Are you traveling to Toronto for the first time? Then, you must be unfamiliar with many aspects, including the city’s culture, etiquette, attractions, and culinary scene. Canada‘s largest city has many family-friendly attractions, exciting nightlife, and sumptuous dining options. It is also a world leader in finance, business, entertainment, technology, and culture. But how will you get there? The first option is flight; this city has two airports. The Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada’s principal airport, with travel connections to every continent. Likewise, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is one of the most convenient urban airports in the world.
After arrival, you can explore the city at your leisure. But how do you get around in Toronto? This city has many transportation options, including buses, taxis, streetcars, and a subway. You will find everything from luxurious to the cheapest means of transport. We will discuss them more, including their ticket prices and timings, in this blog.
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Chat with AI about how to get around in Toronto
Public Transit (Toronto Transit Commission)
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
The best way to get around Toronto is through the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It is one of North America’s finest transportation systems, operating subways, streetcars, and buses. It is also the most affordable transport medium with extensive routes. Streetcars and buses operate during the daytime. Furthermore, TTC has an overnight service called the Blue Night Network, provided every 30 minutes. However, these services are incredibly slow, thanks to the city’s notorious traffic. If you want to skip traffic, choose the subway system. It has four lines and operates daily with service every few minutes.
Timings
- Bus and Streetcars: 6 AM to 1 AM
- Blue Night Network: From 1:30 AM to the start of subway service (6 AM on weekdays and Saturdays; 8 AM on Sundays)
- Subway: Monday-Saturday: 6 AM to 2 AM; Sunday: 8 AM – 2 AM
Note: Service schedules and start-end times vary between different routes/stations.
Ticket Prices
TTC is affordable compared to other transport options. You can save money by purchasing the PRESTO Card. This easy-to-use reloadable payment card lets you pay your fare on the TTC, UP Express, and GO Transit. It is available for a one-ride, two-ride, and day-pass ticket.
| Fare Type | Adult | Senior(65+) & Youth(13-19) |
| PRESTO One-ride Ticket | $3.35 | $3.35 |
| PRESTO Two-ride Ticket | $6.7 | $6.7 |
| PRESTO Day Pass Ticket | $13.5 | $13.5 |
| TTC 12-Month Pass | $143 | $117.45 |
| TTC Monthly Pass | $156 | $128.15 |
GO Transit
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
While TTC is a reliable transportation inside Toronto, GO Transit is best for trips outside the city. It offers train and bus services to the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. You can grab a GO train or bus from the Union Station in downtown Toronto. GO Transit features new train cars, double-decker buses, and electric-powered buses. It primarily serves the cities of Toronto and Hamilton and the surrounding regions of Durham, York, Peel, and Halton. You can also catch the GO Train to the infamous Niagara Falls.
Timings:
GO Transit has different bus and train schedules for different stations. Their start and end times vary from route to route. For instance, if you are traveling from Union Station to Niagara Falls, the earliest train departs at 08:47 AM, while the last train departs at 10:22 PM.
Ticket Prices
Your Go fare is based on your fare type, including whether you are an adult, youth, or senior citizen and the distance you travel. Kids aged 12 and under get a free ride on GO Transit. You can save up to 15% with a PRESTO card. The fare varies based on the passenger and distance. To give you a hint, check out the following table, which calculates the amount traveling from Union Station to Danforth Go Station.
| Passenger | PRESTO Fare | Standard Fare |
| Adult (13-64) | $3.7 | $4.4 |
| Senior (65+) | $1.97 | $2.2 |
| Youth (13+ with ID) | $2.64 | $4.4 |
Taxis and Rideshares
Public transportation has many benefits, including cheap fares, extensive routes, and environmental benefits. You don’t have to worry about finding a parking space and can enjoy a less stressful journey by letting someone else drive. But it is not without its disadvantages. TTC and GO Transit can be crowded during peak hours, are particularly slow, and their timings may not suit everyone’s schedules. You can rely on taxis or rideshares to reach your destination during such a period.
Toronto has many taxi companies and ride-sharing services. You can easily hail a cab outside the airport or hotel. Many taxis are also queueing up outside of famous attractions. The only downside of these services is their higher fares. The basic fee is $4.25 plus $1.75 per kilometer. Check out the following cab and ridesharing services in Toronto:
Co-op Cabs
- Price Range: $4.25 for the first .143km, plus $0.25 for each additional .143km
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official X
Co-op Cabs is one of Toronto’s longest-standing taxi companies. It is known for its iconic red and yellow cabs. This cab company has provided reliable, safe, and professional taxi service for over 65 years. You must first download the Co-op Cabs’ Taxi.club application on your phone. Quickly register with your phone number. Now, all you need to do is enter your pickup and destination addresses and book a cab. You will be able to monitor the progress of your vehicle after the booking is confirmed.
Beck Taxi
- Price Range: By Distance: $4.25 for the first .155km, plus $0.25 for each additional .143km
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Next, Beck Taxi is Toronto’s leading provider of taxicab services. It has been in the business since 1967 and is a family-run business. The Beck taxis are easily recognizable with orange and green colors and operate 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. This taxi service offers standard sedans, vans for group pick-ups, pet-friendly options, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. It also does restaurant, grocery, and parcel deliveries. You can download the app, choose the destination and pickup time, and pay online.
Uber
- Price Range: Toronto Union Station (CA$14), Yorkdale (CA$19), CF Toronto Eaton Centre (CA$15), Scotiabank Arena (CA$16)
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Almost everyone is familiar with Uber, a reliable ridesharing app available in major cities around the globe. It offers competitive rates with no hidden costs or surprises. You will get upfront pricing and an estimated time of arrival. Moreover, Uber offers many products, including UberX, UberXL, Uber Pet, Luxury rides, Taxi, and 2-wheels. The UberX Share is a newly added feature that allows you to connect with other riders headed in the same direction as you. This ridesharing app also offers car rentals and food delivery from your favorite restaurants.
Lyft
- Price Range: Lyft($3.49), Lyft XL($5.74), Extra Comfort($4.02), Lux Black($8.74), Lux Black XL($15.74)
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
Lyft is a famous ridesharing service available in the US and Canada. It offers multiple options for solo riders and groups. For instance, XL is a supersized ride with six seats. If you want to travel in luxury, choose Extra Comfort, Lux Black, or Lux Black XL. The latter is the most spacious luxury ride, accommodating up to six passengers. This ridesharing app is super easy to use. After downloading, choose your destination, car type, and pickup time. After confirming the booking, wait for the vehicle.
Car Rentals
We have listed several exciting ways to navigate Canada’s largest city. But, if the options above were out of the question, how to get around in Toronto? Some visitors prefer driving independently rather than hailing a taxi or cramming inside a bus. Thankfully, this city has plenty of car rental agencies offering affordable deals. On average, you can rent a car for a week for $77. This is a reasonable sum, where you don’t have to worry about train/bus schedules and can enjoy privacy. However, remember that this city’s traffic is horrific, and parking is costly.
Rentalcars
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
If you want to rent a car in Toronto, the most reliable option is rental cars. It is the world’s biggest car rental booking service, with 60,000+ locations worldwide. It offers flexible rentals with no hidden fees. You can cancel and change your booking for free up to 48 hours before pick up. The rental price includes local taxes, airport surcharges, theft protection, collision damage waiver, and other road fees. If there is any additional cost, you will be informed beforehand.
QEEQ
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
QEEQ is another reliable car rental service in Toronto. It offers car rentals and hotel bookings in over 200 countries and regions. It features over 60,000 authentic customer reviews. Furthermore, this service partners with 800 suppliers, including Sixt Rent a Car, Hertz, Thrifty Car Rental, Budget Rental, Nu Car, Sevent Auto, and Avis Car Rental. It has features like free cancellation, a Price Drop Protector, and an E-voucher. It also accepts cryptocurrency as payment.
Klook
- Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram
- Download From: Google Play, App Store
Next, Klook is a reliable travel website that makes everything possible. Whether you are looking for a car rental, hotel booking, or skip-the-lines tickets, everything is only a click away. After selecting the city and specific pick-up and drop-off locations, the app will recommend multiple rental offers at different prices around you. Choose the one that fits your requirements and ride the car throughout your stay in Toronto. In addition, you will find many activities and tour recommendations at various prices.
Biking
You can get around Toronto without a car. One of the most efficient ways to explore the city is by bike. Biking is a great way to explore at your own pace, and Toronto has many designated bike lanes where you can cycle to your heart’s content. Bicycles are even allowed on public transit during non-peak weekday hours (10:30 AM to 3:30 PM and 7 PM to 6:30 AM). Furthermore, the city has several bike-sharing programs, including the Bike Share Toronto, which has 9,000+ bicycles and over 700 stations. Check out the following bike share and rental programs with their rates:
- Bike Share Toronto: A single ride costs $1.25 to undock, plus $0.15/minute for regular bikes and $0.30/minute for e-bikes.
- Wheel Excitement: $15 per hour, plus $5 for each additional hour. $35 per hour, plus $10 for each additional hour for e-bike rentals.
- Toronto Bicycle Tours: Hybrid Bike Rental ($45), Tandem Bike Rental ($40), Trailer Bike Rental ($25)
- Toronto Island Bicycle Rental: Single Bikes ($10/hour), Tandem ($20/hour), 2-Seater Quadricycle ($21/hour), and 4-Seater Quadricycle ($39/hour)
Walking
TTC, bikes, cars, and rideshares guarantee convenience and comfort. However, what is travel without a few hardships? The best way to get around Toronto is walking. This city features many pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, such as the Distillery District and the Graffiti Alley. Walking is a pleasant option in this town, especially downtown and the waterfront. You can also stroll around the must-visit Kensington Market and St. Lawrence Market. Sample local delicacies while exploring these oldest Canadian markets on foot. Also, don’t fret about getting lost; Toronto is known for its safe and easily navigable streets. You can also book a guided walking tour for extra assurance.
As we conclude this blog, you must have gotten your answer on how to get around in Toronto. This city is a delight for every traveler with its affordable public transit, luxurious taxi services, rideshare and car rental services with competitive wages, and eco-friendly bike services. Here, exporting on foot is more convenient and allows you to soak in the local culture and atmosphere. Another transport option is a ferry, especially the Toronto Island Ferry, which operates year-round out of Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.
