Casa Loma

Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival mansion-castle perched above downtown Toronto, a turreted, early-20th-century folly built by financier Sir Henry Pellatt, complete with secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel to the stables, soaring towers, and elaborately decorated rooms. It's part historic house, part fairytale castle, and entirely uncharacteristic of its North American city, which is exactly its charm. Self-guided tours roam the suites, conservatory, towers, and gardens (lovely in summer).

Pellatt lost his fortune and the castle just a decade after building it, and that rise-and-fall story runs through the visit. It's a hit with families and a frequent film location, and the city views from the towers are a bonus. Seasonal events, from summer gardens to Halloween and Christmas, give it extra life.

Don't miss

• The turreted Gothic Revival architecture and towers
• Secret passages and the 800-foot tunnel to the stables
• Opulent period rooms and the conservatory
• The summer gardens and city views
• Seasonal events (Halloween, Christmas, garden season)

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Casa Loma

Cheapest way inRoyal Ontario Museum Admission4.3★ · 443 travelers3–4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$19 per personSee dates →Most bookedToronto Premium Driving Tour with CN Tower & Boat Cruise4.7★ · 880 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$127 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleToronto Private Custom Tour with a Local Highlights & Hidden Gems4.5★ · 15 travelers2–8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$48 per personSee dates →

Good for

How travelers rate it

Know before you go

• Book timed tickets online; seasonal events sell out.
• Don't miss the tunnel to the stables and the climb up the towers for city views.
• The gardens are only open and at their best in the warmer months.
• It's an old castle, expect stairs; check accessibility ahead if needed.

A bit of history

Built between 1911 and 1914 for Sir Henry Pellatt, a financier who made his fortune in hydroelectricity, Casa Loma was Canada's grandest private home, but Pellatt overreached and lost it within a decade to debts and taxes. The city later took it over, and it's now a museum and event venue.