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Sport & OutdoorFamily FavoriteOutdoor Adventure

Toronto Zoo

2000 Meadowvale Rd · Toronto, ON

Why you should go…

Opened in 1974 in the Rouge Valley, the Toronto Zoo covers 287 hectares and groups animals by continent, from Indo-Malayan orangutans to African savanna giraffes. A Zoomobile tram helps cover the sprawling grounds, and the pandas and polar bears are perennial favorites. Splash pads and a discovery zone keep younger kids busy.

  • #zoo
  • #wildlife
  • #family
  • #scarborough

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

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

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

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

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Durham Region

    Free

    A region on Lake Ontario's north shore covering Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and more.

    13 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Distillery District

    Free

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

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    Local Gem

    Gardiner Museum

    Under $25

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

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Royal Ontario Museum

    $25–$50

    Canada's largest museum spans dinosaur fossils, ancient Egypt, and a jagged crystal entrance you can't miss.

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Toronto Islands

    Free

    Hop a ferry to a car-free island chain with sandy beaches and the classic postcard view of the skyline.

    17 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    High Park

    Free

    Toronto's biggest park, with trails, a free zoo, sports fields, and a famous cherry blossom grove.

    18 mi awayMore like this