best beaches in toronto

There is a nearby outdoor pool with changing rooms, showers and a water bottle filling station to keep you hydrated.Kew-Balmy Beach is located near Woodbine beach and is a popular weekend hotspot. Home to the biggest sand dune system in the world, a freshwater sand bar and three beaches, there truly is no other place quite like it. By The beach scene in Toronto is seasonal, as swimming in the frigid winter is probably not how you want to spend your day.

The beach is attached to both a plaza and a park, perfect for picnicking or sipping a glass of rosé on the grass.This town lies on the southern end of Georgian Bay, meaning it’s a solid hour and a half away from Toronto. Love the mag?

Plus, there’s a water feature that’s more akin to a splash pad if the little ones (or adults) need cooling off. After a day of sand and sun, indulge at Catch 22 Fresh Market Grill for contemporary Canadian fare.If you’re planning a little Prince Edward County getaway, you can’t miss Sandbanks Provincial Park.

Hanlan’s Point makes up part of the surrounding Toronto Islands – every Torontonian’s favorite getaway spot. Get us in your inbox During those less-than-ideal beach days, we suggest you take the time to explore local Let’s think positive, though! Nestled in the sandbanks, you can spot wildlife, such as the endangered piping plover. We already have this email. Try another? Bonus points: It’s also a great canoeing destination.For a rather freeing beach day, you’ll want to head to Hanlan’s Point Beach, a clothing optional area perfect for nudists or anyone looking to bare it all under the sun. So, which of the best beaches in Toronto will you be spending your next day off at? Expect a bike trail, fire pit, volleyball and tennis courts, and a lighthouse to keep you entertained all day long.What was once the Gibraltar Beach Sand Dunes is now a nice stretch of sandy shores between Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point on the Toronto Islands. Try another? At Sugar Beach you can’t go in the water, but planted in the soft sand beneath candy pink umbrellas you can while away a positively languid, half-naked afternoon. With 38 acres (15 ha) of sandy waterfront, you’ll find multiple spots for a barbecue with friends, kids flying kites, playgrounds and volleyball nets for a quick, drop-in game. Active adventurers can explore the boardwalk trails that weave through the dunes and wetlands of the park, while birders can kayak along the shallow waters to experience this bird migration hotspot. Sure, we all know about the Toronto Island ( if we can ever actually go there again ), Cherry Beach, and of course heading north to Wasaga Beach. Get us in your inbox When the city is hot and bustling, sometimes there’s no greater respite than the beaches in and around Woodbine Beach wins the award for not only being the largest beach within the city of Toronto but perhaps the local favorite.

Déjà vu! If you want to combine swimming and hiking, Rouge Beach, Toronto’s eastern most beach in Scarborough, is the spot for you.

While considered a nudist beach, most opt for at least bottoms, and the beach vibe feels more like spring break in Miami than a quiet island in Toronto. If you go exploring, you will likely notice cyclists and rollerbladers zooming along the nearby Martin Goodman Trail, which is part of the Waterfront Trail System.Marie Curtis Beach is a neighborhood beach that’s located off-the-path at the end of a residential street and attracts a local crowd. Déjà vu! Within proximity to some of Ontario’s Whether you’re after sandy spots for sunbathing, water sports, or leisurely hikes in Toronto and beyond, here’s how to explore urban beaches, island inlets and the biggest sand dune system in the world with this comprehensive guide to the best beaches in Toronto.Toronto’s Instagram-worthy Sugar Beach is one of the city’s best sandy spots Woodbine is the city's best spot for beach volleyball and people-watching. The islands are actually connected, so you can walk from one to the other.Although not a certified eco-friendly beach, water levels at Sunnyside Beach near Lakeshore Boulevard are tested daily so you will know if it’s safe to swim here and if the water meets provincially established safety standards. The famous Bluffs were formed by the erosion of packed clay and are a 5,000-year-old escarpment, so bring your camera and post photos for cultural bragging rights.Photograph: Courtesy Royal Ontario Museum/Sam Javanrouh Try another? This urban beach is located near a residential area and features a playground, volleyball nets and miles of sandy waterfront ideal for creating sandcastles under the sun. And speaking of water quality issues, always check the City of Toronto website before you dive in.

Surrounded by tall trees, the area is also ideal for a pic-nic that will be naturally complemented by the delicious offerings from the popular Fry truck found on premise all day.If you want to combine swimming and hiking, Rouge Beach, Toronto’s eastern most beach in Scarborough, is the spot for you. The Downtown dog lovers round up their pooches and come to the off-leash area at Cherry Beach. Expect this place to be poppin’ on nice days with buskers, concession, and scantily-clad folk. Déjà vu! Located on Lake Huron near Bruce Peninsula you can enjoy lounging on the massive beach area with tons of fun water activities as well. This Blue Flag-certified beach is under the radar and is accessible from the main ferry to Centre Island or the Hanlan’s Point Ferry at the docks. But when the sun shines and temperatures rise, tourists and locals alike flock to the best beaches in Toronto. Put on those bathing suits and get ready to tan and swim your way around the very best beaches around this Canadian gem of a city.Families flock to Centre Island Beach on the eastern shores of Toronto Island. The beach, at the bottom of Cherry Street in the Portlands area, is the place to be to see kite boarders and surfers in action (bring water shoes as there are rocks around). Despite being only fifteen minutes from downtown Toronto, you’ll feel like you’ve left town once you hit the sandy shores and clear blue water crashing against the shore (worry not, a rock breakwater is in place to keep kids safe).