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SightseeingLocal Gem

Durham Region

· Whitby, ON

Why you should go…

Durham Region is a regional municipality on the north shore of Lake Ontario, made up of eight local municipalities: Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge and Whitby. Its official tourism office promotes area trails, cycling routes, golf courses, dining, shopping and events. Visitor services are coordinated from the regional government's offices in Whitby, Ontario.

  • #cycling
  • #trails
  • #golf
  • #day trip
  • #lake ontario

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Durham Region, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Toronto Zoo

    $25–$50

    North America's largest zoo, with over 450 species spread across a forested Scarborough valley.

    13 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Distillery District

    Free

    Cobblestone lanes threaded through a preserved Victorian-era distillery, now full of galleries, cafes, and boutiques.

    26 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    St. Lawrence Market

    Free

    A cavernous 19th-century food market where locals still do their weekly shopping.

    27 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Gardiner Museum

    Under $25

    A focused, beautifully lit museum devoted entirely to ceramics, from pre-Columbian pottery to contemporary work.

    27 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Casa Loma

    $25–$50

    Wander a full-blown Gothic Revival castle, complete with secret passages and manicured gardens, in midtown Toronto.

    27 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Graffiti Alley

    Free

    A block-long laneway of ever-changing murals that has become the city's most photographed backstreet.

    28 mi awayMore like this