7 Tips For Visiting Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto

Heading to Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto?

Below you will find some very helpful tips for visiting, so you feel more prepared and know what to expect.

Ripley’s is one of the largest aquariums in Canada (although the one in Vancouver is bigger) and one of the most popular attractions in Toronto.

People drive from all over (up to 2 hours away) to go to Ripley’s, it’s definitely one of the top things to do in Toronto with kids.

I’ve been to Ripley’s a few times now – twice with kids, and once for my 30th birthday (adults only) so I’ve seen how it’s changed in many ways over the years.

So, let’s jump in – here are some tips to make your visit to Ripley’s a success!

7 Importnt Tips for Visting Ripley’s Aquarium

1. Avoid peak times

Ripley’s can get INSANELY busy. We went on a Monday in late July.

The crowds inside were so intense, that I swear they must have been violating some sort of fire code.

There so many people that it was hard to move, and you could lose your kids pretty easily. I would definitely recommend coming at times when it’s likely less busy.

Pro Tip: “Peak times” are weekends, and anytime that schools are out (summer break, winter break and March break)

Showing up first thing in the morning is also a way to avoid the crowds – it gets busier as the day goes on. Ripley’s opens at 9am and not very many people show up there that early.

2. Bring a change of clothes

If your kids are younger (under 5 years old) I recommend bringing a change of clothes. There’s a wet water play area, and they could get wet.

Unless you’re carefully preventing it, they could easily get soaked. It would be much more enjoyable to just let them play, and then change their clothes if needed.

3. You can save a few bucks from buying tickets online

You can buy your tickets upon arrival, but buying them online benefits you in two ways:

• It saves time once you arrive, so you can go straight inside without standing in a line to buy tickets
• There’s a small discount for buying your ticket online, especially if you select a timed entry.

A timed entry ticket is $46 per adult, whereas its $50 per adult if you buy a flexible ticket. Whichever you choose, you can buy your tickets on their website here.

4. Avoid driving and parking there. Walk from Union Station instead

My friend drove in from 90 mins out of Toronto meet us at Ripley;s. Parking in that area of Toronto is difficult to find, and very expensive.

Rather than trying to park in the area, I would try to take public transit if you can.

You can easily walk to Ripley’s Aquarium from Union Station in about 10 minutes, and Union Station can be accessed via the subway system or GO-Bus, or Go Train.

Pro Tip: If you do decide to drive and park near Ripley’s, then I recommend budgeting an extra 30-40 minutes in addition to however long Google maps tells you it will take; to factor in unexpected traffic, time to find a parking spot, and then walking to Ripley’s from the parking lot

Closest parking lots to Ripley’s Aquarium

• Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building Parking (4 minute walk)
• Plaza Garage – Lot #344 (7 minute walk)
• Simcoe Place – Lot #436 (8 minute walk)

5. There are some food options inside, but better ones outside

There’s a café inside Ripley’s Aquarium and it has some decent options – mainly fast food.

There were things like:

• grilled cheese
• fries
• hamburgers
• pizza

There are a lot of good restaurants less than a 10-minute walk from the Ripley’s which may offer a better experience (and food.)

Read my post on restaurants near Ripley’s Aquarium.

Pro Tip: On baseball evenings (between May and October) restaurants in the area fill up very quickly for dinner, as the Roger’s Centre is right beside the CN Tower.  The other thing to be aware of is most restaurants in the are strict with their cancellation policies, so don’t be surprised at all if they ask for your credit card to book a table online

6. Heading there with kids? There’s a small playground nearby

On a warm summer’s day, head over to the playground!

It’s called Roundhouse Train Playground, and it would only taker 5-10 minutes to walk over there from Ripley’s.

7. Buy the “Sea the Sky” pass if you want to see the CN Tower too

If you’re coming from out of town and want to make a while day of it, why not check out the CN Tower too?

There’s a special package you can get that includes Ripley’s and the CN Tower. Read my post on whether the CN Tower is worth it.

Places to Stay Overnight Near Ripley’s

• Budget: Pembroke Inn. Cozy apartment just a 15 minute walk from the Dundas square subway station, which could get you to Union in less than 10 minutes. From there, short walk to Ripley’s and many other Toronto attractions
• Mid-range: Chelsea Hotel  Family-friendly hotel located right downtown, just a 2-minute walk from Dundas Square and the subway station
• Luxury: Radission Blu Downtown Toronto Has a rooftop swimming pool with a view of the CN Tower, and just a few minutes walk to Ripley’s

If the above hotels aren’t grabbing you, read my suggestions on other hotels in the Union Station area

Final Thoughts on Ripley’s Aquarium

I hope that the above tips make your visit to Ripley’s more fun, and less stressful. It’s a busy, popular Toronto attraction but definitely worth a visit.