Toronto · With kids

Toronto with kids: things to do

By Ramya ChinnaduraiPublished 20 October 2026Updated 20 October 2026

Toronto has a short list of big family stops, and the official pages give useful practical detail on most of them. The CN Tower sells timed tickets that can be booked ahead, Casa Loma has a clear stroller warning, the Toronto Zoo wants you to buy only from its own site, and Centreville on the Toronto Islands has a rule about babies on rides. The city also swings from -1.7 C average highs in January to 27 C in July, so the month you pick shapes the day as much as the sights do.

This page for Toronto uses only the operator, transit and climate pages linked below, opened on 20 October 2026. Where a page did not state a detail, none is printed here. Because prices, opening times and eligibility rules change, none are repeated on this page: check each operator page for the date you plan to travel.

Sights and what suits children

[CN Tower](https://www.cntower.ca/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-hours/tickets). Observation tower with timed general admission. The ticket page says a timed ticket is valid only for the date and entry time you select, though you can stay for the rest of that day, and tickets can be bought up to 30 days ahead. For a family that means booking the entry slot before you leave, then choosing a time that fits nap and meal routines. Children who like heights and views get the most from it, while a child who dislikes glass floors and lifts may find the visit short.

[Casa Loma](https://www.casaloma.ca/plan-your-visit/). A castle that suits children who like towers and winding rooms. The page says strollers are not recommended due to stairs, and the elevator cannot accommodate strollers. In practice, a baby carrier or a folding stroller you can leave at the entrance is easier than a bulky pushchair. Expect a lot of stairs between rooms, so allow time for small legs and for carrying a tired toddler.

[Toronto Zoo](https://www.torontozoo.com/tickets). A large zoo and the natural choice for a full day outdoors. The page tells visitors to buy tickets only on torontozoo.com, so book from the official site and ignore resellers. The grounds are big, so plan a route in advance, bring a stroller or wagon for younger children, and pick two or three animal areas as priorities instead of trying to see everything. Check the operator page on the day for what is open.

[Centreville Amusement Park](https://centreisland.ca/tickets/). Amusement park on the Toronto Islands. The official ticket page says babies and infants who cannot support themselves are not permitted on rides, so a lap baby cannot join a ride. If you have a baby and an older child, one adult can stay with the baby on the grass while the other rides. Check the operator page before you set out, because the park's operating status is listed there and the ferry trip is not worth making without confirming it.

Getting around with children

Riding the TTC. Toronto's public transit network is run by the TTC and covers subway, streetcar and bus routes. Every rider taps their own card, ticket or device, so build in a moment at the gate to sort that out before you have a stroller and bags to manage. The ferry to the Toronto Islands is a separate service, so check its operator for boarding details.

Subway, streetcar and bus. The subway is the fastest way between the downtown sights, and streetcars and buses fill the gaps. For Casa Loma and the zoo, you will usually change between modes, so look at the route on the TTC site the evening before and screenshot it. With a stroller, stations with lifts are far easier than those with stairs, so check the station you plan to use.

Strollers. The TTC fares page does not state a pushchair rule, so none is given here. The one stroller statement on a sight page is from Casa Loma, quoted above.

Transit source: ttc.ca.

Weather in every month

On this table July is the warmest month, with an average high of 27 C, and January is the coolest, with an average high of -1.7 C and an average low of -9.2 C.

Source: climatestotravel.com (1991-2020 averages, with the monthly data collected at Toronto/Buttonville Airport in the north of the city).

Where to stay

Near the CN Tower. Staying downtown puts the tower, the waterfront and the ferry to the islands within a short transit ride or a walk. Because the tower sells timed entry, a hotel nearby lets you keep the slot you booked even if a nap runs long.

Toronto Islands. Centreville sits on the Toronto Islands, so a family with a baby may prefer to base itself on the mainland and visit the islands as a day trip, with the ferry as part of the plan.

The sources linked here do not describe neighbourhoods or hotels, so no area ranking is made.

What each sight suits

• CN Tower: a short, high-impact stop for children who enjoy views, with a timed slot to plan around.
• Casa Loma: older walkers and carrier-wearing parents, because of the stairs and the stroller warning.
• Toronto Zoo: a full day outdoors, with plenty of room for a stroller or wagon.
• Centreville Amusement Park: riders who can sit up unaided, with a plan for any baby in the group.

A rain plan and a first day

Toronto's rain and cold days still leave several options. The CN Tower, Casa Loma and the TTC itself are mostly about moving between indoor stops, so pack layers and a spare set of clothes for small children, and book timed entries so you are not queuing outside. The zoo and the Toronto Islands are the stops that depend on the weather, so keep them for a clearer day and check the forecast the evening before.

For a first day, start with the CN Tower using the timed entry you booked in advance, then ride the TTC to your next stop. Save Casa Loma for a day when you have the energy for stairs, and give the zoo a day of its own, since the grounds are large and children tire quickly.

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