Join the Toronto Society of Architects for fun and informative tours as we share the stories behind Toronto’s buildings and landscapes. From well-known landmarks to hidden treasures, we’ll help you see the city from a different new perspective and connect you to the people and stories behind our built environment.
Our Current Roster
We currently offer 12 unique tour routes, all carefully curated and researched, highlighting a wide diversity of buildings, landscapes and public art works. Whether it is your first time in Toronto or you're local looking to learn something new, we're certain you'll find a route that is right for you!
Public tours run every weekend from early May to late October, with private tour experiences offered year-round. Click on the tours below to see upcoming dates. Please note not all tour routes run every weekend.
Boat Tour: Harbour and Skyline
Set sail with the TSA on a 90-minute architectural boat tour of Toronto’s Inner Harbour.
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Towers
Look up! Waaaay Up! And join us for a walk through the Financial District as we explore the history and design of Toronto’s skyscrapers.
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King Spadina
See how Toronto’s industrial heritage has been transformed into a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood that celebrates the area’s history.
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St. Lawrence
Learn about the role activists, architects, and politicians have played to both preserve and bring life to Toronto’s oldest neighbourhood.
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East Bayfront
Tour Toronto’s newest waterfront neighbourhood where imaginative landscapes and innovative buildings take centre stage.
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Harbourfront
See how our industrial past has been transformed into spaces for play and culture in Toronto’s central waterfront.
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New Meets Old
Learn how architects have worked around, repaired, adapted, and expanded some of Toronto’s most important heritage structures.
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Art and Architecture on the Spadina Line
Join us on this one-of-a-kind subway ride as we explore the stories behind the underground art gallery that is the Spadina Line!
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Art and The Grange
Join us on a stroll through Toronto’s Grange Park exploring the bold contemporary buildings that house Canada’s preeminent art institutions.
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Church and Wellesley Village
Explore the evolution of 2SLGBTQ+ spaces in the city through the buildings, landscapes and art of the Church & Wellesley Village.
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Entertainment District
Explore the architecture of some of the city's best known performing arts venues in Toronto’s Entertainment District.
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North York City Centre
Tour the buildings and landscapes of North York City Centre, an unabashedly modern downtown built in the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Learn more >Private Experiences
Whether it’s an office social, conference tour, school field trip, or just an off-season visit, we’re happy to make any of our regular tours a private experience for you and your group.
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FAQ
You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers! Check below for some our most frequently asked questions. Still have questions? Reach out to us at tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca
Our regular public tours season runs from early May through late October every year, with tours offered at varied times every Saturday and Sunday. Not all tour routes are offered every weekend.
Our tour guides are passionate and dedicated volunteers who have undergone our training program covering Toronto history and architecture, as well as storytelling. All of them are big architecture enthusiasts, and many of them are also working professionals within the architecture and construction industry.
Our tour guides are all volunteers who donate their time and knowledge to this initiative and the promotion of architecture and design in our city. While it is of course optional, tipping your tour guide is a great way of showing your appreciation. Tour guides get to keep 100% of the tips.
For both walking tours and boat tours, tickets are fully refundable up to 7 days prior to the tour. After that, walking tour tickets are rebookable to any of our other times and routes pending availability. For boat tours, tickets may be exchanged to a different date at any time prior to departure.
In the case inclement weather requires us to cancel the tour, full refunds will be provided.
All our tours start precisely on time, so we encourage you to show up early to make the most of the experience. For walking tours, we recommend arriving 10 minutes early to check in with your tour guide. For boat tours, arrive 15 minutes early for check in and boarding. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded if you missed the boat—make sure to give yourself extra time!
TSA Tours run rain or shine, so please come prepared! Our tour guides know all the shaded and covered spots and will modify the route to maximize attendee comfort, but we always recommend checking the weather and dressing appropriately. Some sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle are great for hot summer days, and a rain jacket and umbrella can make a rainy day experience much more comfortable.
While rare, should inclement weather require the cancellation of a tour this will be decided 2 hours prior to the tour and communicated to the attendees via the email/phone provided.
We do our best to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to fully engage with the experience, but we recognize that some things are outside of our control. All routes are chosen with accessibility in mind, but maintenance of elevators and escalators or route changes due to construction may affect overall accessibility. For all routes we provide you information on the route and any potential challenges, and you'll have an opportunity when registering for a tour to let us know about your specific accessibility needs. For inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at tsa@torontosocietyofarchitects.ca.
While we love pets, not everyone does. For public tours, other than service animals, we ask that you leave pets at home. For private tours, pets are welcomed as long as they are leashed and well-behaved.
Absolutely! TSA members get free tickets to any of our walking tours and discounts for tickets to our boat tours. Please note member discount is non-transferable and can only be used for your ticket. If you are attending with other guests, their tickets must be purchased at the full General Admission price.
Yes! TSA tours, along with architectural tours by other Local Architectural Societies, meet the requirements for Structured Learning Hours as part of the Ontario Association of Architects' mandatory continuing education program. More information is available on their website: https://www.oaa.on.ca/working-with-an-architect/member-benefits/continuing-education-program/structured-learning
Acknowledgements
Our tours program is only possible thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of our volunteer tour guides. Thank you to our 2026 tour guides Carolyn F., Christiane B., Daniel G., Elif E., Emad G., Eric G., Hector T., Janice M., Joël L. D., Judy J., June W. L., Kurtis C., Manuela I., Mohcine S., Pamela B., Rania M., and Vikkie C.
Our tour program is also made possible thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Association of Architects.
