Ferry times, best beaches, bike rentals, and the Ward's Island secret most tourists miss — the complete guide to spending a day on the Toronto Islands.
Three ferry docks. Three destinations. One of the best days you'll have in Toronto. The Toronto Islands — Centre Island, Hanlan's Point, and Ward's Island — sit just 1.5 km off the waterfront and offer beaches, bike paths, picnic lawns, an amusement park, and some of the best views of the skyline you'll find anywhere.
The Toronto Island Ferry departs from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street. Round-trip tickets are $9.57 for adults. Ferries run every 15–30 minutes in summer; less frequently off-season. Centre Island ferry runs seasonally (May–October), Ward's Island ferry runs year-round.
Beat the Line Book ferry tickets online at toronto.ca/islands before you go, especially on summer weekends. Lines can stretch 90 minutes without a pre-booked time slot.
Ward's Island Beach is the most beloved — wide, sandy, and calmer crowds. Centre Island Beach is busiest in summer but great for families. Hanlan's Point Beach is quieter and adult-friendly (official clothing-optional section at the south end).
Rent a Bike Bring or rent a bike — it's the best way to explore all three islands in one day. Toronto Island Bicycle Rental operates at Centre Island seasonally.
Ward's Island and Algonquin Island have approximately 800 year-round residents who live in heritage cottages on city-owned land under a unique long-term lease arrangement fought for and won by the community in the 1980s after a decades-long dispute with the City of Toronto. It's one of the more unusual arrangements in any North American city. The community runs a small café (Ward's Island Café), has its own garden plots and club houses, and has maintained a character that is entirely unlike anything else within the city boundaries. Walking through the residential streets of Ward's Island — tiny gardens, colourful houses, no cars, lake views — is genuinely unlike anything else in Toronto.
Day Trips & Outdoor Guide → — Plan your full Toronto outdoor itinerary
WTF Toronto creates guides using independent editorial research, official sources, local knowledge and firsthand experience where available. Commercial relationships are disclosed where applicable.