26 Must-See Attractions in Toronto

Some attractions in Toronto – such as the skyline-busting CN Tower, the turrets of the Casa Loma and the thunderous Niagara Falls down the road – stand out like Drake in the front row of the Scotiabank Arena. However, others – like the merchants of St Lawrence Market, the boutiques of the Distillery District and the murals of Kensington Market – take a little more discovery. Culture Trip has done the hard work for you by rounding up the top attractions in Toronto you need to add to your itinerary.

Why is the sky blue? How does dry ice work? And what on earth is a hydraulophone? The answers to these pressing scientific questions can be found at the Ontario Science Centre, about 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) northeast of downtown. Opening its doors a couple of weeks after the Moon Landing in 1969, this interactive museum is a must for children (and the young at heart) thanks to live science demonstrations, climbing walls, a world-class planetarium, arcade games, a simulated rainforest and Toronto’s only IMAX Dome theatre. Admission is 22 Canadian dollars ($16.05) for adults and 13 dollars ($9.49) for kids.

With ferocious tiger sharks, slippery eels, entrancing jellyfish and 450 other species of exotic marine life populating the country’s largest indoor aquarium, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada attracts huge crowds. While long queues snake around the block in the shadow of the CN Tower, you can skip the line with this ticket for 45 Canadian dollars ($32.83). It’s delivered straight to your smartphone, and the price includes animal feedings and talks. Under the sea, hassle-free.

Rarely has a name failed to capture the majesty of a place quite like Casa Loma, which means “Hill House” in Spanish. A more accurate title would’ve been “The ostentatious Gothic castle plonked in the middle of Toronto,” which only begins to describe the grandeur of this 18th-century masterpiece just north of the bohemian Annex neighborhood. The palace of Sir Henry Pellatt eventually bankrupted the electricity tsar in the 1920s, although Casa Loma is a lot kinder on the wallets of visitors than the man who built it – you can step inside every day for just 40 Canadian dollars ($29.18).

If the Distillery District is a time capsule to 19th-century industrial Toronto, this open-air heritage museum is a snapshot of rural life in that same era. About 19mi (30km) north of the city center and an even longer trip back in time, Black Creek Pioneer Village recreates life in 1867 with restored homes, stores, farms, churches and schools, plus a dedicated crew of costumed villagers. At 18 Canadian dollars ($13.13) for adults and 11 dollars ($8.03) for children, it’s the cheapest ticket to a time machine.

After a few days of exploring the city, escape to The Beaches, an east-end Toronto neighborhood that feels more like a small town than a subsection of the city, with a considerably long stretch of waterfront and surprisingly sandy beaches. Think of it as Toronto’s answer to Coney Island. Expect a sandy city coastline and neighboring shops and restaurants on Queen Street East. Note that Woodbine Beach is one of the largest, most popular beaches in the neighborhood and is Blue Flag certified, which means it’s safe for swimming. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

Rouge National Urban Park, which straddles Scarborough and neighboring Markham and Pickering, is a lush collection of natural, cultural and agricultural landscapes, including some of the last remaining working farms in Toronto, great hiking trails, and some of Canada’s oldest known Indigenous sites. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

Mississauga’s “Village on the Lake” is one of the most picturesque points in the GTA – and well worth the trip. Accessible by the GO train from downtown Toronto, expect world-class dining (and drinking) options, unique shops and entertainment venues, all set right next to Missisauga’s lakefront and the Port Credit Lighthouse. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

Arguably one of the most striking sites in all of Toronto, the Scarborough Bluffs span about 15 kilometers (9 miles) along the Lake Ontario shoreline. At its highest point, the towering escarpment rises 90 meters (300 feet) above the water and has become a popular destination for photographers and nature buffs. If you want to visit the natural wonder, take Bluffer’s Park bus that runs between Kennedy Station and Bluffer’s Park Beach. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

If you’ve always wanted to go skydiving but, well, don’t have the guts to actually get strapped up and jump out of an airplane, look no further than iFly Toronto. The indoor skydiving venue gives visitors a taste of the thrill without the risk, by simulating what it feels like to be free-falling through the sky. Children ages four and up are welcome, and tickets start at CAD$79.99 per person. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

After a few days of being consumed by the bustle of the city, a trip to the tranquil Toronto Botanical Garden will be well deserved. The TBG is just under four acres and features 17 themed “city-sized gardens,” including a wildflower meadow, native trees, and more local and international flora. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

No summer is complete without a visit to Canada’s Wonderland. Located in Vaughan, just outside of Toronto, this amusement park has 70 rides, including the legendary Behemoth and Vortex coasters, as well as a fun and refreshing 20-acre Splash Works water park. For kids, there’s Planet Snoopy and KidZville, offering a series of brand-new, kid-friendly themed rides. Recommended by Kaitlyn McInnis.

This is an updated version of an article originally created by Emily Paskevics.