A Guide to Visiting the Metro Toronto Zoo

A member of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Metro Toronto Zoo is at once a place of fun, education and conservation. Bringing species from around the world into Scarborough, the zoo provides a rare opportunity for Toronto residents and visitors to gain a better understanding of the wild world beyond our city.

Visit the Toronto Zoo website

The bad news is the Toronto Zoo is closed on Christmas Day, December 25th. The great news is the zoo is open every other day of the year!

The zoo is always open from at least 9:30am to 4:30pm, with longer hours in the spring and summer. During the summer it stays open until 7:30pm. Last admission is always one hour before closing time.

The Kids Zoo, Splash Island and the Waterside Theatre are only open in the peak summer season.

• Torontos Zoo's Hours webpage

If you're waiting for a bright, hot, sunny day to visit the zoo, remember that the hotter it is, the more likely the animals are to simply relax in the sun (or the shade, depending on what kind of climate they're used to). While there is lots to be said for visiting the zoo on a sunny afternoon, slightly cooler temperatures or breaks in the heat brought on by rain storms can really liven up a number of the residents. I once visited on a stormy day in July, and we got to see a rhino playing in puddles!

How much does it cost to go to the Toronto Zoo?

• General Admission (ages 13-64) $21.00
• Senior (ages 65+) $15.00
• Child (ages 4-12) $13.00
• Child (ages 3 & younger) FREE

Plus there are discounts available for groups of 20 people or more.

You should also remember to budget extra for lunch, dinner or snacks, as much like a movie theater the zoo restaurants charge a bit more than you would usually expect. Alternately, you're welcome to bring a packed meal inside.

The Toronto Zoo has a variety of annual membership plans available, which give you a full year of access plus special perks. If you think you or your family will visit the zoo more than once in the next 365 days, this is an option that's well worth checking out. The zoo is also one of the six attractions available through the Toronto CityPass.

• Before You Pay Admission to the Toronto Zoo, Consider Becoming a Member
• The Toronto CityPass

The TTC does provide service directly to the zoo, but which bus is heading there changes depending on the day of the week and the time of year. Use the TTC's online schedules to see if you need to catch the 86A Scarborough East bus from Kennedy Station or the 85A or B Sheppard East from Sheppard Station.

Driving to the Toronto Zoo is fairly straightforward. Take Highway 401 to the east side of Toronto and exit at Meadowvale Road. Head north on Meadowvale, and the signs will take you right into the parking lot. Parking costs $8.00 per vehicle, which you pay on the way out.

The zoo is wheelchair accessible, as are the two TTC routes that service it. You can also borrow wheelchairs on-site for free, but there are only a limited number available.

Because of the nature of the zoo they have a unique policy regarding guide dogs. Staff will care for the dog while a tour guide escorts the guest around the grounds. Contact the zoo in advance to help facilitate the arrangements.

• Torontos Zoo's Special Needs and Services webpage

Obviously the main reason to visit the Toronto Zoo is to see the 5000+ animals who live there, but you can also enjoy zoo keeper talks and scheduled feedings, hands-on discovery areas, and special exhibits.

In summer there's the Splash Island water play area, shows at the Waterside Theatre, and camel and pony rides available. A number of special events are held at the zoo, as are day programs and camps for kids and adults alike.

• Toronto Zoo Special Events webpage
• Toronto Zoo Camps and Programs webpage

The Toronto Zoo's animals are grouped together based on the region of the world where they originate. This means there are six main exhibit areas, each with a cluster of buildings and outdoor enclosures. The Toronto Zoo is very large, so you may want to focus each visit on just a few areas.

Here's a taste of what to expect in each exhibit area -- for a detailed list with animal facts visit Toronto Zoo's animal page. If you're interested in one animal in particular you should check to make sure the animal isn't temporarily off display. To do that visit the Animals Off Display page on the zoo's website.

Indo-Malaya
Some of the most popular animals in the Indo-Malayan area of the zoo are the Sumatran Orangutans. Don't forget to see the variety of birds and lizards however, and keep an eye out for the Great Indian Rhinoceros.

Africa
The elephants, lions, giraffes and hippopotamus are both huge and hugely popular, but equally charming are the fastidious naked mole rats.

The Americas
Seeing the otters at play is fantastic fun, as are the Golden Lion Tamarins.

Australasia
Take a walk through the kangaroo range, and enjoy the kookaburra, lorikeet and others in the aviary.

Eurasia
The red pandas are intriguingly raccoon-ish, but sometimes hard to spot. The Barbary sheep, on the other hand, generally stand right out there for the world to see. And of course you don't want to miss the Snow Leopard or the Siberian Tiger.

The Canadian Domain
If you're feeling a little un-Canadian for never having seen a moose, the zoo has you covered. You can also swell with national pride at the sight of the wolves, lynx, cougars, grizzlies and more.