Toronto Leisure

Toronto is without a doubt the sporting centre of Canada. Spectator sports are in full array here, offering something throughout the entire year. The city’s location next to Lake Ontario also provides it with some nice individual outdoor activities, if you feel like getting a bit of exercise.

Spectator sports

Sports fans will have a field day in Toronto. For baseball, the Blue Jays play their home games at the Rogers Centre, located beside the CN Tower. Basketball fans can catch the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre from October to April, and for a taste of American-style football, you can see the Argonauts playing in the Canadian Football League from June to November. However, the biggest sport in town is ice hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs play their home games at the Air Canada Centre and tickets are hard to come by.

If you are visiting in July, you can catch the fast-paced action of the Molson Indy car race. Horse racing is another favourite pastime in this city. Thoroughbred racing happens at the Woodbine Racetrack during the warmer months, and also hosts the Queen’s Plate and North American Cup in June and the Canadian International in September. 

Leisure activities

The Beaches is a neighbourhood along Lake Ontario that has a charming boardwalk stretching along the beaches of the lake. Woodbine Beach is popular with sunbathers and volleyball players. The Toronto Islands are another favourite among the locals. Connected to the mainland by boardwalks, these little islands have great beaches. The busy Centre Island is popular with families, while the beaches on Ward Island are more secluded. If you’re into nude sunbathing, head over to Hanlan’s Point.

Toronto is one of the best cycling cities in North America thanks to its abundance of bike paths in the city parks and the 29kms of street bike routes. Golfing is also a major pastime here, with more than 75 public golf courses located less than an hour’s drive from downtown. The Glen Abbey Golf Club, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is the most famous course in the area and traditionally plays host to the Canadian Open.