We are self-proclaimed Canada lovers and have had our eye on Toronto for a very long time! I think it wasn’t at the top of our list because we dismissed it as a big city that doesn’t have as much history as New York or Chicago. I don’t know why I do that! Why prejudge a place you have never been? But I did it, and I apologize, Toronto! You are way cooler than I imagined.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Toronto is a big city, the 4th largest in North America and the largest in Canada. It recently beat out Chicago to make it the 4th largest, but I would compare it in size and feeling to Chicago. They are both built along a Great Lake, have walkable down towns, and are both cooooold in the winter!
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Toronto is also an expensive city. If you are coming from the U.S. like we are, you will find that restaurants and admission prices are significantly higher than their counterparts in the U.S. Even with the stronger U.S. dollar, it will be pricier.
My oldest son had the entire week of Thanksgiving off from school, and this year, the rest of us decided to take the week off as well and go to Toronto! My cousin and her 4 kids joined us, so our crew was much bigger than normal. While Toronto may not be everyone’s idea of fun in the winter, there is so much to do you will rarely be out in the cold.
Plus Toronto is starting to get dressed up for Christmas in November and so it is a win-win!
Here are the best things to do in Toronto in November!
Toronto at a Glance
Best Trip Length
2–4 days
Best Time to Visit
May through October for warm weather, or late November for holiday lights and festive markets.
Perfect For
Families, first-time visitors, food lovers, sports fans, and city breaks.
Getting Around
Stay downtown and use the TTC, walk, or take Uber. A rental car isn’t necessary.
Don’t Miss
CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, St. Lawrence Market, Casa Loma, and the Distillery District.
Budget
Expect higher prices than most U.S. cities, especially for attractions and restaurants.
My Tip: If it’s your first visit, buy a CityPASS and group the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, and the waterfront into one day. They’re all within easy walking distance and make the most efficient use of your time.
Is November a Good Time to Visit Toronto?
Photo credit: Deposit Photos
Absolutely! In fact, I think November is one of Toronto’s most underrated seasons. We visited during Thanksgiving week, and while the weather was definitely chilly, the city was already starting to transform for Christmas. The Distillery Winter Village was full of lights and holiday treats, stores were beautifully decorated, and there was a festive atmosphere everywhere we went.
Because November falls between the busy fall foliage season and the Christmas rush, many of Toronto’s most popular attractions were less crowded than they are during the summer. We rarely waited in line at places like the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium, making it much easier to explore with kids.
If you’re looking for warm weather, November probably isn’t the best time to visit. But if you don’t mind bundling up, you’ll be rewarded with lower crowds, beautiful holiday decorations, and plenty of indoor attractions that make Toronto an excellent family destination even when the temperatures drop.
Weather in Toronto in November
Photo Credit: Travels with The Crew
November in Toronto is cold, especially if you’re not used to Canadian weather. Daytime temperatures typically range from 40–50°F (4–10°C), while evenings often dip into the 30s (-1 to 4°C). Snow is certainly possible by late November, although rain is more common earlier in the month.
What surprised us most wasn’t the temperature—it was the wind. Because Toronto sits on the shore of Lake Ontario, the wind can make it feel much colder than the thermometer suggests, especially around the waterfront and the CN Tower.
The good news is that many of Toronto’s best attractions are indoors. Between museums, Ripley’s Aquarium, Casa Loma, shopping, restaurants, and the Christmas Market, we found there was always somewhere warm to escape when we needed a break.
What to Pack for Toronto in November
Warm winter coat
Waterproof boots with good traction
Hat, gloves, and scarf
Layers, including sweaters or fleece
Thermal base layers for kids on especially cold days
An umbrella or waterproof jacket for rainy days
A 3-Day Toronto Itinerary for November
Photo Credit: Travels with The Crew
If you have three days in Toronto during November, here’s the itinerary I would recommend.
Day 1: Toronto’s Iconic Attractions
Start your trip at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, one of the best aquariums we’ve visited. From there, walk next door to the CN Tower for incredible views over the city before ending the afternoon exploring the nearby waterfront.
If you’re visiting later in November, spend your evening wandering through the Distillery Winter Village, where you’ll find Christmas lights, holiday shopping, festive treats, and live entertainment.
Day 2: History and Museums
Begin the morning exploring Casa Loma, Toronto’s famous castle. Older kids and adults will especially enjoy learning about the home’s fascinating history while younger children will love climbing the towers and exploring the secret passages.
In the afternoon, head to the Ontario Science Centre. Just remember our biggest tip: start on the lowest floor and work your way up! The hands-on exhibits there were easily our kids’ favorites.
Day 3: Markets and Shopping
Spend your final morning sampling delicious food at St. Lawrence Market, one of the world’s great food markets. After lunch, browse the unique exhibits at the Bata Shoe Museum, which turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of our trip.
Finish your visit with some shopping at the Toronto Eaton Centre, especially if you’re visiting during the holiday season when the Christmas decorations are on display.
Ripley Aquarium
Ripley Aquarium was our very first stop using our CityPASS. We chose to go here first because it is next door to the CN tower, and therefore we could see two big attractions in one day.
We have been to more aquariums than I can count, and this one was on a par with the Atlanta aquarium or the Boston aquarium–large, but not too overwhelming for younger kids.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Beautiful, unique and some gruesome looking fish are in tanks all around you. Most have some interactive learning displays so your kids can do things other than just look.
Our favorite was an arched tank that had a moving walkway running through it. You could ride along while looking at sharks, sting rays and other fish. Sharks swim over your head, and you feel immersed in the tank.
The Jellyfish were another highlight. The lighting in the jellyfish tanks made the jellyfish glow in different colors and appear to be ever-changing sculptures.
There are two touch tanks for your brave little ones. One features small sharks and the bigger tank has sting rays.
Tips for the Ripley Aquarium:
Don’t make the mistake we made and think that you have reached the end when you get to the cafe. There are still lots of exhibits. We thought we were finished, and the kids were getting cranky; then we saw there was more aquarium!
There is a late-night “Sharks After Dark” program that would be great for older kids. Get your tickets here.
Plan on 2-3 hours
CN Tower
The CN Tower is the tallest tower in North America and, until 2007, was the tallest building in the world. There is an observatory at the top of the tower that gives you a great view of the city of Toronto. Plus, it is part of CityPASS. This was the surprise hit with the whole gang! All of the kids said it was their favorite attraction in Toronto.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
We wanted good pictures from the top, so we chose to ascend the tower at 3:00 in the afternoon when the sun was a bit lower in the sky.
Our youngest was terrified to go up so high. We stood outside the tower and looked up, and I will admit it does seem ridiculously tall. We talked him up until he meekly agreed to go. The fact that his cousins were there and weren’t afraid seemed to help him.
We picked up our tickets and took the elevator up 1,122 feet. The wait for the elevator was only 5 minutes, but there was a lot of space for a very long queue. Some of the elevators have a window so you can watch the rapid ascent (or descent, as the case may be).
The observation floor has floor-to-ceiling windows and offers a 360-degree view of the city of Toronto. We picked out cool buildings, looked for cool cars, and generally enjoyed the view.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
A staircase leads down to another observation deck. This one has an outdoor platform (really windy) and terrifying glass floors. These world-class glass floors can hold up so much weight that multiple elephants could march across them, but I couldn’t make myself do it!! My kids delighted in jumping on them and laying face down on the glass.
Tips for the CN Tower:
There is a cafe for snacks and a bathroom on the observation floor.
There’s a larger cafe in the basement with several phone chargers, which came in handy. My phone died just before we were to ascend, and I had to charge it to access our CityPASS tickets.
Strollers can go up the elevator easily and would be a great idea.
Plan on 2 hours during the off-season and longer in the summer.
Is Toronto Worth Visiting with Kids?
Absolutely! Toronto is one of the most family-friendly cities in North America. Many of the city’s biggest attractions are designed with families in mind, and it’s easy to explore without renting a car. Between interactive museums, world-class attractions, great food, and plenty of indoor activities, Toronto is an excellent destination in every season—especially if you’re visiting in November.
Best For
Families with kids ages 5–16
Trip Length
2–4 days
Need a Car?
No—stay downtown and use public transit or walk.
Top Family Attractions
Ripley’s Aquarium, CN Tower, Casa Loma & the Ontario Science Centre
Why We Loved It: Toronto surprised us. We expected a big city, but instead found a destination that was easy to navigate, packed with activities for every age, and full of attractions that kept everyone—from little kids to teenagers and adults—engaged. Even during chilly November weather, there was always something fun to do indoors.
Casa Loma
I can’t say that we would have spent the money to go to Casa Loma if it hadn’t been included in CityPASS. The entrance fee is $30 and kids are $20, but as we wanted to get the most out of our CityPASS, we truly enjoyed it! Casa Loma was a private residence built in Gothic Revival style in 1911 for Sir Henry Pellet for $3.5 million dollars and has 98 rooms! To us, it just looks like a castle.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
The tour of Casa Loma is a recorded device that allows you to go at your own pace. The tour heavily features the Pellet family and the architecture of the house. My older boys enjoyed it a lot. My youngest was only mildly interested, and my cousin’s kids were downright bored. I wish they could find a way to make it more kid-friendly like the recorded tours at the Breakers in Newport, RI.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Please don’t think that the younger kids didn’t enjoy it at all. The tour was just not for them. They loved walking up into the turrets, looking at the flowers in the conservatory, and climbing up and down all of the staircases.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Ontario Science Center
I will start by saying I was so underwhelmed by the Ontario Science Center at first. We entered the museum and started on the entrance level floor. It was a display on quantum physics that was over the heads of all of the kids. It wasn’t kid-friendly at all!!!
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
What we discovered was that we were doing the science center all wrong! You must take the escalators to the lowest level and work up. The very lowest floor had so many fun hands-on science projects!
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
So start at the bottom floor!
Your kids will love racing paper airplanes, recording funny voices, making stop motion videos, climbing a rock wall, racing each other, and creating their own experiments.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Bata shoe museum
Multiple people told us to go to the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, and I am now one who will tell everyone to go! This is such a unique museum. It tells the history of footwear through the ages and in different countries. The display of footwear, both plain and ornate, is impressive.
In addition to the history of footwear, the Bata shoe museum has rotating displays. I loved the Manolo Blahnik shoe exhibit. The attention to detail on each pair of shoes is remarkable. I found myself oohing and aahing over each pair.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
And the kids loved the museum too! They liked tracking down the strangest looking shoes, the most expensive, and the most decorated shoe.
This museum celebrates footwear as sculpture and art and I will confess I will never look at a pair of shoes the same way again.
Plan on 1-1.5 hours
St. Lawrence Market
This market is thought to be one of the best food markets in the world and I have to say that we were thoroughly impressed! There are lots of delicious food stalls that are some of the most highly rated in Canada.
My husband was so excited by the cheese and chocolate. The produce was gorgeous! The kids bought teeny tiny apples and thought they were delicious.
Plan on 30 minutes to walk through the market but more time if you plan on eating there.
Toronto Christmas Market
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
One of the best things about traveling to Toronto over American Thanksgiving was that Canada was already in Christmas mode! The Toronto Christmas market is based on the European Christmas markets and has many of the same sights and smells. This one is located in the Distillery District of Toronto-a Victorian part of town. This pedestrian-only neighborhood is the perfect setting for a Christmas market.
We loved the performances by carolers, eating Hungarian sausages, eating chimney cakes, shopping for stocking stuffers at the wooden stalls, and riding the Ferris wheel.
Photo Credit: Travels With The Crew
Plan on 2-3 hours.
Toronto Eaton Center
Because it was Christmas, we decided to take a trip to visit the tallest tree in Canada. The tallest tree is in fact artificial. My kids were super bummed that it wasn’t a live tree, but I was still in awe of its height. The Eaton Center had a beautiful tree and enormous reindeer, and it was worth the stop!
This mid priced hotel in downtown Toronto is within walking distance to Ripley’s Aquarium and the CN Tower. It is also close to great family restaurants and parks. But what makes Le Germain great is that they stock children’s activities and books. Plus they offer babysitting services. They also include a fabulous breakfast with the price of the room.
It won’t be a surprise that Toronto is COLD in November, but the wind whips off the lake, and it gets REALLY COLD! Here is what we wore to keep warm, and we did a good job by dressing in layers.
Pack your warmest, most cozy clothes. The weather in Toronto is windy and cold, and it regularly snows. Make sure you have good snow shoes and lots and lots of layers!
Walking around in the cold can be hard on little toes. Make sure you have good boots! This is more important than a great coat. After too many miserable trips, to cold climates we broke down and bought good boots. We have bought 5-6 pairs over the years, and keep buying them as our boys’ feet grow. We have not had a single complaint of cold toes since. These are great to pass down from kid to kid as well. You can see them on our boys in all the pictures! Check them out here.
Dres your kids in winter underwear on cold days, followed by their clothes, a scarf, a warm coat, gloves, and hats. That way you can remove the things you need when you go inside.
I loved your post! I will go back to Toronto in a few months and I’ll buy the citypass for sure. Casa Loma and the CN tower are my favorites and I’m so excited to go back to that wonderful city.
I loved your post! I will go back to Toronto in a few months and I’ll buy the citypass for sure. Casa Loma and the CN tower are my favorites and I’m so excited to go back to that wonderful city.
You will love CityPASS. It makes everything so much easier.