Cheap Thrills

Cheap Thrills

Culture on the cheap -- it can be done. There are several ways to sightsee on a shoestring, starting with the Toronto CityPass (www.citypass.com), which saves money and time (you can bypass ticket lines) when visiting the city's top six attractions: the CN Tower, Art Gallery of Ontario, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, Ontario Science Centre, and Toronto Zoo.

Museums for Free. Some museums and art collections are free all the time, including the Gallery of Inuit Art in the TD Centre, the Power Plant gallery, and the Ontario College of Art and Design. There's also free entry to the ROM on Friday after 4:30 PM, the Bata Shoe Museum on Thursday after 5 PM, and the AGO on Wednesday after 6 PM.

Festivals. There are free festivals year-round in Toronto, but especially in summer. Check local listings and you'll find information on everything from the Toronto Outdoor Arts Exhibition in July to the Greek "Taste of the Danforth" and to North America's largest Ukrainian street festival in the Bloor West Village.

Churches, Cemeteries & Parks. The old standbys are stellar in Toronto. From the beautiful St. James and St. Michael's cathedrals to the Necropolis cemetery; from the labyrinthian gardens across from the Church of the Holy Trinity to the music gardens by Harbourfront; some of the city's most thought-provoking sights don't cost a cent. Strolling in one of Toronto's many parks or skating at public rinks is always free.