Getting Into and Around Toronto & Toronto Transit Info

Hop On - Hop Off City Tour

CN Tower

Welcome to the World's tallest freestanding structure, which was completed in 1975.

 Toronto is a big city and there are many different ways to get around. Driving is not as complicated as it is in some other big cities, walking is generally safe, and there is also public transportation.

Whether traveling by auto, bicycle, or on foot, American citizens are required to show proper forms of identification, including birth certificate and photo identification, when entering Canada. With the exception of seeing-eye dogs, travelers accompanied by family pets must present an authentic certificate of rabies vaccination.

DRIVING

You will find that the Gardener Expressway is a quick and direct route that runs parallel to Toronto Inner Harbor and Lake Ontario. University Ave, Dundas Street, and Bathurst Street and Hurontario Street (also known as Highway 10) are other major roads that will take you where you want to go.

Rush Hour Traffic...

Rush hour is generally between the hours of 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m. It is advisable to avoid major roads during these hours as your travel times will increase significantly.

Parking...

There is ample parking throughout the city, but it's not always free. You can find metered parking (there are over 17,000 metered parking spaces in the city) as well as pay parking garages throughout the area.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Public transportation, or the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the second largest transport system in North America. It's also the best when it comes to being reliable. The subway runs through the downtown area. Day passes are available that provide unlimited rides for a day for a reasonable price.

An excellent way to get around the city is by taking advantage of the Hop-On Hop-Off Tour. This narrated tour will allow you to explore Toronto at your leisure. You will take either a Double Decker bus or Trolley bus, depending on what time of year you are taking the tour. The buses run a circuit through the city and stop at the area sites and attractions. This tour allows you to get off at any stop and enjoy it at your pace. You can then pick up the next bus at one of the frequent intervals.

To get to certain areas, you will need to take a ferry. The Toronto Island Ferry Service will get you where you need to go and the Toronto Island Ferry docks are located at Queens Quay.

You may also want to try the new Sheppard Subway Line. It provides fast, reliable service to subway stations running under Sheppard Avenue East, between Yonge Street and Don Mills Road.

TORONTO PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Lester B. Pearson Airport serves the Toronto area. The airport is located 27 km (16 miles) north-west of downtown Toronto and within the Greater Toronto Area. It has been Toronto's main international airport since 1939. Inside the airport, you will find restaurants, banking services, and Internet access. You'll also find duty free shops. Air Canada, Air Alaska, American Airlines, and United Airlines are a few of the airlines that fly to and from the airport.

Car rentals from Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National, and Thrifty rental car companies are available. The airport offers shuttle buses that will deliver you to your hotel or one of three subway drop-off points - Islington in the west-end of town, Yorkdale in the northwest, and York Mills in the north-end of town. The shuttle bus and taxi stand areas can be identified by their overhead signs when you exit the arrivals area. The shuttle service is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.