Art Gallery of Ontario
The AGO has a giant collection of art from Canadian and international artists. We’ve been multiple times and still haven’t seen most of it. The rotating exhibitions are also thought-provoking and current. Admission is free for those under 25 and on Wednesday night for everyone (must pre-book). They also host really cool events in their stunning indoor courtyard, heavily recommend you check that out. One time we stumbled upon a full concert by Zaki Ibrahim and got our groove on until we were sweaty.
Beyond that, it’s architecturally beautiful place to have a cup of coffee.
Ontario Science Centre
This is one of our favourite date spots and one of Judy’s favourite places on earth. The OSC has a lot of interactive exhibits and it’s probably geared towards children and families, but we enjoy it regardless. We always learn a lot and leave very entertained. Some of the exhibits could use updating, but it doesn’t take away from the fun.
Aga Khan Museum
A museum of Middle Eastern art, this museum is designed beautifully inside and out. It’s incredibly serene and calming. Worth a visit if you’re an architecture or art history nerd.
Gardiner Museum
At this museum of ceramic art, you can drop-in to pottery classes and get your hands dirty. It’s not a heavily guided class, so it’s a great opportunity to really free-style and see if you enjoy the art of wheel. There’s also a beautiful restaurant with stunning city views inside here.
Bata Shoe Museum
This museum is shaped like a shoebox! It’s a really fun collection that would make a quick visit. Sometimes museums can be really dry and this one is actually fun. They have shoes of all kinds from all over the place, across the ages.
Royal Ontario Museum
This behemoth of a museum is kind of like the Museum of Natural History in New York, except maybe better. It’s got exciting artifacts, art, culture, precious stones, mummies, dinosaur fossils… a bit of everything! It’s cavernous and at times intimate.
Judy has fond memories of visiting here when her family lived in Toronto in the early aughts. Perhaps the best part of the museum is that it’s where a lot of important research happens and they have an extensive library and archives of items that aren’t on public view. However anyone can book an appointment to visit them. So if you want to see some fossils and specimens, now is your chance!