Casa Loma

Tickets & Visitor Guide to Toronto's Castle

⏱ 2 hours👤 All ages$$

Casa Loma ("Hill House" in Spanish) was the lavish dream of Sir Henry Pellatt, a wealthy Toronto financier who built this 98-room Gothic Revival castle between 1911 and 1914 at enormous expense — only to lose his fortune and the house within little more than a decade. Today the city-owned castle is one of Toronto's most distinctive attractions, a piece of Edwardian-era grandeur and ambition perched on an escarpment overlooking downtown.

A self-guided visit (with an included audio tour) winds through the opulent main floor — the great hall, the oak-paneled library, the conservatory with its stained-glass dome, Sir Henry's study with its hidden panels — and up to the bedrooms and the suites above. You can climb the castle's two towers (the Scottish and Norman towers) for views over the gardens and the city skyline, and explore the lower levels and the 800-foot underground tunnel that leads to the carriage room and stables, where vintage cars and exhibits are displayed. From spring through fall, the five acres of meticulously landscaped gardens are a highlight, and the castle hosts seasonal events (it's a popular Halloween and Christmas destination).

It's an atmospheric, all-ages outing that combines history, architecture, and great views, and it has appeared in numerous films and TV shows. Plan around two hours. It sits on a hill in midtown (the Casa Loma neighborhood), a short ride from downtown and near the ROM/Yorkville area — a steep walk up from the nearest subway. Check for any timed-entry or seasonal event arrangements when booking.