The best places to hang out for free (or almost free) in Toronto

by YP Contributor

Toronto is a hopping international hotspot, but citizens can attest to the fact that while TO may be lively, it sure isn’t cheap. The following are some must-see free spaces, which are sure to entertain without exhausting your wallet. [Image credit: iStock.com/&#169 Svitlana Prada]

While not all of our art galleries in Toronto are free 24/7, some are, including the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery at the newly developed Queens Quay.

Other free times:

• Ontario Museum (ROM): Tuesdays, free to full-time students attending a Canadian post-secondary institution.
• Aga Khan Museum: Wednesday 4 pm to  6 pm this 113,000-square-foot building covered in white Brazilian granite is free to visitors.
• The Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art: always free to youth 18 and under; half price admission every Friday from 4 pm to 9 pm.
• The Textile Museum of Canada: PWYC 5 pm to 8 pm on Wednesdays.
• Design Exchange: always free to all, except for special events.

Many Toronto cafés are worth the minimal price of admission, such as a sumptuous cappuccino or cortado. Take Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina, an indie coffee shop with large communal tables, located underneath the Centre for Social Innovation. Balzac’s Coffee Roasters in the cobble-stoned Distillery District is another long-loved and inspiring café space. Other top options include: Scandinavian-inspired Fika Cafe in Kensington, the laid-back Tempered Room in Parkdale or Early Bird Espresso and Brew Bar on Queen Street West.

For those looking to spend some free time in nature, your best bets are Allen Gardens Conservatory or our Toronto Botanical Gardens.

Not to be missed activities:

• Stroll through the 16,000 square foot Allen Gardens Conservatory property, which includes the Cactus House and Orchid Room (the legends are true; it comes stocked with turtles).
• Take a free guided tour of the nearly four acres and 17 themed gardens at TBC, including the Beryl Ivey Knot Garden.
• For those looking for lunch with their lavender try TBG’s Organic Farmer’s Market, open Thursday 2 to 7 pm, year-round.

Taking up 7.5 scenic acres in Cabbagetown, the Riverdale Farm is a TO gem, perfect for children and animal lovers alike. The farm specializes in pioneer breeds of farm animals, including goats, sheep, pigs and more. Daily admission to the farm is completely free all year round, and they are open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Ranked #1 Food Market in the world by National Geographic, Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market is a free foodie hotspot open to all.

Spots to check out:

• The Farmer’s Market, which has been running since 1803, is open Saturdays from 5 am to 3 pm.
• The South Market contains over 120 speciality vendors, is open Tuesday through Saturday.
• The Antiques Market, which is bursting with collectibles, vintage jewellery and eclectic furniture, is open Sunday 5 am to 5 pm.

Recognized as a National Historic Site, the cobble-stoned Distillery District is a pocket of Toronto not to be bypassed. Check out the Case Goods Warehouse (located atop Balzac's Coffee Roasters) to drop in on endless stream of open artist studios. Hit up Mill St. Brew Pub + Beer Hall for a free tour of the on-site brewery or to indulge in a refreshing local brew.

The 401 Richmond building is a historic locale that’s undergone a dramatic transformation since its construction in 1899. There are over 140 artists, shops, galleries and microenterprises, including the Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art, The Spacing Store, and SWIPE Design and Books. Hot tip: there’s also a roof garden, complete with a 40-foot greenhouse. Open and free to the public daily.

Like many neighbourhoods in Toronto, Kensington offers visitors a vibrant Torontonian experience, with no price tag attached. So, grab your map and backpack and head out into the titillating – and often free – terrain of downtown Toronto. Loaf around in Alexandra Park, stroll through our own epic Graffiti Alley or snag a dollar coffee from Casa Coffee and sit back and watch the bustle.