CN Tower
Plan your family visit to the CN Tower in Toronto. Glass floors, sky-high views, kid-friendly dining, and a free nightly light show await your crew.
0 guides · Ontario, Toronto & NiagaraExplore →
🇨🇦Toronto
Toronto is a world-class family destination with iconic attractions, diverse food, and neighbourhoods that make every day feel like a new adventure.
Your family guide
Toronto with kids: a city that feeds your curiosity
“Stand atop the CN Tower's glass floor 300 metres up, then cycle past the skyline from the Toronto Islands an hour later. Few cities flip their scale so fast.”
— San & Jo
Toronto is one of those cities that genuinely surprises families. Canada's largest city packs an enormous amount into a walkable, welcoming downtown: a soaring tower with a glass floor, a Gothic castle with secret passages, a waterfront you can island-hop by ferry, and a food scene that reflects more than 180 languages spoken across the city. If your family loves variety, Toronto delivers it in every direction.
What makes Toronto work so well for families is the mix of big-ticket attractions and low-key neighbourhood wandering. One morning you can be staring up at dinosaur skeletons at the Royal Ontario Museum, and by afternoon you are cycling on the Toronto Islands with the skyline behind you. The city shifts character block by block, from the buzz of Kensington Market to the cobblestones of the Distillery District, and there is always something new around the corner.
Toronto is also a genuinely great city for eating together as a family. The multicultural neighbourhoods mean you can try authentic jerk chicken, butter chicken roti, Greek mezze, and a classic peameal bacon sandwich all in the same trip. Food here is not just fuel. It is the story of the city, and sharing it with your kids is one of the best things you can do in Toronto.
Ontario, CanadaProvince
3 millionPopulation
May to OctoberBest time to visit
Best things to do
Best things to do in Toronto
CN Tower
Standing 553 metres tall, the CN Tower is Toronto's most iconic landmark. The glass floor is a brilliant challenge for brave kids, and the panoramic views stretch all the way to Niagara on a clear day. Book tickets in advance to skip the queue.
Visit on a weekday morning for shorter waits
2 to 2.5 hours
Casa Loma
A real Gothic castle in the middle of a major city. Casa Loma has secret passages, a carriage house, and rooftop terraces with sweeping city views. Kids love hunting for the hidden tunnels, and the gardens are lovely in summer.
Pick up the audio guide: it keeps kids engaged throughout
2 to 3 hours
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Located right next to the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium is a firm family favourite. The moving walkway beneath the shark tunnel is genuinely spectacular, and the touch pools are a hit with younger kids. A great option on a rainy day.
Combo tickets with the CN Tower save money
2 hours
High Park
Toronto's largest green space is a brilliant place to slow down. Come in late April or early May for the famous cherry blossoms, or in autumn for golden foliage. There are trails, a small zoo, a playground, and plenty of space for a picnic.
The cherry blossom peak is short: check the city's bloom tracker before you go
2 to 3 hours
Toronto Islands
A short ferry ride from downtown takes you to a car-free island escape with beaches, bike paths, and the family-friendly Centreville Amusement Park. The view back across the water to the skyline is one of the best in the city.
Rent bikes on the island and explore beyond the main beach
Half a day
St. Lawrence Market
One of the world's great food markets, St. Lawrence Market is the perfect place to graze with kids. Try the famous peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery, pick up fresh pastries, and soak up the historic atmosphere of Old Toronto.
Go on a Saturday for the farmers market alongside the main hall
1 to 2 hours
Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM is a world-class museum with an outstanding dinosaur gallery that kids absolutely love. The building itself is striking, with a bold crystal addition jutting out from the historic facade. Plan to spend a good chunk of the morning or afternoon here.
The dinosaur gallery on Level 2 is the highlight for most kids
2 hours
Distillery District
This beautifully preserved Victorian industrial neighbourhood is full of galleries, cafes, and independent shops. It is very walkable and photogenic, and the cobblestone streets have a charm that feels unlike the rest of the city. The Christmas Market here is one of the best in North America.
Visit in December for the famous Christmas Market with mulled wine and festive stalls
1 to 2 hours
Our verdict
How Toronto scores for families
Kids
Toronto is exceptionally well set up for families. From aquariums and castles to island amusement parks and dinosaur museums, there is no shortage of things kids genuinely love.
Culture
As one of the most multicultural cities on Earth, Toronto offers a depth of cultural experience that is hard to match. Neighbourhoods, museums, and markets each tell a different part of the story.
Food
The food scene is a genuine highlight. Diverse, delicious, and accessible for families, Toronto lets you eat your way around the world without leaving the city.
Nature
High Park and the Toronto Islands offer great green space, and seasonal highlights like cherry blossoms and fall foliage add real beauty. It is a city first, though, so nature takes a back seat to urban attractions.
Budget
Toronto is a major international city and prices reflect that. Attractions, dining, and accommodation add up quickly, though free options like High Park and neighbourhood wandering help balance things out.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Toronto?
2
2 days
Quick visit
Hit the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, and St. Lawrence Market. You will get a taste of the city but not much more.
sweet spot
4
4 days
Sweet spot
Enough time to cover the major attractions, explore a few neighbourhoods, take the ferry to the Islands, and eat really well. This is how most families enjoy Toronto.
7
7 days
Deep dive
A full week lets you slow down, explore every neighbourhood at your own pace, and add a day trip to Niagara Falls. Ideal if this is your main destination.
Fun facts
Things to know about Toronto
The first city lit by electricity
In 1884, Toronto became the first city in the world to have its streets lit by electricity. Next time your kids flick a light switch, you can tell them Toronto helped make that happen.
The Islands were made by a storm
The Toronto Islands were not always islands. They were once a peninsula connected to the mainland until two powerful storms in 1852 and 1858 broke them off and created the Eastern Gap. Nature did the landscaping.
180 languages, one city
More than 180 languages are spoken in Toronto, and over half of all Torontonians were born outside of Canada. That is why the food, the neighbourhoods, and the culture feel so incredibly varied when you explore.
Taste Toronto
What to eat with your family in Toronto
Peameal bacon sandwich
Must tryCarousel Bakery, St. Lawrence Market
Toronto's signature sandwich is cured peameal bacon on a soft fresh bun, and Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market has been making the definitive version for decades. Simple, satisfying, and completely Toronto.
Poutine
Kids love itAvailable city-wide
Crispy fries smothered in rich gravy and squeaky cheese curds. Poutine is Canada's most beloved comfort food and you will find it on menus across the city. A guaranteed hit with kids of all ages.
Butter tarts
Local favouriteAvailable at cafes across Toronto
A distinctly Canadian treat, butter tarts are flaky pastry shells filled with a gooey, sweet butter and syrup mixture. Pick one up at a local cafe and let the kids decide: runny or firm filling?
Butter chicken roti
Daily treatVarious spots in Little India and Kensington Market
Toronto's South Asian and Caribbean communities have created something wonderful here: soft roti wraps filled with rich, spiced butter chicken or curried fillings. Filling, flavourful, and easy for kids to eat on the go.
Bannock (frybread) with bison
Must tryTea N Bannock, Gerrard East
Tea N Bannock on Gerrard East serves traditional Indigenous frybread alongside dishes featuring bison, elk, and salmon. It is a genuinely unique dining experience and a great way to introduce kids to Indigenous food culture.
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