Nathan Phillips Square & Toronto City Hall
Nathan Phillips Square
The central square where Toronto's new and old city halls stand. The colorful TORONTO letter sign in front of the reflecting pool is the city's must-visit photo spot.
On the north side of the square is the New City Hall, completed in 1965 and designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell. Two curved towers embrace a flying-saucer-shaped council chamber, making it a landmark of North American modernist architecture. On the east side is the Romanesque Revival Old City Hall, built in 1899, with its prominent clock tower. In the reflecting pool on the square stand colorful three-dimensional TORONTO letters that change color at night, making them the city's most popular photo spot. In winter, the pool becomes a free skating rink (skates can be rented on site). In summer, the square often hosts concerts, food festivals and night markets. The City Hall lobby can be visited for free. Admission is free. It's about a 3-minute walk from Queen or Osgoode subway stations, and the Eaton Centre is right next door.
Opening hours
Square open all day
Nearby sights
- Hockey Hall of Fame
- Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
- Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
- CN Tower
- St. Lawrence Market
- Harbourfront Centre
- Chinatown (Spadina Avenue)
- University of Toronto (St. George Campus)