While Canada's most populous city can be an expensive spot to visit, you may still find plenty of fun things you can do free of charge all year round, if you know where to look. Whether it's admiring works of art, taking on a hike, hitting the beach or even catching some opera(!), travelers don't have to spend lots of cash to savor the city's delights. Here are a few of our favorite samples by mail to do in Toronto.
Yonge-Dundas Square
Yonge-Dundas Square is Toronto's answer to New York's Times Square: a buzzing pedestrianised space, surrounded by giant digital screens, where there's always something going on. Throughout the summertime (usually June to September) free concerts and film screenings run weekly, but even if visiting outside of this era, you're likely to see some type of activity, demonstration or event unfolding. Grab a bench and spend a minute or two taking it all in.
Art Gallery of Ontario
Feeling like an art connoisseur? The Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest galleries in The united states, and houses an incredible collection of around 95,000 works, which range from pieces by Canadian-born artists for example Tom Thomson and Emily Carr, to heavyweights from Europe like Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Picasso. The AGO – itself something of the thing of beauty with its grand glass facades – offers free admission on Wednesday evenings for everyone, and it is free throughout the year for a long time 25 and under.
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Allan Gardens is a beautiful indoor botanical garden filled with lush greenery and colorful florals. Be cautious when capturing, though (despite your smartphone), because the gardens staff tends to push for photography permits.
Toronto Botanical Gardens
Can't get enough of plants? Our favorite free things to complete in Toronto is to venture a little bit outside downtown to the Toronto Botanical Gardens, comprised of 17 themed gardens.
Nathan Phillips Square
What better method to show you're visiting Toronto than by going for a photo in front of the big and bold Toronto sign? Find it at the front of City Hall at Nathan Phillips Square. The square itself is much less shabby, and it is an excellent destination to perform some people-watching (or tourist watching).
Canadian Opera Company
Fancy seeing a show? Watch a performance at the stunning Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts building. The Canadian Opera Company plays host to some free concert series from September through May, where one can see performances by established and emerging artists across different genres.
Graffiti Alley
Street art enthusiasts will surely appreciate Graffiti Alley (Rush Lane), certainly one of Toronto's most picturesque areas. Street art is legal here, and you will see vibrant works emblazoned proudly over the walls, which range from oversized cartoon animals to politically-tinged murals that try to spark debate.
St Lawrence Market
Take a glance round the historic St Lawrence Market and window shop from a lot more than 120 vendors and artisans. It will be hard to resist buying anything with the delicious aromas surrounding you, but a minimum of it'll be fun just to walk around. Fun fact: St Lawrence Market has been around for more than Two centuries.
Trinity Bellwoods Park
A popular place to go for artsy folk and people who have a legal drink inside a public park, Trinity Bellwoods is a lovely Queen West park worth a visit. If you are craving something sweet, stop by iHalo Krunch next door for many charcoal soft serve.
Evergreen Brick Works
Take phone unique art installations, wander around the park, and shop in the weekend farmers market. Evergreen Brick Works is a lovely and relaxing space outside of the city, ideal for families.
High Park Zoo
High Park is among Toronto's favourite green spaces, along with a wonderful destination to unfurl a picnic blanket, swim, play tennis or bike around. Contributing to the fun is the free-to-enter High Park Zoo, a small and welcoming space the place to find bison, llamas and peacocks that is certain to be considered a hit with kids. In the summer months, follow up a visit here by catching a night time performance by Shakespeare in High Park, one of Canada's longest-running outdoor theater events (payment is by donation).
Woodbine Beach
As the largest beach in the city, Woodbine Beach is really a summer hot spot for families and volleyball enthusiasts alike. It's located in the Beaches neighborhood of Toronto's East End, a cute place to explore.
Ice rinks
Visit Toronto in the winter months and you'll see public ice skating rinks appear all over the town, most of which can use if you have your personal skates (alternatively, rentals are usually available for around C$10). Popular spots range from the Harbourfront Centre, the rink at Nathan Phillips Square and Greenwood Park, that are usually operational from around November to January (with respect to the weather).
