Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada Review: Is It Worth a Visit?
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We moved from India to Canada in 2019 and have spent the years since exploring Ontario as our home base. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is one of the Toronto outings we keep coming back to with family in tow.
If you’re looking for a stress-free, weather-proof family outing in Toronto that works for babies, toddlers, and older kids, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada checks every box. It’s stroller-friendly, visually engaging, educational, and just the right mix of calm and wow.
Whether it’s your baby’s first outing or a weekend adventure with energetic little explorers, here’s everything you need to know before you go.
In this Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada review, we share what stood out most, along with practical notes on indoor attractions toronto families ask us about most often.
If you want help mapping out the rest of your Toronto trip, we put together our travel itineraries to make planning easier.
About Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto
Located right next to the iconic CN Tower in downtown Toronto, Ripley’s Aquarium is home to over 20,000 aquatic animals from around the world. From glowing jellyfish to massive sharks gliding overhead, every corner feels immersive.
The highlight? A moving walkway through a glass tunnel where sharks, rays, and sea turtles swim right above you. For toddlers, it feels like walking inside an underwater dream.
We always tell friends visiting for the first time that the glass tunnel is worth slowing down for. We stopped walking completely the first time a sea turtle drifted right over our heads.
Address:
288 Bremner Boulevard, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (hours vary by season, confirm before visiting)
Admission: Adult (14+) $100 +HST, Youth (6-13) $75 +HST, Child (3-5) $30 +HST, Senior (65+) $75 +HST (membership pricing, single-visit ticket pricing varies, confirm before visiting)
Confirm current hours and ticket pricing before visiting.
If you are staying overnight nearby, our guide to things to do with family in Toronto and the GTA has more ideas to round out the trip.
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Tickets & Planning Tips
- Timed entry tickets or flex timings are required
- Booking online in advance is recommended
- Weekday mornings are best for fewer crowds
- Plan 2 to 3 hours for a comfortable visit with little ones
Strollers are allowed, making it easy for families with babies. There are washrooms with change tables and accessible pathways throughout.
We have learned to book our tickets a few days ahead, especially on weekends. The one time we showed up without a booking during a school holiday, the wait was much longer than we expected.
The PlayZone & Interactive Areas
One of the biggest wins for families is the Discovery Centre PlayZone.
This area includes:
- A crawl-through tunnel for kids
- Touch tanks where children can gently feel stingrays and horseshoe crabs
- A mini slide and climbing area
- Interactive digital displays
For toddlers, this space is gold. It gives them a break from walking and lets them explore safely in a contained area.
Our own toddler spent almost twenty minutes at the touch tank alone. It is one of the few spots in the whole aquarium where kids can move at their own pace instead of being carried or pushed in a stroller.
Benefits of Taking a Baby to an Aquarium
You might wonder, “Will my baby even understand what’s happening?” Maybe not fully but they absolutely benefit.
Here’s how:
- Sensory Stimulation
The movement of fish, glowing tanks, gentle lighting, and calming water sounds stimulate visual and auditory development.
- Language Development
Pointing at fish and naming colors, animals, and shapes builds vocabulary even if they can’t respond yet.
- Calm Environment
Unlike loud indoor playgrounds, aquariums tend to be soothing and slower paced.
- Family Bonding
Shared wonder creates connection. Watching your toddler press their hands against the glass in amazement is a core memory moment.
We still talk about the first time our daughter pressed her palm flat against the shark tank glass. It is the kind of small moment that makes the ticket price feel worth it.
Why It Works for Toddlers & Older Kids Too
For older kids, it becomes educational:
- Learn about marine ecosystems
- Understand conservation efforts
- Explore interactive exhibits
- Ask questions and spark curiosity
It blends fun with learning without feeling like a classroom.
We have brought older nieces and nephews along too, and the conservation displays gave us a lot to talk about afterward over lunch nearby.
Is Ripley’s Aquarium Worth It With a Baby?
Absolutely.
It’s indoor, climate-controlled, educational, visually engaging, and manageable in length. You won’t feel rushed, and you won’t feel overwhelmed.
For Toronto families, it’s one of the easiest “yes” outings when you want something fun, meaningful, and low-stress.
Best Time to Visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
In spring, we find the aquarium a good option for the days when Toronto weather is still unpredictable. It tends to be a little quieter outside of school break weeks, and the indoor setting means a rainy spring afternoon does not ruin the day.
In summer, we notice the biggest crowds, since it is peak tourist season downtown and the aquarium sits right next to the CN Tower. We always recommend arriving close to opening on weekday mornings if you are visiting in summer.
In fall, we have found the crowds thin out again once school is back in session, and weekday visits feel relaxed. It is one of our favourite times to bring a stroller through without feeling rushed.
In winter, the aquarium becomes an easy answer to the question of what to do with kids when it is too cold to be outside for long. We have used it more than once as a warm midday break during a winter trip downtown, especially when the wind off the lake makes outdoor plans hard to stick to.
Indoor Attractions Toronto: Ripley’s Aquarium by Area
- Gallery entrance and Canadian waters: This is where the visit starts, with tanks focused on freshwater species found across Canadian lakes and rivers. We always slow down here since it sets the tone for the rest of the visit.
- The glass tunnel: The moving walkway through the shark and ray tunnel is the section most people remember afterward. We recommend letting toddlers stand still for a minute rather than rushing them through on the walkway.
- Discovery Centre PlayZone: Tucked toward the back of the aquarium, this is the hands-on area with touch tanks and a crawl-through tunnel. It is the section we plan extra time around when visiting with younger kids.
- Planet Jellies and the open ocean galleries: The glowing jellyfish displays tend to be a calmer stretch of the visit. We have used this area as a good spot to slow the pace down if kids are getting tired.
Free and No-Reservation Options
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada itself requires a paid, timed entry ticket, so there is no free admission option for the aquarium galleries themselves. That said, the surrounding area around the CN Tower and the downtown waterfront offers free things to see before or after your visit, such as walking along the harbourfront or viewing the CN Tower from outside.
Booking online ahead of time is recommended rather than required. We have shown up without a reservation on a quiet weekday and still gotten in, but on weekends and school holidays we always book in advance to avoid a longer wait at the door.
If you are planning a visit without booking ahead, we suggest weekday mornings as the safest option. Arriving close to opening time gives you the best chance of getting in without a long line, even without a confirmed time slot, and it also means the glass tunnel is far less crowded for photos.
Tips for Visiting with Kids or Toddlers
We always bring a lightweight stroller rather than our usual larger one, since the aquarium can get busy near the glass tunnel and a smaller stroller is easier to maneuver. Strollers are allowed throughout, and the pathways are accessible, but tighter sections fill up quickly when a tour group comes through.
Snacks and a refillable water bottle make a big difference for toddlers who tire of walking. We have found that pacing the visit around the PlayZone works well, since it gives little ones a chance to move freely after stretches of walking and looking, and it also gives parents a few minutes to sit down.
If you are building a longer day around the visit, our guide to winter wonders at RBG in Burlington is a good seasonal pairing if you are visiting Ontario in the colder months and want another indoor friendly stop nearby.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a pass to Ripley’s Aquarium?
Membership pricing runs from $30 +HST for a child (ages 3 to 5) up to $100 +HST for an adult (14+), with youth and senior rates in between. Single-visit ticket pricing is separate from membership pricing, so we recommend confirming current rates on the official site before booking.
Does the Toronto CityPASS include the aquarium?
Yes, Toronto CityPASS includes general admission entry to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada as one of its included attractions. We suggest checking the current CityPASS package details before you buy, since included attractions can change.
Is it cheaper to buy Ripley’s Aquarium tickets online?
Booking online in advance is the option we always use, since it lets you lock in a timed entry slot and avoid a longer wait at the door. We recommend comparing the official site against bundled options like CityPASS to see which works out better for your visit.
Is Ripley’s Aquarium worth visiting with a baby or toddler?
We think so. It is indoor, climate-controlled, and paced well for short attention spans, with the Discovery Centre PlayZone giving toddlers a contained space to move freely partway through the visit.
How long should we plan for a visit?
We plan for 2 to 3 hours for a comfortable visit with younger kids, which gives enough time to move through the galleries without rushing and to spend extra time in the PlayZone.
Is Ripley’s Aquarium a good indoor attraction for a rainy day in Toronto?
Yes, we treat it as one of our go to indoor attractions Toronto offers for exactly that reason. The entire visit takes place indoors, so weather outside does not affect the experience.
For Toronto families, it’s one of the easiest “yes” outings when you want something fun, meaningful, and low-stress.
Looking back, our honest review of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is simple: it remains one of our most recommended indoor outings in the city.
We have done the planning so you do not have to. Browse our tried and tested Canada travel itineraries and start your adventure.
Related Pages
- If Europe is on your travel radar, do not miss our curated list of the best places to visit in Italy, perfect for travelers planning multi-country adventures.
- For travelers drawn to historic cities and storytelling, our guide on exploring Edinburgh city offers another immersive European experience.
- For more family-friendly ideas closer to home, see our guide to things to do with family in Toronto and the GTA.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep bringing you great travel content. All recommendations are based on our personal experience.
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