Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America
The Art Gallery of Ontario or AGO contains in excess of 80,000 works of art, some from as far back as the year 100 AD.
Originally founded in the year 1900, the Art Gallery of Ontario became somewhat 'disjointed' after numerous expansions and major renovations over many years. Finally in 2008 the gallery reopened after an expansion project, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry, that masterfully brought all of the existing spaces together. This expansion increased the space available for viewing art by nearly one-half. The overall facility is an impressive 583,000 square feet.
Canadian art makes up more that half of the gallery's collection. The AGO also features a large collection of European art, with a very significant collection of Medieval and Renaissance decorative arts. The gallery exhibits major works of art by many renowned artists, including Rembrandt van Rijn, Emile Antoine Bourdelle, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Tintoretto, Frans Hals, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck, Thomas Gainsborough, Auguste Rodin, and Edgar Degas.
Your admission to the gallery includes a 60 minute highlights tour that explores not only the art, but also the architecture of the AGO. This tour runs daily at 11am, 12 noon, 1pm and 3pm and also on Wednesday evening at 7pm.
On Wednesday evenings after 6 pm you can visit the gallery for free! The AGO is baby friendly and fun for the whole family. They also have a restaurant, cafe, bar and Gift shop. For additional information about the AGO see the official site below.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes Free on Wednesday evenings after 6pmArt Gallery of Ontario Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada
Phone: (416) 979-6648
Official Website: Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario Reviews
Rated out of 5
Amazing! I visited the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto and it was such a wonderful experience. The museum is a beautiful space filled with inspiring paintings and exhibits. I love how it brings art and creativity to life, sparking curiosity and sharing culture within our local community. A truly enriching place to spend the day!
Allyssa Ghaemi - 3 months ago
If you appreciate art, clean modern spaces, and a relaxed museum experience, the AGO is a very solid stop in Toronto.
👍 What’s Excellent
• Canadian Collection
The Group of Seven paintings are a highlight strong national identity pieces you won’t see elsewhere.
• Architecture
The Frank Gehry redesign gives it a warm, modern feel. The curved wooden staircase is a standout feature.
• Layout & Atmosphere
It feels open and calm. Not overwhelming like some massive museums.
• Location
Close to Chinatown and Kensington Market easy to combine with lunch or coffee.
👎 What’s Average
• Not as “wow” as major global museums
If you’re comparing to The Met or the Louvre, it’s smaller in scale.
• Some floors can feel quiet or sparse
Depending on exhibits at the time.
🕒 Ideal Visit Time
2–3 hours is perfect
Sergio Ballesteros Jr - 3 months ago
as a young adult in toronto, it feels very sweet to know that the AGO doors are always open for me. it is a good refuge for sensitive roaming minds. every time i come back, there is always an art piece to fixate on. it is quiet and clean in the halls. the sections of each floor can be quite confusing, it's easy to get lost in there, and it gets very slightly frustrating. but somedays i like being lost in a safe place.
i thoroughly loved the pacita abad exhibit from late 2024. as a filipina, it was monumental to see Ms. Abad be presented in toronto in full glory. thank you AGO for all the years of gentleness and dreams.
Jieyl Rodrigo - 2 months ago
A friend and I visited using the free youth tickets, which were really nice and a great way to get youth interested in art, and we had such a phenomenal experience!
The entire place was clean, well organized, and the architecture was a piece of art itself. It was also nice and quiet, and there were lots of cool interactive exhibitions that weren't just paintings
I would honestly recommend just coming for the art gallery, we even bought a few cute souvenirs to bring home. Staff were especially kind and polite, and checking out the basement with all the ships is a MUST
Coal L - 4 months ago
Very well curated and displayed museum! So many things to see and my favorite is the sniff bottle collection. So unique and rare, I haven't seen anything like this before. Annual pass is only 10 dollars more than single pass which is an awesome deal.
Q D - 3 months ago
Directions
| TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yonge-University-Spadina Line | St. Patrick Station | 5 MInutes |
How to get to Art Gallery of Ontario by TTC Subway
No bus needed. Exit the station and walk west along Dundas Street West for 3½ blocks or 5 minutes. The AGO is on your left.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Accommodations near Art Gallery of Ontario :
Photo Gallery
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Back face of the Art Gallery of Ontario cc licensed photo by Ian Muttoo -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Timothy Neesam (GumshoePhotos) - cc license via Flickr
