Toronto to Muskoka: The Ultimate Luxury Travel Itinerary in Ontario

There are few destinations that bridge cosmopolitan sophistication and off-grid serenity as gracefully as Ontario. In just a few hours, you can glide from the center of Toronto’s bustling Financial District to a private dock in Muskoka, welcomed by loons and lapping water instead of honking horns. The duality is part of the allure—and this journey from Canada’s cultural capital to its most exclusive natural enclave is one that international travelers are increasingly seeking out.

For those who want it all—art and architecture, peace and pine trees—Toronto and Muskoka offer a two-part escape that satisfies both sensibilities.

Your journey might begin at The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, making up 20 floors and the remaining floors consisting of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, a modern landmark tucked into the heart of downtown. From The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge’s panoramic views of Lake Ontario to the curated Canadian artwork lining the walls, the hotel is both a luxury retreat and a love letter to the city itself.

After checking in, cocktails on the terrace at EPOCH Bar & Kitchen offer a preview of Toronto’s globally inspired food scene. Then there’s TOCA, the hotel’s modern Italian restaurant, where I dined on hand-rolled pasta and local burrata before touring the in-house cheese cave—a sensory experience that was as refined as it was playful.

My morning began with breakfast at LANO Café, followed by a 90-minute jet lag reviver treatment at Spa myBlend, widely regarded as one of North America’s premier hotel spas. Set in a serene space with floor-to-ceiling windows and vitality pools, it’s the kind of place where time evaporates—until you’re called back to reality by the promise of more indulgence.

Outside the Ritz, Toronto delivers on every cultural front. You’re within walking distance of Roy Thomson Hall, the Royal Ontario Museum, and CN Tower’s EdgeWalk—a heart-pounding hands-free stroll 116 stories above the city. Browse boutiques in Yorkville, wander the galleries of Queen Street West, or sample the multicultural flavors of Kensington Market. Each neighborhood reveals a different angle of this dynamic metropolis.

From there, the transformation is swift and stunning. A 30-minute transfer to Billy Bishop Airport, and I was boarding a floatplane bound for Lake Rosseau—a surreal descent that ended right on the dock of a Jayne’s Luxury Rentals estate. I spent my days between two properties: Wildcat Point and Santosha, each a high-design haven complete with private docks, wraparound decks, and the kind of stillness you didn’t realize your brain was missing.

Though Jayne’s Cottages could easily keep you content with in-home chefs, waterfront yoga, and boat tours, Muskoka itself is worth exploring. One afternoon, we docked in Port Carling, where Turtle Jack’s served fresh Canadian fare on a lively lakeside patio. Later, cocktails at JW Marriott’s Lake Rosseau property gave us front-row seats to the sun melting into the bay.

Lake Rosseau is Muskoka’s crown jewel, surrounded by historic estates, boathouses, and scenic trails. Stop by the village of Rosseau on a Saturday morning for its farmers market and local boutiques, or cruise over to Beaumaris, home to the fabled Millionaire’s Row, where century-old mansions line the shores.

For a sense of timeless charm, head to Windermere House, known locally as the “Lady of the Lakes.” A drink on its grand veranda feels like stepping into a sepia-toned postcard. The Rosseau Restaurant here pairs local wines with sweeping lake views—an ideal stop after a hike up Huckleberry Rock, where panoramic views offer a new appreciation of the region’s geological beauty.

Torrance and Bala, two nearby villages, capture Muskoka’s grassroots spirit. Torrance is home to one of Canada’s few Dark-Sky Preserves, a dream for stargazers, while Bala is best visited during its fall Cranberry Festival—though a stop at Don’s Bakery is worth it any time of year.

Even roadside icons tell a story. Webers, a burger joint off Highway 11, has become a ritual stop for locals and cottagers alike. Its vintage train cars and grilled-to-order patties prove that in Muskoka, even fast food can be an experience.

Muskoka is no longer just a Canadian secret. International visitors—especially from the U.S., U.K., and Europe—are arriving in record numbers, drawn to what Jayne McCaw of Jayne’s Luxury Rentals calls “quiet luxury.” Here, status isn’t marked by extravagance, but by access: to stillness, to nature, and to an unhurried pace that feels increasingly rare.

For those combining it with Toronto, the journey becomes not just a vacation, but a recalibration. One minute, you’re sipping cocktails with a skyline view; the next, you’re on a dock, watching the mist roll off the lake.

In a world of either/or travel—city or nature, energy or ease—Ontario gives you both. Effortlessly.