Amelie CameronOne of the best ways to experience Toronto’s culture and history is by visiting the city’s fascinating museums and historic sites. Some of these museums are even free, or they offer free admission on certain days, making them perfect for visitors on a budget!
Here’s a list of the museums in Toronto that offer free admission. These museums cover a wide variety of topics—from the city’s history to the history of shoes!
- Fort York National Historic Site
- Spadina Museum
- Gibson House Museum
- Scarborough Museum
- Montgomery’s Inn
- Market Gallery
- Mackenzie House
- North York Zion Schoolhouse
- Todmorden Mills Heritage Site
- Colborne Lodge
- Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre
- Textile Museum of Canada
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Toronto Holocaust Museum
- Bata Shoe Museum
- Aga Khan Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Toronto Railway Museum
- Gardiner Museum
Fort York National Historic Site
– From: fortyorkfans
Address: 250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3K9, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163926907
Fort York served as the battleground of the Battle of York, which occurred during the War of 1812. In this site, British soldiers, First Nations warriors, and Upper Canadian militiamen fought together to capture Toronto back from the United States.
Once the war was over, the battleground was preserved as a 43-acre archaeological park and renamed Fort York National Historic Site. Now, visitors can relive history by visiting the Exhibit Gallery, which features military records and letters of soldiers.
Aside from the gallery, there’s also an immersive experience exhibit. Using various forms of media, you can experience the Battle of York as if you were present during the event yourself.
| Pro Tip: For a better experience, you might want to join a guided tour with a knowledgeable tour guide. The tour starts at 11 am, and it’s completely free as well. You don’t need to sign up in advance; you can simply join the group when you arrive. |
Spadina Museum
Address: 285 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2V5, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163926910
Named after the Anishnaabemowin word for highland or ridge (ishpadina), Spadina Museum is nestled on top of a ravine. In other words, it overlooks Toronto, so you can enjoy a gorgeous view of the city from here.
Aside from the view, the museum itself is a sight to behold. It’s housed inside a dazzling mansion, filled with lavish furniture and other items from the 1900s to the 1930s; indeed, you’ll feel like you’re in a fancy gala or party when walking around inside.
Outside, there’s a sprawling ground for lush gardens. Exploring these gardens is extremely therapeutic; it feels lovely to be surrounded by such beauty!
| Pro Tips: If you’re travelling with 15 people or more, you’ll be charged a fee. That said, this fee already includes a dedicated tour guide, so you’ll be able to get much more insight into the museum’s history. If you’d like to book a group tour, email [email protected]. |
Gibson House Museum
Address: 5172 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N 5P6, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163957432
Gibson House Museum is a pretty underrated location; it’s hidden between skyscrapers! But once you find it, you can’t look away, and when you step inside, it feels like you’ve stepped through a portal and found yourself in 1850s Toronto.
Gibson House is a 19th-century farmhouse owned by David Gibson, a land surveyor, farmer, politician, and rebel from Scotland. This house has been preserved, allowing you to see a glimpse of this fascinating man’s life through his furniture and other items.
The house is also noted to have a warm aroma of wood smoke and beeswax, providing an even more immersive experience.
| Pro Tip: Just like the Spadina Museum, groups of 15 people and more will be charged a fee. The fee also includes a dedicated tour guide. For more information, email [email protected]. |
Scarborough Museum
Address: 1007 Brimley Rd, Toronto, ON M1P 3E8, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163388807
The Scarborough Museum is actually made up of four heritage buildings that are nestled in the centre of Thomson Memorial Park. This museum celebrates Scarborough’s rural roots and its two centuries of immigration.
When you visit this museum, exploring the gardens will undoubtedly be the first thing you’ll do. The garden is a faithful copy of a 19th-century garden, so you’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time.
Aside from the heritage buildings, the Scarborough Museums hosts several events throughout the year. These events include kids’ day camps, youth programs, and weekend festivals; attending one is a perfect way to socialise with the local community.
| Pro Tip: If you’re interested, you can enjoy a picnic within the Scarborough Museum’s vicinity. Simply bring a picnic blanket and a basket (or bag) of your favourite snacks. |
Montgomery’s Inn
Address: 4709 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M9A 1A8, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163948113
Montgomery’s Inn was built in the 1830s to provide shelter to travellers. Now, more than 170 years later, it’s a museum that offers visitors a glimpse of the past.
By exploring the inn, you’ll find diverse stories of people who stepped foot here—from Chinese market gardeners to slaves escaping the United States and seeking refuge in a new land.
Additionally, Montgomery’s Inn is a place that hosts pub nights, live music, and other entertainment—very much like how it used to operate back in the day. There are even nights when people share ghost stories!
| Pro Tip: The weekend is the best time to visit the inn because on Saturday, there’s a farmers market, and on Sunday, you might find cooking demonstrations, community art exhibits, and tea times. |
Market Gallery
Address: 95 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1C2, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Saturday—11 am to 5 pm
- Closed from Sunday to Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163927604
Located near the ever-so-bustling St. Lawrence Market, the Market Gallery once housed the first purpose-built City Council Chambers of Toronto. Now, it’s home to exhibits that trace the complex story of the city.
Step inside the Market Gallery and see for yourself the extensive collection of historic artefacts, archaeological items, and even artistic media. All these document Toronto’s evolution throughout the years.
There are also talks and workshops hosted here, usually discussing Toronto’s present and what its future will look like.
| Pro Tip: Since you’re already near St. Lawrence Market, you might as well explore the neighbourhood. This neighbourhood has a lot of amazing restaurants and quirky boutique shops—perfect for shopping and dining! Our recommendations include Scheffler’s (if you like tapas) and Buster’s Sea Cove (if you like fish and chips). |
Mackenzie House
Address: 82 Bond St, Toronto, ON M5B 1X2, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163926915
Mackenzie House was the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, the first mayor of Toronto. He was a controversial man (he was the military commander of the Upper Canada rebellion), and now is your chance to see what kind of life he lived.
The architecture is definitely the first thing you’ll notice: it’s in the Georgian architecture style. Inside, much of the Victorian furniture is kept, which gives you an even more immersive experience when exploring the house.
It’s also believed that the house is haunted by ghosts, so if you have the sixth sense, keep an eye out. If you’re scared of ghosts, maybe visit the house during the daytime.
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, Mackenzie House hosts programs focused on Black Canadians and Mary Ann Shadd (an anti-slavery activist in the 19th century). If you’d like to learn more about this particular facet of Canadian history, you should attend at least one of the programs. |
North York Zion Schoolhouse
Address: 1091 Finch Ave E, North York, ON M2J 2X3, Canada
Contact Number: +14163957435
Another underrated historical site in the Greater Toronto Area is the North York Zion Schoolhose. This school was built in 1869 by the residents of L’Amoreaux, a farming community; it continued being an educational institution until 1955.
The schoolhouse was reopened as a heritage site in 1986, so if you want to see what schooling in a rural area was like in the early 20th century, you should visit this place. The desks here still even have the message carvings done by students back in the day!
| Pro Tip: The schoolhouse can also be rented as a venue for events. In particular, you can rent the schoolroom and/or the exterior grounds. For more information, send an email to [email protected]. |
Todmorden Mills Heritage Site
Address: 67 Pottery Rd, Toronto, ON M4K 2B9, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163962819
Between highways and subways in the Don River Valley lies the Todmorden Mills Heritage Site. Todmorden Mills is an interesting artefact of Toronto because it’s centuries old and has served different purposes throughout the decades.
It started out as a waterway for Indigenous peoples, and then it became an industrial hub. It was also a prisoner-of-war camp at some point, and now it’s a heritage site as well as a venue for modern arts and theatre.
Indeed, visiting the Todmorden Mills gives you an overview of Toronto’s history in some way. You can also get a glimpse of the daily lives of the working people who built the city throughout the years.
| Pro Tip: Every day, at 11:30 am, 1 pm, and 2:45 pm, there will be guided tours available. These tours last for about an hour, and it’s free; joining one will provide you with a more in-depth look at the site. You don’t have to sign up beforehand; you can just join the group when you arrive. |
Colborne Lodge
Address: 11 Colborne Lodge Dr, Toronto, ON, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14163926916
At first glance, Colborne Lodge may not seem like much; it’s simply a Regency-era lakeside summer cottage. But when you step inside, you’ll find the lives of the two painters who resided here laid out in the various furnishings.
The lodge still houses a collection of the painters’ original art, architectural drawings, and inventions, and browsing them gives you an idea of their ingenuity. You’ll also read stories of their eccentric lives, which are fascinating and entertaining.
Since Colborne Lodge has been around for nearly 200 years, there are talks of it being haunted. So, if you can sense the supernatural, look out for any possible sightings!
| Pro Tips: At 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 3:30 pm, there will be guided tours. Just like the other Toronto History Museums, the tours at Colborne Lodge are free of charge. If it’s a sunny day out, take advantage of the weather and have a picnic here. There are outdoor picnic tables on-site. |
Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre
Address: 40 College St, Toronto, ON M5G 2J3, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 4 pm
- Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Contact Number: +14168087020
Curious about the history of the police force in Toronto? Then, you might want to stop by the Toronto Police Museum and Discovery Centre.
This museum occupies 3,000 square feet of space in the atrium of the Police Headquarters building, and it’s filled with various items related to the police. There are replicas of a police car, badges, and all sorts of weapons used.
There are also presentations and interactive displays showing the police force throughout the years and how they’ve served the community in Toronto.
| Pro Tip: At 10 am and 2:30 pm, there will be guided tours. You’ll need to book your spot ahead of time; you can do this by either submitting a booking form provided on the website or sending an email to [email protected]. |
Textile Museum of Canada
Address: 55 Centre Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2H5, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—11 am to 6 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Contact Number: +14165995321
Did you know that you can trace history through textiles? That’s exactly the main goal of the Textile Museum of Canada: to educate people about the purpose of textiles in telling history.
This museum holds a collection of over 15,000 interesting objects from all over the world. Some of the unique ones include a salmon skin suit from China, a hooked rug with traditional Sioux designs, and 2,000-year-old Nazca fragments from Peru.
Aside from the collection of textiles, the museum regularly holds programs and exhibitions dedicated to textile arts. So, if you’re interested in this field, you should consider attending at least one of these events.
| Pro Tip: If you have clothes that you won’t be wearing anymore, you might want to consider donating them here. The museum will repurpose these clothes, and you don’t have to worry about them ending up in a landfill. |
Royal Ontario Museum
Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday—10 am to 5:30 pm
- Closed on Monday
When It Is Free: Every third Tuesday of the month, from 4:30 to 8:30 pm
Contact Number: +14165868000
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is arguably the most popular museum in Toronto, and fortunately for you, it offers free admission once a month. So, you better time your visit well!
ROM houses an extensive collection; in one section, you can find rare gems, and in another, you’ll be face-to-face with the bones and fossils of dinosaurs! There are even sculptures and other artefacts from various civilisations all over the world.
Don’t miss out on the exhibitions and galleries as well. There are over 40 of them in the museum, and they change every few years; in other words, there’s always something new to learn about when visiting ROM.
| Pro Tip: If you can’t physically visit the museum, don’t worry because they have this program called ROM At Home. With this program, you’ll be able to watch exhibitions on your computer from the comfort of your home. |
Toronto Holocaust Museum
Address: 4588 Bathurst St, North York, ON M2R 1W6, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday—10 am to 5 pm
- Wednesday—10 am to 8 pm
- Closed on Friday and Saturday
When It Is Free: Every third Wednesday of the month, from 3 to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14166315689
The Holocaust is truly one of the worst things to ever happen in history, and the Toronto Holocaust Museum encourages us to remember this tragedy and make connections between this event and the current state of the world.
Here, you’ll find various displays and exhibits filled with information about the Holocaust and what led up to it. There’s a hall showing the pre-war life of Jews, and then others detailing the atrocities committed by the Nazis and the eventual Jewish liberation.
There are occasional talks hosted by Holocaust survivors here. Check the website frequently to see if there are any talks happening during your Toronto visit.
| Pro Tips: If you can afford it, consider donating to the museum; they will use the funds to make more exhibits and displays and provide a school with teaching resources. You can also donate an artefact that’s related to the Holocaust. For more information, check out this page. |
Bata Shoe Museum
Address: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
- Sunday—12 to 5 pm
When It Is Free: Every Sunday
Contact Number: +14169797799
Are you a massive sneakerhead? Then, the Bata Shoe Museum should be on your must-visit list!
This museum is all about celebrating the style and development of footwear throughout history. For that reason, you can find four impressive galleries housing thousands of shoes and other related artefacts in total!
Of course, you’ll find modern shoes that you’re familiar with, but the more interesting ones are the ancient footwear. For example, you can find the classic Chinese bound-foot shoes here, as well as the ancient Egyptian sandals.
| Pro Tips: This museum also has the #BSMFromHome program, which allows you to check out some of the collections and exhibitions virtually. There’s also a shop here selling shoes, educational books, and artistic items by local artists. So, feel free to buy something as a souvenir for yourself or your loved ones back home. |
Aga Khan Museum
Address: 77 Wynford Dr, North York, ON M3C 1K1, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday—10 am to 5:30 pm
- Wednesday—10 am to 8 pm
- Closed on Monday
When It Is Free: Every Wednesday, from 4 to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14166464677
Aga Khan Museum is dedicated to Islamic arts—the first of its kind in North America. It houses an extensive collection of art from various historically significant Muslim civilisations as well as contemporary Muslim communities all over the world.
The art pieces here come in a wide variety of forms. Ceramics, painted manuscripts, and Qur’ans are the most common, but there are also architectural decorations, calligraphy works, luxury objects, and more.
Aside from these physical objects, the museum hosts films and live performances by Muslim artists. There’s so much to see and discover in this museum!
| Pro Tips: Can’t visit the museum but you still want to see the exhibits here? Then, check out #MuseumWithoutWalls, a program that allows you to virtually check out several collections and exhibits! If you’re hungry, there’s a restaurant on-site called Diwan. It features cuisines from South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. |
Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: 158 Sterling Rd #100, Toronto, ON M6R 2B7, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday—11 am to 6 pm
- Friday—11 am to 9 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
When It Is Free: Every Friday, from 5 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165302500
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is both a museum and art gallery, making it perfect for people who love art history and creating art itself.
This museum is dedicated to shaping the city’s contemporary art scene; that’s why you can find thousands of works by Canadian artists. There are also international artists featured here, so you can see the evolution of contemporary art in other countries.
The exhibitions are interesting, and they change every time, so you never know what you’ll get. Some of the noteworthy past exhibits include ni4ni v.3, a conceptual artwork that looks like a giant eye, and Impostor Cities, which tackles architectural identity.
| Pro Tip: If you’re able, consider donating to the museum. MOCA will use any donation they get to deliver even more accessible contemporary arts programmes to the community. |
Toronto Railway Museum
Address: 255 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3M9, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday—12 to 5 pm
- Closed on Monday and Tuesday
When It Is Free: Every Tuesday, from 12 to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14162149229
Back in the day, the railway system in Toronto used steam power. Now, all the trains are modern and rapid and make use of electricity, but you can still learn more about the historical railway system by visiting the Toronto Railway Museum.
There are so many amazing things to do here. You can, of course, see the relics of past trains, but you can also learn how to operate a train via a simulator or go on a mini-train ride, which takes you around Roundhouse Park!
This museum is also popular as a venue. So, if you want to shoot a historical movie or have a train-themed event, you can book this place.
| Pro Tip: The museum provides an audio guide that shares interesting insights as you’re exploring. If you’d like to have this during your visit, check out this page. |
Gardiner Museum
Address: 111 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C7, Canada
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 5 pm
When It Is Free: Every Wednesday, from 4 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165868080
The Gardiner Museum is dedicated to clay and ceramic crafts. It has a collection of over 5,000 clay and ceramic objects from all over the world—from the Ancient Americas to contemporary Canadian artists.
Aside from housing a wide variety of ceramics, the museum also hosts exhibitions and programs that educate you more about the history of ceramics. You can even take hands-on classes, allowing you to make your own ceramic wares!
Additionally, the museum sells works by local artists. So, if you’d like to support the local ceramic community, feel free to check out the shop.
| Pro Tip: If you’re hungry, the museum has an on-site restaurant called the Clay Restaurant. It has seasonal menus, with dishes that are perfect for brunch (e.g. salads and omelettes). |
