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Read MoreBest Sunset Viewing Spots in Toronto
- Last Updated: April 13, 2023
Toronto is a vibrant city that boasts stunning natural beauty and breathtaking skyline views. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, watching the sunset in the city is a magical experience. From waterfront parks to rooftop bars, there’s no shortage of beautiful spots to enjoy the city’s skyline as the sun sets. In this blog, we’ll take you through some of the best spots to catch the sunset in Toronto and what makes them so special.
Summary
How We Selected The Best Hidden Gems For Sunset Viewing
You can see the sunset from practically any place in Toronto, but if you want an epic viewing experience, you must select your position strategically. The goal here is to find a west-facing position with a lot of visual attraction in the backdrop, whether it’s the skyline or the lake.
- Reviews: We chose the best spots based on visitors’ experience!
- Ease of Navigation: We picked locations that are close by, so you can see that most of these hidden treasures are accessible by walking or taking public transportation!
- Recreation: We ensured that the majority of these sunset spots have many activities you can enjoy throughout the day.
- Safety: We chose places that are popular amongst people and that there aren’t any difficult pathways for you to tour!
8 Toronto’s Hidden Gems For The Best Sunset Viewing Spots
1. Ontario Place (West Side)
Google/ Oguz Sarkut
Ontario Place is a park and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It does, however, have a lovely place to watch the sunset. A walking trail that sticks into the lake can be found on the west side of this place, across the bridge. You can sit and watch the sunset over Lake Ontario, reflecting bright red and orange lights on the Toronto skylines.
This place will bring you peace and serenity, particularly if you live and work downtown. In addition to that, there are trails for walking, jogging, biking, and an excellent place for picnics, pictures, and dates.
There is even a small beach on the west side of the area that offers a broad Lake Ontario view. There is no fee to walk around and explore the various parts of the site so take this opportunity to explore around during this summer and add it to your bucket list.
Park Information:
Address: 955 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON M6K 3B9
Phone: (416)-314-9900
Visitors Review Highlights:
“It's a nice quiet place to just sit and relax, take in the sun and watch the sunset.”
“A fantastic place to explore with friends! Includes abandoned tunnels and a log ride you can climb! Surrounded by the lake and you can rent kayaks and canoes. Has a refreshment stand and mostly flat bike paths. An ideal place for family adventure!”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Various activities can be done | No washroom facilities available |
| Frequent fun events | If you drive its $6.50 to park for one hour |
| Amazing view of Toronto skyline |
2. Riverdale Park (East End)
Google/James Boukas
Riverdale Park is a large park with many amenities such as running tracks, swimming pools, tennis courts, ice rinks, etc. It also happens to be the prime spot during winter for tobogganing. This park is one of the places to go to watch the crimson sunset where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city by sitting on the grass hill.
Don’t forget to bring a blanket to sit on. If you don’t like a breeze from the lakeshore while watching the sunset, this is the place for you.
The large area in the park is pretty spacious so that it doesn’t get too crowded and can be enjoyed while socially distancing. It’s a great place to go on dates or for picnics with friends.
Park Information:
Address: 550 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 2N6
Phone: (416)-392-2489
Website: toronto.ca
Visitors Review Highlights:
“Visited Riverdale Park one Saturday afternoon with a couple of friends. Views of the city are great! Amazing place to just hang out and have a picnic or grab a coffee. Not sure if there was a special occasion but towards the sunset there was a DJ playing music at the park. Great vibes all around.”
“Riverdale park has an amazing view of the Toronto skyline! This place gets pretty busy during the summer time and it’s a struggle to find parking in the area. You can capture a beautiful sunset here. I love the vibes at night time. It’s an amazing spot to hang out or have picnics. Love grabbing bbt and coming here with friends!”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| The park has sports fields, seven tennis courts, artificial outdoor ice rink, ball hockey pad, playground for children and a picnic area. | No washrooms |
| Can get crowded | |
| Not friendly for elderly people or those with mobility issues since it’s quite steep. |
3. Humber Bay Park (East Side)
Google/ Karanbir Josan
This natural lakeside park is located along the shores of Lake Ontario and offers a variety of amenities such as picnic areas, a beach front, and trails that are ideal for cycling and walking while admiring the view from the water’s edge. It also has access to the beautiful scenery of the Toronto skyline and sunset.
You may also find wildlife, which adds to the overall beauty of the experience. The east side park of Humber Bay Park, on the other hand, is more scenic for various reasons. It is home to a sailing school and yacht clubs, it has a butterfly habitat that includes trees, shrubs and native wildflowers.
Check out this location on your next trip to Toronto to see the incredible sunset views.
Park Information:
Address: 100 Humber Bay Park Rd W, Toronto, ON M8V 3X7
Phone: (416)-392-2489
Visitors Review Highlights:
“We were there for a while walking around and taking in the beauty. Well defined walk and pathway.
We managed to find free parking just outside but there is also paid parking available.The lake view is awesome and if you stay there you would not be disappointed.”
“Huge area and beautiful park with many different walkways. Bikes and pedestrian paths. Small ponds and waterfalls. Views of the city are amazing and with the right camera and lens you can get some amazing waterfront shots. Beaches are easily accessible. Model Sail boats in the water were the highlight of the walk today.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Amazing natural sightseeing | Parking can get full during weekends |
| Weekend parking is not accessible after 7pm. $9 parking fee from 9am – 8pm on weekends. |
4. Toronto Island
Google/Jouma MALHEM
You’ve probably been to Toronto Island for various summer activities and events, but have you ever stayed to watch the sunset? If you haven’t, you’re definitely missing out.
The location of the island is located in Lake Ontario, and you can get there by taking a 13-minute ferry ride from downtown via the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Even in the winter, it is a fantastic place to visit, but in the summer, it is a must-see.
Picnics, hikes, biking, and relaxing on the beaches are all options while you’re there. It’s a lovely spot because it’s peaceful and quiet. The ideal location for escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.
Add this location to your bucket list and enjoy the breathtaking views of Toronto’s skylines and sunsets.
Park Information:
Address: Lake Ontario
Phone: N/A
Visitors Review Highlights:
“This is such a beautiful place! Despite living in the GTA for over 10 years, I knew very little aboutToronto Island and all the wonderful things here. The greenspaces are perfect, the beach is clean, there are so many things to do and see. It’s a great way to spend the day!”
“There is a lack of trees to walk through it during the day, but when sunset comes it becomes an amazing place to chill and watch downtown views.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Open 24 hours | It can get crowded |
| Various activities can be done such as biking, walking, picnic, paddling |
5. Tommy Thompson Park
Google/Tyler Sarry
This waterfront park is located on Leslie Street near downtown Toronto. The land on which it is built is entirely man-made, which makes it unique because it is a large field that extends into Lake Ontario.
This park is a great place to ride, run, and walk, but it’s especially good for experiencing nature because it’s home to a variety of wildlife. One of the most popular activities here is bird watching.
Most notably, this park has a spectacular sunset view. It is one of the best places in the city to watch the sun set behind the city skyline and watch the sky change colour to crimson, highlighting the lake and everything around it.
Park Information:
Address: 1 Leslie St, Toronto, ON M4M 3M2
Phone: (416)-661-6600
Website: tommythompsonpark.ca
Visitors Review Highlights:
“This is my go to spot to see the sunset over the city skyline. Beautiful surrounding nature and ambience. The main path is a really nice and wide bike route.”
“Fantastic getaway just east of the heart of Toronto. Relaxing, serene and beautiful vistas of the lake and city from many viewpoints. Great collage of walkers and bikers. Bring a nap snack of snacks and drinks if going out at the very end. Birds abound and you may get to see foxes and coyotes depending on time of day. No dogs allowed. Great to catch a sunset or watch a storm roll in.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free parking | Not open 24 hours |
6. Polson Pier
Google/ Mohamed Ramadan
The Polson Pier, formerly known as The Docks, is an amusement centre with various facilities such as swimming, mini golf, a driving range, and so on. It is located on Polson Street along the shore of Toronto Harbour.
Aside from that, this location provides the best views of the city skyline as well as breathtaking sunsets. As the sun sets, the sky turns orange hues, and the skyline transforms into a set of distant silhouettes, creating a photo-worthy experience.
Additionally, at sunset, the Lakeview Drive-In, which is situated at the far end of the driving range, is turned into a drive-in theatre. which is ideal for romantic evenings. Even if the sun has set, you can still enjoy breathtaking nighttime views.
If you don’t want to travel to the islands to watch the sunset, this location is a good alternative.
Park Information:
Address: 11 Polson St, Toronto, ON M5A 1A4
Phone: N/A
Visitors Review Highlights:
“I went yesterday to see the sunset, it was absolutely amazing. 100% recommend, it's fantastic!”
“It is so peaceful here and so beautiful! You have a brilliant view of Toronto, but you don’t have any of the noise and bustle. The lake is right at your feet, and oh my god the sunsets are astounding behind the skyline. It’s walkable from the nearest bus stop, and accessible via the bike share cycles as well.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Open 24 hours | Be careful when parking, most people get a ticket if you park on Polson Street or Cherry Street even at night |
| Great place for photography | No washrooms |
| Full view of Toronto’s skyline | The area is small so it can get crowded |
7. HTO Park
Google/EUNHEE CHO
The HTO park is an urban beach in our city that opened in 2007. It is located at the west side of Harbourfront Centre on Lake Ontario. This is yet another waterfront park that comes alive in the summer. Since it is near to Union Station and streetcars, this park is very accessible in downtown Toronto.
During the summer, this location’s sunset view is unrivalled, and it’s also very convenient, with seating chairs and a sandy beach. Aside from the stunning sunset, the view of Lake Ontario, Rogers Arena, and the CN Tower is breathtaking. Since it is close to many attractions, you can enjoy a picnic with live music or a stroll along the shore with your coffee.
Park Information:
Address: 339 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5V 1A2
Phone: (416)-392-8188
Visitors Review Highlights:
“A sanctuary within a busy downtown area. A nice place to relax, watch the sunset, shooting stars, Canada geese, and people watching.”
“Great place to visit with family and friends. Awesome view of the waterfront and some landing flights. Beautiful park to play around.Just grab a cup of coffee and spend some quality evening time. Also a good place for Sunseeker. Just to remember not to go too close to the water.”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great view of the lake | It can get crowded during summer |
| Many beach chairs provided to relax and enjoy | |
| Open 24 hours |
Google/ Vishnu T
Bluffer’s Park is a popular place to watch the sunset in Scarborough, thanks to its sandy beach, picnic spaces, magnificent terrain, strolling area, and boat launch. This location lies at the bottom of Brimley Road and is bounded to the north by the Scarborough Bluffs.
One of the best things about Bluffer’s Park is that it is surrounded by stunning natural scenery. There is a cliff, numerous huge sorted rocks, beach waves, and soft sand, so it will not feel artificial.
The sunset is one of the highlights of visiting this location since the colours can change at any time, making it interesting to observe the difference and what creative perspective nature can provide. It’s preferable to visit during the warmer months to bask in the warmth and watch the sunset at the end of the day.
Park Information:
Address: 1 Brimley Rd S, Scarborough, ON M1M 3W3
Phone: (416)-392-2489
Website: toronto.ca
Visitors Review Highlights:
“In the midst of the hustle and bustle of Scarborough there is a place where you can enjoy a quiet morning . There is nothing more refreshing than watching a sunrise from the beach. Love to come here and enjoy my quiet time there.”
“Great location to see the sun rise, sunset colours in the sky make it very magical too but you won’t see the sun hide from here. Great beach, sometimes could get too busy but is great for couples and friends reunions, maybe not families as mostly big groups of friends come here and play music and all that”
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Opens early at 6am | Closes 11pm |
| Parking free during the day until 5pm | Can get crowded |
| Picnic Site | |
| Various activities can be done such as volleyball or frisbee | |
| Washroom facility | |
| Bike trail |
FAQs About Toronto Sunsets
Depending on the season and month, during winter it’s best to view around 5:30pm and during the warmer months when the sun sets later, around 8pm to 9pm.
Golden hour occurs between 7:26 to 8:06 during the winter months. During the warmer months it’s between 8pm to 9pm.
We’ve noticed that the finest sunset colours, particularly the ultra-vivid sunsets, come after rain, a thunderstorm, low humidity, and other certain atmospheric circumstances. Sunsets are also spectacular in the summer and fall, but not so much in the winter.
It takes between 70 and 140 minutes for the Sun to pass through 18º below the horizon and enter the night phase.
Conclusion
Toronto is a city with many gorgeous scenic landscapes and views of the skyline. The sunset is one of the highlights during the evening after a long day just to relax.
From beaches to parks, the 8 sunset spots listed above are one of the go to places to get the ultimate view of the city with amazing contrast of colours from the sunset.
So if you’re looking for an unforgettable sunset experience, be sure to check out one of these fantastic hidden gems!
Are you an outdoor lover? Check out more outdoor spaces from Toronto:
https://torontoblogs.ca/category/toronto-parks-and-outdoors/
Moru Li
Meet Moru, a talented marketing manager who has called Toronto home for over a decade and truly adores the city. Learn More About Moru
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