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In this Toronto CityPASS review, we explain how the pass works, what’s included, and how much you can save.
If you’re visiting Canada’s largest city, you won’t be disappointed. Toronto is a vibrant, multicultural city with impressive sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife, art, and shopping scenes.
If you’re on a budget, there are lots of interesting neighborhoods, markets, and parks you can explore for free. Like in any big city, however, the most sought-after sightseeing experiences (like the view from the CN Tower) come with a hefty price tag.
Luckily, you don’t have to pay the gate price for many of the top tourist attractions. The Toronto CityPASS can save you up to 42% on your sightseeing adventures.
Interested in learning more? You’re in the right place.
Toronto CityPASS: How It Works
The Toronto CityPASS provides access to five of Toronto’s top six attractions for one low price. All passes include single-entry to the CN Tower, plus you get to choose from four of the remaining five attractions for your other options.
When compared to paying regular admission prices, the Toronto CityPASS will help you save money. In fact, you can save up to 42% off the regular admission prices. You also save time because in most cases, you don’t have to line up to buy tickets – you already have them!
The best way to get the pass is to buy it online before you get to Toronto. After that, you can download tickets to keep on your smartphone or print paper copies.
Whether you go the paper or digital route, all you have to do is present the appropriate ticket at your first attraction. The staff scans it and your Toronto CityPASS is officially activated. You then have nine consecutive days to visit the five attractions you select.
Attractions on the Toronto CityPASS
The Toronto CityPASS includes six total attractions. Here are the options and their regular adult admission prices:
Included on all passes:
Choose up to four of the following five attractions:
- Casa Loma: $35.40 CAD
- Royal Ontario Museum: $23.01 CAD
- Toronto Zoo: $37.53 CAD
- Ontario Science Centre: $19.47 CAD
- City Cruises Toronto: $29.90 CAD
(Editor’s Note: Prices are listed in Canadian dollars and are current as of August 07, 2023. Some attractions may require reservations and/or have limited operating hours at this time.)
How Much Does the Toronto CityPASS Cost?
You know what the pass comes with, but to figure out if it’s a good deal, you need to see the price tag. Again, we’re talking Canadian dollars.
| Adult (ages 13+) | Child (ages 4-12) |
|---|---|
| $99.25 CAD | $74.25 CAD |
| *Prices current as of August 07, 2023 | |
Some quick math shows that if you visit all five attractions and choose the most expensive options, you can save $71.59 CAD (42%) per adult on admission costs. (That is roughly $53.50 USD per adult at the time of publishing!) While a 42% savings doesn’t compare to cards like the London Pass, I certainly wouldn’t pass it up!
Save Big in Toronto – Get the Toronto CityPASS and save up to 42% on some of the city’s best attractions! Learn more here.
Toronto CityPASS Attractions Guide
CN Tower
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the iconic CN Tower is where you should head for an unbeatable city view. Completed in 1975 and opened to the public in 1976, the tower was once the tallest free-standing structure in the world. It ranks as the is the 10th tallest today.
The Toronto CityPASS hooks you up with the “Tower Experience.” You get access to two observation levels that take you up to 1,136 feet. At 1,122 feet, brave a look down through the Glass Floor and head onto the outdoor SkyTerrace. (Editor’s Note: As of August 2023, the Terrace Level has partially reopened to visitors but is still undergoing renovations.)
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a straight-up castle. It looks like a historic site you’d find somewhere in Western Europe but was actually built as a private residence in 1911.
Today, it serves as a major tourist draw and a frequent film and TV set. When you visit Casa Loma, you get to experience Edwardian era architecture and décor, hidden passages and tunnels, a vintage car exhibit, and five acres of exquisite gardens (May through September).
Royal Ontario Museum
Widely regarded as one of the best museums in Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum is renowned for its natural history and world cultures collections.
The dinosaur exhibits are a sight to behold, and the immersive bat cave is a must for kids and adults alike. Ancient Egyptian artifacts, Chinese temple art, and Roman sculptures are just a sample of the worldly treasures you’ll encounter at the ROM.
Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is the largest in Canada and is home to over 5,000 animals. A few highlights:
- A polar bear family in the 10-acre Tundra Trek
- An African rainforest exhibit housing a baby hippo, a baby gorilla, and Aldabra tortoises (among others)
- Endangered Amur tigers
- Discovery Zone featuring a Kid’s Zoo and a 2-acre water play area
- Wildlife Health Centre to catch a glimpse of behind-the-scenes care of the animals
- Animal keeper talks
With your Toronto CityPASS, you can also get discounts on several upgrades – like a ride on the Conservation Carousel or swinging through the Gorilla Climb Ropes Course.
Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre is fun for all ages. The Space Hall features meteorites from Mars, black holes, and cosmic rays. Immersive shows in the planetarium let you explore the galaxy from the comfort of your seat.
AstraZeneca Human Edge is an interactive exhibit that shows how amazing and capable the human body can be. The Living Earth takes you on a wild journey that includes keeping watch for poison dart frogs in the rainforest, touching a tornado, and crawling through a cave. KidSpark lets kids under 8 learn science through hands-on play.
City Cruises Toronto
Enjoy a view of Toronto from the water with City Cruises Toronto. This 60-minute cruise boards along the lively Toronto Harbourfront Centre – a revitalized area of Toronto which is known for hosting live music, art fairs, festivals, and more.
Once onboard, you’ll enjoy sailing past some of Toronto’s most famous sights. Enjoy views of the CN Tower, Rogers Center, HTO Park, Sugar beach, and more as you sail around Toronto’s inner harbor. Live commentary with stories about Toronto’s sights and history is also provided.
Other Benefits of the Toronto CityPASS
Skip the Line – The biggest downside to sightseeing (besides the expense) is waiting around in long lines. The Toronto CityPASS saves you time and money by letting you skip the ticket line at most of the attractions.
No Need to Rush – One of the nice things about the Toronto CityPASS is that it’s valid for nine days, meaning there’s no need to rush. You can spread out your sightseeing and enjoy all five attractions at your leisure.
Mobile Tickets – I like that the Toronto CityPASS offers mobile tickets. When purchasing online, your tickets will be emailed to you. You can then store and use them on your smartphone for ultimate convenience or print them off if you prefer a hard copy.
Varied Selection – The Toronto CityPASS is small but mighty, packing a lot of variety into its six attractions. You’ve got a landmark tower, a major museum, a castle, a zoo, a science center, and a cruise. It’s a well-rounded sample of what Toronto has to offer.
Save Time With the Toronto CityPASS – Get the Toronto CityPASS and fast-track your way into the best sights in town! Just skip that line and go right in. Get your Toronto CityPASS here.
Where the Pass Falls Short
The Toronto CityPASS offers allows you to visit some of Toronto’s major tourist attractions for 42% less than you’d pay at the gate. If that sounds like a good deal, that is because it is.
However, there are some drawbacks worth mentioning.
If you’re used to all-inclusive passes like the New York Pass, you might be disappointed with the Toronto CityPASS for a few reasons.
For one thing, it’s far from comprehensive. I mean, no pass includes absolutely everything, but some of the best all-inclusive sightseeing passes come pretty close. The New York Pass includes over 100 attractions. Obviously, Toronto isn’t NYC, but it certainly has more than 6 attractions worth checking out.
The pass would benefit from something for sports fans – maybe a tour of the Rogers Centre? With only six attractions, there isn’t room for everything, but swapping out the Science Centre for something sports-related would diversify the selection.
A closely related point is that the 42% in savings you’ll get with the Toronto CityPASS pales compared to the 55% you can get with passes in some other cities. But hey, it’s still saves you quite a bit – especially if you’re going with more than one adult!
That said, at the time of writing, I am not aware of any all-inclusive sightseeing pass available for Toronto. It looks like this is as good as it gets.
Who Should Consider the Toronto CityPASS
- First-time Visitors – If you’re headed to Toronto for the first time, chances are these attractions are on your wish list. Why not do them for less?
- Anyone Looking for a Little of Everything – As I mentioned before, the Toronto CityPASS offers a varied selection, giving travelers a diverse experience.
- Travelers Who Will Visit All Five Attractions – If you’re interested in all of the included attractions, the Toronto CityPASS should be an easy decision. You’ll get to skip the ticket lines and save 42%!
Who Should Skip the Toronto CityPASS
- Sports Fans – Although the Toronto CityPass’ selection is fairly eclectic, there’s nothing on the menu for sports fans.
- Repeat Visitors – This may not apply across the board, but if you’ve been to Toronto a few times, you’ve likely already done all of the attractions on this pass – maybe more than once. The Royal Ontario Museum always has new exhibits worth seeing, but you probably don’t need to do the CN Tower and Casa Loma multiple times.
- Travelers Who Aren’t Interested in Paid Sightseeing – If you don’t really have a sightseeing agenda, you can skip the Toronto CityPASS and save your money. If your budget is really tight, the same thing goes. Focus on free or low-cost experiences instead.
Tips for Using the Pass
Visit All Five Attractions – This should be obvious, but if you want to get the best value from the Toronto CityPASS, you need to visit all five attractions. It’s still worth it if you’ll visit four, but visiting three may or may not save you anything, depending on your choices.
Choose the Mot Expensive Options – The Ontario Science Centre is the least expensive option on the list. So, if you want to save the full 42%, you should skip the Science Centre. With that said, it is still a great option – it just won’t allow you to save the most money.
Buy Your Pass Ahead of Time – You can buy the Toronto CityPASS at any of the attractions but I recommend buying it online so you don’t get stuck waiting in a long line.
How to Buy the Toronto CityPASS
If you’re ready to grab your Toronto CityPASS, you can buy it online here.
After purchasing the pass, you’ll receive an email with your tickets. From there, use your mobile phone to present your tickets at each attraction. If you’d rather have a hard copy, you can also print your tickets out and carry them with you.
Either way, simply scan your tickets at your first attraction to activate your pass. You’ll then have nine days to visit all five attractions!
Toronto CityPASS Review: Can It Save You Money?
In a word, yes.
If you’re interested in visiting at least four of the included attractions, the Toronto CityPASS is a smart buy that will save you money. Maximum savings comes when you use the pass for the five most expensive attractions.
Although you won’t save as much as you do with passes in other cities, you’ll still save up to 42% over the regular gate prices. Since the Toronto CityPASS is the only game in town, I’ll take it.
Save Time and Money with the Toronto CityPASS! Save up to 42% on your sightseeing costs and skip the ticket lines at the busiest attractions! Just show your pass at the gate, and use the extra time to get more out of your day. Grab your Toronto CityPASS here.
Toronto CityPASS Review
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Toronto CityPASS Review Summary
The Toronto CityPASS provides access to five of Toronto’s top six attractions for one low price. All passes include single-entry to the CN Tower, plus you get to choose from four of the remaining five attractions for your other options. When compared to paying regular admission prices, the Toronto CityPASS can help you save up to 42%.
If you are going to Toronto and want to visit at least four of the attractions on the Toronto CityPASS, it’s a smart buy that will save you money. Maximum savings comes when you use the pass for all five attractions.
Although you won’t save as much as you do with passes in other cities, you’ll still save a nice amount over regular gate prices. Since the Toronto CityPASS is the only game in town, it may be a good option for your trip.
