Ripley's Aquarium of Canada - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
4.5
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
About
Explore the Waters of the World at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto at the base of the CN Tower, the aquarium is Toronto's must-see attraction for tourists and locals of all ages. Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure. The Aquarium features North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel with more than 5.7 million litres of water and over 100 interactive opportunities. Get up close and personal with several touch exhibits featuring horseshoe crabs, sharks, scarlet cleaner shrimp, and stingrays as well as daily dive shows every 2 hours. This awe-inspiring attraction consists of nine carefully curated galleries showcasing a cross section of saltwater and freshwater environments from around the world – starting with species from Toronto’s backyard, the Great Lakes basin.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: CityPlace
How to get there
  • Union • 7 min walk
  • St. Andrew • 7 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • ViviViviZ
    Richmond Hill, Canada73 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great aquarium
    Really fun place! The fish were so cute, and I really enjoyed watching the sharks, stingrays and sea turtle. There was a pool where you could touch stingrays, and that was a lot of fun. Gift shop items are a bit pricey, but I'm happy with my purchases nonetheless. Would definitely recommend for families with kids, and animal lovers.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 20, 2023
  • Family5GetAway
    St. John's, Canada321 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great place to visit
    Enjoyed our visit to the aquarium. Liked the lay out and the displays, We were there as soon as they opened to avoid the crowds. Unfortunately a school field trip landed the same time so it was very congested and LOUD with students running all around us, but once we let them get ahead of us it was a better visit. I liked the movator through the tunnels filled with fish, you could slowly move while focusing on your surroundings. The sharks, sea turtles and stingrays were abundant and wonderful to see. At the end there is a very large touch tank where you can touch stingrays. That was my favorite part.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 26, 2023
  • SRA54
    Dublin, Ireland62 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Super day out. Gorgeous displays of fish
    Absolutely amazing experience. All the various zones of marine life, different fish & lots of touch information. Takes about 1.5 hours at a nice pace. The tanks are so beautifully lit, and being so close to the fish is a fantastic experience. To see their eyes, teeth, gills, and scales is so fascinating. The moving walkway is such a novel idea that it keeps things going without the crush of crowds. The children zones are fun and interactive. They even popped their heads up under displays to give the impression of them being underwater. Fab day out, highly recommend. Our favourites were the turtles and jellyfish.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written June 28, 2023
  • Jamie P
    Rochester, New York71 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Large, fun and informative!
    Amazing!!! We loved it 👍🏼😊 everything was clean and easy to see and find our way around. So many educational signs for our kids to read and informative dive show with knowledgeable staff! Very large gift shop with lots of options. Sting ray touch pool was fun! Easy to find, parking downtown is pricey but close by. Near a few restaurants and other downtown area attractions. So much fun!!!
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a positive review! We’re so glad you and your family loved seeing our stunning animals. We hold our facility to our highest standards and are committed to our animals conservation as well as the education and entertainment of our visitors. We hope to see you again soon!
    Written July 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written July 4, 2023
  • Hassan G
    Chicago, Illinois10 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good for the most part
    We felt it was good for the most part. A little pricy but what isn't these days. The Aquarium is small and the exhibits are interesting for the most part but it was the end that kind of made up and we felt it was worth it. They had an open area where stingrays were swimming and you could pet them and the kids enjoyed that tremendously and didn't want to leave.
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a positive review! We’re so glad you and your family loved seeing our amazing animals and hope you had an unbelievable time. See you again soon!
    Written July 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 6, 2023
  • squinn13
    Cambridge, Massachusetts225 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great displays
    The aquarium is great, but people suck. I'd advise they let in people at a slower rate, way too crowded. But the displays and tanks were great. I visited with someone who has limited mobility and the swarms of people made it tough.
    Thank you for taking the time to share your review with us, and we're glad to hear you enjoyed our exhibits! We have extended our hours to 9:00am - 11:00pm, and suggest visitors swim by outside of our peak traffic hours if possible (which are 11:00am - 5:00pm). While we don’t move guests along from viewing exhibits, we trust that the majority of people who are coming to the aquarium are respectful of other people and we are sorry you encountered people who were not. Thank you again for reaching out, we appreciate the feedback as we are always looking for ways to improve!
    Written July 19, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2023
    Written July 7, 2023
  • N S
    Calgary, Canada6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth the trip
    Excellent experience our family really enjoyed our day. We pre-purchased tickets and were able to enter efficiently without any delay, at first some crowding at the exhibits but it evend out once we got going. The moving sidewalk was the right speed and our small daughter was amazed at the fish. Our mother who is a senior really enjoyed the visit. Overall good value recommend
    Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us! We are thrilled to hear you and your whole family enjoyed our aquarium. We hope you visit us again soon!
    Written August 16, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written August 8, 2023
  • Marilyn M
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must give this a shot!
    Amazing! Right from the start. Got there for Sharks after Dark. Staff helped us in securing a wheelchair for my husband to make it much more accessible. Lots of staff wandering around, answering questions and making sure everything was okay. The stingrays were amazing as were the facts and information provided. 100% recommend. Even my 14 year old wants to go back!
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a FIN-omenal review! We're thrilled to hear you and your family enjoyed visiting us. We look forward to seeing you again!
    Written September 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written August 16, 2023
  • Matthew C
    Basingstoke, United Kingdom308 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic Aquarium
    Well stocked Aquarium in the heart of Toronto. Lots of stuff for the kids to see and do. We went mid afternoon and found long queues, these moved reasonably quickly but I felt a bit bottleneckd’ in at the beginning of the exhibit. Too many people making mini films and selfies, hogging the first sections. Best bit for me was the slow moving floor underneath the vast pool. The kids will love it.
    Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback! We're happy to hear you and your family enjoyed our amazing animals. We hope you visit us again soon!
    Written September 14, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written August 26, 2023
  • ellar03
    Portsmouth, United Kingdom47 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good fun for all ages
    A really great aquarium. The moving floor in one section helps set a good pace. Flow of the aquarium makes it easy to see everything and the range of info (from the species to the centre’s filtration system) satisfies a range of audiences. Would recommend going outside of school holidays if you want a quieter experience but my visit was pleasant regardless. Gift shop if pricey as expected but has a good range of items available.
    Thank you for taking the time to share your positive review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed our amazing animals and seeing how our system works for the building. Come back any time!
    Written November 3, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written September 1, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles20,726 reviews
Excellent
12,719
Very good
5,957
Average
1,538
Poor
322
Terrible
190

Chris
United States94 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Solo
I really enjoyed my trip to the Ripley's Aquarium. I bought the 2 for 1 ticket that gives you access to the CN Tower and Aquarium at a discounted rate. I would suggest that plan to anyone who intends to do both, as it was quite a nice savings and they're right next to each other. I did both activities back to back. The Aquarium itself is pretty big and has a lot of different areas. The only thing I felt it was lacking was some individual animal exhibits. Most of the fish were all grouped together in a few giant tanks. I was really hoping to see some Sea Lions or more exotic animals, but unfortunately they are not available to see at Ripley's. The place is very kid friendly, which is good for families, but if you're going alone or in a small group, sometimes the kids can get in the way of the sections while you're trying to focus. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I spent 2 hours inside. Thank you Ripley's Aquarium of Canada for a very good aquatic experience.
Written May 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kelly H.
Madison, WI55 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
We took our two 7 year olds here on our first day in Toronto. It’s an absolute must do if you’re here with kids. They loved seeing all the fish up close, including the opportunity to see sharks and stingrays. About halfway through the museum, there’s a large, interactive water table that’s great for kids who need sensory and/or hands on time. There’s also a cafe and large play area right there. My only complaint was that it was very crowded and noisy with many different large school groups there. It was a bit overwhelming at times for my daughter who has sensory processing challenges. We bought the ticket bundle with the CN Tower which was well worth it as it’s right next door.
Written May 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Thomas M
Mount Pleasant, SC51 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
Best aquarium we have visited, and we have been to many all over the country and in other countries. It is well-designed, the interactive exhibits work, and the moving sidewalk through the large tanks is a brilliant way to move things along and provide everyone with great views. Bravo!
Written May 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the fantastic review! We appreciate you sharing your experience with us, and are thrilled you love our aquarium just as much as we do!
Written May 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Egypt3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Business
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Written May 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PreciousFamilyTime
Sherwood Park, Canada4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
This is a must see attraction. My grandson and I went hours before a Blue Jay's game so it was very busy. The set-up and interactive activities made the price of admission well worth it. We would have stayed longer but we had to get to the game!
Written May 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the fantastic review! We appreciate you sharing your experience with us, and are thrilled you and your grandson loved visiting our aquarium!
Written May 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Blue Marigold
England, UK32 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
Seriously. I can't understand why in this day and age you're letting people pet the rays. Visited today and there were kids and adults lined up with their hands in the water. Then some Chinese woman starts shouting with no manners about not moving their hands in the water. Why not inform people politely, better still, don't let people put their hands in if it scares them. Absolutely stupid. Makes no sense.
Written April 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We will pass this along to our team, and we appreciate all feedback as we're always looking for ways to improve!
Written May 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Sławomir D
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Couples
Amazing place, accourate as good for families as for couples/simgles in all ages. You can enjoy and dive into a sea World!
Written April 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for leaving an awesome review! We’re excited to welcome you back to our aquarium again soon!
Written May 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Eny
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
Fun activity for my kids, they had so much fun, will be back again, we are already planning our next trip to be back next month
Written April 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a positive review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed your visit with us, and we’d love to see you again!
Written May 21, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tori R
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Family
All the marine creatures were absolutely amazing my kids loved it very interactive my kids loved the sharks absolutely their favourite I would suggest it very much
Written March 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so glad you enjoyed our aquarium!
Written April 2, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

FortyForkFun
Oakville, Canada74 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Visiting the Riley’s Aquarium in Toronto with my family on a Sunday was an enjoyable experience. Despite it being a weekend, the crowds were manageable. The Sharks zone particularly stood out as our favorite part, with sharks and a sea turtle swimming right above our heads, creating a special moment. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience for both kids.

The stingray display was indeed impressive. It featured a good number of stingrays, and our children thoroughly enjoyed observing and interacting with them.

The jellyfish wall was mesmerizing, especially with its translucent colors. It was a captivating sight to watch.

The playground area may not be extravagant, but my 7-year-old still found enjoyment there. Despite its modest size, it's well-maintained.

The cleanliness of the washrooms was commendable, although there was a lingering smell of urine despite the presence of cleaning staff, and the Dyson dryers were out of order.

While the Aquarium does offer some food options, I would suggest bringing your own snacks and water bottles, as the snack area lacks ventilation and offers limited food choices. It’s advisable to eat before or after your visit to avoid discomfort.

In terms of transportation, if you're close to a Go train station, simply taking the train is convenient, with the Union stop being a short 5-minute walk away. This makes getting to the Aquarium hassle-free.
Written March 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for leaving such a detailed review - we are glad you enjoyed your visit! We spoke to our housekeeping team and the driers were off for some short maintenance at the time and were back operational shortly after. We do not allow any outside food or drinks inside the aquarium, and we suggest checking them at coat check or visiting our café. Thank you again!
Written March 26, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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Ripley's Aquarium of Canada - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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