The Museum of Illusions Toronto opened its doors back in 2018 and has become popular as a family activity in downtown Toronto. There are more than 70 visual and educational rooms and displays in the museum, ranging from immersive spaces to holograms, and more.
With ticket prices that encourage families to bring kids along to enjoy the optical illusions inside, it’s no surprise that this museum was full of young ones in awe of what they were seeing when I visited in July 2023. While it’s not just for families with kids (it’s a fun date night idea too!), the museum is a great way to entertain everyone in the family during the summer holidays. Combine a trip to the museum with other attractions in the area for a memorable day for the whole family in the City of Toronto.
Where Is The Museum Of Illusions Toronto?
The Museum of Illusions is a small interactive museum located in the heart of Old Town Toronto. Just steps from the St. Lawrence Market, the Museum of Illusions Toronto is a fun place for families, couples, or friend groups to spend some time. Optical illusions and unique photo opportunities make this a memorable day trip for guests of all ages.
- Museum Address: 132 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1E2
- Opening Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM daily
How To Get There
The Museum of Illusions Toronto is in a very accessible location in the heart of the city. I drove to the city and parked at a Green P lot near the museum, but since the area is so busy and parking in the city costs a premium, transit is the most effective option.
Anyone who lives in Toronto can easily get to the museum via public transit. The museum is a 10-minute walk from King Station for Torontonians who are taking the subway.
For people visiting from out of town, one of the most convenient options is to take the GO train or bus from your respective city to Union Station. From Union, it’s a short 20-minute walk to the Museum of Illusions Toronto.
- Subway (TTC) Fare: From $3.30 per adult
- GO Train Fare: From $3.70 per adult (varies by travel distance)
Prices And Purchasing Tickets At This Toronto Museum
The cost of visiting the Museum of Illusions Toronto is relatively affordable, especially for families who are already residing in Toronto and are not spending a lot of money on gas or travel to the exhibit. Ticket prices vary for adults (16-64), children (5-15), and seniors (65+). Children ages 4 and under can visit for free with no entry ticket. Ticket prices for the museum are:
- CA$25.50 per adult
- CA$19.50 per child
- CA$23.50 per senior
All children’s tickets must be purchased alongside an adult ticket. Children cannot visit the museum unattended by an adult or senior.
After purchasing tickets, the museum can provide refunds or accommodate rescheduling of visiting times for up to three days before the ticket date. Refunds are not available for tickets purchased less than three days in advance.
What To Expect When Visiting The Museum Of Illusions In Toronto
The Museum of Illusions Toronto takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to fully explore. The length of time you’ll want to spend there depends on your age (kids may want to spend more time here) and the size of the group. The exhibits are interactive, allowing you to engage with the art and illusions. Here are some of the unique and quirky illusions to experience at the museum.
Illusion Rooms
Many of the cool photo opportunities at the Museum of Illusions Toronto come in the form of illusion rooms. These spaces are specifically created to trick the eye into seeing something that isn’t real, particularly after taking a photo of a person in the illusion room.
Tilted Room
The Tilted Room is a space that you can walk directly into while exploring the museum. The floor is slanted but when you take a photo in the room, it appears that the floor is flat and you are simply leaning extremely far forward.
Size Illusion
The size illusion room is curated for photographic optical illusions. This room uses wall sizes and lines to trick the eye into seeing one person who is huge and one who is small even though they are standing next to each other. A museum employee stands by this exhibit to take photos of you while you’re in the room with a friend or family member. Bring a buddy to the museum to get the full effect of this illusion room.
Upside Down Subway Car
The illusion of this room is created through a set designed to look like a subway car, except it’s upside down. Then, when you stand or sit in the room and take a photo, you can rotate the photo in post. Rotating the photo 180º creates the illusion that you are standing or sitting upside down in a right-way-up subway car. There are lots of fun opportunities to take a cool group shot here with friends or family.
Installations
In addition to the many illusion rooms, the Museum of Illusions Toronto features several installations. These installations use mirrors to create optical illusions that you can see in real life.
Cloning Table
The cloning table features a semi-circular table set against several mirrors and a deck of cards on the table. Museum visitors sit at the table, hold the cards in their hands, and suddenly they are sitting at a table playing cards with many clones of themselves.
Kaleidoscope
The kaleidoscope effect created by this triangular prism full of mirrors was fun to see! It makes for a cool photo but it looks just as amazing in real life, in the moment. Again, you’ll want to bring a buddy with you so you can each look down one end of the prism and see each other’s faces multiplied by all the mirrors.
Infinite Lights
This light installation reminded me of some of the exhibits at TeamLAB Borderless in Tokyo. You enter a room full of mirrors that make it look like you and the lights above you are infinite. It’s a beautiful sight and worth spending some time enjoying.
After You Visit: Explore The Area Near This Toronto Museum
While exploring the museum only takes a couple of hours at most, families visiting with their kids will find lots of other exciting activities in the area. After finishing up at the Museum of Illusions Toronto, head out to Front Street or The Esplanade and explore some of these other major Toronto attractions.
The St. Lawrence Market
The St. Lawrence Market is the oldest market in the City of Toronto. It was first established in 1803 and previously sat at Front and Jarvis. It has been called the World’s Greatest Food Market by National Geographic, so it’s a must-visit spot when in the area. It’s just up the street from the Museum of Illusions Toronto, so it’s the perfect spot to take the whole family for lunch after visiting the museum. Everyone can choose the type of food they like. With more than 120 vendors, there is truly something for everyone.
One of the most famous things to get for lunch at the St. Lawrence Market is the peameal bacon sandwich from Carousel Bakery. If that doesn’t sound appetizing to you, consider getting the crab cakes with salad at Buster’s Sea Cove instead.
The Gooderham Building
Just a 6-minute walk from the Museum of Illusions Toronto is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city – the Gooderham Building. This structure sits between Wellington St. East and Front Street East. It was built in 1892 and is a red brick flat iron building. It’s worth walking here from the museum to see the structure and take a photo of this beautiful part of Toronto’s history.
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Cap off a day of exploring Old Town Toronto by having dinner with the family at the Old Spaghetti Factory. This family-friendly chain restaurant has a gorgeous exterior and interior, plus a kid-friendly menu. It serves Italian cuisine and is located at 54 The Esplanade. After dinner, it’s time to head home or, families can book accommodation in Toronto and spend the night.
Memories To Last A Lifetime
The intrigue of illusions may fade with time, but memories made at this Toronto museum will last families a lifetime. Be sure to book tickets online in advance to reserve the morning, afternoon, or evening time slot during which you want to visit. By spending a full day in this part of Toronto, families can enjoy some of the best food in the city and embrace its history as well.
Disclaimer: This was a hosted experience, but all opinions are my own.
