Kandice VincentA District of Beauty: 15 Instagrammable Places in North York
North York is a vibrant district nestled in Toronto teeming with Instagrammable spots, thanks to its unique blend of contemporary design and historical charm.
Whether you’re a serious photographer or just looking for things to post on the ‘gram, we’ve narrowed down the best spots in the district that will spice up your feed.
A District of Beauty: 15 Instagrammable Places in North York
1. York University
Address: 4700 Keele St, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Contact: 1 416-736-2100
Looking for a spot with several architectural marvels that will make you go “wow”? Then stop by York University and snap photos of the Bergeron Centre and York University Student Centre.
The Bergeron Centre boasts a captivating facade adorned with glass triangles inspired by mathematical algorithms, shifting appearance as the day passes.
Meanwhile, the York University Student Centre’s transparent face offers views of a sleek minimalist interior.
Pro tip:
We recommend visiting the York University Student Centre at night when the centre is illuminated by warm lights emphasising the window jambs and frames of the building, which aren’t noticeable during the day.
2. Aga Khan Museum
Address: 77 Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1K1
Contact: 1 416-646-4677
Operating hours:
Monday: Closed
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday to Thursday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
For people who want to share the cultures of the world on Instagram, visit the Aga Khan Museum. It has an extensive collection of beautiful artefacts that are worth posting on the ‘gram.
Exhibits showcase ceramics, paintings, and works from Islamic communities around the world. The Hindola Raga is a special 16th-century masterpiece of Mughal art, known for its use of exquisite colours to depict a man sitting on a swing surrounded by musicians.
The museum’s park is enhanced with dark reflective pools mirroring the elegant museum, while towering lush trees fill the park’s wide open spaces and provide a serene atmosphere.
Pro tip:
While you’re out in the courtyard, snap some shots of the Big Heech sculpture. This huge stainless steel sculpture has beautiful curves and it represents the Farsi character for Heech, which means “nothingness.”
3. Black Creek Pioneer Village
Address: 1000 Murray Ross Pkwy, Toronto, ON M3J 2P3, Canada
Contact: 1 416-736-1733
Operating hours:
Monday to Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Walking around Black Creek Pioneer Village feels like an adventure to another timeline. The historic village has buildings sporting traditional 19th-century architecture, making it a great place for Instagram photos.
The village has 40 historical buildings, 70 rare animals, and 10 lush gardens, so expect hundreds of new photos in your camera roll. The HalfWay House Inn is worth a visit for its lovely mix of wood and brick elements, as well as its strong cowboy vibes.
Pro tip:
One building that stands out from the rest is Robin’s Mill. This beautiful mill house features a brick construction and a wooden wheel, which makes for interesting Instagram pictures especially as the sun sets.
4. Toronto Botanical Garden
Address: 777 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto, ON M3C 1P2, Canada
Contact: 1 416-397-1341
Flowers are always Instagram-worthy – and the Toronto Botanical Garden is one of the best places to see colourful blooms in North York.
Here, you’ll find an extensive collection of beautiful and diverse flowers like blue globe thistles and cloudy perennials. The best time to visit the gardens is in spring, as you’ll be welcomed by a sea of purple, pink, blue, yellow, and even lavender-coloured flowers.
Pro tip:
Visit the Arrival Courtyard, where you can find Sculptural beech and Cornelian cherry hedges pruned into certain shapes.
5. Ladurée Yorkdale
Address: Shopping Center, 3401 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON M6A 2T9, Canada
Contact: 1 416-629-2391
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Foodstagrammers should stop by Ladurée Yorkdale to eat and photograph some delicious artisanal cakes and pastries.
The shop has a vibrant interior that sports pink and teal colours and decor all around. Elegant accented walls surround the store and provide great backdrops for selfies.
Also, you can snap some shots of their pink and teal macaron displays which form a pyramid. Their cute Instagrammable macaron cakes come decorated with fruits and gum paste.
Pro tip:
Order some of the shop’s delicious tea that goes well with most of its pastries and snacks.
6. IKEA North York
Address: 15 Provost Dr, Toronto, ON M2K 2X9, Canada
Contact: 1 866-866-4532
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fun fact: IKEA’s display rooms seem to be the next big thing for aesthetic feeds. You’ll find people pretending to cook in IKEA’s kitchen displays and people striking funny poses in living room displays.
IKEA is filled with hundreds of display rooms featuring different parts of a house. You can find aesthetic living room, bedroom, and kitchen set-ups around the store that are great for pictures.
There’s lots of variety when it comes to room design, from sleek minimalist rooms to bohemian-style bedrooms and living rooms decorated with playful patterns.
Pro tip:
IKEA’s cottage-style living room is the perfect backdrop for anyone trying to give off cosy and carefree vibes in their Instagram posts. Just remember that filming inside the actual store area and taking pictures of the staff is prohibited.
7. Ontario Science Centre
Address: 770 Don Mills Rd., North York, ON M3C 1T3, Canada
Contact: 1 416-696-1000
Operating hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Designed by renowned architect Raymond Moriyama, the Ontario Science Centre’s Brutalist construction and concrete aesthetic mesmerise guests with its charm while being a testament to the idea of functional and artistic design.
The centre comprises several buildings cascading down to the Don Valley. Surrounded by outdoor trails and trees, it also has a lovely blend of urban and natural elements.
Many spots in the vicinity offer great opportunities for landscape and architectural photography.
Pro tip:
Visit the Dinos in Motion exhibit, which features controllable life-sized metal dinosaur sculptures.
8. Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
Address: 6 Sakura Way, Toronto, ON M3C 1Z5, Canada
Contact: 1 416-441-2345
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Another captivating structure by Raymond Moriyama is the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Using a combination of Brutalist and traditional architecture, the centre bridges the past and the present with its striking temple design and use of wood and concrete.
The centre has a Japanese garden with strong zen vibes and a tranquil atmosphere. You can find cherry blossoms around the centre and other elements of Japanese culture like a sand garden and a stone water basin called tsukubai.
There are also displays featuring bright red samurai armour, traditional dishware, and daruma dolls.
Pro tip:
People often practise martial arts like Aikido and Judo in the vicinity. You can watch them or enrol in some martial arts classes yourself.
9. Edwards Gardens
Address: 755 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3C 1P2, Canada
Contact: 1 416-392-8188
Operating hours:
Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Edwards Gardens is a vibrant green space that’s abundant with colourful plants and flowers. It’s one of our favourite places for nature photography.
The park’s tulip displays cover the garden in vibrant yellow, pink, orange, and purple colours. There’s also a mini waterfall in the garden where you can find ducklings swimming around.
Pro tip:
Visit Nature’s Garden, which is a themed section of the park featuring a collection of Toronto’s native flora and fauna.
10. Sunnybrook Park
Address: 1132 Leslie St, Toronto, ON, Canada
Contact: 1 416-338-4386
Operating hours: 24 hours
Sunnybrook Park’s wide open fields and towering trees make it a beautiful picnic spot that deserves some attention on the gram.
During autumn, the park’s painted in warm orange and red colours that make you feel like you’re in a fairytale. There is also a horse stable on-site, where you can find lovely grey and yellow-coated horses.
Pro tip:
Make sure to walk on the West Don trail, it’s filled with beautiful lush trees and plants that surround the trail from all sides. And don’t forget to stop by the bridge by the trail where you can watch the stream of the Don River.
11. Tyndale University Chapel
Address: 3377 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M2M 3S4, Canada
Contact: 1 416-226-6620
Operating hours:
Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tyndale University’s chapel screams “I belong on your Instagram feed” because of its beauty and breathtaking architecture.
As you enter the chapel, you’ll find beautiful rose marble carvings that depict the fourteen stations of the cross. The chapel’s size is mesmerising, with its high ceilings that stretch fifty-six feet above the floor.
Sets of stained-glass windows can be found throughout the chapel with vibrant purple, orange, and blue colours. These windows symbolise hope, love, and charity.
Pro tip:
Don’t forget to take a picture of the chapel’s sleek grand piano that sits beautifully on the Pulpit. It’s sometimes illuminated by the light shining through the stained-glass windows.
12. Rowntree Mills Park
Address: 155 Rowntree Mill Rd, North York, ON M9L 2K1, Canada
Contact: 1 416-338-4386
Operating hours:
Monday to Sunday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
If you love taking pictures of animals and nature, visit Rowntree Mills Park. The park has an abundance of scenic trails and local wildlife like deer, rabbits, and ducks.
This greenspace’s river-side trail offers a serene environment where you can take lovely photographs of the Humber River in all its glory.
Pro tip:
While you walk along the river-side trail, keep an eye out for ducks. You can snap a couple of photographs of cute ducklings swimming along the river.
13. Gibson House Museum
Address: 5172 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N 5P6, Canada
Contact: 1 416-395-7432
Operating hours:
Monday to Tuesday: Closes
Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Gibson House is a museum where you can have fun cooking in a beautiful 19th-century kitchen and participate in several farming activities that give strong cottagecore vibes, making for some aesthetic Instagram posts.
The museum’s exterior showcases Georgian Revival architecture and is constructed with beautiful red bricks. Period-appropriate furniture, wallpapers, and artefacts fill the museum’s interior, making you feel like you’ve entered a doorway to another timeline.
You can also dress up in Victorian clothing and pose around the museum’s rooms for 19th-century-themed pictures.
Pro tip:
Drop by the museum’s gardens and check out various colourful heirloom plants and flowers.
14. North York Central Library
Address: 5120 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5N9, Canada
Contact: 1 416-395-5535
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
If you’re looking for a library with an eye-catching design, head over to North York Central Library.
The library is decked out in white and brown colours, which creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere. A stunning set of large winding staircases—reminiscent of the iconic Guggenheim Museum’s stairs—circle the library, giving it a futuristic touch.
The staircases double as reading terraces where people often sit down and read some books. Snap some photos of people reading on the stairs to capture the busy environment of the library.
Pro tip:
If you have kids with you, take them to the colourful play area and snap some pics of them. The play area is filled with vibrant murals, toys, and miniature coaster trucks that can add a pop of colour to your photos.
15. The Ismaili Centre, Toronto
Address: 49 Wynford Dr, Toronto, ON M3C 1K1, Canada
Contact: 1 416-646-6965
Operating hours:
Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM
The Ismaili Centre in Toronto smoothly blends elements of ancient Islamic architecture with modern building methods. The centre and its state-of-the-art design represent the permanent residence of the Ismaili people in Canada.
A notable feature of the centre is the glass prayer hall roof that forms a pyramid shape and faces the direction of Mecca. The centre is packed with beautiful tiled floors that form geometric patterns and tear-shaped mosaics reminiscent of the Safavid dynasty.
The centre looks best from the outside, as you can take pictures of the structure standing peacefully in front of a gravel path and beds of purple flowers.
Pro tip:
Stop by the prayer hall which features a stone mosaic floor and a lovely ceiling ornamented with Muqarnas. Pictures and videos are allowed here but remember that the centre prohibits the use of tripods.
