Seattle to Cincinnati, Toronto, Tenerife, Reykjavik, and Back to Seattle

Travel and Arrival

Fly from Seattle–Tacoma International Airport to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport with a connection, allowing roughly 7–9 hours door to door. An early departure is best so you can reach Over-the-Rhine before evening; after landing, a rideshare to the neighborhood usually takes 20–30 minutes, traffic permitting. If you rent a car, avoid carrying it into downtown unnecessarily—parking around Over-the-Rhine can be tight, and most of today’s stops are comfortably walkable.

Late Afternoon in Over-the-Rhine

Once checked in, head to Findlay Market, Cincinnati’s historic public market, for an easy late lunch and a first taste of the city. The market is generally open Tuesday through Sunday, though individual vendors keep their own hours; by late afternoon, some stalls may be winding down, so arrive as soon as you can. Allow about an hour to browse the produce stands, bakeries, and prepared-food counters. From there, walk a few minutes south to Washington Park, a pleasant place to slow down after the flight, with fountains, lawns, gardens, and a classic view toward Music Hall. Plan around 45 minutes here; the park is free, though fountain activity and programming can vary.

Evening

Continue on foot to Rhinegeist Brewery, housed in a former bottling plant and one of the city’s liveliest beer halls. Settle in for about 90 minutes and sample a flight or a local favorite; the rooftop is worth checking if it is open and the weather is clear. For dinner, walk to Taste of Belgium for Belgian-inspired comfort food—waffles, frites, mussels, and a broad beer list—with a typical meal running about $20–35 per person. Reservations are useful on a Saturday night, but the casual atmosphere usually makes an early dinner around 5:30–6:00 p.m. the easiest option.

Morning

Start at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Mount Adams, ideally around 9:30 a.m. The museum is generally open Tuesday–Sunday from 11 a.m., so check the current schedule before setting out; if it opens later on your date, shift the morning slightly and begin with a walk through Eden Park. Admission to the permanent collection is free, with occasional charges for special exhibitions, and two hours is enough for highlights ranging from European masters to American art and contemporary work. Parking is available on-site, though the hill roads are narrow; a rideshare is simpler if you are staying downtown or in Over-the-Rhine.

Walk or drive a few minutes through Eden Park to Krohn Conservatory, where an hour among the palms, orchids, desert plants, and seasonal displays makes a pleasant change of pace. It usually opens in the morning and charges a modest admission for special exhibits; allow extra time if the butterfly or holiday installation is running. From here, take a rideshare downtown—roughly 10 minutes, traffic permitting—or use the Cincinnati Bell Connector if you are near its route, though the conservatory itself is not immediately beside a streetcar stop.

Afternoon and Evening

Have lunch near the river before spending about two hours at The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Its exhibitions are moving and substantial, so avoid treating it as a quick stop; allow time for the permanent galleries on slavery, resistance, abolition, and civil rights. It is typically open Wednesday–Monday during daytime hours, with admission around $15–20 for adults. Afterward, walk directly to Smale Riverfront Park, just outside the museum, for an easy hour along the Ohio River promenade. The park’s fountains, swings, gardens, and views toward Northern Kentucky are especially good in the late afternoon; the walk is flat and free, and you can continue along the riverfront rather than returning to the car.

Finish with dinner at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, about a 10-minute rideshare east along the riverfront. Reserve ahead if possible, especially for a weekend evening, and ask for a river-facing table when you check in. The signature ribs and barbecue plates usually run about $25–45 per person before drinks; portions are generous, so sharing sides works well. After dinner, a rideshare back downtown is easiest—walking is not especially pleasant along all sections of the riverfront after dark.

Arrival and Old Town

Your connecting flight from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport will likely put you downtown in the mid-to-late afternoon, so keep the first stop focused and easy. From YYZ, the UP Express reaches Union Station in about 25 minutes (roughly C$5–7); from there, it’s a 10–15-minute walk to St. Lawrence Market. Immigration and baggage can take an hour or more, so check the market’s current closing time before leaving the airport—vendors generally wind down by late afternoon, and the market is typically closed Sundays and Mondays. Allow about 90 minutes to browse the historic aisles and pick up something casual such as a peameal-bacon sandwich, local cheese, or a baked treat; most snacks cost C$6–15.

From St. Lawrence Market, walk west through Old Town Toronto for about 10 minutes to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Give yourself roughly 1½ hours for the galleries and interactive exhibits, especially the goalie and shooting experiences; admission is usually around C$25–30 for adults, with last entry often a couple of hours before closing. Afterward, continue southwest toward Harbourfront Centre, around 20 minutes on foot, or take the streetcar if your luggage or jet lag makes the walk unappealing. The waterfront paths are best treated as a relaxed orientation walk rather than a major sightseeing block—look out across Lake Ontario, browse the public art, and take a short break by the water.

Dinner by the Harbour

Finish at Amsterdam BrewHouse, an easy waterfront dinner stop near Queens Quay West. A table with harbour views is particularly pleasant around sunset, though waits can be longer then; reservations are useful if available. Expect about C$25–45 per person before drinks for pub-style Canadian fare, with house beer brewed on-site. After dinner, Union Station is roughly a 15-minute walk away for a return to the airport-area hotels, while a rideshare is simpler if you are staying elsewhere downtown. Keep the evening gentle—Toronto’s waterfront is lovely after dark, but after a full travel day, an early night will serve you better than adding another neighborhood.

Morning

Start at the Ontario Museum when it opens—typically 10 a.m.; allow about 2½ hours, and verify the September 2026 schedule and ticket prices before going. The galleries range from dinosaurs and natural history to Canadian and global collections, so choose a few sections rather than trying to cover the entire building. It’s in Yorkville, easily reached by Line 1 to Museum Station; admission is usually around C$30–40 for adults, with special exhibitions sometimes costing extra.

Early Afternoon

Walk south through Yorkville and along Queen’s Park toward Kensington Market, roughly 25 minutes, or take the subway from Museum to St. Patrick and walk west. Give yourself about 1½ hours to browse the vintage shops, produce stands, murals, and narrow side streets—this is a good place for a casual lunch, perhaps a Jamaican patty, taco, or inexpensive vegetarian plate. The market is liveliest in the daytime, though individual businesses keep different hours; avoid driving, since parking is scarce and the streets can be busy.

Afternoon and Evening

Continue east to the Art Gallery of Ontario, about a 15-minute walk from Kensington Market. Spend around two hours with the Canadian, European, and contemporary collections, including the dramatic Frank Gehry-designed galleries; adult admission is commonly about C$30, while some areas may be free or discounted depending on the current program. Afterward, walk west toward the Fashion District for 45 minutes along Graffiti Alley, entering from Rush Lane near Queen Street West. The murals change constantly, and late afternoon gives you good light without the strongest midday crowds. Finish in Little Italy at Bar Raval for Spanish-style pintxos and drinks—budget roughly C$35–60 per person, and consider arriving early or reserving, since the compact wood-lined bar fills quickly.

Evening Arrival and Waterfront

After the long flight from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Tenerife South Airport, expect a late-day arrival and keep the evening gentle. From TFS, the TITSA 111 bus takes roughly 55–75 minutes to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and costs about €10–12; a taxi is faster and more comfortable with luggage, usually around €90–110. Once checked in, walk to Plaza de España, the city’s broad harborfront square, for an easy orientation: the water, palm-lined promenade, and evening light make this a good first glimpse of Tenerife without committing to a major activity.

Waterfront Walk and Dinner

Continue along the promenade for about 10 minutes to the Auditorio de Tenerife, whose bright white, sail-like roof is especially striking after dark. Allow around 45 minutes to admire it from outside and stroll beside the water; there is no need to book a performance tonight. From there, walk or take a short taxi ride inland to Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África in La Recova. The produce stalls will generally be closed by evening—market hours are often roughly 6 a.m.–2 p.m., with some later shopping hours—so treat this as a brief look at the historic building and surrounding lanes rather than a full market visit. Finish at La Hierbita in the old town, one of Santa Cruz’s atmospheric traditional restaurants, for Canarian comfort food such as papas arrugadas, local cheeses, and fresh fish; budget about €20–35 per person, and reserve if possible because its small dining rooms fill quickly.

Morning: Teide National Park

Pick up a rental car early—around 7:30 a.m.—or join a guided excursion to Teide National Park. From Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the drive via La Laguna and the TF-24 takes roughly 1½–2 hours, while the TF-1/TF-21 route through the south is usually faster but less scenic. Plan about five hours for the volcanic landscapes, with stops at viewpoints such as Mirador de Chipeque and the Roques de García area. Bring water, sun protection, and a light jacket: temperatures and weather change quickly at altitude, and fuel and food options inside the park are limited.

Afternoon: Teide Cable Car and La Orotava

Continue to the Teleférico del Teide for the early-afternoon ascent. Reserve a timed ticket in advance—fares are generally around €40–45 round trip—and check the operating status that morning, since wind or cloud can close the service. The cable car ride itself is brief, but allow about 1½ hours for parking, queues, the ascent, and viewpoints; the summit trails require a separate permit, so don’t assume you can reach the crater without one. Afterwards, drive north for roughly 45–55 minutes to La Orotava Historic Centre, where the steep cobbled lanes around Calle San Francisco and Plaza de la Constitución are ideal for a relaxed walk among carved wooden balconies and traditional houses. If you want a short garden visit, Jardines Victoria is a pleasant detour; allow about 1½ hours here.

Evening: Garachico and Dinner

Drive west along the coast toward Garachico, about 35–45 minutes from La Orotava depending on traffic. Spend an hour wandering the old waterfront and central lanes, then look at the volcanic rock pools at Piscinas Naturales de El Caletón; swimming depends on swell and local safety notices, so treat them as a viewpoint if the sea is rough. Finish at El Calderito de la Abuela in Santa Úrsula, roughly 30–40 minutes back toward Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Reserve ahead for a terrace table, particularly around sunset, and order Canarian specialties such as gofio, wrinkled potatoes with mojo, local cheeses, or fresh fish; expect about €25–40 per person. If driving, keep the wine tasting to a minimum—the winding TF-5 and mountain roads are not forgiving after dark.

Arrival and Late Afternoon

After your connecting flight from Tenerife South Airport to Keflavík International Airport, allow roughly 45–60 minutes from landing to central Reykjavík by Flybus or private transfer. A Flybus ticket is typically around ISK 4,000–5,000; hotel drop-off costs a little more, and taxis are substantially pricier. Check in, layer up—the wind is often sharper than the temperature suggests—and head first to Hallgrímskirkja. The church is usually open into the early evening, with tower access often costing about ISK 1,300–1,500; the elevator gives you a superb first look over the colorful rooftops and surrounding mountains. If your flight is delayed, enjoy the church exterior and save the tower for tomorrow rather than rushing.

Evening Waterfront Walk and Dinner

From Hallgrímskirkja, walk downhill along Skólavörðustígur, then continue for about 20 minutes toward Sæbraut and the Sun Voyager. This waterfront sculpture is especially atmospheric in the low evening light, with Faxaflói Bay and, on a clear day, distant mountain ridges behind it. Continue west along the harbor to Harpa Concert Hall, whose faceted glass façade is worth seeing from both the promenade and the interior foyer; entry to the public areas is generally free, though concert access requires a ticket. Finish at Sægreifinn in the Old Harbour for its famous lobster soup and grilled seafood—expect roughly ISK 4,000–7,000 per person. It is casual and popular, so go before the late dinner rush; from Harpa, it is only a 7–10-minute walk.

Morning: The Golden Circle

Start early from Reykjavík, ideally around 7:30–8:00 a.m., for the Golden Circle. A guided tour is simplest on a flight day, but a rental car gives you more flexibility; allow about 7–8 hours including stops. Begin at Þingvellir National Park—the pathways near the visitor center are the most efficient if you are watching the clock—then continue to Geysir and Gullfoss. Expect changeable weather, muddy paths, and strong wind near the waterfall, so wear waterproof layers and sturdy shoes. Self-drive parking is generally paid or donation-based depending on the site; tours commonly cost roughly ISK 12,000–20,000 per person.

Lunch and Afternoon: Friðheimar, Sky Lagoon, and Perlan

Have lunch at Friðheimar in the Reykholt area, where the tomato greenhouse stays warm and bright even on a gray day. Reserve ahead—this is one of the few stops on the route that regularly fills—and allow about an hour for tomato soup, bread, and a main dish, usually ISK 4,000–7,000 per person. Afterward, return toward the capital and spend roughly two hours at Sky Lagoon in Kópavogur. Book a timed entry in advance, bring a swimsuit, and leave enough time for the ocean-view geothermal ritual; packages generally begin around ISK 8,000–12,000. Finish at Perlan in Öskjuhlíð for the indoor nature exhibits and observation deck. Allow 1½ hours, and check the day’s closing time before committing—the final admission is often earlier than closing. From Sky Lagoon, a taxi is easiest; allow about 15–20 minutes to Perlan, while buses take longer and require a connection.

Evening and Departure to Seattle

Keep dinner light or eat at Perlan before collecting your luggage. For your overnight journey from Reykjavík to Seattle, use Keflavík International Airport, not the city’s domestic airport. Aim to leave central Reykjavík about 3½ hours before departure: the Flybus takes roughly 45–60 minutes, while a taxi or pre-booked transfer is more convenient with luggage. If returning a rental car, allow extra time for the off-airport return shuttle; otherwise, airport drop-off is straightforward. Arrive about three hours before the flight for bag drop, security, and the possibility of passport control delays, then expect approximately 8–10 hours of travel including connections.