By plane

Toronto Pearson

1 Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ IATA). (updated May 2022), in Mississauga, is 30-50 minutes by car (depending on traffic) or 25 minutes by train from downtown Toronto and is served by most major international carriers. There are two terminals: Terminal 1 hosts all Air Canada flights and a few other international (mostly Star Alliance) carriers while Terminal 3 hosts all other airlines. When travelling from Toronto International (and other major Canadian airports) to the United States, travellers will go through United States immigration and customs pre-clearance in Toronto, and should leave some extra time to account for this. The airport has free WiFi internet access.

The main article describes ground transportation to and from Toronto Pearson.

Billy Bishop Airport

2 Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ IATA), ☏ +1 416-203-6942. This airport serves short-haul flights only and is close to downtown. It is named for a World War I fighter ace, but some locals may call it “Toronto island airport” or simply “Billy Bishop” (updated Jun 2022)

Airlines at Billy Bishop Airport

Porter Airlines, toll-free: +1-888-619-8622. This airline uses Billy Bishop as their hub. They are a short-haul carrier that operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprop planes to many cities in eastern Canada (Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, St. John's and others) and parts of the United States (Boston, Chicago, New York/Newark, Washington Dulles and Myrtle Beach). Porter is aggressively fighting for market share and you can take advantage of it by getting low fares, especially if booked 2 weeks or more in advance, combined with complimentary drinks onboard and a waiting lounge with amenities. (updated Apr 2022)

Air Canada, ☏ +1-514-393-3333, toll-free: +1-888-247-2262. Canada's largest airline. Operates flights to Billy Bishop Airport from Montreal and Ottawa, on Bombardier Q400 turboprop planes. Toronto Pearson International Airport is a hub for this airline with far more flight options including from international destinations. (updated Apr 2022)

Propair. Service from North Bay and Rouyn-Noranda. (updated Apr 2025)

Ground transit from Billy Bishop Airport

One of the main benefits of flying into Billy Bishop is its proximity to the downtown core. Upon landing, you can be downtown within ten minutes. A pedestrian tunnel under the channel takes you to the city. A free ferry service also makes the short crossing: it is just 121 metres, the world's shortest regularly-scheduled ferry route. It operates between TCCA and the mainland every 15 minutes: see full schedule. Once on the mainland, a free shuttle bus connects the terminal with the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, across the street from Union Station.

TTC streetcars are available within a short walk from the mainland ferry terminal:

Route 509 Harbourfront travels east along the waterfront (Queens Quay) to Union Station. Streetcar stops are at the corner of Queens Quay & Bathurst; 4 minute walk.

Route 511 Bathurst provides service north along Bathurst, to Bathurst subway station. Stops are near the corner of Fleet St & Bathurst St; 6 minute walk.

Both of these routes also travel a short distance to the west, terminating at Exhibition Place.

Route 510 Spadina travels north along Spadina Ave to Spadina subway station. It's a bit of a longer walk (900m; about 15 minutes along Queens Quay to Spadina Ave) but can be a good choice if your destination lies along Spadina Ave.

That said, the most convenient connection to TTC subway and GO Transit services remains the free shuttle bus to Union Station.

Other airports

Hamilton International Airport, (YHM IATA), about 80 km (50 mi) from downtown Toronto and Niagara Falls, is served by WestJet along with seasonal service by Air Transat and Sunwing to sun destinations. See section on John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport for ground transportation including buses to Toronto.

For frugal travellers coming from the United States, Buffalo-Niagara International Airport, (BUF IATA), is another option. Flights to Buffalo tend to be significantly cheaper than to Pearson, but then you still have to get to Toronto. Megabus, the airline-type coach service with varying prices and required early booking, runs a daily bus that takes 3 hours, including the border crossing. Several private livery agencies will drive you there for a fee (usually in the $200 range, give or take), or rental cars are available at the airport if you prefer to do the drive yourself.

By bus

Bus terminals

The main bus terminal is in downtown Toronto adjacent to Union railway station:

3 Union Station Bus Terminal (GO bus terminal), 81 Bay St (interior pedestrian connection to Union Station rail & subway services). Union Station Bus Terminal (USBT) serves GO Transit, Megabus, Greyhound, Rider Express, and Ontario Northland buses. Like an airport, there are no predetermined bus platform assignments. Check display monitors for the bus departure zone; 10 minutes before departure, monitors will display the bus departure gate. The bus terminal moved to its new location on December 5, 2020; maps might still indicate the older, now closed bus location; the new location is south of the railway corridor. The Toronto Coach Terminal near Dundas subway station is closed. (updated Dec 2020)

Here is a list of minor terminals and stops in various parts of the city. Check the Wikipedia link for a list of bus routes serving each terminal.

4 Yorkdale Bus Terminal (across a footbridge from Yorkdale subway station on Line 1). GO Transit buses from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Mississauga, Milton, Brampton and Oshawa; Ontario Northland buses from North Bay, Sudbury, and Timmins; Megabus once daily from Kingston. (updated Mar 2019)

5 York Mills Bus Terminal (at York Mills subway station on Line 1). GO Transit buses from Mississauga, Milton, Brampton and Oshawa. (updated Mar 2019)

6 Finch Bus Terminal (adjacent to Finch subway station on Line 1). GO Transit buses from Toronto Pearson International Airport, Mississauga, Milton, Brampton, Keswick and Oshawa. (updated Mar 2019)

7 Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal (near Scarborough Centre Station on subway Line 3 Scarborough). Because of the closure of the Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal until about 2030, stops for intercity buses are scattered around the Scarborough Centre district. See Toronto/Scarborough#By bus for details by carrier. GO Transit, Megabus, and FlixBus stop at Scarborough Centre. (updated Aug 2023)

See also Toronto Pearson International Airport, Ground Transportation, for more intercity bus routes.

Bus operators

FlixBus. Bus service to Toronto from Ottawa (4.75 hours), Peterborough, Kingston, Whitby, Kitchener (2-2.25 hours), Cambridge, St. Catharines (1.5 hours), Niagara Falls (1.75 hours), Welland, Port Colborne, Hamilton, Brantford, Chatham-Kent, London (3 hours), Sarnia, Windsor (6 hours), Sudbury, Parry Sound, Barrie, Owen Sound, Detroit (6.25-6.5 hours), and Buffalo (2.75-4 hours). (updated Apr 2022)

GO Transit, ☏ +1-416-869-3200, toll-free: +1-888-438-6646. GO Transit runs bus and rail commuter/regional transit within and near the Greater Toronto Area. GO Transit buses make connections to many nearby cities including: Oshawa, Peterborough, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Barrie, Guelph, and Kitchener. (updated May 2022)

Intercity Bus. Service from London, Sarnia, Strathroy, Woodstock, and Kitchener. (updated Mar 2024)

Megabus (Coach Canada), toll-free: +1-866-488-4452. Operates buses to Toronto from Montreal (5.75-7 hr) or Ottawa (5.25 hr) via Kingston (3 hr); from Grimsby, St. Catharines, and Niagara Falls (2 hr). Megabus offers Wi-Fi and electrical outlets on many of its buses. A service from London is offered by Megabus through Badder Bus. Service from the United States (Buffalo, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D. C.) is also available. (updated Apr 2022)

Ontario Northland, toll-free: +1-800-461-8558. Operates bus routes primarily in Northern Ontario. Routes travel as far west as Winnipeg, Manitoba and as far east as Ottawa. (updated Apr 2022) The following routes travel to Toronto:

To Toronto from North Bay including stops in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Washago (some trips), Orillia (stop trips), and Barrie. Travel time to Toronto from North Bay is 5.75-6 hours, from Huntsville is 3.25-4 hours, from Barrie is 1.25 hours. Connections available at North Bay from Cochrane, Kirkland Lake, Ottawa, and Timmins.

To Toronto from Sudbury including stops in Parry Sound, Orillia (some trips), and Barrie. Travel time to Toronto from Sudbury is 5.5-6.5 hours, from Parry Sound is 3.5-3.75 hours, and from Barrie is 1-1.5 hours. Connections available at North Bay from Ottawa, Sault Sainte Marie, and Timmins.

Travel to Toronto from Winnipeg involves timed transfers between bus routes at Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury. To reach Toronto from Winnipeg is 1 day 9 hours.

Onex Bus, ☏ +1-647-477-5500, info@onexbus.ca. Bus service to Toronto from Guelph, Kitchener, Stratford, and London. (updated Jul 2021)

Orléans Express. Service from Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal. (updated May 2025)

Rider Express, toll-free: +1-833-583-3636. Offers service to Toronto from Ottawa via Kingston and Belleville. Travel time to Toronto from Ottawa is 5.25 hours and from Kingston is 3 hours. Also service from Ottawa via Peterborough. (updated Mar 2025)

TOK Coachlines, toll-free: +1-800-387-7097, info@tokcoachlines.com. Service from Port Elgin, Kincardine, Walkerton, Hanover, and Orangeville to Toronto Pearson Airport and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre. (updated Mar 2021)

Maple Bus. Shuttle service from Ottawa, Kingston, Napanee, Brockville, Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa.

By train

9 Union Station (YBZ IATA), 65 Front Street West (between Bay St and York St). 5:30AM-12:45AM or until last train. Opened in 1927, Toronto's Union Station is one of the grandest, most impressive train stations in North America, with the ceiling of its enormous Great Hall rising to a height equivalent to seven stories. The Grand Hall accommodates the VIA Rail ticket counters and gives access to VIA train platforms via the branching VIA Concourse. The 8 Union Pearson Express station is 250 metres west of the Great Hall via an enclosed pedestrian corridor. The GO York Concourse on the lower level at the west (York Street) end of the station has GO Transit ticket counters and access to GO train platforms. (A food court is below the GO York Concourse.) Union Station Bus Terminal is on the east side of Bay Street, south of the railway tracks. The TTC Union subway station is at the north-east corner of the main building, and serves subway Line 1, and the 509 and 510 streetcars through the Harbourfront district.

The following are the railway services operating out of Union Station:

Amtrak, ☏ +1-215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Jul 2022) Amtrak operates the Maple Leaf train service daily between Toronto and New York City, in partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Stops between Toronto and New York City include in Oakville, Burlington, Grimsby, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls (Ontario), Niagara Falls (New York), Buffalo, Buffalo (Depew), Rochester, Syracuse, Rome, Utica, Schenectady, Albany (Rensselaer), Hudson, Rhinecliff, Poughkeepsie, Croton-on-Hudson, and Yonkers. Travel time to Toronto from Niagara Falls (Ontario) is 2 hours, from Buffalo is 4.25 hours, from Syracuse is 6.75 hours, from Albany is 9.5 hours, and from New York City is 12.5 hours. Border crossing processing takes place in Niagara Falls, where passengers must detrain with their baggage. Train crew members are staffed by VIA Rail within Canada, and by Amtrak within the United States.

GO Transit, ☏ +1-416-869-3200, toll-free: +1-888-438-6646. GO Transit operates 7 commuter rail lines radiating from Toronto serving smaller cities within and near the Greater Toronto Area. The lines have various service levels varying from all-day service to limited mid-day service to only rush-hour, peak-direction service. Most fares can be paid by credit, debit or Presto card. The following are some of the destinations. (updated May 2022)

The Barrie line serves Vaughan, Aurora, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Barrie daily.

The Kitchener line serves Brampton, Georgetown, Acton, Guelph and Kitchener daily.

The Lakeshore West line operates daily serving Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

The Lakeshore East line operates daily serving Pickering, Ajax, and Whitby and Oshawa.

The Stouffville line operates daily serving Markham.

Other GO rail destinations have only rush-hour, peak-direction service.

Union Pearson Express (UP Express), ☏ +1 416-869-3300, toll-free: +1-844-438-6687. Operates trains between Union Station and Toronto Pearson International Airport. Trip time is 25 minutes. Trains operate every 15 minutes daily from early morning until the late evening. As of April 2022, one-way fare for adults is $12.35, but it is $9.25 if paid by credit, debit or Presto card. (updated May 2022)

VIA Rail Canada, toll-free: +1-888-842-7245. Operates many intercity trains across Canada. (updated Apr 2022) See Rail travel in Canada for more details. Train routes operating to Toronto:

Between Montreal and Toronto including stops in Dorval, Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Cobourg, and Oshawa. Travel time to Toronto from Montreal is 5.25-5.5 hours and from Kingston is 2.5-2.75 hours.

Between Ottawa and Toronto including stops in Smiths Falls, Brockville, Gananoque, Kingston, Napanee, Belleville, Trenton, Cobourg, Port Hope, and Oshawa. Travel time to Toronto from Ottawa is 4.25-4.75 hours and from Kingston is 2.5-2.75 hours.

Between Sarnia and Toronto including stops in London, St. Marys, Stratford, Kitchener, Guelph, Georgetown, Brampton, and Mississauga. Travel time to Toronto from Sarnia is 5 hours, from London is 3.75 hours, and from Kitchener is 1.5 hours.

Between Vancouver and Toronto on The Canadian, which operates several trips per week. Travel time to Toronto from Vancouver is 3 days 20.5 hours, from Kamloops is 3 days 10.25 hours, from Jasper is 3 days, from Edmonton is 2 days 16.75 hours, from Saskatoon is 2 days 5.5 hours, from Winnipeg is 1 day 14 hours, and from Sudbury is 9.75 hours. Stops between Sudbury and Toronto include Parry Sound (5.75 hours from Toronto) and Washago.

Between Windsor and Toronto including stops in Chatham, London, Ingersoll, Woodstock, Brantford, Burlington, and Oakville. Travel time to Toronto from Windsor is 4.25-4.5 hours, from London is 3.25-3.5 hours, and from Brantford is 1.25 hours. There are no direct trains from Chicago, but you can catch Amtrak's Wolverine service from Chicago to Detroit, then transfer onto one of VIA Rail's trains after crossing the border into Windsor by public transport.

By car

Major highways leading into Toronto are the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), the 404, the 401, the 400, and the 427. Toronto is the largest city in Canada, so signs pointing you to Toronto are common. Traffic on incoming highways can be extremely heavy especially during rush hours. In the downtown core there are many turn restrictions, particularly from main thoroughfares to other main thoroughfares (e.g. Yonge to Dundas Streets).

The main streets in Toronto are laid out in a grid pattern that makes it one of the easiest cities to get around in by car. Getting from point to point anywhere in the city can be achieved with only a few turns. Parking in the downtown core can be expensive and hard to find, but tends to be plentiful and inexpensive or free in the outer districts of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough. Although there is an extensive grid of local bus routes, travel by automobile may be faster and more convenient in the outer districts.

Transit bylaws

Toronto follows some bylaws related to the transit system (especially streetcars) that often confuse or surprise visiting drivers:

Yield to public transit buses signalling to merge left into traffic from a bus stop.

Stay out of reserved public transit lanes during the rush hours, except to make a right-hand turn at the next cross street. A few transit lanes have restrictions from 7AM-7PM. While the restrictions are in effect, only transit vehicles, taxis and bicycles may use these lanes. Newer bus only lanes are painted red and may only be used by TTC vehicles or bicycles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except when making a right turn).

Avoid King Street between Jarvis and Bathurst streets as no through automobile traffic is allowed; such traffic must turn right after travelling a few blocks as per signage. Through traffic in this zone is allowed only for streetcars (trams) and bicycles.

Never pass a streetcar running in your direction that is stopped in the middle of the street with its doors open. Passing is illegal and dangerous for passengers boarding or leaving the streetcar. Also, you should yield to people entering the street to board an approaching streetcar. Continue only after the streetcar doors close. Exception: You may pass a streetcar where there is a boarding platform between the streetcar and traffic lane, but watch out for pedestrians walking between the platform and the sidewalk.

Give wide berth to streetcars turning at a street intersection; streetcars have a wide overhang on curves, which is indicated on the road by dashed white lines. If your car is stopped too close to a streetcar curve, you may be forced to back up or squeeze more to the right.

Give wide berth to emergency vehicles with sirens or flashing red lights, and pull over to the side of the road safely but quickly.