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
Neighborhood: CityPlace
How to get there
  • Union • 7 min walk
  • St. Andrew • 7 min walk
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See what travelers are saying

  • Xochi F
    18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Definitely worth a visit.
    I had a really great time at the aquarium. The tickets for entry are definitely on the more expensive side but in my opinion it was worth it. They had lots of different sea creatures and the variety was great. I loved seeing the sharks, jellyfish, and sea turtles. The touch tanks with sting rays were my friend’s favourite part. All the staff I interacted with were very friendly and helpful. 100% would come back again.
    Thank you for taking the time to leave your review! We hope to SEA you soon!
    Written February 20, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 6, 2024
  • Stefan Overton
    Colchester, United Kingdom229 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Some great interactive elements
    Cost $44 for adult ticket which wasn’t bad. Some interactive elements and has a tunnel walkway with a moving walkway to watch all the Sealife animals above. (Sharks, turtles, fish, stingrays) A really great jellyfish wall where it changes colours which was really cool! Some attractions I would recommend for kids.
    Thank you for taking the time to leave your review! We hope to SEA you soon!
    Written February 20, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 14, 2024
  • Astrid
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It’s expensive but it’s worth it !
    We really enjoyed the visit to the aquarium. There are a lot of different fish and even a passage under the aquarium where we can see fish, sharks, rays and turtles all around us ! Just amazing ! The entrance price is a bit expensive but we really liked our visit. I recommend !
    Thank you for taking the time to send us your feedback!
    Written February 20, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 16, 2024
  • Funfiesta
    Saskatoon, Canada75 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So Much to See!
    Awesome! So great and well worth the trip to see it. I want to go again because I was with my kids and I would love to be able to move along at my leisure and read and see more. But it was the highlight of our March Break!
    Thank you for visiting!
    Written March 26, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 12, 2024
  • familyfun88
    Windsor, Canada43 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Display of Sea Life
    The aquarium can get quite busy, however this does not mean you need to rush through the exhibits. Ticket prices are quite high, so make the most of your visit by taking your time and enjoying all of the sea life at each display before moving on to the next viewing tank. Many people around us were in a hurry to see what was next and overlooked a lot of really fascinating things that blended in with the coral and other features within the tanks.
    We're so glad you enjoyed our aquarium!
    Written March 26, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 14, 2024
  • Rodros
    Brasilia, DF1,401 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Positive surprise
    A very positive surprise, we didn't plan on going to the aquarium at the beginning of the trip, but we were leaving the CN tower and decided to try it. We think it's expensive, but it's worth it, a very rich aquarium with an excellent collection. The jellyfish sector is a unique show!
    Obrigado por reservar um tempo para deixar uma avaliação tão positiva! Ficamos felizes em saber que você gostou da sua visita conosco e adorou as águas-vivas!
    Written May 21, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 29, 2024
  • PreciousFamilyTime
    Sherwood Park, Canada4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see attraction.
    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!
    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.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 3, 2024
  • Thomas M
    Mount Pleasant, South Carolina54 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Aquarium!
    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!
    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.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 20, 2024
  • Kelly H.
    Madison, Wisconsin94 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An absolute must do with kids in Toronto!
    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.
    Hi Kelly! We recommend coming in the evenings during field trip season! We hope to SEA you soon!
    Written June 6, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 24, 2024
  • Chris
    United States97 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is very good, but missing some of my favorite animals
    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.
    Hi there! Thanks for your review! We do not keep aquatic mammals at our facility - but focus on lots of other marine life! Hope to SEA yousoon!
    Written June 6, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written May 26, 2024
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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles20,798 reviews
Excellent
12,760
Very good
5,968
Average
1,547
Poor
327
Terrible
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These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Becky
Boston, MA143 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Nice aquarium and family friendly. There are a lot of well-stocked tanks and tunnel through the main tank was a lot longer than I expected (plenty of sharks, turtles, rays, etc.). They do a few demonstrations a day, maybe every two hours. They have a lot of kid friendly tanks and activities towards the end, e.g. the tanks are shaped so that you can 'go inside' and be surrounded by the tank. There is also a touch tank for the stingrays. The other touch tank was closed when we were there. There are a couple of gift shops, and, of course, you have to exit through the gift shop. We went on a Sunday and it was pretty crowded but not unbearable and you could see everything pretty easily. If possible, I'd recommend going on a weekday to have fewer crowds. We were there about 1.5-2 hours and that was enough. We did walk around trying to figure out which one would taste best.
Written June 28, 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 your visit!
Written July 8, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Idervaldson N
Birigui, SP52 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Honestly, I thought it was a child's thing and I went in just to please my wife who insisted a lot hahaha but I was pleasantly surprised! The path inside is very long and you see many animals, from giant sea turtles, great white sharks, rays to tiny polyps and you need magnifying glasses to see them! But the most impressive thing was the huge octopus showing off by sticking to and climbing the glass with its tentacles… Ah, but there was no penguin lol C$45 well spent!
Google
Written December 1, 2023
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.
Obrigado por reservar um tempo para nos deixar sua avaliação positiva! Ficamos felizes em saber que você e sua família gostaram da experiência em nosso aquário. Esperamos que você nos visite novamente em breve!
Written January 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Prabhleen Kaur
Amritsar District, India25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
After Dubai's under water Zoo, This is the best aquarium we have ever visited, and we have been to many countries. It is well-designed, The set-up and the activities made the price of admission well worth it. We will surely visit again if come to Canada
Written May 31, 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 such a wonderful review!
Written June 6, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Paige
3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
We’ve been to many aquariums and this was by far the worst. We did sharks after dark and arrived around 6pm but it was still absolutely packed with people and so many children. It was SO loud everywhere you went and there were so many people that it was difficult to even get decent views of the tanks. The shark tunnel was awesome but every other exhibit was mid and underwhelming. It’s also surprisingly short and extremely overpriced for $45+ a person
Written September 10, 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 feedback with us. Feel free to reach out to tgservices@ripleysaquariumofcanada.com to discuss your visit further. Thanks again; we always look for ways to improve.
Written November 20, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

klrp11
Sooke, Canada49 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
Don’t waste your money. My wife loves aquariums so we went during a recent trip to Toronto. We booked tickets for entry at a specific time, but there were so many people, it was nearly impossible to get a good look at much. We were wedged in, shoulder to shoulder so tightly it was hard to move around. The aquarium obviously sells way too many tickets given the space they have. We couldn’t get out of there fast enough and felt resentful that we paid so much for a terrible experience.
Written July 13, 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 a review. We apologize you did not thoroughly enjoy your experience with us. As summer is our peak season, we are busier than at other times of the year. We do our best to frequently post our hours and wait times on our social media, website, and newsletters. We suggest visitors try to swim by outside of our peak traffic hours (11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) when possible. While we don't move guests along from viewing exhibits, we trust that most people coming to the aquarium respect others, and we are sorry if you encountered people who were not. We'd be happy to discuss your visit further! Please get in touch with tgservices@ripleysaquariumofcanada.com. Thanks again for your feedback; we always look for ways to improve!
Written August 9, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

May R
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
Unless you've already promised your children to visit, it's best to stay away from here. It's insanely crowded, people are packed in like sardines, you can barely move and you will be pushed and shoved. Literally thousands. It was pointless to try to take photos and we couldn't even get close enough to see most of the tanks.

There are no Covid protocols, zero masks, zero spacing and zero sanitizing.

It's very expensive ($83 for 1 adult and 1 child), especially because you will not be able to last more than 30 min.

My experience: I called ahead to take my 8 year old on a weekday. I booked timed tickets, asked about Covid protocols and food options. On arrival there were several large groups (100+ in one), so timed tickets are pointless. No masks for staff or anyone else.
No food available, even though I was told there would be. Immediately after scanning our tickets I asked to briefly exit to get lunch from the food truck outside and was told that if we leave, our tickets will be void. Eventually they let us leave for 15min exactly (they timed us). They made us stand in the entrance to eat our fries, even though it turns out they have a seating area with tables, where I later saw many families eating takeout.

We HAD to exit through the gift shop, which was even more crowded.

What a giant disappointment. This place is obviously very badly managed.
Written July 5, 2022
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.

keeperof4
New Brunswick155 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022
Purchased tickets ,time on line,$160+cnd ,understanding limited numbers permitted at one time. Arrived for 3pm,entrance was packed full. Numerous visitors permitted with large suit cases in tow.No order what so ever.People pushing in front of children others to get their selfies! Even at a snails pace with over max capacity took about 1hr+. Directed out through over priced souvenir shop. Only positive is you are up close with sea life (sharks) that are directly over head for a short time. Perhaps off season is a better time to visit more enjoyable experience.
Written August 15, 2022
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.
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback. Summer is undoubtedly our peak season and our peak hours are 10am - 5pm. To help guests who wish to have a quieter experience, we have extended our hours all summer long from 9am - 11pm daily.
Written August 15, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Neil
Massey Drive, Canada87 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
The exhibits were great, but we couldn’t enjoy them as much as we thought we would. This is because they let way too many people access the museum at once. It was to the point where it was hard to move around inside the museum. What’s the point in having timed entrances if this is going to happen anyway? It was hard enough to view the exhibits and you can forget reading the placards when there are this many people in the aquarium. When you pay two hundred dollars for a family of five, it’s reasonable to expect a better quality experience.
Written August 27, 2023
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 reach out with your feedback. As a popular tourist attraction, we expect to be busier and have large groups of families and tourists visiting us- especially during the summer and on holidays. We communicate frequently on our social media and website that we suggest guests to visit outside of our peak traffic hours if possible (which are 11:00am - 4:00pm). We utilize effective ticketing software so we don't sell more tickets than our capacity allows, however the ticket is an all-day pass, so everyone is welcome to stay for as long as they like inside. 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 others, and we are sorry you encountered those who were not. If you'd like to discuss the situation further, please feel free to reach out to our to team at tgservices@ripleysaquariumofcanada.com - Thank you again for your feedback, we are always looking for ways to improve.
Written September 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Delena I
Freeport, Caroni, Trinidad and Tobago123 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
The aquarium was definitely one of the most fun things I did while I visited Toronto. Totally worth it due to the size and number of exhibits and species. It was clean, with ample seating and at the time we visited it was not crowded at all. We spent about 2 - 3 hours or so, but could have stayed longer due to the lots of information provided at the exhibits and also just staring at some of the sea life. I actually wish I had done the tube/tunnel twice. It was also interactive with trying to touch the sting rays, so that was lots of fun too.

I accessed the Aquarium as part of the City Pass, which I would highly recommend due to the savings by the way, as part of a couple in late February/early March. I would also recommended that time of year to visit as there was enough space and no crowds to be able to linger wherever you wanted to go.

There is also a cafe, the location of which was a bit misleading as it was so early on honestly, but there is a lot to explore afterwards.
Written January 4, 2023
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 so much for taking the time to write your positive review! We are thrilled to hear you had such a lovely experience at our establishment and that you enjoyed our amazing animals as much as we do. Our mission is to provide a world-class Aquarium that will foster aquatic education and conservation, while simultaneously providing entertainment for visitors of all ages. Our goal is to offer an exceptional experience for our guests, and we appreciate you taking notice! We hope you visit us again soon!
Written January 5, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Andy
Oakville, Canada8 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
Horrible experience. I can't believe it is legal to allow so many people into this venue. When we were there the conveyor was broken and that part of the exhibit was so crowded I couldn't move through. I felt trapped. While the entire aquarium was overcrowded that was definitely the worst part. I wish I could comment on the actual exhibitions, however, the crowds and crowds of people prevented me from seeing anything. I did manage to look up when walking under the main aquarium and saw the sharks. It was the only place people were not blocking other people (I.e. People could not stand on the ceiling). I think it's disgusting that Ripley‘s has devolved to this. When they first opened they actually had limits to the amount of people allowed in the space. We visited frequently when our child was wee. If there was an emergency or a fire I'm sure people would perish as we were all crammed together like sardines in a can. We were bumped, hit, jostled many times as there just was not enough space. We may as well have thrown $200 in the garbage as this experience was so terrible. I felt faint and lost my family members in the crowds. I managed to escape only to discover that you must exit through the gift shop which meant I would have to plow my way through the crowds again. Instead I asked the front entrance attendants if I could please leave thriught he entrance as I felt like I was going to faint. They were kind and let me leave which is what earned this review one star. I will be requesting a refund as this was an unacceptable and horrific experience. Shame on Ripley’s for not giving a darn about it’s customer experience.
Written March 14, 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.
Hello, Thank you for your feedback. Ripley's Aquarium of Canada has strict capacity limits that are strictly adhered to throughout the year. During March Break and other peak times we strongly encourage those who want to visit to come outside of our peak times which are 10am - 4pm. On peak seasons we stay open until 11:00pm nightly. Our moving walkway was not broken, and has not been out of order at any point. However, we do have a way to stop the walkway should anyone need - needing help with a stroller or wheelchair etc. Please feel free to reach out and discuss further at pr@ripleysaquariumofcanada.com
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 (2025)

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