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Best Of Toronto
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When the snow starts to fall and winter officially arrives there is nothing like strapping on your skates and heading out with friends or family to have some fun on one of the city's skating rinks. There are forty-nine artificial outdoor ice rinks are operated across the city... you can find a full list of rinks, schedules and more on the City of Toronto's official website.
Here are a few of our favourite ice skating rinks in the city.
 Barbara Ann Scott Skating Rink
College Park
Yonge Street and College Street
(416) 392-1111
At the south west corner of Yonge Street and College Street, right behind the College Park buildings you will find the Barbara Ann Scott outdoor skating rink. The rink is actually named after the first Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal (in 1948) for figure skating. It has pond-style skating and no fences so the occasional skater can be spotted taking a spin around the ice after midnight! Don't expect loud music coming from speakers or food stands like many of the other rinks around the city. Don't worry if you are hungry, Young street is only steps away. The Barbra Ann Scott rink is often considered a "hidden gem" because this beautiful spot has the fewest skaters of anywhere in the city.
Rink Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
 Dufferin Grove Skating Rink
875 Dufferin Street
(416) 392-0913
Just off Dufferin Street, skaters will find another popular skating rink in the city. The rink at Dufferin Park actually has two rink pads: one for shinny hockey all day, everyday except Sunday. The other for pleasure skating all day everyday. If you don't have your own skates, you can borrow a pair for $2.00. If you want to try your hand at shinny hockey, a stick and gloves are $1.00. Helmets are free of charge. The Zamboni snack bar offers up food like no other snack bar in the city. It's almost worth heading over for the tasty food alone! Open from the end of December until mid-March.
Rink Hours:
7 days a week: 9:00am – 9:00pm
Harbourfront Centre Skating Rink
235 Queens Quay West
(416) 973-4000
The Natrel rink, which is located on Queen's Quay West on the shores of Lake Ontario, is Toronto's biggest outdoor skating rink. The supervised rink is open 7 days a week and like the other rinks across the city is free to the public. Skate rentals are $6.00 for children and seniors and $7.00 for adults. Snack food is available and there is usually a DJ on Friday nights. Don't know how to skate? No problem you can still lace up because you are never too old or too young to learn how to skate. Harbourfront offers classes at reasonable prices for all ages.
Rink Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Friday – Sunday: 10:00am - 11:00pm
 Nathan Philips Square Skating Rink
100 Queen Street West
(416) 338-RINK (7465)
The Nathan Philips Square skating rink at Bay Street in front of City Hall is probably the most popular spot for ice skating in the city. Ice skating during the winter months runs from mid-November to mid-March each year and they often have DJ nights on the weekends to add to the fun! Skate rentals and indoor change rooms are available to visitors. Skating under the three solid arches is a favourite past time for many in the city. The "Freedom Arches" as they are officially named signify the belief that "only in freedom can the Human Spirit soar".
Rink Hours:
7 days a week: 10:00am – 10:00pm
 Ryerson University Skating Rink
25 Gould Street
(416) 392-1111
Right in the heart of Ryerson University you will find a reflecting pond that becomes a skating rink in winter. Even though the rink sits in the middle of a University campus this isn't just a popular winter destination for students. Families and skaters of all ages hit the rink through the winter months to have some good ol’ fun right in the centre of urban Toronto. Since the Ryerson rink is free and has no fences, it's pretty much always accessible and its not rare sight to see Torontonians skating by moonlight.
Rink Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm
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