A picture of the Toronto skyline, with skyscrapers lining up next to each other like spaghetti in a box, may not be the postcard of a place packed with outdoor activities.
Don’t let that fool you. Despite its density -Toronto is Canada’s largest city- green spaces abound to walk, bike, and even spot wildlife. And if you’re into watersports you can kayak, SUP, or sail on Lake Ontario during the warmer months
A vast network of dedicated bicycle lanes, paired with a bike-sharing system, makes a ride a breeze, and the subway, trains, buses, and streetcars take you pretty much everywhere (download the TTC app or check Google Maps).
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These are the best things to do outside in Toronto, listed by location:
Table of Contents
Walk, Ride, Skate, or Kayak in Toronto’s Waterfront
This large stretch along the shores of Lake Ontario has been revitalized over the years, resulting in a much more enjoyable space, with things to do in every season.
Parks, beach-like settings, decks, sculptures, cultural centres, and places to grab a bite, dot the trail from East to West.
You’ll be walking, running, or cycling a section of The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, a 3,000 km trail stretching from Collingwood to Cornwall through the shoreline of Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River. So, if you’re up for the long ride, this is a good starting point.
Explore the Waterfront in Downtown Toronto
This section, which runs along Queens Quay West, is packed with small parks, decks, and boardwalks to stroll along the lake, and it’s home to the Harbourfront Centre, home to many cultural events in Toronto.
You can also float away by renting a kayak at the onsite rental centre. I love the water and I’ve paddled my way to the nearby Toronto Islands to explore the nooks and crannies along the shore.
What if winter has crept in and it is too cold to go in the water? You can head out to the Natrel skating rink, right next to the lake. I enrolled in the lessons they offer every season to avoid ending up on my behind every four feet while trying to follow the background music and look somewhat coordinated. Some nights feature DJ parties.
There is no fee to use the rink. No skates? No problem, you can rent them at the centre, where you’ll find lockers, changing rooms and bathrooms.
Keep walking or biking west and you’ll find the HTO Park, the Spadina Quay Wetland, and the Wave Decks.
The HTO Park is a small section of downtown Toronto’s waterfront where you can sit on a beach chair on a sandy strip to enjoy views of the lake and the planes at the Billy Bishop airport, as well as the iconic CN Tower.
Further west you’ll find an oasis of tranquillity in the Spadina Quay Wetland. What used to be a parking lot was transformed into a thriving ecosystem and a wildlife habitat to see birds, butterflies, frogs, fish, and other creatures.
Between parks, you will run across The Spadina WaveDeck, an award-winning design where curves break the monotony of the straight pavement and extend an invitation to sit and enjoy views of the lake.
Even further west you will find the Toronto Music Gardens.
This is my favourite spot in the downtown waterfront and a must-see if you’re in Toronto (when it’s not winter)
The Bach’s Suite No.1 is the inspiration for the design of the undulating paths of this little slice of heaven, covered in flowers and trees.
For a full sensorial experience get the audio guide at the Harbourfront Centre.
From here you can follow the Waterfront Trail to explore the parks in West Toronto.
235 Queens Quay West
Enjoy the Views from the Waterfront Parks in West Toronto
It’s sunset time, and after following the waterfront trail you’re determined to find a place to sit down and enjoy the orange, yellow and pink hues. If you happen to be anywhere near the parks located on the Humber Bay shore, your search will not take long.
Stay a little bit longer for gorgeous views of the Toronto skyline at night and the city lights mirrored on the water.
Ready to toast to that view? A decent selection of cafes and restaurants will fill your glass.
If you have time to take the scenic route to this part of the city from downtown Toronto, walk or bike the Waterfront Trail (at some point named Martin Goodman Trail), cross the Humber Bay Arch Bridge, and follow the Humber Bay Park Trail through the various parks.
In addition to the killer views, I love the funky sculptures gracing the horizon and the tall grass sections on the trails, serving as a butterfly habitat.
And if your tree hunger cries for more, you’re not too far away from High Park.
Humber Bay Shores Park
15 Marine Parade Dr.; Humber Bay Park East and West are a short walk away heading West on the Humber Bay Park Trail.
Discover East Toronto Waterfront: Beaches, Trails and Wildlife
Birdwatching and biking in Tommy Thompson Park
You’ve spent a few days in the city and your inner Dora is ready to explore and hang out in the wilderness, but you only have a couple of hours. Where to go?
Tommy Thompson Park (TTP) is your place.
Within this 250-hectare park, aptly named “Toronto’s Urban Wilderness”, you’ll have plenty of chance to see wildlife while walking or biking the 18 kilometres of combined multi-use trails. If you visit during the winter, you can add snowshoeing to the list of activities.
My visit started early in the morning, after joining one of their free guided bird walks. No less than 316 species of birds have been recorded in this green stretch.
It was hard to imagine that before 1959, the land where I was standing didn’t even exist. Construction debris and sand were poured into the lake to build a site to expand port activities. By 1973 the city realized the port didn’t need all that land, and TTP was born.
We took one of the recreational trails to spot birds and butterflies flying across large fields of wildflowers, with a phenomenal background of the Toronto skyline on one side, and the blue horizon of Lake Ontario on the other.
After completing one of the nature trails and seeing the colony of Common Terns in the floating rafts, a visit to the Bird Research Station scored as one of the highlights of the day.
The volunteers at this ecological centre shared with us the importance of monitoring the bird population and migration patterns. Mist nets are installed in strategic points beyond public access, where birds are frequently collected, taken to the centre for data collection, and then released.
I loved seeing the birds so close! As cute as they are, no touching is allowed. Only the personnel at the centre can handle them.
We returned to the main trail until we reached Lighthouse Point, the southernmost point of the peninsula, which resembles a beach-like setting with broken tiles instead of sand and it’s great for skipping rocks if, like Andre, that’s your thing.
On the way back, more birds were hanging around Cell One, a large wetland that includes an observatory deck.
This accidental park will quench your thirst for wilderness, with a view of the city skyline.
1 Leslie St., Toronto
Mon. to Fri.: 4PM-9PM; Sat. & Sun.: 5:30AM-9PM; The Nature Centre is open on the weekends and holidays, April to October: 9AM-6PM; November to March: 9AM-4:30PM
Relax at The Beach
The colourful Muskoka chairs along the boardwalk invite you to relax. Before you, the sunset reflects on the tiny waves left by the kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddles for rent on-site.
I sat down on the sand to watch the Toronto skyline while guessing the shapes drawn by the bright kites soaring the sky like drunk bees.
This makes The Beach, also known as “The Beaches”, one of my favourite spots during the warmer months.
As long as you don’t compare it to a Caribbean counterpart, it’s a great spot to take a walk and unwind at the end of the day (I wouldn’t swim there, though). It covers the immediate area north and south of Queen Street East and below Kingston Road, from Woodbine Beach to Balmy Beach.
You can also attend the outdoor events and festivals at the nearby Woodbine Park.
The neighbourhood is filled with trendy cafes and bakeries, and other small parks like Kew Gardens or the Ivan Forrest Gardens.
You can access The Beach from other sections of Toronto’s waterfront through the Martin Goodman Trail, which blends into the Waterfront Trail, connecting three Great Lakes.
On-site you’ll find changing stations and places to grab a bite.
To get to the beach you can take the Queen Street streetcar heading East.
Catch the Sunset at the Scarborough Bluffs
One side of the park features a beach-like setting with the bluffs as a background, while the other side (from where you can see part of the bluffs), fits more the description of an urban park with a scenic walk along the lake.
At the bluffs, geology enthusiasts will be thrilled to observe the layers resulting from the advancement and retreat of glaciers during the last 70,000 years of the Great Ice Age.
A quiet little spot to enjoy the sunset if you’re visiting the Eastside.
Hike the Trails of Don Valley Brick Works Park
Right off one of Toronto’s busiest highways, the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), hides a network of biking and hiking trails, running through different habitats and offering one of the best views of Toronto.
We accessed the entrance next to the Evergreen Brick Works Market, where you can either take the BeltLine trail through the forest environment or take a series of loops through wetlands and meadows.
After being welcomed by a placid pond, we followed its contour lines into the ravine, along curved gravel paths flanked by wildflowers.
A gentle slope took us up to a lookout with a great view of the Toronto skyline rising behind tree canopies.
We made our way back and crossed a bridge to end up in the BeltLine trail for a walk through the forest.
For a refreshment after a walk or run, there are plenty of choices at the Evergreen Brick Works, especially if the Saturday or Sunday Market (seasonal) is on.
Don River Valley Park
550 Bayview Ave.
See Blooms All-year-round at the Allan Gardens Conservatory in Downtown Toronto
It’s wintertime and you’re longing to walk among colourful flower beds, palm trees and tropical plants. If jumping in a plane isn’t an option, you can still hop on a streetcar and visit this indoor botanical garden housed in beautiful greenhouses that go back more than 100 years.
Beyond the colourful collection of plants, I loved the creative floral arrangements and the seasonal themes across this sunlit venue. Don’t miss it during Christmas time.
Well, don’t miss it any time. With different flowers blooming at different times of the year, there’s always something new to see.
Allan Gardens Conservatory
19 Horticultural Ave. (off Carlton St.); Open all year round: 10AM-5PM; Free admission; The Allan Gardens Conservatory is within walking distance of the College Subway station.
Ice Skate in Nathan Phillips Square
If you’re visiting Toronto in the winter you can’t skip skating in Nathan Phillips Square, right in the heart of downtown. You can rent skates on-site and get something to eat from the vendors around the square.
100 Queen St. W
Walk the Trails and Gardens of High Park in West Toronto
High Park is an urban oasis where you can relax next to a pond thriving with wildlife, go for a walk in the nature trails, and listen to the sounds of the creek under the shade of tall trees.
You can have different experiences thanks to the variety of environments in what is the largest urban park in the city. With nearly 400 acres of forest, woodlands, ponds, gardens, and trails, you can think of High Park as the Central Park of Toronto.
Want to see formal and manicured gardens? Head to the Hillside Gardens area.
You’ll find formal gardens in a rectangular grid pattern with fountains. From the top of the hill, you can admire the giant leaf-shaped garden next to the pond in the Maple Leaf Garden.
Go with the flow as the water makes its way through rocks and bridges when you walk downhill from the café towards the Grenadier Pond. The pond is a peaceful place to see the reflection of trees (and a couple of buildings) on the water, occasionally blurred by the stubborn pedalling of the birds, turning the pond into their playground and all-you-can-eat buffet.
Keep walking south, past the pond, and you’ll reach Lakeshore Boulevard and the parks on the waterfront west.
A network of paved roads (the only ones where bicycles are allowed) and dirt trails took me through woodlands, savannahs and flower beds, including a walk through a labyrinth path designed to tune out your mind.
Every season has something special going on.
Spring will give you the cherry blossoms.
Wintertime? Show off your ice-skating abilities on the rink, go for some tobogganing or for some cross-country skiing in the trails.
1873 Bloor St. W. Toronto (you can also access the park through Parkside Dr.)
The closest subway station is High Park, on the Bloor line.
Hike, bike, kayak, try birdwatching or take a stroll in the gardens. Choose whichever you want to do, or do all these outdoor activities right in the heart of the city. Also, set aside some time to try some of the cultural activities Toronto has to offer.
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BOOKING FLIGHTS AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Book your flight without losing your shirt
We check Momondo to find great deals to book our flights. Also, check Great Escape: it combines the listings from Expedia, Kiwi, Kayak, (and Skyscanner on the premium service) to find the best airfares.
To find a place to stay for less
Booking.com: this site combines everything under the sun. You’ll find hotels, apartments, B&B, hostels, rooms, etc., with all sort of filters to make your search a breeze.
Hotwire: the first site I check when we plan to stay at a hotel for a few nights. You can save anything from 20% to 60%. Use the search filter to find what you want and you’ll end up with three listings that match your criteria. You’ll know which one you’ll get after you book. If you can handle a little bit of uncertainty you can score big savings.
House Sitting: you take care of people’s pets and house for free while staying for free. It’s the closest thing to experiencing a place “like a local”. But it comes with responsibilities… Are you an animal lover? It may become your new way to travel.
To get travel insurance
SafetyWing: travel medical insurance that gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re covered in case of emergency. It’s convenient, affordable, and suitable for digital nomads who spend a long time outside their home country.
Check the full list of travel resources on my Resource Page for more options and savings
This is amazing. I love the view in these pictures. I will note these when I go to Toronto. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great time in TO.
So many fabulous ideas! And pictures too! Another spot on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading! TO is a wonderful addition to a bucket list.