Best Parks in Toronto

Allan Gardens

A downtown botanical oasis whose centrepiece is a grand 1910 glass Palm House surrounded by six connected greenhouses of palms, orchids, cacti, and tropical blooms. The conservatory is open every day and entirely free, making it a reliable warm escape on a grey winter afternoon. The surrounding park is one of the city’s oldest, though the indoor gardens are the real draw.

Parks

Bluffer's Park

The only place where you can reach the foot of the dramatic Scarborough Bluffs, where sandy cliffs rise as much as 90 metres above Lake Ontario. The park has a sheltered marina, a sandy swimming beach, and picnic areas right beneath the cliffs. It’s a steep walk (or seasonal shuttle) down from the top, so wear good shoes and bring water — there’s little shade on a hot day.

Parks

Edwards Gardens & Toronto Botanical Garden

A former estate garden where manicured rose beds, rock gardens, and a creek-fed ravine meet the contemporary themed plantings of the adjoining Toronto Botanical Garden. Paved paths make it stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, and the ravine trail links into the wider Don Valley network for longer walks. Entry to the gardens is free, with a café and garden shop on site.

Parks

High Park

Toronto's largest public park spreads over 160 hectares of forest, gardens, and off-leash trails just west of downtown. Spring draws crowds for the famous Sakura cherry blossoms near Grenadier Pond, while the rest of the year brings picnickers, runners, and families heading to the small free zoo. Admission and weekday parking are free, but cars are kept out on weekends — come by streetcar or the High Park subway stop.

Parks

Riverdale Park East

A wide, sloping lawn on the east bank of the Don Valley, prized for its sweeping view of the downtown skyline — especially at sunset. The steep hill is the city’s go-to toboggan run in winter and a kite-flying, frisbee magnet in summer, with a running track and pool at the bottom. Tucked just behind it is the free Riverdale Farm, making the area an easy half-day with kids.

Parks

Rouge National Urban Park

Canada's first national park inside a city, sprawling across roughly 80 square kilometres of forest, farmland, wetlands, and Carolinian habitat on Toronto's eastern edge. Managed by Parks Canada, it offers marked hiking trails, guided programs, a campground, and Rouge Beach where the river meets Lake Ontario. Entry is free, and the Rouge Hill GO station puts the beach and southern trails within walking distance.

Parks

Tommy Thompson Park

An accidental wilderness built from construction fill on a five-kilometre spit reaching into Lake Ontario, now one of the best urban birdwatching sites in North America. The car-free roads are ideal for cycling, walking, and skating out to the lighthouse, with the downtown skyline always in view. It’s open to the public on weekends and holidays year-round — leave the car at the gate and bring a bike to cover the distance.

Parks

Toronto Island Park

A car-free chain of islands a short ferry ride from downtown, offering the city's best skyline views along with beaches, lagoons, and shady lawns. Centre Island anchors the action with the Centreville amusement park and bike rentals, while Ward's Island and Hanlan's Point stay quieter. Ferries leave from the Jack Layton Terminal at the foot of Bay Street — buy tickets ahead on summer weekends to skip the long lines.

Parks

Toronto Music Garden

A small waterfront garden designed by landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy with cellist Yo-Yo Ma to express the six movements of Bach's First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. Winding paths move from a swirling 'prelude' riverscape to a grass-stepped amphitheatre, each section echoing a different dance form. It's free to visit, and in summer hosts beloved open-air concerts — bring a blanket.

Parks

Trinity Bellwoods Park

The social heart of the west end, this rolling green fills with picnickers and sunbathers the moment the weather turns warm. Its sunken former-creek bed — the beloved 'dog bowl' — is a favourite off-leash gathering spot, and there are tennis courts, a wading pool, and a recreation centre on site. It sits right on Queen Street West, ringed by some of the city's best cafés and bars.