It’s not just a concrete jungle, Toronto has many fun outdoor activities to do in the summertime.
1. Visit the Toronto Islands. This is my favorite place to hang out in the summer! The Toronto Islands are the perfect place to escape the city heat.
To get to the islands, catch the 13-minute ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay St. and Queens Caye. Alternatively, you can take a ‘Tiki Taxi” from Queens Quay and Spadina for $10. This is a fun way to get to the islands. They are small boats ‘tiki’ themed boats, playing Caribbean-inspired music along the way.
A bike is a perfect way to get around the islands. You can rent them from bike share stations in the city and bring it with you on the ferry, or you can join a guided Toronto islands bike tour.
There are beautiful beaches to relax on the islands, including a clothing-optional one at Hanlan’s Point – a popular spot for the LGBTQ+ community.
2. Take in the city skyline from a boat. A perfect way to spend a summer evening in Toronto is on the water. There are several boat tour options, from tall ships to dinner cruises and open boat dance parties on the River Gambler.
![toronto summer boat tours]()
Check prices of Toronto Harbour and Island Sightseeing Tour here
3. Explore Rouge Park. As Canada’s largest urban park, there are endless trails to explore here on foot or by bike. It’s hard to believe you’re still in the city limits walking around Rouge Park. You can even camp there! The best part? There is a free shuttle that runs from downtown Toronto to Rouge Park all summer long.
![visit rouge park as a fun thing to do in toronto this summer]()
Rouge Park has endless trails to explore!
4. Take a walk through a ravine. You don’t have to go far away from the city streets to get into nature. Toronto is blessed with a large ravine system, offering residents a chance an escape from urban settlement. Some of my favorite ravine walks include the Humber Valley and Crothers Woods.
![hiking in toronto ravines]()
You can still go for a hike in the city!
5. Visit Scarborough bluffs. This beautiful escarpment stretches 15km across Scarborough, standing above Lake Ontario. You can visit from above, but as the bluffs are fragile, the city limits how close you can get to the edge. Instead, admire the bluffs from below on the beach.
6. Walk along the CN Tower. If you want to add some excitement to your summer, consider doing the Edgewalk along the CN tower. This impressive Canadian landmark used to be the largest free-standing tower in the world. Talk about an adrenaline rush! If that’s not your thing, simply take in the views from the top.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Complete Guide to Taking the Train Across Canada
![toronto city skyline]()
7. Bike the city. Biking is by far the fastest way to get around Toronto, and it’s so enjoyable! The city is nearly all flat, so you don’t have to worry about hills.
Toronto has a bike share program where you can pick up and drop off bikes at various stations around the city. There are also guided bike tours you can join of downtown Toronto.
8. Visit a botanical garden. There’s nothing more peaceful than a stroll through a botanical garden. Check out the Toronto Botanical Gardens in North York near Sunnyside Park.
For something closer to downtown, visit Allan Gardens on Gerrard St. East. Afterward, take a stroll through Cabbagetown – my charming neighborhood!
![Allan Gardens Toronto]()
Allan Gardens
9. Visit a farm. While you’re in Cabbagetown, take a walk through Riverdale farm to see the cute farm animals or tulips if you’re visiting during spring.
![visit the park as a fun thing to do in toronto this summer]()
Riverdale Park is beautiful to visit in the summer!
10. Kayak around the lake. Another great way to see the city skyline is from a kayak on Lake Ontario. You can rent kayaks and canoes downtown at the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre or join a guided tour.
![toronto skyline]()
Toronto Skyline at Sunset
11. Picnic in the park. There is no shortage of wonderful parks to enjoy in Toronto, and a picnic is a great way to enjoy them! Grab some snacks and a bottle of wine. The city parks are the perfect place for fun during the summer in Toronto.
My favorite parks in Toronto are High Park and Trinity Bellwoods, which also happen to be two of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Toronto. This usually happens in early May! Sugar beach is also a great place to hang out in Toronto in the summer with its adorable pink chairs.
![cherry beach toronto in the summer]()
12. Do Yoga in the Park. If you prefer a more active experience in the park, check out the Flying Yogi. This company offers yoga classes in various parks throughout the city during the summertime. Payment is made on a donation basis!
13. Join an outdoor Bootcamp. If you want to get whipped into shape while not spending beautiful days inside a gym, then an outdoor Bootcamp is the perfect thing to join!
The classes are tough, but it’s honestly fun being outdoors with others. After all, misery loves company! I recommend Urban Core; I’ve never been so fit as when I did this boot camp!
14. Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) on the island. If you want to practice your balance and be out on the lake, check out Toronto Island SUP. They run SUP classes from Toronto Island.
15. Watch the sunset. Don’t let the city skyscrapers take the sunset away! There are still many places where you can see the sun go down in Toronto.
Check out River Park East to see the sunset over the city skyline. Polson Pier, Leslie Street Spit, and the Toronto Islands are some other places to go for great sunset views.
![]()
Sunset from Toronto Islands
16. Get involved with a beach clean-up. Help out the city and get involved in a beach clean-up! When I did this I was shocked at the amount of garbage and micro-plastic coming from the lake. We can all do our part to keep Toronto clean and beautiful!
17. Sign up for a summer run. Runs aren’t my thing, but I know many people who love it! Check out this Toronto Run Guide and find the perfect run to crush this summer.
18. Cool off in a pool. If you don’t want to swim in the lake (I don’t blame you), Toronto has a number of public outdoor pools to cool off from the heat. Be sure to check out the outdoor Olympic-sized pool in Woodbine Park!
For a pool with a view, check in to the Bisha Hotel and enjoy their incredible rooftop pool.
19. Take a helicopter ride over Toronto for the absolute best view of the city. I’ve done helicopter tours in Victoria Falls and Las Vegas and loved every minute of both experiences.
![toronto at night]()
20. Explore the city on foot. See the best sights of the city in this small group walking tour.
21. Join a segway tour. Get introduced to the historic Distillery District in Toronto while riding the unique and fun Segway.
22. Hop-on-hop-off bus. Enjoy taking in the cities best sights at your own pace. In summer months, it comes with a complimentary harbor cruise!
1. Visit the Toronto Islands. This is my favorite place to hang out in the summer! The Toronto Islands are the perfect place to escape the city heat.
To get to the islands, catch the 13-minute ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay St. and Queens Caye. Alternatively, you can take a ‘Tiki Taxi” from Queens Quay and Spadina for $10. This is a fun way to get to the islands. They are small boats ‘tiki’ themed boats, playing Caribbean-inspired music along the way.
A bike is a perfect way to get around the islands. You can rent them from bike share stations in the city and bring it with you on the ferry, or you can join a guided Toronto islands bike tour.
There are beautiful beaches to relax on the islands, including a clothing-optional one at Hanlan’s Point – a popular spot for the LGBTQ+ community.
2. Take in the city skyline from a boat. A perfect way to spend a summer evening in Toronto is on the water. There are several boat tour options, from tall ships to dinner cruises and open boat dance parties on the River Gambler.
Check prices of Toronto Harbour and Island Sightseeing Tour here
3. Explore Rouge Park. As Canada’s largest urban park, there are endless trails to explore here on foot or by bike. It’s hard to believe you’re still in the city limits walking around Rouge Park. You can even camp there! The best part? There is a free shuttle that runs from downtown Toronto to Rouge Park all summer long.
4. Take a walk through a ravine. You don’t have to go far away from the city streets to get into nature. Toronto is blessed with a large ravine system, offering residents a chance an escape from urban settlement. Some of my favorite ravine walks include the Humber Valley and Crothers Woods.
Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18
Show Content
You can still go for a hike in the city!
5. Visit Scarborough bluffs. This beautiful escarpment stretches 15km across Scarborough, standing above Lake Ontario. You can visit from above, but as the bluffs are fragile, the city limits how close you can get to the edge. Instead, admire the bluffs from below on the beach.
6. Walk along the CN Tower. If you want to add some excitement to your summer, consider doing the Edgewalk along the CN tower. This impressive Canadian landmark used to be the largest free-standing tower in the world. Talk about an adrenaline rush! If that’s not your thing, simply take in the views from the top.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
Complete Guide to Taking the Train Across Canada
7. Bike the city. Biking is by far the fastest way to get around Toronto, and it’s so enjoyable! The city is nearly all flat, so you don’t have to worry about hills.
Toronto has a bike share program where you can pick up and drop off bikes at various stations around the city. There are also guided bike tours you can join of downtown Toronto.
8. Visit a botanical garden. There’s nothing more peaceful than a stroll through a botanical garden. Check out the Toronto Botanical Gardens in North York near Sunnyside Park.
For something closer to downtown, visit Allan Gardens on Gerrard St. East. Afterward, take a stroll through Cabbagetown – my charming neighborhood!
Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18
Show Content
Allan Gardens
9. Visit a farm. While you’re in Cabbagetown, take a walk through Riverdale farm to see the cute farm animals or tulips if you’re visiting during spring.
10. Kayak around the lake. Another great way to see the city skyline is from a kayak on Lake Ontario. You can rent kayaks and canoes downtown at the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre or join a guided tour.
11. Picnic in the park. There is no shortage of wonderful parks to enjoy in Toronto, and a picnic is a great way to enjoy them! Grab some snacks and a bottle of wine. The city parks are the perfect place for fun during the summer in Toronto.
My favorite parks in Toronto are High Park and Trinity Bellwoods, which also happen to be two of the best places to see cherry blossoms in Toronto. This usually happens in early May! Sugar beach is also a great place to hang out in Toronto in the summer with its adorable pink chairs.
12. Do Yoga in the Park. If you prefer a more active experience in the park, check out the Flying Yogi. This company offers yoga classes in various parks throughout the city during the summertime. Payment is made on a donation basis!
13. Join an outdoor Bootcamp. If you want to get whipped into shape while not spending beautiful days inside a gym, then an outdoor Bootcamp is the perfect thing to join!
The classes are tough, but it’s honestly fun being outdoors with others. After all, misery loves company! I recommend Urban Core; I’ve never been so fit as when I did this boot camp!
14. Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) on the island. If you want to practice your balance and be out on the lake, check out Toronto Island SUP. They run SUP classes from Toronto Island.
15. Watch the sunset. Don’t let the city skyscrapers take the sunset away! There are still many places where you can see the sun go down in Toronto.
Check out River Park East to see the sunset over the city skyline. Polson Pier, Leslie Street Spit, and the Toronto Islands are some other places to go for great sunset views.
16. Get involved with a beach clean-up. Help out the city and get involved in a beach clean-up! When I did this I was shocked at the amount of garbage and micro-plastic coming from the lake. We can all do our part to keep Toronto clean and beautiful!
17. Sign up for a summer run. Runs aren’t my thing, but I know many people who love it! Check out this Toronto Run Guide and find the perfect run to crush this summer.
18. Cool off in a pool. If you don’t want to swim in the lake (I don’t blame you), Toronto has a number of public outdoor pools to cool off from the heat. Be sure to check out the outdoor Olympic-sized pool in Woodbine Park!
For a pool with a view, check in to the Bisha Hotel and enjoy their incredible rooftop pool.
19. Take a helicopter ride over Toronto for the absolute best view of the city. I’ve done helicopter tours in Victoria Falls and Las Vegas and loved every minute of both experiences.
20. Explore the city on foot. See the best sights of the city in this small group walking tour.
21. Join a segway tour. Get introduced to the historic Distillery District in Toronto while riding the unique and fun Segway.
22. Hop-on-hop-off bus. Enjoy taking in the cities best sights at your own pace. In summer months, it comes with a complimentary harbor cruise!
