Best Views of the Toronto Skyline from Toronto Island
Where to Get the Best Toronto Skyline View from Toronto Island
If you are wondering where to get the best Toronto skyline view, I found it on Toronto Island, just a short walk from the Centre Island ferry. During my July 2022 visit, I spent about five hours exploring the islands, and the best skyline viewpoint for me was Olympic Island Park.
This is not one of those spots where you have to commit to a long walk before seeing anything worthwhile. After taking the ferry from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, I spent some time around the area near the dock before heading over toward Olympic Island. It took very little effort to reach the spot where I got my favorite photos of the Toronto skyline, CN Tower, and Rogers Centre.
If photography is your main goal, this is the area I would prioritize first. It gave me the clearest and most impressive skyline views of the day. It was crowded when I visited on a hot afternoon, so I had to work around other people while taking photos, but it was still worth it.
Best Views of the Toronto Skyline from Toronto Island - Table of Content
- Where to Get the Best Toronto Skyline View from Toronto Island
- Best Toronto Skyline Photo Spots on Toronto Island
- How to Get to the Best Toronto Skyline Viewpoint
- Is Toronto Island Worth Visiting for Skyline Photos?
- Toronto’s Centre Island in 60 Seconds
- FAQ
- Toronto Islands and Photography Tours
- Related Content
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Best Toronto Skyline Photo Spots on Toronto Island
There are several places on Toronto Island where you can photograph downtown, but not all of them give you the same kind of skyline shot. During my walk, each area had a different strength.
Olympic Island Park
For me, Olympic Island Park had the best view of the Toronto skyline. This was the spot where I took the most photos, and it is the place I would recommend first to anyone visiting the islands mainly for photography.
The view from here felt open and direct, with a great angle toward the skyline across the water. I used both a zoom lens and a wide lens on my Canon EOS RP, which worked well because this spot lets you capture both tighter skyline details and wider cityscape shots. If you want the classic Toronto skyline from Toronto Island photo, this is where I would start.
Centre Island Pier
After Olympic Island, I kept walking through the island, passing the amusement area and fountains before reaching Centre Island Pier. I was surprised the CN Tower was still visible from there.
That said, I would not call the pier the best skyline photo stop of the day. For me, it was more worthwhile as a walk than as a major photography location. I could still see the top of the CN Tower, and I enjoyed going out on the pier and swimming in the water, but if your main goal is the strongest skyline photos, Olympic Island is better.
Hanlan’s Point
I finished my route by circling back through Hanlan’s Point. This was my second-favorite area for skyline photography. The view here was not as clean as Olympic Island because Billy Bishop Airport got in the way a bit, but that also gave it a unique look. Since I enjoy seeing planes, I liked this angle more than I expected. If you want a different perspective on the skyline, or you also enjoy aviation photography, Hanlan’s Point is worth the extra walk.
How to Get to the Best Toronto Skyline Viewpoint
The easiest way to reach this skyline viewpoint is by taking the Centre Island ferry from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto.
If your goal is the best Toronto skyline view, I would head toward Centre Island first and then walk over to Olympic Island Park. From my experience, the best photo area was less than half a mile from the ferry, so it is very easy to reach.
Even though I ended up walking around 3 to 4 miles total during the afternoon, you do not need to do the full loop just to reach the main skyline viewpoint. If you only want the best view, you can get there quickly. The rest of the walking is more about exploring the island.
Is Toronto Island Worth Visiting for Skyline Photos?
Yes — if your main goal is to photograph downtown, I think Toronto Island is one of the best places to do it.
What makes it work so well is the combination of easy ferry access, open waterfront views, and multiple angles on the skyline. Olympic Island Park gave me the best overall shot, Hanlan’s Point offered a more unusual angle, and Centre Island Pier was still worth seeing even though it was not my top photography location.
This was one of those places where the skyline really felt like the main event. Even though I spent several hours walking around the islands, the standout part of the visit was still getting those skyline views across the water.
Toronto’s Centre Island in 60 Seconds
Below is a video from my time on Toronto’s Centre Island. In addition to photographing the skyline, I also spent time walking through the island, visiting the pier, and continuing on toward Gibraltar Point Lighthouse and Hanlan’s Point.
If you have extra time beyond the skyline viewpoints, the island is worth exploring on foot. I ended up spending about five hours there and walked roughly 3 to 4 miles total during the afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Toronto Island has the best skyline view?
From my experience, the best Toronto skyline view was from Olympic Island Park, which is just a short walk from the Centre Island ferry.
Is Olympic Island or Hanlan’s Point better for photos?
I preferred Olympic Island Park and the Centre Island area overall, but Hanlan’s Point gave me a more unique view because of the airport and the passing planes. If you want the cleanest skyline photo, I would start near Centre Island and Olympic Island.
Can you see the Toronto skyline from the ferry?
You can get skyline views while approaching the islands, but my best photos came after getting off the ferry and walking to Olympic Island Park.
Is Toronto Island worth visiting just for the view?
Yes. If you want one of the best ground-level skyline perspectives in Toronto, this is absolutely worth doing. The ferry access and short walk to the best viewpoint make it one of the easiest skyline photo spots to reach.
Toronto Island and Photography Tours
I was able to experience Toronto Island on my own and did not feel a guide was necessary. Still, I know some people prefer the expertise of a local guide. Linked below are a variety of tours that include photography and/or Toronto Island. Please note that I am an affiliate of Viator. If you purchase a tour using one of my links, I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no additional cost to you.