Toronto has 10 completely free family activities and another 8 that cost under $50 for a family of four — which means you can fill two or three full days without spending much at all. The trick is knowing which attractions are worth the splurge and which free options are just as good.
Here's every dollar figure we've tracked across 33 Toronto family activities, organized from free to full-price.
Free Activities in Toronto
These cost nothing for admission, and several could fill an entire day.
High Park (Playground + Zoo) is Toronto's best free outing, period. The zoo, playgrounds, trails, and gardens are all free. Budget $2 if you want to feed the llamas. A family of 4 can spend an entire day here for $0-$20 CAD (~$0-$15 USD).
Riverdale Farm is completely free year-round — $0 CAD. Donations are welcome but not required. Pack snacks since there's no food service on-site.
Scarborough Bluffs offers free parking, free admission, and free beach access. Budget $15-20 only if you're buying food from seasonal vendors at Bluffer's Park.
Nathan Phillips Square is free to visit year-round. Skating in winter is free (bring your own skates to avoid $10-$15 rental fees). The wading pool in summer is free too.
Rouge National Urban Park charges no entry fee and no parking fee — $0 CAD. Even Parks Canada programming like Learn-to-Camp events is free.
St. Lawrence Market has no admission fee. You'll spend $40-$60 CAD (~$29-$44 USD) on food for a family of 4. A peameal bacon sandwich runs about $9, pastries $3-5 each.
Kensington Market is free to explore. Budget $30-$60 CAD (~$22-$44 USD) for street food — empanadas $5-7, tacos $5-8, ice cream $5-7.
Distillery District is free to enter year-round. Budget $30-$80 CAD (~$22-$58 USD) for food and treats. During Winter Village, arrive before 4PM for free admission (kids 9 and under always free).
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
These deliver real value without breaking the budget.
Gardiner Museum — $30 CAD (~$22 USD). All visitors 18 and under are free, so you're only paying for 2 adults at $15 each. Sunday family programs are included with admission.
Textile Museum of Canada — $30-$40 CAD (~$22-$29 USD) for 2 adults at $15 each. Children under 12 are free. Wednesday evenings from 5-6PM are pay-what-you-can.
Bata Shoe Museum — $44 CAD (~$32 USD) for 2 adults at $16 each and 2 children at $6 each. Visit on Sunday for free admission for everyone.
Black Creek Pioneer Village — $52 CAD (~$38 USD) for 2 adults at $15 each and 2 children at $11 each, plus $7 parking. Children 4 and under are free.
Mid-Range Activities ($50-$100 for a Family of 4)
Aga Khan Museum — $60 CAD (~$44 USD) for 2 adults at $20 each and 2 children at $10 each. Children 5 and under are free. Free Wednesday evenings 4-8PM.
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) — $60 CAD (~$44 USD) for 2 adults at $30 each. Ontario residents under 25 get in free with ID. First Wednesday of every month is free from 6-9PM.
Ontario Science Centre — KidSpark at Harbourfront — $60 CAD (~$44 USD) at $15 per person. Children 2 and under are free.
Old Spaghetti Factory — $70-$100 CAD (~$51-$73 USD). Every meal includes bread, soup/salad, main course, and dessert. Kids' meals are $8-12 with the same all-inclusive format.
Toronto Railway Museum — $50-$70 CAD (~$37-$51 USD) for admission plus miniature railway rides. The outdoor Roundhouse Park train playground is free.
Hockey Hall of Fame — $85 CAD (~$62 USD) for 2 adults at $25 each and 2 children at $17.50 each. Kids 3 and under are free. Your admission stamp allows unlimited same-day re-entry.
Pai Northern Thai Kitchen — $80-$120 CAD (~$58-$88 USD) for a family of 4. Order 3-4 dishes family-style plus rice for the best value.
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) — $90-$120 CAD (~$65-$87 USD) for 2 adults at $26-$30 each plus 2 children at $19-$22 each online. Under 3 is free.
Toronto Zoo — $96-$120 CAD (~$70-$87 USD) depending on season, plus ~$15 parking. Summer pricing is actually cheaper than winter. Under 3 is free.
Casa Loma — $100 CAD (~$73 USD) for 2 adults at $30 each and 2 children at $20 each. Includes a self-guided audio tour via mobile app.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park — $100-$140 CAD (~$73-$102 USD) for 1 hour of jumping at about $25-35 per person. Grip socks are $3-5 per pair (reusable).
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
These cost more, but each one delivers something you can't get anywhere else.
Assembly Chef's Hall — $60-$100 CAD (~$44-$73 USD). Technically mid-range, but it solves the biggest family dining problem: everyone picks their own food from different chef-run stalls.
The Rec Room — $120-$180 CAD (~$88-$132 USD). No admission fee — you pay for games ($2-5 per play), food ($40-60), and optional bowling ($20-30). A good 2-3 hour evening out.
Toronto Harbour Boat Tour — $120-$180 CAD (~$88-$132 USD). The Kajama tall ship offers a longer 2-hour sail that's good value. Children under 2 are usually free.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada — $130-$160 CAD (~$95-$116 USD) for 2 adults at $34-$40 each plus 2 children at $25-$30 each. Under 3 is free. The 97-metre underwater tunnel makes it worth the price.
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre — $160 CAD (~$115 USD) at $40 per person. Online advance tickets are $5-10 less per ticket. Children under 2 are free.
CN Tower — $180-$200 CAD (~$130-$145 USD) for 2 adults at $53 each plus 2 children at $43 each. Show a PRESTO card or Blue Jays ticket for 15% off. Kids under 4 are free.
Toronto Islands + Centreville — $210-$230 CAD (~$155-$170 USD) total with ferry, ride passes, and food. Skip the ride passes and explore the island for free — beaches, trails, and playgrounds cost nothing.
Canada's Wonderland — $300-$380 CAD (~$220-$280 USD) for a full day including admission, parking ($30-35), and food ($50-80). After-4PM tickets are available for $30 on select days.
Harbourfront Centre — $30-$60 CAD (~$22-$44 USD) depending on activities. Many events and festivals are free. KidSpark is $15 per person.
Money-Saving Tips in Toronto
- CityPASS Toronto bundles the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo, and Hockey Hall of Fame at a significant discount. If you're hitting 3+ of these, it's worth it.
- PRESTO transit cards get you 15% off at the CN Tower and ROM. GO Transit riders also get discounts.
- Free admission windows: AGO is free the first Wednesday of each month (6-9PM). ROM has free admission the third Tuesday evening. Bata Shoe Museum is free every Sunday. Aga Khan Museum is free Wednesday evenings 4-8PM.
- Toronto Public Library Museum + Arts Pass gets you into the Gardiner Museum, Textile Museum, and others for free. Get one at any library branch.
- Pack lunch and water bottles. Attraction food is consistently marked up 50-100%. Bring empty bottles through security and fill at fountains.
- Buy tickets online. Nearly every paid attraction offers lower prices for online advance purchases — sometimes $5-10 less per ticket.
- Take the TTC. Parking at downtown attractions costs $15-30. A day pass or PRESTO fare is cheaper for a family and sometimes unlocks discounts.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget 1-day itinerary: High Park (free) + St. Lawrence Market lunch ($50) + Nathan Phillips Square (free) = ~$50 CAD total
Mid-range 1-day itinerary: ROM ($100) + lunch at Assembly Chef's Hall ($75) + Distillery District walk (free) = ~$175 CAD total
Splurge 1-day itinerary: CN Tower ($190) + Ripley's Aquarium ($145) + dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory ($85) = ~$420 CAD total
Full 2-day estimate: One budget day + one mid-range day = $225 CAD (~$165 USD). One mid-range day + one splurge day = $595 CAD (~$435 USD).
Bottom Line
Toronto is expensive if you hit every paid attraction, but it doesn't have to be. The free options — High Park, Riverdale Farm, Rouge National Urban Park, Scarborough Bluffs — are genuinely some of the best things to do with kids in the city. Mix one or two paid highlights with free activities each day and you'll keep your budget in check without feeling like you're missing out.