Nestled along Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore, the Canadian city of Toronto is a popular jumping-off point for a wide number of boat tours.
(Photo: Viator / Courtesy Great Lakes Schooner Company)
A dynamic urban metropolis teeming with glistening skyscrapers it may be, but Toronto is also a city whose inhabitants share an appreciation of the pleasures of tranquil waterside living. There is a rich sailing heritage here, while the city’s scenic natural harbour is a perpetual hive of activity. Below, we’ve dug deep and selected five of the best boat tours from Toronto currently available.
Toronto Obsession III Dinner Boat Cruise
There are few things more romantic than a candlelit dinner cruise. On this 3-hour trip, you and that special someone will be whisked off into the atmospheric surroundings of Lake Ontario where you’ll get to enjoy the scenic views of Toronto harbour and the city skyline before tucking into a gourmet 4-course meal freshly prepared by the boat’s on-board chefs. After dinner, you’ll have the chance to kick back and enjoy some dulcet tones spun by a live DJ, allowing you to groove the evening away. A fully licensed bar will help things flow late into the night. From $87 per person.
Toronto & Niagara Falls 3 Days Tour
(Photo: Viator / Courtesy Agence Wonder Travel Inc.)
If you’ve got the time and budget, this extended 3-day tour offers a magical opportunity to see both Toronto and Niagara Falls in leisurely fashion, including 2 nights’ accommodation. Accompanied the whole time by an experienced and knowledgeable guide, the tour starts early morning with a 5-hour drive in an air-conditioned vehicle from Montreal to Toronto, where you’ll spend the day as you please. You might want to visit some of the city’s most famous attractions (own expense) including the CN Tower and the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. After your first night in a comfortable hotel, you’ll travel to Niagara Falls, where you can marvel at the awe-inspiring falls, as well as explore the Marineland zoo and amusement park. On your final day you’ll make the return journey to Montreal to bring your tour to a close. From $273 per person.
Niagara Falls Day and Evening Tour With Boat Cruise
(Photo: Viator / Courtesy Zoom Tours Inc)
Marvel at the grandeur of Niagara Falls by day and night on this full-day tour. Starting in the afternoon, you’ll board a minibus before travelling through the orchard-laden countryside of the Niagara peninsula, along the Niagara River from the base of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. En route, you’ll stop at attractions including the Whirlpool Spanish Aerocar, the Floral Clock, and a winery stop in Niagara-on-the-Lake. On arrival, you can leisurely explore Niagara Falls, or opt to visit the Journey Behind the Falls attraction where you descend via elevator to get a closer look underneath and behind the crashing waters (own expense). You’ll then have the chance to enjoy a dinner (also own expense) at a restaurant, before, after sunset, watching a light show displaying the falls in captivating colours. Your tour ends with return transport to your Toronto hotel. From $140 per person.
Private Tour: Niagara Falls from Toronto with Lunch and Boat
(Photo: Viator / Courtesy Airlink Tours)
Plan your own bespoke adventure on this private half-day tour which begins with a chauffeur-driven journey from Toronto towards the Niagara region, home to the iconic Niagra Falls. Be sure to ask your driver plenty of questions along the way – they are famously good value for a yarn. Once in Niagara, the world is your oyster, but you’d be crazy not to visit the world-famous waterfalls that adorn so many postcards. Choose from a huge range of Niagra-based activities including a Hornblower boat cruise into the falls, or climbing up the Skylon Tower for jaw-dropping views of the gushing cascades of water. You can also enjoy a mouth-watering buffet lunch at the top of a luxury hotel, as well as leisurely strolls around the towns of Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fort George, and wine sampling at a local vineyard, before your return journey to Toronto. From $360 per person.
Toronto Tall Ship Boat Cruise
Set sail for the high seas on this two-hour crowed tall-ship boat cruise from Toronto. After hopping aboard your vintage vessel, a 3-masted 1930s schooner, in Toronto harbour, you’ll embark on a 30-minute tour before sailing out into the seas off the Canadian coastline towards shimmering Lake Ontario. You’ll have the chance to help the crew raise the sails, or simply sit back, relax, and enjoy panoramic views over Toronto’s islands and skyline. During the trip your crew will regale you with ancient sea shanties as they coil the ropes and fire the ship’s mighty cannon. The tour finishes at the departure point. From $30 per person.