Toronto is one of Canada’s most vibrant and iconic cities famed for its food scene with the likes of St. Lawrence Market and the city's incredible range of restaurants serving local delicacies and foods from around the world. Canada’s largest city is also the cultural and entertainment hub of the country, with an array of museums, including the renowned Royal Ontario Museum.
If you are heading on a city break to Toronto or planning a trip as part of a longer holiday in Canada, you should learn how to get to the city and its public transport once you arrive.
Getting to Toronto
If you are travelling from the UK or you are already on holiday in Canada, there are many options available to you when it comes to getting to Toronto.
Flying to Toronto
There are two airports in Toronto, Toronto Pearson International Airport being Canada’s principal airport. It is one of the world's busiest airports, with incoming and outgoing flights taking off and landing throughout the day.
The Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is located on Toronto Island, minutes from the downtown core. International flights to Toronto will head to Toronto Pearson International Airport.
Flights to Toronto from the UK are just a short eight hours, and the fact it is easy to reach makes it a popular destination to visit.
Once your flight to Toronto has arrived, you will want to travel to the city and greater Toronto area. You can take the UP Express (Union-Pearson Express), a dedicated rail service connecting Toronto Pearson Airport with Union Station.
Trains depart every 15 minutes, and it will get you into downtown Toronto in approximately 25 minutes. There is free on-board WiFi along the way, and prices vary depending on where you are travelling and the type of pass that you need.
ALSO READ: Itinerary for a family holiday in Toronto
Travelling by train to Toronto

If you are on holiday in another part of Canada, one option is to travel to Toronto by train. VIA Rail and AMTRAK will bring visitors into the heart of the city to Union Station, which is located downtown.
From the station, you can connect to the subway station by an underground tunnel and travel to other parts of the city.
You can travel to Niagara Falls via GO Train. GO’s distinctive green and white trains and buses go from Union Station to Niagara Falls with stops in Port Credit, Oakville, Burlington, and St. Catharines. It takes around two hours to travel from the city to the world-famous falls.
Driving to Toronto by car
If you hire a car in Canada, it is one of the best ways to explore this stunning country. If you are travelling to Toronto, there are several major routes into the city:
- Highway 401 – This is the major east-west highway north of the city.
- Queen Elizabeth Way– To the south of the city, this route is the major east-west highway.
- Highway 407 – This is another east-west highway to the north of the city, but you will have to pay a toll along this route.
- Highway 404 – This is the main north-south highway just east of downtown Toronto.
There are other routes that you can take, such as Highways 2, 400 and 427.
ALSO READ: Toronto Culture: 5 of the best attractions
Whilst you are in Toronto
Toronto has many different public transit systems, and so many different ways you can get around the city. We take you through some of the options that are available to you.
Catch the Toronto Island ferry

The Toronto Island Ferry operates year-round, allowing you to explore the iconic Toronto Islands.
The ferry terminal is located at 9 Queens Quay W., and you can buy your tickets online or at the terminal. The ferry carries you from Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island.
ALSO READ: Where to Stay in Toronto
Using Toronto’s public transit systems
The transportation systems in Toronto are among the best in Canada, with easy-to-use subways, buses and streetcars that can take you around the city quickly.
The Toronto Transit Commission, also referred to as TTC, has been in service for over 100 years and is in charge of the Toronto subway system as well as the city’s bus service and streetcar system. The Toronto subway system has three lines: Line 1 (Yonge–University), Line 2 (Bloor–Danforth), and Line 4 (Sheppard) and these travel across the city centre. You can see a map that shows the different subway and streetcar routes here.
The regional bus and train service is run by GO Transit and these services link the city centre to Greater Toronto and beyond. The GO Trains depart Toronto’s Union Station throughout the day.
TOP TIP: Buy a PRESTO card, which is a card that lets you pay your fare on the TTC, GO Transit, UP Express and eight other transit agencies in Ontario. This means you do not need to buy tickets, passes or cash; you can just use this card instead.
Cycling in the city

Toronto is a bicycle-friendly city as most of the major streets in the city have dedicated bicycle lanes that run alongside the roads. It is also one of the most efficient ways to explore it.
There is a bike share scheme in Toronto, and this allows you to use bikes 24/7 and gives you access to more than 9,000 public bikes at over 800 stations dotted across the city.
There are lots of independent bike rental shops in the city, and they will be able to give you tips about the best routes to cycle along. This cycling map of Toronto shows you different cycling routes around the city, all 530 miles of them! There are bike lanes, paths that share roads, and off-road paths that you can explore during your time in the city.
ALSO READ: Toronto's Festivals: What not to miss
Taxis in Toronto
Taxi is another form of transport you can use to get around Toronto, and there are various taxi companies within the city. The likes of Uber and Lyft are available to use, and there are many other companies, such as Co Op Cabs
and Beck.
Taxi fares are generally metered or at a standard rate, and it is customary to pay a 10%-15% tip if you are satisfied with the service.
Driving around Toronto

If you are looking for an alternative to public transport, you can hire a car, and you will find it is easy to drive around the city. Toronto’s streets are simple to navigate, and there are speed limit signs on each street.
Something to be aware of is that the city’s rush hour during the week is often over an hour and usually occurs from 7-9am in the morning and 4-6pm in the evening, so it is best to try and avoid these times, so you don’t get stick in traffic jams.
Regarding parking, there are spaces on downtown streets, but it is limited to specific times of the day, and you will need to buy a ticket from one of the parking machines along the street.
Several public car parks are located throughout Toronto, and city-owned car parks are generally indicated by a ‘Green P’ logo.
Plan your visit to Toronto
Toronto is an amazing city that is full of attractions, museums, incredible restaurants and food markets. This guide has shared information about the different transport options available to you so you can easily manoeuvre around the city.
If you want to visit Toronto, you can book a Toronto holiday with Canadian Affair, and our experts will help you plan the perfect holiday that includes all the activities you want to do.
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