The best activities for children in Toronto

Published on June 23, 2024 at 4:00 pm

During a stay in Canada, not all activities are suitable for children. But Toronto is full of activities that will appeal to young and old alike!

Until 2010, the CN Tower was the tallest tower in the world. Today, it is the 8th tallest building in the world. As a family, you can climb to the top of the tower to admire the panoramic view over Toronto from a height of over 350 metres. Then, at the foot of the tower, children can play in the KidZone, while adults relax over a cocktail in the CN Tower bar.

Toronto is also home to the Science Centre, one of the first interactive museums of its time. This innovative, fun and modern museum is packed with rooms for both children and the general public in its permanent exhibition. Learn more about the human body, space, nature and much more.

Take your kids to one of Toronto's best museums.

Summary

Learn at Toronto's interactive science museum
The CN Tower and its 360° view of the city
Other activities to entertain your children in Toronto

Learn at Toronto's interactive science museum

Sometimes it's hard to keep the kids happy during a trip to the city. But Toronto is full of activities to please young and old alike.

The Toronto Science Centre is one of the world's first interactive museums. It's a real paradise for young and old alike. In a fun and playful way, you can learn how the human body reacts in the face of danger, discover the world of space, or explore the power of beliefs and preconceived ideas about science. Throughout the year, various exhibition rooms are open to the general public.

The most beautiful plants and colourful insects

In this entirely natural area, you can wander among the exotic plants. Keep your eyes peeled for poisonous frogs and whale skeletons... The Living Earth Hall is on level 6 of the Science Centre.

The secrets of space

Discover cosmic rays, black holes and the planetarium in the space hall. A truly exotic experience! The space hall is on level 4. Temporary exhibitions are held regularly, including one on indigenous engineering and the ingenuity of the first peoples of America.

The science center is an exciting interactive museum for the whole family.

How do I get there?

From Old Toronto, you can drive to the Science Centre. The journey takes around twenty minutes. Depending on where you are in the city, you can take the bus, tram or metro.

You can find transport maps and timetables directly on the Toronto transit commission website...

Practical info

💰 How much does admission cost?

Tickets for the exhibition halls and the Imax dome cinema cost between $19 and $28, depending on age. Children pay $19.

⏰ Opening times and days

The science centre is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Find out more about the centre's programme during your stay on the website

⏳ How long should I stay?

We recommend between 3 and 4 hours to wander from room to room and enjoy a film in the Imax cinema.

👨🏼‍🦱 👩🏼‍🦰 Who is this activity suitable for?

This activity is suitable for young and old alike.

The CN Tower and its 360° view of the city

Prepare to be dizzy at the top of the CN Tower, Toronto's landmark.

The CN Tower is Canada's tallest tower

A brief history of the CN Tower

The CN Tower was built between 1973 and 1976 by Canadian National Railway. It was built because the city's skyscrapers were rising higher and higher. Radio waves were being disrupted and a broadcast antenna had to be built above the city's tallest buildings.

At 533 metres, it was the tallest tower in the world until 2010, when the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was inaugurated.

What can you do on the CN Tower?

At the foot of the tower is a bar called Le Café, as well as the KidZone. Children can of course spend time in the KidZone, where games and consoles are available.

The 360°C restaurant, which rotates in 72 minutes, can be reached from a height of 350 metres. The tower lift takes you to the top of the tower in 58 seconds, a speed of 22 km/h. At a height of 346 metres, you'll also find an open-air observation platform, with a transparent glass floor... It's an impressive experience.

Since 2011, the circular walkway on a ledge of the tower allows you to walk 356 metres above the ground, suspended by a harness. A great moment for thrill-seekers.

Practical info

🚗 How do I get there?

The tower is right in the centre of Toronto, right next to Union Station and the city's historic centre. You can get there on foot from most parts of the city without any problems.

💰 How much does it cost to get in?

Admission to climb to the top of the CN Tower costs between $14 for children aged 3 to 5, and $43 for adults up to 64.

⏳ How long should I stay?

We recommend between 1 and 2 hours to fully appreciate the CN Tower.

👨🏼‍🦱 👩🏼‍🦰 Who is this activity suitable for?

Young and old alike will enjoy this activity. However, we advise against climbing to the top of the tower if you are afraid of heights.

Toronto's Ripley's Aquarium delights kids!

Other activities to entertain your children in Toronto

Ripley's Aquarium, Canada's largest aquarium;
The Hockey Hall of Fame, an interactive museum dedicated to Canada's national sport;
the Legoland discovery centre for Lego fans: recreations of favourite Lego stories, rides, tower-building ;
and much more!

Practical info

Discover the City pass Toronto, a ticket for 5 Toronto attractions: ROM, CN Tower, Replay Aquarium, Casa Loma, Zoo or Science Centre!

by Jude JONES

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