must-visit in TorontoSquare & Landmark

Toronto City Hall

📍 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2, Canada

1 photos

3.5/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: Canada, Toronto
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: 45–90 minutes; 1.5–2 hours in skating season or on event days
Opening Hours: Square and sign open 24 hours (sections may close for events); interiors freely open on weekdays; rink season late November to mid-March, roughly 10:00–22:00 daily.
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Square, sign and skating all free; skate rentals about CAD 10 child / CAD 15 adult for two hours (deposit, no reservations); some interior tours free or low-cost.
Address: 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5H 2N2, Canada
Coordinates: 43.6539, -79.3842

Introduction

Toronto City Hall at 100 Queen Street West was designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell, whose entry won the 1958 international competition from more than 500 submissions across 42 countries. It opened on 13 September 1965, replacing the 1899 Old City Hall (now courthouses). Two curved towers — the east 20 storeys and the west 27 — cradle a saucer-shaped council chamber, reading from above as an open eye; Revell described the form as "two hands cradling the city." It stands as one of the major works of international modernism in North America and is protected as an Ontario heritage building. The lobby, council chamber and public corridors are open to visitors on weekdays. In front, Nathan Phillips Square is the city's stage for gatherings and festivals: the three-metre TORONTO sign lights 24 hours a day, the reflecting pool carries three Freedom Arches, and from late November to mid-March the pool freezes into a free outdoor skating rink — the city's most iconic public ice. New Year's Eve, the Cavalcade of Lights and civic demonstrations all take place here.

✨ Highlights

Revell's open eye

Winner of the 1958 international competition from 500-plus entries across 42 countries: two curved towers cradle a saucer-shaped council chamber — the east tower 20 storeys, the west 27, reading from above as an open eye.

Nathan Phillips Square

The civic square directly in front, open around the clock. The 3D TORONTO sign stands about 3 m tall, lit 24 hours a day with special colour schemes for commemorations.

Freedom Arches and the reflecting pool

Three concrete arches cross the central pool, which holds a scale model of a Greek temple; in summer it is a water feature, in winter a skating rink.

Free winter skating

Open roughly late November to mid-March; skating is free, on-site skate rentals run about CAD 10–15 for two hours, and Saturday evenings offer free rentals. The pavilion west of the ice has changing rooms and washrooms.

Interior visits

The lobby and public corridors are freely open on weekdays; the council chamber and other spaces can be seen on city or third-party architecture tours, which book up early.

Cavalcade of Lights and New Year's Eve

The annual lighting festival in late November and the New Year's Eve countdown both take place here, among the city's biggest civic celebrations.

🛈 Practical Info

→Duration：45–90 minutes for photos and the architecture; 1.5–2 hours in skating season or on event days; add an hour for an interior tour.

→Transport：Five minutes on foot from Queen or Osgoode station on subway Line 1; Queen and Dundas streetcars stop nearby. The Green P City Hall Garage (110 Queen St W) sits directly beneath the square and connects to the PATH network, the Eaton Centre and the Financial District.

→Facilities：The pavilion west of the rink has changing rooms, washrooms and a concession; food trucks, cafés and restaurants ring the square. The plaza is fully accessible, linked to PATH and the Eaton Centre.

→Best season：Year-round. Winter brings skating and the Cavalcade of Lights (late November); summer has a dense events calendar but little shade. For a crowd-free sign photo, aim for weekday mornings between 07:00 and 09:00.

→Worth it?：Yes, and entirely free. It is the signature work of modernist architecture in Toronto and its most photographed civic landmark; it pairs easily with the Eaton Centre, the 1899 Old City Hall (now courthouses), Chinatown and the Financial District into a half-day walk.

→Watch out：Large events (New Year's Eve, Cavalcade of Lights, demonstrations) close streets and add bag checks — allow extra time. The rink is very busy in season, so skate on a weekday morning if you can. The square is open at night but crowds are mixed, so keep an eye on your belongings.

→Opening Hours：Square and sign open 24 hours (sections may close for events); interiors freely open on weekdays; rink season late November to mid-March, roughly 10:00–22:00 daily.

→Transportation：Five minutes on foot from Queen or Osgoode station on Line 1; Queen and Dundas streetcars nearby. The Green P garage (110 Queen St W) is beneath the square.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Square, sign and skating all free; skate rentals about CAD 10 child / CAD 15 adult for two hours (deposit, no reservations); some interior tours free or low-cost.

💡 Tips

• The square and TORONTO sign are lit 24 hours, so night shots beat the daytime; the sign switches to special colour schemes for commemorations.

• For a crowd-free photo aim for weekday mornings between 07:00 and 09:00; the elevated walkway on the west side frames the sign, towers and skyline together.

• Skating runs from about late November to mid-March and is free; on-site rentals are about CAD 10 for children and CAD 15 for adults (two hours, deposit, no reservations).

• Saturday evenings often bring free skate rentals; children six and under must wear a helmet by city rule.

• After snow or a thaw call 311 or check toronto.ca for rink status before heading out.

• City Hall interiors are freely open on weekdays; the council chamber needs a booked tour and places are limited.

• Large events (New Year's Eve, Cavalcade of Lights, demonstrations) close streets and add bag checks — allow extra time and expect transit crowding.

• It pairs with the Eaton Centre, the 1899 Old City Hall (now courthouses), Chinatown and the Financial District into a half-day walk; PATH keeps you indoors in deep cold.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Toronto City Hall?

Square and sign open 24 hours (sections may close for events); interiors freely open on weekdays; rink season late November to mid-March, roughly 10:00–22:00 daily.

How much is the admission for Toronto City Hall?

Adult: Free; Square, sign and skating all free; skate rentals about CAD 10 child / CAD 15 adult for two hours (deposit, no reservations); some interior tours free or low-cost.

Any practical tips for visiting Toronto City Hall?

The square and TORONTO sign are lit 24 hours, so night shots beat the daytime; the sign switches to special colour schemes for commemorations. For a crowd-free photo aim for weekday mornings between 07:00 and 09:00; the elevated walkway on the west side frames the sign, towers and skyline together.

How long should I spend at Toronto City Hall?

A typical visit takes 45–90 minutes; 1.5–2 hours in skating season or on event days.

Skating season, rental rates and events from toronto.ca and 2026 public resources (checked October 2026). Rink openings depend on weather and sections may close for events — check the site or call 311 first.