15-Day Family-Friendly Itinerary for Toronto

  • Day 1: Toronto Islands
    30 minutes (2.5 miles) from Downtown Toronto

    The Toronto Islands are a perfect getaway for families. You can take a ferry ride to the island and enjoy a beach day, rent a bike or a tandem bike, and bike around the island. You can also have a picnic, play volleyball or frisbee, and visit Centreville Amusement Park.

  • Day 2: CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium
    15 minutes (1.2 miles) from Toronto Islands

    The CN Tower is an iconic attraction that offers an incredible view of the city at a height of 342m. You can also step on the glass floor and feel like you're floating in the air! Afterward, visit Ripley's Aquarium and explore its marine life exhibits, including touching stingrays and shark diving.

  • Day 3: Royal Ontario Museum
    13 minutes (0.9 miles) from CN Tower

    The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada's largest museum, featuring a variety of exhibits and activities for all ages. You can explore different galleries, including the dinosaur exhibit, minerals, Canadian history, and more. They also have a children's area for fun and interactive learning experiences.

  • Day 4: High Park
    25 minutes (5.1 miles) from Royal Ontario Museum

    High Park is a vast, incredible park that offers relaxation, play areas and activities for everyone. You can stroll through hiking trails, visit a zoo, have a picnic, and enjoy the playground areas, tennis courts and swimming pool.

  • Day 5: Toronto Zoo
    20 minutes (14.2 miles) from High Park

    The zoo features over 5000 animals from more than 450 different species. You can explore different indoor and outdoor exhibits, watch animal demonstrations, and ride the Zoomobile train. The zoo caters to children, with a discovery zone that features an interactive play area!

  • Day 6: Legoland Discovery Centre
    19 minutes (14.5 miles) from Toronto Zoo

    Kids will love the millions of LEGO bricks at the Discovery Centre. They can build their own creations, take a factory tour, and visit a 4D cinema featuring their favourite LEGO characters.

  • Day 7: Ontario Science Centre
    22 minutes (12.6 miles) from Legoland Discovery Center

    The Science Centre provides over 800 interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, and art and theatre performances. You can also participate in the daily science show, visit the planetarium and watch the films on IMAX.

  • Day 8: Art Gallery of Ontario
    15 minutes (8.3 miles) from Ontario Science Centre

    The Art Gallery of Ontario features nearly 100,000 works spanning from the first century to contemporary times. It's a great way to explore art and inspire your children's creativity.

  • Day 9: Playdium
    20 minutes (9.3 miles) from Art Gallery of Ontario

    A gamer's paradise, Playdium offers over 40,000 square feet of interactive games, virtual reality and simulators. You can also race go-karts, play laser tag, and mini-golf.

  • Day 10: Casa Loma and Little Italy
    15 minutes (7.4 miles) from Playdium

    Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival-style mansion and a historical landmark in Toronto. It features 98 rooms, secret passages and tunnels, and beautiful gardens. Afterward, visit Little Italy and enjoy a wide selection of Italian cuisine.

  • Day 11: Toronto Botanical Garden
    20 minutes (8.8 miles) from Casa Loma

    The botanical gardens cover over four acres of urban greenspace. You'll find themed gardens, walking trails, horticultural education courses, events, and exhibitions.

  • Day 12: Hockey Hall of Fame
    8 minutes (2.1 miles) from Toronto Botanical Garden

    The Hockey Hall of Fame contains exhibits documenting the history of ice hockey. You can view the original Stanley Cup, explore interactive exhibits and see artefacts from Wayne Gretzky and other greats.

  • Day 13: Toronto Beaches
    20 minutes (4.3 miles) from Hockey Hall of Fame

    Take a day off from the hustle and bustle of the city and visit the beaches in Toronto. You can go swimming, walk on the boardwalk or rent a bike, and enjoy the beautiful view of Lake Ontario.

  • Day 14: The Distillery District
    15 minutes (3.3 miles) from Toronto Beaches

    The Distillery District features small boutiques, art galleries, and outdoor entertainment. It is a historic area that has been carefully restored into a pedestrian-only village.

  • Day 15: St. Lawrence Market
    6 minutes (1.8 miles) from The Distillery District

    The St. Lawrence Market is a great way to end your trip in Toronto. It's a fantastic place to purchase local specialties and fresh produce. You can explore over 120 vendors, watch cooking demonstrations and taste various food samples.

Time and Cost Estimates

  • Toronto Islands (4-6 hours, $10 per person for the ferry)
  • CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium (3-4 hours, $40-50 per adult)
  • Royal Ontario Museum (3-4 hours, $20-25 per adult)
  • High Park (2-4 hours, free entry)
  • Toronto Zoo (4-5 hours, $20-30 per adult)
  • Legoland Discovery Centre (2-3 hours, $20-25 per person)
  • Ontario Science Centre (3-4 hours, $25-30 per adult)
  • Art Gallery of Ontario (2-3 hours, $20-25 per adult)
  • Playdium (3-4 hours, $25-40 per person)
  • Casa Loma (2-3 hours, $30-35 per adult)
  • Toronto Botanical Garden (2-3 hours, free entry)
  • Hockey Hall of Fame (2-3 hours, $20-25 per adult)
  • Toronto Beaches (2-4 hours, free entry)
  • The Distillery District (2-3 hours, free entry)
  • St. Lawrence Market (2-3 hours, free entry)
  • Total Estimated Costs: $280-370 per adult

Transportation

In Toronto, the city's transit system includes a subway, buses and streetcars, and is quite extensive. It is easy to navigate and inexpensive. You can also choose to take taxis, ridesharing services, or rent a car if you prefer.

The estimated cost of transit passes is $3.25 per ride, and a weekly pass costs $43.75 for unlimited travel. Taxis and ridesharing services cost approximately $1.75-$2.25 per km.

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can add a visit to the Toronto Blue Jays or Toronto Raptors game, explore Kensington Market, or visit the iconic Niagara Falls. If you have less time, prioritize your top attractions and plan accordingly. Consider purchasing a CityPASS, which includes admission to top attractions for a discounted price.

Airports

The main airport serving Toronto is called Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ). It is located 14 miles northwest of Downtown Toronto. Another option is the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), which is located on an island in Lake Ontario, a short ferry ride from Downtown Toronto.

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