The best things to see at Casa Loma include the soaring Great Hall, the Library, the marble-floored Conservatory, two climbable towers, and an 800-foot tunnel leading to Sir Henry Pellatt's stables. Built between 1911 and 1914, this Gothic Revival castle sits on a hill in midtown Toronto and holds 98 rooms. Climb the Norman and Scottish Towers for wide views of the Toronto skyline, then head underground to the carriage house and a photo exhibit on the city's darker days. A display honoring the Girl Guides of Canada and five acres of seasonal gardens round out the visit. Here's what deserves your time at the Casa Loma, plus how to plan your trip.
Navigating the Self-Guided Experience at Casa Loma
Plan on spending about two hours at Casa Loma to see the main rooms, towers, tunnel, and stables at a comfortable pace. Allow extra time to linger in the gardens in warmer months or read every exhibit panel.
A general admission visit is self-guided, so you set the pace and the order. There's no tour group to keep up with, so you can stay as long as you like in any room. Admission includes a complimentary multimedia audio guide app with room-by-room stories, so download it before you arrive and bring headphones. American Sign Language and visual description versions are also available. Start with the included documentary on Sir Henry Pellatt for helpful context.
Put the towers near the top of your list. The Norman Tower is taller, and its narrow spiral stairs lead to views of the downtown skyline and the CN Tower. The Scottish Tower is a shorter climb. Tower access depends on the weather, so head up early on a clear day.
If your schedule is tight, prioritize the Great Hall, the Conservatory, the Norman Tower, and the tunnel to the stables.
Exploring the Opulence of the Main Floor Grand Rooms
Casa Loma has 98 rooms across three main floors and a lower level, with its grandest spaces on the main floor. Start in the Great Hall, where the ceiling rises 60 feet above pillars decorated with sculpted figures. It's a natural first stop, and it sets the tone for the rest of the house.
Next door, the Library has a herringbone oak floor that appears to change shade depending on where you stand. Look up to spot Pellatt's coat of arms on the ceiling. The adjoining Dining Room is paneled in Circassian walnut.
The Conservatory is a standout for photos. Italian marble covers the floor, Ontario marble lines the side panels, and a stained-glass ceiling filters light into the room. Steam pipes once kept the flower beds warm through Toronto winters.
Before heading upstairs, step into Sir Henry's Study. Its mahogany paneling hides a secret door on each side of the fireplace, one of several hidden passages tucked throughout the castle.
Venturing Through the Secret Tunnel to the Stables
An 800-foot tunnel runs about 18 feet below Austin Terrace, linking the castle to its potting shed, carriage room, and stables. You'll find the entrance on the lower level, and the walk underground sets Casa Loma apart from most historic homes. The tunnel includes stairs, so wear comfortable shoes.
The passage doubles as a gallery for one of the most memorable Casa Loma exhibits: the Dark Side of Toronto. Archival photographs on the walls cover the Prohibition era, the Great Depression, the plague, the Great Fire of Toronto, and the city's first plane crash. It's a sobering contrast to the opulence upstairs.
At the far end, the luxury stables show how far Pellatt's ambitions reached. The family began construction in 1911, and they once housed the family's horses. Today, the carriage house displays vintage vehicles from the early 1900s, including a 1910 Maxwell Model Q Standard and a 1924 Ford Model T Touring. During World War II, the stables also concealed a secret site for sonar research and production.
Cinematic History and Heritage Exhibits in the Castle
Casa Loma has been a go-to filming location for decades, and its film gallery celebrates the castle's part in Toronto's reputation as Hollywood North. Set on the lower level, the gallery displays photos, props, and memorabilia from productions shot on-site. You may recognize rooms from X-Men, Chicago, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.
Upstairs, the heritage exhibits turn to the family behind the house. Sir Henry Pellatt's fortunes closely made much of his money bringing electric power to Toronto, hired architect E.J. Lennox, and spent about $3.5 million building the castle. Financial trouble forced him out in less than a decade.
On the second floor, the Girl Guides of Canada exhibit honors Lady Mary Pellatt, the organization's first chief commissioner. The third floor houses the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum, honoring Sir Henry's long service with the regiment. He rose to major general and once took the entire regiment to England at his own expense.
Planning Your Visit to Toronto's Hilltop Landmark
The subway is the simplest way to reach Casa Loma at 1 Austin Terrace. From Dupont station, walk two blocks north on Spadina Avenue, then climb the 110 Baldwin Steps or follow the hill on the castle's west side. If you'd rather avoid the stairs, ride to St. Clair West station and walk about 15 minutes east and south along St. Clair Avenue and Spadina Road. Paid on-site parking is available, and rideshare drivers can drop you off in the east lot.
Garden lovers should visit between May and October, when the five-acre terraced estate gardens open with perennial borders, sculptures, fountains, and a wooded hillside of ferns and rhododendrons.
Casa Loma is one of the choice Toronto attractions included with Toronto CityPASS® tickets. Your ticket covers the CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, plus three picks from Casa Loma, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, City Cruises Toronto, and the Toronto Zoo.
Grab your Toronto CityPASS® tickets and add a castle to your itinerary.