The Best Things to do in Toronto in Winter with Kids
/If you’re looking for things to do in Toronto in winter with kids, you’ve come to the right spot. When I first started planning our trip to Toronto with kids I was concerned because we were headed up in mid-November. As Florida residents, everyone warned me about how cold it would be. In the days leading up to our flight, the weather in Toronto was not looking great. Snow. Snow. More Snow. So, everything I planned for us involved popping outside for short periods but mainly exploring indoor spaces. SO, can you still find fun things for kids to do in Toronto in Winter? YES. I loved everything about the city. From navigating Toronto’s super easy public transportation to eating delicious food to exploring some of the most iconic sights in Toronto, our time was well spent.
There are so many family fun activities in Toronto and even with the cold, I am going to share the best things to do in Toronto in winter with kids! So, let’s get into it!
Here are the best things to do in Toronto in Winter with kids!
Table of Contents
The Best Place to Stay in Toronto with Kids
We stayed in a 3-bedroom townhouse in Toronto. The townhouse had 2 bedrooms and one bathroom on the main floor and one-bedroom in the basement that had its own bathroom. There was a nice sized kitchen/living room area and the couch even folded out to be an additional bed if you have many kids. Nestled in the heart of Dundas West and Little Portugal, this charming flat will accommodate a memorable stay in Toronto. Close to Shopping, Restaurants and popular Bars. Direct TTC access to the Downtown Core and 24 hour bus to Bloor Subway Line. I would recommend this apartment to families as where to stay in Toronto with kids.
Airbnb is always our go-to for family travel. This 2-Bedroom Apartment was perfect for us!
If you would rather stay in a Hotel in Toronto - you can use this map to search for a the best hotel in Toronto that fits your families size and budget.
The Best Place to Eat in Toronto
Pizzeria Libretto: This place started with a small shop on Ossington and it was so popular it expanded and now has four locations across the city. No matter where you are staying or visiting, you’ll have a Pizzeria Libretto nearby. If you love authentic Italian food, Italian wine, and amazing service, THIS is where you need to be. Pizzeria Libretto is by far my favorite place to eat with kids in Toronto (or without kids). We enjoyed an amazing authentic 3-course Italian meal. We started with a charcuterie board, followed with Pizza and fried Gnocci and ended with Tiramisu and gelato. I highly recommend getting the Basilico Gimlet - it is SO GOOD. The restaurant offers a Bambini menu complete with a scoop of gelato!
Pizzeria Libretto offers products that fit every diet and every budget. They offer a gluten free, dairy free, nut free, vegetarian, and vegan options.
Pizzeria Libretto has absolutely amazing food and several locations across the city
St Lawrence Market is a fantastic place for families
White Squirrel Coffee Shop: This coffee shop is located just across the road from Trinity Park. It’s named after an albino squirrel who lives in the park. The coffee is amazing and they also offer handheld breakfast items, sandwiches and they serve hand-dipped ice cream.
St Lawrence Market: This market is completely enclosed and offers families a variety of choices of food. This market has tables in the center aisles to stop and eat. They offer a variety of food options from bakery’s to Italian food to Indian and Polish food. Every palette will be happy here. Another great thing about this market is that you are supporting small, local shops! St Lawrence Market is arguably one of the best spots to eat with kids in Toronto. Pro Tip: Be sure to get some cash out before you start shopping as many shops don’t take cards.
Read Next: 9 Tips to Get your Child to Sleep on a Plane
All of the food in the st laurence market was delish
Mill Street Brewery: While exploring the Toronto Christmas Market, we hopped into Mill Street Brewery for a special edition Christmas brew, mulled wine and, of course, some of Canada’s famed Poutine. While Mill Street is a Brewery, it is set in a family-friendly atmosphere in the Distillery District. They do have an outdoor patio for warmer months, but in winter you will find a large restaurant with clean bathrooms, good brew and delicious food!
You can’t go to Canada and not eat Poutine! We snagged this at the Mill St Brewery
Other notable places to eat with kids in Toronto:
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Evviva Breakfast & Lunch
Kid Lee
Ricarda's Mediterranean Restaurant & Bakery
Against the Grain
READ NEXT: 36 Hours in Montreal with Kids
Me and the kids looking at Toronto from above in the CN Tower
What to do in Winter in Toronto With Kids
CN Tower: Defining the Toronto skyline at 553.33m (1,815ft5in), the CN Tower is Canada’s most recognizable and celebrated icon. The CN Tower is an internationally renowned architectural triumph, an engineering Wonder of the Modern World, world-class entertainment and dining destination and a must-see for anyone visiting Toronto. Each year, over 1.5 million people visit Canada’s National Tower to take in the breathtaking views and enjoy all the CN Tower has to offer. There are several ticket options for the CN Tower and two distinct levels to visit. Our favorite level was LookOut Level at 346 m (1,136 ft.) — the floor to ceiling glass windows give an incredible view of Toronto. This level has a few snack bars and a glass floor to walk on. The kids loved running free here. The Skypod is even higher at 447 m (1,465 ft). It is a smaller, but a higher view of Toronto. In winter, the CN tower offers a warm spot for the family to stop for lunch or dinner and take in the best views in Canada!
READ NEXT: 25 Travel Must Haves for Toddlers and Babies
As Canada’s most iconic structure, I was happy to get to explore it!
All 4 kids loved the CN tower!
You absolutely must get mulled cider or hot chocolate!
Toronto Winter Market: We spent several hours exploring Toronto’s Winter Market and it is truly such a family friendly place. The Distillery Winter Village is an outdoor holiday market where you can experience the timeless romance of the holidays, celebrate with family and friends, and enjoy specially curated vendor cabins full of seasonal items and gifts, plus delicious, can't-miss food. Be sure to grab hot chocolates, try the famous Canadian poutine, and maybe even see Santa Clause. The market usually opens mid-November and stays open through early January. On your trip to Ontario in winter, you absolutely must explore the winter village in Toronto. It is one of the absolute best places to go in Toronto in winter and the entire family will love it!
The Toronto Christmas market is magic for all ages
The whole group outside of the St Lawrence Market
St Lawrence Market: This market is a fun (and historic) way to keep warm, but also grab some food and do some shopping with local vendors. We loved the vibe and kid-friendly atmosphere of the market! The St. Lawrence Market is spread across three buildings: The South Market, the North Market and St. Lawrence Hall. The main and lower levels of the South Market contain over 120 specialty vendors, known for the variety and freshness of their fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, grains, baked goods, and dairy products, as well as for the uniqueness of the non-food items for sale. The North Market is primarily known for its Saturday Farmers' Market, a tradition begun on this site in 1803 and continuing today, as the producers of Southern Ontario bring their seasonal produce to market in the city. St. Lawrence Hall, built in 1850, today houses retail businesses on the ground floor and City offices on the second floor.
You will need cash at the St Lawrence Market. There is conveniently an ATM located inside the market.
Photo Credit: Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada: This aquarium is one of only three Ripley’s Aquariums. It is a 135,000 square-feet incredible family attraction with more than 1.5 million gallons of water with marine and freshwater habitats from around the world. In addition to the regular aquarium tours, the Aquarium offers camps for different age groups and a Sting Ray experience you can add on to your day. At Ripley’s, your family will be able to escape the winter weather and learn about the Canadian river and sea life as well as different ocean animals from all over the world. The Aquarium has a cafe for lunch or a snack and a large gift shop! Ripley’s aquarium is on of the best indoor winter activities in Toronto!
One of the exhibits at the Aquarium is called Planet Jellies!
Royal Ontario Museum: Escape the cold in Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum. A perfect thing to do with kids in Toronto during the winter months. The ROM’s goal is to become one of the world’s foremost 21st century cultural institutions. Here you’ll experience art and natural history exhibits, as well as hands-on educational exhibits. Your family will see From Dinosaur bones, experience galleries of Africa and China and be able to explore an entire area for kids to on costumes, dig for dinosaur bones, and examine specimens such as fossils and meteorites.
From inside the CN tower we could see ice skaters skating on one of the many Rinks in Toronto!
Ice Skating: It wouldn’t be a proper winter trip to Toronto without ice skating! There are several places to ice skate with kids in Toronto - a simple google search will turn up many. However, the Harbourfront Centre is set against the beautiful shoreline of Lake Ontario. The Natrel Rink has been an unparalleled skating destination in Toronto for more than 30 years. It has a heated indoor change room with lockers and washrooms. Best of all – skating is FREE making it one of the best cheap things to do in Toronto winter!
Toronto Sign: The iconic TORONTO sign is a must-do when visiting. The 3D TORONTO Sign was installed at Nathan Phillips Square in July 2015 for the Toronto 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games. Due to popular demand, the illuminated sign still remains on the Square. Each letter is lit with LED lights, weighs approximately 136 kg, and is 3m (10 ft) tall. This fun city detour is a perfect photo opportunity for any family trip to Toronto.
We were able to snag a photo with this Canada sign at the CN tower, but we missed seeing the Toronto sign lit up at night!
The Toronto Sign is amazing at night! Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash
Explore PATH: One of the most unique things to see in Toronto is PATH. This is an undergraound city below Toronto built to withstand Toronto’s winter weather! Over time it has evolved to a thriving underground city with shops, restaurants, hotels, and more. One of the really cool things to do in winter in Toronto is to take a guided tour of PATH before exploring more of it on your own. PATH is one the most perfect things to do with toddlers in Toronto in winter because you can spend your time shopping while they nap in a warm stroller! It’s also a great, warm way to run off some of the toddler energy without freezing!
How to Get Around Toronto
Using public transportation is an absolute must during the frigid winter months. This is the kids riding the bus in their stroller!
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): Toronto has a very well connected public transportation system. You can purchase individual rides or 24-hour, weekly or monthly pass. I suggest purchasing a 24-hour pass. We bought ours at the airport and activated it on our first ride of the day on the day we explored. You can ride the famous Toronto streetcar, bus or metro. Both the busses and the streetcars were stroller friendly. We easily fit 2 double strollers and never had an issue getting on or off. The TTC is the best way to get around Toronto with kids, especially since they are heated in the winter months.
Uber: Use the app and catch a ride! If your kids are old enough to not need car seats, this could be a more time-efficient choice.
CityPASS: If you’re planning on visiting several major Toronto Attractions over several days, I suggest purchasing a CityPass where you pay one price and get into several attractions. This pass will save you a lot of money. The pass is valid 9 consecutive days, Toronto CityPASS tickets cost $99.25 CAD for adults (value $140) and $74.25 CAD for children ages 4-12, (+ tax). Buy online at CityPASS.com or at any CityPASS attraction. Includes entry into the Ontario Science Centre, Toronto Zoo of Canada and the CN Tower.
These are some of the best things to do in Toronto during winter! From the shimmering lights of the Toronto Christmas Market to the serene beauty of frozen Lake Ontario, there's a magical quality to winter in Toronto that's hard to find anywhere else. Whether you're seeking outdoor adventures, local markets, and underground city, or simply a cozy spot to enjoy a warm drink, Toronto has it all. So, whether you're a local looking to rediscover your city or a visitor eager to experience the wonders of a Toronto winter, we hope this guide has inspired you to embrace the season and make the most of your winter stay in this vibrant and diverse city. Bundle up, stay warm, and savor every moment of your Toronto winter adventure!
Have you ever taken your family to Toronto or Canada? What is your favorite place to visit? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Click below to read more about our time in Canada!
Get Ready for Your Trip:
PIN ME:
AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:
There are links on this site that can be defined as “affiliate links”. This means that I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you subscribe or purchase something through the links provided.
Big Brave Nomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program.
