Toronto CityPASS: should you buy it?

It may be useful for a first-time visitor who already wants to visit the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium, and three eligible optional attractions within nine consecutive days.

It may not be useful if you want only one or two included attractions, have limited sightseeing time, or qualify for lower student, youth, resident, free-admission, or promotional prices directly from attractions.

The researched pass provided one-time general admission to five attractions:

• CN Tower — included; Main and Lower observation levels. A reservation was required.
• Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada — included; flex-ticket general admission.
• Choose three: Royal Ontario Museum, City Cruises Toronto, Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo, or Art Gallery of Ontario.
• Reservations were required for the Royal Ontario Museum, City Cruises Toronto, and Art Gallery of Ontario.
• City Cruises Toronto is seasonal.

• Possible savings when you genuinely intend to use all five admissions.
• One purchase for the included general admissions.
• Attractions can be visited in any order, including more than one on the same day.
• Nine consecutive days offers more flexibility than a one- or two-day pass.
• The three optional attractions can be chosen later, subject to reservation availability.

1. 1Write down the attractions you would actually visit—not places you would add only because they are included.
2. 2Check each attraction’s official price for your age and eligibility, including student, youth, resident, free-entry, and promotional discounts.
3. 3Add the individual prices, including tax where applicable.
4. 4Compare that total with the current CityPASS total after tax.
5. 5Check that required reservation times are available and that every visit fits inside the validity period.
6. 6Buy separate tickets if they cost less or if only two or three attractions are realistic. Consider CityPASS only when the saving is meaningful and you will use all five admissions.

• Online: buy through the official Toronto CityPASS website. Mobile tickets arrive by email and can be managed in the My CityPASS app or web app.
• A printed copy of the ticket email can be used if you prefer paper.
• Some attraction partners may sell physical cards, but in-person availability is not guaranteed.
• Treat a physical card like cash; researched terms said lost, stolen, or damaged cards could not be replaced.
• The researched validity was nine consecutive days beginning with the first attraction visit or earliest reservation date.
• The researched terms allowed up to one year from purchase to begin using mobile tickets. Verify this before relying on it.

• Normally one visit per included attraction and general admission only; upgrades, food, and extras cost more unless explicitly included.
• Transportation and parking between attractions are not included.
• It is not a guaranteed fast pass for security, elevator, admission, or attraction lines.
• Tickets bought together can be treated as one party for reservations; separate orders may be easier if a group plans to split up.
• CityPASS and individual attractions may use different child-age ranges.
• A refund policy was advertised when researched, but conditions apply and activated or partially used passes may not qualify.