Whether you head inside to museums, enjoy amusement rides, learn something new or see the city from above, you’ll find a trip to Toronto with kids has something for everyone.
Visiting Toronto with Kids
The capital of Ontario is a bustling multi-cultural city of almost 3 million people and home to some of the best tourist attractions in the region. As a family-friendly destination, it just doesn’t get better than this. Get ready to discover the huge range of fun-filled things to do in Toronto with kids year-round.
1. Explore the city of Toronto on foot or transit
Small children just love to get out and explore a new city, especially a city like Toronto that’s filled with interesting skyscrapers, busy traffic, tall monuments, urban art, and of course fun public transit like the metro and streetcars.
Toronto is easy to get around and known for the congested traffic, so leave your car behind and access the city by public transit or simply by walking. Another bonus to taking public transit in Toronto is that kids aged 12 and under can ride GO transit for free! And for more information about the TTC, Toronto’s transit system, check out our article here.
2. Choose a hotel in Toronto with kids in mind
When travelling with kids, the small things really can make a big difference, so choose a hotel that understands the needs of parents and children, like Toronto’s Westin Harbour Castle. Their suites have kitchenettes so moms and dads can prepare snacks and cut down on the cost of eating out while on vacation.
They will also bring pop-up tents or oversized tic tac toe games to your room to keep children entertained. This large hotel in downtown Toronto also features a swimming pool and a kids club with board games, bowling, toys, and a gaming console.
3. Visit Ripley’s Aquarium
For a full day of fun in Toronto’s downtown, head to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, a huge underwater gallery of marine life including sharks, turtles, fish, eels, and more.
Kids will love the moving sidewalk tunnel that takes them through an exhibit as sharks pass overhead! They will also be able to get up close and personal with select animals in the discovery centre where the Aquarium staff will guide you on how to safely touch different ocean creatures. There is also a fantastic play centre where children can pop up in the centre of a fish tank with clownfish swimming all around them.
Parents and kids alike will surely be impressed by the alien-like jellyfish in the Planet Jellies exhibit, which features changing-colour backlit tanks. There is a gift shop and café on-site, so stay a while and enjoy all the magic of this underwater world.
Admission prices:
| Adults (14+) | $39 |
| Kids (aged 6-13) (aged 3-5) | $26 $13 |
4. Admire the CN Tower
Head right outside of Toronto’s Ripley Aquarium and turn right and you won’t be able to miss the enormous CN Tower, once the world’s highest structure. At the top, floor to ceiling windows gives amazing views across the city skyline of which the CN Tower is such an iconic component.
Admission prices:
| Adult (13-64) | $38 |
| Senior (65+) | $34 |
| Child (4-12) | $28 |
Pro tip: A SEA THE SKY combo ticket gives you a discounted admission fee when you combine a visit to the tower and the aquarium.
5. Bend their minds at the Museum of Illusions
Over 80 illusions, holograms, and installations such as the vortex tunnel will have kids of all ages scratching their heads in confusion at The Museum of Illusions.
Try out the games, the mirrored room and a range of exhibits that create very interesting photographs at this small but extremely entertaining museum, while travelling in Toronto with kids.
Admission prices:
| Adults | from $23.70 |
| Kids (3-15) | $19.50 |
Follow these 5 tips for city travel with kids.
6. Visit the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey is practically a religion in Canada, but even those who aren’t familiar with all the rules of our beloved sport can still have fun at this museum dedicated to hockey right here in the middle of Toronto.
The interactive games and challenges at Toronto’s Hockey Hall of Fame encourage visitors to practice their shots on goal, while also having the chance to see the world-famous Stanley Cup in person and helmets and jerseys from teams throughout NHL history. Plus, the museum is just a short 15-minute walk away from the CN Tower and lots of other popular Toronto attractions.
Admission prices:
| Adults | $20 |
| Kids (4-13) | $14 |
7. Experiment at the Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre is the only dedicated children’s museum in the city, making this attraction a must-visit when travelling in Toronto with kids.
This museum offers everything from animal encounters, experiments, and scavenger hunts to help keep the kiddos aged 8 and under busy for hours. There’s also a planetarium show especially for younger viewers with an eye to the sky.
Admission prices:
| Adults | $22 |
| Kids (13-17) (3-12) | $16 $13 |
Everything you need to know for your Toronto Vacation.
8. Learn about dinosaurs at the Royal Ontario Museum
Most small children love anything related to dinosaurs, so head to the Royal Ontario Museum’s dinosaur gallery for a fun history lesson of the prehistoric times for more educational adventures on your Toronto trip.
The Bat Cave and the Mummies exhibits are also a sure-fire hit with kids. You’ll also want to leave time to check out the CIBC Discovery Gallery. This interactive space allows children to touch and explore while learning. They can dig up dinosaur bones, get dressed up in costumes and listen to interesting facts from knowledgeable museum guides.
Admission prices:
| Adults | $23 |
| Kids | $14 |
9. Go on rides at Centre Island Amusement Park
In the summer months in Toronto, travellers can cross to the island on the harbour ferry which is an exciting and fun experience in itself, before arriving at this amusement park that has over 30 rides and attractions and is one of the best places to go in Toronto with kids.
The rides at the Centre Island Amusement Park include bumper boats, twirling teacups and a log flume where you will get wet! And with all the tasty food options on offer, you could easily spend the whole day here.
Admission prices:
| People over 4’ft tall: | $36.25 |
| Under 4’ft tall: | $27.25 |
Pro tip: If you’re planning a trip over to the Islands to visit the Centre Island Amusement Park or just to enjoy the ferry views, don’t forget to purchase all baby and kid-related products before you get there. There aren’t any large stores, so you’ll need diapers and wipes before you get there.
10. All aboard at the Toronto Railway Museum
When you’re exploring Toronto with kids the cost of attractions can quickly add up, so this money-saving museum should be on your itinerary for low-cost family fun. Admission here is affordable and the exhibits and train ride will certainly keep the kiddos happy for a few hours.
Your kids will have an adventure here, learning all about locomotives before playing with the brakes and horn on the engine simulator experience at this museum. During the summer months at the Toronto Railway Museum, kids can ride the miniature train around the outside of the museum, too!
Admission prices:
| Adults | $5 Miniature train ride: $3.50 |
| Kids (4-13) | $3 Miniature train ride: $3 |
See how to make travelling with kids more fun and less stress.
Tips for Exploring Toronto with Kids
Admission prices can quickly add up, especially if you’re travelling with more than one child, so consider purchasing a CityPASS to access big savings when you bundle a few different museums or attractions together. You’ll also be able to skip the lines at most Toronto attractions with the pass.
Toronto is an amazing city to discover and has so much for the entire family to enjoy. With all kinds of food choices, fun attractions for the whole family, and top-rated museums, you’ll all be planning your next trip before you even get home.
Get out and about and experience everything you can in Toronto with your kids in tow. Start your planning by searching for your hotel stay in Toronto. Find deals on hundreds of Toronto hotels below!
