Summary of Best Museums in Toronto
Toronto is a hotbed of culture; a city filled with intriguing sights and activities, including top-tier museums. Whether you’re interested in contemporary art exhibitions, Canadian history, fine art, or ceramics – there truly is a museum in Toronto for everyone. These institutions effectively combine education and entertainment, allowing visitors to learn more about Canada’s largest and most diverse city, as well as the world at large. Here’s a list of some of the best museums in Toronto, each offering unique experiences for visitors.
Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum, making any visit to the city incomplete without a stop here. The expansive collection showcases everything from cultural artifacts and artworks to exhibits focused on natural history. Whether you’re interested in ancient artifacts, textiles from various time periods, Greek antiquities, or Japanese culture, something intriguing awaits in one of the museum’s more than 40 galleries. Don’t miss the James and Louise Temerty Galleries where you can explore one of the world’s finest fossil collections, a hit among children.
Art Gallery of Ontario
Offering a wide variety of artistic expressions, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is a must-visit destination in Toronto and stands as one of North America’s largest art museums. Featuring close to 95,000 works, each piece is guaranteed to inspire. Notably, the AGO is also an architectural masterpiece, especially after its major expansion in 2008, crafted by renowned architect Frank Gehry.
Bata Shoe Museum
If shoes pique your interest, the unique Bata Shoe Museum focuses on the history of footwear, featuring over a thousand shoes and related artifacts from a collection exceeding 13,000 pieces. Spanning five floors, this museum highlights 4,500 years of shoe history, prompting deeper contemplation about the significance of what we wear. Visitors can see the evolution of footwear while learning about its societal role throughout history.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Canada’s beloved sport takes center stage at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. It boasts the largest collection of hockey memorabilia globally, in addition to the Stanley Cup. This interactive venue allows fans to challenge life-size, animated renditions of some of the greatest goalies and shooters in hockey history. Whether you prefer action or passive viewing of hockey-themed cinematics, this venue is essential for sports enthusiasts.
Design Exchange
If design is your passion, consider visiting the Design Exchange. Founded in 1994, this institution houses a vast collection showcasing Canada’s industrial design legacy from 1945 onward. Spanning over 600 design objects and archival materials, it covers various sectors such as furniture, textiles, and lighting.
Textile Museum of Canada
The Textile Museum of Canada (TMC) stands alone in Canada as the only museum of its type. Its permanent collection spans nearly 2,000 years, comprising over 13,000 textiles from 200 regions globally. You’ll find a diverse array of artifacts ranging from ceremonial cloths to quilts, offering insight into the cultural and societal impact of textiles. The TMC also implements rotating exhibitions and guest curators, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.
Aga Khan Museum
Inaugurated in 2014, the Aga Khan Museum features stunning architecture designed by award-winning architect Fumihiko Maki. It hosts a collection of over 1,000 objects dedicated to the art and culture of Muslim civilizations. Each visit provides access to approximately 250 items in the permanent gallery space. Additionally, the museum hosts rotating exhibitions, workshops, and live artistic performances, with free admission on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Museum of Contemporary Art
MOCA (formerly the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art – MOCCA) has recently relocated to Toronto’s Junction Triangle neighborhood. This expansive venue encompasses 55,000 square feet of gallery space across five floors, featuring three phases of exhibitions annually showcasing both Canadian and internationally renowned artists. While there is an admission fee for the entire facility, the first floor remains free and accessible to the public.
Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre, operational since 1969, is an ideal destination for science lovers and families. The venue facilitates engaging and interactive experiences covering topics from geology to human anatomy through over 500 hands-on exhibits across eight halls. Daily live science demonstrations are extremely popular with school groups, and visitors can also enjoy Ontario’s only IMAX Dome theatre and a KidSpark discovery area designed for children eight and under.
Casa Loma
Visiting Casa Loma, you might be surprised to find a castle in Toronto. This historic estate was once home to financier Sir Henry Pellatt and began construction in 1911, costing $3,500,000 at that time. Explore the lavish suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, and stables, and don’t miss the beautifully landscaped gardens that cover five acres. Self-guided multimedia tours are available in multiple languages to enhance your visit.
