Toronto’s waterfront spans 46 kilometres from Etobicoke to the Rouge River. With multiple entry points and unique activities throughout, there are many more than eight things to do along Lake Ontario’s shore, but in this article, we will focus on Downtown. Your route can begin near the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal or on the opposite end at the Toronto Music Garden, as a reverse route.
Note: If you are looking for a ride, TTC streetcars operate along the waterfront from Union Station to Spadina Ave. (510) and Bathurst St. (509). Water taxis are available throughout, ready to take visitors to the Toronto Islands or other corners of the waterfront.
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All images by Kateryna Topol.
1. Walk the boardwalk
The waterfront boardwalk is accessible from the West side of the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Shaded by trees, it is frequently used by locals for reading and picnics. Nearby in the Harbour Square park, your attention will be immediately drawn to a concrete sphere sculpture, the Sundial Folly. Created by John Fung and Paul Figueiredo in 1995, the structure doesn’t have any real function but offers a unique window view of the lake through the opening in the sphere.
The boardwalk continues pivoting around the marinas and looping around various attractions and activity stands. This route will take you to all other points of interest on this list with multiple opportunities to spread a picnic blanket in the shade. Along the way, you will also come across three WaveDecks, breaking up the monotony of the sidewalk.
Tip: Make sure to stop for the most Canadian dessert, the BeaverTail.
2. The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery
Canada’s leading contemporary art gallery, the Power Plant, is a local favourite. Throughout the year, the art gallery hosts a range of cultural events, art exhibitions, and learning opportunities. On premises, there is also a gift shop with a great selection of local and international art available for purchase.
thepowerplant.org
231 Queens Quay W. | Map link
Free entry, check for opening times
3. Have lunch or dinner at Queens Harbour
A new, 23,000 square foot, dining complex in the heart of Toronto’s waterfront. The restaurant has a wraparound terrace and is divided into two halves. The main dining room is open all day, while the Queens Garden opens after 5 PM on weekdays and 11 AM on weekends. Both areas are beautifully decorated with plenty of greenery and colourful floral motif wallpaper in the hallways. Queens Garden has a retractable roof and spans across two floors, with the upper deck being a mezzanine overlooking the centrepiece bar.
The kitchen is described as a “Chef-driven ‘MediterrAsian’ culinary journey”. The sushi bar in the main dining room pumps out fresh rolls and nilgiris per order. On busy nights, the main kitchen is also divided into two in order to serve the individual sides of the restaurant more efficiently. The main menu has fresh greens, sandwiches, pastas, meaty dishes, and quite a few shareable plates.
queensharbour.ca | Dine-in
245 Queens Quay W. | Map link
Nearby is also Amsterdam Brewery, for those looking for a more casual feel.
Queens Harbour restaurant, Toronto. On the table: Wagyu Sliders and Watermelon and Peach Salad. In the glass: Spicy & Passionate, a signature cocktail with vodka and passion fruit.
4. See what’s on at the Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre is a charitable not-for-profit cultural organisation spread across a 10-acre campus on Toronto’s central waterfront. The centre offers year-round programming for adults and children, from summer camps to craft to design workshops and public exhibitions, there is a lot to choose from. Throughout the summer months, the Harbourfront outdoor stage is host to regular multicultural performances accompanied by an outdoor market.
harbourfrontcentre.com
235 Queens Quay W. | Map link
5. See the waterfront from the lake
An assortment of boat tours and experiences can be accessed directly from the boardwalk. The water tours go around the Toronto Islands, offering a spectacular view of the city skyline. The Tall Ship Kajama, for example, is a traditional 165-foot, three-masted Schooner boat cruise that loops around the outer portion of the islands. Aboard the ship, guests are invited to help with the sails or simply sit back and enjoy a snack and a beverage. Great Lakes Schooner Company and Cruise Toronto also host dinner cruises on Obsession III.
tallshipcruisestoronto.com, reserve online or in-person at the stand
235 Queens Quay W. | Map link
Further, along the barwalk, a more adult concept is departing from the HTO park, Toronto Palapa Tours. This vessel is a floating tiki hut wrapped around a mobile bar. Enjoy a beverage of your choice while this little boat navigates through the narrow waterways between the islands, offering a close-up of the local wildlife. The sunset tours on Lake Ontario are a really special experience, with the sky changing colours throughout the tour.
torontopalapa.tours, reserve online
319 Queens Quay W. | Map link
6. Kayak and paddle on Lake Ontario
Harbourfront Canoe & Kayak Centre is where you can find seasonal rentals, lessons, and group excursions. The company has been operating since 1985 and is the leading organisation for waterpots in the city. The paddling route goes into the Islands’ waterways, close to the shores where you can spot blue and green herons, painted turtles, swans, beavers, raccoons, muskrats, and many other birds.
paddletoronto.com, reserve online or in-person
283 Queens Quay W. | Map link
7. Take a break in the HTO Park
HTO Park is an urban beach park, sister to Sugar Beach on the East End of the Downtown. The park is divided into East and West. The East side is a sandy stretch of beach dotted with yellow stationary umbrellas and colourful Muskoka chairs. Connecting the boardwalk with the main road are grassy hills shaded by trees. Even in the winter, with the lake frozen over and snow on the ground, the beach maintains a restful atmosphere. HTO Park West is mostly a green park, slightly less crowded than the photogenic umbrellas.
Fun fact: HTO, the name is word play between the chemical element of water, H2O, and the common abbreviation for Toronto, TO.
8. Find live music at the Toronto Music Garden
Set in Toronto’s inner harbour Toronto Music Garden is a small, charming garden inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. Curving passages of the garden are representative of different parts of Bach’s Suite No. 1, and so naturally, there is also a stage. In the summer, Harbourfront Centre hosts music in the garden, bringing together local communities and award-winning musicians in this intimate public space. The garden is quite large, with a beautiful gazebo stage and a large willow at the foot of the hill. Wildlife flocks into the greenery with monarch butterflies hovering over flowering plants well into the fall.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is on the island across the water, so time permitting, you can sit on the bench and watch planes take off and land at the city airport.
