Brianna HarrisonYou know how you keep eating pizza, burgers, and fried chicken, but every once in a while, your body’s like, “Hey, let’s grab a salad.” That’s how I am with museums.
Sure, I love watching the newest episode of Reacher or browsing through my socials. But once in a while, my mind tells me to put down the phone, go to a museum, and ogle a naked Greek man—chiseled to perfection—posing on a platform.
Luckily, you can get your healthy dose of culture at the 6ix for zero dollars! Yep, there are plenty of top-notch museums in the city, where you can soak in all that art, history, and culture for free (then, you can splurge at a nearby cafe!).
So, no worries, I got you covered—I rounded up the top free museums in TO. Just drop by whenever you need a quick and mindful cultural fix.
Royal Ontario Museum
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Website: https://www.rom.on.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romtoronto/
Address: 100 Queens Park
Hours: Tue – Sun: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Contact: (416) 586-8000
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is arguably the most iconic museum in TO. It can get a tad crowded here at times, but—at least for me—it’s definitely worth a visit.
What’s cool is that every third Tuesday of every month from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM, everyone can get in for free! Make sure to follow ROM’s socials as they sometimes announce discounted or free entry to special rotating exhibits.
Indigenous visitors are always welcome free of charge, while full-time post-secondary students in Canada are free every Tuesday. And if you’re a Canadian military or veteran, you get free admission during the week around Remembrance Day.
A must-see is the James and Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs, as well as their Egyptian and Greek collections and incredible collection of Indigenous art.
Pro Tip:
Want to make your visit a group outing? If you have a Toronto Public Library Museum + Arts Pass (TPL:MAP), you can bring up to four guests for free.
Museum of Contemporary Art
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Website: https://moca.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mocatoronto
Address: 158 Sterling Rd #100
Hours: Wed – Sun: 9 AM – 4 PM
Contact: (416) 530-2500
Located in a former industrial building in the Junction Triangle, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is the place to be for thought-provoking pieces.
Speaking of which, you can enjoy a mix of art and cultural pieces from Canadian and international artists. Make sure to check out their event calendar for scheduled artist talks, workshops, and performances.
I just love kicking off the weekend with a dose of inspiration since it’s free every Friday from 5 PM to 9 PM. You can also get in free during TD Community Sundays (every first Sunday of the month), plus there are fun family-friendly activities too!
If you’re feeling a bit snackish, visit their stylish Italian cafe, Forno Cultura, for some coffee, fresh pastries, or sandwiches.
Pro Tip:
On free Friday nights, we recommend arriving exactly at 5 PM (if you can) for a quieter crowd. It gets busier later on when the after-work crowd shows up.
Bata Shoe Museum
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Website: https://batashoemuseum.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/batashoemuseum/
Address: 327 Bloor St W
Hours: Mon – Sat: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: 12 PM – 5 PM
Contact: (416) 979-7799
As a fashion lover and history buff, The Bata Shoe Museum is one of my favorite museums in the 6ix. Browsing through its epic collection of 13,000 shoes—from ancient Egyptian sandals to celebrity footwear—is my idea of heaven.
I mean, seriously, who wouldn’t want to see Elton John or Marilyn Monroe’s shoes? I also enjoy looking at weird, unusual, and highly impractical shoes from the past.
And if you’re bringing the little ones, don’t miss their awesome Try On area!
Everyone can visit this fun museum every Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM. Note that it’s always free for children aged 0-4, Indigenous visitors, and care/support workers.
Pro Tip:
Drop by L’Espresso Bar Mercurio for amazing coffee and pastries, or Fresh Kitchen for yummy plant-based fare.
Fort York National Historic Site
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Website: https://www.toronto.ca/museums/fort-york-national-historic-site/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fort-york-national-historic-site/
Address: 250 Fort York Blvd
Hours: Wed – Sun: 11 AM – 4 PM
Contact: (416) 392-6907
The Fort York National Historic Site is a go-to for hardcore war historians or those interested in a bit of military history. What’s great is that getting in is free anytime—just keep in mind that some special exhibits or events might have a small fee.
As you walk through the barracks, quarters, and bunkers, you’ll get a feel for what life was like back then for soldiers. You can also check out the museum inside the Visitor Centre, which features maps, artifacts, and interactive displays.
If you’re visiting during the summer, don’t miss their cool live historical reenactments. You’d see costumed interpreters demonstrating cannon firings and musket drills—you could even check out 19th-century cooking techniques.
After all the fun, drop by Impact Kitchen nearby for healthy protein-packed bowls.
Pro Tip:
For a memorable visit, go here during the Indigenous Arts Festival or Simcoe Day celebrations. You’ll be able to see special live performances and hands-on activities!
Toronto Police Museum
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Website: https://www.tps.ca/museum/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TorontoPolice
Address: 40 College St
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 AM – 4 PM
Contact: (416) 808-7020
The Toronto Police Museum is the ideal spot for aspiring crime fighters out there. Here, you’ll learn a bit about law enforcement history, check out vintage police gear, and even learn more about the crime-solving process.
What I love here is sitting inside the patrol car or on top of the police motorcycle—I know mainly kids do these, but it is what it is.
As a true crime fan, I also enjoy learning more about notorious cases back then, involving gangsters and shysters, and how the police caught them.
Don’t forget to swing by their gift shop for cool souvenirs like branded shirts and pens.
Pro Tip:
The Toronto Police Museum is a small space, so to avoid the crowds, visit during weekday mornings. It’ll give you a chance to sit in the patrol car in peace!
Toronto’s First Post Office
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Website: https://www.townofyork.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tos1stpo/
Address: 260 Adelaide St E
Hours: Mon – Fri: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday: 12 PM – 4 PM
Contact: (416) 865-1833
Toronto’s First Post Office is the oldest functioning post office in the country, and it’s also a charming little museum. Admission is technically free, but they’re asking for a tiny donation by the door, so it’s entirely up to you.
Here, I enjoy browsing through replicas of antique post office boxes. You could also check out the Reading Room—back then, most people couldn’t read or write, and post office employees would help them out in this room. Cool, huh?
Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming workshops, heritage programming, and exhibits.
And after your visit, we recommend heading over to Petit Déjeuner for delicious Belgian waffles or eggs benedict.
Pro Tip:
Have you always wanted to write a letter Harry Potter-style? Now’s your chance—they have quills, ink, a full parchment letter, and a wax seal, so write a letter and mail it wherever you like!
Museum of Toronto
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Website: https://www.museumoftoronto.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museumoftoronto/
Address: 401 Richmond St W LL01
Hours: Wed – Sat: 12 PM – 6 PM
Contact: (416) 583-2030
The Museum of Toronto is an admission-free spot that focuses on Toronto’s past, present, and future.
It focuses on everyday life in the city, telling stories using interactive displays and artifacts. For instance, I enjoyed the exhibit, Black Diasporas Tkaronto-Toronto, a collection of films and documents by 100 Black Canadians.
The museum is kind of small, so it won’t take you hours to explore. If it’s raining hard outside (or you prefer to stay at home in your jammies), you could also check out their cool digital collection online.
Now, whenever I’m in the area, I always go to Richmond Station. Nothing like a delicious farm-to-table meal after a lovely day out.
Pro Tip:
Bring your kids so that they can enjoy a fun craft activity or two that’s almost always available at the Museum of Toronto.
Gardiner Museum
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Website: https://www.gardinermuseum.on.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardinermuseum/
Address: 111 Queens Park
Hours: Mon – Tue, Thurs – Fri: 10 AM – 6 PM
Wednesday: 10 10 AM – 9 PM
Sat – Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM
Contact: (416) 586-8080
Located across ROM is The Gardiner Museum, and I recommend this to anyone who loves ancient pottery and ceramics.
Browse through porcelain, modern sculptures, Indigenous art, and even European pottery. I love that the galleries are also spacious and light-filled, so you can see the intricate details clearly.
Another thing I love is their hands-on activities! Trying my hand at making pottery or clay tiles is so relaxing yet enjoyable—simply check online to see what’s available.
Visitors 18 and under, Indigenous Peoples, and students with a valid ID can visit the museum for free anytime. For the rest, you can get in on Wednesdays, after 4 PM at no charge (and no registration needed).
Pro Tip:
Don’t forget to visit their onsite dining spot, Clay Restaurant. They’re famous for their fish and chips—crunchy Fogo Island cod with remoulade, pea slaw, and lemon.
Prehistoria Museum
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Website: https://www.skullstore.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natural_selections
Address: 333 Yonge St #2
Hours: Wed – Sun: 12 PM – 8 PM
Contact: (416) 363-1060
Dinosaur geeks (like me!) would love the Prehistoria Museum (and its famous SkullStore Oddity Shop). It’s free to enter, but donations are also accepted.
Who wouldn’t love browsing through real dinosaur fossils, bones, and even human skulls? You’ll also find perfectly preserved insects, shrunken heads, and an awesome collection of taxidermy.
But my favorite part of the museum is their amazing staff. They’re super friendly and are ready to explain anything that piques your fancy.
After hitting the gallery, definitely visit the SkullStore Oddity Shop. They sell all sorts of quirky and weird (in a cool way) stuff such as fossils, real animal skulls, gemstones, and oddities like a lucky monkey paw and even a sarcophagus (wait, what?).
Pro Tip:
Check out Fran’s, a classic 24/7 diner, after your museum trip for some coffee and pancakes or maybe a burger. Nothing like seeing human skulls to work up an appetite, right?
Aga Khan Museum
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Website: https://agakhanmuseum.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agakhanmuseum/
Address: 77 Wynford Dr, North York
Hours: Tue, Thus, Fri – Sat – Sun: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM – 8 PM
Contact: (416) 646-4677
The Aga Khan Museum celebrates the culture of Muslim civilizations from around the world, and it offers free admission on Wednesdays, from 4 PM to 8 PM. It’s probably my favorite museum in terms of architecture—everything here’s so stunning!
Inside, you’ll find centuries-old manuscripts and ceramics, and their rotating exhibits typically show rare artifacts and epic installations. If you’re lucky, you can even catch a live performance, screening, or artist talk.
Don’t miss the stunning Persian and Mughal-inspired, four-part garden outside.
And if you’re craving a bite, check out the museum’s onsite restaurant, Diwan. It serves incredible Middle Eastern and South Asian dishes—I loved their kebabs, kabsa, and lemon lavender cheesecake!
Pro Tip:
Don’t miss their well-stocked gift shop inside. It’s a cozy spot—spacious and bright, stocked with unique art, books, and gorgeous handcrafted items.
