Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is one of the top attractions in Toronto, especially for families. It is located right beside the CN Tower and is home to more than 20,000 aquatic animals, along with hands-on exhibits, play areas and an underwater tunnel filled with sharks.
Our family loves visiting aquariums, so Ripley’s was naturally high on our list when we went to Toronto. It is easily as good as many of the top aquariums we have visited in the United States, and I think it is better than most when it comes to kid-friendly activities.
The Dangerous Lagoon was the highlight for us. You stand on a moving walkway as sharks, rays and sea turtles swim above and around you. My kids felt like they were right inside the tank, and even after visiting plenty of aquariums, this was something they talked about afterward.
Ripley’s is not an inexpensive Toronto attraction, but the quality of the exhibits and the amount for children to do made it worth the price for our family.
Is Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada Worth It?
Short answer: Yes. If you are visiting Toronto with kids or teenagers, I think Ripley’s Aquarium is well worth your time.
The underwater tunnel, moving walkway and interactive exhibits make it much more engaging than a typical aquarium. Even teenagers who insist they are “too old” for aquariums usually end up having a great time.
Time needed
Plan on approximately 2–3 hours with children or 1½–2 hours without them.
Best time to visit
Weekday mornings and the first hour after opening are generally the least crowded.
Tickets
Check prices and ticket options online before visiting, especially during weekends and school holidays.
Location
The aquarium is beside the CN Tower, making it easy to visit both attractions on the same day.
Best for
Families, teenagers, first-time Toronto visitors and anyone needing a rainy-day activity.
Our favorite exhibit
Dangerous Lagoon, where sharks and sea turtles swim above the moving walkway.
My recommendation: Include it on your first Toronto itinerary and combine it with the CN Tower to make the most of your time downtown.
Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto is one of a number of Ripley’s Aquariums throughout North America. It was opened in 2013 and has been drawing in the crowds ever since. It’s especially popular over winter weekends in Toronto as it is warm and awesome!
It is the largest aquarium in Ontario and has 1.25 million gallons of water in their tanks!
We love to go to the best aquariums in our family, so we naturally decided that we needed to visit Ripley’s in Toronto when we were there. It is as good as the top aquariums in the United States and better than most for its kid friendly activities. Truly the kids had so much fun and learned a ton!
The Best Exhibits at Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto
There is a lot to see at Ripley’s, but a few exhibits stood out to our family more than the others.
Dangerous Lagoon
Dangerous Lagoon was easily the highlight of the aquarium for us. You stand on a moving walkway while sharks, rays, sea turtles and enormous fish swim beside you and directly over your head.
My kids loved feeling like they were actually underwater with the sharks. The moving walkway also means you can concentrate on looking around instead of trying to walk through a dark tunnel without bumping into everyone.
This is the exhibit I would return to see again, and it is a big part of why I think Ripley’s is worth visiting.
Planet Jellies
The jellyfish exhibit is one of the prettiest areas in the aquarium. The lighting makes the jellies glow in changing colors as they float through the tanks. We spent much longer watching them than I expected.
Ripley’s calls this exhibit Planet Jellies, and it contains several different species and thousands of individual jellies. It is a quieter experience than Dangerous Lagoon, but it is just as memorable.
Discovery Centre and Children’s Play Areas
Ripley’s does an especially good job of giving children something to do besides look through glass. When we visited, there were clear viewing bubbles that allowed the kids to climb inside and feel like they were standing in the middle of a tank.
There was also a touch area with small sharks and rays, along with tubes to climb through, water activities and a fish-themed playground. My younger kids would have happily stayed in this part of the aquarium for hours.
The exact activities may change, but this is one of the reasons Ripley’s works so well for families. Children can climb, touch and experiment instead of spending the entire visit being told not to touch anything.
Life Support Systems
Near the end of our visit, we could see some of the enormous systems that filter, test and circulate the aquarium’s water.
There were real-time pressure displays as well as an activity that allowed the kids to try controlling the pressure themselves. It was an interesting look at how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep thousands of aquatic animals healthy.
Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto Tickets and Hours
Ripley’s Aquarium hours can change depending on the date, season and special events. Before you go, check the official Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada website for the opening hours on the day you plan to visit.
Ticket prices also vary by age and the type of admission you choose. Ripley’s currently offers timed tickets as well as more flexible ticket options. I recommend buying tickets online before your visit, especially if you are going on a weekend, during the summer or over a school holiday.
If you are visiting several major Toronto attractions, compare the regular ticket price with Toronto CityPASS. It may save you money if your plans also include attractions such as the CN Tower.
We visited during the off-season and practically had the aquarium to ourselves. If you have flexibility, I would choose a weekday morning or arrive close to opening. The experience is much more enjoyable when you are not trying to squeeze through the Dangerous Lagoon with a huge crowd.
Skip the Line Pass for Ripley’s Toronto
The lines are often long at Ripley’s and if you have a lot to fit in on your trip to Toronto you may want to consider a skip the line pass. We were traveling in the off season so there weren’t lines anywhere and we had the Aqaurium virtually to ourselves.
Prices are just a little bit more, but you can save yourself tons of time.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is located at 288 Bremner Boulevard, right beside the CN Tower and close to the Rogers Centre.
If you are using public transportation, take the subway or GO Transit to Union Station. From there, it is a relatively short walk toward the CN Tower. Follow the signs for the SkyWalk, which makes the route fairly easy even if you are unfamiliar with downtown Toronto.
There is no parking lot specifically for the aquarium, but there are several paid parking garages nearby. Parking prices can climb quickly when there is a Blue Jays game, concert or another major event at the Rogers Centre, so check the local event schedule before deciding to drive.
Honestly, if you are staying somewhere near a subway station, taking public transportation is usually much easier than dealing with downtown traffic and parking. Once you arrive, the aquarium, CN Tower and several other attractions are all within easy walking distance.
How Much Time Do You Need at Ripley’s Aquarium Toronto?
We spent about two hours at Ripley’s Aquarium, but I wish we had allowed more time. If you are visiting with children, I would plan on 2½–3 hours so they have time to climb, crawl, touch and play without constantly being rushed to the next exhibit.
Adults visiting without children could probably see everything in 1½–2 hours. You may want longer if you enjoy reading all the displays, taking photographs or stopping for one of the scheduled talks or feedings.
If you are combining the aquarium with the CN Tower, I would allow most of the day for both attractions rather than trying to squeeze them into a couple of hours.
We loved our visit to Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto and really look forward to going back again.
If you want to go too you may be interested in our following posts:
Leave a Comment