I LOVE the beauty and bliss a fresh blanket of snow brings to the city. So although I’m not a skater, don’t own skates and sometimes lack the motivation to bundle myself up to trudge through the cold weather, I do not ever regret it. Winter activities are too few and far between – in addition, it can be hard to know where to go or what to do without spending lots of $$ on equipment. Skating is the perfect, easy choice and thankfully Toronto has many rinks to choose from!
So, where to start!?

I decided to mix up my regular Thursday routine from dinner, yoga and work (or Netflix) before bed and instead went skating. Where did I go, you ask? Well, since I don’t own skates and needed to rent a pair, my options were somewhat limited. While there are many skating rinks in Toronto, only a handful offer rental services. I decided to embrace our city’s landmarks and hit the most popular rink at Nathan Phillips Square. I did a bit of research before making my decision and found a few others I would have loved to visit.

Most outdoor skating rinks in Toronto are open until March 17^th, so with somewhat warmer weather on the horizon, there is still a chance to get in that skating date night you have wanted since the first snowfall back in October! I am hoping I’ll have a chance to get to at least 1 or 2 more before the season is done.

Renovated a few years ago, Greenwood has not just one, but two rinks! One is covered and often used for hockey or other ice activities; the other is a beautiful trail. This one was a little bit further than the others and since I needed rentals, it was off the list.

This rink is now closed for the season (I was SO sad to hear), but is top of my list for the 2019/20 season. It is an outdoor rink under the exposed beams of their old factory – a truly stunning setting! They offer skating lessons and rink rentals.

Nice and close to me in South Etobicoke, this is a skating trail I would LOVE to skate. If I had my own skates I could make it happen! Unfortunately this one was also out of the running since I needed rentals.

A massive natural ice rink in West Toronto! Grenadier Pond is located at High Park, offering a plethora of other outdoor activities making this a perfect weekend daytrip. The only catch is there is no guarantee the rink will be open on the day you’re planning to go. The city tests the ice daily to make sure it is safe to skate on, putting up a red or yellow flag accordingly.

I was SO excited for this one and had my heart set on this rink for date night. It was very upsetting to find out it was closed for the season! So while I can’t provide you with my personal experience, I can tell you that from conversations and Instagram photos, it looks amazing.

This 1.75km run is located under the Gardiner Expressway on the lands of Fort York National Historic Site. It is Toronto’s largest skating trail! They offer skate rentals, skating lessons, have a fire pit and warming lounges. There’s even free Wi-Fi for up to an hour!

A city gem, but be prepared for crowds! Central in the downtown core, the Nathan Phillips Square rink is by far the most popular rink in Toronto. Skating is free & they have rentals! I spent $6 to park directly underneath the rink, $20 on two pairs of rentals for up to 2 hours & the cost of my dignity as I tested my balance cautiously getting on the ice (it had been a few years…). Once I gained my balance I was able to take in the beautiful site of city lights all around me & appreciate the varying expertise of all of my fellow skaters laughing & learning together. 

There is a full list of all indoor/outdoor rinks, hours of operation, season start & end dates as well as an interactive map to help you find one close to home! This can all be found on the City of Toronto website.
Click Here for a List of Toronto Skating Rinks

Happy Skating!

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