Getting around · Toronto · Canada
Getting around Toronto
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rosco1011, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Downtown Toronto is compact and walkable, and the TTC's subway, streetcars and buses reach the rest of the city. The underground PATH links much of the financial district in winter, and GO Transit regional trains run from Union Station to the suburbs and towards Niagara. Not for the city: transit, walking and taxis are easier than driving and paying for downtown parking.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- YYZ, YTZ
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- PRESTO card
Ways to get around
Metro
The TTC subway's Line 1 (Yonge–University) forms a U through downtown via Union Station, and Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth) crosses it east–west along Bloor Street.
Tap a credit or debit card, phone or PRESTO card at the gates; one tap gives two hours of transfers.
Tram
Streetcars run along King, Queen, Spadina and other main streets; the 504 King and 501 Queen lines are handy for Queen West, Leslieville and The Beaches.
Board through any door and tap on the readers inside the car.
Walking
Downtown sights from the CN Tower to St. Lawrence Market and the AGO are 15–25 minutes apart on foot, and the underground PATH links more than 30 km of shops and offices.
Cycling
Bike Share Toronto has hundreds of stations downtown, and protected lanes run along Bloor Street and the waterfront Martin Goodman Trail.
Ferry
City ferries from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at the foot of Bay Street reach Centre Island, Ward's Island and Hanlan's Point in about 10–15 minutes.
Train
GO Transit trains from Union Station serve the suburbs and, on some services, Niagara Falls, while VIA Rail runs to Montreal and Ottawa.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Lyft operate across the city alongside metered taxis, useful late at night or with luggage.
Tickets and passes
PRESTO card
The reloadable fare card for the TTC, GO Transit and UP Express; contactless bank cards and phones also work at the same readers across most of the network.
From the airport
Toronto Pearson (YYZ), about 25 km northwest of downtown, is linked to Union Station by the UP Express train in about 25 minutes; taxis and ride-hailing take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), on the Toronto Islands, handles short-haul flights and is reached through a pedestrian tunnel minutes from downtown.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city: transit, walking and taxis are easier than driving and paying for downtown parking. A car is useful for Niagara wine country, Prince Edward County or Algonquin Park.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Niagara Falls | About 1.5–2 hours by car, train or bus | GO Transit from Union Station, a coach, or car |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake | About 1.5 hours by car | Car or tour, often combined with Niagara Falls |
| Stratford | About 2 hours by car | Car or seasonal coach |
| Prince Edward County | About 2.5–3 hours by car | Car |
| Algonquin Provincial Park | About 3 hours by car | Car or organised tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Toronto?
Not for the city: transit, walking and taxis are easier than driving and paying for downtown parking. A car is useful for Niagara wine country, Prince Edward County or Algonquin Park.
+How do you get from the airport to Toronto?
Toronto Pearson (YYZ), about 25 km northwest of downtown, is linked to Union Station by the UP Express train in about 25 minutes; taxis and ride-hailing take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), on the Toronto Islands, handles short-haul flights and is reached through a pedestrian tunnel minutes from downtown.
+What is the best way to get around Toronto?
Metro: The TTC subway's Line 1 (Yonge–University) forms a U through downtown via Union Station, and Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth) crosses it east–west along Bloor Street.