Sports

Toronto is first and foremost an ice hockey city and it is therefore no wonder that the Hockey Hall of Fame (Internet: www.hhof.com)  is located here. The mood in the city depends very much on the success or failure of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Internet: www.torontomapleleafs.com) , one of the most historic teams in the National Ice Hockey League. It plays at the Air Canada Center, 40 Bay Street (Tel: (416) 815 55 00. Internet: www.theaircanadacentre.com) , as does the city’s professional basketball team, the Toronto Raptors (Internet: www.raptors.com) .

Basketball is also a popular sport in Toronto. The city’s professional baseball team is called Toronto Blue Jays (Internet: www.bluejays.com) and plays in the same American league as the New York Yankees and similar teams. The games of the Blue Jays take place in the Rogers Center, 1 Blue Jays Way (Tel: (416) 341 10 00. Internet: www.rogerscentre.com).

Between July and November, during the Canadian Football League’s season, the Toronto Argonauts (Internet: www.argonauts.ca)  also play in the SkyDome. The Canadians are enthusiastic athletes.

In the summer months you can see them jogging, swimming, cycling, hiking, playing a variety of team sports or playing a tennis match. In the winter months, the public tennis courts are covered with ice and are available to the public as ice rinks, and anyone (who can skate) can also take part in a spontaneous ice hockey game.

Gyms

The YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street (Tel: (416) 975 96 22. Internet: www.ymcagta.org), is a very large, modern facility in the heart of the city center, which includes a sauna, hot tub, swimming pool, squash Places and a room with weights are available.

Golf

Although the season is limited to short summers due to the icy winters, golf is an extremely popular sport in Toronto.

Over a hundred golf courses are within half an hour’s drive of downtown; Within the city, visitors can visit the Don Valley Golf Course (Tel: (416) 392 24 65. Internet: www.toronto.ca/parks/golf).

The Lionhead Golf and Country Club (tel: (905) 455 84 00) is located in the suburb of Brampton, which is close to the city center towards the northwest. Internet: www.golflionhead.com)  with its two 18-hole – the course – called ‘Legends’ is considered the most difficult in the country.

Horse riding

Visitors to the 24-hectare Sunnybrook Park north of the city center will find the Central Don Riding Academy (tel: (416) 444 40 44), the largest riding school in the city, which also offers riding trails in addition to lessons.

Ice rink

Since ice hockey is the most popular sport in the country, it is no wonder that many citizens of Toronto enjoy ice skating in winter. When the temperatures drop, Nathan Phillips Square next to the city hall is covered with ice.

An ice rink is also in the chic Hazleton Lanes mall in Yorkville.

Swim

In summer, many are drawn to Toronto’s beaches to stroll, roller-skate, bike, or run around the blue waters of Lake Ontario. The outdoor pools are very popular, such as the Gus Ryder Sunnyside Pool, Budapest Park, 1755 Lakeshore Boulevard West (tel: (416) 392 66 96), and the outdoor pool in Riverdale Park, 550 Broadview Avenue (tel: (416) 392 0751) . In winter you can use the indoor pool in the YMCA.