Reviews of Bata Shoe Museum (Museum)

Carol F

It's always nice to visit the Bata Shoe Museum, definitely a visit for fashion lovers and interesting information for footwear. It's also cool to learn about biggest footwear in the world. PS. It's a nice location for a Nuit Blanche attraction/exhibit as you get in for free, and you get to still check out the museum!

Waheem Butt

Smells a bit funky yet those shoes are worth looking at! Interesting and relaxing place! ????

Raziuddin Ahmad

A Chronological History of Shoes! A good experience to keep in memory. Everyone should visit if there is an opportunity.

Agnes Switaj

Not really a fan of fashion. I thought it will be more like "famous ppl shoes" not "one shoe artist designs". At least there was a floor with old historical shoes which I found interesting.

///0 kickslooks

I'm at shoe freak just look at my YouTube channel. But the shoes are very historic but nice. The place is clean. The gift shop was too expensive and I wish there was more modern era shoes.

Ron Ron

Was not sure what I expected when my girlfriend suggested going here but am I ever glad she did. This place is amazing and full of the history of shoes. Highly recommended and one place that all visitors with a couple spare hours to kill should check out ????????

Sri

Well managed place with a good number of ancient shoes. I was expecting to see more modern day collections though. I believe they keep rotating the exhibits, the interesting ones I had seen today were the arctic weather boots and attires.

J. L

Compared to the other big museum/gallery attractions in Toronto, the Bata Shoe Museum is smaller and has a more niche appeal since it only focuses on one thing - shoes. However, it's a unique experience and worth considering if you're in the area. The space houses a handful of different rooms across multiple floors, such as the history of the museum, special exhibitions, etc. I found the layout to be easy to navigate and the design of the exhibitions was interesting, particularly the limited time ones. I've been twice now, having seen the sneakers exhibition many years back and the current Manolo Blahnik exhibition. I like how they transform the space based on the current exhibition - the theming is done very well!

Julija Sokolova

Spend great time here! Interesting information and unique atmosphere!

Greg Jizmejian

Organized chronologically, this selection of footwear from around the world is an interesting insight into many cultures over the past 5000+ years.

Alisha gopichand

I took my daycare class here. Although the children went through each exhibit quickly they loved playing the I spy game. They also enjoyed trying on shoes and colouring! I would recommend this as a great trip for school and datcars!

Trish Potts

I am in Awww who new shoes could be so interesting. It is so amazing what shoes mean in countries and how they are made. What a fascinating place. Thank You Bata Museum

Meaghan MacKenzie

I love shoes and I found it just "Okay". Wouldn't make it a must stop if you're only in Toronto a short time. Very close to the Royal Ontario Museum so doing both does make sense. The building is nice and there are some interesting things to see and read. 13000 shoes means there are shoes in there that would interest everyone.

Maria Glez

It's a very interesting place. First of all you can find the history of the shoes along the story of the beginning. The atmosphere is neat and quiet. The staff is very helpful. You don't have to pay for the entrance, it is FREE. It is spectacular!!! The building has four levels. And the children can learn about the shoes in all the cultures.

Addie Burkam

I’m always amazed at how engaging and interesting this museum is. I wouldn’t expect to spend 2 hours looking at shoes that I wasn’t going to buy, but here we are. Cool exhibit on the great depression and how that impacted fashion and shoe styles.

Helena Haley

I personally like this place a lot. Granted, it's small - as in, a tenth of ROM?? So you'll be in and out in an hour, no matter how much you try to extend the visit. Regardless, the exibits are unique, both the regular ones - African king slippers, tiny Chinese binding shoes, Indian, Buddhist, Medieval, etc etc footwear (reading the info is a must!) and their going through the decades (1930s, 1940s, etc), and any special exhibits that they have on. Have been there 5+ times, and it's always a great break from the daily routine.

Karen Mork

Very unique museum. All sorts of cool shoes in there from different points of history and from different corners of the earth. Pretty cheap admission too.

Edwin

It's definitely a unique museum, in that the entire building is about shoes history. They have a great ancient shoe section, and cultural shoe section. A few celeberties, though I wish they had more. Staff was friendly and the place including the bathrooms were clean. It's definitely a place to explore for tourists, and locals alike. If you're ever bored, tour some of the cities unique museums.

RiBread

The Bata Shoe Museum is everything I imagined. And more. I was expecting to visit for a half hour, maybe more. But when I first entered the door, I was met by friendly staff members peeking out of the small (but charming) gift shop. They directed me to the best of their exhibits. Needless to say, I was blown away. The Gold Standard exhibition was shimmering, shining, and splendid. I saw shoes, lightly adorned by tinges of gold, other streaked with more of the luxurious metals. Just as my ancestors before me, I was seduced by the malleable and gleaming gold. Truly, it was an experience to behold. While the Gold exhibition was ethereal, I was truly blown away by the Art & Innovation demonstration. I saw wonderful, legitimate furs taken from that of a seal, carefully crafted to create something beautiful. Such luxurious pelts, which are seldom seen in traditional western society, are common in the rough, frigid terrain. The WANT exhibition provided a in-depth analysis as to what people valued in the ancient times, back in the early 1930's. I was intrigued, interested. While it demonstrated fashion back in the Great Depression, I was most certainly not depressed in the museum. Wonderful. Just wonderful. In conclusion, the Bata Shoe Museum is not something to be looked down upon. Rather, it is something to be enjoyed, something to be held dear. Some say you could be lost in the majestic corridors of the museum for an hour or two. I disagree. Anyone who enters the museum will easily succumb to it's beauty for a minimum of two and a half hours, for it is truly the hidden gem of Toronto. 7/10.

mcauto muffler

I really loved the place. Since I arrive the the ticket sales staff was very friendly. Great exhibition and experience for each floor there!! Be prepare for a all day staying, it's a big museum.

Lorrée Allen

Beautiful! And the manolos are just stunning! Small but curated gift shop. Elevator publicly accessible and a coat room ( you can hang things/ leave things in that room if you don't mind them being UNattended). Water fountain and bathroom on bottom floor.

Anita Windisman

We visited today when the admission was FREE - to mark the opening of a new exhibit "All Dolled Up". I was very impressed with the narrative throughout the museum, providing good information about context, culture, and inclusivity - referencing fashion rather than just showcasing pretty and quirky shoes. ????????????

VIPUL TALWARIA

The Bata Shoe Museum showcases various footwear, their history. It showcases footwear by different religion and regions. This is quite a unique museum and can be given a try.

Benny Thaibert

Impressive diverse collection. However, I miss a more historic approach in how shoes are made and developed.

Pavla Šprtelová

Nice place to spend few hours, there is Blahnik exhibition at this time

Jen Fisher-Bradley

Very fine selection of diverse shoes from designers and history. The exhibits are informative and tasteful. The gold room was fascinating. The 1930s and 1940s shoes were my favorite.

Ivy Johnson

The museum is full of a section of history that I have never considered before. The beauty of fashion, craftsmanship, skill and design of shoes throughout the centuries. The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto allows a visit to slip into the fantasy and glamour as well as apprecitate the simple utilitarianism of something so common that every human being uses it and may even take it for granted all of the people who walked in them before us.

Maryam Mohamed

It was smaller than I had originally imagined but I definitely learnt more history and culture than I thought I would. I didn't get the point of looking at different styles of shoes if I didn't have an interest in fashion but I found it very educational. You learn about different cultures and traditions through the shoes they wore. It was also cool to see some monumental shoes or shoes made or worn by monumental people

Keith

This was a museum I had seen on my research as a “place you must visit” and thought why not? I went with my girlfriend a few days ago and we both left feeling we were ripped off with the $14 admission. It’s just not that interesting and we finished the thing in about half an hour. Avoid.

Tony Joseph K

A great place if you are interested in historic facts and geographic signifiers of footwear

Mahesh Bubna

Bata Shoe Museum is one and only Museum in Torrento, Canada where Collection of all types of Shoes and Chappal are displayed since the inception of the human culture starts to wear shoes and chappals around the world of all race, all season, all country and all customs & times. There is a ticket of Canadian $40 per head/ person. Visited in mid of 2014 with family.

L. Buhr

Nice little museum to view the history of shoes from early civilizations to northern Aboriginal cultures to glam rock and more. Wonderful collection.

Sherlyn Figueira

Not as nice as expected but the shoes were lovely. Might be more exciting u If some of the information was interactive or audio. The building is architecturally beautiful.

Sharon Lam

You don't have to be a shoe fanatic to find this museum fascinating. A cultural history of the world through the lens of footwear... men's shoes, women's shoes, functional shoes, fancy shoes, cultural shoes... deadly shoes. Visit by donation on Thursday evenings.

Olivia P

This is such a neat Museum! This is definitely a must see for anyone into shoes or history.

Sandra Rochata

Beautiful museum and collection. This is a must see museum for anyone who love shoes. Cool concept for a museum. Definitely an interesting place to learn about the history of shoes. I really loved the ancients shoes part of different cultures. And I never thought how shoes have played such an important role in human history until now..

Judi

Facinating examples of shoes over the last six centuries with an emphasis on cultural influences. I think I was most impressed with the Scandanavian and Alaskans who used every single piece of animals they found and all was done by hand. The winter boots were created with inlaid furs of various animals to create patterns they used to identify gender with just a glance. Also the height of boots indicated status and gender. It is amazing to see shoe soles being made from reindeer hooves and tanned skins. There was even a rain parka made from caribu intestines to keep water out. The Indian shoes from typical weddings were elaborate and beautiful. I think the shoes from Chinese women who were forced to bind their feet to remain child sized was very moving to see and I cannot imagine the lifelong pain that caused. I can't even tolerate a tight shoe for a few minutes. This museum was fascinating and we really enjoyed the history lesson.

Matías Guillermo del Solar Gunn

We love the history of shoes!!

Ge S

Worth a look if you're into fashion or shoes. There are quite a few shoes that highlight the evolution of footwear over history and across different cultures. Isn't too costly to get in either.

Livia Mello da Silva

Good exhibition of Manolo Blahnik

Maya J

Good historical exhibit. They had an interesting exhibit that described how chemistry and industrialization changed clothing and fashion from the 1800s-1900s (making clothing somewhat dangerous or poisonous).

KUNZE WU (Lucas)

It's free on Toronto Doors Opening day. Nice small museum.

Yardena Friedler Mashiach

I think the price is not worth the visit. The meuseum was interesting and nicely built but does not justify the price. And is not recommended for kids...it was very hard to get them involved in the exhibition.

Victoria Cheung

Went to the Manolo Blahnik exhibition.. beautiful curated collection. It's a fun museum to check out if you love shoes the way I do.

Teejay Preete

Really interesting historical exhibits on shoes. 2000 year old shoes. Gold turtles on sandals for your sandals. Plenty of history on fashion and clothing.

Geeta Chand

I had some visitors from out of town who adore shoes and what place to take them than Bata Shoe Museum. They were aaah-mazed! It's a footwear Museum in Toronto located at Bloor and St George Street. There is an incredible amount of shoes from all over the world, researched, preserved and from some famous names are all exhibited here. I enjoyed it where you can try some on for pictures. Had a great time, I highly recommend it, admission is reasonable, you learn a lot about shoes, knowledge is power and if the shoe fits wear it ????.

Lisa

Great museum. Relatively inexpensive and really cool. The museum itself is a little small but there is a lot you can learn about the history of shoes. The staff are friendly and the facility is clean.

Herakles Li

Fun Museum, all sorts of shoes there and surprisingly large inside given its footprint (haha). The receipt also gets you a 2 for 1 at a few other museums in the area. Take a friend and get a history of shoes!

Benjamin Wilson

I have heard many times about Bata Shoe Museum and I got interested to visit it. From the website I came to know that it is situated in downtown Toronto,Canada. It collects, researches, preserves and exhibit footwear from around the world. The museum designed by Raymond Moriyama. So finally I visit here and it didn't depressed me. Really an interesting place to pass time.

Jo Leung

I love small museums like this place. They sure pack a lot of interesting items in here to keep your interest up for a couple of hours. Reasonable entry rate at 14CAD pp and 8 for students. It's fun to look at the celebrity shoes as well as their limited exhibits tracing back certain trends and historical periods for shoe wear.

Abbas Bengali

Wide variety of shoes. A great museum. Had not expected such a good collection. Kudos.

C Mack

Interesting museum, not what I thought. You can complete the entire tour in about 45 minutes.

Rebecca Rivera

Friends who are visiting us wanted to see this museum, and I'm glad they did. I hadn't visited the Bata Shoe Museum in 20 years, but today's visit convinced me that I should go more often. The historical display is fascinating. I enjoyed the shoe museum. The one disappointment was that the most famous shoes, Elvis' blue suede shoes, were not on display. I was told they rotate the shoes and those were in storage. There were a couple of other famous ones, but I could not believe they stored their most famous pair.

nia amy black

Literally the best date night/day. Highly recommend everyone go there! Extremely clean and spaced out, felt very safe.

Samantha Lemna

A great museum. Excellent architecture and the museum is expertly designed. You get a good overview of how shoes have been used across the world. It took me about 1.5 hours.

Anthony Malinas

The Bata Shoe Museum has wonderful pieces of history and beautiful exhibits to browse. It is very nice to go with a family, including young children, and we would definitely go again!

Mike Thompson

This place could be awesome if the displays were better and a little more fun. All I really wanted to see were Elvis's shoes that they advertised on the website but they were not on display as promised. It's just a bit stale of an experience. It needs to be a little more lively.

Chloe Q

The shoes are very interesting and unique! You get a deep, insightful, understanding of shoes. The staff are friendly and kind, there is so much to learn about! Its also conviently near the subway station. Loved my experience here and it wasn't that expensive!

Adam Jacob

Quirky and interesting shoe museum. Sadly the sneaker exhibit had just finished when I was in town but there was still plenty to see. At times the lighting was a little low which made it hard to view some of the exhibits properly, but otherwise great.

Wendy Day

Cool concept for a museum. It’s 4 floors of shoe exhibits starting with Egypt. It could be much cooler though. And the gift shop left a lot to be desired. But it gets props for being so unique.

Battle Bible

I worked here as a guide before in the past. This museum is a true treasure; Mrs. Sonja Bata went and collected shoes from all over the world. They have great school programs, and also cool special exhibitions. There's a lot you can learn from just looking at someone's shoes!

Treffyn Koreshoff

Not a shoe fan, and this place was still interesting! The exhibits covering modern times are a bit more "ooh, there's Justin Bieber's signed shoe", but the exhibits that covered earlier historic times had great context and just used the shoes to tell an interesting story. Worth a look!

Piyush Sharma

It's free on Thursdays, very near to St George subway station.

Anna Wang

Nice museum showing lots of cloths & shoes from different areas in the past???? The design of the stairs on the B1 floor is beautiful as well✨

Shiny P

It's a cozy little museum but it has a huge collection of different kinds of shoes and it's quite fascinating. It's entertaining to see that some shoes have stories behind it. The staff at the admission counter is very nice to talk to. It's worth every penny you spend for your 3-4 hour visit. Unlike other museums it does not drain you of your time, money and energy.

Melissa-Dawn Bessey

The bata Shoe Museum is a neat little place for anyone interested in the history of fashion. Admission is reasonable and there is a kids zone which is more interactive than the rest of the exhibits.

Mili Castro

Interesting museum on Bloor street! They are featuring Manolo Blahnik display (summer 2018).

Tarang Singhal

The collection is certainly interesting, particularly their collection of siberia, alaska and northern territories. However I found the most collections lacking details about their history. Nothing great about it overall.

Michelle Longpre

I was hesitant to go in at first as I thought it would be a stale hallway with shoes in dusty boxes or something, but dang was I proven wrong! Now I have no interest in footwear, I have one pair for everything, but this piqued my interest as to what shoes mean to people and what they can be. They have a nice historical selection, as well as my favorite section showing how native tribes all around the world make and design their footwear for the harsh weather. The methods and results are fascinating and clever and each group had their own unique styles. As a bonus, the staff were very relaxed and friendly. Only downside was the top exhibit wasn't in, they were currently installing a new event. Thats what happens when you visit in the off season though, so thats fair. If you got an afternoon or some time to drop by, do it, you'll definitely find something interesting here!

Peter Molnar

Liked it a lot..... Recommend to visit. Absolutely. (Hey, and Sundays are for free).

Gaku “GK” Kamitani

Specialized in shoes as the name suggests. It explains the shoe history covering ancient Egyptian, China, Japan, Slaska, and Siberian. If you have intetest in shoes, you will discover a lot of interesting fun facts.

2003sussu

Most boring museum ever! I'm glad it was free with the library pass so I don't have to feel sorry I spent money to this trip. The highlight of the trip was leaving.

Iliana Derraugh

Really cool place. I was sceptical about the idea of a shoe museum, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how interesting and informative it was. The place is clean and well maintained, and very easy to access

Sandy Solis

Interesting History and Variety of Shoes from around the world. I attended on Open Doors weekend so it was free entrance. I found the shoes and history behind them to be fascinating. Lots of variety and examples of shoes from throughout history.

Daniel Araki

I came here after I got a recommendation from a friend, and it is interesting with quite a bit of information about some of the Nordic style footwear. A small museum, you can easily cover it in an hour, even reading the descriptions. They also have a temporary exhibit portion with modern fashion style shoes. I am more of a sneakers fan, but found it interesting to see some of the different types and the leather, skin workmanship on the Nordic boots from around the world.

Troy LaPlante

I have walked by the museum on several previous trips the building and subject matter never really caught my attention. We recently decided to check out the colection and I was blown away. The exhibits are an interesting mix of fashion, technology, and history. The collection is wide ranging, the admission cost is reasonable, and the staff are friendly. If you visit take the time to get down and look at each item closely. You'll be amazed at what you see.

Brady Steeper

Such a unique museum. Obviously great if you are interested in fashion or shoes, but there were great temporary shows while I was there that looked at doll fashion, and one about footwear in the Arctic. Really interesting to see the world through such a specific focus.

Simrat Mahajan

The Bata Shoe Museum is verifying I imagined and then some. I didn't expect myself to spend over 2 hours wandering around all the awesome exhibits. I had a great time and will definitely bring my family here.

Yuliya Osetrova

Loved it. This place would satisfy the pickiest girl's shoe cravings without breaking the bank..;)

Ania Isabel

It was a very cool place to visit and learn about the history of shoes. On Thursdays from 5-8pm is pay what you can with a suggested donation of $5. Can't go wrong with that!

Tatiana Tanizaki

Interesting museum for a casual afternoon. I wish they had guided tours.

Meheroo Jamshedji

Really enjoyed going through the Bata Shoe Museum. So much trouble and effort has been taken to give us a wonderful experience. So educational. Would like to go back.

Falik Mohammad Khwaja

Place had a permanent shoe exhibition at the bottom floor and a temporarily doll exhibition on the upper floor. Can see the whole museum within an hour. Not very interactive but nicely explained everything. Only street parking available.

Helen Barayuga

Educational and entertaining. Helpful staff. I've never taken much concern about shoes except for comfort. Today I learned that shoes are associated with religion, status in society, and cultural beliefs. It's a 'must see' for tourists and locals alike.

Liam Winegard

Bata is an exceptional museum focused on footwear. I was skeptical, but it delivered. From the history of footwear, to arctic attire built for survival, all the way to the most outlandish pieces of footwear you've ever seen. And the building itself is an architectural masterstroke, which doesn't hurt. Don't miss the "Hammam shoes" which Turkish ladies would wear to tower above the heated bath house floors. Or the remarkably decorated traditional Hindu footwear, even standing in them must have been an achievement!

Melissa S.

I enjoyed my time at this museum dealing with all things footwear. It possess a vast collection of shoes dating from prehistoric times through present day. It made me think of shoes in a way I never thought I would - from various cultures to fashion to occupational design. And oh ... the Manolo Blahnik installation was amazing. It is well worth the visit at a very cost effective price. I spent upwards of 3.5 hours and still didn't get to read about every shoe, but would have with another hour or so.

Matthew Nowers

A nice museum, especially for shoe lovers. Would recommend going on Thursday evenings when it is pay what you can (between 5-8 PM)

C pme

I went to the Bata shoe museum for the Mocassin Making workshop and loved it. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. The museum is a little small but worth the adventure.

Jo Leung

I love small museums like this place. They sure pack a lot of interesting items in here to keep your interest up for a couple of hours. Reasonable entry rate at 14CAD pp and 8 for students. It's fun to look at the celebrity shoes as well as their limited exhibits tracing back certain trends and historical periods for shoe wear.

fujiko takai signs

I loved the history, cultural diversity, practicality, individual expressions and at the same time, the universality of how we all lived with shoes, slippers, or boots and left our footprints (marks) somewhere.

colin menezes

It's exactly as what it's name suggests, it's a museum displaying Shoes!! But the incredible fact about this place is that it has a collection of more than 13000 varieties of shoes from all around the world, some dating hundreds of years back! Now that's amazing!! The information provided for every pair of shoes displayed is comprehensive and very well mentioned. Passes are available at the museum @$14per adult or you could also avail free passes from certain Toronto Public Library branches. The day I visited, the 3rd level was under renovation, but the displays on the other levels gave a great insite into the history of their places of origin and the significance of the most lowly attire, SHOES!!

Sek Mohd Farok Sek Rahmat Miah

Interesting place for you to learn the history about shoes.

Ofer Livni

Nice, only if you are in the area

Sara Fung

I really love this museum as it the only shoe museum I know of and you can learn a lot even if you're not into fashion. Think history of shoes, footwear worn by celebrities, and rotating exhibits on things like ballet shoes, ski boots, shoes worn in the Victorian era. It is a bit small so plan for about an hour here, maybe hour and a half tops. There is a small gift shop in front but no food available.

Karen Iacopi

Really enjoyed this museum but I love history and shoes. It isn’t for a fashion guru as it was more a history of cultural footwear and less about the fashions of shoes. Nice flow and only takes about 2 hours to take it all in. Recommend as a start to shopping on Bloor St.

Sally Abbott

Very good exhibition, well laid out and informative. Some amazing exhibits. Helpful staff. My only grumble was the prices in.the gift shop. Very over priced.

Ron Daniels

At first,I wasn't convinced I'd like this museum. Turns out, it was awesome. So many interesting things we didn't know. The staff are so pleasant and informed. You gotta go check it out.

Devikaa Manghnani

I went last month when the Manola exhibition was on. But don't just go for Manola as the permanent collection here is mind boggling. Has a very well done replica of the oldest found shoe in human history. Has original shoes from Mughal period, Turkish hamams, African tribes and a whole gamut of mind boggling specimens with beautifully written descriptions. The basement had an activity corner for kids and some fancy special edition sports shoes of famous players. I would strongly recommend that you go here. This is not just for women, but for men as well as kids as this is not fashion, but history!

Karthik Ramaswamy

A definite must see with 4 galleries full of the history and samples of shoes from olden times to the contemporary period and across many world events that influenced the shoe-making industry!

Vishwa Patne

Cute little place with the history of shoes. Very well maintained clean and informational. Would definitely visit again. Also Sundays were free last time I visited :)

Nishant Arora

I never knew history of shoes was so interesting. It will take you 2-3 hours max to go through everything. If you're a student, your admission is heavily discounted.

Keegan W

A really cool place to go! Was also really surprised at how cheap the admission was. There was someone doing work in a certain part of the building when I went, though. It was so loud that I had to cover my ears and I even decided to leave the area before I could look at everything.

Mai Ling

Went to the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto Canada to see the Manolo exhibit for my 40th birthday and had a great time. The museum has a cute gift shop with cute shoe related gifts. There were exhibits on the history of shoes from all over the world. Very interesting.

Shyla Tibando

Went here most recently for Doors Open and checked out the Manolo Blahnik exhibit. Lovely! Also dropped into see a workshop for making moccasins. They were in week seven of eight. The projects looked great.

Kasper Gruszczynski

Though not a large museum it hosts an interesting collection of artifacts that are surprisingly captivating. I went when they had a special exhibit on clothing and shoes from the industrial era exploring the dangerous side of vibrant colors and style choices. I learned a lot and it made me glad not to be alive in those times. Additionally their exhibit on Arctic clothing was fascinating and the ingenuity of the local populace outstanding. I would highly recommend for all as an afternoon 2-3 hour visit at reasonable price. It is also easy accessible by subway.

Kay N. A.

Heaven for shoes lover! There are ton of shoes, not just a fashion, they come with history and knowledge. There are lot of interesting things here than I expect!

Conrad Hall

Yes, it's a museum all about shoes. There's more to see and discover than I expected. We went with a pass from the library. So two adults and two kids got in free. It's worth the effort.

Terence Chee

Was hoping to see more shoes but this place does a better job at explaining shoes, their origins and usage. Lots of culture to absorb! Great eye-opener for kids and adult all the same.

MAK

It's worth a visit if you've got time to kill and you have done all other touristy activities in Toronto. Not super impressive. Understandably, Sonja Bata the collector of shoes may not have an avid interest for sneakers, but it would have been very interesting to see a section of the museum devoted to the evolution of sneakers. The gift shop was pretty sad as well. They didn't even have a shoe horn!! Doesn't say much about a "shoe museum".

Michael

Shoes, boots, platforms and so much more! The history of our world walks, runs and dances via footwear! Be sure to take the Museum in with a guided tour to capture the depth and richness of its collections, learn about the design of the building and how it fits with the Toronto cityscape, and hear how it all started with the Bata Family!

George Roden

Had a great visit to Bata shoe museum. Wonderful collection of various shoe designs, very helpful staff. Meticulously clean. I would recommend this place ! Review by RodenReviews

Steve

I came here not knowing what to expect but was really surprised. This is a great place. The footwear displays span prehistoric times to present day. Well worth the visit.

Jeremy Block

Small exhibits and not a lot of depth of history. A little disappointing given the collection they have on hand. The building itself is beautiful though and it doesn’t cost very much to enter the museum.

Garrett Wilson

It's a museum. Completely dedicated to shoes. You might be thinking, "I'm sorry, what? Did you say...shoes? Like...feet clothes?" Why yes, like feet clothes. On the bottom floor is the history of shoes. Massively interesting. On the other floors are different exhibits which, if I'm correct, cycle out. I had the pleasure of seeing a bunch of golden shoes (including some great ancient sequence) and the shoes of the guy that the woman from "Sex and the City" is obsessed with. Something with an "M"? Anyway, still interesting. So if you're in the neighborhood, why not stop by and drop fourteen CAD to check out all those sweet feet clothes.

Meri J. Joaquin

Quite an interesting place to learn all about the differing history of shoes from different continents and eras. Tickets are a little steep but the same range among other museums. Personally, I wished it had more to it but any die-hard museum goers out there could easily lose an hour here

Tracey Naldjieff

The Bata Museum was an absolute delight. What a pleasure to see historical artifacts that defined cultures globally through footwear. Definitely the place to visit for anyone who is a student of history, or fashion, or anyone simply interested in admiring beautiful things and wonder about the story each exhibit represents. I certainly plan to visit again.

Sarah Vlasak

Smaller than I imagined, but great exhibits, friendly staff, and interesting facts- plus it only takes about an hour to get through. I wouldn’t take young kids here, but teenage girls might love this. Not a strong representation of men’s shoes, but not surprised by that. Very reasonable prices, and a great deal for students!

mehran davanlou

Unbelievable what you can figure out from different ages only by looking on their shoes

Shyam Sekhar Menon

Don’t even care to visit. They made a museum to exhibit 50 odd shoes in the heart of the city because someone could afford it. Not worth the time or money.

Hiba Eva Alexander

Interesting but they didn't have any great collections/exhibitions that wowed us when we went (early 2016). Would I go again? Probably not. But if you love shoes it's definitely worth checking out once.

Dave Deco

Very interesting expo of Arctic native shoe wear, temporary expositions are also great. Perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Jessica Helps

Worth the money. It's a pleasant museum in Toronto close to the ROM. I enjoyed the museology of interpreting history though a single type of item. The arctic gallery was my favorite, demonstrating traditional boot making among the different peoples of the arctic circle. Panels reference different peoples respectfully based on their cultural and tribal names.

Ula @avibrantmind

Went on a Sunday, it was free. Lovely and well thought out exhibits that addressed more than fashion. It is on the smaller side, but I would recommend for history buffs as much as fashion fans.

Paz Beniamini

Unique museum. Nicely laid out and quite informative. Definitely worth a 1 - 1.5 hour visit on a Thursday evening, when they run a 'pay what you want' policy.

Yvonne Zabu

Came in for the Manolo Blahnik Exhibition and I wasn’t disappointed ????

Gabrielle Bouchard

Nice museum withots if great stuff. Glad it covered more than modern fashion and truly included historical and shoe making part.

Alexa Schwartz

Not a must see in Toronto, but definitely an interesting museum! Shouldn't expect to spend more than 1/1.5 hours here. We found a coupon online for buy one get one free adult admission, which was nice.

lauren milan

The separated room makes it harder to experience it fully. The elevator is appreciated with a stroller but probably spent most of the time going up and down to eat, feed, change. Collection was awesome to see though

Mr XP

A very entertaining museum for shoes lovers.

Aarti Gupta

Bata Shoe Museum definitely lived upto the expectations. The huge collection and history of shoes was fascinating. They had a section to try on some funky shoes, which was also a fun add on.

IRINA K

Good... But I expect the more extended exposition.

amir anbarani

Excellent collection of shoes through the history

Rebecca A

Nice collection, interesting facts, lighting is way too dark in a couple areas. Decent admission price and gift store items aren't overly expensive. Unfortunately, although I enjoyed the collection and museum, my time here was the most annoying museum experience I've had because there were kids literally screaming and running around.

Dusty More

Great writeups and signage on main floor. Engaging arctic section. Really cool layout and honestly I never knew footwear could be so interesting! A must see in Toronto

Shanaya S

I was always really interested in visiting this museum but when I went I thought it was okay. The shoes were interesting but I was hoping for a larger collection. I finished looking everything in 15 mins

Molly Welch

fun little museum. not what I expected but i really wanted to like this because a shoe museum is a great idea. will try it again when they have a different show on.

Gill Thompson

The only thing missing was a cafe. Excellent exhibits and architecture

Gordon Veldhoen

The museum was great, the staff was helpful and a rotating set of exhibits meant that I had all new things to see since my last visit. Wasn't too keen on the hoard of school children who were allowed to run around screaming but that's hardly the museums job to police.

Jeremy

It’s a museum about shoes so my expectations weren’t super high, however given the fact its about shoes it wasn’t busy which helped me take the time to read the descriptions of the shoes. Overall for what it is they do a great job at giving a variety of shoes throughout history and you learn some cool new things along the way.

K M

I love shoes but learning about different cultures and histories about shoes is actually really interesting.

K K

The museum is a little small in comparison to other Toronto museums. They do have special collections and exhibits to visit. The best time to go is Thursday evenings when admission is pay what you can.

JesseFernandesTV

Was kind of skeptical about going to this place when I had the school trip but now I know it was a good option. The museum is very fascinating including many different cultural shoes and even celebrities. It was a very interesting and memorable experience and I would recommend anyone who's in the Toronto area to visit this Museum.

Vismay Agrawal

They have good collections of shoes. I really liked the concept behind the design of shoes on history. Would recommend you if you are interested in shows or history.

Malorie Polk- Miller

This lovely attraction was a directly across the street from our hotel. It's very informative and does a great job giving a history of shoes and the significance in each culture. Otherwise, I would say I expected there to be more Avant-garde sculptures from artist regarding shoes more so than cultural history. Still a nice addition to my trip!

Pratik Sawant

This museum has some pretty good collection golf shoes. They have a wide range from the ancient times to ones today. The entry is free on Thursday

Debbie J

Very interesting not only displays shoes but tells when they are from and a lityle about the people. I read almost every discription and was done in about 3 hrs. Not busy at all.

jake K

Excellent the displays were well laid out and easily viewable and to photograph.

Hadi J

History of shoes all around the world. Only suggested for children.

Ashish Nathoo

Definitely a place worth visiting. Shoes and some clothes from various places of the world and from the past.

Han Lin

It's quite interesting. Has a lot of collections and most of them look very beautiful. I like the set up in histories of shoes. Really nice.

Natalia Ourban

Recently attended Manolo Blahnik exhibition and found it extremely interesting, it was a real treat. Small museum, but good things come in small packages. I will be back.

Allison KASE

See the Monolo Blahnik exhibit. It reveals many stages for his work. The permanent show exhibits the fascinating development of shoe making in many regions of the world.

Mike B

you know what you're getting into when you come to this place. There are three different levels of shoes, and there are some really interesting things in the permanent collection. it's looking at Elton John's shoes or something that's up your alley you're going to love this place. If that doesn't sound interesting, it might not be for you. they have an exhibit with some indigenous clothing that's really interesting, and it explains how everything was made. they also have some crafts for children, like making sock puppets or colouring pictures.

ora ben yoram

מרגע שהאדם הראשון עמד על רגליו והבין שהוא צריך להגן עליהן. הפכו הנעליים לסמל מעמד ומושא נחשק לגברים ונשים. הסטוריה זו מוצגת במוזיאון וכיף לעקוב אחר התפתחות זו. From the moment that the first person stood up and realized that he had to protect them. The shoes became a symbol of status and a desirable object for men and women. This history is presented in the museum and it is fun to follow this development.

Darren Evoy

The experience starts strong enough on the lower floor, but losses steam as you move up. Limited interactive exhibits (trying on various shoes stands out), but the 'create a shoe' touch screen was painful to use and most lost interest partway through the process. I would have loved to see a sneaker exhibit, as would the teenager with us. Staff were friendly, but found only at the entrance to process the reasonably price admission. It would have been nice to have staff circulating, offering information, and interacting with guests.

Peter Tsang

The current exhibit on the 1930's is refreshing and informative.

Josie Simonini

Better than I expected. Great source of information and nicely showcased.

Siddharth Chivukula

Very nice exhibits, cleanly maintained and very sweet staff

Emad Nikaeen

Awsome place to visit. I love it. I recommend it if you like history, design, and have passion for art.

Maddie Angle

I never really contemplated the history of shoes and how it intertwines with culture, but this museum definitely changed that. No one can have too many shoes - especially here! There's a style or period that'll interest everyone.

ydnic ztraws

Took a whole gang of kids here. The best part was the zone where the kids actually got to try on some shoes! They had a blast. Even the one boy that came with 5 girls got into it. Very educational, its amazing what different cultures will do with shoes!

sushi oconnor

Definitely a little gem of Toronto. A must visit for all shoe enthusiasts, very interesting for everyone. Took about 2 hours to do a brief tour. Could spend quite a few more hours perusing in more detail.

Court Bro

Wonderful museum. History and culture through shoes of many nations, history and cultures. Fabulous, checked off the bucket list.

Michael Kaufman

I had no idea shoes could be so damned interesting! I mean, I thought, "shoes? a museum dedicated to nothing but SHOES?? Really??" But, seriously, it's actually quite amazing! Very pleasantly surprised. Highly recommended, even with all the weird looks.

Zohre Shamandi

A small collection but interesting to see. Thursday evenings from 5-8pm are PayWhatYouCan with a suggested donation of $5. if you are visiting as a family and have a library pass, getting a library museum pass is a great option.

Trina Schneider

It’s a great place for scholars of native foot wear. The museum is three floors, and the flow is a bit strange as you go down to the basement and work your way up through the ages. Right now very heavy into gold or silver gilded era. I would have like more on the making of shoes rather than having the shoes in a gilded box.

treasurefinder123

It has a great variety of shoes and it’s amazing to go and visit the museum and experience different shoes from different parts of the world and from different times.

Priscilla Solis

I went with my daughter in her PA day and she really like it. For kids the give them a bag with clue cards to look for specific shoes in every floor and a small shoes keychain to color. My daughter loves searching for the shoes and she wear the little shoe keychain in her backpack. She told me at the end. Mami that's was a lot of fun

Yenly Gozal

Small but interesting museum. I thought it would be bigger, but it's not. A little souvenir shop at the reception/ticket counter. Took us about 1 hour to walk the entire museum. Place is quiet and peaceful. If you're curious about shoes, this is a pretty good place to start. They even have private guided tour on your smartphone.

Manuel Laorden

Very nice museum with lots of beautiful artifacts and interesting stories. Really worth the visit

Mike Weller

Lots of interesting history. Thought it would be stylized as a state of fashion but more of a traditional museum. Well designed. Recommend 1.5 hours.

Jan Bush

What a fun museum — the history of ???? ???? ????. I had no idea of our evolution in footwear and the various influences — from weather to toe polish. Elton John’s shoe made the visit even more fun since I watched his evolution in footwear from his first tour of the States in the 70s to his concert in Tokyo a good 25+ years later. If you get a chance, check it out — especially if you enjoy fashion.

Mariam Kubba-Martino

This is a very cool place to learn about the history of shoes throughout the centuries! It's very educational and has many interesting exhibits. You can see anything from heels worn back in the 1800s to ballerinas to Drake's Air Jordans. The location is easy to get to by subway and there is some parking. The museum is accessible. There is also the cutest gift shop with not-so-high prices. This is a good place for couples and families. I'd definitely go back to see a different exhibit.

Maxwell Chan

I went in because I had free admission, but I would honestly pay to go in again. They have a great exhibit about the history behind a lot of footwear and how different cultures shaped their practical and ceremonial footwear.

Motolani Oyeyemi

Any shoe lover will enjoy the beautiful displays. It's like immersing yourself in story that depicts the evolution of style told with shoes.

Maria Perris

Interesting history of the shoe. Very well laid out and you can sync your smartphone to listen to the narrative.

Mike Alfano

My wife "dragged" the kids and I to the Bata Shoe Museum... as you can tell from the word "dragged" we were not crazy about going. I have to admit I was wrong. The kids really enjoyed themselves as they had many March Break activities for them.

Trevor Ramnath

Cool place and a lot to see for a reasonable price

Yiman Chen

My favourite series is the first nations clothing and shoes on the third floor. It provides information in details about the history and the uniqueness by different nations. It worth visiting once in a lifetime.

Rebecca Harrison

The Bata Shoe Museum is a unique museum and fascinating for shoe lovers and history buffs. It's a good option for someone looking for a non-traditional museum.

Bhargav Karkar

Very interesting & unique museum. You should check it out if you are in Toronto. Very nicely organized and the staff is really friendly and helpful. Shows the time line & history of footwear & shoes across different civilizations & cultures across the world with detailed commentary / description about the items on display.

Aaron D

Great museum to spend time and read on the history of different shoes. There is no special guided tour but you can go to the different floors to explore. I suggest starting In the basement to check out the shoes and then go up each floor to check all the displays. It is surely different and I’m sure you’d like it as much as I did.

Azi Elyasi

This museum is amazing, has three levels with lots of interesting shoes from around the world. It's worth spending some time there.

J B

You could spend hours in this museum! Shoes from all over the world from different times and years.

Nicole Smith

Genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I'm not even that into shoes lol. It has way more than just a bunch of shoes on display. It's great

Sebastian John

Very interesting exhibits on shoes and the history regarding them.

Eric Jonathan Martin

Great museum with a fantastic blend of fashion and history. Good for groups, or just touring by oneself. An excellent value for the price of admission.

renu

It is worth a visit! The Manolo Blahnik exhibition was very interesting. Loved the Inuit section and the ancient shoes from all over the world. #shoes #bata #batashoemuseum #manoloblahnik

Ricardo Pimentel

Interesting museum - worthwhile going on Thursday when it is free admission. Would not go on full price. The 5 star rating is assuming free admission. Well done and placement of the collection. Nice for shoe lovers and collection fans

Camila Cormier

Super in depth and well organized content. Interesting overview of history through the lens of shoes Would be nice if they included more recent shoe fashions and trends though, the story ends pretty much in the 1990s with only a few examples of 21st cen footwear.

Craig Wood

I've read reviews before where people are surprised at how interesting this museum is and now after going I can tell you that I as well found this a great museum. There is a fantastic history of footwear presented from several historical times, locations, and cultures. They also have some celebrity footwear as well. An interesting place whether you're a fashion aficionado, history buff, or really anyone at all. I think most people will be pleasantly surprised.

Effie Dimitriou

I visited this museum about 3 months ago. It's an experience for every shoe-lover .. It's quite big so bare in mind that you will need at least 3 hours, if not more. It's really easy to get there using the metro or the bus, since it's located at one of the most well-known streets of Toronto. Have fun!!

B McD

Great place to visit on a hot day here in Toronto.

Alison Lam

One of my favourite reasons to go to the Bata Shoe Museum is for Sketching Fridays. For one Friday a quarter, the museum is open for an additional two hours after regular hours so that artists and art hobbyists can go and sketch their shoes. Chairs are set out throughout the museum and we have the freedom to move through all the galleries and sketch whichever shoe catches our fancy. These evenings are quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. Not many people attend this event (although the numbers have been steadily growing as the word gets out), so the museum is never crowded or distracting. I have found that I am able to park myself in front of a shoe for two hours and really focus on my artwork. It's a great way to start off the weekend and, as long as the event is available, I will keep attending.

Celi Scalon

It is just wonderful, a must-see in Toronto.

Alya

I took my 7 year old daughter over the weekend and she loved it! Not too busy. She enjoyed the kids activities (colouring/art table and trying on shoes). She LOVED the scavenger hunt. Great place for a fun Sat or Sun afternoon!

RSH DVP

An immersive, educational and eye-opening experience. Better than expected with a balanced tone. Learned a lot from this visit with much to reflect and unpack.

Vj Ks

Bata is synonymous with footwear. This museum is a testimony to the company's dedication to their trade. Interesting exhibits that touch history of footwear from across the world. Very well organised and beautifully presented. Do visit and you will not be disappointed.

Pearl Jefcoat

Groovy place with the most unique shoes you can find. Even humungous astronaut shoes, exquisetly tailored horse shoes (that actually tie up), shoes that athletic performers actually wore i.e. Micheal Jordans with his signature, gruesome shoes that in some country ladies wore too taper off their feet. If you can imagine any kind of shoes that are truly unique they probably have them at the bata shoe museum.

Karin Haspell

I was hoping for a little bit more. Would have liked to see more current and more variety. Had videos playing, but no sound. Uncomfortably warm inside.

Marlon Bain

High quality exhibits although there were a few typos in the third-floor exhibit (there was a “sefl” somewhere and a place where they used “principle” instead of “principal”). I think there is also a missed opportunity re: modern “hypebeast” shoes, Birkenstocks, Crocs. Please fund this place more! We need an expansion!

Sangeet Saurabh

I have never visited a place dedicated just for shoes. The place has its own story to narrate. Usually, for an adult, it cost around $12 except on. Thursday you can pay as much as you want. The 2nd floor is very interesting especially waterproof shoes from seals.

Steve Horvath

Fascinating museum. Beautiful building. Very educational.

Geert en Carla Veen

Nice museum telling the history of shoes, also organizes all kind of events

Kira Genkin

Interesting perspective on human history. Enjoined the place. Didn't like "the woke" part of the exhibition. I think it's one sided point of view.

Miloš Lazarević

It's honestly more interesting then I ever thought it would be. I thought that I wouldn't enjoy it at all and was just going since my girlfriend wanted to go but it was actually pretty neat to see all the shoes/footwear from different times and places. If you really really your time it will take around two hours.

Ulanda Singh

Cool place to learn the history of shoes.

Susana Nagy

Amazing seeing the historical evolution of shoes as well as how certain nations use animal skin and such to make footwear. We're watching now Marco Polo and it's cool to see that fiction has depicted history so accurately. However, it's also neat to see how we evolved from then.

elaine power

Was ok wish the sneakers were on display was interesting well laid out

eatozluklu

Definetly an interesting place to learn about the history of shoes. I really loved the ancient shoes part of different cultures.

Krystyna Gillespie

A shoe museum for adults that want to read a lot about shoes. Small collection for a museum, but large collection of shoes. As for a family experience, they try with an iSpy game but under the age of 5 there is little interest. The try on shoes section was small and didn't offer any truely unique shoes, toddler got bored quickly and the shoes available didn't offer kids a new experience. Try offering a pair of Roman sandals, moccasins, bolt sandals from India, replicas of the biggest shoe in the word worn by a human etc. I agree with another review of more interactive learning opportunities throughout, and video/audio features. Glad I went cause I'd never been, but also very glad I had a coupon (2-4-1) and the kids were under five. Recommendation: Skip if you are just visiting with the family, there are better family attractions available. If you love shoes more than life than visit otherwise skip.

Alaa Alsharief

Nice museum that shows the dfferent types of shoes since the first discovered step and through the ceturies. Trying on some shoes was one of my favourites!

DIY Nation

Super unique! Everybody should visit this beautiful little shoe museum!

Elisha Ribeiro

More interesting than I expected.

Tom Nowers

For most visitors like us, we are always amazed at why we don't visit the Bata Shoe museum at least annually. We have been three times in 10 years and it is always so unexpectedly interesting, well displayed with regularly changing themes and exhibits. Perfect for 2 hours and across the road from St. George Subway. This one was called "WANT" with a special emphasis on the struggles between shoe fashion social forces and poverty during the Great Depression. There are other concurrent exhibitions on "Gold" , Social impact of throughout history, and a children's workshop space. The costs are modest at $14 for adults, $12 for seniors...other deals for students and children. Dont forget your ear buds as you can just tune into a free guide on your phone. Also cloak room is available and free. I really like this interesting and educational glimpse into a world, the history and social impact of which, few people reflect on. Go!

Claudia O

I love this museum so much. It's a great museum and the prices are more than fair. Also the gift shop is awesome. This is a great place to take people visiting the city for the first time - it's quirky, inexpensive, and right downtown. Definitely a good place to pop in if it's raining!

Patrick Ganz

Cool description on all objects

Star Viewer

I am glad I went in doors open Toronto which was free, otherwise $14 ticket per person is quite high. Not that it is not interesting, I think it would’ve been better if they combine it with another museum or exhibition rather than stand alone shoe museum. I thought it can be good combination in Black Creek Pioneer village so space can be free up for more dynamic place in such great downtown location. We still need a lot more attractions and activities shows in our downtown core area .

Andrew Williams

Many interesting facts can be learned by viewing shoes. Not only can they be used for fashion but also status. The museum is a treasure in the city. Parking is a bit tricky in the U of T campus area. Some really amazing exhibits are on now.

xiaomeng ren

Surprisingly educational! I went there just to look at some weird shoes to kill time. But end up learning a lot about footware related culture from different places around the world, and about how footware played a part in the supression of women, in slavery, and in race inequality. Totally worth the visit!

I.K. Lore

A small museum, but it was a fascinating visit. You'll learn the history and culture of footwear, as well as the purpose and fashion for some. There's a self-guided tour on their wifi, which I recommend bringing headphones and listening to. There's also a small gift shop on the main floor, and a place to hang your coat on the bottom floor. This is an excellent place to visit on your own or with a small group of friends.

Pina Ware

Wow. Shoes, shoes and more shoes. A large selection of shoes, it was bigger than I thought and very well displayed. Don't buy your tickets online - once you get there you have to line up whether you have tickets or not. Do not take young children they will be bored and misbehave. I would go back again.

Kaylee M

Personally, I'd say it's more of a gallery/collection than a museum. It was lovely, just didn't have the in-depth information I'd hoped it would. If there are guided tours, that would've been more my cup of tea.

Reikou G

From the weird to the beautiful, the Bata shoe museum has enough history to intrigue shoe lovers and people who don't care about shoes too. I was kind of on the fence about going, but man am I glad I did. It's only around fourteen bucks to see the whole place and will take a couple hours depending on how into the shoes you are. There are lots of little activities for the kids scattered around as well.

Claire MacFarlane

Beautiful museum and collection. Permanent exhibition is awesome telling the history of shoes. Interactive and interesting temporary exhibitions!

Rifhat Wahid

Cute museum for shoes through the centuries. Easy fun to do. Can be done in an hour easily. Street meter parking best option. Icing on the car was a presentation from staff on different shoes that you were able to touch and see. With historic info. Famous people worn shoe exhibits. Definitely for fashion students.

Mel R

My first visit to the Bata Shoe Museum was on a Sketching Friday. It's a bit quieter during this time but I think there's something magical about the museum during these hours. The space was not busy and it felt like I was given special access to enjoy the museum on my own. With that being said, the museum is amazing and I learned so much just from my first visit. I really recommend visiting during Sketching Fridays , the space takes on a different vibe and it's very calming !

Harry Bradley

The Bata Shoe Museum is a small museum around the corner from the ROM. It provides an interesting perspective on history, through footwear. It is certainly unique and definitely worth a visit.

Angus Ho

Nice little museum located close to the city centre. Fun interesting exhibits, especially the arctic shoe collection. Finished in about 45 minutes which was a little quicker than I would've liked but still enjoyable overall. Children get a gift bag that contains a little shoe keychain to design on, unfortunately not available in the gift shop.

Zoe Z

there are somewhere interesting exhibits, so people who love shoes should go to

Dmitry Barinov

Amazing place. Went there to show it to my daughter. Never thought I'd like a shoe museum. But it's very engaging.

Nicole Park

A local hospitality guide advised up the Bata was an absolute must see while in Toronto. We visited last week and enjoyed our experience overall. The history section with detailed descriptions of the various uses of footwear was the best. Form over function? Loved reading all about native tribes from around the globe and how their environments and needs dictate(d) their footwear choices. Beware: don't go there expecting to see any one particular pair of shoes someone told you about! We were informed that at any one time they are only displaying 3-5% of their total collection - the rest are downstairs in the Vault!

Ada Chan

Came here on door open. Fun experience

Daniela S.

Very interesting museum. Never saw so many shoes in my life!

Sylvia Lorico

I'm not a huge shoe fan but this museum surprised me. Their collection of older footwear was more appealing than the modern collection but it was definitely an interesting visit!

Sangwon Lee

Nice shoe museum. There are many types of shoes. Excellent.

AL

Surprisingly cute and fun museum to visit. I enjoyed looking at all the shoes here.

julian Lo

Honestly a bit of a let down. I came in expecting more and some more focus on the modern day "hype" of popular shoes. Given the popularity of certain shoes and the impact socially I would've thought there are more modern comparisons. What I was met with was very historical forms of shoes which was fascinating but felt a lacking experience in general. That being said it was still an interesting

T Dunc

Very interesting and informative. The kids loved it although they thought it would be filled with sneakers. Would definitely recommend checking out.

Sandra Marlene

You would never guess there was so many different famous shoes. Elton John's and Dorothy's red shoes for example. Lots of fun

Sandra Olim

I wasn’t expecting this museum to be so interesting. It is worth visiting specially on Thursday night if you can afford the regular price since it is pay what you can entrance.

S D

I last came here for the Manolo Blahnik exhibit and wow it took my breath away. The other exhibits on display were also amazing. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because comparable to the other Toronto museums (such as the ROM and the AGO) the architecture is nothing special. It is still a must see if you are interested in the history of footwear.

ritz supan

I expected more in a shoe museum. The good part was that it was part of the Toronto Open Doors, so admission was free. It definitely would not be worth paying admission to see the display.

Marcelo Jané

At first I reluctantly made plans to go to the Bata Shoe Museum because it was Monday and most museums in the city close that day. I was expecting entire rooms filled with modern iconic shoes with a couple lines written about them and their value, but to my surprise it turned out to be a great visit! They guide you through a brief history of shoes from all over the world, giving context by explaining the materials, the craftmanship process and the cultural situation at their time in a concise but very informative way. I especially liked a section in which they delve into the arctic region, their customs, history and craftmanship, all divided into the most prominent ethnic groups. As of the day I visited the museum (08/26), they had an exhibition about shoes and their evolution between the 1910's and the aftermath of the Great Depression in the US. Overall, I found it very informative and accessible and I appreciated the great selection of pieces they have. I would strongly recommend looking past the ''oh it's just a shoe museum'' and give it a visit, because it's definitely worth it.

Dawn Sinclair

Absolutely fabulous ways to spend a couple of hours. Wonderful education on history of shoes and incredible displays. Definitely a must do

Keiko Kirkpa

This is a must see museum for all of you who love shoes. It has a variety of displays and shows off the origin of how different styles of shoes and where the style came from. Very interesting for me. I was amazed with the style they have back then.

Valery Martynchenko

Lots of shoes from all over the world and from all periods throughout history. Very modern interior makes for an easy and comfortable experience.

Barbara Greene

if you're a shoe lover (translation: woman), this is the place! a museum devoted to shoes through time, from yucca sandals to platform sneakers. and history nuggets to boot! fascinating, fun, and even men can find something diverting.

G Aquino

A well-curated museum that Carrie Bradshaw and Imelda Marcos would proudly set foot in! Lots of interesting exhibits and themes on footwear, such as gold, Arctic practicalities, and yes, luxury. Expect to see exotic, amusing, outrageous, and downright terrifying pieces (those clogs supported by several nail-like, bone-crushing metallic 'heels' gave me nightmares!). Celebrity footwear, such as Elton John's boots, are popular too. The staff even demoed some mundane-looking footwear with really interesting back stories. The museum charges an admission fee ($14 during our visit). So yeah, if you're looking for a different kind of museum experience, definitely check this place out!

maheen ahmed

I love this museum. Have visited it 4 times over the years, and the exhibits have always been very very interesting! Who knew there was so much to learn about shoes! Thursday evenings pay-what-you-want makes it affordable for everyone. A must do in Toronto!

Malika Mehrotra

Wow! Must visit. Great place, get to know a lot about the Bata history.

Liz M

Interesting museum, although rather small exhibits. The 3rd floor was closed for an exhibit which they are building, which made it even smaller.

Russell Spencer

Shoes shoes shoes. Shoes as far as the eye could see! Of course, it was inside, so the eye could not see very far. But there were still a lot of shoes. I am not particularly a shoe person, but I enjoyed the experience anyway. I learned more about shoes that I wanted to know, and am pleased to have done so.

Melissa Kahue

Took my mom here as a surprise and she was in love with this place! If you admire shoes, definitely worth checking it out :)

Stephen

Surprisingly little on the history of shoe making, fabrication, production and evolution and historical impacts. Basically a personal collection with some emphasis on Inuit culture.

Fito H

First we received a warm welcome to the museum, we didn't receive a tour but the museum was curated in such a way that the viewing of the museum's artifacts was streamlined and straightforward. It covers the history, progress and manufacture of shoes. Here's a picture of the largest shoe they have!

Carl Lobis

A lot of surprising information. You can spend a few hours here. Walking distance to the Royal Ontario Museum. Beautiful ladies shoes from the 1930s from the pre-plastic era. The shoe history showing covers 5000 years or more, from a model of a grass and leather-based shoe (Oetzi) to the shoe model used on the moon.

Lisa Parker

Definitely gave me a better understanding of the history of shoes! Lol. Good way to spend a couple hours. Reasonable price and Nice staff. Bathrooms were kept clean.

spyderm4n

Decent time killer. They lacked the third floor display when I went so that was a bummer. Lack of more modern footwear. As a museum, worth a visit. I skipped it the last time I was in the area 3 years ago so I'm somewhat glad I chose to see it this round. Just know it's a smaller museum.

A Google User

I was hoping for a little bit more. Would have liked to see more current and more variety. Had videos playing, but no sound. Uncomfortably warm inside.