Gardiner Museum
Gardiner Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Discover one of the world's most universal and dynamic art forms. Explore the Gardiner Museum's internationally-renowned collections of pottery from the Ancient Americas, Europe, China, and Japan, as well as contemporary ceramics. Visit the Museum's special exhibitions, sign up for a clay class, take part in weekly family art activities, dine at Clay Restaurant, and find the perfect gift at the Gardiner Shop.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Downtown
At the heart of Toronto, Downtown is the destination for cheap eats and fast fashion. Cut through by hip and trendy Yonge Street, the vibe here is young, with a strong student influence from the Ryerson University Campus. As a result, the Downtown area is always in flux: undergoing the construction of new facilities, with fresh retail spaces and pop-up cafes. Home to Toronto's largest indoor shopping mall, a number of vintage cinemas, and a healthy nightlife centered on the area's Distillery District bar and clubs near the East End, it's both an easygoing daytime spot and a popular party place after sunset. It also features some of Toronto's best outdoor landmarks, including Yonge-Dundas Square and the Nathan Phillips Square: perfect for a concert, a skate, or a relaxing sit-down.
How to get there
  • Museum • 2 min walk
  • Bay • 4 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • emfeAthens_Georgia
    Athens, Georgia236 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you like ceramics, visit the Gardiner Museum
    We really enjoyed this small museum whose focus is ceramics. There are over 5000 items from around the world on display from a variety of time periods. If you like clay, ceramics, pottery or porcelain, you will enjoy this small museum. Their cafe, CLAY, is lovey.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 2 July 2023
  • Stormflora
    Toronto, Canada34 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see along with the ROM and AGO!
    Easily one of the top three museums in Toronto. Don't let its size delude you. It's packed with tons of amazing artifacts. Would definitely recommend everyone to visit, especially with a free pass on Wednesday or via TPL Maps.
    Visited July 2023
    Written 5 July 2023
  • MomRocco
    Chicago, Illinois541 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Intrigue and Secrets Stolen Around Porcelain
    I had no idea that the arcana for making porcelain was so valuable that spies were involved in getting the formulas. I also had no idea that people sunk money in porcelain as a way to show off their wealth. I learned a great deal at this lovely small museum.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 September 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles292 reviews
Excellent
147
Very good
99
Average
30
Poor
5
Terrible
11

Carol R
Toronto, Canada63 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Solo
I visited this museum alone. It is truly awe inspiring, the artistry, the design the complexity of some of the items on display. Toronto is very lucky to have this museum. Well worth a visit.
Written 31 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so glad you enjoyed the collection. Thank you for your wonderful recommendation!
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Claire D
Toronto, Canada152 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Couples
Always a treat to visit this museum.
The 3rd floor usually has contemporary interesting exhibit, last year Yoko Ono and now Ai WeiWei. Closing soon....
Written 14 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Claire! We're glad you had the opportunity to experience both the Yoko Ono and Ai Weiwei exhibitions. We always have exciting shows coming up so be sure to visit us again soon :)
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Constance B
23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Couples
Not just a museum of ceramics. This wonderful museum not only shows an exceptional ceramics collection, but brings to life the stories behind pieces. Contemporary work and traditional.
Written 7 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Constance! We're so glad you enjoyed the stories behind our collections. We think they really help bring the objects to life. We're always adding more information and displaying the objects in innovative new ways, so visit us again soon!
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

dianestyles
Pittsburgh, PA42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Family
Outstanding selection of Mayan, Chinese, European and English ceramics. History panels contributed to the history and development of earthenware and porcelain wares. Beautifully displayed with a nice presentation of modern Canadian artists.
Written 29 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Diane! We're glad you enjoyed the full range of the collection and the objects' unique histories.
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ELC_Freddy_Beach
Charlottetown, Canada1,077 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Couples
Visited for the first time to see the Ai Weiewei exhibit which was fantastic. Even saw the artist himself who was at a reception. Also enjoyed the permanent exhibits.
Written 27 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How lucky that you got to see Ai Weiwei while you were here! We're delighted to hear that your first visit exceeded your expectations and hope you'll come back again soon to see one of our upcoming exhibitions.
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Peggy C
Toronto, Canada72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Couples
Wonderful museum with incredible exhibits of porcelain and ceramics ranging from the Ancient Americas and Chinese dynasties to the present day Ai Weiwei Unbroken installation. We would visit again on a guided tour to learn more about the history of the work.
Written 11 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the wonderful recommendation, Peggy. We're so glad you enjoyed the Ai Weiwei exhibition. You should definitely come back for a closer look at the permanent collection. We offer tours everyday at 2 pm, included with admission. Our guides are some of the best in the city!
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

CMT-JWT
Montreal, Canada539 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Couples
An easy walk from hotels, or from subway, this is a nice sized museum with periodic special exhibits. Well curated and presented. I am not a fan of porcelain, but enjoyed the collection that were older and more modern. An overlooked gem! ....also has an interesting looking resto.
Written 31 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for spreading the word! There's something in the collection for everyone and we're glad that you found the areas that appealed to you. We would certainly recommend coming back for a meal at CLAY restaurant. The food and views are fantastic.
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

operalover939
Toronto, Canada3,008 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Couples
The Gardiner has a fine permanent collection of ceramics from many different places and times. It also has a good restaurant with a great view. Yesterday we were here for the Ai Weiwei exhibition. It is an eclectic collection of pieces that gives good insight into the range of his work. Highly recommended!
Written 30 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the high praise and recommendation! We're glad you enjoyed the Ai Weiwei exhibition. There are a lot of excellent shows and events coming up so be sure to visit us again soon!
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Barbara E
Toronto, Canada174 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Solo
Just saw the Ai Wei Wei exhibit at the Gardiner and found it stimulating and emotional. As a conceptual artist he has the idea and then has the professionals execute it, thus he creates an interesting combination of modern esthetics with traditional techniques. The rest of the Gardiner consists of excellent examples of ceramics from around the world. There is also a nice gift shop and and hands-on area.
Written 28 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Barbara. We're glad to hear that you found the Ai Weiwei exhibition so moving, and that you enjoyed the rest of what the Gardiner has to offer. We hope you'll visit us again soon!
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jprofilo
Pompano Beach, FL92 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Couples
The Gardiner is an engaging venue at any time ...the museum houses a wonderful collection of porcelain and ceramic works, historical and contemporary.
The current Wei Wei, small collection was well worth the visit. The breadth of this artists body of work in my view is remarkable.
There is always so much meaning, depth and purpose to his work.
Only disappoint is there was no catalogue available ??
Written 22 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the permanent collections and the Ai Weiwei exhibition. Ai Weiwei's work is truly special. Unfortunately the Ai Weiwei publication was not yet available when you visited as we needed some time to photograph the works once they were installed. The publication is now available in the Gardiner Shop and features beautiful images, a statement from Ai Weiwei, and personal responses to Ai's work by local artists, scholars, community organizers, and others. If you're able to drop by again, you should check it out.
Written 10 June 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Gardiner Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)