Cathy MerrittHere’s something that tourists—and even some Toronto locals—don’t know about: right under the Gardiner Expressway is a sprawling recreational space where people hang out. This space is called the Bentway, and it deserves to be on your itinerary!
It’s a hub of all things cool and fun. Most people come here to rollerskate (or ice skate, if it’s winter) and party, but this place also hosts art shows, workshops, community events, and more. The fun never stops here!
If I’ve convinced you to make your way to Bentway, here’s a guide so you know all the fun things that are in store for you!
Things to Know
Address: 250 Fort York Blvd
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 6:30 pm
Contact Number: +14163040222
How to Get Here
By TTC: Ride Streetcar 509 and alight at Fleet Street. Walk to the Bentway Strachan Gate, which should only be a few minutes away.
Alternatively, you can ride Streetcar 511 and alight at Fort York Boulevard. This should put you closer to the Bentway Skate Trail.
By Car: The nearest parking can be found at the Green P lots, which are located at 250 Fort York Boulevard and 800 Fleet Street. The rate is C$1 per half-hour.
Other Important Things to Know
Some parts of the Bentway have free Wi-Fi available, which is provided by Beanfield. Simply sign onto “Beanfield1hfree,” and you can enjoy one hour of Wi-Fi for free.
Additionally, you can find washrooms along the Bentway Skate Trail. These are open from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm, unless stated otherwise.
When it comes to accessibility, the Bentway has flat paved and wooden decked surfaces. So, exploring the area using mobility devices should be no problem.
What to Do
Roller Skating
– From: thebentway
Rollerskating is the main activity you can do at the Bentway, and it’s also the main reason I love coming here. The skating trail is long and expansive, giving me a lot of space to skate around—and even do crazy tricks if I’m feeling adventurous.
The trail even goes so far as the Fort York National Historic Site. This historic site is a free museum that deserves more love, so sometimes, I pause from skating to check this one out.
If you don’t know how to skate yet, don’t worry because there are always classes available here. These classes usually fall on a Friday or a weekend to allow students and people working a typical 9–5 to join.
Attend a summer exhibition
– From: thebentway
In my opinion, summer is the best season to visit the Bentway, and that’s because this is when organizers hold summer exhibitions here!
You can expect to find installations and other pieces on display, as if we’re in an art gallery, but there will also be a community gathering, complete with food trucks and bar service!
One current exhibition (as of writing) is Sun/Shade, which tackles the theme of rising temperatures in urban spaces. This one officially launches on May 23, 2025, and it will continue until October 5, way past summer.
Check out new art from Waterfront ReConnect
– From: thebentway
Another artsy endeavour that’s active in the Bentway is Waterfront ReConnect. This encourages artists to use the expressway itself as inspiration or even as a canvas. That’s why most projects under this program are murals.
The art hosted by Waterfront ReConnect changes often, so you never know what to expect until you get to the venue. One standout is Pixel Story, a series of sculptural pixel walls that are intriguing enough to make you pause and examine everything.
The “pixels” also come with stories of tourists and Toronto locals accessing the waterfront. I loved reading these stories because they give me a glimpse of a stranger’s mind.
Catch a performance or a workshop at the Bentway Staging Grounds
– From: thebentway
The Bentway has its very own staging grounds. In all the years I’ve been coming to the Bentway, I’ve seen workshops, parties, and live performances there.
One memorable event I attended here is Understories, which is a listening experience. Essentially, you’re listening to meditative, musical backdrops, on-site field recordings, and other nature sound effects while staying under the expressway. There’s also storytelling from Isaac Crosby, an Ojibwe and black Canadian farmer.
The whole point of Understories is to deepen our awareness of our urban environment and encourage us to pause and reflect, which is something we don’t often do in a fast-paced city.
Attend a Halloween party
– From: thebentway
Bentway hosts a Halloween party every year, and it’s always awesome!
What makes the Halloween party here amazing is the fact that it welcomes pets. So, it’s not just humans who are wearing costumes; the adorable fur babies are, too, and they look so cute!
There’s even a pageant for them! Watch dogs of all sizes—from the smallest chihuahua to the most intimidating pit bulls—parade with their sparkly costumes, and root for your favourite. I can never choose, so I cheer for everyone!
Winter at the Bentway
– From: thebentway
I know I said earlier that summer is the best season to visit the Bentway, but I do think that winter is a close second. The whole place gets covered with snow, making it look magical!
Of course, the skating trail transforms into an ice skating rink, which is amazing because, as I mentioned earlier, the trail is super long. In fact, ice skating here feels like cruising; sometimes, I just mindlessly skate from one end to the other.
Winter at the Bentway also has Polar Bear Skate, a special skating event that’s best suited for the brave at heart. Why’s that? Because you’ll be ice skating with nothing but your underwear! Sounds terrifying to me, but it’s definitely fun to watch.
