Royal Ontario Museum Toronto: Dinosaurs & Skip-the-Line

The 27.5-Meter Barosaurus Waits Inside—No Line

You skip the ticket line and spend your time in the galleries instead of the queue. A 5-star guide walks you through dinosaur skeletons, Egyptian artifacts, global cultural objects, and meteorites across three floors. Kids can handle fossils in the Hands-On Area. The tour includes permanent collection admission; special exhibition tickets are sold separately at the museum.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private tour of Royal Ontario Museum

• Meet guide outside McDonald's, 196 Bloor St W
• Explore Natural History section and Barosaurus
• Visit immersive bat cave exhibit
• Tour World Cultures Galleries across three floors
• See Ancient Egyptian stone coffin and mosaics
• Enjoy Hands-On Area with costumes and fossils
• Discover temporary exhibitions with expert guide

The Experience

You're standing in front of the museum on Bloor Street, and your guide is already there. The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto opens its doors, and you walk straight past the ticket queue—skip-the-line access means no waiting at the counter, though security still moves everyone through. Your guide, fluent in your language and rated 5-star, knows exactly where to go first. Most people head to the dinosaurs, and there's a reason: the Barosaurus skeleton stretches 27.5 meters across the Natural History section, Canada's largest dinosaur on display. It's the kind of thing you don't quite believe until you're standing under it.

The tour moves through three floors of the World Cultures Galleries after that. You'll see the 800 BC stone coffin of Djedmaatesankh, an Ancient Egyptian woman whose name is still carved into limestone. Your guide pulls out stories—the kind of detail that makes a museum object stop being a thing behind glass and become a person, a moment, a choice someone made thousands of years ago. Mosaics from Africa, East Asia, Europe and the Middle East fill the walls. There's a bat cave exhibit that's more immersive than you'd expect, and if you're traveling with kids, the Hands-On Area lets them try on cultural costumes and actually touch ancient fossils and meteorites. The Royal Ontario Museum also rotates temporary exhibitions, so your guide will let you know what's on during your visit—those tickets cost extra, but the permanent collection is all included.

The whole thing is a walking tour, so wear shoes you don't mind being in for a few hours. Groups stay under nine people per guide, which means you're not shuffling through galleries in a crowd of thirty. If your group is larger, the museum arranges extra guides and adjusts the price. Wheelchair access is full—all areas and surfaces are accessible, and strollers work fine too. Your guide also hands you insider tips on what else to do in Toronto once you're done, which saves the afternoon from feeling like the museum was the whole trip.

What’s included

Your day includes skip-the-line tickets to the Royal Ontario Museum, a private tour with a 5-star licensed guide fluent in your language, access to the permanent collection across three floors (Natural History, World Cultures, and interactive Hands-On Area), and insider tips on other things to do in Toronto. Special exhibition tickets are available for purchase separately at the museum.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rosotravel Canada

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the ROM's main galleries without spending time in the ticket line, and you'd rather have a guide point out the stories behind the objects than wander on your own—the skip-the-line access and expert commentary are what turn a museum visit into something you actually remember.

Top questions

Do I really skip the line at the entrance?

Skip-the-line applies to the ticket office only. You still go through security screening like everyone else, but you don't wait to buy tickets.

What's included in the ticket price?

Admission to the permanent collection galleries. Special exhibitions are not included; you can buy those tickets separately at the museum.

Is it suitable for young children?

Yes. Strollers and prams are welcome, infants can sit on an adult's lap, and the Hands-On Area is designed for families with interactive activities.

What if my group is larger than nine people?

The museum limits groups to 9 people per guide. Larger groups get additional guides assigned, and the total price adjusts accordingly.

Can I use public transit to get there?

Yes, public transportation options are available near the museum. The meeting point is 196 Bloor St W, in front of McDonald's (not inside).

Are there special exhibitions during my visit?

The ROM rotates temporary exhibitions. Your guide will tell you what's on and where to buy tickets if you're interested.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.