Top 10 Indoor Activities to Do in Toronto This Summer
Aga Khan Museum Toronto
Toronto summers are amazing. After a long winter, everyone is ready to enjoy patios, explore festivals, walk the waterfront, bike around the Toronto Islands, and spend evenings outdoors with friends and family.
But sometimes Toronto weather has other plans.
Rainy days, heat warnings, humidity, or poor air quality can quickly change your plans — especially if you’ve booked a birthday party, family outing, date night, or a day with friends. Luckily, Toronto has no shortage of incredible indoor activities that are perfect when you need to escape the weather.
As longtime Toronto residents and local attraction owners, we’ve put together some of our favourite indoor things to do in Toronto this summer so you can keep your plans on track!
10. Visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
Royal Ontario Museum is one of Toronto’s most famous attractions and a great choice for a rainy afternoon. With dinosaurs, ancient civilizations, art, and fascinating rotating exhibits, there is something for almost everyone.
Learn more about current exhibits and tickets on theROM website.
9. Try a Board Game Café
Board games are having a huge comeback, and Toronto has some fantastic places to spend a few hours playing games with friends or family.
One of our favourites is located on Yonge Street just north of Eglinton. For the Win Cafe is a great low-key activity for groups, couples, and anyone looking for something different from the usual movie night. They have a great selection of games, yummy snacks and we never feel rushed when we visit!
(And if you love board games, you may also want to check out our friends at local game stores and cafés around the city!- Xplore Games, once owned by Looking Glass has now moved to new ownership! They’re a great local shop!)
8. Explore the Aga Khan Museum
The Aga Khan Museum is a beautiful and peaceful destination that is easy to fit into a half-day outing. The stunning architecture alone makes it worth the visit, but inside you’ll discover incredible collections of art, culture, and history from around the world.
With a focus on fostering intercultural dialogue and understanding between civilizations, the museum offers a unique and thoughtful experience for visitors of all ages.
We have partnered with the Aga Khan to help save on your admission. Use code CULTURE10 to save 10% on Museum admission and experience art for less. *Code is valid until September 7, 2026.
URL: https://agakhanmuseum.org/gameon
Visit the Aga Khan Museum website for current exhibits.
7. Play Classic Games at Zed80
If you love nostalgia, Zed80 is a fun place to spend a few hours playing pinball, arcade games, and classic video games.
It’s casual, affordable, and a great option for families, couples, or groups looking for a fun indoor activity.
6. Cool Down with Gelato or Ice Cream
Summer in Toronto isn’t complete without a cold treat! Whether you’re exploring the Danforth, looking for a family-friendly activity, or just need a break from the heat, there are plenty of great spots to grab gelato or ice cream.
🍦 Kawartha Dairy (Danforth) for classic Canadian ice cream favourites
🍦 Good Behaviour Ice Cream on Gerrard Street East for small-batch custard ice cream
🍦 Gelato on the Danny for authentic Italian gelato on the Danforth
It’s the perfect way to cool down after exploring Toronto — or after successfully escaping one of the rooms at Looking Glass Adventures!
5. Catch a Movie or Special Event at the Fox Theatre
Fox Theatre is more than just a movie theatre. They often host special screenings, premieres, and unique events that make going to the movies feel like an experience. Prices are reasonable, popcorn is fantastic and if you’re lucky, you just mind find your favourite screening of a past film, cut classic or interactive screening!
Check their schedule before heading out!
4. Visit the Bata Shoe Museum
Yes, a shoe museum might sound unusual — but that’s exactly why it’s worth visiting!
Bata Shoe Museum has fascinating exhibits covering everything from historic footwear to celebrity shoes and cultural traditions.
Even better — admission is free on Sundays!
3. Try Indoor Mini Golf
Mini golf isn’t just for summer patios!
Putting Edge offers glow-in-the-dark indoor mini golf and is located near Scarborough Town Centre. Make an afternoon of it by exploring the mall afterward.
2. Sing Your Heart Out at GONO Karaoke
Think karaoke is only for late-night parties? Think again!
GONO Karaoke offers private karaoke rooms that are clean, reasonably priced, and family friendly.
Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or just looking for something fun to do with friends, it’s a great rainy-day activity.
1. Escape a Room in Toronto!
Of course, we saved our favourite for last.
Escape rooms are one of the best indoor activities in Toronto because they combine teamwork, puzzles, storytelling, and immersive adventures. They’re perfect for families, birthday parties, date nights, corporate team building, or groups of friends.
At Looking Glass Adventures, you can step into immersive worlds like magical shops, mysterious mansions, and strange or unique adventures where your team works together to solve puzzles and escape before time runs out.
Our escape rooms are:
✅ Private experiences (your group plays together) ✅ Family friendly ✅ Great for ages 8+ ✅ Perfect for rainy days or hot summer afternoons ✅ Located conveniently on the Danforth near TTC
Book your Toronto escape room adventure today and make your next indoor day one you’ll actually remember!
👉 Visit Looking Glass Adventures to reserve your room.
More Toronto Indoor Activities for Summer
Toronto is full of hidden gems, and a rainy or extremely hot day doesn’t mean your plans need to be cancelled. Whether you’re exploring museums, playing games, singing karaoke, or solving puzzles in an escape room, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city indoors.
Looking for more ideas? Check out our other Toronto guides:
