Which means of transport to use à TORONTO?

Organize your stay à TORONTO

From the airport to the city centre From the airport to the city centre à 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, a suburb of Toronto (main airport, torontopearson.com/en). If you're arriving from Europe, Pearson is the place to land.

To get downtown from Toronto Pearson, the most efficient way is to take the Union Pearson Express train ($12.35 CAN one way, upexpress.com). Several TTC (ttc.ca) and Go Transit (gotransit.com) bus routes also link the airport to the city of Toronto. Of course, you'll also find cabs ($50-60 CAN), limousines, car rental companies and hotel shuttles at the airport.

Arrival by train Arrival by train à 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 Public transport à TORONTO

Arriving 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. Companies vary according to destination, 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 a day, even at night.

In the city, public transit is the best way to get around. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has a subway (75 stations on 4 lines) and a vast network of buses and streetcars. While there is no night service on the subway and buses, most streetcar lines operate 24 hours a day. To use the TTC network, purchase a Presto card at any subway station or Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy. It costs CAN$3.35 for one trip, CAN$6.70 for two and CAN$13.50 for a 1-day pass . For other fares (reduced rates, monthly passes , etc.), visit our website (ttc.ca). Children aged 12 and under are admitted free of charge to the TTC network. Several development projects are underway, including the Ontario Line and the Eglinton Crosstown light rail, not to mention 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 train company. Fares vary by destination, so check the website for more information on routes, schedules, costs and ticket purchase (gotransit.com).

Bike, scooters & co Bike, scooters & co à TORONTO

Toronto offers a bike-sharing service, Bike Share Toronto (bikesharetoronto.com, several packages available). For the moment, no other company has made the leap into the Ontario metropolis.

With a driver With a driver à 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 By car à TORONTO

French, Belgian and Swissdriver's licenses are accepted for periods of up to three months; otherwise, you'll need an international license. If you wish to rent a car in Ontario, you must be at least 21 years of age (25 for some models) and have a credit card. Gasoline, sold by the liter, is less expensive than in Europe or Quebec, but prices vary greatly from day to day and from company to company, much to the annoyance of Ontarians.

As far as regulations are concerned, 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 town. The highway is always free except for the 407 north of Toronto (toll expressway). Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers, and car seats are mandatory for younger passengers. The maximum permissible blood-alcohol level is 0.08 g/l, and impaired driving is punishable by fine or more (frequent checks). In winter, freeways are generally cleared, but driving requires special reflexes, and snow tires are strongly recommended (but not compulsory).

Traffic rules and signs are much the same as in Europe, with a few differences. Traffic lights are placed on the opposite side of street intersections. There is no right of way in Ontario (priority is given to the first on the right), and right turns are permitted at red lights everywhere except where a sign indicates that they are prohibited. Coming to a complete stop is mandatory when following or passing a stopped school bus (almost always yellow) whose red flashers are on. In Toronto, vehicles must also come to a complete stop at least 2 meters behind the rear door of a stopped streetcar, to ensure passenger safety.

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're on the right sidewalk, in the right time slot and thus avoid a ticket or, worse, an impoundment! You should also check whether parking spaces are subject to a fee, which may well be the case. Please note: it is strictly forbidden to park in front of a fire hydrant. If you make a mistake, rest assured you'll receive your ticket within 5 minutes. Please note that you can only park in the direction of traffic. If you're planning to stay in Toronto for several days, find out about temporary parking passes . These 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 completed online (toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/applying-for-a-parking-permit/temporary-on-street-parking). This way, you can leave your vehicle parked during your stay, saving you a lot of headaches.

Finally, it's worth noting that every big city has its share of traffic, and Toronto is particularly good at it. If you ever see no traffic on Highway 401 or the Don Valley Parkway, pinch yourself and thank God, because it's pretty rare.

Accessibility Accessibility à TORONTO

In Toronto, low-floor streetcars have been available throughout the network since the end of 2019, and many subway stations are also equipped with elevators. The same applies to the Go Transit regional transport network, which makes its stations, buses and trains accessible to people with reduced mobility.