I came across this great deal for visiting Toronto’s top attractions long after I’d paid the full price to visit each. The Toronto CityPASS is a must for anyone visiting the largest city in Canada. Also, it is a must for anyone in the Greater Toronto Area that wants to experience all their hometown has to offer at an incredible price.
Update: For 2016, the lineup for Toronto CityPASS has changed slightly. Added is Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. CN Tower, Casa Loma and ROM are still fully included. CityPASS holders must now choose between the Toronto Zoo or the Ontario Science Centre.
Toronto CityPASS
Simply, what it entails is general admission to five of Toronto’s top attractions for one amazing low price. Best of all, this doesn’t have to be a one day ultra-marathon of tourism. The CityPASS can be used over a period of nine consecutive days.
Included are the CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo and Ontario Science Centre. The price for the CityPASS is $69.50 for adults and $44.75 for children between the ages of 4 and 12. These prices include taxes. If bought seperately, this equates to a $113.55 value for adults.
Transparency alert: By clicking through the CityPASS advertisement here and ordering your CityPASS packages, this will earn It’s About Travelling a small commission.
If You Were To Pay Individually
Is it a good deal? Yes. Here’s what it would cost if you walked up to each of these five attractions and purchased tickets seperately.
CN Tower
General Admission to the CN Tower is $32.00 for anyone between the ages of 13 and 64. If you order online, the price is reduced to $27.20. For seniors 65 years and older or children between 4 and 12, the price is reduced to $24.00, with an online price of just $20.40.
Included in General Admission is the LookOut Level, Glass Floor and Outdoor SkyTerrace. What it does not include is the Skypod and the CN Tower EdgeWalk. Skypod is an ultra-high barebones observation deck an additional 30+ stories above the LookOut Level. EdgeWalk is a new feature that allows guests to be strapped to a leash and be able to walk outside on the edge of the main observation area.
Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM may sound boring in name but the place rivals the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. The architecture alone is a marvel. Normal General Admission to the ROM is $16 for adults, $14.50 for seniors and students with children between 4 and 14 paying $13 each.
Not included in the General Admission price at the Royal Ontario Museum is any of the rotating special exhibitions. Currently, it does not include the Forbidden City ROM Experience or the Wildlife Photographer ROM Experience.
Casa Loma
General Admission to this historic building is $20.55 for adults, $14.63 for seniors 60+ and youths 14 to 17. Children between 4 and 13 pay $11.32 each. I must confess, my only visit to Casa Loma was for a wedding reception nearly 20 years ago. However, the building and surrounding landscape are simply incredible and must be seen. However, with the CityPASS, I doubt you will enjoy nearly as much wine as I did at that wedding reception.
Toronto Zoo
General Admission to the Toronto Zoo is $23.00 for adults, while seniors 65+ pay $18 and children between 3 and 12 pay $14. The Toronto Zoo is simply awesome. I’ve been down the road at this site about my mixed feelings about zoos when it comes to animal rights. Let’s just have blind faith that the animals are in the staff’s best interest.
Ontario Science Centre
I’m due for a visit to the Science Centre. I went as a kid on a field trip all the way from London, Ontario. Then, a few years ago, I took my two older sons there at the end of the Christmas break. With my third son closing in on two years old, it’s time for another visit.
The regular General Admission price for the Ontario Science Centre is $22 for adults, $16 for seniors 65+ and youths between 13 and 17. Children between 3 and 12 pay just $13. This price does not include the IMAX film.
My Honest Opinion
Don’t be a damn fool – take the deal! Pretty much, if you only use the CityPASS for three of the five attractions, you’re breaking even. I seriously kick myself because we frequent these locations on almost a yearly basis.
Can it be done in a day? Yes. Maybe. The ROM, CN Tower and Casa Loma are centrally located in downtown Toronto. The Science Centre is located between downtown and the Toronto Zoo. However, You’ve got nine consecutive days to use the CityPASS – at least take three to four. The Toronto Zoo is a full day. The Science Centre and ROM are at least a half day, if not a full day each.
What’s awesome is you can purchase the CityPASS, print off the voucher on your home printer and not use it until you want to use it. The nine days do not start until you visit the first of the five attractions. What’s also awesome is that the deal is open to anyone. I’ve seen passes like this in Europe that must be ordered ahead of time from Canada or the United States and can not be used by ‘locals’.
I can only hope that in the future this pass will be expanded to include the Toronto Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada. Also, maybe a ferry trip across to Toronto Island would be a great added value.
