Top Attractions in Scarborough, Ontario: Bluffs, Zoo, Museums & More

Scarborough's Highlights

Scarborough, the eastern district of Toronto, blends dramatic natural scenery with world-class cultural institutions. Here are the must-visit spots.

Natural Landmarks

• Scarborough Bluffs: 15 km of white limestone cliffs rising 90 m above Lake Ontario. Trails, vistas, and geological wonder.
• Bluffer's Park: Sandy beach, marina, picnic areas at the Bluffs' base. Popular for swimming, kayaking, sunsets.

Zoos & Wildlife

• Toronto Zoo (in Scarborough's Rouge Valley): Canada's largest, 5,000+ animals, 7 zoogeographic regions, conservation programs.
• Scarborough Zoo – Note: This is a common misnomer; the major facility is the Toronto Zoo. Smaller petting farms exist locally.

Museums & Science

• Ontario Science Centre: Interactive exhibits on space, biology, technology, OMNIMAX theatre. Iconic brutalist architecture.
• Scarborough Museum (Thomson Memorial Park): Four heritage buildings telling the district's rural-to-urban story.

Other Notable Sites

• Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): Actually in downtown Toronto (University of Toronto campus), not Scarborough—often confused due to proximity.
• CN Tower: Downtown landmark, 30 min transit from Scarborough.
• Rouge National Urban Park: Canada's first national urban park; hiking, wetlands, Indigenous history, camping.
• Guild Park & Gardens: Sculptor's colony ruins, Greek theatre, lakeside trails.

Getting Around

TTC subway Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth) serves Scarborough Centre; LRT (Line 5 Eglinton) under construction. GO Transit and buses connect Bluffs, Zoo, and Rouge Park.