Bata Shoe Museum
Check out the only museum in North America solely dedicated to shoes
The Bata Shoe Museum is a five storey building that was built to house Sonja Bata's shoe collection. It uses four of those storeys to publicly display over 1000 shoes in four fascinating galleries starting from an era that goes back about 4500 years in the flagship exhibition.
These informative galleries will educate you about the materials and techniques that were used through-out the ages to make footwear both fashionable and practicable.
In the BSM you will find a collection of over 13,000 artifacts and shoes that represent the era, region and history of the world in which the specimen shoes came from. This wide variety of footwear ranges from bound foot shoes worn by some of the Chinese females, Ancient Egyptian sandals, practical clogs used to crush chestnuts, cowboy and riding boots, dazzling high heels, platforms, sports shoes including specialized shoes worn for dance plus many others.
Shoes worn by celebrates are a popular favourite for most guests. A few examples include Queen Victoria's ballroom slippers, Elton John's silver platform boots, Elvis Presley's blue patent loafers and a running shoe that belonged to Terry Fox. There are many more on display for visitors to view.
Since 1940 Sonja Bata has searched the world for shoes to add to her collection. However, it wasn't until May 6th 1995 that the museum was built in its present location in downtown Toronto. Here, they constructed this fascinating building which is designed in the shape of an open shoe box.
2015 is the 20th anniversary of the opening of the museum, which has become one of Toronto's cultural landmarks and famous establishments.
The BSM Museum continues to collect shoes from around the world, research information about the shape, material, how they were made and for what purpose. It also preserves and displays them in creative and informative ways that keep you interested while educating you about a bit of history and fashion throughout time. Most exhibits are on display for one or two years and feature shoes focused on a specific time period. All about shoes: is a long term exhibit, that takes you back in time on a journey through the years of footwear.
When visiting the museum be sure to check out the gift shop. This fun little shop is well supplied with lots of souvenirs, books and other items related to shoes.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesBata Shoe Museum Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Address: 327 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W7, Canada
Phone: (416) 979-7799
Official Website: Bata Shoe Museum
Bata Shoe Museum Reviews
Rated out of 5
Storytime! We were at Ripley's Aquarium trying to get in, but they charged us $110 for two students. We were pissed at how expensive the entrance was, so we started looking at other museums and found this one. The difference is clear. A $14 entry is a very good price, but even better, it's free every Sunday. It's incredible to have this in an expensive city like Toronto.
The museum was also very good, with nice stories and the evolution of footwear. I loved the last room with the most recent sneakers.
Juan David Restrepo - a week ago
I visited through the Indigenous Walking Tour, and if you’re planning a trip to the Bata Shoe Museum, I highly recommend choosing this option. It was truly the highlight of my weekend. The tour offered a beautiful cultural exchange and was incredibly engaging. It deepened my appreciation for Mother Earth and the Indigenous communities who are working tirelessly to preserve their traditions while generously sharing their stories with us. I won’t spoil too much, but it was deeply informative and meaningful.
As for the museum itself, the exhibits were thoughtfully curated and offered fresh perspectives. While the space may be on the smaller side, it’s filled with fascinating and beautifully presented pieces. The staff were also fantastic, knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to help. Kudos to the whole team! I wholeheartedly recommend visiting.
Lucy Nguyen - 4 weeks ago
This show museum is pretty cool!!! 😎 can see lots of kind of shoes and about its history, and about its overall uses in criminology, or by fashion. I recommend you going to this bata shoe 👠 museum in weekend with your near family and friends!! This museum has 3 floors including the museum basement, and also provides overall old historical relics about shoes too….👞
is it who - 3 months ago
This museum is perfect! Ok, yes I love shoes but this was an unexpected gem. We were there for a little over an hour. Loved the trip through time learning about the development of shoes. We really enjoyed learning about the founder and the history of shoes and crime. A Delightful visit to the shoe trying on room finished off our afternoon. I would not bring young children here as they would not appreciate the focus. We enjoyed every step!!
Nicole DeBoon - 3 weeks ago
Nice museum!
Has information on shoes and the history behind them throughout different time periods, cultures and geographic regions. If that interested you then it’s worth visiting.
Nhihad Hassan - a month ago
Directions
| TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bloor-Danforth | St. George Station | 1 Minute |
| Yonge-University-Spadina | St. George Station | 1 Minute |
How to get to Bata Shoe Museum by TTC Subway
From St. George Station on either the Bloor Danforth or University-Spadina Line: exit onto St. George Street and go left (south) to Bloor Street West. Cross the road both ways to the museum.
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Photo Gallery
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Colourful shoes on display at the Bata Shoe Museum cc licensed photo by Charles Hoffman -
Photo Credit: Bata Shoe Museum -
Photo Credit: Jemy Joseph -
Photo Credit: Neha Chaudhari -
Photo Credit: Ahmad Ayyub -
Photo Credit: Sandy (electricbungalows)
