11 Ways to Explore Toronto Without Breaking the Bank

 

Toronto is known for its high cost of living. While there is a lot to see and do, the most of it is regrettably rather expensive. However, the higher prices should not discourage you from visiting this fascinating city.

When I first arrived to Toronto a few years ago, I had just returned from a year abroad, knew nothing about the city, and was broke – on top of that, I was just beginning my post-graduate studies. For a few months, I hopped from pullout couch to air mattress, attempting but failing to make ends meet while working weekends in a pub and attending school full-time during the week. It wasn't an easy start, but I was living in a place I'd never been before, and being an adventurous person, I wanted to make the most of it.

I quickly learned to seek out Toronto's free nooks and crannies, which allowed me to explore the city on a shoestring budget. So, if you're a cheap traveler, don't worry! For whatever budget, the city has a lot to offer.

Here are a few interesting activities to do and places to see in Toronto that will help you get a sense for the city without breaking the bank. Some are more hidden than others, but the greatest part is that the majority of them are completely free!

Kensington Market is a great place to look for antique finds.

Kensington Market is a little hipster hamlet comprised of many streets lined with interesting businesses to browse. While bubbles float through the air and buskers provide the music to your afternoon, you may try on all types of weird vintage attire. It's a vibrant area (literally, as it's plastered in street art), with plenty of great street-style food options including Seven Lives' baja style tacos and Rasta Pasta's fusion cuisine. Take a stroll around the streets, bring your camera, and probe around in the stores – you don't have to buy anything to enjoy a beautiful day here!

At Allan Gardens, you'll find yourself in a tropical paradise.

Allan Gardens, a massive greenhouse that seems like walking into a mythical jungle, is located in the center of the city, just minutes from the bustling Yonge-Dundas Square. There is no entry cost to this lovely glass conservatory, which is brimming with exotic plants, turtles, walking walkways, and trickling ponds. It's the ideal spot to get away from the concrete jungle. Many of the conservatory's walls are lined with benches, making it excellent for reading, drawing, writing, or some quiet time.

Take a stroll around the historic streets of the Distillery District.

The Distillery District is Toronto's historic district, replete with cobblestone streets, ancient brick buildings, and no automobiles. Wander the streets at your leisure, enjoying the charming 19th-century architecture and passing through various unique art galleries – all while garnering creative inspiration. The landmark Gooderham & Worts sign, different sculptures, and the love lock installation, Toronto's counterpart to the Parisian habit of immortalizing your love in a padlock fastened to a public bridge, are also photo options. During the holiday season, the area also features the most spectacular Christmas market you'll find in Ontario, which is free to access on weekdays. Admission begins at 5 p.m. on weekends. On Fridays, the price is only $6.

Grab a bag of popcorn and head to the Royal Cinema for Free Flick Mondays.

When you go inside the Royal Cinema, you feel like you've stepped back in time, into a vintage theater with velvet seats and scarlet curtains bordering the screen. On one Monday a month, the institution offers cinema buffs the opportunity to watch vintage films on the large screen for free! You'll have to wait in line for your seat, but the entire experience is communal and pleasant, and there's always a buzz in the air. Though you'll almost certainly be seated next to strangers (the theater is constantly full), this simply adds to the allure of the event. If you're traveling alone, this is the ideal event to attend because you'll undoubtedly wind up speaking with other movie fans throughout the evening.

With the Toronto Slackline Crew, try something new.

A group of slackliners meets in the park in Trinity Bellwoods on Wednesday evenings about 6 p.m. until dusk to engage in the unusual sport, which entails tightrope-style balancing on ropes hung between the trees. Everyone from novices to specialists are invited to join the club, which is made up of friendly people eager to share both their slacklines and their skills. Aerial silks are frequently used, and acro yoga groups form nearby. After dark, several members bring out their light-up poi balls so you can sit back and watch them practice and play. Bring some goodies to share on the lawn and meet some new people!

Feel the Beaches' small-town summer atmosphere.

The Beaches is a modest area in Toronto's east end with a small-town ambiance that will make you forget about the city's hustle and bustle. You may walk for kilometers along the sandy promenade along Lake Ontario's shoreline, relax in the sun, visit the ice cream vendors (there are dozens), and explore the charming stores along Queen Street. During the summer, the town also plays free outdoor movies in several parks across the area, so keep an eye on their calendar. The Beaches also host the city's Jazz Festival, which takes place every year in July and brings music, merchants, and celebration to the streets.

At Toronto Island, you may catch some rays.

Toronto Island is a short ferry journey from the city's shoreline ($7.87 for an adult round-trip ticket), and the ride is a lot of fun. Though the ferry is always packed with bikers, stoners, and families burdened with beach umbrellas, floaties, and coolers, think of it as a people-watching opportunity and the start of your beach day.

It's worth noting that the island has three beaches, each with its own distinct vibe:

The most touristic area of the island is Centre Island. A beach, a petting zoo, several child attractions, a café, and a pond with rowboats for hire are all available here. All summer long, it's like a small carnival.

Hanlan's Point is a family-friendly nudist beach with a stunning view of Toronto's cityscape. Follow the route and signage from the boat dock for approximately a 20-minute walk that ultimately leads through some shrubs to a lovely sandy beach where you may take off your suit if you dare. Take advantage of the sunshine and your freedom!

Ward's Island is a small, secluded beach that attracts a large number of young people, music, and drifting boats. You'll pass a charming little café on your walk from the boat to the beach where you may sit outside (in the garden), drink beverages, and eat delicious summer salads.

In High Park, take in the cherry blossoms.

High Park is a must-see in the spring, and witnessing the iconic cherry blossoms is simply Torontonian. The park comes alive with delicious pink blossoms every year in late April or early May, and the entire city comes out to appreciate them. It's a spring awakening, with people of all ages buzzing with delight as they marvel at the grandeur of the Sakura trees. The flowers only last a week to a week and a half, so they're a one-time treat. Whether you catch them or not, the park is a terrific area for a leisurely walk, a chance to feed the ducks (or look for frogs) in the pond, or the ideal spot for a picnic.

Scarborough Bluffs Hike

The Scarborough Bluffs are a natural wonder: an escarpment with nine parks and a beach in the city's Scarborough area. This is an excellent location for hiking, sightseeing, and being active while taking in the breathtaking vistas of Lake Ontario. It's a strange feeling, because the rocky terrain and turquoise seas below make you feel like you're in another country. At the base of the escarpment, Bluffer's Park is the ideal place to relax on the beach while admiring the spectacular rocks. If you wish to cook food with your buddies, it even has charcoal BBQs! Head to Cathedral Bluffs Lookout for a panoramic vista. The escarpment's highest point rises 300 feet (90 meters) above the sea level.

Wychwood Barns has a Farmers Market.

What was formerly Toronto's historic streetcar maintenance plant is now a cultural hotspot. Wychwood Barns in the Bracondale Hill neighborhood has a farmers market every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In the summer, it's 1 p.m. The Stop, a non-profit that provides a community kitchen and food bank as well as drop-in cooking workshops to encourage access to nutritious food, is hosting the event. Vendors sell seafood, baked products, fruit, pasta, and Ontario wines at the market. Local foods and handmade items from farmers that cultivate as responsibly as possible may be found here. The ingredients are sourced directly from the market by the merchants who are not farmers! Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., there is also a family-friendly story tent. between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., where you may listen to or share any type of oral story. Wychwood Barns is also a terrific place to meet a friend for a snack in the market café, which is open throughout market hours and provides a variety of nutritious foods.

The Leslie Street Spit is a great place to walk or cycle.

The Spit is a hidden gem for nature enthusiasts in the heart of the metropolis. This man-made peninsula in Toronto's east end, constructed by dumped rubbish, allowing tourists to get the most out of the region by walking or riding. The route here spans for kilometers and is home to a variety of plant and bird species, so keep your eyes peeled! The Spit, dubbed a "accidental wilderness," originated as a port-related facility project until the 1970s, when it was judged that the land was no longer needed. Flora and wildlife had already begun to take over at this point. In the summer, enjoy beautiful views of the Toronto skyline while walking, bicycling, or rollerblading, or endure the cold in the winter for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing (note that the trail is not maintained during winter months). There are frequently offered (at a cost) guided bird-watching walks for novices, or you may explore on your own. Weekends and holidays, as well as weekdays from 4 to 9 p.m., are open to the public.

Toronto is a city with a diverse range of attractions. Each part of the city, from the Beaches to the Financial District, the Distillery to Kensington, has its own distinct identity. Even if you have a restricted budget, there are a plethora of options to get near to Toronto and enjoy its urban and natural wonders.

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