Stoned in Toronto: Top 6 Tourist Attractions to Visit

So, you’ve had a big smoke in the Big Smoke. What now?

While it may not be the first city to come to mind, Toronto is a great place to be stoned — especially when the weather’s nice. There are a ton of great food options and tourist attractions. And while locals complain about taking the TTC (the Toronto Transit Commission), it generally works fine. 

All the following recommendations come from a real Torontonian. They all cost money — but I’ve also provided free alternatives for each one, which can be just as good as the paid option.

Get lost in the surreal world of Salvador Dalí 

Toronto is now home to a private collection of 110 original pieces of art created by Salvador Dalí on view for a limited time until May 28, 2023. The exhibition titled Divina Dalí takes viewers through an immersive experience within Dalí’s imagination, journeying through three universes, as Dalí explores his interpretation of the poetry of Dante’s masterpiece, Divine Comedy. Tickets are $33.50 for general admission and $25 for students, and you can book your viewing time here. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to view the entire exhibition.

Free option: visit the latest contemporary art exhibition at MOCA

MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) has free admission on Friday nights and the first Sunday of every month. MOCA showcases rotating exhibitions by Canadian artists, and currently MOCA is showcasing the first major Canadian exhibition of French-Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga. Remediation focuses on Kiwanga’s most recent research into how humans and the natural environment navigate tensions between toxicity and regeneration.

Make some furry friends at the Toronto Zoo

Have you been to a zoo stoned? It’s amazing. Look into an ape’s eyes and tell me it’s not your cousin. 

Plus, you can feel good about this one — the Toronto Zoo is one of the most ethical zoos in the world, which you can read more about here.

General admission tickets are $27.99.

Free option: Riverdale Farm, High Park Zoo. 

Toronto has not one but two free little farms. 

Riverdale, in the east end, is a real working farm with pigs, horses, cows, and more. There’s no feeding or touching of the animals allowed, but they look great.

The High Park Zoo, on the west side of the city, has more exotic species, like bison, capybara, reindeer, emu, and more. There’s also no touching allowed, unfortunately.

Also, the Toronto Public Library provides a number of free passes to the Toronto Zoo each week.

Experience the deep at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada

What’s better than looking at a bunch of colourful (or scary) fish while you’re baked? Not a lot. Aside from maybe looking at a bunch of jellyfish. 

Toronto’s aquarium is right downtown next to the CN Tower. It has sharks, Canadian fish, and all sorts of brightly coloured tropical guys.

General admission tickets are $44.

Free option: Fishing at High Park

You can get real up-close and personal with lake life at one of Toronto’s best parks, on the west side, which features a pond with bass, pike, carp, and other species for catch-and-release fun.

Fishing in Ontario requires an angler’s license, which is pretty cheap. But you can skip the requirements on certain weekends when fishing is free. You can even borrow a free rod with Tackle Share.

Get a 360° bird’s eye view of Toronto from the CN Tower

You can climb up Toronto’s most iconic landmark, though it won’t be cheap. Tickets are $43 apiece for general admission. 

But it could be an excellent — or, potentially, terrifying — thing to do in Toronto if you’re stoned. Once you’re up there, you can walk out on a glass floor to see the city sprawling out beneath you from 1,136 feet in the air.

If you’re feeling brave, you can pony up for SkyPod admission too, which will bring you another 300 feet up to one of the highest observation platforms in the world.

If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, you can try out EdgeWalk, where you actually walk — hands-free — on the outside of the building, over 1,000 feet up. The height isn’t the only eye-watering thing, though, as tickets are $195 per person. 

Free option: Lake Ontario waterfront

While you won’t get the cityscape views from the Tower, you’ll get a gorgeous panorama of one of the biggest lakes in the world. 

The waterfront has a great multi-use cycling path that runs along the base of the city. On a summer day, its beauty rivals Vancouver’s seawall.

See a Blue Jays game

Jays tickets are much cheaper than Toronto’s other major sports teams, the NBA’s Raptors and NHL’s Maple Leafs. You can often scoop up Jays seats for USD $15 on the Gametime app.

I’d recommend a Jays game even for non-baseball fans. When the weather’s nice they open up the dome roof and let the sun in, as the awe-inspiring CN Tower stretches up right beside you. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.  

Pro tip: go on a Tuesday for “Loonie Dogs Night.” They’re not the best hot dogs you’ll ever eat, and the lineups can be long, but they are indeed $1 each. I feel like I don’t have to explain why that’s good for stoners.

Free option: Toronto Maple Leafs game (the other one)

Most people don’t know Toronto has a free minor-league baseball team in one of the city’s best parks. 

Walk by Christie Pits on a warm summer evening and you might just catch a glimpse of the Leafs, who play teams from around Ontario. 

People set up blankets, bring picnics and smoke weed while taking in the free game. There’s even an announcer!

Gawk at the Royal Ontario Museum

The ROM, as it’s known, has an extensive collection of historical artifacts from a variety of cultures, as well as fine art, dinosaur bones, and an array of rotating exhibits, most of which will blow your mind if you’re baked enough.

General admission tickets are $23.

Free option: Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) 

The AGO is free for anyone 25 years old or younger — no strings attached. If you’re less youthful, you can still get in for free on Wednesday nights from 6–9 p.m. You just need to book your free tickets in advance.

Also, the Toronto Public Library provides a limited amount of free passes each week to the ROM and the AGO. And certain groups, like veterans or First Nations people, can get into the ROM for free sometimes.

The AGO has an incredible collection of paintings, sculptures and other art, with rotating galleries and a permanent collection that rivals any gallery in the country. 

Pro-tip: on the bottom floor, in a big, dimly lit room, you’ll find a ton of old, incredibly intricate wooden ship models. They’re fascinating to look at, stoned or sober.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most visited place in Toronto?

The CN Tower is the most popular Toronto tourism spot, but also one of the most expensive. The view is tough to beat though.

What should I not miss in Toronto?

Seeing a Blue Jays game is a ton of fun when the weather’s nice and the Rogers Centre dome roof opens up — even if you’re not a baseball fan. Jays tickets are affordable, but you can also watch the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team for free.

Can you visit Niagara Falls from Toronto?

Yes, but plan to make it a full day or overnight trip. It’s a couple of hours from downtown Toronto by car. There’s a lot to do in Niagara Falls and the surrounding wine country, so you won’t regret staying a day or two. 

What is Toronto most known for?

Toronto is one of the world’s most multicultural cities, and the food options are diverse and amazing. Wander around Kensington Market, Chinatown on Spadina Avenue, or Koreatown on Bloor Street for a taste of some of the best.

What do non-tourists do in Toronto?

Probably the same as you, except we go back to our igloos at night. If you’re looking for non-touristy tourist recommendations, though: hit up some of the city’s amazing parks, like Riverdale at sunset or High Park; go to the Trinity-Bellwoods farmers’ market for local produce or flowers on Tuesdays from 3–7 p.m.; or take the ferry or Tiki Taxi to the Toronto Islands and hit up the beach.