If you enjoy spending time with your friends but want to do something other than have a drink in a bar, this article is for you. It’s good for all of us to change our habits and try new experiences. In this article, I’ll share 20 activities to do with friends in Toronto to have a great time!
Before going any further, don’t forget to find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Youtube.
Obstacle course
If you’re looking for an activity to do with friends that’s fun and challenging, I’ve got just the thing for you. Pursuit OCR is located in Etobicoke and is ideal for an afternoon or evening outing. Between ninja warrior-style obstacles, mazes, and tricycle races, you won’t notice the time flying by. I recommend wearing sports clothes so you can move around freely. And try to beat your friends! We went there as a group for a birthday party and had a really good laugh.
Activate
One of my favorite places out of all the ones we tried on this list. You are divided into groups of three or four, and you enter several rooms where you have challenges to complete. These involve logic, culture, physical ability, or agility, for example. Each challenge earns you points, and at the end, the group with the most points wins the competition. If you have a good group of friends who get into the game, you’ll have a blast. The groups were randomly assigned, and I ended up with my boyfriend’s friends. We were ruthless and won, haha!
Escape Rooms
I love escape rooms!! I love being transported to a new world, I love seeing everyone get caught up in the game. It’s also an opportunity to collaborate with friends and see everyone’s strengths come out! A few months ago, I was invited by Trapped (they have several rooms in Canada and even in Marseille) and we had so much fun!
Quiz Room
I’m so happy that Quiz Room has arrived in Toronto. I added it a few months ago to my article on things to do in Valence when it rains, and I saw that they were in Quebec but not in Toronto. And while researching for this article, I saw the news. It’s a game like on a TV game show, with buzzers and everything! I think the concept is cool and original. As soon as I get a chance to try it out, I’ll add my impressions here.
Virtual reality rooms
This is also a suggestion I made in my article on things to do in Toronto when it rains: virtual reality arcades. It’s a chance to embark on an alternate reality and play with your group. There are lots of options, and you can play together or against each other. The one I found in the city center is called Levelup VR.
Lasertag
If, like me, you were a teenager in the 2000s, you may have spent a lot of time playing laser tag. I think that when I started high school, it was the trendy place to celebrate your birthday. All my friends celebrated their birthdays there. It’s a fun activity to do in a group where you’re sure to have a laugh. I found one example, but there are surely others: Playtime Bowl & Entertainment.
Axe throwing
One of the most Canadian activities you can do with friends in Toronto. I’m talking, of course, about axe throwing. And if you think it’s easy, you’ll quickly change your mind. It takes a little practice and concentration, but it’s fun! I tried it at BATL a few years ago and we had a really good time. It’s also nice to see the progress between your first throw and your last. You get better if you listen to the advice!
Climbing
So I haven’t tried this activity yet, and honestly I can’t remember the last time I tried rock climbing. In middle school, maybe? The other day, when we passed by a new climbing gym in Toronto, we thought it would be a great group activity to try this winter. I’m adding it to your list and mine!
Karting
Much like laser tag, go-karting was the star attraction at birthday parties in the 2000s. And I loved it! I’ve been saying for a while that I want to go back. It’s always fun to race with friends!
Sushi & karaoke
I have the perfect evening for sushi fans who love to sing. And you don’t need to be able to sing, we’re here to have fun. Once a month, Roll This Way (which I already mentioned in my article on 50 original date ideas in Toronto in winter) hosts an all-you-can-eat sushi and karaoke night. I went with a friend and I honestly think it was one of my best nights out in 2025. You have access to a huge music catalog, so we were able to find our French songs and sing at the top of our lungs. No one understood our enthusiasm for Diams and Vitaa, but they told us that our passion was contagious and that they loved seeing us perform the hit song of our teenage years. What a night! I recommend it 1000%.
Splatter paint
I don’t know how to come up with a title for this activity! Let’s just say you can express your creativity in a different way. It’s an activity where you give free rein to your imagination by splattering paint on walls or frames. No specific skills are required other than a desire to have fun and be creative. More information is available on the Emo Paints website.
Escape from a boat
I know we’ve already talked about escape rooms, but this one is a little different because it takes place on a boat. In the middle of Lake Ontario. Yes, you read that right. For an hour, you have to solve puzzles and problems to get out. More info on their website.
Paintball
Let’s move on to a more physical and slightly riskier activity. I think I’ve only done this once or twice in my life. You’re in a team, and you have to shoot each other with paint. The team with the most people hit loses. Be quick, agile, and above all, hide well. There are several options in Toronto!
Improvisation session
We’re taking things up a notch with one of the activities to do with friends in Toronto that will surely push you out of your comfort zone the most. Second City offers improv sessions. Take your courage in both hands, gather your inspiration, and dive right in. You could even have a contest among yourselves, with the person who gets the most applause winning. Whoever gets the least has to buy a round of drinks!
Pedal Pub
Speaking of tours, if you’re a beer fan, I have a group activity for you. You may have already seen them in Toronto. If you have, you’ve seen what a crazy atmosphere there is. You can hear people laughing and having a great time. You pedal and taste beers at the same time. All while riding around Toronto. You also stop at two bars during your tour. It’s a great way to have a good time.
Paddleboard or canoe
If you follow me on Instagram, you may already know about my love for paddleboarding. If not, take a minute to do so! I discovered paddleboarding a few years ago, but it was really during the summer of 2025 that I got to enjoy it in Toronto. My recommendation: rent a paddleboard from Toronto Island Sup and set off on an adventure. You can take your own paddleboard or a larger one to accommodate several people.
I always recommend the individual board, especially if you’re just starting out, because it’s difficult to maintain stability with several people on board. Then set off to explore the islands, from Ward to Centre, and then come back. Having tried both the islands and Cherry Beach, I prefer the tranquility of the islands, where you can enjoy the flora and fauna. And a magnificent view of the Toronto skyline. I think this is one of my favorite things to do with friends in Toronto in the summer. My friends and I even take our lunch and have a picnic in the middle of the water facing the CN Tower. If you prefer canoeing, you can do the same thing in a canoe!
Ping pong
You may remember playing ping pong at school (I just had a flashback to our multipurpose room at middle school where the ping pong tables were!), and you think to yourself: I don’t have very fond memories of that. Well, it’s time to replace those memories with more fun ones! A few years ago, I celebrated my birthday with my coworkers at SPIN Toronto, and it was really fun. The competitive aspect is always entertaining.
Playing board games
This is one of the activities you can enjoy with friends in Toronto, and it can take many forms. You can decide to play a game that everyone loves. Or you can decide to try out a new game and throw everyone off balance! It’s a really fun activity to do in winter, when you can stay warm indoors. There are several options, the best known being Snake and Lattes!
Arcade games
If you want a game night with a twist, I have another suggestion: arcade games! We did this earlier this year with friends (on a snowy day, no less—leaving at 1 a.m. was… cold!) at Midnight Arcade in Kensington Market. It’s a really fun activity that’s a nice change of pace and guaranteed to make you laugh. If you’re looking for a more modern space, check out the Rec Room next to the CN Tower or Greta on King West.
Karaoke
We end this list of things to do with friends in Toronto with the famous karaoke! Who doesn’t love a good karaoke session with friends? No pressure to sing in tune, just the desire to sing (scream?) at the top of your lungs until you lose your voice. My only real advice when choosing where to go is to ask for their catalog to make sure you’ll have songs you know and love. At the beginning of the year, we went to Forever Karaoke on Bathurst and Dundas, where the screen was connected to YouTube, so you had the entire YouTube library at your disposal. And that included our French songs!
I hope this list gives you some ideas for activities to do with your friends and, above all, to create new memories together. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments.
