Toronto’s 7 greatest seashores – Journey

Yes, there is a beach in Toronto. On the shores of Lake Ontario, Canada’s largest city has dozens of sand strips close to the center and on its islands. In summer, with maximum temperatures above 25ºC in June, July and August, they are the best way to cool off. If you choose where to stay in Toronto, you can walk to some of them. Find out here which are the best beaches in Toronto.

I arrived in Toronto at the end of September, when it’s already spring in the northern hemisphere. With the weather getting colder, I found few people on the beaches. But it was worth observing the structure and evaluating the style of each one. I also checked other rankings of the best beaches in Toronto, in addition to many photos and videos, to make an even more reliable list.

Except in winter (December, January, February and March), it is worth visiting at any time of the year, as the view is always beautiful and peaceful. But only in summer is it possible to face the icy water. Anyway, see other tips on what to do and itineraries in Toronto.

1. Bluffer’s Park Beach

Away from the center, it is next to the marina of the same name, hidden between the lake and one of the highest hills in Toronto. Almost always suitable for bathing and classified as “Blue Flag”, its water and sand are among the cleanest in Toronto. It’s a good place for hiking.

2. Hanlan’s Point Beach (including nude beach)

Located in the Toronto Islands, this beach of fine sand is extensive and has a particularity: in the southern part of the beach, clothing is optional. As Toronto’s only nude beach and one of only two in Canada, it tends to get crowded in the summer. Even in spring, when the cold starts to arrive, don’t be surprised if you pass by and see someone naked on the beach. I just passed there on my bike, during a tour of the Toronto Islands, and saw some nudists lying on the sand. The water quality is good, being classified as “blue flag”. (The sun didn’t favor the beach in this photo, so it’s worth watching this video to better understand what it’s like over there in the nudist part).

3. Chelsea Beach

Also on Toronto Island, Chelsea Beach has easy access and a wide stretch of sand, ideal for setting up an umbrella and laying down a towel. Its long deck, the Center Island Pier, is a good place for photos. It has good infrastructure, with a snack bar, public restrooms and showers to remove the sand from your feet. Great place to take the kids, especially if you combine it with a trip to Centreville Amusement, an amusement park just a few meters from the beach.

4. Cherry Beach

Located in Lower don Lands, a former industrial area that has been revitalized, Cherry Beach is one of the most classic beaches in Toronto. With a barbecue area and a fenced area for dogs, it is popular with kite surfers and is classified as Blue Flag, which means that it has waters suitable for swimming.

5. Woodbine / Kew / Balmy beaches

This beach is so extensive that it ended up being divided into three areas with different names. The Woodbine part is the closest to downtown Toronto, and has a large stretch of sand with beach volleyball nets. Here is also the Donald D Summerville, one of the largest public swimming pools in Toronto, which is only open in the summer. At the other end, Balmy Beach is much more peaceful, even during the summer. In the middle of the way, Kew beach is moderately busy. Historic, this region known as The Beaches even has a wikipedia page in English, for those who want to know more details.

6. Sugar Beach

If you like urban interventions like Highline Park, in NYC, you will also like this stylish beach in Toronto. It was built in an industrial zone, where there was a parking lot for cars. In a beach atmosphere, Sugar Beach has an area full of umbrellas in an artificial space with sand, on a large deck overlooking Lake Ontario. In winter, under snow and icy wind, look how it looks there:

7. Sunnyside Beach (beautiful, but unsuitable for swimming)

Close to High Park, you can easily combine the two tours. It is one of the beaches in Toronto with the best infrastructure. Despite the water quality not being the best, it makes up for it with the wooden boardwalk and the beautiful view ahead. There’s something I’ve never seen in Brazil: free sunscreen. The beautiful Sunnyside Beach Pavillion building is the biggest local attraction. And if the water is in poor condition, take a dip in the nearby public pool, the Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool (open summer only).

Map with the location of these beaches in Toronto

To better understand the location and see how to get to these beaches in Toronto, I marked the location of each one on the map below. I recommend clicking on the star icon to save this map to your Google Maps account, so you can plan what to do in Toronto without wasting time.

Photos: Bluffer’s Park Beach (El Padawan), Sugar Beach in summer (Chrys Tyler), Sugar Beach in winter (Still de Oldie)