One advantage indoor pools have over outdoor pools is they allow swimmers to swim all year long. This is an extremely important benefit for avid swimmers, especially for those in Toronto who often have chilly winters.
Luckily, Toronto has plenty of indoor pools! Whether you’re looking for a free public indoor pool or a members-only pool, you can find one in the Queen City.
Here’s a curated list of the best indoor pools in Toronto that you can’t miss!
Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre
Address: 640 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2B9, Canada
Website: https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/2012/index.html
Contact details: 416-338-2237
Operating hours:
Monday: 7:00 AM – 9:15 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:45 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
If you ask Toronto locals, especially avid swimmers, where the city’s best public indoor pool is, Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre will likely come up more than once. It can’t be helped, considering it’s well taken care of and admission is free.
It has a 25-metre indoor lap pool, a spa pool, a kiddie pool, a water slide, and Tarzan rope. It also has various swimming programs for visitors to join, like adult swimming lessons, kid swimming lessons, pool attendant and first aid lessons, and more.
The best part about this indoor pool is that it boasts huge windows that allow lots of natural light to enter the facility, allowing swimmers to enjoy a bright indoor pool without using many artificial lights. The natural light also makes it more aesthetically pleasing!
Pro Tip: Consider investing in good quality chlorine-resistant swimwear if you plan on frequent Pam McConnell. The chlorine content is quite strong on some days, which can damage some swimwear. |
Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre
– From @lilychengto
Address: 5100 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5V7, Canada
Website: https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/567/index.html
Contact details: 416-395-7585
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 7:15 AM – 10:30 PM
Friday: 7:15 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 8:40 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 7:15 AM – 4:00 PM
Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre is another public indoor pool operated by the City of Toronto. It has a six-lane, 50-metre-long, Olympic-size indoor pool with a giant waterslide and several diving boards for the public to enjoy.
Aside from its impressive indoor pool, it also has a therapy pool that has a whirlpool for those who want a more relaxing and less taxing swim. The pool is also warm, making it the perfect place to relax after a tough lane swim.
Pro Tip: If you’re planning to have a lane swim at the facility, check the website for the schedules to avoid sharing it with people who are visiting for a leisure swim. |
Cooper Koo Family YMCA
Address: 461 Cherry St, Toronto, ON M5A 0H7, Canada
Website: https://www.ymcagta.org/find-a-y/cooper-koo-family-ymca
Contact details: 416 304 9622, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Most Toronto locals probably know this pool as the training centre for the Pan Am Games. But today, this massive 82,000-square-foot facility can be accessed by anyone who has a membership with the YMCA or those who paid for a single day pass.
It features two indoor pools, a 25-metre lap pool and a separate recreation pool, to allow swimmers to enjoy the type of swimming they want. Depending on your membership, you can also access a separate whirlpool, steam room, and lounge.
Standard YMCA membership ranges from $39 to $57 a month, but there’s a $91 per month option for families. There’s also an Adult Plus membership option for $79 to $103 monthly, depending on the YMCA branches you want to access.
Pro Tip: For those 18 years old and above, Cooper Koo offers a free 7-day pass. Try this first before committing to membership to see if the centre’s programs are a good match for you. |
Wellesley Community Centre
– From @randyzweinstein
Address: 495 Sherbourne St, Toronto, ON M4X 1K7, Canada
Website: https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/prd/facilities/complex/451/index.html
Contact details: 416-392-0227
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM. – 8:00 PM
Wellesley Community Centre is another recreational centre in Toronto that provides visitors free access to its indoor pool. The pool is a five-lane, 25-metre lap pool ideal for lane and leisure swimming.
Aside from its main pool, the centre has another kiddie pool and a hot tub that you can enjoy. There’s also a steam room that can help your body and muscles recover from your arduous swim.
You can also take advantage of the centre’s enhanced youth space, a supervised space dedicated to the youth. The space has pool tables, gaming consoles, computers, TVs, Wi-Fi, and more.
Pro Tip: Secure your valuables whenever you visit because a lot of people are coming in and out of the facility. As much as possible, leave your valuables at home if you’re just from the area. |
Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre
Address: 875 Morningside Ave, Toronto, ON M1C 0C7, Canada
Website: https://www.tpasc.ca/
Contact details: 416 283 5222
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM
The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre was specifically built to host the 2015 Pan Am Games, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that it has some of the best indoor pools in the city.
The centre has two Olympic-sized 10-lane swimming pools and a 25-metre diving tank with permanent diving towers and springboard diving boards. One of the two main pools also has moveable floor sections that allow swimmers to adjust the pool’s depth level.
You can rent a 50-metre lane from the Olympic-sized pools for $32 plus HST per hour. There’s also a 25-metre lane option for $16 plus HST per hour, but you need to rent a minimum of two lanes.
Pro Tip: Consider applying for a membership if you plan on frequenting the centre to save some money. Monthly membership for adults only costs $56, and it already comes with access to the pools, the aquatic classes, the fitness centre, and more. |
University of Toronto Athletic Centre
Address: University of Toronto, 55 Harbord St, Toronto, ON M5S 2W6, Canada
Website: https://kpe.utoronto.ca/facility/athletic-centre
Contact details: 416-978-3436, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Athletic Centre on the west side of the St George of the University of Toronto provides the community access to three indoor pools. It has an 8-lane, Olympic-sized 50-metre pool; a 6-lane, 25-yard pool; and a smaller teaching pool.
Aside from recreational and leisure swimming, the centre also offers other aquatic programs for visitors, like swimming lessons, first aid certifications, and aquatic leadership workshops.
All U of T students who paid the KPE athletic incidental fees are automatic members and are prioritized when it comes to access to the various facilities in the centre. Non-students can still avail a monthly membership for $114.63 or a day pass for $20.48.
Pro Tip: U of T’s Athletic Centre offers women-only lane swimming on the 25-yard pool during specific times, so be on the lookout for that if you feel more comfortable being in a women-only space. All staff members will also be replaced with women. |
Miles Nadal JCC
Address: 750 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON M5S 2J2, Canada
Website: https://www.mnjcc.org/
Contact details: 416 924 6211, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
For people who aren’t big fans of chlorine water when they’re swimming, Miles Nadal JCC down Spadina Avenue has an indoor saltwater pool that you can enjoy.
You can also register for swimming lessons while in the facility since they have adult lessons. They also have special lessons for babies and kids aged 6 months and up if you’re interested in your kids learning how to swim.
After a fun day of swimming, there are more fitness equipment and spaces in the centre that you can use, like basketball and volleyball courts, pickleball, gym, and more. It’s the ideal place to sweat and have fun!
Pro Tip: Recreational swimming is available on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, but arrive early since the pool can get busy. As for lane swimming, check the pool schedule first because there are times when they’re holding swimming lessons. |