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Toronto Islands

9 Queens Quay W (ferry terminal) · Toronto, ON

Why you should go…

A short ferry ride from the downtown harbourfront lands you on a chain of small islands with boardwalks, beaches, and Centreville Amusement Park for kids. The car-free setting makes it a favorite for cycling and picnics, and the view back at the skyline is one of the best in the city. Ferries run year-round but the islands are busiest in summer.

  • #ferry
  • #beaches
  • #skyline-view
  • #car-free

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Toronto Islands, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Local Gem

    Steam Whistle Brewing

    Under $25

    Tour a working brewery inside a restored 1929 railway roundhouse steps from the CN Tower.

    1.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

    $25–$50

    Glide along a moving walkway through a 96-metre underwater tunnel surrounded by sharks and rays.

    1.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    CN Tower

    $25–$50

    Toronto's 553-metre spire delivers a glass-floor look straight down and the best skyline views in the city.

    1.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Hockey Hall of Fame

    Under $25

    Stand next to the real Stanley Cup and shoot pucks at simulated NHL legends in a restored 1885 bank hall.

    1.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    High Park

    Free

    Toronto's biggest park, with trails, a free zoo, sports fields, and a famous cherry blossom grove.

    4.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Toronto Zoo

    $25–$50

    North America's largest zoo, with over 450 species spread across a forested Scarborough valley.

    17 mi awayMore like this