The Bata Shoe Museum

With the cold January air upon us it can be difficult to stay warm and find something fun to do! If you are looking for something to do in Toronto that is unique and a little different then the Bata Shoe Museum provides a perfect opportunity to explore, engage and excite!

The Bata Shoe Museum is one of the most unusual museums in Toronto and has a rich history. The Museum’s origins date back to 1894 when the Bata Shoe Company was registered in Czechoslovakia. The company survived both world wars, and was able to overcome the frequent challenges posed by the global economy. Today Bata employs more than 50,000 people, has retail locations in over 70 countries, runs 27 production facilities in 20 countries, and serves 1 million customers per day.

The Museum is easily identifiable by it’s unique architecture (the building looks like a shoe box!). Inside you will be amazed to learn that this is the home to over 10,000 pairs of shoes! Some of these shoes belonged to celebrities such as Justin Beiber, Marilyn Monroe, Terry Fox, John Lennon, Madonna, and many more. Current exhibitions include The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits, Art in Shoes – Shoes in Art, Beauty, Identity, Pride: Native North American Footwear and All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages.

Get on your best sneakers and check out The Bata Shoe Museum! Their hours are Monday to Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-8pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm. Admission is $14 per adult, $12 for seniors (65+), $8 for students with ID, $5 for children 5-17 years old. Family rates are also available.

Located at 327 Bloor Street West, the Bata Shoe Museum is easily accessible by City Sighseeing’s City Tour at Stop # 9. If using public transit, take the TTC’s Bloor-Danforth or University-Spadina subway lines to St George Station and then walk to the southwest corner of Bloor Street West and St. George Street.