This realistic Casa Loma Toronto Guide helps you plan your next adventure in this house museum.

Casa Loma is a 1914 Gothic Revival mansion in Toronto, Ontario. The mansion has become a landmark of the city and a popular filming location over its 110-year history.

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Casa Loma has a fascinating history for a house museum. It was built as a single family residence. But the property taxes for this mansion were too high for one family to afford it.

Casa Loma was a luxury hotel before becoming a city property for unpaid taxes. It was also a military device development site during World War II.

Casa Loma became a house museum in 1937. It remains one of the top tourist destinations in Toronto to this day. Visitors come to Casa Loma to admire its exterior elements and interior design.

Sights & Places of Interest

You could enjoy the beautiful exterior of Casa Loma from a few spots in Toronto. The best free viewing location is in front of the mansion at 14-22 Austin Terrace.

But you would want to head inside this house museum. The interior of Casa Loma hides grand halls and conservatories, towers and tunnels, secret passages and lavish suites.

The main sections of this Casa Loma Toronto Guide describe the best sights on its four floors and grounds. Beware: it might be difficult at times to keep track of the rooms in this mansion.

1. First Floor

The first floor in most mansions tries to wow visitors and convey a message about the owners. Casa Loma is no different. The rooms on this floor will leave a lasting impression on any visitor.

This section of the Casa Loma Toronto Guide will walk you through the rooms on the first floor. You will explore the Great Hall, Peacock Alley, Study, Library, and Conservatory.

1.1 Great Hall

As soon as you enter Casa Loma, you will find yourself in the Great Hall. There is hardly a better room to start your visit to this house museum. It is the largest and most memorable room in the mansion.

You are certain to notice the 60-ft (18-m) high ceiling. Wooden pillars support the gable roof. And massive chandeliers hang from the roof arches. A few flags complete the picture.

The Great Hall bears the most resemblance with the houses of the Gilded Age. But it is not the Vanderbilt Mansion or the Gibson House Casa Loma is after. The mansion looks just like Biltmore in North Carolina.

The Great Hall spans between two floors of Casa Loma. You could get another look at this room from the Hall on the second floor. You could also set foot on the indoor balcony in the Sir Henry Pellatt’s Suite.

1.2. Sir Henry’s Study

You should head to the Sir Henry’s Study next. This small room might pale in comparison to the Great Hall. But this is only true at the first glance. The study has lots of notable pieces.

Take a look at the items that surround an exquisite wooden desk. A typewriter looks as if it came from the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio. A desk lamp would fit in the Winchester Mystery House.

A grandfather clock looks just like the one in the Haas-Lilienthal House in San Francisco, California. And a fireplace mantel could rival the mantels in the Meeker Mansion.

But as amazing as these items are, they are not the showstopper in the Sir Henry’s Study. There is a secret staircase next to the fireplace. Try to shake off the feeling now that you are in a fantasy movie!

1.3. Peacock Alley

You could use the secret staircase to go to the second floor right away. But it could a good idea to explore other rooms on the ground floor first.

Turn left from the Study. You will enter the Peacock Alley. Dark wooden panels cover the walls of this long hallway. You could study the images on the walls as your make your way to other rooms.

1.4. Conservatory

A walk through the Peacock Alley will be worth it. The hallway leads to the Conservatory. While the Great Hall is the largest room in the mansion, the Conservatory is among the most beautiful.

The plant variety at Casa Loma could not compete with the Garfield Park or Lincoln Park Conservatories. This should not come as a surprise. Casa Loma is some 400 miles (640 km) north of Chicago, Illinois.

But it will be difficult to get your eyes of the domed ceiling. Its stained ornamental glass panels are a sight to see. The Conservatory’s ceiling alone makes a visit to Casa Loma well worth the admission price.

Yet, the floor of this room could be just as marvelous as its ceiling. Italian and Ontario marble panels add a perfect finishing touch to this room.

1.5. Library

The Conservatory connects to the Library. This large room extends all the way to the Great Hall. As a result, it is often a place for meetings and educational programs at Casa Loma.

It could be hard to enjoy the beauty of this room if an event is in session. Rows of chairs seem a bit out of place in the Library. But do not miss a beautiful statue clock at its entrance.

1.6. Serving Room

You would need to go back through the Peacock Alley. It is the main way to the second floor. But do not rush through the hallway. You could easily miss the Serving Room.

This small room is across the hallway from the Library. There are lots of carved wood furniture pieces. Nearly all of them are amazing examples of craftsmanship.

The Serving Room might be the first room with holiday decorations if you visit Casa Loma around the winter holidays. The house museum invites different interior designers to decorate each room every year.

1.7. Staircase

There are a few more rooms on the first floor. A handful of rooms are next to the Serving Room. These rooms are closed to public. Two other rooms are on the other side of the Great Hall.

Both the Oak Drawing Room and the Billiards Room have a few historic items. You should check them out before continuing with your house exploration.

It might be a great time to take the grand staircase upstairs. You will see another enormous chandelier. The landing has a floor-to-ceiling panoramic window. Enjoy the view of the terrace and the gardens.

2. Second Floor

The first floor at Casa Loma typically sets high expectations among visitors. The rooms on its second floor manage to clear this high bar.

The second floor is home to most bedrooms at Casa Loma. The next section of this Casa Loma Toronto Guide displays what suites you should visit on the second floor.

2.1. Sir Henry Pellatt’s Suite

The Sir Henry Pellatt’s Suite is a great first stop on the second floor of Casa Loma. This bedroom has a similar design to the Peacock Alley.

Mahogany and walnut wood wall panels are on all walls. A carved wood canopy bed fits in nicely with these dark panels. An evergreen Christmas tree does little to liven up the mood in this suite.

There might be a line near the entrance to this room. It has to do with the indoor balcony. Most visitors try to get another look at the Great Hall. Yet, the balcony could only fit 3 people at once.

2.2. Lady Pellatt’s Suite

You could reach the Lady Pellatt’s Suite from the Sir Henry Pellatt’s Suite without going to the hallway. There is another non-secret passage next to the walk-in closets and dressing rooms.

This room is much more bright and lively. Wedgwood blue color of the bedroom set and walls is to thank for this perception. Thoughtful holiday decorations make this room a highlight of the second floor.

2.3. Sitting Room

The Lady Pellatt’s Bedroom connects to the Sitting Room. This semi-round room used to be a perfect entertainment place. You could find a similar setup in the Library in the Haas-Lilienthal House.

The Sitting Room has a coffee table and a variety of wooden chests of drawers. It is easy to see how conversations were flowing in this room back in the day.

2.4. Bathroom

The second floor gives you a chance to see a typical bathroom at Casa Loma. Like most other houses of that time it has just the essentials.

There is a bathtub, a sink, and a toilet. A radiator, a mirror, and wall tiles round up the picture. This bathroom might not offer any revelations. Yet, it is good to see the museum staff preserve this room.

2.5. Guest Suite

A quick walk across the hallway will bring you to the Guest Suite. There are a handful guest rooms in Casa Loma. Yet, few of them are open to the public.

This Guest Suite has light wood panels and ornamental wallpaper. There is a smaller canopy bed. Dressers, chests, and nightstands act as exhibits. The items in this room suggest Asian influence.

You might not feel like spending a lot of time exploring the Guest Suite. In the end, there are a lot of other rooms in Casa Loma. But you would not regret taking a few minutes out of your tour schedule.

The screen in the Guest Suite has a beautiful pattern. It shows a tree and blooming flowers with lots of birds. Take a look a the white peacock. This pattern is certain to wow you.

2.6. Windsor Room

You could check out the exit of the secret passage to the Sir Henry’s Study. But no other room in this area is open to the public. Still, there are a few things to explore on the second floor.

Take the Hallway all the way past the Great Hall and Grand Staircase. You could now step into the Windsor Room. It is one of the most beautiful rooms in the mansion.

The name and stunning design have an easy explanation. Sir Pellatt decorated this room in hopes to host the Royal Family one day.

2.7. Round Room

Once you explored all interior design and decorations of the Windsor Room, head to the Round Room. It is across the Hallway.

The Round Room is a bit similar to the Sitting Room in the Lady Pellatt’s Suite. But this room is actually round. Its shape has to do with its location. The Room Room is below the round Scottish Tower.

There are a lot of furniture pieces in this room. Once you add all the holiday decorations, there might be very little space left for the visitors.

3. Third Floor

Unless you choose to visit any of the second floor rooms again, you should go upstairs. You need to take a second staircase. Like at the Gibson House, the Grand Staircase does not go past the second floor.

The third floor has far fewer rooms with historic furniture items. It looks more like a museum exhibit or a theme park than a house museum. But there are still a few things to explore on the third floor.

This section of the Casa Loma Toronto Guide describes the rooms and exhibits to see on the third floor. You could visit a few rooms, a museum, and two towers.

3.1. Austin Room

You will enter the Queen’s Own Rifles Museum as soon you set foot on the third floor. The exhibits are in the long hallway above the Peacock Alley.

You will see lots of firearms, uniforms, and medals on display. The Austin Room, the largest room on this floor, houses a few more exhibits on the Canadian intelligence operations.

You are welcome to explore the exhibits in both rooms. But it might be a good idea to head to the Scottish Tower. You might need to wait in line to visit it. Getting there early will help cut down on waiting.

3.2. Scottish Tower

The Scottish Tower is a large round tower at Casa Loma. It is a symbol of this house museum that gives it a castle-like appearance. The tower is open to the public. But it usually closes earlier than the museum.

You need to go up a few staircases to reach the tower. Most of them are narrow and long. You would even have to climb a spiral staircase at the end. All of this sounds like a great adventure.

But there is another side to it. Most visitors to Casa Loma have the same idea. As they make their way upstairs, they all expect to get to the top of the Scottish Tower.

Yet, shorter opening hours push more visitors to explore the tower in less time. And the staircases create bottlenecks. You could easily spend 30 to 45 minutes waiting to climb the stairs.

If you arrive 90 minutes before the Scottish Tower closes, the tower should be your first stop in Casa Loma. Otherwise, you might not get to see it at all.

You might not be missing much since the views from the Scottish Tower leave much to be desired. Still, it is part of the museum admission. You should try to explore it unless you fear heights and small spaces.

3.3. Escape Room

The Escape Room is the reason the Scottish Tower closes early on most days. The tower houses the Escape Casa Loma Series. You will find lots of game props throughout the Scottish Tower.

You could be solving different puzzles from $45 CAD (~$33 USD) per person. This fee does not include admission to the rest of the mansion.

While the Escape Room is an extra revenue stream for the museum, it feels a bit out of place. You might start to think as if you are in a theme park. This feeling is very similar to the Winchester Mystery House.

3.4. Norman Tower

There is one other tower in Casa Loma that you could visit. The Norman Tower is a rectangular tower above the main entrance to the mansion.

It is open to visitors whenever the house museum is open. So, you do not need to worry about running out of time to visit this tower.

Still, you have to assume that there would be lines to the Norman Tower, too. The lines are the longest if you visit Casa Loma after the Scottish Tower has closed for the day.

3.5. Outdoor Terrace

There is an outdoor terrace at the top of the Norman Tower. So take a jacket with you since it could get quite cold in Toronto. The terrace is an excellent place to get great views of the city.

You could enjoy Toronto skyline from a different perspective. The CN Tower is on full display. You might also recognize other landmarks in Old Toronto. These views are worth the wait at the stairs.

3.6. Group of Seven Room

Once you have visited both towers, you could take some time to explore the rooms on the third floor. There are three rooms that deserve your attention. Start with the Group of Seven Room.

This room follows the shape of the Scottish Tower above and the Round Room below. It has a wooden desk and a great number of historical items.

The name of this room refers to a group of Canadian landscape painters in the 1920s and 1930s. You could now admire the works of these artists in this room.

3.7. Pellatt Board Room

The Pellatt Board Room is across the hallway from the Group of Seven Room. There are no surprises in this room. You will see a large oval table and eight chairs around it.

A handful of business discussions took place in the Pellatt Board Room. It has been restored to help visitors imagine what these discussions could have been like.

3.8. Servant’s Room

You should not overlook one other third floor room. The museum staff restored one of the Servant’s Rooms. This room has a much more modest interior design and furniture pieces.

This setup is common among the houses of this era. You could find similar servant’s rooms all over North America. They are present from the Nichols House in Boston to the Meeker Mansion near Seattle.

4. Stables

You might be ready to finish exploring Casa Loma after the long lines at the towers. But cutting your visit short would be a mistake. You could visit one more area of the mansion, the Stables.

The Stables might not sound as the most appealing part of this house museum. But you should not expect your typical stables like in Ringwood Manor or Waterloo Village.

These stables might be the most bizarre thing you would see at Casa Loma. The next section of this Casa Loma Toronto Guide covers the things to expect in the Stables.

4.1. Dark Side Tunnel

A visit to the Stables starts by taking the stairs to the basement. You will find the Hollywood Film Gallery and restrooms there.

The Gallery is a hallway with movie posters. Casa Loma was a filming location for all of them. Go through the hallway gallery. You will find a concrete tunnel. This is the path to the Stables.

Get ready to walk a few blocks underground. This passage is a bit like a subway tunnel in NYC. The exhibits on the walls describe the dark events in the history of the city.

Yet, this tunnel played a role during World Word II. The Stables were a covert production site for submarine detection devices. This tunnel allowed the workers to pass undetected.

4.2. Backstage Celebrity Gallery

The Dark Side Tunnel is surprisingly long. You might start to feel tired or bored while going through it. The walk ends at the Backstage Celebrity Gallery.

Similar to the Hollywood Film Gallery, this exhibit has to do with the films shot at Casa Loma. But instead of posters you will see life size figures from the films.

Yet, most silicone figures at the Backstage Celebrity Gallery look nothing like real actors and actresses. It is unclear if it was purposeful or due to the talent limitations. Take a look at this unicorn statue instead.

4.3. Automotive Museum

The Automative Museum at the Casa Loma Stables is a different story. It houses a few cars from the beginning of the 20th century. Most of the turn-of-the-century cars are in impeccable condition.

This exhibit is a bit similar to the Moody Mansion in Texas. Of course, neither could compete with the National Corvette Museum in Kentucky. But these small exhibits are a good way to see early cars.

You will then pass the historic Stables and arrive at the Potting Shed. The museum staff use the shed to grow plants for the Casa Loma Gardens.

The Potting Shed is the last room to see in the Stables. You need to go all the way back to the mansion via the Dark Side Tunnel.

5. Covered Porch & Gardens

A walk back from the Stables is even more boring than the walk there. You might be looking for a way to end your visit to Casa Loma. But do not make any rush decisions you might regret later.

You should not leave the mansion before visiting the Covered Porch. The porch is the best place to see Casa Loma from the outside. You could explore the Gothic Revival elements without visiting Ottawa.

The Porch is a gateway to the gardens. This small garden with a pool resembles the grounds at Grey Towers. But with few plants and a non functioning fountain it is not too captivating in the winter.

Continue with this Casa Loma Toronto Guide. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Casa Loma Toronto

Casa Loma is a Toronto landmark. The house museum is in the northern part of Old Toronto in the same name neighborhood. The mansion is just north of Downtown Toronto and its sights.

You could reach Casa Loma easily from Downtown via public transport. Just board a Subway Line 1 train to Dupont station. A single ride is $3.3 CAD (~$2.5 USD) per adult. A day pass is $13.5 CAD (~$10 USD).

A 512 streetcar is another option. St Clair Ave West at Spadina Rd stop is 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the museum. It costs the same as the subway.

If you travel to Casa Loma by car, you should budget for parking. There are few parking garages near this house museum. And it might take you a while to find a parking spot on the street.

Casa Loma has onsite parking. The museum parking garage has plenty of spots. But this convenience comes at a price. You need to pay a flat fee of $20 CAD (~$15 USD) per car.

You should fly to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) Airport, if you are an out-of-province or an out-of-country visitor to Casa Loma. A trip from the airport takes 45 minutes by car or 60 minutes by public transport.

You could consider Billy Bishop Toronto City (YTZ) Airport when visiting Casa Loma. A trip to the mansion would be similar in duration to YYZ. Yet, this airport has far fewer connections.

Where to Stay near Casa Loma

Casa Loma is in a residential area of Toronto, Ontario. As a result, there are few places to stay near the house museum. You would likely need to travel by car, public transport, or rideshare from your hotel.

Still, there are a handful of places to stay a short ride south from Casa Loma. Check out Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Toronto Downtown and Pantages Hotel Toronto Centre.

You could be touring Casa Loma less than 40 minutes from either hotel. A trip by car or a rideshare would take less than 20 minutes in usual traffic.

Your search for places to stay would likely bring you to Downtown Toronto. Take a look at The Novotel Toronto Centre and Holiday Inn Express Toronto Downtown, an IHG Hotel.

Sutton Place Hotel Toronto and Residence Inn by Marriott Toronto Downtown / Entertainment District are also nice options. All of these hotels are less than 40 minutes from the mansion by public transport.

Unless your journey brings you to Vaughan, Markham, or Toronto Airport, few other places to stay are worth a consideration. Most of them are simply too far for a comfortable visit to Casa Loma.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

Casa Loma is open to self guided tours every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Day (December 25th) is the only day of the year when the house museum is closed.

While last admission is at 4:30 p.m., you should give yourself more than 30 minutes to explore the mansion. Your visit will be quite rushed if you visit the museum around its closing time.

Some sights at Casa Loma close earlier than the mansion. The Scottish Tower closes at 1 p.m. on weekends and at 3 p.m. Wednesday to Friday. The escape room games take place there after-hours.

Casa Loma Gardens close at 4 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday and at 3 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday. These closures bring long lines to many Casa Loma rooms for the mid afternoon visitors.

A general admission ticket to Casa Loma costs $40 CAD (~$30 USD) per adult. Seniors and youth pay $35 CAD (~$26 USD). Children between 4 and 13 pay $25 CAD (~$19 USD). Kids below 4 visit free.

If you like escape room puzzles, you could play a game at the Scottish Tower. It costs $46.35 CAD (~$35 USD) on weekdays or $56.65 CAD (~$42 USD) on weekends. You cannot visit other parts of Casa Loma.

It could be a good idea to book your Casa Loma ticket in advance. This way, you could guarantee a spot on a self-guided tour of this mansion.

You could also rent the mansion or its gardens for your event. A handful of weddings and corporate events take place at Casa Loma every month.

Takeaways: Casa Loma Toronto

Casa Loma is a must-visit attraction in Toronto, Ontario. Few other house museums could rival this 98-room historic mansion.

Admission to Casa Loma is pricey. But it is a steal if you compare it to Biltmore in the United States. Both mansions play in the same league.

Here are a few tips for you to make the most from a visit to Casa Loma. There is no secret recipe. You just need to arrive early and follow a certain path through the house museum.

Arrive at the mansion as early as possible. This way, you could explore the rooms and secret passages with fewer people. Smaller crowds make a huge difference between an enjoyable and an unpleasant visit.

Go to the Scottish Tower and the Norman Tower as your first order of business. You could thank this guide later after not wasting time in line in front of the tower staircase.

Explore the rooms on the mansion’s three floors next. Unless you enjoy museum exhibits spend the least time on the third floor. The first and second floor have the most notable items.

Make sure to go through a secret passage in the Sir Henry’s Study. Find the secret storage in the Sir Henry Pellatt’s Suite. And enjoy the indoor balcony that overlooks the Great Hall.

Take a walk through the tunnel to the Stables. As dreadful as the figures in the Backstage Celebrity Gallery are, they are a thing to see. Check out the vintage cars before heading to the gardens.

Your visit to Casa Loma could take between 60 minutes and a few hours. The lines at the towers could add over an hour to your mansion exploration.

Take a look at this Casa Loma Toronto Video Guide. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!