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Like most big cities, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, can be a pricey place to visit.

And, it’s a beautiful, clean city with great attractions, food and culture.  But, there are MANY FREE things to see and do there.  Check out these FREE Things to do in Toronto.

Before you start planning, request these FREE Toronto Travel Materials –

• FREE Ontario Map (that includes Toronto) from the Ontario Tourism Board.  They sent me a nice map that’s normally $2.95

FREE Official Toronto Magazine & Visitor Guide that included FREE coupons in the back as well as a Toronto Map from Tourism Toronto

FREE Ontario MapFREE Toronto Visitor Guide

 

You’ll find plenty to do that’s FREE in Toronto, Canada’s most populous city.

FREE-Canada 1

FREE Parks in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Like most large cities, Toronto has some incredible public parks.  These are my picks.

High Park – Bloor Street West

A FREE large, beautifully landscaped space in the heart of Toronto along the lakefront and definitely worth an afternoon at least.  There is SO much to do here that is FREE.  You’ll find the usual walking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and wildlife.  There’s a Children’s Garden that hosts FREE Community Events.  Parking at High Park is FREE as well.  If you are in Toronto from late April to early May you MUST go see the Sakura Cherry Blossoms!  FREE Ice Skating, FREE Swimming and FREE Tennis too!  So much to do!

High Park Zoo – Located inside High Park

FREE Admission – Emu, Peacocks, Bison and Reindeer are among the animals to view and learn about.  PLUS there’s an awesome FREE Llama exhibit (open limited hours daily) where you can feed and pet the llamas (pic below) and interact with other animals such as chickens, rabbits and capybaras.  How cool is that?

FREE Zoo Admission in Toronto Ontario Canada  
Photo: High Park

Riverdale Farm – Winchester Street

FREE Admission – FREE parking is available on surrounding city streets.  The farm is a 7.5 acre representation of a rural 19th century farm in Ontario, complete with animals (chickens, turkeys, pigs, sheep).  They also host FREE interactive activities and events.

The Franklin Childrens Garden – Centre Island

FREE Admission at this perfect place to spend some time with children.  There are tons of FREE Activities based on Franklin the Turtle.  They host FREE Craft Project and Games too.  There’s a Hide and Seek Garden and even a Turtle Pond

HTO Park – Queens Quay W

FREE Admission – this is where you’ll find the beach in downtown Toronto!  You didn’t think that there was always snow and cold in Toronto, did you?  This park features a beach sandpit with chairs and umbrellas for a relaxing stay at the beach.  OR you can take in the views of the frigid lake and lakefront in the winter months.

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FREE Museums in Toronto

Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art
952 Queen Street W
(416) 395-0067

FREE Admission Tuesday – Sunday

Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas Street W
(877) 225-4246

FREE Admission on Wednesday Nights (6 – 8:30pm)

CBC Museum (Canadian Broadcasting Company)
Toronto Broadcasting Centre 250 Front Street W.
FREE Admission Daily

Tour Guys Canada
25 Cole Street
(800) 691-9320
FREE Public Walking Tours of Toronto – Downtown, Waterfront, History – Book Online

Scarborough Museum
1007 Brimley Road
(416) 338-8807
FREE (Pay-what-you-can) Historic Museum of first settlers and a 19th century garden.

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FREE Concerts & Entertainment in Toronto

Toronto Music Garden
Queens Quay West
Annual FREE Summer Concert Series – there are performers from wide and varied genres so there’s something for nearly everyone

The Royal Conservatory – The Glenn Gould School
Bloor Street West
FREE Student Recitals and Concerts
Search HERE for more FREE Concerts and Events sponsored by The Royal Conservatory

Toronto Symphony Orchestra
King Street West
FREE Pre-Concert Chats with a classical music specialist.  Learn more about the music you love!

Toronto Jazz Festival 
Queen Street W
Mainstage Marquee at Nathan Phillips Square
Many FREE Events throughout Festival

Canadian Opera Company
Queen Street W
FREE Concert Series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre

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FREE The Path – Underground

The Toronto PATH is the world’s largest shopping network playing host to over 2000 retailers and businesses and connecting Toronto’s downtown with over 4,000,000 sq ft of retail space.

You can walk from the CN Tower to the Eaton Centre (well over a mile) in a temperature controlled, dry, safe environment, year-round!  So even if the weather is frightful, there always something to do.

PRINT THIS MAP or use the interactive map on the

FREE TorontoPATH iPhone App with Maps

Free Toronto PATH App

FREE-Canada 5

FREE Eats in Toronto, Canada

10 Places to get FREE Food in Toronto

➊ 3 Brewers

Yonge St – $5 FREE food when you register a Fidelity Card

➋ Boston Pizza 

Front StreetFREE Starter when you sign up for MyBp – Starters include Pizzatizers, Wings, Breads, Ribs, Sliders, Chicken Fingers and many more!  Think – light lunch!

➌ Canyon Creek

Front Street FREE $10 Gift when you sign up for Preferred Guest email – They have soup, salads, sides and desserts under $10 as well as appetizers for just a few bucks over.  This is a great place to dine, nice atmosphere, delicious food.  Try the Kansas City Steak Soup.

➍ Casey’s Grill Bar

Front St and Dundas StFREE Appetizer when you sign up for Email List

➎ DavidsTea

Multiple LocationsFREE Tea when you sign up for Frequent Steeper

➏ East Side Mario’s

Multiple LocationsFREE Appetizer when you Join the Family

➐ Fionn MacCool’s Prime Pub

Front/Bloor/Yonge – FREE Appetizer when you sign up for Newsletter

➑ Montana’s BBQ & Bar

QueenswayFREE Spinach Dip or FREE Antojitos when you join Grill Lover’s Club

➒ The Pickle Barrel

Multiple Locations FREE Appetizer with E Club signup

➓ Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill

Multiple LocationsFREE Appetizer with Rotisserie Mail sign up

And in the outlaying areas …

Turtle Jack’s Muskoka GrillSuburbs/OutlyingFREE $10 Reward for new TKC Loyalty Club members

AND

FREE BEER!

Both breweries are located near each other.  You could most likely take both tours back to back.

☛ Amsterdam Brewhouse on the Lake

Queens Quay West

FREE guided brewery tours are available M – F at 4PM and SAT & SUN at 3PM and 5PM
FREE Tours include a FREE tasting and last about 30 minutes. – Book HERE in advance as they only have space for 16 people.

Steam Whistle Brewing 

The Roundhouse – near CN Tower

 

PLUS – a little tip…

Freebies in Toronto Canada

The CN Tower, in my opinion, is a MUST when you are in Toronto.  The view is simply unmatched!  If you dine at the 360 Restaurant, the elevator ride and access to the LookOut and Glass Floor levels of the CN Tower is FREE.  Mind you, the food is not cheap at the restaurant (view menu), but when you consider that the admission to those features alone is $29, it makes sense.

Oh – and the restaurant rotates so that you can see the entire city!  I think it takes about 70 minutes to completely revolve.  It’s really cool.

This was my splurge!

Free-Toronto-CN-Tower
View from 360 Restaurant at night - the photo doesn't do it justice!

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FREE Smartphone Apps for Toronto

FREE Tornoto iPhone Apps

Free Toronto Canada App
See TorontoFREE Official Visitors Guide – Tourism Toronto

Free App with Toronto Maps and Metro Schedule
Toronto Offline Map & FREE City Guide w/metro!

Free Toronto City iPhone App
Toronto Map and Walks FREE self-guided walks featuring the best of the city, from world famous attractions to hidden gems.

 

FREE Toronto Android Apps

FREE Toronto Canada Travel App
Toronto City Guide by TripAdvisorFREE information about restaurants, attractions, and hotels PLUS FREE self-guided tours.  All available offline — no data roaming charges!

FREE Toronto Map App for Android
Toronto Travel Guide by TriposoFREE offline detailed map and Extensive coverage of touristic attractions.

FREE Canada App for Toronto
Toronto Now – Get the latest news, traffic and weather reports of Toronto, in a single app!

 

FREE-Canada

A couple of personal tips –

– If you plan on driving, be warned downtown parking is EXPENSIVE!  I recommend staying at a hotel that included parking. Check the Fairmont Royal York or the Sheraton Center.

– Find a hotel that includes FREE Breakfast

– The Ripley’s Aquarium is an incredible place, I highly recommend it!  Find discounts by searching Google for “Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto Discount

– See a show while you are there – Toronto features world class performances. Save money with a Hotel/Theater/Dinner Package from Mirvish

– Find great savings on dining, events and attractions with the Toronto Entertainment Book

– See what’s available on Groupon-Toronto ► Find Today’s Daily Deal on the Best in Toronto!

Freebie-Tim-Signature

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