Bata Shoe Museum

The Bata Shoe Museum is one of Toronto's most unique attractions and a surprisingly engaging destination for families. Housing nearly 15,000 shoes and footwear artifacts from cultures around the world spanning 4,500 years, it transforms something everyday into something extraordinary.

The permanent collection, displayed across four galleries in a building designed by architect Raymond Moriyama (its shape evokes a stylized shoebox), covers the full sweep of human footwear history. Kids are drawn to the extreme examples — Arctic boots made from seal skin, towering Venetian platform shoes, tiny Chinese lotus shoes, and ornate Indian wedding slippers. Each display tells a story about the culture, climate, and social customs that shaped how people covered their feet.

The celebrity and pop culture gallery is consistently the most popular section with older kids and teens. Seeing actual shoes worn by famous musicians, athletes, actors, and historical figures creates a personal connection that traditional museum exhibits sometimes lack. The rotating special exhibitions keep the museum fresh for repeat visitors and often explore themes that resonate with younger audiences.

For families, the museum offers programming including hands-on workshops where children design and decorate their own shoes, scavenger hunts that guide kids through the galleries with specific artifacts to find, and storytelling sessions during school breaks. Ask at the front desk about current family activities — there is usually something available.

At just four galleries, the Bata Shoe Museum is intentionally compact. A typical visit takes 1 to 1.5 hours, making it ideal for families with younger children who might experience fatigue at larger museums. The size also makes it a perfect pairing with the Royal Ontario Museum, just a 3-minute walk east on Bloor Street, for a museum doubleheader.

Admission is $16 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-17, with children 4 and under free. Sunday admission is free for everyone, making it an outstanding family value. The museum is steps from St. George subway station and is fully stroller-accessible.

The Annex neighbourhood surrounding the museum is one of Toronto's most walkable areas, with diverse restaurants, bookshops, and cafes along Bloor Street in both directions.