Sight guide · Toronto · Canada
Visiting Bata Shoe Museum
Designed by Raymond Moriyama to evoke a shoebox, this museum on Bloor Street holds more than 13,000 shoes and related objects spanning about 4,500 years, from ancient Egyptian sandals and Inuit boots to celebrity footwear.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Bata Shoe Museum is a museum in The Annex, Toronto. Allow 1–1.5 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- The Annex
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, rainy day and off the beaten path
- Best months
- November–January
About Bata Shoe Museum
Designed by Raymond Moriyama to evoke a shoebox, this museum on Bloor Street holds more than 13,000 shoes and related objects spanning about 4,500 years, from ancient Egyptian sandals and Inuit boots to celebrity footwear.
Tip: Combine it with the ROM, a short walk east along Bloor Street.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: The Annex, victorian houses, the university and Bloor Street cafés and bars.
Best time to visit Bata Shoe Museum
Bata Shoe Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- January: -1°C (30°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- December: 2°C (36°F) highs, about 12 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- November: 8°C (46°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds.
When to visit Toronto has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Bata Shoe Museum is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.
- No. 14 of the 19 sights in our Toronto things-to-do list.
- Day 7 of the 7-day plan.
- One of the picks in museums in Toronto.
- One of the picks in toronto on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Toronto.
Near Bata Shoe Museum
Also in The Annex, so you can walk between them:
- Casa Loma — 2 hours, mid-priced
If you like Bata Shoe Museum
- Royal Ontario Museum — Yorkville, 3 hours
- St. Lawrence Market — Old Town, 1–2 hours
- Hockey Hall of Fame — Financial District, 1.5–2 hours
- Aga Khan Museum — Don Mills, 2 hours
Staying near Bata Shoe Museum
Stay in The Annex ($$) to walk here: victorian houses, the university and Bloor Street cafés and bars. All areas to stay in Toronto.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Bata Shoe Museum?
Plan 1–1.5 hours. With Casa Loma nearby, it fits a half-day in The Annex.
+Is Bata Shoe Museum free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Bata Shoe Museum?
November–January, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Combine it with the ROM, a short walk east along Bloor Street.
+Do I need to book Bata Shoe Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.