Toronto is easy to do alone because so many good things run on a schedule you can simply turn up to: a city ferry across the harbour, free museum slots on Sundays and Wednesday evenings, and free opera concerts at lunchtime. Pick one fixed time, go, and leave when you want.
Start with the ferry
The simplest first outing is a boat ride with a return ticket. Ferries to Toronto Island leave from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at 9 Queens Quay W. From mid-April to mid-October three routes run, to Centre Island, Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island. From October 14 to mid-April the winter schedule applies, with Ward's Island as the route, so check the schedule before you go (ferry routes and schedules).
The City says weekends and holidays are busiest, with peak times to the islands from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and back from 5 to 9 p.m., when waits can pass 30 to 60 minutes. Its tip for avoiding the crowd is to travel outside those hours, or to take the Ward's Island route, about a 35-minute walk from Centre Island. Tickets can be bought online ahead or at the terminal, and the terminal and ferries are smoke and vape free (ticket and passenger information). A ferry has a built-in end point, which makes it a kind way to practise a solo outing.
Free slots in the museum week
- Sunday, Bata Shoe Museum (Bloor Street West): admission is free for everyone on Sundays, when it opens 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Bata Shoe Museum). A single-theme museum is a manageable first museum alone.
- Wednesday evening, Aga Khan Museum (Wynford Drive): open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, with free admission from 4 to 8 p.m. under "BMO Free Wednesdays". Closed Mondays (Aga Khan Museum).
- Royal Ontario Museum (Bloor Street West): open 10:00 to 17:30 on open days, and its site lists admission hours day by day, so check the day you plan to go. It is large, so choose one gallery rather than a full tour (ROM).
- Fort York National Historic Site: free general admission, Wednesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free 45-minute guided tours start on the hour from 11 a.m., the last at 3 p.m. (Fort York). A tour is a group with a clear job, so nobody expects you to chat.
- Colborne Lodge, High Park: free general admission, Wednesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The house is visited by guided tour only, while the Coach House is open without one (Colborne Lodge). High Park itself was given to the city on the condition that it stay "for the free use, benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of Toronto" (High Park).
- Market Gallery: a free City gallery in the St. Lawrence Market complex, open Wednesday to Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Market Gallery).
Free opera at lunchtime
The Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Series is held in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre. Its lunchtime concerts start at 12 p.m., and the series calendar lists the dates (several Fridays each month among them). All events are free, and from September 2026 guests are encouraged to register in advance. The site says to arrive at least 20 minutes early, seating for 120 is first-come, first-served, others stand, and there is no late seating (COC Free Concert Series). A 45-minute lunchtime concert is a good alternative to a restaurant table.
Saturday: two ways to eat alone at a market
- Evergreen Brick Works Saturday Farmers Market (Don Valley ravines): open year-round, Saturdays 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the local food court until 2 p.m. From November to April it is indoors in the TD Future Cities Centre. The site also lists a free shuttle between the Brick Works and Broadview Subway Station (Evergreen).
- St. Lawrence Market (Front Street East): the City's market lists South Market hours for Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday) and a Sunday antiques market (5am to 5pm). Its hours appear in more than one version on the site, so confirm the day you plan to go (St. Lawrence Market). Our guide to how to eat alone in public covers standing at a counter.
Evenings and classes that come with a script
- Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (Bloor Street West): the box office opens one hour before the first show (Hot Docs cinema). The Doc Soup series shows a documentary with a post-screening discussion, with two screenings each month, on a Wednesday at 7 p.m. or the Thursday at 10:30 a.m. (Doc Soup). A documentary with a discussion gives you something to think about alone.
- Harbourfront Centre craft workshops (waterfront): the one-day glass workshop is for ages 18 and over, capped at eight, no experience necessary, and registration closes 48 hours before (Harbourfront Centre; program overview at Craft & Design). Small and hands-on, with your hands busy.
Getting around
The TTC takes PRESTO, Interac debit or credit cards (including mobile wallets) and cash. With a card, a two-hour transfer applies automatically when you tap, but not for cash, and you should tap the same card every time. Each rider aged 13 and over taps their own card (TTC fares).
First solo outings
- Easy: a Sunday afternoon at the Bata Shoe Museum, free, with a seat in no hurry.
- Medium: a Wednesday evening at the Aga Khan Museum between 16:00 and 20:00, or a lunchtime opera concert at the Four Seasons Centre.
- Bold: a ferry across to Toronto Island on the Ward's Island route and a walk toward Centre Island, with a return crossing you check beforehand.
For more on the mindset see things to do alone in a new city, the solo activities guide, the first solo trip tips, the all-cities hub and, for another North American city, New York.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try the ferry as a mission
In Solo Era, the travel mission "Visit a public island park by scheduled ferry." is a level 3 mission: choose a staffed destination, check the last return sailing and stay on maintained public paths. Free to download. A subscription is required to start missions. Prices and any free trial are shown in the app and depend on the offer and eligibility.
FAQ
Is the Bata Shoe Museum free?
On Sundays, yes: its visit page lists admission as free for everyone on Sundays. On other days there is a charge, so check the page.
When is the Aga Khan Museum free?
The museum lists "BMO Free Wednesdays" from 4 to 8 p.m. and is open until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. It is closed on Mondays.
Do the Toronto Island ferries run in winter?
Yes. The City says ferries run year-round, with a winter schedule from October 14 to mid-April. Schedules can change with weather or mechanical issues, so check before you go.
Can I turn up to the Canadian Opera Company's free concerts?
They are free, and registering in advance is encouraged. The site says registered ticket-holders enter first, others can enter as capacity permits, and standing room applies once the 120 seats are taken.
Is the Evergreen Brick Works market outdoors in winter?
From November to April the Saturday Farmers Market is held indoors in the TD Future Cities Centre, per the Evergreen site.
Sources (checked 2026-11-01)
- Toronto Island ferry routes and schedules
- Toronto Island ferry ticket and passenger information
- Bata Shoe Museum
- Aga Khan Museum
- Royal Ontario Museum
- Fort York National Historic Site
- Colborne Lodge
- High Park
- Market Gallery
- Canadian Opera Company Free Concert Series
- Evergreen Brick Works Saturday Farmers Market
- St. Lawrence Market
- Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
- Hot Docs Doc Soup
- Harbourfront Centre workshop
- Harbourfront Centre Craft & Design
- TTC fares and passes
Details change; check the venue before you go.
Solo Era for iPhone
Try it with Solo Era
Solo Era gives you one realistic mission a week, records how nervous you felt before and after, and keeps a photo journal of what you did. An iPhone app. A subscription is required to start missions; any free trial depends on the offer and eligibility shown in the app.
