Why Everyone Should Visit The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto 2024
Growing up in Toronto, I have to be honest; I didn’t appreciate a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum, ROM for short, as much as I should have!
I recently decided to go and visit the museum on one of their ROM free nights. It was such a fun experience! I can’t believe I haven’t spent more time at this excellent Toronto attraction. I particularly loved the dinosaurs and the Dawn of Life exhibits. And as someone who is not a huge fan of museums, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed time at the ROM.
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In particular, I think a visit to the ROM in Toronto is best for those who enjoy museums, are looking for family-friendly Toronto attractions, or looking for something to do on a rainy or cold day in the city.
If you’re planning a trip to Toronto this article has everything you need to know to help decide if a visit to the ROM should be part of your Toronto Itinerary.
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✓ Buy TICKETS to the ROM Now
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About the Royal Ontario Museum Toronto
Visiting the Royal Ontario Museum is a must for anyone visiting Toronto. The ROM is Canada’s largest museum and has a staggering collection of over 13 million objects, including art, cultural artefacts, and natural history specimens from around the world.
Established in 1914, the ROM is not only significant for its extensive exhibits but also for its historical architecture, including the beautifully restored Queen’s Park façade and Weston Entrance. And, starting in February of 2024, even more impressive architectural transformations are planned over the next three years.
Conveniently located in downtown Toronto and easily accessible by subway, the museum hosts over a million visitors annually.
With 40 gallery and exhibition spaces, there’s something for everyone to discover, making it an ideal destination for both tourists and locals.
Royal Ontario Museum Location
Address: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON, Canada
The ROM is located at the corner of Bloor Street West and Avenue Road, close to the trendy Yorkville neighbourhood. It is beside the University of Toronto campus and close to Queen’s Park.
So, is the Royal Ontario Museum Toronto Worth Visiting?
Yes! The Royal Ontario Museum is absolutely worth visiting while you’re in Toronto.
A visit to the ROM is an ideal stop on your Toronto itinerary if:
• You enjoy museums
• You are curious about history and culture
• You have 3 to 4 hours to explore
• You are looking for a great rainy day or indoor winter activity in Toronto
• You’re in Toronto during ROM free night
You may want to reconsider a visit to the ROM if:
• You have very little time in Toronto
• You are not a fan of museums
• You prefer a more interactive, hands-on museum experience
Visitors’ Information: The Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM is one of Toronto’s top attractions for visitors of all ages. It’s a large museum with four floors of galleries. The range of exhibits will appeal to many different interests.
The galleries include a mix of temporary and permanent collections. All the main galleries are included in the cost of a ticket. The temporary special exhibits usually have an extra fee to enter.
The ROM is open Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
The museum is closed on Mondays.
A Highlight of ROM Galleries and Exhibits
The ROM is huge, and there are so many cultural, historical, and natural history exhibits to explore. Keep reading to learn about a few of my favourite galleries with you.
In the Earth’s Treasures Gallery you will find the gallery of Gems and Gold with almost 600 rare gems. These include jewellery by Cartier, Harry Winston and Buccellati. You will also find the very rare and valuable blue diamond, The Light of the Desert. This diamond is the largest cerussite gem in the world at 900 carats.
In this gallery, you will also find the million dollar gold coin – the world’s largest gold coin.
The Age of the Dinosaurs exhibit has one of the best dinosaur collections in the world. This gallery is a favourite with most visitors, especially children. Be sure to check out the 27 metre long Barosaurus, the 70 million year old Arrhinoceratops skull, and the rare Parksosaurus during your next visit!
And in the Gallery of China, you will find the largest collection of Chinese architectural artefacts outside of China. Here you will also find one of the best-preserved wall murals from the Yuan dynasty, as well as Buddhist and Daoist sculptures from Shanxi province in north China.
These are just a few of my personal favourites! I haven’t even mentioned the bat cave, the meteorites, or the ancient Egyptians! There are so many exhibits at the ROM museum that you’re bound to get lost in the sheer wonder of it all. No matter where your interests lie, there’s something at the ROM that will surely catch your eye and spark your curiosity.
WonderWorks
Another excellent section of the museum is a space called WonderWorks. This play-based learning space encourages young children to connect with the museum through an interactive, fun, colourful learning environment.
This area is ideal for children aged 3 to 8 years old and is a perfect spot to take a break from the galleries. There are also lots of seats for parents and guardians who want to let their children play in this fun space.
Royal Ontario Museum Tickets
Buy Your Tickets Online or at the Door
You also have the option to buy your ROM tickets online or at the door.
Adult general admission is $26.00. Children are $16.00 and Seniors are $21.00 Admission to special exhibitions is an additional cost.
Buying your ticket online allows you to by-pass long lines during busy tourist months or school holidays such as March Break.
Buy the Toronto CityPASS Ticket Bundle
Another option for ROM tickets is to purchase them as part of the CityPASS ticket bundle. The CityPASS includes admission to the CN Tower plus 4 additional attractions of your choice. These include the ROM, Casa Loma, Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Centre, or a Harbour Boat Cruise.
NOTE: The Ontario Science Centre is currently CLOSED due to structural issues.
Reservations are required for the CN Tower, the ROM museum, and boat cruises, which can be done through the app. The CityPASS is a good option if you plan to visit the CN Tower plus two more additional Toronto attractions.
Free Museum Tours
45-minute museum tours are also available for free for guests with admission. The tours are led by volunteers of the museum and are offered in English and French. No sign-up is required. Tour dates and times vary, so be sure to check the website before visiting for specific details.
Free Museum Audio Tours
The museum does provide a free audio tour available through your phone. Be sure to bring your headphones with you.
While I did enjoy parts of the audio tour, and it gave some context in places where it was available, it was not the best audio tour I have experienced. It was only available for certain pieces, and it wasn’t always obvious if an artefact had an audio description. Some of the descriptions were also quite long.
Visit During the Monthly ROM Free Night
On the third Tuesday night of each month, from 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm, the ROM is free for everyone. Free entry to the ROM includes all the galleries AND the special exhibitions. Visitors do not need to book in advance, and it’s first-come, first-served.
Having recently visited the ROM during this free admission night, I do recommend arriving early, as the museum gets quite busy. I also suggest heading straight to the special exhibitions, as the lines for these areas get very long very quickly.
ROM Free nights in 2024 include: January 16, February 20, March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, and December 17.
Ground Floor Access is Free
One of the cool things about the ROM museum is that the ground floor is free to visit. Even without a ticket, you can enter the main foyer and check out the huge dinosaur, the massive totem poles, and the stunning mosaic ceiling of the rotunda.
So, even if you decide not to tour the museum, if you are visiting the Yorkville neighbourhood or the University of Toronto, it’s worth checking out the foyer of the ROM as it’s quite impressive.
ROM Museum Restaurants
There is a ROM coffee shop and Druxy’s ROM Café located in the museum, but to be honest, they are nothing amazing. I consider them to be overpriced with a limited selection.
I highly recommend heading outside and into the nearby Yorkville neighbourhood to pick up some food or enjoy a nice meal. You can exit and re-enter the museum on your ticket, so it’s worth considering an alternative option for some refreshments if you are at the museum for a long period of time.
Royal Ontario Museum Gift Shop
If you are looking for some unique Toronto souvenirs or just gifts in general, the ROM gift shop is worth checking out.
Even if you don’t have tickets for the ROM, you can visit the gift shop located near the main entrance and check out all the unique items they have for sale.
The gift shop sells unique books, stationary, art work, t-shirts, clothing, and more. They also have an excellent selection of gifts for children, such as stuffies, costumes, and picture books.
Even if you don’t have the time to visit the entire museum, a visit to the gift shop is recommended.
How much time should I spend at the Royal Ontario Museum?
I would recommend planning to spend at least 3 to 4 hours at the ROM, especially if it is your first visit. When I visited during the ROM free nights, my plan was to stay for an hour or so but I ended up staying for over 3 hours!
I would also suggest starting on the topmost floor and working your way down through the museum. There is also a coat check available near the front entrance for those who don’t want to carry their coats around.
Parking near the Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM does not have its own parking garage, and there are very few parking lots in the area, so parking can be challenging and expensive near the ROM.
The following parking lots are within a 15 minute walk of the ROM.
- Green P Carpark 215 at 74 Yorkville Ave
- Green P Carpark 1 at 20 Charles Street East
- Manulife Centre – Lot #93 at 44 Charles Street West
There is very limited residential street parking in the area. If you do find street parking, be sure to follow the posted signs, as parking enforcement is very vigilant in the area.
Getting to the ROM by TTC
The ROM is easily accessible by subway.
- On the Bloor-Danforth Subway Line, the closest subway stop is St. George Station
- On the Yonge-University Subway Line, the closest subway stop is Museum Station
Hotels Near Royal Ontario Museum Toronto
If you are looking for a hotel near the Royal Ontario Museum, here are some great.
The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel Toronto
The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel is the closest hotel to the ROM and is located directly across the street. It is in the stunning Yorkville neighbourhood and features an indoor swimming pool. The hotel also has an on-site restaurant and the popular Proof Bar and Patio.
W Hotel
The W Hotel is a brand new Toronto hotel located about a 10 minute walk from the ROM. It is a stunning hotel with an intimate rooftop bar and restaurant. This modern hotel is in the heart of Yorkville and steps from both subway lines.
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel
My top hotel recommendation in Toronto is the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, perfectly situated in the downtown core and directly opposite the iconic Toronto sign.
While staying here, you’ll find that reaching the Royal Ontario Museum requires a short subway ride, yet the convenience and value offered by the Sheraton’s prime location are unparalleled.
Furthermore, the hotel boasts a fantastic year-round indoor/outdoor pool, making it not just a great place to stay, but a highlight of your visit to Toronto.
Restaurants Near the Royal Ontario Museum
There are lots of excellent restaurants near the Royal Ontario Museum, but here are two excellent options I recommend.
Eataly Toronto
Address: Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON
Located in the Manulife Centre and just a block away from the ROM, Eataly is an Italian marketplace with several restaurants, take-out counters, and a grocery store. Here you will find pizza, pasta, soups, sandwiches, and, of course, lots of desserts!
This kid-friendly eatery is an ideal spot to enjoy a unique meal or snack, just minutes from the museum.
Amal Toronto
Address: 131 Bloor St W 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON
Amal Toronto is a more upscale Lebanese restaurant located just minutes from the ROM with some of the best food in Toronto. It is open for lunch, dinner, and brunch. In the summer, there is also a small outdoor patio. I would recommend a visit here if you are looking for a nice meal out after a busy day at the museum.
Of course, there are also lots of fast food restaurant options, such as McDonalds and Tim Hortons, just across the street. And the Yorkville neighbourhood has lots of great food options to explore too!
What Other Toronto Attractions are Close to the ROM?
Close to the ROM there are a number of other great things to do in Toronto. Here are a few suggestions.
With its fancy stores, upscale restaurants, and art galleries, Yorkville neighbourhood is an interesting place to enjoy some shopping or a fancy meal. And, if you’re travelling during the Toronto International Film Festival, you may even spot a celebrity or two!
Right beside the ROM, you will find Canada’s top school, the University of Toronto. U of T was founded in 1827 and is a beautiful, historic campus. Take a stroll down Philosopher’s Walk, around the university campus, and then wander through Queen’s Park.
This area of the city is a particularly beautiful location to take in the fall foliage in autumn or the Toronto cherry blossoms each spring.
If museums are your thing, there are a couple of other interesting options close to the ROM, including the Bata Shoe Museum, the Gardiner Museum of Ceramics, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. If course, not visit to Toronto is complete without a tour of the CN Tower.
Conclusion: Is the Royal Ontario Museum Worth Visiting?
Yes. The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is definitely worth visiting. While I don’t believe it quite matches the grandeur of museums in cities like New York City or Washington DC, the ROM is an ideal Toronto attraction for those who enjoy history and culture and are looking for a break from the summer heat or the cold winter weather.
While the museum continues to update exhibits, making them more hands-on and interactive, some of the galleries still have a more traditional museum feel to them. That being said, there is so much to see and do at the ROM that it has a lot to offer visitors of all ages. You should certainly consider adding this activity to your Toronto travel itinerary! You won’t be disappointed.
Before You Go: Learn More About Visiting Toronto
Now that you’ve read this guide to the Royal Ontario Museum Toronto, you may be interested in reading my guide for visiting the Toronto Islands, my list of the best beaches in Toronto, and the best things to do at Woodbine Beach.
If you are looking for more places to stay in Toronto, check out my list of the best hotels in Toronto with a pool and my honest review of the Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel.
