
For a non-taco meal, you can tuck into carne asada fries or a smoked-fish platter. In Mexican tradition, they also serve "agua frescas," fruit beverages with flavours including strawberry-lychee and mango-orange. Seven Lives is open daily from 12 pm to 8 pm.
Things to Do in Toronto in January
Toronto Light Festival
For two weeks starting in January, the Distillery District turns into an illuminated wonderland for the Toronto Light Festival. Local and international artists create light sculptures, displays and interactive installations that light up the dark winter skies. Enjoy a cup of warm mulled wine as you stroll the magical open-air art gallery.
Winterlicious Food Festival
Toronto's premier foodie event begins in January. More than 200 of the city's top restaurants participate in gastronomic festivities that include tasting, cooking demonstrations, chats with celebrity chefs and prix fixe gourmet dinners. If you can't catch Winterlicious in January, consider checking out Summerlicious in July.
Ontario Place
Ontario Place is about as close to a Winter Wonderland as you can get. Rent skates and spin around a public ice rink to the sound of music. Marvel at light installations by local artists. Warm yourself by a bonfire and stroll hilly paths illuminated by fairy lights and dotted by snow sculptures. When you're ready to head inside, an IMAX theatre awaits.
Nathan Phillips Square
What better way to ring in the new year than at Canada's biggest outdoor party? Bundle up and join the crowds at Nathan Phillips Square to enjoy fireworks in the night sky. Skate on the square's famous ice rink and enjoy the sounds of a top DJ all evening long. Admission is free. But leave the champagne at home it's an alcohol-free event.
