Getting to Toronto

Toronto is a major international travel hub, offering abundant travel options for visitors. Pearson International Airport handles a massive number of daily flights from all corners of the globe. The city is also well-linked by train and bus to the United States and other cities in Canada. Drivers will find no problem getting to Toronto, as it sits at the crossroads of all major highways linking eastern and western Canada as well as the United States.

By car

Crossing into Canada from the United States by car is a straightforward affair, despite the recent tightening of US borders. Most likely, drivers will enter Toronto from the west on Highway 401 or Highway 2. The Queen Elizabeth Way then leads directly into the city. If you arrive from the east via Montreal, you will also take highways 401 and 2. 

By rail

Toronto is a major stop on the railroad network between the US and Canada. Amtrak’s Maple Leaf service runs between New York City’s Penn Station and Toronto every day on a 12-hour journey. From Chicago, travellers can take the International, which also takes about 12 hours. These travel times include the lengthy border crossing checkpoints and immigration. All trains arrive at Toronto’s Union Station on Front Street. The central train station has direct access to the subway system. Call Amtrak for more information (tel: +1 800 872 7245). 

By bus

Greyhound is the only bus company to cross the border into Canada from the US. You can reach Toronto from any city in the US and all buses arrive at the Metro Coach Terminal in the downtown area (tel: +1 800 231 2222). A handful of local Canadian bus companies service routes to destinations within the country. The bus is usually cheaper and faster than the train, but most bus lines don’t accept reservations, so you should plan to buy your ticket at least an hour before the scheduled departure time.

By air

Access to Toronto by air is handled by Pearson International Airport, the largest air hub in the country, located 32kms from the city centre. Canada’s only national carrier, Air Canada, provides flights to nearly every country in the world. Several major airlines also provide regular service from the UK and many cities in Europe. From the airport, there are several convenient bus shuttles into Toronto.

Pearson International Airport

Pearson International Airport is located 32kms northwest of the city centre and offers the quickest and most convenient way to get to this popular destination. The modern, efficient airport has three terminals which handle domestic and international flights from over 50 airlines. The airport recently opened two new terminals, bringing the facilities up to the highest international standards. 

Canada’s premier airport handles a huge amount of daily air traffic from all over the world. Canada’s national carrier, Air Canada, operates direct flights to most American cities as well as to many other destinations around the globe. All of the major American carriers provide regular flights into Toronto from the US and the UK. British Airways and Air Canada run the most direct flights between the UK and Toronto.

The airport’s newly-built terminals have all the usual facilities which a traveller might need. ATMs, currency exchange offices and bank branches can be found in all of the terminals as well as restaurants, news stands, gift shops and duty-free shopping. Information desks with multi-lingual staff can be found throughout the airport (tel: +1 416 776 3506).

Pearson International Airport transportation

Toronto’s city centre can be easily reached by taking one of the bus options. The convenient Airport Express Bus runs between the airport, the central bus terminal and major downtown hotels (tel: +1 905 564 6333). Buses depart from outside the Arrivals area of all three terminals every 20 minutes from 04:55 to 00:55, with an extra service departing at 02:30. Alternatively, GO Transit buses deliver passengers from terminals 1 and 2 to the Yorkdale or York Mills subway stations (tel: +1 416 869 3200).   

Taxis are also available 24 hours from the taxi rank outside the Arrivals hall of all three terminals. Although the airport isn’t far from downtown, the trip can take well over an hour during weekday rush hours. The fixed taxi rates are expensive, but there isn’t any alternative for private transport unless you hire a car and drive yourself.