City: Downtown
Top Things to do in Downtown
What to do and see in Downtown, Canada: The Best Specialty Museums
We've heard Toronto described as "New York City run by the Swiss," and it's true—you can find world-class theater, shopping and restaurants here, but the sidewalks are clean and the people are friendly. The best place to start is literally at the top—the CN Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the Western Hemisphere.
Restaurants in Toronto
1. Deaf Culture Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
2. G44 Centre for Contemporary Photography
3. Museum Subway Station
4. Royal Ontario Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,278 reviews
Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. One of North America's most renowned cultural institutions, Canada's largest museum is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, palaeontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture and archaeology, the ROM plays a vital role in advancing our global understanding of the artistic, cultural and natural world.
Reviewed By ElTouristo61 - New York City, United States
The ROM, Canada’s largest museum, is an impressive collection of art, culture, nature and history. Plan on spending at least half a day as there are so many exhibits. The special exhibit on Jodhpur included 4 centuries of royal art, paintings, decorative art, and jewelry—an amazing journey through some of India’s cultural history. Well worth the few extra dollars for access. Equally impressive are the European and Asian sections. There is plenty for the whole family to do but keep in mind if you enter with a city pass you’ll have to pay a few extra dollars for the special exhibits.
5. Hockey Hall of Fame
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,054 reviews
Honor the achievements of some of the greatest stars in hockey at this shrine to Canada's national sport.
Reviewed By dave4559
Recommend a stop here if you are a hockey fan, make sure you have some time to see everything, lot to see and do, son was able to shoot pucks, lots of history and the trophy room was incredible.
6. Bata Shoe Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,323 reviews
The Bata Shoe Museum: For Every Shoe There's a Story The Bata Shoe Museum is home to the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of shoes and footwear-related objects. The mission of the BSM is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the role of footwear in the social and cultural life of humanity. Through acquiring, conserving, researching, communicating and exhibiting material evidence related to the history of footwear and shoemaking, the Museum illustrates the living habits, the culture and the customs of people from every corner of the world.
Reviewed By 62Katie - Portland, United States
Surprising how much you can learn about history in general by focusing on one item, in this case shoes. When I visited there was a Manolo Blahnik exhibit that was great fun to peruse. The other exhibits were: All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages – Semi-permanent - This is the CORE of the Museum, this is where you take the time to look, read, and think about EVERY display. The Gold Standard: Glittering Footwear From Around Globe and Art and Innovation: Traditional Arctic Footwear =- both of these were interesting and informative. Excellent reminder that small museums have a lot to offer! Plus I appreciate being able to see all of the exhibits, not leaving with a feeling that I've missed something. I see I'm going to have to choose 1-2 hours or 2-3 hours so I want to mention here that you CAN do this well in 2 hours, but you could also make it closer to three hours if you wanted to. Small but well curated gift shop.
7. Gallery Arcturus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
This free public art exhibit and education centre features rotating shows of mixed media, paint, collage and sculpture. Exhibits may feature work from the gallery's permanent collection as well as new works created on site. Gallery Arcturus is dedicated to exploring the nature and necessity of visual art in human endeavour. In our view, art is the attempt to perceive and communicate what is seen. Supported by The Foundation for the Study of Objective Art.
8. Akasha Art Projects
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
9. The Pier
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Interesting Harbourfront museum containing interactive exhibits about boatmaking.
10. Toronto Police Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 59 reviews
Using interactive displays, this museum documents the history of the Canadian police, as well as its present operations.
Reviewed By traveller2454 - Dalbeattie, United Kingdom
As my husband was previously a policeman with the London Met, we were very lucky to be able to arrange a private tour of the Toronto Police Museum with Norina D'Agostini and nothing was too much trouble for her. We had so many interesting stories to exchange and notes to compare about policing in the UK and in Canada.
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