Toronto Island

Set yourself up for probably the best view of the city … You need to get on the water for it, my only piece of advice… Pay a little more for the nicer cruises that are available and steer clear of the cheap, especially the outdated city sightseeing brand, you will be surprised on how those boats are still afloat

Awesome island with tons to do. There are bike rentals, canoe rentals, kids rides on trains, water rides and more. There are paths along the edges of the island that you can enjoy a nice quiet walk or just lay on the lively grass and take a nap! There are drink stands for those hot summer days and multiple public bathrooms.

beautiful to spend a day at the islands, unfortunatly the whole island operates on a seasonal basis, and summer would be the best time to go, as everything is open in the summer time. i walked for over 3 km before i found a bathroom that was unlocked. not very much vehicle traffic, as only service vehicles are allowed to drive on the island. lots of bike riders to be careful of. and rentals of bikes are only during the summer months. but you can always bring youre own bike on the ferry.
bring a camera and some comfortable shoes, you will be doing lots of walking.

If there were 100 stars, I would give them all to Toronto Island. This place is my favorite place in Toronto. There’s parks, beaches, and walking trails. There’s even a cute little maze and an awesome fountain space for kids (and big kids like myself :). BONUS: This place will give you one of the best views of the skyline of Toronto. Be prepared to make this a day trip because you won’t want to be rushing to leave!

This is a great way to spend a nice afternoon. They have ferries regularly between Toronto and the Island (more frequently in the summer). The ferry ride is about 15 minutes long and gives you great views of the city. There’s lots of areas to take walks, settle down for a picnic, enjoy the nice scenery, etc. There were lots of bicycles around, people with dogs, etc. The beaches really aren’t that impressive — not a lot of space but the water seemed clean. In the summer, they have more activities set up, like a little amusement park area with rides.

Beautiful little gem to explore and to go to to take in the Toronto skyline during the day and night. When you take the ferry from the terminal in downtown, hop onto the Centre Island ferry. I would recommend taking the ferry right when the sun is about to go down, so you can see the city in daytime, sunset, and in the evening, and get a whole range of different photos. Upon arriving on the island (around 8:30PM), it was quite dark and a bit scary with no lights around. You have to walk across grass to get anywhere, there’s no path or road. But the views and skyline are breathtaking, a definite visit.

We had a great time at the island. We went early in the morning so the ferry wasn’t so crowed. We walked all over the island and relaxed at the many beaches. In the summer time it is rather crowded and you have to look out for a lot of bikers.
It is a great way to flew out of the city on a very hot summer day.

A nice little getaway from the city! We stumbled upon this place while researching what to do in Toronto. We are glad we came. It was nice to walk around and take all the sites and sounds in. There is a small little amusement park for the kids. Plenty of grassy areas and tables to have your picnic and family gatherings too! I was curious about the clothing optional beach so you know I had to see it for myself. I have never been to one! It was an interesting site to see! It was mostly older men. We were there early in the morning so that may have made a difference. Aside from that, Toronto Island was a beautiful place to visit! Make room in your itinerary to scope this place out!

Centerville Amusement Park was an excellent way to spend the day. My 4-​yr-​old LOVED it! The whole island seemed very pleasant and peaceful. A nice place for a walk, picnic, etc… A big thumbs down however to the Grill-​themed restaurant at the amusement park. The food was terrible, and it cost more than several full dinners I had at actual restaurants.

The Toronto Parks Authority runs the Toronto Island Park area. It is a lush garden, with numerous walking and nature trails along the lake shore. The ferry from Toronto stops in one of three ports on the Islands and a walk through any of the numerous trails in the park is a great way to start or end the day. Beautiful flower gardens, tranquil picnic areas — a great place for families. There are plenty of activities, like disk golf, several cafes and places to eat, lots of sailboats and other boats to see. You’ll find places to rent bikes, or a canoe if you want. Beaches, like everything are well maintained and inviting. Unfortunately, I did not make it to the clothing optional beach area this trip.

My kids loved this place! We live in Florida and go to Disney world at least once a month, so I was surprised on how much fun they had. A lot cheaper too!
The kiddy area and farm were cool. What child doesn’t like to see real farm animals!
My wife took a blanket, and some snacks so we found a shady spot & set up a picnic with a great view of the city. The BEST view of the city!
The one thing I did not like was the waiting in the long lines for the ferry, to and from the island.

A beautiful getaway from the hustle and bustle in downtown Toronto. $ 7.25 roundtrip and a short ferry ride brings you to the many beaches and parks here in the Islands. Everything is so clean and well-​maintained here. It feels like a mini paradise!
There are 3 different ferries you can take from the terminal to get to different points on the Islands: Hanlan’s Point, Centre Island, and Ward’s Island.
Once on the island, you are surrounded by Lake Ontario with a view of Toronto’s skyline. On a nice day, the sight can steal your breath away. The best view is right off the docks on Hanlan’s Island.
There is a bicycle rental shop by the pier of Centre Island, which is on the opposite end of the Centre Island ferry dock. It’s the only one on the Islands, which makes it a hassle.

S’il y a un endroit où aller à Toronto, c’est bien celui-​ci. Incontournable, il faut se rendre sur les îles de Toronto. La traversée en bateau offre une vue exceptionnelle sur le front de mer (enfin front de lac!) avec la CN Tower, le Roger Center. C’est magnifique à la tomber de la nuit.
Quand il fait beau vous né serait certainement pas les seuls à avoir l’idée de vous reposer sur les îles. Mais allez-​y quand même. Il y a un peu de monde aux terminaux maritime, choisissez votre destination. Sachant que vous pouvez vous promener et repartir de n’importe quel terminal de retour.
La traversée coûte environ 7 $.
Là-​bas, il y a de nombreuses activités (piste cyclable, volley, parc d’attraction, golf,…) et surtout une plage qui permet de vous reposer en oublier que vous êtes dans l’une des plus grandes villes du canada. Fini le bruit et le stress des building, ici c’est le calme et la nature.
C’est un moment paisible hors du temps, à faire absolument.

For a small fee take a ferry get a remarkable view of the city and escape to a massive park that feels a world away from the downtown.
The islands themselves are incredibly diverse, with opportunity to kayak, canoe, sail, play soccer, football, baseball, Frisbee and the list goes on and on. There is an incredibly cute collection of colorful cottages, an entire children’s theme park that is amazing for young kids and places to rent bikes or get something very unhealthy to eat. I love going here in the summer to spend a day playing around, having a picnic and relaxing on the beach. It is its own world and its green infrastructure we are very lucky to have.

This is a must for residents and tourists alike. It feels like you are getting away from the city – but of course you still have really amazing views of Toronto. Great for biking or walking. And don’t overlook it as a winter destination if you are willing to bundle up.

$ ⁷⁄₈ ferry ride with Toronto Harbor Ferry to 3 islands with an amazing view of downtown Toronto and countless activities. Stay all day or leave in an hour or two. The island is yours!
Whether you’d like to walk from island to island. rent/​bring a single rider bike. tandem. Or even a quad to fit the whole family and your little four legged family member the park offers many attractions. Rides for kiddies. Beach for beach bums. Bars for alchys. Outdoor games. Picnic areas. Food stands. Beautiful scenic and garden views. Mini theatric plays in the park. Lets just say ill be better prepared and come back with a loaded cooler and a blanket next time around! Why can’t Jersey have something like this …

This is one of my favourite places in Toronto. It’s only a short ferry ride from the city. It’s a great place to explore walking or riding a bicycle. Great for taking pictures too. It is beautiful in the Spring & Fall. You can eat at the nice Rectory Café or bring your own picnic. It can be a nice place to bring your date.

When you visit another country and have a native tell you, you’re doing something that most tourists don’t know about. And then post that they said that on the Internet, you’re a pompous douchebag. So I’m not going to tell you that a stranger from Toronto told me told me that.
But like most of my discoveries when I travel I got to give it up to Unilocal.Thank you Unilocal for leading to me to one of the highlights on my trips to Toronto.
Take a nice peaceful ferry ride from the south part of downtown Toronto to the Islands.
What can you do there?
— Have some drinks by a lake inside a lake.
— Get naked on a nude beach.
— Ride tandem bikes that you and your friend have no idea how to ride.
— Eat an amazing lunch.
— See some beautiful views of Lake Ontario.
— Soak up some sun.
— Check out the lighthouse.
— Join a pick up softball game.
— Take some beautiful pictures.
— Enjoy a wonderful ride on the ferry, back to shore. As the sun sets.
Whether you’re visiting or living in Toronto, do yourself a favor. Make you sure you visit the Islands for at least one day.

The islands were probably my favorite thing we did in Toronto. We were lucky enough to get ferry tickets from the place we were staying at, so we were able to jump that line. The ferry is a brief 10 min ride out to the islands. After getting off the ferry at Ward Island, we decided we would stroll the islands as we had no set plan.
I wish we had something like the islands in Chicago! They were great. Beaches, parks, kid areas, adult areas, etc. A perfect place to explore on a summer day.

In Toronto, we’re really lucky to have the Islands ! I enjoy coming down here for bike rides — it’s relatively easy to get to (Toronto Island Ferry), it has a great bike course as it’s flat the entire way, and this place is friendly to the wallet (besides your ticket for the Ferry and possibly food, you don’t use any money here). I have yet to enjoy the beaches, but they look like a lot of fun in the summer. Biking here is truly a treat — can’t say enough praises. I love it here !! There are no cars here so you don’t have to worry about being hit. The scenery is great — whether it’s the CN Tower, cute homes, or all the people picnicing on the beach.
Whether you’re a Torontonian or a visitor, I would highly recommend spending the day here.
Good for: bike rides, out-​of-​towners, relaxing, soaking up the sun

The Toronto Islands are just a short ferry hop from downtown & there’s so much to do.
— Bring kids to enjoy the Centreville attractions and rides.
— Get lost in a hedge maze.
— Bring a picnic & lie in the grass.
— Bike along the paths, exploring hidden spots on the islands.
— Walk along the boardwalk, enjoying the lake view.
— Take a dip in the lake on a secluded beach.
It’s a perfect summery day trip.