Toronto is Canada’s largest and most multicultural city. And
with this diversity you’ll find a vast array of museums in Toronto. There is
something for everyone’s interests, whether you’re into footwear or hockey. But
don’t worry, there’s plenty of museums that showcase art as well as Toronto’s
history.
With over 700 museums in Ontario where do you even start? Many first-timers to Toronto head to the city’s museum giants like the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario and Hockey Hall of Fame. But next time you’re looking for things to do in Toronto I highly recommend visiting Toronto museums that are off the radar too!
Top 3 Museums in Toronto
Royal Ontario Museum
The top Toronto Museum is the Royal Ontario Museum! As one of the largest museums in North America, the ROM, as it’s affectionately called by locals, is a must visit!
The collection at the Royal Ontario Museum is home to over 10 million pieces. Exhibit halls showcase a wide assortment including natural history, arts and culture, and more. With 40 unique galleries and exhibits, be prepared to spend the entire day at the ROM!
As the largest museum in Canada, exploring the Royal Ontario Museum can be overwhelming. I have a few suggestions for top exhibits.
Everyone loves dinosaurs, so I highly recommend starting with the Age of Dinosaurs. The exhibit is home to life-sized dinosaurs. Meet Gordo the Barosaurus, who at 27 metres long is one of the largest dinosaur skeletons in the country!
Another fun spot is the Bat Cave! Wander through a dark cave that’s filled with models of bats and echoes of their sounds.
Don’t forget to check out the meteorites and precious gem stones too! In addition, the Egypt, Chinese Temple Art, and Greece galleries are my three favourites!
Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON
AGO
The best art gallery in Toronto is the Art Gallery of Ontario, otherwise known as the AGO!
With a sweeping staircase and gallery that’s shaped like a ship’s hull, the Art Gallery of Ontario not only displays art but the building is a work of art!
Inside there are over 120,000 pieces of art! The collection includes a wide variety of art produced by European masters, Canadian and Indigenous artists, and so many more!
Visitors will find a number of pieces from the Group of Seven (my favourite!) at the AGO as well!
Local Tip: If you’re looking for one of the best views in Toronto, pop into the AGO’s espresso bar!
Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON
Bata Shoe Museum
One of the best museums in Toronto is the Bata Shoe Museum. Whether you’re a shoe fan or not, the museum is like an art gallery of shoes as well as history museum for world footwear.
The Bata Shoe Museum has the largest shoe and footwear collection in the world! It’s home to around 15,000 pieces that span 4,500 years!
You’ll find all sorts of fabulous and weird footwear! A few key pieces include ancient Egyptian sandals, Dutch clogs, and Chinese bound foot shoes.
Local Tip: Are you looking for free things to do in Toronto? You can visit the Bata Shoe Museum for free on Sundays!
Address: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON
8 Best Museums in Toronto that are Hidden Gems
Aga Khan Museum
In the North York region visitors will find one of the most unique museums in Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum! The museum is the first in North America to be dedicated to the Islamic arts and so much more! It’s a history museum with art that spans centuries!
I was blown away during my first visit to the museum! Both inside and out, it will astound you!
Inside, the Aga Khan Museum celebrates Muslim culture across the globe through various mediums. Museum goers will find a number of exhibits from both their permanent collection as well as rotating ones.
On permanent display is a collection of stunning ceramics that are displayed in the museum’s Bellerive Room. I adored their second-floor exhibit showcasing rare books, scrolls, and manuscripts from the Silk Road.
The Aga Khan Museum also hosts a variety of events and programing throughout the year. There’s everything from live entertainment to poetry sessions.
Local Tip: Make time to explore the museum grounds! The museum’s building is an astounding piece of modern art by architect Fumihiko Maki. Plus, there are also formal gardens and pools that are a must-see in the summer!
Address: 77 Wynford Dr, North York, ON
Spadina Museum
It’s often referred to as Toronto’s Downton Abbey as the Spadina Museum showcases the 1920’s and 30s. And it’s the only one that does so in Toronto. Perched atop the same hill that houses Casa Loma, the Spadina Museum offers fantastic views of the city.
The Museum has multiple structures on site, there’s the grand three-story house, a chauffeur’s residence, gardener’s cottage, and a greenhouse. The large home, built in 1866, showcases the life of the Austin family through major events like the First World War and the Great Depression in Toronto.
Address: 285 Spadina Road
Related Post: +25 Amazing Toronto Gardens & Parks
Museum of Illusions
One of the coolest museums in Toronto is also extremely Instagrammable! The Museum of Illusions will turn your inside out and test your perception on reality with over 80 illusions!
This small museum is full of fun rooms and interactive exhibits that include holograms, logic games, and weird optical illusions. Plus, there’s a fun Vortex tunnel where your balance will be tested!
The Museum of Illusions is not just providing great experiences for fun selfies! It will test your inner geek and teach you about science in a fun and creative way!
Local Tip: To visit you’ll need to book your tickets online in advanced. It’s a timed entry and SO worth it!
Address: 132 Front Street East
Mackenzie House
Whether you love history, politics, or are in search of ghosts then Toronto’s Mackenzie House is great for you. The Mackenzie House is the last home of William Lyon Mackenzie, Toronto’s first mayor. Plus, it’s said to be one of the most haunted places in Ontario!
Even though it’s located in the heart of downtown Toronto you’ll feel a world away in this three-story Greek Revival row house built in 1858.
The Mackenzie House museum showcases the Victorian Era life of Mackenzie and his family. Many rooms have been recreated to represent what it would have looked like during his time. There is also a working printing press and print shop that Mackenzie would have used in his life. Be sure to join one of the free with admission guided tours of the house to learn all the secrets.
Address: 82 Bond Street
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Prehistoria Museum
One of the many hidden gems in Toronto is the Prehistoria Museum! This independently owned and operated museum in Toronto showcases a wide assortment of oddities.
The Prehistoria Museum celebrates nature, history and archaeology with a collection that spans tens of thousands of pieces! Inside you’ll find dinosaur fossils, crystals, ancient artifacts, skulls and so much more! There are even live animals too!
If you like the weird and unusual, like I do, then you’ll love this place! With pieces like a taxidermy two-headed cow and Egyptian animal mummies, it’s wild!
Along with the museum, they also have a ‘gift shop’ of sorts. The shop, SkullStore, is the largest oddity shop and natural history store in Canada! It sells a number of ethically and sustainably sourced products the range from historic artifacts to skulls.
Address: 397 Dundas Street East
Gardiner Museum
The Gardiner Museum ticks all the boxes, from art to history and they even offer classes to try to make something hands on. The Museum showcases all things clay with a collection of 4,000 pieces that span from ancient Americas right up to today.
Daily at 2 pm there is a free guided tour. I highly recommend this, you’ll learn so much and have a greater appreciation for what you see. And if you’re looking for a sweet deal visit on a Wednesday or Friday between 4 and 9 pm for half-price admission.
Admission – Adults: $15
Address: 111 Queen’s Park
Related Post: Toronto Virtual Tours
Campbell House
The Campbell House was built in 1822 and is the oldest building from the Town of York that has survived. It is a beautiful piece of Georgian architecture and was home to Chief Justice William Campbell who presided over the trail of the rioters who destroyed William Lyon Mackenzie’s printing press.
As someone who loves the outdoors, I love when a museum brings pieces outside. And beyond the Campbell House’s interior museum and art gallery there is a permanent exhibition in their front garden. Here you’ll find the Lost & Found exhibit that showcases fragments of old Toronto. There are stunning carved stone pieces of iconic Toronto buildings like the old Toronto Star building, the headquarters of the Bank of Toronto and more.
Address: 160 Queen St West
Related Post: Toronto Street Art – From Culture to Colour
Textile Museum of
Canada
Calling all lovers of cloth and pattern – you’ve got to add the Textile Museum of Canada to your Toronto museum bucket list. The Textile Museum of Canada showcases the role cloth and fabrics have had in society and it’s the only one of its kind in Canada.
The Museum has a permanent collection of around 13,000
pieces that not only span almost 2,000 years of history but also come from 200
regions across the globe. You’ll find everything from ceremonial cloths,
stunning garments and so much more. And if you’re looking for a deal, you can
visit the Textile Museum between 5 -8 pm on Wednesdays for the Museum’s pay
what you can admission.
Admission – Adults: $15
Address: 55 Centre Avenue
Museum TIPS: Please check museum hours before you plan your visit. Many museums are closed on Mondays. In addition, many offer free admission on certain days or nights of the week.
More Toronto Museums to Check Out
Whether you’re a sports fan or looking for museums in Toronto that are kid-friendly, there’s a Toronto museum for you! Below are a few other great places to visit!
Ontario Science Centre – One of the best museums for kids in Toronto is the Ontario Science Centre! The museum is celebrated as the world’s first interactive science museum and has been a staple for families for over 50 years! It features a number of exhibits that explore meteorites, rainforests, and more. Plus, many offer fun hands-on learning!
Hockey Hall of Fame – Excited sports fans should make a stop at the Hockey Hall of Fame. It’s both a museum and a hockey hall of fame. Along with exhibits filled with memorabilia, there are fun interactive activities and a Canadien’s dressing room replica!
Black Creek Pioneer Village – For a taste of the past head to Black Creek Pioneer Village. Recreating an 1860s village, this living history museum is a must visit! The site is home to 40 historic buildings to explore including a blacksmith’s shop, grist mill, and a one-room schoolhouse.
Gibson House – Set within an 1851 heritage building, the Gibson House Museum is a hidden gem in North York! Inside you’ll find period furnishings and learn about the David Gibson, who once called it home. This is an interesting museum as it offers visitors plenty of ways to learn through activities. Gibson House hosts board game nights, quilting groups as well as a Scottish tea experience.
MOCA – If you dig thought provoking art then plan a visit to MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto! The museum showcases a number of rotating exhibits reflecting modern art. Plus, they run a variety of programs that are ideal for both kids and adults!
Why You Should Visit Toronto Museums in May
Museums are great to visit at any time of year. But did you know that May is Museum Month? And there’s even an International Museum Day that falls on May 18. So, May is an ideal time to visit Toronto’s museums.
Throughout Toronto there are free tours, special events and more going on at many of the city’s museums. There are also time slots at various museums where you can get in for free! To find out more visit each museum’s website.
Best Museums in Toronto to Visit
Royal Ontario Museum
Art Gallery of Ontario
Bata Shoe Museum
Aga Khan Museum
Prehistoria Museum
Museum of Illusions
Gardiner Museum
Mackenzie House
Spadina Museum
Campbell House
Textile Museum of Canada
Ontario Science Centre
Hockey Hall of Fame
Black Creek Pioneer Village
Gibson House Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art
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