Guide to visit Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Getting to Ripley’s Aquarium

This attraction is located in the entertainment district of downtown Toronto at 288 Bremner Boulevard, just a short walk from the CN Tower. 

Access the aquarium from Union Station via a pedestrian pathway. There is no on-site parking, with very limited street parking and underground lots nearby.

When to visit

The aquarium is open daily, year-round from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. On Tuesdays, the aquarium is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

During the summer and on weekends and holidays, the aquarium is busiest from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. In the off-season, peak hours are 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Give yourself about between two and three hours to properly enjoy the full experience.

Accessibility and guest services

Ripley’s has been designated a certified autism centre and has achieved accessibility certification by the Rick Hansen Foundation.

Ramps are located on the west and east side of the facility and two parking spots are available on a first come, first serve basis for guests with accessible parking passes.

Fully accessible washrooms are located on both the upper and lower levels, with changing stations.

Contact guest services in advance with specific mobility or service requirements so you can be comfortably accommodated.

If you have questions regarding ticketing, parking or general queries regarding your visit, refer to the FAQ page.

Refreshments and gift shop

Outside food and drinks are not permitted in the aquarium.

Ripley’s Café is located on the lower level and features a kid-approved menu of tasty treats and snacks.

The Ripley’s Cargo Hold Gift Shop is on the upper level beside the Shoreline Gallery, but you can also shop the online store for mementos, apparel and gift cards.

Visitor tips

Get tickets in advance and skip the line for purchasing tickets when you visit. This will save you a lot of time, especially during peak season and holidays.

Hand-held cameras are allowed in the aquarium, and for the best results, avoid using your flash. You’ll need special permission for any commercial photography or video.

Attractions and exhibits

The aquarium features two floors with 10 unique gallery exhibits with different marine habitats that collectively contain over 5.7 million litres of water. There’s a lot to see!

Luckily the tour is well laid out, so you won’t get lost as you explore one fascinating exhibit after another.

Upper Level

Enter through the Guest Services lobby and move through the Discovery Centre Overlook to the Dangerous Lagoon. This massive tank is home to the aquarium's largest and most dangerous species including sharks, stingrays and sawfish, as well as green sea turtles.

Learn all about underwater life in Canadian Waters, including crayfish lurking at the bottom of Lake Ontario or the variety of species that swim the currents of the St. Lawrence River.

Pause at the Kelp Forest to watch the mesmerizing sway of the thick green seaweed. Also, it’s a prime photo op spot.

In the Life Support Systems, you’ll be introduced to the engineering genius of pipes, tanks and equipment that keep the aquarium running.

In the Shoreline Gallery, admire shore dwellers like stingrays and starfish.

You’ll get a fresh vantage point of the sharks from above in the Dangerous Lagoon Overlook.

Lower Level

Start in the Rainbow Reef, with a dazzling and colourful array of Indo-Pacific species and an interactive dive show.

Next, experience North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel along a slow-moving conveyor belt pathway.

Watch the sharks, stingrays and turtles swim beside and above from what feels like the ocean floor.

Back in the Discovery Centre, enjoy hands-on, interactive activities including the chance to touch the back of a shark or stingray (with staff supervision).

There’s also an aquatic-themed playground and a simulated submarine.

View some of the ocean’s most interesting inhabitants in The Gallery, from seahorses and lionfish to piranhas and electric eels.

Dive into the eerie history of Canada’s famous wreckages in Shipwrecks.

Finally, watch the whimsical, colour-changing jellyfish dance and float in Planet Jellies and catch a daily dive show, where divers feed six species of stingrays in Ray Bay.