13 BEST Beaches in Toronto you Need to Visit this Summer!

Looking for a great beach to spend a hot summer day laying in the sun on? This guide to the best beaches in Toronto is for you!

If you’re new to Toronto (or even just visiting), you might be surprised to find out that a city that’s so far from the ocean has a ton of great beaches.

When I first moved to Toronto I remember my shock the first time I visited Toronto’s biggest beach, Woodbine Beach.

Looking for a great beach to spend a hot summer day laying in the sun on? This guide to the best beaches in Toronto is for you! Whether you're looking for a relaxing and quiet beach hang, the perfect beach for a family picnic, or want to enjoy the beach life in a more lively environment, there is Toronto beach for you. Pictured here: Woodbine Beach

All I kept thinking to myself was how cool it was that you didn’t have to leave the city to enjoy a day on the beach and soak up those vacation vibes.

And you really will feel like you’re on vacation somewhere, even if it’s just for a day!

Whether you’re looking for a beach to play volleyball on, relax in the sun and get some color, or you’re looking for a beach that makes a great picnic spot in Toronto, this guide has a beach for you!

Before we get started on this guide to the best beaches in Toronto, if you’re headed to Toronto soon you might also want to check out these posts:

And be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. I share a lot of travel content on those that never make it to the blog!

Now, onto the guide to the best beaches in Toronto!

1. Woodbine Beach

Address: 1675 Lake Shore Blvd E

Woodbine beach is a beautiful beach that’s the perfect place to spend the day sunning your cares away and pretending you’re on vacation.

One of the reasons Woodbine Beach makes for such a great Toronto beach is its size.

Woodbine Beach park is 12.5 hectares!

In fact, it’s actually the biggest of the 4 beaches in Toronto’s “Beaches” neighborhood.

I love Woodbine Beach because it really makes you feel like you’re getting an escape from the city, without having to venture very far.

Not only is Woodbine beach a popular spot for summer picnics (you can read my guide to the best picnic spots in Toronto here), but they have all the amenities you need for a day in the sun.

Woodbine beach has change rooms, accessible washrooms, water bottle filling stations (so important for those hot summer days) and a beach shower.

Even more importantly though they have summer lifeguards on duty making it a great family destination to bring the kids.

2. Hanlan’s Point Beach

Address: Hanlan’s Point Island (Toronto Islands)

One of the most popular Toronto beaches that locals visit in the summer is Hanlan’s Point Beach.

Hanlan’s Point Beach is a public beach located on Hanlan’s Point, just west of Centre Island.

Because it’s part of the Toronto Islands, you do have to take either a ferry or water taxi to get here.

However, it is totally worth the extra trip because the views here are insane!

You definitely won’t feel like you’re in Toronto anymore.

Beyond the regular beach and clothing optional beach at Hanlan’s Point, there are all sorts of nearby amenities.

Near to Hanlan’s beach you will find a baseball diamond, change rooms, drinking fountain, fire pits, tennis courts, volleyball courts, fast food outlet, picnic sites, and washrooms!

If you’re looking for a great Toronto beach for a full day out in the sun, Hanlan’s beach is for you.

3. Sugar Beach

Address: 11 Dockside Dr

Sugar Beach is a very popular and very instagrammable beach in Toronto that’s located along the Toronnto harbourfront.

With its pink umbrellas, soft white sand, and Muskoka chairs, there’s no surprise why Sugar Beach is such a popular beach destination in the summer months!

During the weekends especially, Sugar Beach is a very lively beach that’s full of people relaxing in the sun, picnicking, and playing in the sand.

Unfortunately you can’t actually swim in the lake at Sugar Beach (and you wouldn’t want to, trust me).

However it’s still a great place to hang with friends and enjoy the sunny weather and lively atmosphere.

There is often even a DJ set up here on weekends which makes it a really fun beach spot that’s particularly popular with the young adult crowd.

If you’re looking for a lively beach with a party atmosphere, Sugar Beach is the perfect choice.

4. Bluffer’s Beach

Address: 1 Brimley Rd. S, Bluffers Park, Scarborough

Although the Scarborough Bluffs are technically not in Toronto, they are just a quick road trip away and are totally worth the drive.

The beach here will have you feeling like you’re on vacation!

The Scarborough Bluffs are a really neat geological feature that resulted from the accumulation of sedimentary deposits over 12,000 years ago.

To this day they make up a highly visited attraction for both locals and tourists alike who love to come here to hike, check out the bluffs, and relax on the beach.

Although Scarborough Bluffs has 9 parks in total, Bluffers Park is the only one with a beach so that’s where you will want to go.

Head here to check out the unique bluffs before enjoying a day at the beach!

5. HTO Park West

Address: 375 Queens Quay West

Another great beach along the Toronto harbourfront (other than Sugar Beach) is HTO Park West.

HTO Park West beach is similar to Sugar Beach in that it’s a smaller beach located on the edge of the harbourfront with muskoka chairs and colorful umbrellas.

Like Sugar Beach, you can’t actually swim at HTO Park West.

However, there’s lots of spots to relax, set up a picnic, toss around a ball, and enjoy the views.

HTO Park West is a very lively spot, especially during the weekend.

There are also washroom facilities nearby making HTO Park West a great sunny afternoon destination to relax with friends over a few beers by the boardwalk.

6. Sunnyside Beach

Address: 1755 Lake Shore Blvd W

Sunnyside Beach is another great beach that’s located on the edge of Toronto’s west side, by Etobicoke.

Unlike a couple of the beaches in this post that are located more central, you can swim at Sunnyside Beach which makes it totally worth the short drive to get to.

At Sunnyside Beach there are multiple amenities including the Sunnyside Pavilion which has an observation deck, eatery, and washrooms.

You will also find bike trails, a great playground, outdoor pool, and nearby wading pool making Sunnyside a great Toronto beach to visit with children.

Sunnyside Beach is also a great beach for picnics.

If you’re looking for more picnic spots in Toronto you can check out my guide to the best picnic spots in Toronto!

7. Centre Island Beach

Address: Centre Island Beach, Centre Island

Another great beach that’s located in the Toronto Islands is Centre Island beach.

Centre Island beach is the busiest of the Toronto Islands beaches, likely due to its proximity to multiple amenities and to the ferries.

The beach is located right by the pier and near the changing rooms and lockers do it’s very convenient if you don’t want to lug your stuff far.

There is also a fast food outlet nearby (great for if you don’t want to pack your own picnic lunch!), gardens, picnic areas, bike rentals, and of course a beautiful sprawling sandy beach.

8. Kew-Balmy Beach

Address: 2 Silver Birch Ave

Located just a short walk further east of Woodbine Beach is the beautiful Kew-Balmy Beach.

This 1.2 km stretch of sand is much quieter than Woodbine beach, and tends to be a favourite of those trying to avoid the crowds.

Although the sand here is rockier, the laid back vibe is unparalleled for those who want a quieter beach escape.

Beyond the beach here, you’ll also find biking trails, bowling greens, a dog off leash area, drink fountains, gym, outdoor gym equipment, outdoor table tennis, a parking lot and a playground.

9. Cherry Beach

Address: 1 Cherry Street.

If you’re looking to party it up with friends at a lively weekend beach, Cherry Beach is for you!

Located at the tip of Toronto’s Port Lands area on the eastern side of Toronto, Cherry Beach has been a popular beach destination for years.

Cherry Beach is a mostly sandy beach that is well maintained, and is considered one of the cleanest beaches in mainland Toronto.

But perhaps what might be the biggest appeal to Cherry Beach is its party scene.

Cherry Beach host weekend dance parties every summer weekend and the crowds are insane!

Promise Cherry Beach is a weekly music festival that’s been running at Cherry Beach for over 20 years!

Every Sunday this summer from June 5th through to Sept 5th you can party it up at Promise Cherry Beach and enjoy music from local and international DJs.

Tickets for Promise Cherry Beach cost only $20 (and do need to be purchased in advance).

Beyond hosting one of the best beach music festivals in Toronto, Cherry Beach is also located in close proximity to both Cabana Pool Bar and Rebel nightclub, making it a top choice destination for the younger crowd looking for a good time.

10. Ward’s Island Beach

Address: Ward’s Island Beach, Ward’s Island

The Ward’s Island Beach in the Toronto Islands is located just a 5 minute walk from the Ward’s Island ferry dock.

Ward’s Island Beach is much quieter than Centre Island beach and Hanlan’s Point Beach.

It’s the perfect destination for those looking to experience the beauty of the Toronto Islands but without all the crowds.

Besides a beautifully sandy strip that’s perfect for relaxing the day away on, you’ll also find playgrounds here, ping-pong tables, picnic spots, and a gazebo.

Ward’s Island Beach is also a Blue Flag beach which means it meets strict water quality and safety criteria.

This means you can swim at Ward’s Island Beach!

11. Marie Curtis Park East Beach

Address: 2 Forty Second St, Etobicoke

If you’re look for a low key and relaxing day at the beach, Marie Curtis Park Beach is for you.

Located in Etobicoke, Marie Curtis Park Beach is much less busy than a lot of the beaches on this list of the best beaches in Toronto.

Beyond a beautiful beach you’ll also find a playground here, wading pool, picnic spots, and lots of great walking trails.

Marie Curtis Park East Beach also has a swimming beach meaning it is safe for swimming.

It truly is the perfect beach to come relax with family and spend a day in the sun enjoying nature without crowds.

12. Gibraltar Point Beach

Address: Gibraltar Point Beach, Centre Island

A lesser visited but highly recommended beach that’s also on Centre Island in the Toronto Islands is Gibraltar Point Beach.

This beach is smaller and not crowded at all, so you can really enjoy some peace and quiet here.

In fact, so much so that it’s considered Toronto’s best kept secret in terms of beaches!

To get to Gibraltar beach you can take either the Centre Island ferry or the quieter Hanlan’s Point Ferry and walk a bit.

Gibraltar beach is truly Toronto Islands’ little oasis beach and is the perfect place to spend a relaxing summer day.

And yes – you can swim here!

13. Rouge Beach

Address: 195 Rouge Hills Drive

Another great swimming beach in Toronto’s GTA is Rouge Beach.

Located in Rouge National Urban Park in Scarborough, Rouge Beach gets it’s name from the red color of the water.

The red color comes from clay in the river’s banks as it flows towards Lake Ontario.

Beyond a beach you’ll find change rooms here, washroom facilities, a drinking fountain, pond, and bike trails.

Rouge beach is definitely one of Toronto’s quieter beaches.

Final Thoughts

Who doesn’t love spending a hot summer day lounging on a beach surrounded by friends, playing ball, catching some sun, splashing in the lake, and sipping on something refreshing?

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing and quiet beach hang, or want a more lively environment, there is definitely a Toronto beach for you to enjoy this summer.

As I’m sure you can see from this guide to the best beaches in Toronto, we really have a lot of great beaches for you to enjoy this summer.

By the way, if you’re visiting Toronto soon you might also want to check out these posts:

Which Toronto beach are you most looking forward to check out this summer?

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