If you’re a diehard hockey fan in the United States or Canada, a trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto is a surefire ticket toward enhancing your love of the game.

At its heart, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a loving shrine to the game that includes all the history you’d expect, as well as a few surprising artifacts and exhibits.

From the Stanley Cup and all of the NHL’s major trophies to exhibits on every NHL team, the growth of the women’s game and the history of international play, there’s more than enough to see in an afternoon of enriching yourself on how the game on ice grew to become so popular.

Tucked away in the basement of a giant office building in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is easy to get to. When it’s the dead of winter in Ontario, it’s also a nice way to find respite from the bitter cold. But that’s not to say it’s not worth taking a look at any time of the year.

The Hockey Hall of Fame has been in its current location since 1993 (more on that below), but has been rooted in Toronto since 1961. It has long been one of the top attractions for visitors to Toronto, right up there with the CN Tower and other popular sights.

Of course, a popular time to visit the Hall is during the annual Induction Weekend, typically held in early November. Numerous events, including meet-and-greets with that year’s inductees, are staged on the weekend leading up to the induction ceremony.

Getting to the Hockey Hall of Fame

When we say the Hockey Hall of Fame is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, we really mean it. It’s part of Brookfield Place, a major retail and office complex bordered by Yonge and Front streets, two of the most prominent and well-known streets in the city.

The main part of the Hall of Fame is located within the historic Bank of Montreal building, which has an ornate façade that stands out amid the tall glass-and-steel buildings surrounding it in downtown Toronto.

Befitting its location, there are many public transportation options nearby. Union Station, just a block away, is the city’s downtown hub for both the subway and commuter rail. Just beyond the station is Scotiabank Arena, making it easy for patrons to check out the Hall during the day before attending a Maple Leafs or Raptors game in the evening.

When you enter the building (if you’re doing so on a weekday, you’ll be encountering folks in business suits rushing off to their next meeting), look for signs directing you to a down escalator — yes, the entrance is in the basement.

Along the way, you’ll see plenty of eateries catering to the workaday crowd but aren’t bad options for the hockey-obsessed tourist, either. The Hall of Fame entrance is located at the end of a food court that is usually plenty busy during the weekday lunch hour.

The Hockey Hall of Fame is also directly located to Toronto’s extensive PATH underground walkway, making it accessible to visitors looking to stay out of the cold weather as they navigate downtown.

Hockey Hall of Fame tickets and hours

As of January 2026, the Hockey Hall of Fame was open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Hall offers extended offers during select periods, such as spring and summer breaks and holidays.

The Hall of Fame is typically closed on only three days during the year: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day of the induction ceremony.

General admission tickets for the Hockey Hall of Fame cost C$25 for adults, C$20 for seniors and C$15 for youths ages 4-13, with children under 4 admitted for free.

Tickets are available at the museum entrance or online via the Hockey Hall of Fame website. Admission bought in advance is valid for two years from the date of purchase.

Things to see at the Hockey Hall of Fame

It’s the Hockey Hall of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame, which is nice because you’ll see a lot of exhibits devoted to international players/events and the game’s Canadian roots. So don’t expect to just see NHL-related stuff around, though it is a large part of the overall display.

Just after passing through the entrance, patrons are greeted by numerous displays celebrating the growth of the game in Canada, the United States and internationally. It takes some time to wind through all of these, and it’s likely you won’t have time to examine them all unless you plan to spend more than two hours on your visit.

An exhibit honoring Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin’s surpassing of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record is worth looking out for, as well as one looking back at Sidney Crosby’s “golden goal” for Canada in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

There usually is an exhibit looking at the current Stanley Cup champion, as well as winners of recent international tournaments on both the men’s and women’s sides.

Inside the Great Hall

From the main floor, patrons can ascend a staircase to reach the Great Hall. This is the highlight for most visitors, where you can find plaques commemorating everyone who has been inducted into the hall and, on most days, every trophy handed out by the NHL each season, including the Stanley Cup.

This is where, if you didn’t already know, it’s helpful to tell you that there are actually three Stanley Cups. The “real” one is typically with the team that most recently won it, or just out representing the game somewhere. When that’s the case, one of the stand-ins is usually available for visitors to the Hall. Follow this link to find out how to tell the difference between the two.)

There’s usually a photographer and a guard standing near the Cup, and their presence might intimidate you from walking up to it lest you be shooed away or be made to pay to do anything around it, but it’s not a big deal.

You’re allowed to go up to it, touch it and take photos of it — the photographer is there, though, in case you want to pay for a nice professional portrait with the big silver thing. Also, don’t forget to check out the little side room to the Great Hall, where you’ll find the original Stanley Cup, a simple silver bowl.

Once you’ve had your fill of the Great Hall, head back down the stairs to the Arena Zone. Here, visitors can take in interactive games (the slap shot one is always fun).

Finally, you’ll head back up to street level for the exit, but first you’ll pass through the Hall of Fame’s pretty large gift shop, which includes the usual souvenirs — keychains, mugs and the like — for every team in the NHL.

Other attractions near the Hall of Fame

Visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame can serve as a nice springboard to all the big-ticket attractions around downtown Toronto.

Two of the city’s major sports venues are located within a few blocks: Scotiabank Arena, home of the Maple Leafs and Raptors, is just two blocks away, on the other side of Union Station. Rogers Centre, the longtime home of baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays, is just under a mile away, and reachable on foot or via the Toronto streetcar network.

More top attractions are within a mile radius, such as the famous CN Tower, one of the world’s tallest freestanding structures. Visitors to Toronto also enjoy going to the St. Lawrence Market, a well-known and expansive food hall.

Hockey fans might also enjoy paying a visit to Maple Leaf Gardens, the Maple Leafs’ home arena until 2000. The building has been repurposed to serve the community as well as a nearby university.

For more on Toronto venues and things to do, check out our Toronto sports travel guide.