Pick this one for quiet. The City’s 2008 beaches plan calls it one of the quietest beaches on the Island. It is a five-minute walk south from the Ward’s Island ferry dock, and the island boardwalk gives you a 1.5-kilometre walk with views of Lake Ontario, Tommy Thompson Park and the beach. Swim Drink Fish lists it among Toronto’s 2026 Blue Flag beaches. It is our pick for a slow morning.
Outdoors DeskList
Best Beaches in Toronto: Which One for Which Mood
Ten supervised City beaches matched to the day you want: quiet island sand, a boardwalk stroll, Bluffs scenery or a lakeside picnic. Plan for summer 2027.
Winter is the right time to pick your beach. By the time the first hot Saturday arrives, you will already know whether it is a ferry-quiet kind of day or a boardwalk-and-volleyball one.
Here is how the City frames the season. Its supervised beach season runs from June to September, and its beaches page points to summer 2027 for the next one. Seven of its 10 supervised swimming beaches have received the Blue Flag award. Use this list to choose a mood now, then check the City’s pages before you go. For the wider picture of green space on the shoreline, start with our guide to parks in Toronto.
Which beaches are on Toronto Island?
Four of the city’s 10 beaches sit on Toronto Island, so these are your ferry-day beaches. The City says to take the ferry or a private water taxi to get to Ward’s Island. Dunes and beaches run along the western shore of Toronto Island Park from Hanlan’s Point to Gibraltar Point, and around Ward’s Island as well. For the ferry side of the story, see our Toronto Islands guide.
Pick this one for privacy. The City’s 2008 plan describes a small, secluded beach established in 2007. It sits between Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island beaches, about a 20-minute walk from the Centre Island ferry dock. The Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is just north of the beach, which gives your walk a destination. It is also on the 2026 Blue Flag list.
Pick this one for the skyline. The beach, also called Manitou Beach, is a 10-minute walk south from the Centre Island ferry dock. The pier at Centre Island Beach has views of the islands, Tommy Thompson Park and the city skyline. The City’s 2008 plan notes the site has been used for public bathing since 1888. A fine choice for a first-time ferry crowd.
Pick this one for dunes and space. It is a 15-minute walk from the Hanlan’s Point ferry dock, and the City notes that a portion of the beach is clothing-optional. The City’s 2008 plan says the beach is backed by a significant sand dune system extending from Toronto City Centre Airport to Gibraltar Point. Swim Drink Fish lists Hanlan’s Point as a 2026 Blue Flag beach.
Where should you go in the east end?
The east end is boardwalk country. A City guide to The Beaches describes kilometres of sandy beaches, a boardwalk, biking and rollerblading paths and landscaped gardens, and calls it a lovely place to visit at any time of year. Our Beaches neighbourhood hub has more to explore once you are off the sand.
Pick this one for a lively day. The City describes the vibrant atmosphere of Woodbine Beach. It has expanded mesh plastic mats that reach all the way to the water’s edge, near the southeast side of the Donald D. Summerville Pool and south of the bike path. A City guide says Ashbridge’s Bay Park, south of Woodbine Park, is a place to play beach volleyball or to walk, bike or rollerblade on its paved paths and wooden boardwalk. Public swimming facilities here date back to 1897, and Beaches Park and its boardwalk opened in 1932. It is a 2026 Blue Flag beach.
Pick this one for a stroll. The City’s 2008 plan says the beach abuts the boardwalk and the Martin Goodman Trail. A City guide suggests following the lakeside boardwalk or cycling trail east through a series of linked waterfront parks: Woodbine Beach, Beaches Park and Balmy Beach Park. Look for the Leuty Lifesaving Station, built in 1921, at the west end of the site. It is another 2026 Blue Flag beach.
Pick this one for a lakeside picnic. The TTC describes Cherry Beach, in the Port Lands, as a spot for paddleboarding, lakeside picnics or stargazing. Its 202 Cherry Beach seasonal route serves it, and the TTC says its seasonal routes operate through spring, summer and autumn. Cherry Beach is on the 2026 Blue Flag list. Bring a blanket and stay for sunset.
What about Scarborough?
Scarborough gets the drama. Our Scarborough Bluffs guide covers the cliffs in detail; the beach below them is next.
Pick this one for scenery. The City mentions the golden sands of Bluffer’s Park Beach, and its 2008 plan says the Scarborough Bluffs provide a dramatic backdrop. The TTC’s 201 Bluffer’s Park seasonal route rides directly to the base of the Bluffs. The City warns that parking lots fill up very quickly on weekends, and that when they are full visitors walk in along Brimley Road from Barkclene Hills Road. Go early, or take the bus. The beach is a 2026 Blue Flag beach.
Which beaches are on the west side?
The west end has history and a quieter pace.
Pick this one for old Toronto. The City’s 2008 plan says this long, narrow beach has been a city-wide destination since the 1890s. It lists the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion (1922) and the Gus Ryder Sunnyside Pool (1925) among its key amenities. Pair it with a walk along the western waterfront, and see our waterfront parks guide for the neighbours.
Pick this one for a family day on the west edge. TRCA places Marie Curtis Park in the southwest corner of the city, on the banks of Etobicoke Creek. It lists a public swimming beach, wading pool, splash pad, playground, picnic areas and trails among the park’s features, and says the park is a five-minute walk from Long Branch GO Station. The City’s 2008 plan says the beach was established in 1959.
Who awards the Blue Flag, and when?
Swim Drink Fish operates Blue Flag Canada on behalf of Blue Flag International and the Foundation for Environmental Education. It says Blue Flags are awarded each spring, before swimming season starts. That is why we will recheck the list in spring 2027 before you pack the cooler.
What should you know before you go?
Dogs are not allowed on supervised swimming beaches. The links below go to the City’s own pages for the current season.
Send this to the friend you would bring, the one who always asks “which beach?” and then picks the closest one.
Sources (7)
- Beaches, City of Toronto
- Things To Do on Toronto Island, City of Toronto
- Blue Flag, Swim Drink Fish
- Visit some of Toronto's best summer spots with TTC's seasonal routes, Toronto Transit Commission
- Lake Ontario Waterfront features, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
- The Beaches route map, City of Toronto
- Toronto Beaches Plan (December 2008), City of Toronto
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