Free things to do · Toronto · Canada
8 free things to do in Toronto
Toronto without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Toronto without paying an entry fee: Distillery District, Kensington Market, High Park and Nathan Phillips Square are all free. Menu and shop prices exclude 13% HST, and restaurant tips of 15–20% go on top, so budget about a third more than menu prices when eating out.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 3
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Free sights and experiences
Historic site · Distillery District
1.Distillery District
Visit on a weekday in the winter-village season; weekend evenings are extremely crowded.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Shopping
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Kensington Market
2.Kensington Market
Graze rather than sit down: patties, empanadas, tacos and churros from different counters make a cheap lunch.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Photo spot
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Park · High Park
3.High Park
Take Line 2 to High Park station and walk south through the park to Grenadier Pond and the zoo.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Couples
Landmark · Downtown
4.Nathan Phillips Square
Come after dark for photos of the lit sign, and bring or rent skates in winter.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Park · Don Valley
5.Evergreen Brick Works
Come on a Saturday morning for the market, then walk the valley trails up to the lookout.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Food
- Off the beaten path
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Street · Queen West
6.Graffiti Alley
Enter from Spadina, walk west and come out at Portland for the shops and cafés of Queen West.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
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Nature · Scarborough
7.Scarborough Bluffs
Admire the cliffs from below at Bluffer's Park; never climb the eroding cliff faces, which are unstable.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
- Photo spot
Garden · Garden District
8.Allan Gardens Conservatory
Visit during the winter or spring flower shows, when the greenhouses are at their most colourful.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Rainy day
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Distillery District | Distillery District | 1.5–2 hours |
| Kensington Market | Kensington Market | 2 hours |
| High Park | High Park | 2–3 hours |
| Downtown | Nathan Phillips Square | 30 minutes |
| Don Valley | Evergreen Brick Works | 2 hours |
| Queen West | Graffiti Alley | 30–45 minutes |
| Scarborough | Scarborough Bluffs | 2–3 hours |
| Garden District | Allan Gardens Conservatory | 45 minutes |
Worth a small ticket
Market · Old Town
St. Lawrence Market
Come hungry on a weekday morning or early on Saturday, before the lunchtime crowds.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Island · Toronto Harbour
Toronto Islands
Take the ferry to Ward's Island in the morning, walk or cycle west along the boardwalk, and return from Centre Island or Hanlan's Point at sunset for skyline photos.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
Museum · The Annex
Bata Shoe Museum
Combine it with the ROM, a short walk east along Bloor Street.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Menu and shop prices exclude 13% HST, and restaurant tips of 15–20% go on top, so budget about a third more than menu prices when eating out.
- One tap on the TTC gives two hours of transfers, so group short trips within that window.
- Toronto CityPASS bundles several headline attractions, including the CN Tower, and saves money if you plan to visit most of them.
- Winterlicious and Summerlicious set menus are a cheaper way to eat at well-known restaurants.
- Hotel prices spike during TIFF in September and on big event weekends; January to March is the least expensive time to stay.
- Free sights include High Park and its zoo, Allan Gardens, Graffiti Alley, Kensington Market and the Distillery District.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Toronto expensive to visit?
Toronto is expensive for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Toronto?
Distillery District: Visit on a weekday in the winter-village season; weekend evenings are extremely crowded.