Best Things to Do with Family in Toronto

Toronto is among the most-visited countries worldwide. Each year, it welcomes millions of visitors, with statistics reaching nearly 9 million in 2023 alone. This is due to the city’s diverse attractions, accommodations, and environment, which cater to travelers of all ages. That means you will find plenty of activities for solo travelers and those with kids. You can do many things with your kids in Canada‘s largest city. You can take them to a zoo or an aquarium. The city has several family-friendly museums, markets, stadiums, and amusement/theme parks. If you want any recommendations, we have listed the best things to do with family in Toronto down below.

Also Read:

• Best Time to Visit Toronto
• Best Restaurants in Toronto
• Top Outdoor Things to Do in Toronto

Catch Cityscape Views From The CN Tower

• Address: 290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 9:30 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
• Prices: Adults (14 to 64): $45, Senior (65+): $32, EdgeWalk: Starting at $199

We begin our list with Canada’s largest structure, the CN Tower. This 553-meter tower was the world’s tallest freestanding structure from its completion from 1976 to 2009. It is still the tenth-tallest free-standing structure on land and the third-tallest tower. Don’t be worried about this skyscraper being too tall to take your kids. You can choose from the Main Observation Level, Lower Observation Level, and Top Observation Level. The Main observation platform is the lowest, taking you 346 meters above ground. Meanwhile, the Top Level is the highest, rising 447 meters above the ground. For adventurous travelers, the EdgeWalk is the must-try activity, where you will walk along the tower’s edge with only a harness securing you.

Watch Exhibits Of The Royal Ontario Museum

• Address: 100 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C6, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Museums are always the go-to attractions regarding kid-friendly activities. The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum and among the oldest museums in North America. It was founded in 1914 and has since engaged in conservation and research activities. It has two main programs: Exhibition and Gallery (spacious section featuring a world-class collection of 18 million artworks, cultural objects, and natural history specimens) and the Digital, Research, and Learning Program (includes museum visits, virtual lessons, and specialty digital programming). Here, you will see various exhibits, from dinosaur fossils to African culture, Asian culture, and human civilization from different eras.

Explore The Art Gallery of Ontario

• Address: 317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T 1G4, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 10:30 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Next, the Art Gallery of Ontario is among the top Toronto kid-friendly attractions. It houses over 90,000 works of art in its 583,000-square-foot space building. The permanent AGO Collection has 120,000+ works, ranging from European masterpieces to cutting-edge contemporary art and excellent works by Canadian and Indigenous artists. Beyond the galleries, the AGO houses labs and workspaces for its conservation team. Here, conservators work hard to examine artworks, research how they were made, and see how much they are damaged or changed. They also work with other staff members to ensure the museum’s artworks are stored, displayed, and handled safely.

Tour The Casa Loma

• Address: 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto, ON M5R 1X8, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Toronto has many historic buildings and monuments, including the 20th-century mansion Casa Loma. Owner Sir Henry Pellatt developed a love for European architecture during his visit to European countries. He then turned his love into designing the impressive Casa Loma. Unfortunately, Sir Pellatt couldn’t live in his dream mansion for longer. Following his departure, the city developed the building into a tourist attraction and event venue a few decades later. Many visitors come here to marvel at its architecture and listen to the spooky tales surrounding it. Many say a Woman in White haunts this historic building. Other ghost sightings include the Pellatt couple and their family friend, Mr. Happy.

See Stingrays And Octopus At Ripley’s Aquarium Of Canada

• Address: 288 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 9 AM – 9 PM
• How To Get There: Take the subway and get off at Union Station or St. Andrews Station.
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Your little ones would love visiting the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. It has many exhibits on its upper and lower levels, including Rainbow Reef, Canadian Waters, Planet Jellies, Ray Bay, Dangerous Lagoon, Kelp Forest, and Dragons. The Canadian Waters houses over 80 aquatic species, including velvety red anemones, extraordinary alewives, lobsters, and a giant Pacific octopus. Likewise, the Ray Bay features beautiful stingray species, such as Ocellate River Stingray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Southern Stingray, Roughtail Stingray, Cownose Ray, and White-Blotched River Stingray. You can touch, interact with, and feed these stingrays at the Shoreline Gallery.

Visit The Hockey Hall Of Fame

• Address: 30 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E 1X8, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

If you are a first-time visitor to Toronto, you might be surprised by the locals’ love of ice hockey. This sport is an integral part of Canadian culture and national identity. The Hockey Hall of Fame is dedicated to preserving the history of ice hockey. It also honors the persons involved in the sport, including players, coaches, commentators, general managers, team owners, and on-ice officials. Your kids will love seeing the displays of NHL records, NHL trophies, memorabilia, and equipment worn by players during the special matches. The museum also recently added the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s Walter Cup to its display.

Catch Live Matches At Scotiabank Arena

• Address: 40 Bay St., Toronto, ON M5J 2X2, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

While the museum gives you insight into ice hockey history, you must attend live matches to see the fuss about this sport. The lively atmosphere, constant cheering, and reactions will allow you to experience firsthand Canadians’ love for the sport. The Scotiabank Arena is a perfect destination to catch ice hockey matches. It is home to the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors. The stadium hosts concerts, tours, political conventions, and video game competitions. Even if there is no event, you can simply tour the arena.

Find Things To Do At The Harbourfront Center

• Address: 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 12 PM – 6 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

We are halfway through our list of the best things to do with family in Toronto, and it’s time for the Harbourfront Center. This lakeside cultural center was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit charity to provide an international platform for visual arts, film, dance, music, theatre, literature, and culture celebrations. The 4-hectare complex is open year-round and hosts dance performances, modern art exhibits, and other public events. It also features many shops, restaurants, and communal spaces. The ideal way to spend a day in the Harbourfront Centre will be by going on walks, browsing shops to buy souvenirs, and attending events.

Tour The Distillery District

Next, the pedestrian-only Distillery District is an ultimate entertainment destination, where the old-world charm meets modern elegance. It features restored Victorian buildings and brick-lined streets in the old downtown. These buildings were once part of the distillery; hence, the name. They have now been transformed into shopping, art, and catering spaces. Moreover, these red-brick buildings house hip indie restaurants, one-of-a-kind shops, studios, and galleries. You can explore this district on foot with your kids. You can also drop by and shop at any of the 40+ boutiques in the area.

See What The Fuss Is All About Little Canada

• Address: 10 Dundas St E Basement2, Toronto, ON M5B 2G9, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Everything in Toronto is gigantic and magnificent. Or is it? Discover this city’s charm in miniature at Little Canada. As its name suggests, here, every exhibit is in miniature form. This unique attraction tells the stories of Canada and showcases its cities and landscapes through the art of miniature. It is spread across 45,000 square feet and features over 40,000 little figures. These include the 12-foot-tall CN Tower, Rogers Center, Distillery District, St. Lawrence Market, and Royal York Hotel. They are the replicas of the original buildings, just smaller in size. Visitors can also get a 3/4″ version of themselves as souvenirs.

Get A Taste Of Farm Life At Riverdale Farm

• Address: 201 Winchester St, Toronto, ON M4X 1B8, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official X

Did you know you can experience farm life in the heart of Toronto city? Riverdale Farm is a working farm located in the downtown Cabbagetown neighborhood. Spread across 7.5 acres, this property features vegetable, flower, and herb gardens, ponds, livestock, and wooded areas. You can take your kids to the barn to visit the farm animals, like chickens, goats, horses, cows, sheep, and poultry. There are separate paddocks for these livestock. Visitors will also explore the Simpson House, Meeting House, and Island House, where pottery classes, spinning/weaving classes, and the farm’s camp activities occur.

Watch Your Favorite Animals At Toronto Zoo

• Address: 2000 Meadowvale Rd, Toronto, ON M1B 5K7, Canada; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

You can never go wrong with a zoo. Hence, we conclude our list of the best things to do with family in Toronto with the iconic Toronto Zoo. It is the ultimate destination for little animal lovers, housing over 3,000 animals from worldwide. These include Royal Python, Ring-tailed lemur, African Lion, African Penguin, Masai Giraffe, Asian wild horse, Red Panda, Domestic Yak, Western grey kangaroo, and Polar Bear. A mini Kids Zoo also features a common raven, Eurasian Eagle Owl, guinea pig, Harris’s hawk, Marabou Stork, and rabbit. This establishment is Canada’s largest zoo, with over 710 acres and 10 km of walking trails. So prepare for lots of walking.

Toronto is family-friendly, with many activities and attractions for your little ones. Those traveling with children will find many options with varieties to choose from. Likewise, many of you might be curious about where to stay in Toronto with kids. This city has many safe neighborhoods, including the Harbourfront, Downtown Yonge, Distillery Historic District, and Entertainment District. The family-friendly area is Steeles, a small suburban neighborhood in the northeastern part. You will also find many family hotels all around the city.