The 2025 Toronto Staycation Report
Toronto locals aren’t jet-setting this summer. They’re staycationing, and they’re hungry for great local experiences.
In partnership with Angus Reid, we surveyed Canadians across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), including Toronto, Peel Region, Durham Region, York Region, and Halton Region, to find out how people are planning their summer, what makes Toronto the perfect staycation destination, and how technology and dining preferences shape their decisions. For local restaurants, cafés, bars, and hospitality venues, this data offers powerful insight into how to attract and serve guests who are choosing to vacation at home.
Torontonians are staycationing in 2025 More than half (56%) of respondents across the GTA say they’re planning a staycation in Toronto this summer, with Toronto proper leading the trend—63% of residents are opting to stay in the city. However, the surrounding regions aren’t far behind.
Who is staying local?
63% of residents in Toronto
58 % of residents in Peel Region
53% of residents in York Region
47% of residents in Halton Region
49% of residents in Durham Region
Staycations are especially popular among younger and middle-aged adults, with 64% of both 18–34 and 35–54 year olds planning one this summer, compared to just 48% of those aged 55 and older.
Why stay local? It’s not just convenience. Here’s what’s driving the trend:
43% cite concerns about the political climate and travel
35% want to support local restaurants and businesses
33% say the high cost of living makes local travel more attractive
27% of respondents across the GTA love Toronto and want to explore more of it
Takeaway for venues: You’re not just serving Torontonians, you’re serving day-trippers from across the GTA. Highlighting affordability, local pride, and easy access works, but going further with “micro-getaway” experiences like themed nights or attraction bundles can turn your spot into a true staycation destination.
Locals love their city, but for many, dining is the destination
A whopping 81% of respondents agree that Toronto is a good place for a staycation, but what makes it great? Nearly half of the respondents across the GTA point to its culinary and arts scene, as well as its proximity to nature.
Top reasons:
23% said the unique neighbourhoods
14% said nightlife and entertainment
12% said shopping
5% said hotels and unique accommodations
43% said the diverse restaurant scene
42% said arts, museums, and galleries
41% chose nature, parks, and the waterfront
40% said festivals and cultural events
31% said tourist attractions
For Torontonians, the diverse food scene was the top-rated attraction (54%), closely followed by its parks and the waterfront (51%).
Similarly: Residents in York Region were the most likely (46%) to plan a Toronto trip around a specific restaurant or culinary experience.
Peel Region residents ranked Toronto’s festivals and food trucks (44%) higher than parks (39%) or galleries (32%).
Durham respondents said food was a top motivator (40%), second only to proximity and ease of access (47%).
Residents in Halton Region (38%) pointed to Toronto’s food scene as a reasion to visit, just behind accessibility (42%).
Takeaway for venues: Dining isn’t the sidekick, it’s the main event. Restaurants should lead with curated culinary experiences like chef specials, tasting menus, or “Toronto-only” dishes. Double down on local love by spotlighting regional ingredients, partnering with nearby artists or events, and leaning into Toronto culture. Think bundled offers, micro-festival tie-ins, or community collabs that position your venue as a proudly local, vacation-worthy destination.
The staycation toolkit: What locals use to plan their summer
While 35% of respondents say they don’t use technology to plan their staycations, the rest are actively tapping into digital tools to shape their summer outings:
Social media platforms – 19%
Restaurant and food apps (Uber Eats, Yelp, OpenTable) – 19%
Travel and accommodation apps – 10%
Event discovery apps (Eventbrite, Do416) – 7%
AI itinerary planners – 3%
In Toronto specifically, more than 1 in 4 (26%) residents use platforms like Instagram or TikTok to map out their local experiences, from what to eat to where to explore.
Takeaway for venues: Planning starts online. Make sure your venue shows up where locals are searching, especially on social and discovery apps. That means consistent branding across platforms, real-time updates, compelling visuals, and integrations with reservation, event, and food delivery platforms. If your digital footprint is strong, your venue becomes part of the staycation plan before guests even step outside.
Toronto Neighbourhoods Locals are Loving
Staycationers aren’t just sticking around, they’re seeing their city through a new lens. When asked which neighbourhoods in Toronto feel the most “vacation-worthy” right now, a few clear favourites emerged:
Top Picks Across the GTA:
Kensington Market – 30%
The Beaches – 29%
Downtown Core – 27%
Toronto Islands – 51%
Distillery District – 39%
Harbourfront – 36%
While trendier areas like Queen West (10%) and King West (6%) didn’t rank as highly, traditional summer staples with water, history, and walkability stood out.
Takeaway for venues: Neighbourhood positioning matters. Locals are seeking destination-worthy micro-experiences. Align your messaging and promotions with nearby landmarks, museums, or events to increase foot traffic. Feature location-specific campaigns or partnerships that reinforce your place in the local ecosystem.
More time, more meals, more opportunity
Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) of locals say they plan to spend more time at local restaurants this summer. That number rises to 37% in Toronto and 36% among 18–34 year olds. In other words, this is a big moment for local dining. Whether guests are grabbing brunch after a museum visit or patio-hopping after a shopping trip on Queen Street, expect more foot traffic, more transactions, and more opportunity to win repeat business.
Takeaway for venues: More time in the city means more chances to win new customers and repeat visits. Design experiences for pre- and post-activity dining. Offer group-friendly menus, seasonal features, or neighbourhood perks that turn casual visits into lasting loyalty.
Tech shapes staycations, especially for younger diners
Among 18–34 year olds:
56% use social media
52% rely on review platforms
25% follow local influencers or bloggers
How are locals deciding where to go?
41% rely on review platforms (Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor)
31% use social media (Instagram, TikTok) to discover trends
18% use curated city guides or apps
6% use AI tools like ChatGPT to plan activities
Takeaway for venues: Your digital presence is your storefront. Invest in visual storytelling, influencer partnerships, and user-generated content to boost discovery. Then deliver a tech-enabled experience once guests arrive. Think QR menus, fast checkout, seamless reservations, and mobile loyalty. With tools like Silverware, these digital touchpoints become easy to activate and essential to attract and retain a younger, digitally native audience
Convenience is king, and tech makes it happen.
When it comes to dining out during a staycation, guests are clear on what makes an experience feel seamless.
Digital tipping options – 13%
QR code menus/ordering – 8%
Only 35% said “none of the above” — meaning more than half (65%) want at least one tech-forward convenience when dining.
Top restaurant technologies:
Fast and easy checkout – 41%
Tap-to-pay or mobile payments – 26%
Split bills/group payments – 23%
Loyalty programs or digital punch cards – 22%
Takeaway for venues: The bar for guest experience is rising. Hospitality venues need to operate like tech companies: frictionless, responsive, and customer-first. Payment tech, booking systems, and personalized perks aren’t optional, they’re expectations. Platforms like Silverwarehelp operators deliver this level of service, building loyalty while keeping operations smooth and scalable.
Staycationers are your summer MVPs
This summer, more Torontonians than ever are turning to their own city for fun, food, and memorable experiences. Whether it's driven by rising costs, international uncertainty, or a deeper love for local culture, they’re ready to dine, discover, and support local. Restaurants that offer convenience, great experiences, and a strong digital presence are best positioned to thrive.
Methodology
These findings are from a survey conducted by Silverware from May 9th to May 12th, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,005 online Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted in English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.