Visiting Casa Loma in Toronto: Things to know before you go
Did you know Toronto is home to a Castle? Yes! The Casa Loma Castle. This mansion is probably one of the most unique places to visit in Toronto.
History
Henry Pellatt had Casa Loma built starting in 1911. It took 3 years to complete and cost $3.5 million. Throughout the years this mansion has been owned by several people and organizations. It has served as a filming location for many popular movies and TV series including Harry Potter, X-men, and Warehouse 13 to name a few. During the prohibition era in the United States, Casa Loma was a popular drinking spot for Americans. It was a luxury hotel at one point as well as a music hall and rumored to be the location of Station M during WWII. Today Casa Loma is a museum where you can learn way more about the history of the building than what this blog post will tell you. When we visited, the castle was decorated for Christmas so enjoy all the Christmas trees and lights displayed in my photos!
Hours
The building is open daily from 9:30am-5:00pm. Last admissions are at 4:30pm. Arrive early enough to explore the 98 rooms including the secret tunnels and stables that feature antique cars! My favorite room was the conservatory with all the plants and beautiful stain glass roof. Next to every room there is a description of Henry Pellatt’s visions for what he wanted the room to look like and what each area was used for.
Cost
As far as price goes it costs $22.15CAD for kids 4-13 years old, $27.32CAD for teens between 14-17 years old, $32.49CAD for adults, and $27.32CAD for seniors 65 and older. Or if you have the Toronto City Pass just show your pass to get admission. Once you enter be sure to get an audio set to tour you around the mansion! It’s included in your ticket price. Be sure to take in the view of Toronto from the towers. It doesn’t cost extra!
Parking
There is parking on the grounds for $10CAD per vehicle. Street parking is also available, but very limited/difficult due to the amount of visitors and one way street. Or there is public transportation via the subway too.
Eating
There are 2 eating options at Casa Loma. One is the Liberty Caffe which is your typical sandwich, wrap, and salad lunch spot. They are open from 10am-4pm daily. Price-wise most items will cost you between $8-11CAD. The other dining option is the Blood Blue Steakhouse. This fancy eatery gives you the feel of eating as one of Henry Pellatt’s guest might have. The steakhouse has lots of famous art on display that has been collected over the years. According to Google it is considered a 4 dollar sign ($$$$) restaurant so it is a bit on the expensive side. However, I think eating at Blood Blue would be a really fun experience despite the price. They are open from 5pm-1am Wednesday-Friday and 5pm-12am Saturday-Tuesday.
Final Thoughts
It might be wise to check Casa Loma’s website for scheduled events before going. Many events take place here and they sometimes shut down parts of the castle early to prepare. It is recommended to have 2 hours to see the castle fully. Enjoy exploring all the vintage rooms and collections!
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