Between the honking cars, concerts, and festivals, finding a moment of real stillness in Toronto can feel impossible, yet some of the city’s calmest getaways are hiding in plain sight. We’ve gathered some retreats in the city that prove you don’t need to leave town to find your own private escape.
Hidden in the bustling downtown core of the city sits a Victorian glasshouse which has been a lush refuge since 1910. Inside, orchids, ferns, and cacti grow beneath six glass domes, and the only sound is moving water. Time loosens its grip in a place like this. Come alone any month of the year, in the quiet of the morning, with a coffee and nowhere to be. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission.
Down on the waterfront sits one of the most magical green spaces the city has to offer. Designed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy, the Toronto Music Garden translates the movements of Bach’s First Cello Suite into winding paths, swaying grasses, and shaded groves. Find a bench, bring a book, and let your mind wander in this perfect space. On summer Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, free live concerts take place in the garden for anyone who wanders in. This is an effortlessly peaceful way to spend a few hours.
An old brick factory is not where most people look for calm. But just past Bloor Street, in the Don Valley, sits one of Toronto’s greatest nature escapes. A walk on the boardwalk over ponds or a hike through valleys to reach the skyline make you feel like you have entered a world away from the city, yet it’s barely a short drive from downtown. After a pleasant afternoon here, you’ll understand why so many call it Toronto’s backyard.
The skyline looks different from the grassy hill at Riverdale Park, softer and framed by open sky. Spread out a picnic. Sit on the grassy hill and watch the sunset with someone you love or with only your own company. There’s a quiet kind of restoration in doing very little, in a place that asks nothing of you.
