11 Unique and Unusual Things To Do in Toronto

Haunted, weird, odd and fun places to find unusual things to do in Toronto

Toronto is a busy urban centre of skyscrapers and finance, but that doesn’t mean it’s all business. There’s a definite fun side to Canada’s biggest city. I’m a weirdo who seeks out the offbeat all over the world, and I love sharing hidden gems from my own city. Many of these are free, or quite affordable on a budget.

Here are 11 unique and unusual things to do in Toronto I would recommend to friends, family, and you!

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Ride a Tiki Taxi to Toronto Island

Stroll through Graffiti Alley

Tour the Haunted Distillery District

Visit the World’s Largest Shoe Collection

Eat your way through Kensington Market

Get Lost in a Castle

Explore the Necropolis Cemetery

Start a laugh riot at Second City

Skate under a highway

Drink at Toronto’s Geekiest Bar

Tiny Skull Room at the AGO

Ride a Tiki Taxi to Toronto Island

Did you know you Toronto has an island? There are actually several, just offshore from the city’s downtown, making up the Toronto Island Park. (You may hear locals simply call it “The Island.”)

This car-free community boasts safe swimming beaches (including the clothing-optional Hanlan’s Point), Centreville Amusement Park, bicycle, kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals, a labyrinthian hedge maze, and the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, the oldest existing lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It’s an easy day trip and offers a fantastic view of the city’s skyline—it’s also one of the best places to watch the sunset in Toronto.

The fastest and most fun way to get to the Toronto islands in summer is by a tiki-themed water taxi. These small boats seat 12 and are decorated in bamboo and bright colours with thatched roofs. Your captain may even have tropical tunes on the playlist for the 15-minute ride over. Departs from 437 Queens Quay. https://www.tikitaxi.ca/

Read my full guide to visiting the Toronto Islands here

Stroll through Graffiti Alley

If you’re a fan of public art, looking for free unusual things to do in Toronto, in need of a perfect selfie backdrop—or all three—check out Graffiti Alley just steps from Queen Street West at Spadina.

This 500-metre laneway is covered in brightly coloured murals, elaborate tags, black-and-white portraits and other bold artworks by many of Toronto’s best street artists. It’s constantly changing, but look out for Toronto mascots like racoons, Blue Jays, and Drake, or yellow canaries, the signature character of artist Uber 5000. If you’re lucky you may also see new art in progress.

The alley is popular year-round and most people spend about 30 minutes there. Find it just south of Queen Street West between Spadina Avenue and Portland Street.

Read my full guide to visiting Graffiti Alley here.

Tour the Haunted Distillery District

The historic Distillery District is one of most popular neighbourhoods for tourists, with picturesque cobblestone streets, cute boutiques and the many distilleries that gave this area its name. It’s also one of the most haunted places in Toronto

From May to November, you can join a Haunted Walk through the Distillery District with a local guide who will reveal the scandalous and spooky history of this area. The small group tour takes you to key historical sites and covers gruesome accidents, tragic deaths and reports of paranormal activities that continue to this day.  Details and schedules at hauntedwalk.com.

Read my review of the Haunted Distillery experience on Ultimate Ontario

Visit the World’s Largest Shoe Collection

Bata Shoe Museum is one of Toronto’s most unique museums, displaying more than 1,000 pairs of shoes, boots, and related artefacts from its collection of 15,000 objects: the biggest collection of shoes in the world.

Whether you’re more into sneakers or stilettos you’ll find something here to spark delight. The permanent exhibition All About Shoes traces more than 4,500 years of history, from ancient Egyptian sandals to 16^th century Italian platforms and even footwear made from human hair. It’s fascinating and for museum lovers one of the top unusual things to do in Toronto.

Look out for shoes worn by celebrities such as John Lennon, Madonna and Queen Victoria, plus cutting-edge designs by Vivienne Westwood, Mr. Bailey and more. The building itself, located downtown near the University of Toronto campus and a short walk to the designer shops of Yorkville, is an architectural beauty.

Bata Shoe Museum is open daily with free admission on Sundays. 327 Bloor Street West. https://batashoemuseum.ca/

Eat your way through Kensington Market

Kensington Market is Toronto’s most bohemian, eclectic, and yummy neighbourhood. The streets are filled with independent vintage shops operating out of colourful Victorian houses and delicious eateries offering a taste of the city’s diverse food culture, all packed within a few easily walkable blocks with not a Starbucks in sight.

What began as a Jewish market in the 1920s has evolved and expanded as different waves of immigrants settled here. You’ll now find food from around the world in affordable small cafes and takeaways. Grab some churros from Mexico, a Turkish coffee, Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches or German döner. And don’t skip the Jamaican patties—a pride of Toronto. Or create a DIY picnic from the many bakeries, fruit markets and cheesemongers to eat in the newly renovated Bellevue Square Park.

A great time to visit Kensington Market is on Pedestrian Sundays, a car-free festival held on the last Sunday of the month from May to October. Find it between Dundas Street West and College Street, bordered by Spadina Avenue to the east and Augusta avenue to the West.

Get Lost in a Castle

Casa Loma may not look like a European castle, but this Gothic Revival mansion is fairy-tale like attraction and one of the most unusual things to do in Toronto. Built as a private residence in 1914, formerly a luxury hotel and now a popular museum, Casa Loma has been used as a location for movies such as X-Men, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and Titans and hosts jazz and soul music performances in its gardens throughout the summer.

For something a bit different, you can visit Casa Loma at night as part of an escape game. These immersive puzzles feature live actors in historical costumes and take place throughout the castle, from the towers to the underground tunnels. Themes include the roaring ‘20s, a dragon fantasy, or a game based on the popular Canadian TV series Murdoch Mysteries. Suitable for families with kids and large parties but if you’re travelling solo they’ll match you with a group.

In October, Casa Loma also transforms into an elaborate haunted house attraction called The Legends of Horror…. enter if you dare! https://www.escapecasaloma.com

Explore the Necropolis Cemetery

Looking for some peace and quiet in Toronto and aren’t squeamish about the dead? Take a stroll through the Necropolis, a picturesque Victorian-era cemetery not far from downtown.

Located near Riverdale Park in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood on the city’s East side, the Toronto Necropolis is a non-denominational garden-style cemetery spread over many acres, with views of the Don River. It features an impressive Gothic Revival chapel and entranceway, and graves dating back to the early 1800s.

The remains of more than 50,000 dead rest here, including many prominent Toronto politicians and entrepreneurs. Some famous graves to look for include horror movie director George A. Romero and World War I fighter pilot Roy Brown, credited with shooting down the infamous Red Baron. Entrance at 200 Winchester Street.

Read my Goth Girl Etiquette for Visiting Cemeteries

Start a laugh riot at Second City

Comedy legends like Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Andrea Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Candy and Mike Myers all spent time in Toronto’s Second City theatre, and you can too.

This famous sketch comedy troupe puts on shows with ensembles of future superstars nightly at its Toronto headquarters in the downtown club district. Performances usually riff off trends and headline news or catch 50 Years of Funny, which celebrates famous sketches and characters from the group’s past. Guests are invited and encouraged to participate in shouting suggestions for improv scenes. Hilarity often ensues! https://www.secondcity.com/

Skate under a highway

The Bentway is a reclaimed urban space near the Toronto waterfront that has transformed a parking lot under the Gardiner Expressway into a gathering place for public art installations and recreation, including skating.

In the summer months, the Bentway’s 1.75km looped concrete trail is used for roller skating (yes, 1970s style old school roller skating!) with pop-up shop Suso Skate Co offering rentals for kids and adults. Then in winter it becomes an ice skating rink, with onsite rentals, DJs and hot chocolate. 250 Fort York Blvd  https://thebentway.ca

Read my complete guide to the best ice skating rinks in Toronto

Drink at Toronto’s Geekiest Bar

Out-of-this-world concoctions are the specialty at Storm Crow Manor, a proudly geeky restaurant in the Gay Village.

Guests will find themed rooms, secret doors and random sci-fi and horror artworks. The drinks menu offers one-of-a-kind cocktails, many served with dramatic dry ice. There are non-alcoholic drinks too, plus the infamous “Dungeon Meals” which are selected for you by a roll of the dice. Storm Crow hosts events like Horror Trivia, Drag Race viewing parties and more. 500 Church St. https://www.stormcrow.com/

Behold the Tiny Skull Room at the AGO

The Art Gallery of Ontario is one the largest museums in all North America. As one of Toronto’s top tourist attractions it’s not what I would call off-the-beaten-path. But I’ve come to discover plenty of strange and unusual art and artifacts lurking in its corners — like a tiny room dedicated to antique funeral art from the 1600s-1900s.

Here’s just a sample of what you’ll see in The Memento Mori Roomette: gold coffin pendant with tiny skeleton inside; ivory sculpture of a naked cherub resting its head on a skull pillow; silver skull covered in snakes; skull pendants that open to reveal clockwork; a wooden sculpture of “Death Triumphant.” The list goes on…

Discover more unusual exhibits at the AGO here

These are just some of the fun and unusual things to do in Toronto that show off the quirkier side of this large city. Whether you are just passing through or making Toronto your final destination, you are sure to be entertained in his multicultural urban playground.