From the airport to the city centre Toronto
Toronto is served by two airports: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in the Toronto Islands (domestic flights and some U.S. destinations, billybishopairport.com) and Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga on the outskirts of Toronto (main airport, torontopearson.com/en). If you are arriving from Europe, you will land at Pearson.
The most efficient wayto get downtown from Toronto Pearson is by Union Pearson Express ($12.35 CDN one way, upexpress.com). Several TTC (ttc.ca) and Go Transit (gotransit.com) bus routes also connect the airport to the city of Toronto. Of course, there are also cabs ($50-60 CDN), limousines, car rental companies and hotel shuttles at the airport.
Arrival by train Toronto
VIA Rail serves all of Canada from east to west (viarail.ca). Toronto's Union Station is located downtown near the Harbourfront. There are of course other stations in the Greater Toronto Area, such as in Oshawa, Oakville and Aldershot. Travelling by train is quite pleasant, but the fares are higher than by bus.
Public transport Toronto
Arrival by bus. Intercity buses serve mainly the Union Station Bus Terminal downtown but also Pearson Airport for some connections. There are of course other bus terminals in the Greater Toronto Area. Depending on the destination, the companies vary but the main ones are Megabus (ca.megabus.com), Ontario Northland (ontarionorthland.ca) and Rider Express (riderexpress.ca). The most frequent route is Montreal-Toronto with many departures per day, even at night.
Within the city, the public transit system is the best option for getting around. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has a subway (75 stations on 4 lines) and an extensive network of buses and streetcars. While there is no overnight service for the subway and buses, most streetcar lines operate 24 hours a day. To use the TTC system, a Presto card must be purchased at any subway station or Shoppers Drug Mart. The cost is $3.35 for one ride, $6.70 for two rides and $13.50 for a one-day pass . For other fares (discounted fares, monthly passes , etc.), visit the website (ttc.ca). Please note that children 12 years of age and under are admitted free of charge to the TTC system. There are several development projects underway, including the Ontario Line and the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail, as well as other projects in the Greater Toronto Area. More info: metrolinx.com/en/projects-and-programs
The Greater Toronto Area (and beyond) is also served by Go Transit, an inter-regional bus and rail company. Fares vary by destination, so check the website for more information on routes, schedules, costs and ticketing (gotransit.com).
Bike, scooters & co Toronto
Toronto offers a bike share service, Bike Share Toronto (bikesharetoronto.com, several packages available). For the moment, no other company has taken the plunge in the Ontario metropolis.
Regarding self-service scooters, Ontario legislation prohibited their use on public roads until recently, with the exception of a few pilot projects, including Bird's in the Distillery Historic District in late summer 2019. As of January1, 2020, the provincial government is giving cities and municipalities the choice of whether or not to allow these scooters in their jurisdictions, as part of a pilot project that will run until December 2024. Scooters from Neuron Mobility and Bird Canada are available in cities in the Greater Toronto Area and elsewhere in the province, such as Ottawa. However, the project stipulates that users must be at least 16 years old and that helmets must be worn.
With a driver Toronto
Thereare cabs everywhere in Toronto and most companies have their own app. Popular companies include Beck Taxi (becktaxi.com) and Co-op Cabs (co-opcabs.com, also covers North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke and East York).
Lyft (lyft.com/rider/cities/city-of-toronto-on) and Uber (uber.com/ca/en-ca/ride), to name a few, are also available in the GTA.
For longer distances, and to save money on trips, it is also worthwhile to consult centralized carpooling systems. We suggest AmigoExpress (amigoexpress.com), Carpool.ca (carpool.ca), Poparide (poparide.com).
By car Toronto
French, Belgian and Swissdriver's licenses are accepted for a period of up to three months, otherwise you will need an international license. If you wish to rent a car in Ontario, you must be 21 years of age, or 25 years of age for certain models, and have a credit card. Gasoline, which is sold by the liter, is less expensive than in Europe or Quebec, but its price varies greatly from day to day and from company to company, much to the annoyance of Ontarians.
In terms of regulations, the speed limit is 100 km/h on highways (pilot projects increasing the speed to 110 km/h are underway on certain stretches of road), 90 km/h on the Trans-Canada Highway, 80 km/h on rural roads and highways and 50 km/h (sometimes less) in the city. The highway is always free except for the 407 north of Toronto (toll express). Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers and car seats for younger children. The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.08 g/l. Impaired driving can lead to a fine or more (frequent controls). In winter, the highways are generally cleared, but driving requires special reflexes and snow tires are strongly recommended (but not mandatory).
The traffic rules and signs are more or less the same as in Europe, with a few differences. Traffic lights are placed on the other side of the street intersection. There is no right of way in Ontario (right of way is first come, first served) and right turns are permitted on red lights everywhere unless a sign indicates that it is prohibited. Coming to a complete stop is mandatory when following or passing a stopped school bus (almost always yellow) with its red flashers on. In Toronto, vehicles must also come to a complete stop at least 2 metres behind the rear door of a stopped streetcar to ensure the safety of passengers.
As for parking, especially in the downtown area, parking is often difficult and, before stopping your vehicle, you may have to read three or four signs to find out if you are on the right sidewalk, in the right time slot and thus avoid a ticket or worse, an impoundment! Also check if the spaces are paid for, which may very well be the case. Warning: it is strictly forbidden to park in front of a fire hydrant. If you make a mistake, you can be sure that you will receive your ticket within 5 minutes. Also, be aware that you can only park your vehicle in the direction of traffic. If you plan to stay in Toronto for several days, ask about temporary parking passes . They allow you to park your vehicle in a specific area for 24 hours, 48 hours or a week and the formalities are simple and can be done online (toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/applying-for-a-parking-permit/temporary-on-street-parking). This will allow you to leave your vehicle parked during your stay, saving you a lot of headaches.
Finally, it's worth noting that every major city has its share of traffic and Toronto is particularly good at it. If you don't see any traffic on the 401 or the Don Valley Parkway, thank goodness it's rare.
Accessibility Toronto
In the city of Toronto, low-floor streetcars have been available throughout the system since late 2019 and many subway stations also have elevators. The same is true on the Go Transit regional transportation system, which makes stations, buses and trains accessible to people with limited mobility.
