GETTING HERE
Long Wave, Allen Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place, Toronto Photo courtesy of Toronto Tourism & Visitors Association |
AIRPORT 411 |
Toronto Pearson International Airport (code YYZ) is the main point of landing for most domestic and international flights. Toronto Pearson is 27 km (17 miles) west of downtown (about a half-hour drive). To get from the airport to downtown, you can:
1. Take the UP (Union Pearson) Express, a brand-new dedicated express rail service connecting Union station to Toronto Pearson, departing every 15 minutes. Fares cost up to $27.50 depending on destination and type of pass, go to UPExpress.com to find out more.
2. Hire a taxi or an airport limo: Look for the lineup signs for taxis. The average cost into the city is about $50.
3. Catch a shuttle bus: Many hotels offer airport shuttles, so check whether yours does.
4. Rent a car: You’ll find major car-rental outfits at both Terminal 1 and Terminal. Most are open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Alamo, 1-800-GO-ALAMO
- Avis, 1-800-TRY-AVIS Budget, 1-800-268-8900
- Dollar, 1-800-800-4000 Enterprise, 1-800-261-7331
- Hertz, 1-800-263-0600 National, 1-800-CAR-RENT
- Thrifty, 1-800-THRIFTY
5. Take public transit: You’ll save money if you take the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Catch the 192 Airport Rocket bus to Kipling subway station, or take the 52A Lawrence West bus to Lawrence West subway station. Both stations are on subway lines servicing the downtown core. Visit ttc.ca.
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (code YTZ), located on the Toronto Islands, services domestic, chartered and select U.S. flights. Billy Bishop is a short ferry ride from Toronto’s Harbourfront district, then mere minutes from downtown’s taxis and public transit. A tunnel is being built and will make the connection even faster (anticipated completion is early 2015).
TRAVELLING BY BUS |
Toronto Coach Terminal is the main intercity bus depot, located downtown at 610 Bay St. GO Transit buses service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The GO Transit bus hub is located at 140 Bay St. (at Front Street, just east of Union Station). Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com.
TRAVELLING BY TRAIN |
All trains arrive and depart from Union Station (65 Front St. W.). VIA Rail handles most of Canada’s intercity routes and connects to the U.S. via Amtrak. The Amtrak/VIA Maple Leaf route runs between New York City and Toronto daily and takes around 12 hours, depending on the border wait. For more information: 1-888-VIA-RAIL and viarail.ca; 1-800-USA-RAIL and amtrak.com. GO Transit trains service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The green-and-white trains operate from Union Station. Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com. For general station information, call the Travellers’ Aid Society of Toronto at 416-366-7788.