Looking for the best summer activities in Toronto?
Summer is the best time to visit Toronto – the city bustles with all kinds of cool activities, and the weather is lovely (except when it’s pouring rain or extremely humid, but let’s not talk about that).
Whether you’re looking to get out and do some water activities in Toronto or hit up some Instagrammable coffee shops, there are plenty of awesome things you can do in Toronto this summer.
Here are the best and most fun summer activities and things to do in Toronto this summer!
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Summer activities in Toronto
Hit up a cool patio in Toronto
One of the best parts of summer is dining out on patios. Agreed? Agreed.
Lucky for you, I’ve got a good number of blog posts to help you put together the perfect summer patio bucket list 😉
- Looking for the ultimate list? Check out the best patios in Toronto.
- Doing it for the ‘Gram? Hit up these Instagram-worthy patios in Toronto.
- In the mood to hit up a rooftop? Stop by one of these rooftop patios in Toronto.
- Dining out on a rainy day? Visit one of these covered patios in Toronto!
And if you’re just looking for somewhere cool to get drinks, check out the best spots for drinks in Toronto!
Stroll through High Park
High Park is one of the largest and nicest parks in Toronto, and it’s the perfect place for a stroll, bike ride, or even for rollerblading.
Get active on the tennis courts or spend your time enjoying all the greenery – over a third of High Park is still in its natural state!
High Park is also the perfect spot for a picnic in Toronto since it’s so huge and filled with great shady spots.
Afterwards, you can head on over to iHalo Krunch for some charcoal soft serve ice cream, bubble tea made with ice cream, or ice cream cakes!
LOCATION: 1873 Bloor St. West, Toronto, ON
Wander through Kensington Market on Pedestrian Sundays
Kensington Market is one of the absolute cutest neighbourhoods in Toronto, and there are so many fun things to do in the area.
Pedestrian Sundays at Kensington Market run from May 31st through October 25th every year, and it’s exactly what it sounds like: a completely pedestrian-friendly, vehicle-free Sunday!
You can do all your vintage shopping, ethnic grocery shopping, and just some good ol’ exploring without having to worry as much about bumping shoulders with strangers.
I’ve also got blog posts all about things to do in Kensington Market and the best vintage stores in Kensington Market!
If you’re looking to do fun guided tours in the area, I’d definitely recommend checking out this Canadian food tour in Kensington Market, or this 2-hour Kensington Market and Chinatown walking tour.
LOCATION: Kensington Market, Toronto, ON
Vintage shop on Queen West
I love how close all the vintage shops are in Kensington Market, but another place I love shopping vintage is along Queen West.
There are plenty of awesome vintage and non-vintage stores along Queen West, and it’s fun just walking down the trendy neighbourhood and peeping out all the shops!
What better way to get outside and do a little explorin’ than with some window (or real) shoppin’?
I’ve also got a blog post all about the best vintage stores in Toronto, featuring a few amazing Queen West vintage clothing stores.
Take photos at Graffiti Alley
Graffiti Alley is super busy during the summer months, and it’s an unofficial tourist destination in Toronto.
It’s basically a whole alley full of all kinds of colourful murals and graffiti, and it makes for epic backdrops in photos!
I love coming back here every now and then to check out new pieces that might have popped up!
I’ve also got a blog post all about cool Toronto murals to check out if you’re looking for more fun street art 😉
LOCATION: Rush Lane (between Portland St. & Spadina Ave.), Toronto, ON
Cycle along the Waterfront Trail
The Waterfront Trail is actually the longest bike path in Toronto, and there are so many cool stops along the way.
From Sugar Beach (with its cute pink umbrellas) to Humber Bay Park (with the aesthetic bridge), there’s lots to see along the Waterfront Trail!
Adam and I love biking along the Waterfront Trail during the summer and checking out different parks and spots each time.
Plus, it’s super easy to rent a Toronto Bike Share, with plenty of docking stations along the waterfront!
If you’re looking for even more fun cycling paths, I’ve got a blog post all about the best Toronto bike trails.
Canoe or kayak on the Harbourfront
Summer in Toronto ain’t complete without a visit to the Harbourfront, and canoeing or kayaking is the perfect way to cool off and enjoy the waterfront.
In case you didn’t know (because I didn’t before): canoeing is the one that’s more like a boat, while kayaking is the one where you sit in the little seat hole!
You can bring your own canoe or kayak, or rent them by the hour from the Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre.
After your time out on the water, check out some other fun things to do at the Harbourfront or hit up one of the best Harbourfront restaurants!
LOCATION: 283 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
Go on a Harbourfront boat cruise
Another fun way to experience the waterfront: going on a boat cruise!
Adam and I did a fun salsa dancing cruise in Toronto a couple of years ago, where we got to eat good food while learning how to salsa dance!
You can find all kinds of fun cruises at Toronto’s Harbourfront, including themed ones, and these are a few fun options you can try:
The Toronto Harbour Tour is a 1-hour narrated boat cruise that takes you around the Toronto Harbour and the Toronto Islands, and they even make stops at the islands during the summer months – it’s the perfect tour if you’re looking for something short and sweet.
If you’ve always wanted to live your sailor dreams, the tall ship boat cruise is a fun 2-hour experience that includes a tour of the vintage 1930s ship, sailing along the coastline (while helping the crew if you’d like!), and even firing out of the ship’s cannon.
And if you really want to take your time enjoying the Toronto skyline, the 3-hour buffet dinner cruise includes a full-on buffet dinner and cash bar, and you can dance the night away to beats from a live DJ.
LOCATION: 207 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
Wander around the Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a nice little escape from the city, without actually leaving the city.
There are plenty of fun things to do on the Toronto Islands, and you can spend a whole day just exploring around the different islands!
Go stand-up paddle boarding (one of the best water activities in Toronto), swimming (at the nude beach), or just chill and have a picnic on the beach.
If you’re interested in doing a guided tour, you can also do a fun 3.5 hour bike tour of the Toronto Islands, where you get to ride all around the islands and learn about the island’s 200 year history.
It also includes your ferry tickets, bicycle and helmet, plus water and snacks, which makes life a little easier!
LOCATION: Toronto Islands, Toronto, ON
Do the EdgeWalk at the CN Tower
Looking to do something really epic this summer in Toronto?
Try dangling off the edge of the CN Tower!
I’ve been to the CN Tower many times in my life, but I never tried the EdgeWalk until a few years ago.
You also get to go to the top of the CN Tower for free with your EdgeWalk ticket, which is pretty sweet!
LOCATION: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON
Best summer activities in Toronto:
- Hit up a cool patio in Toronto
- Stroll through High Park
- Wander through Kensington Market on Pedestrian Sundays
- Vintage shop on Queen West
- Take photos at Graffiti Alley
- Cycle along the Waterfront Trail
- Canoe or kayak on the Harbourfront
- Go on a Harbourfront boat cruise
- Wander around the Toronto Islands
- Do the EdgeWalk at the CN Tower
Of course there are plenty more activities and fun things to do in Toronto during the summer, but these were just some of my favourites!
What are your favourite things to do in Toronto during the summer? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!
If you’re looking for even more fun things to do in Toronto, you might enjoy these posts:
- Bored and looking for a general list of things to do? Peep out these fun things to do in Toronto or these free things to do in Toronto.
- Into more active activities? Try out one of these awesome water activities in Toronto!
- Searching for cute date ideas in Toronto? Check out my date ideas during winter, summer, or fall, or my Valentine’s Day date ideas.
- Looking for more seasonal activities? Check out my posts on things to do in Toronto during the winter or spring.
- Visiting during the holidays? Here are festive things to do in Toronto!
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