Fun, Free Things to do in Toronto in Winter
Toronto is an exciting city to visit with a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor activities to keep you busy during the winter months. Visiting Canada’s largest city can be expensive, however there are actually a lot of free things to do in Toronto in winter, perfect if you’re travelling on a budget. Explore some of the amazing winter activities including indoor markets and gardens, outdoor skating rinks and hikes, plus ways to save on Toronto’s most popular attractions.
Indoor Activities
Free Admission to Toronto Museums and Art Galleries
Royal Ontario Museum- The ROM
Free general admission on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM (special exhibitions excluded)
The Royal Ontario Museum is one of Toronto’s top attractions, and as Canada’s largest and most extensive museum, it’s a must-visit. You can easily spend an entire day at the ROM, but with your free evening be sure to check out the most interesting and popular galleries including Age of Dinosaurs (the world’s best dinosaur collection), the Egyptian gallery, First People’s gallery, Age of Mammals, and Earth’s Treasures.
If you have kids to entertain, stop by Wonderworks; a play-based learning space full of interactive activities, the Toy Soldier collection, and of course the Bat Cave.
Art Gallery of Ontario - AGO Toronto
Free general admission from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM on the first Wednesday of each month, book tickets in advance online. All Ontarians who are under 25 and Indigenous people of Canada also receive free, unlimited admission to the AGO
One of the most well-known and distinguished art museums in North America, the AGO should be on your list if you’re visiting Toronto. The gallery has over 90,000 works of art, including modern and contemporary art, European masterpieces, Canadian Indigenous art, as well as an extensive collection from Canada’s famed Group of Seven.
Whether you’re an art aficionado, have a passion for a certain discipline like photography, painting, or sculpture, or have never visited an art gallery before, free Wednesdays are a great time to explore without opening your wallet.
Agha Khan Museum
Free general admission from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Wednesdays, no advanced tickets required
Dedicated to the appreciation of arts from Muslim civilizations, the Agha Khan Museum is a fascinating museum to learn about cultures from around the world. Visit the permanent collection with over 1,200 masterpieces, including paintings, textiles and ceramics, and check out rotating special exhibitions throughout the year.
The design of the museum by the late Professor Fumihiko Maki (winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize) is an art piece in itself, and you’ll want take a stroll around the building (both inside and out) to fully appreciate its unique architecture.
Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto - MOCA
Free general admission on the first Friday of each month, from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
An artistic and cultural hub in the city, the Museum of Contemporary Art is the place to go to challenge your perspective, bend your mind, and see some out-of-the-box art. With rotating exhibitions by Canadian and international artists, the museum showcases all forms of contemporary art from photography and sculpture, to video and performance art.
Spadina Museum
Free guided tours
Step back in time and get a glimpse of life during the early 1900’s at Spadina House. Once owned by the affluent Austin family, this stunning, historic mansion, is full of beautiful furniture and lavish décor, and will transport you back in time. Visiting the Spadina Museum is by guided tour only, with several tours scheduled each day from Wednesday to Sunday.
Gardens and Markets
St. Lawrence Market
No visit to Toronto is complete without a trip to one of the most iconic markets in the world; St. Lawrence Market. Established in 1803, this public market showcases the best in local shopping, featuring over 120 producers, farmers, artisans and merchants.
In the South Market you’ll find colourful fresh fruits and vegetables, an impressive selection of cheese, seafood, meat, baked goods and sweet treats. You’ll also find tasty eats to keep you fueled up including the famous peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery, and the irresistible veal parmesan sandwiches from Uno Mustachio. The second floor of the South Market is also home to the Market Gallery, a historic exhibition space showcasing the history of Toronto through fine art, and historic artifacts.
The North Market (currently at its temporary location at 125 The Esplanade), hosts a Saturday Farmers’ Market, and on Sundays the space fills up with over 80 antique dealers from across the province, showcasing cool antiques and thrifty finds.
Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market
The year-round farmers market at the Evergreen Brickworks is one of the largest in Toronto, and the place to go for fresh local Canadian produce in the winter. Taking place indoors every Saturday during from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, this lively market features exclusively local farmers from a 205km radius of the Brickworks.
Pick up seasonal produce like winter squash, leeks, onions, and potatoes, along with items you might not expect in winter (grown in Ontario greenhouses) like fresh cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes. The Brickworks also has a cool, free outdoor skating rink, a cute café to enjoy a hot drink, and has access to numerous winter walking and cycling trails through the Don River Valley Park.
Allan Gardens Conservatory
Step out of the cold and into a garden oasis at the Allan Gardens Conservatory. This indoor botanical garden is open year-round and features five unique greenhouses. Wander through the tropical spaces and admire a variety of succulents and cactuses, orchids, palms, tropical plants and even a koi pond.
Centennial Park Conservatory
With over 200 different varieties of tropical plants that bloom year-round, the Centennial Park Conservatory is great winter escape. Located in Etobicoke, just west of downtown, this spot is a true hidden gem in Toronto. Wander through the north and south wings, and surround yourself with palms, hibiscus, orchids, cacti, succulents and even fruit trees like soursop and papaya. If you can’t head down south for a vacation this winter, this indoor garden will definitely give you those tropical feels.
Art and Underground
DesignTO Festival - January 23 – February 1, 2026
Every winter Toronto’s creative design community comes together for the annual DesignTO Festival. As Canada’s largest design festival, this 10-day event features over 100 free events and exhibitions across the city. Check out the festival map and plan a stroll by some of the cool window installations, stop by one of the dynamic and thought-provoking exhibitions, attend an artist talk, or sign up for a free creative workshop.
Explore the PATH
Used my thousands of Torontonians each day to stay warm underground, the PATH is a fascinating place to explore. With over 30km of underground pedestrian walkways, the PATH connects over 75 buildings, 1200 shops, multiple underground food courts, six subway stations, and has access to many key spots like Union Station, the CN Tower, Hockey Hall of Fame, CF Eaton Centre, Roy Thompson Hall and Scotiabank arena.
We highly recommend downloading a map of the PATH before heading underground (as you may not have service), and it can quickly become a maze without proper directions and landmarks.
Outdoor
Ice Skating
Whether you’re a seasoned pro, or still learning ice-skating basics, Toronto has a skating rink for you. While we’ve featured some of our favourite outdoor rinks below, the city of Toronto also has a complete list of all Toronto skating rinks for you to choose from.
Nathan Phillips Square Skating Rink
Busy, buzzing and iconic, the skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square is the most popular place to skate in Toronto. Just steps away from the Toronto Eaton Centre and the Queen St. West shopping district, the rink is equipped with skate rentals, hot chocolate and food vendors. This insta-worthy spot is especially beautiful at night, surrounded by the bright lights of the city and the vibrantly lit Toronto sign.
The Bentway Skate Trail
Free skate rentals every Thursday 5:00 PM – 8:00PM
Snuggled beneath the giant pillars of the Gardiner Expressway, the Bentway Skate Trail is one of the coolest places to ice skate in Toronto. With an industrial and artsy vibe, surrounded by creative murals by local and international artists, the 220m figure-eight trail is a popular spot in the city to take a spin. If you don’t have skates, not to worry. Skate rentals are free every Thursday from 5:00 PM – 8:00PM.
Harbourfront Centre Skating Rink
Free skate rentals every Saturday
Skate beside Lake Ontario with a view of the CN Tower at one of the most scenic skating rinks in Toronto; the Harbourfront Centre. Newly expanded, the rink offers skate, skating aid, and helmet rentals as well as skate sharpening to keep your edges crisp. Saturdays are a great time to visit, as skate rentals are free all day, and DJ’s spin cool tunes beginning at 8:00 PM for weekly DJ Skate Nights.
Colonel Samuel Smith Park Skate Trail
A winter hidden gem in the city, the skating trail at Colonel Samuel Smith Park is worth the trip west of downtown. This cool, curvy, figure-eight skating trail is located in Etobicoke beside the Power House Recreation Centre. Renovated by the city, the building was once a historic 1930’s coal-fired heating plant, and its tall brick chimney stack still marks the spot for this cool outdoor winter rink.
Evergreen Brickworks Skating Rink
A fun skating spot with an industrial chic vibe, the rink at the Evergreen Brickworks has a historic charm you won’t want to miss. Take a spin on the open-air rink surrounded by an old brick factory, and exposed iron beams, then stop at the Brickwork’s Picnic Café for a hot coffee, light lunch or tasty snack.
Toronto Winter Walks and Trails
Easy Urban Winter Walks
Toronto’s neighbourhoods are full of fun winter walks, and a great way to stretch your legs while sightseeing. Some of our favourite winter walking routes:
Take a stroll through the historic Distillery District, a popular and charming spot with the largest and best-preserved collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.
With over 20 kilometers of trail to explore, the Toronto Waterfront Trail System is a great place to catch a glimpse of winter wildlife, cool ice formations on Lake Ontario, and frozen beaches.
For a hip, urban walk, veer off the beaten path to Graffiti Alley and discover blocks of urban art.
Wander through the Kensington Market streets, full of quirky vintage stores, independent coffee shops and a cool bohemian vibe.
Free Walking Tours in Toronto
If you’re not afraid of exploring Toronto’s snowy streets, then joining in a free walking tour is a great way to explore the city sights on a budget. There are several free, gratuity-based, or “pay what you can” walking tours in the city including Toonie Tours and Tour Guys. The city of Toronto also offers a variety of self-guided walking tours exploring the city’s history, culture, architecture and outdoor spaces.
Toronto Islands
A beautiful and bustling spot in summer, the Toronto Islands are quite spectacular in the winter too. Take the ferry to Ward’s Island (only $9 return), explore the island by snowshoe or cross-country ski, and take some cool photos of pond hockey on frozen lagoons, fantastic ice formations near the shore, and postcard perfect city views.
Winter Nature Trails
When Toronto’s green spaces turn white, it’s time to put on your winter gear and explore. There are many winter hiking trails in parks throughout the city, from short brisk walks to lengthier challenging hikes.
Go for a casual winter hike through Sherwood Park, High Park, or on the Kay Gardner Beltline Trail.
For frosty shoreline views and opportunities for wildlife viewing, go hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing at Tommy Thompson Park.
The ultimate urban winter wilderness, head to Rouge National Urban Park and hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski on trails ranging in length from 600m to over 20km return.
Cool Outdoor Winter Sites to Explore
Winter Stations - February 16- March 30, 2026
Winter Stations is a free outdoor public art exhibition with a unique twist, which takes place every winter in the neighbourhood of the Beach. The exhibition starts with an international design competition calling for creative artists, architects, designers, and students to reimagine the Beach’s lifeguard stations as interactive public art installations. The winners are then showcased on both Kew Beach and Woodbine beach, and attract locals and visitors to the their innovative, imaginative and colourful designs.
Fort York National Historic Site
Free general admission – all the time
History buffs and those wanting to learn more about Toronto’s history will want to make a stop at Fort York National Historic Site. Constructed in 1793, the fort served as the city’s primary harbour defense and was home to a military garrison until the 1930’s. Dive into important events of the Battle of York during the war of 1812; where British soldiers, First Nations warriors and Upper Canadian militiamen fought against the USA and its mission to capture Toronto.
Take a free 45-minute guided tour of the 43-acre archeological park, which hold Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. This spot also happens to have some of the best views of downtown Toronto, so keep your phone charged. After the tour warm up indoors while watching the immersive multimedia experience and learn the history of Fort York.
Ways to Save & Discounts on Toronto Attractions
Attractions Ontario Coupon Booklet
Attractions Ontario offers great discounts on popular attractions in Toronto, and all across Ontario. Visit their website, print or download the coupons, and save – it’s that easy. Some included attractions: Ripley’s Aquarium, City Sightseeing Toronto, Hockey Hall of Fame, Medieval Times, ROM
Save with a Presto Card
The’s city go-to card for public transportation, having a Presto card can also save you money at several Toronto attractions including: LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, ROM, , Art Gallery of Ontario, Hockey Hall of Fame
CAA Card
If you’re a CAA member, you can save money while visiting Toronto. Take advantage of discounts on hotels, rental cars, attractions, restaurants, shops and even gas! A few notable places where you can save: CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto Zoo
CityPass
For those who want to visit all of Toronto’s most popular attractions, but don’t want to pay full price, the Toronto CityPass is a great deal. You’ll save 35% off admission to five of Toronto’s top attractions.
City of Toronto Library Card Holder Discounts: tpl:map
If you’re a resident of the city with a Toronto Public Library card, the tpl:map program is a great way to save money on Toronto Attractions. Log into the tpl:map site on the first Wednesday of each month at 2:00 PM (when passes are released), choose the attraction of your choice, reserve a date, and print your pass. Passes are reserved quickly, so be sure to be prompt on reservation day. Some attractions available include: Aga Khan Museum, AGO, Bata Shoe Museum, ROM, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, MOCA
