Attraction
CN Tower
Toronto's 553-metre communications tower on Bremner Boulevard, with a Glass Floor, an outdoor terrace, the higher Top level, a revolving restaurant and the seasonal EdgeWalk.
Royal Ontario Museum
Canada's largest museum of world cultures and natural history, on Queen's Park, known for its dinosaur galleries, Chinese collections and Daniel Libeskind's Crystal entrance.
At a glance
- Type
- Natural history and world cultures museum
- Area
- Queen's Park, Toronto, Canada
- Official site
- rom.on.ca
Good to know
- Direct subway access
- Free Main Floor programme
- Free third Tuesday evenings
- Shop
Why we recommend it
The Royal Ontario Museum, known as the ROM, was established in 1912 and opened to the public in 1914. It combines natural history with art and world cultures and holds more than 18 million items. The building is a mix of eras, from the original 1914 west wing and the 1933 east wing to the angular Michael Lee-Chin Crystal by Daniel Libeskind, which opened on Bloor Street in 2007.
Dinosaurs are the biggest draw for many visitors. The Age of Dinosaurs galleries include Gordo, a Barosaurus, and Zuul, an unusually complete ankylosaur skeleton. The Chinese collections are among the museum's strongest, with the Gallery of China, the Bishop White Gallery of Chinese Temple Art and a Ming-era tomb complex in the Gallery of Chinese Architecture. Other highlights include the Nisga'a and Haida crest poles that rise beside the central staircase, the walk-through Bat Cave, the Egypt gallery and the gems and gold in the Earth's Treasures galleries.
The museum's calendar shows it open from 10am to 5:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, with closures on some Mondays, so check the operating hours page before planning a Monday visit. On the third Tuesday of the month it stays open until 8:30pm for free evening admission. The ROM also runs a Free Main Floor programme, and its temporary shows change through the year; Psychedelics is on until 3 January 2027.
Book tickets online to save time at the entrance, and if you are seeing several attractions, the ROM is part of the Toronto CityPASS. Allow at least three hours; families with children keen on dinosaurs can easily fill half a day. It is a good rainy or cold-weather choice.
Some numbers give a sense of scale: the Gallery of China displays around 2,500 objects, the Earth's Treasures galleries about 3,000 mineral and gem specimens, and the Bat Cave, reopened in 2010, more than 800 models alongside its bats. The Egypt gallery includes the Book of the Dead of Amen-em-hat.
Museum station has an entrance that serves the museum directly. Before you leave, look at the building from outside: the 1914 and 1933 wings and the 2007 Crystal show three very different ideas of what a museum should look like.
Royal Ontario Museum FAQs
When is the ROM open?
The calendar shows 10am to 5:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, with closures on some Mondays, so check the operating hours page before you go.
Is there a free evening?
Yes. On the third Tuesday of each month the museum opens until 8:30pm with free admission.
What are the highlights?
The dinosaur galleries, the Chinese collections including a Ming tomb, the crest poles, the Bat Cave and the gems and gold galleries.
How do you get there?
Take the subway to Museum station, which has an entrance serving the museum.
Is it included in CityPASS?
Yes. The ROM is part of the Toronto CityPASS.
How long should you allow?
At least three hours, or half a day with children.
Who designed the Crystal?
Daniel Libeskind; it opened in 2007.
What is on now?
Temporary shows change; Psychedelics runs until 3 January 2027.