Looking for fun family indoor activities to save your family’s Toronto vacation from dreary, rainy weather or below freezing temperatures? This article, which lists indoor fun family attractions and indoor amusements centres in the City of Toronto, is sure to help.
Rain, shine, or snow these places are fun places to visit, whether you are a city resident or a tourist. This article might also serve as your go-to list for inclement weather family’s day out ideas. Most of these places hold birthday parties, camps and few indoor playground offers child minding facilities.All the places can be reached easily through TTC / public transit and parking is available on site or in immediate vicinity at all places.
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*Hours and Admission prices are indicative can vary without notice.
Contents:
Indoor Family Tourist Attractions
Indoor Family Amusement Centres
I. Indoor Family Attractions
1. Ontario Science Centre
What to do: A great family fun destination for all ages, Ontario Science Centre focusses on hands on learning experience and teaching science through play. Learn how your brain functions, explore space, watch live demonstrations, participate in special programs and watch IMAX films in this interactive science museum. The science has special programming during holidays and PA days, making it a MUST visit during holidays.
Trip planning:
Located almost in the centre of City of Toronto, at 770 Don Mills Road (at the corner of Eglinton Avenue East), the science centre is easily accessible, and parking is available onsite.
Hours: Daily, Year round, closed on December 25.
Monday through Friday @ 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Weekends & Holidays @ 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
General Admission: Adult (18-64) : $22; Youth (13-17): $16; Child (3-12) :$13; Infant (2& under): FREE
Winter Attractions in Toronto
2. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
What to do: Canada’s largest indoor aquarium, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, features over thousands of fascinating fishes and menacing sea creatures: everything from barracudas, to rays, to jellyfish, octopi, moray eels and giant sharks!
With educational behind the scenes tour, in-water experience with Cownose and Southern Stingrays, and 100’s of interactive displays, the aquarium has plenty of fun programming to keep the little and the big marine life enthusiast delighted.
Trip planning:
The aquarium is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, next to the Rogers Centre and CN Tower at 288 Bremner Boulevard.
Hours: Open daily, 365 days a year from 09:00 AM – 11:00 PM. – December 25th included. Check the calendar before planning your trip (might close early) and book online.
General Admission: $35 for Adults, $24 for Youths and Seniors, and $12 for Children (Ages 3-5).
3. Royal Ontario Museum
What to do: Perfect visit for the young and budding palaeontologist, Royal Ontario Museum opens up a world of learning through touchable specimens for kids, hands on galleries that showcases natural history, magnificent displays of earth’s treasures, ancient artifacts, Egyptian mummies and more!
The Bat cave, the gallery of the Age of Mammals that traces lifeforms from 65 million years, the Schad Gallery that displays animal forms , Gallery of Birds which features 100’s of mounted bird species will make the trip truly memorable for the whole family.
Trip planning:
Located at 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto. Paid parking is available near by and ROM is easily accessible through public transit.
Hours: Daily, year round except for December 25. Monday to Thursday | 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM;
Friday: 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday| 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
General Admission: Adult: $16; Student (15 – 25): $14.50; Senior (65+): $14.50; Child: (4 – 14): $13; Infant (0-3): Free
Indoor Things to Do & See in Toronto, Scarborough, NorthYork, Etobicoke for Kids & Families
4. The Toronto Zoo
What to do: Trek through Americas indoor pavilion and see Massasauga rattlesnake, golden lion tamarin, native reptiles & birds; enjoy the antics the gorillas at African Rainforest Pavilion; see the varieties of human ‘cousins’ – white-handed gibbons, Sumatran orangutans at Indo-Malaya Pavilion; the Clouded leopards Malayan Woods Pavilion and do not miss the trip to the down under to see tree kangaroo, coral reef life at the Australasia Pavilion.
If it is raining when you reach the zoo, visit Indo-Malaya, African – Rainforest, and Giraffe Pavilion first(take left from the carousel) . By the time you finish here, the sky would have cleared (hopefully!).
The temperate conservatories and pavilions are kept at tropical temperatures, making the zoo a perfect visit when the weather is freezing cold!
Trip planning:
Located at 2000 Meadowvale Road, Toronto : North of Hwy 401 on Meadowvale Road in Scarborough (~ 6 km from Toronto East city limit). Two TTC routes to the zoo.
Hours: Open 364 days a year. Closed on Dec 25.
March 19 to May 4: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM weekdays & 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM weekends/holidays
May 5 – Labour Day: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily
Day after Labour Day to Thanksgiving Monday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 AM weekdays & 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM weekends/holidays
Winter: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM daily. Last admission one hour before closing.
Admission: General Admission (ages 13 – 64):$29.00/ $23.00 ; Senior ( 65+): $24.00/ $18.00
Child (3 – 12): $19.00/ $14.00; Child (2 and younger): Free. Parking: $10.00
5. The Hockey Hall of Fame
Trip planning: Located at 30 Yonge Street Toronto, at the corner of Yonge & Front Sts. in Brookfield Place lower concourse level.
Hours: Open on all days except Christmas Day, New Year’s Day & Induction Day.
Monday to Friday: 10:00AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday: 9:30 AM – 06:00 PM; Sunday : 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM; Until 06:00 PM during Christmas & March break.
Admission: General: $18.00; Youth (4 -13) $12.00; Senior (65yrs+) $14.00; Children 3 & under Free
6. Casa Loma
Trip Planning:
Located at 1 Austin Terrace – NW corner of Spadina Road & Davenport Road intersection. Paid parking available on site.
Hours: Open daily from 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
December 24 : 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM; December 25th – Closed
Admission:
Adults (18-59): $24.00
Seniors (60+)/Youth (14 – 17) : $18.00; Children (4-13): $14.00. Includes tax.
7. Art Gallery of Ontario
Trip Planning:
Located at 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto. Paid parking available near by.
Hours: Mondays & December 25 Closed.
Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday : 10:00 AM – 05:30 PM; Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM. Hours vary for X-mas holidays.
Admission:
General: $19.50; Senior (65+): $16; Student: $11; Youth (6-17): $11;
Family Pass: $49 (2+5)
8. The Toronto Police Museum & Discovery Centre
What to do: With really ‘cool’ displays of police history in Toronto that ranges from horses to Harley-Davidson bikes, artifacts like badges, uniforms, court evidences makes a visit to the Toronto Police Museum & Discovery Centre truly interesting! Kids will can also have a whale of a time examining police car, hearing the siren , and enjoying pretend play ‘jail time’.
Trip Planning:
The museum is located in the atrium at Police Headquarters building at 40 College Street, Toronto. Paid parking available near by.
Hours: Monday to Friday | 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; MUST be booked in advance and must hand-in their booking receipt.
Admission: Adults $3.00 Seniors (65+): $2.00; Children(12-) : $1.00
9. Bata Shoe Museum
Trip planning:
Located at 327 Bloor St. West, in downtown Toronto. Paid parking available near by.
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Admission: Adults: $14; Senior: (65+) $12; Students: $8; Children: (5-17 ) : $5; children (5-): Free; Families(2+4): $35.00
Every Thursday evening: between 5:00 PM – 08:00 PM, PWYC
10. George Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art
What to do: This gem of a museum devoted to ceramic art might just introduce you or your little one to a new hobby. Discover the world of ceramics from Japanese Porcelain collection to Mesoamerica collection at the Gardiner museum: only museum in Canada exclusively dedicated to ceramic art. Special programming on family day sundays for children.
Trip planning:
Located at 111 Queen’s Park, Toronto, the museum is located across the Royal Ontario Museum.
Hours: Open daily, closed December 25 & January 1.
Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 06:00 PM; Friday: 10:00 AM – 09:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Admission: Adults: $15.00; Seniors: $11.00; Students: $9.00; Children(12-): Free
See the article Free activities in Toronto, for cheaper ways to explore Toronto
11. Toronto Historic Sites
What to do: Explore City of Toronto’s ten Historic sites located across Toronto and get to know the history of the City. Scarborough Museum, Colborne Lodge, and Mackenzie House almost always have special programs for children during weekends and holidays. Some programs might require pre-registration.
Trip planning:
Scarborough Museum: 1007 Brimley Road, Toronto (weekend drop in programs are PWYC)
Colborne Lodge: South end of High Park on Colborne Lodge Drive, 11 Colbourne Lodge Dr, Toronto
Mackenzie House: 82 Bond Street, Toronto
For hours, admission and programs,see link above.
If you have older kids (teens) -Check out Design Exchange.
II. Indoor Family Amusement Centre in Toronto
Hours and pricing are indicative. They may vary without notice. Please verify from official websites.
1. Playground Paradise
Fun things to do: Go down the spiral slide, swing on the track ride, climb the cargo elevator, and play in the ball pit! Paradise.
Ages: Upto 12 years.
Trip planning:
Location: Flemingdon Community Centre,150 Grenoble Drive, North York, Toronto. Ph: 416-395-6014
Hours: Monday, Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Monday, Wednesday, Friday |1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 4:00 PM 6:00 PM. & 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Saturday and Sunday: 12:30 PM- 2:30 PM & 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Admission: $2.50 Per Child for 2 Hours / $2.50 Flatrate for March Break (Hours vary for March Break)
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2. Skyzone Indoor Trampoline Park
Fun things to do: Jump in to have fun at the Trampoline Park.
Ages: Toddler & up
Trip planning:
Location: 45 Esandar Drive – Unit 1A, Toronto. Ph: 416-421-4567
Hours: Mondays: Closed; Tuesday to Thursday: 4:00PM – 9:00PM; Friday: 12:00PM – 11:00PM
Saturday: 10:00AM – 9:00PM; Sunday: 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Admission: 30 minutes: $10.00; 60 minutes: $15.00
3. Kids Fun City
Fun things to do: 11,000 sq. ft of fun featuring arcade games, laser tag, mini golf, bowling & gated area for toddlers with bouncy castles, and tube slides. Kids Fun City.Ages: Toddler & up
Trip planning:
Location: 150 Lesmill Road, Unit 300, Toronto. Ph: 416 444 4386
Hours: Wednesday – Friday | 12:00 PM. – 6:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission: $10.00 per child for 2 hour unlimited use of the Arcade Zone, Mini Golf, Laser Frenzy, Atomic Rush, Indoor Playground and Toddler Area. $4.oo extra for bowling.
2 adults free with paying child.
Rainy Day Activities in Toronto
4. Fantasy Fair
Fun things to do: Bumper cars, Ferris Wheel, Arcade games, Carousel, Spinners and other similar amusement park activities. Also Fantasy Fair also has special events daily featuring appearances by magicians, jugglers and clowns.
Ages: Toddler & up
Trip planning:
Located in Woodbine Shopping Centre (North West corner of Hwy. 27 & Rexdale Blvd), 500 Rexdale Blvd, Etobicoke. Ph: 416-674-5437
Hours: Holiday Hours (exceptions apply): Monday – Thursday | 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday Closed; Friday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Statutory Holidays 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Admission: Admission Free. Rides ticketed.Holiday & Weekend Rates (Friday – Sunday)
Children’s All Day Pass (under 36″): $18.00; Children’s All Day Pass (under 54″): $22.00;
Weekday admission is cheaper.
5. Just For Fun
Fun things to do: Multi-level climber, 16 foot slides and trampolines, toddler climbers, laser tag arena, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course, Foosball, air hockey and arcade basketball games. Just for Fun.
Ages: Babies and up.
Trip planning:
Located at 689 Warden Avenue, Unit #1, Scarborough. Ph: 416-750-1337
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 PM – 07:00 PM; Friday: 10: 00 AM – 08:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday: 09:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission: Child (4+) : $6.50 per child (Mon – Thurs); Child (4+) : $8.00 (Fri – Sun)
Child(1 – 3) : $5.00; Child under 1 : $2.00 (free if accompanied by older sibling). Accompanying adults free.
Laser Tag: $5.00 per person for one 12 minute game
Mini Putt: $4.00 per person for one round
6. Monkey Magoo’s Party & Playhouse
Fun things to do: Indoor playground with climber, ride-on toys and slides, play houses, castles and club houses, ball-pit, Small trampoline, craft table, Dress-up costumes and more! They also hold “Parents Night Out” days. Details
Ages: Babies and up.
Trip planning:
Located at 1212 Kingston Rd., Toronto. Ph: 416-693-1048
Hours: September to June: Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Birthday parties – Weekend.
Drop-in Admission: One child: $8; Each additional child: $6.50
Groups of 10 or more: $5.50 (per child); Kids under 1 year: FREE; Parents & caregivers: FREE
7. BizzyBee Playcentre
Fun things to do: Playroom complete with slide and ballpit, dress-up play area, paints and crafts, construction play, and an infant zone. They also have drop-off child care, birthday & holiday parties and parent/child programs. Details
Ages: Babies and up.
Trip planning:
Located at The Beach Mall, 1971 Queen St E Suite 204, Toronto. Ph: (416) 691.5111
Drop-in Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:15 AM- 4:00 PM; Friday & Saturday: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM Weekends – call for hours.
Drop-in Admission: One child $6, each additional child $5. Caregivers/non-walkers are free.
8. Kidnetix Edu-Play Centre
Fun things to do: Playground with climbers, a ball pit, little tyke ride on toys, rock climbing walls, Lego wall, arcade games, an inflatable bouncer and more! Details
Ages: Babies and up.
Trip planning: Located at 100 Bridgeland Ave. Unit#1, North York. Ph: 416-904-2556
Drop-in Hours: Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM – 03:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM (weekends – call for free hours)
Drop-in Admission: $8.00 per Child max of 2 adults per child
9. The Children’s Storefront
Fun things to do: Drop in for babies/kids and caregivers. Interactive play and other enriching toys available.
Ages: Babies and young children.
Trip planning:
Located at 826 Bloor St W, Toronto. Ph: 416-531-8151
Hours: Spring/Summer: Monday closed, Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM & Friday: 09:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Fall/Winter:Monday closed, Tuesday – Thursday: 9:00 AM 6:00 PM & Friday: 09:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Admission Drop -in: Free
10. Extreme Fun Indoor Playground
Fun things to do: 5500 square foot facility with 15 foot play structure, giant jumping castle, dress-up corner, the air hockey and foosball tables, the basket ball nets and much more.
Ages: Babies & up.
Trip planning:
Located at 186 Bartley Drive, North York. Ph: (416) 757-8777
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:30 AM- 3:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday: call ahead.
Admission Drop -in: General admission: $7; Sibling discount: $5; Sibling under 1 year: FREE when accompanied by paid sibling.
11. Active Kids Zone
Fun things to do: Full size gym, a 3,000 sq. ft. Indoor Playground and additional party rooms. They also summer camps and March break/winter camps.
Ages: 1+
Trip planning:
Located at 951 Alness St, Toronto. Ph: (416) 650-5060
Drop-in Hours: Monday to Wednesday & Friday: 09:000 AM – 03:00 PM
Admission Drop -in: 3 years and older- $10 & Under 3 years- $7
12. Amazon Indoor Playground
Fun things to do: Indoor playground with 2 level climber,ride-on toys, ball pit and trampoline.
Ages: 6 months – 6 years
Trip planning:
Located at 1500 Royal York Road, Toronto. Ph: 416 245 1459
Hours: Hours Vary as drop-in hours may be booked for parties. – See the calendar on the website.
Monday to Thursday 10:00 AM- 6:00 PM
Fridays 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Saturday & Sunday See the calendar on the website or call ahead.
Admission Drop -in: One child $10, Sibling: $7; Infants: 6- 11 mths $5; Infant 0-5 months free
13. Pursuit OCR
Fun things to do: Primarily an adult indoor playground, this 10000 sq.ft obstacle course/fitness-based playground, offers activities and fitness-related fun for kids under 12, on Sundays during family open park play days. Play your best.
Ages: Older kids & Adults
Trip planning:
Located at 444 Dufferin St, Toronto. Ph: 647-467-8444
Hours – Family open park play days: Sundays: 07:00 AM – 12:00 PM; Rest of the days for Adults only (7:00 AM – 11:00 PM)
Admission Sundays for kids: $10.00; Adults supervising children are free.
14. Looking Glass Adventures
Fun things to do: Escape Game for the whole family.
Ages: Kids any age are welcome.
Trip planning:
Located at 2200 Danforth Ave, Toronto. Ph: (647) 498-5596
Hours – By appointment
Admission: $25 per adult, $15 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. A minimum of 3 adults are required to play the game
15. Laser Tag
Location: 980 Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough Ph: (416) 285-1333
Hours vary each day, check the calendar at the link above.
Admission: Regular Game $9.00 – 30 minutes game from start to finish.
(This is not the typical laser tag – similar to paint ball except uses 2″ glow-in-the -dark spongeball)
Ages: 6+
Location: 3475 Danforth Avenue, Toronto Ph: 416-691-1919
Hours: Friday: 04:00 PM – 09:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Rates: $24.95 per person for 2 hour session.
16. Go Karts
Enjoy playing Glow in the Dark mini golf here.
Mini Golf Round 18 Holes $8.95 per person
Mini Golf Day Pass (1:00 PM – 04:00 PM): $15.99 per person
Ages: 5+
Location: 37A Stoffel Road, Toronto. Ph: 416-614-6789.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday-Saturday: 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM;
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Rates: 20 laps $20.00
Ages 10+ & 48″
Location: 75 Carl Hall Road, Bay 3, Unit #9, Parc Downsview Park, Toronto. Ph: 416.638.5278
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 06:00 PM – 12:00 AM; Friday : 5:00 PM – 02:00 AM
Saturday & Holidays: 12:00 PM – 02:00 AM; Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Closed Dec 24 & 25, 2016
Rates: Adult karts: $22.13 & up per race & Youth karts: $15.00 & up per race
17. Bowling
Family specials, Holidays & Weekend programming also available here.
Location: 33 Samor Rd., Toronto. Ph: 416 787-4533
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 12 AM; Friday – Sunday: 11 AM – 2:00 AM. Closed Dec 25.
Rates: $4.99/game/person & up with many options available.
3 locations in City of Toronto. See link for hours & rates : dependent on locations.
1. West – 5429 Dundas St. W, Etobicoke
2. Rexdale – 115 Rexdale Blvd, Etobicoke
3. Newtonbrook – 5837 Yonge St, North York
Open daily, year round. Also on X-mas day.
Location: 2788 Bathurst Street (at Glencairn), North York Ph: 416-782-1841
18. Archery District
Play Archery tag with foam-tipped arrows and bows with specific instructions according to the game.
Ages: 12+
Location: 770 Birchmount Rd, Unit 22, Scarborough. Ph: (647) 955-3111
Hours: Monday – Thursday: 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM – 01:00 AM; Saturday: 10:00 AM – 01:00 AM; Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Rates: $24.80 per person per hour (50 minutes play) – including equipment rental.
19. Chuck E Cheese’s
Slides, arcades, rides and similar amusements for children.
Location: 2452 Sheppard Avenue E, North York. Ph: 416-497-8855
Hours: Sunday – Thursday : 11:00 AM – 09:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Rates: Free admission, game tokens required for playing.
19. City of Toronto’s Leisure Centres
Drop in for indoor swim, skate, sports and many other programs offered by the city at your nearest leisure centre.
Note: Hours & Rates (may or may not include taxes) are indicative. Please verify all details from official websites.
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View Comments (2)
Omgg I found so much stuff do to with my family! Thanks a bunch!
Well this is awesome! as a limo rental business owner, I am always being asked about things to do. I will definitely be using your list to help me make my recommendations. Thanks a bunch!