Toronto Islands Ferries
Toronto Islands Ferries
4.5
Monday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown
At the heart of Toronto, Downtown is the destination for cheap eats and fast fashion. Cut through by hip and trendy Yonge Street, the vibe here is young, with a strong student influence from the Ryerson University Campus. As a result, the Downtown area is always in flux: undergoing the construction of new facilities, with fresh retail spaces and pop-up cafes. Home to Toronto's largest indoor shopping mall, a number of vintage cinemas, and a healthy nightlife centered on the area's Distillery District bar and clubs near the East End, it's both an easygoing daytime spot and a popular party place after sunset. It also features some of Toronto's best outdoor landmarks, including Yonge-Dundas Square and the Nathan Phillips Square: perfect for a concert, a skate, or a relaxing sit-down.
How to get there
- Union • 9 min walk
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Best nearby
Restaurants
3,937 within 5 kms
Attractions
533 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- CrisslyRoseDominican Republic49 contributionsGood view and travelThis is an experience you should consider in your itinerary !! You can get an amazing view of Toronto City and the breeze during the cruise is gorgeous!! The islands are good although we couldn't walk at all because they are so big and it was so cold!! But in general, it is an amazing experienceVisited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten February 17, 2024
- IAN DWigan, United Kingdom25,865 contributionsA must if visitingThis was one of my favourite things to do in Toronto. The price of a ticket includes a return trip from any one of the three ferry stations. The ferry offers to best photo views of the Toronto skyline. A must if visitingVisited April 2024Travelled soloWritten May 5, 2024
- KTP310Reading, United Kingdom1,191 contributionsA must to visit the islandsWe loved our visit to the islands. The ferry runs about every 40 minutes, with different ferries heading to the three main islands. The islands are connected so you can travel back from any of the islands with the $9.11 return ticket. The views of Toronto skyline from the ferry deck were amazing.Visited May 2024Travelled with familyWritten May 7, 2024
- CharlineVaumarcus, Switzerland3 contributionsBeautiful view on TorontoI recommend going to Toronto Island, it's really beautiful. During the day, you can walk around the Island depending where you are dropped off, but the walk can be more or less longer. You have a wonderful view of the city. If you want a break, it's the perfect place to go. You can also go just for the sun set. Personally, I love the view.Visited May 2024Travelled with friendsWritten May 9, 2024
- AndrewF31_KAManresa, Spain166 contributionsNice service to get to the islandsYou can buy tickets in advance or buy on location. Both lines went quite fast despite somewhat holiday season on a Monday morning. We were with a bicycle so we just picked up the first ferry available once we bought our tickets. The timetables available for each station makes it easy to plan your return back. The ferries are quite punctual, and plenty of space for bikes and for taking a rest or making nice photos.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten July 6, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,142 reviews
Excellent
559
Very good
437
Average
112
Poor
19
Terrible
15
Dasht
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
I was so disapointed with my Centre Island experience today. We left Centreville 30 minutes before it closed to line up for the ferry back to the city. We stood in a tightly packed crowd for at least 20 minutes while I worried about my child getting trampled. Once the boat arrived we moved forward with the crowd but made it only as far as the holding cage. The boat left. The next ferry was not coming for another hour, and we couldn't wait with a small tired child in that crowd. It cost my family $50 to get back from the Island in a private water taxi.
The ferries need to increase service and coordinate with Centreville's opening hours. Safety measures are also needed to prevent crowding and the anxiety of hopeful passengers. Simple things like a zig zag line, like that used for example for rides or airport customs, could ensure a clear line with adequate personal space (especially for children). Turnstiles at the entry to those lines could count potential passengers and clearly signal when the maximun is reached, without people waiting in line for unreasonable lengths if time, only to miss the boat and have to continue waiting.
It is a shame to have such a beautiful space in this city and not be able to visit.
The ferries need to increase service and coordinate with Centreville's opening hours. Safety measures are also needed to prevent crowding and the anxiety of hopeful passengers. Simple things like a zig zag line, like that used for example for rides or airport customs, could ensure a clear line with adequate personal space (especially for children). Turnstiles at the entry to those lines could count potential passengers and clearly signal when the maximun is reached, without people waiting in line for unreasonable lengths if time, only to miss the boat and have to continue waiting.
It is a shame to have such a beautiful space in this city and not be able to visit.
Written August 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jsilverman83
Oakland, CA409 contributions
Jul 2022
This would have been 5 stars but they didn't stick to their schedule at all. We got lucky in that we got to the dock 15 minutes before the scheduled departures, so we just barely made it on the ferry both times. The line to get tickets at the ferry was huge but there were signs saying to get tickets online and then just show that at the entry area with basically no line, so we did that and it took me about 3 minutes to purchase round trip tickets for 2 adults for the day. The ferry goes quickly from dock to dock and the views of downtown and the islands are awesome!
Written July 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don Doe
6 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
You will be swarmed by mosquitoes this year. Even if you wear repellent you will get at least 20 bites and this is during the day. There is more swampy water thru out and the lake is higher than its been in a long time. Obviously the City is not bothering to spray for mosquitoes and apparently West Nile has been reported in past summers. There was a 5 foot brownish yellowish scum right along the whole western shoreline when I was there and I couldn't believe people were swimming thru it. The debris and garbage along the western beach was incredible.
Written June 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PavlaPavla
Chrudim, Czech Republic7,543 contributions
Jul 2023
To use ferry to go to Central Island is easy and cheap. You can buy tickets at the ticket office in the port or online. The journey itself is quick, taking about 15 minutes to Central Island, and you can see the iconic Toronto skyline from the deck of the boat.
What was bad was zero organization while waiting for the ferry. A crowd of people (200 or maybe more) was waiting to be let on the boat. When that happened, people started rushing forward, pushing each other, there were a lot of people with baby carriages, which they ran (albeit unintentionally) into other people's feet. Everything was incredibly chaotic. At the same time, it would be quite enough to put a zig zag line here and boarding on the ferry would be more comfortable.
On the way back, there were only about 20 people on the ferry, so the boarding was much easier. It was also possible to take beautiful photos of the Toronto skyline, because the ferry was almost empty and you could walk around the deck without any problems.
What was bad was zero organization while waiting for the ferry. A crowd of people (200 or maybe more) was waiting to be let on the boat. When that happened, people started rushing forward, pushing each other, there were a lot of people with baby carriages, which they ran (albeit unintentionally) into other people's feet. Everything was incredibly chaotic. At the same time, it would be quite enough to put a zig zag line here and boarding on the ferry would be more comfortable.
On the way back, there were only about 20 people on the ferry, so the boarding was much easier. It was also possible to take beautiful photos of the Toronto skyline, because the ferry was almost empty and you could walk around the deck without any problems.
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa P
Calgary, Canada1,462 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
We decided to go to Toronto Island at the last minute. At 10 a.m., it was a short line and an easy process to get to the ferry. When we came back around 3:30 pm, the line to get the ferry and cross to the island was kilometric with hundreds of people waiting. If you can buy tickets in advance as they have a special line for ticket holders.
Written May 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pamela C
89 contributions
Sept 2022
The boats are weathered, but it’s worth a visit to take a picture of the skyline at night. I recommend going there to watch the sunset and snap a picture at Twilight. The ferries are usually on time and it’s a quick trip to get to and from the islands
Written February 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
carolfromcalgary2017
Calgary, Canada51 contributions
Sept 2021
Walked from the ferry terminal on Centre Island and returned via the Ward's Island ferry. We took the boardwalk along the lake and arrived at a lovely restaurant where we ate lunch under the huge trees. The ferry ride is only about 10 minutes.
Written February 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CrisslyRose
Dominican Republic49 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
This is an experience you should consider in your itinerary !! You can get an amazing view of Toronto City and the breeze during the cruise is gorgeous!! The islands are good although we couldn't walk at all because they are so big and it was so cold!! But in general, it is an amazing experience
Written February 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KTP310
Reading, UK1,191 contributions
May 2024 • Family
We loved our visit to the islands. The ferry runs about every 40 minutes, with different ferries heading to the three main islands. The islands are connected so you can travel back from any of the islands with the $9.11 return ticket. The views of Toronto skyline from the ferry deck were amazing.
Written May 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IAN D
Wigan, UK25,865 contributions
Apr 2024 • Solo
This was one of my favourite things to do in Toronto. The price of a ticket includes a return trip from any one of the three ferry stations. The ferry offers to best photo views of the Toronto skyline. A must if visiting
Written May 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So the ticket to tronto island doest expire till then end of year can j use the tiket over and over ir do I need to buy new tickets every time I go back
Written July 4, 2023
I believe you need to buy a ticket every time you go. It is valid for the day.
Written July 5, 2023
Hi there, i booked tickets for jack layton ferry for tomorrow but in ticket receipt there is no time mention . please answer me what time we should go there.
Thanks
Written May 27, 2021
Hi! What are the best places to go to in the islands? And which island should I go?
Written September 22, 2018
The busiest is Centre Island with places to eat, amusements and rides. For nature, quiet and walking (or bicycle and kayak rental) and a lovely bar/restaurant and sights like the fire station then Wards Island is perfect.
Written September 22, 2018
Bonjour,
Nous partons avec mon ami au Canada faire un petit road trip en septembre/octobre.
Pour les activités que nous avons prévu, j'ai besoin de savoir s'il faut réserver les billets avant de partir pour:
- Visite de la tour CN
- Croisière au pied des chutes du Niagara
- Circuit voiture pour le parc Omega
- Tickets pour la traversée en ferry pour les îles de Toronto
- Entrée a Biodome (qui je crois, je viens de voir ça, sera fermé! mais il y a le jardin botanique ..)
De plus, quelqu'un sait-il si un match de baseball ou de hockey aura lieu entre le 27/09 et le 03/10 soit à Montréal, Ottawa ou Toronto ?
Merci de votre aide =)
Written August 21, 2018
Bonjour ,
Combien de temps met on a pied d’un bout à l’autre de l’île ? Est ce que toute l’île vaut le coup d’être vue ?
Et quel est le nom du « port » d’embarcation ?
Merci de votre aide :)
Written August 19, 2018
We did not walk it, we did the trolley ride. It's a big island.
Written September 27, 2018
Yes, pets are also welcome on the ferry for no extra charge, but they must be on a leash at all times.
Written August 21, 2018
Are there any restaurants or bars on the islands?
Written June 21, 2018
Yes, there are several snack bars and restaurants on the Toronto Islands. At Hanlan's Point, there is a snackbar at the dock and also the Mermaid Cafe, near the beaches and tennis courts. Both serve hot dogs, sandwiches, soft drinks and a variey of beers. There is are a couple of snack bars on Centre Island, as well, including a Shopsy's Deli stand. On Ward's Island, there is a slightly more formal restaurant called The Rectory. The Queen City Yacht Club has a fine restaurant at its facility on Ward's Island, but I believe you must be a club member or guest of a club member to dine there.
Written June 21, 2018
There are paid parking lots within about one block of Queens Quay and Bay Street in each direction - but taking public transit is much better because it eliminates the need to find and pay for parking.
Written August 21, 2018
Hi I was wondering can you visit the islands late march and if so will it be to cold also do they have the night tours in late march thankyou travelling from the uk
Written October 14, 2017
Hi. I am pretty sure the ferries operate all year round as people live on the islands.Sorry cant help about times but there should be something on their website.
Written October 15, 2017
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