10 must see parks in Toronto

Toronto is a nature lover’s paradise, boasting incredible landscapes from dense forests with towering trees to pristine lakes, majestic mountains, and beaches. Best of all, you don’t need to go far to enjoy the great outdoors, as countless beautiful parks in Toronto are easy to access. You can hop on a bus, ride a ferry, or take a subway and find yourself in one of the city’s scenic green spaces.

No matter the season, Toronto parks have exciting adventures waiting for you. They offer everything from beachfront relaxation, art, and history to live music, gardens, concerts, and zoos. Some can transform into a winter wonderland with an outdoor skating rink, while others offer a quiet space to recharge your mental and physical batteries.

This guide covers the best parks in Toronto and the activities you can do to make the most of your trip. You could plan a whole-day exploration, or it could be a part of your nature tour. Whatever the case, you’ll be able to move more comfortably and freely without heavy items to carry around. Find the nearest bounce storage facility in Toronto, drop off your belongings, and discover the city’s urban oasis hands-free.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

With 36 acres of sprawling lawns and a forested area on Queen Street West, Trinity Bellwoods Park is the largest park in downtown Toronto. Here, you’ll find a canopy of more than 400 old and young trees, picnic areas, a playground, a children’s wading pool, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and three ball diamonds. Dogs are welcome to the park with an off-leash dog area where they can run around and play.

Trinity Bellwoods Park has something for everyone for every season. On pleasant days, you’ll encounter international tourists and locals meeting up, having a picnic, chatting, and participating in sports and other outdoor activities. There are also easy walking trails for a leisure stroll. In winter, outdoor enthusiasts visit for cross-country skiing and skating. There’s also an outdoor artificial ice rink south of Dundas Street used for ball hockey and pickleball.

In the park’s southwest section is the Trinity Community Recreation Centre, with an indoor swimming pool, a gym, and other facilities and programs for children. The big gymnasium is also full of safe toys for your little ones to keep them busy and entertained.

Toronto Music Garden

Experience the spirit of music in one of Toronto’s most enchanting locations. The Toronto Music Garden is an obligatory stop for classical music fans and nature lovers, tucked away on the edge of the waterfront. The swirling landscape is more than just a place to gather and rest; it’s a representation of artistic expression.

The Toronto Music Garden is unlike any gardens or parks in Toronto. It was designed to physically represent Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major with six movements that reflect in the park’s six sections. To experience this artistic delight in full, visitors can join the guided tours available in summer.

Don’t be intimidated if you’re not a fan of classical music because you can still enjoy its beauty. It’s located in the Harbourfront neighborhood, with views of the CN Tower. At the center is the grass-stepped amphitheater that often hosts free concerts, including a classical series Summer Music in the Garden. It’s accessible to anyone walking around the city center, with paved paths for walking and jogging.

Toronto Islands Park

Ride a ferry from downtown Toronto to take you to Toronto Islands Park, nestled in Lake Ontario. It’s one of the most popular recreation areas, tourist attractions, and parks in Toronto that you shouldn’t miss during your trip to Ontario’s capital. Once you arrive, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to entertainment and relaxation.

If you’re looking for family-friendly fun, head to the iconic Centreville Amusement Park on Centre Island. It’s the ultimate summer destination, boasting over thirty rides and tasty food outlets. The Centre Island is sandwiched between Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island. For the best view of the Toronto skyline from the park, go to the Toronto Islands Lookout.

Toronto Islands consist of fifteen islands on Lake Ontario, connected by bridges and paths. It’s also North America’s largest urban car-free setting.  If you plan to visit in winter, think again. Toronto Islands Park is a seasonal destination that comes alive between May and the end of September. In winter, it becomes an untapped attraction that remains quiet, and most island facilities remain closed until summer.

Berczy Park

If your idea of a Toronto park is a lush green area with walking and hiking trails, forests, woodlands, and lots of blooming flowers, Berczy Park may not be for you. But for those looking for a quirky space to rest in the middle of a busy day, this 3,606-square-meter public park will please you. It’s located across from the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts between Scott, Front, and Wellington Streets. It was named after a German-born architect, writer, and surveyor, William Berczy, and has been used as a park open to the public since 1980.

The large, whimsical dog-themed fountain is hard to miss. It’s the historic centerpiece at Berczy Park, opened in 2017, featuring twenty-seven dog sculptures and a cat scattered throughout the fountain area. All dog sculptures look up at a golden bone sitting stop the fountain. There’s also an artwork on the park’s west end called Jacobs Ladder by artist Luis Jacob. 

High Park

This vast green space is the crowning jewel in Toronto parks. It’s the capital’s largest public park, boasting 400 acres that include themed gardens, manicured lawns, diverse vegetation, greenhouses, a beautiful lakefront, an outdoor ice rink, play areas, and more. You’ll find hiking routes by the lake, a popular spot for hikers, runners, and anyone who wants to explore the great outdoors.

Dedicate a few hours at High Park to make the most of your trip. There’s no shortage of things to do and places to see here, whether you’re looking for a place to reconnect with nature, meet wildlife, or exercise. The zoo is a favorite attraction among families with young children. It has seven enclosed areas on both sides of Deer Pen Road where the zoo animals live, including highland cattle, llamas, deer, bison, peacocks, etc. There’s no admission fee, which is perfect for travelers on a budget.

For those interested in the diverse flowers and trees in High Park, you’ll have a fantastic time in the gardens and wild forests. The most visited area is the Hillside Gardens, beginning near the restaurant and ending by the lakefront. If you prefer solitude and quiet adventures, there are winding networks of walking, hiking, and biking trails.

Christie Pits Park

Formerly Willowvale Park, Christie Pits is the perfect spot for picnics and outdoor play, with several sports facilities. It spans nearly nine acres of green space located near the Christie subway station. It’s also a short drive from the Royal Ontario Museum and Casa Loma, so you can quickly stop by for a break from sightseeing.

Store your bags while taking a park break because you might be tempted to participate in the activities at Christie Pits. It features a wading pool, a children’s playground, volleyball and basketball courts, three baseball diamonds, a splash pad, picnic areas, and a multi-sport field. You can also visit the community garden and see the seasonal flowers blooming there.

Toronto Botanical Garden

Situated in North York, the Toronto Botanical Garden offers a free tour of its themed gardens and manicured lawns. It welcomes everyone every day, allowing them to discover a diverse variety of flora and fauna and learn more about the art of gardening through workshops, special events, guided tours, and programs it hosts throughout the year. Although it’s worth visiting any time of the year, summer and spring are always the best times to visit. It’s when the flowers bloom, and the gardens are filled with fragrant floral scents.

The gardens cover various plant species, representing different environments, habitats, and designs. The area is massive and can be overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors. So to maximize your time, schedule a 90-minute tour with a knowledgeable guide. It includes a guided walk through the charming gardens and a stroll into the Edwards Gardens. Not only will you be familiar with the plants, but you’ll also discover their history and pollinators. Alternatively, join a ravine tour to explore the Wilket Creek Ravine to learn more about the beauty and challenges experienced by those green spaces.

Rouge National Urban Park

For thrill-seekers and serious outdoor adventurers, drive about 35 kilometers north of downtown Toronto to reach North America’s largest urban park. Rouge National Urban Park allows visitors to experience the natural wonders of Toronto, with a diverse landscape featuring rivers, wetlands, meadows, forests, and agricultural areas. It has numerous activities for everyone, from paddling the river and marsh, swimming in Lake Ontario, and watching local and migrating birds to camping and planning a family picnic.

Rouge Park has hiking trails for all levels, including the easy 1.5-hour woodland trail set against the backdrops of meadows, water, and forests and the more challenging one- to two-hour vista trail, offering one of the best viewing platforms to see the valley and the vibrant fall colors. The ten-minute celebration forest trail is the shortest, featuring a memorial to commemorate the pioneers and community leaders whose efforts and hard work to protect the Rouge Valley resulted in establishing the country’s first national urban park.

Not into hiking? Join the guided walks for wildlife sightings and stories, meeting new people, discovering history, and achieving your fitness goals. You can also kayak, paddleboard, or canoe around the Rouge March or the Rouge River.

Toronto Sculpture Garden

Skip the long lines at museums and art galleries to see art and check out the Toronto Sculpture Garden (TSG.) It opened in 1981 and has since commissioned temporary art pieces by more than a hundred artists in the small park in Toronto on King Street East. It allows them to showcase their works in a public space and engage with the local community while providing visitors an opportunity to appreciate art in an unexpected place.

At the Toronto Sculpture Garden, artists reveal the complex process of building and installing their work, which may take weeks to prepare and complete. Here, people can stop to observe the process, make comments, and ask questions, which is found helpful by many artists. Most artists who exhibited in the Sculpture Garden are from Ontario, but it’s also open to displaying works by artists beyond the province or Canada. In fact, some artists who exhibited in the park were from England, the US, China, Russia, British Columbia, and Quebec.

Allan Gardens

Enjoy a tropical journey at Allan Gardens, an urban park and conservatory in the vibrant Garden District of downtown Toronto. This indoor botanical garden has six greenhouses, covering an area of 16,000 square feet. Each greenhouse features a unique display of plants, including unusual cacti and succulents, vegetation from equatorial regions, orchids, seasonal flowers, and more.

One of the park’s prominent features is the Palm House. It’s a heritage building erected in 1909. It’s currently under renovation, and the plants are relocated to Centennial Park and Cloud Gardens. You can bring your kids and let them play in the open playground with a sand play area and a water tap.

Witness the unparalleled beauty of nature at Toronto’s best parks

It’s no secret that the capital of Ontario is blessed with many natural sanctuaries where you can enjoy a period of calm, recharge for a moment, or take part in exciting games and activities. The parks in Toronto come in different shapes and sizes, with various features, facilities, and experiences. So whatever piques your interest, you’re bound to find one that meets your needs.

If Toronto's parks aren't enough and you want to add more activities to fill your calendar, read our guides on 7 beaches near Toronto and the 10 best hikes in Toronto. Locals and visitors alike enjoy the special features of the best beaches, perfect for enjoying a picnic lunch on a hot day. As for bird watching and meandering under large trees in open spaces, hiking does the trick.