How to get around Toronto like a local

As Canada’s largest city, Toronto is a mix of fascinating neighborhoods and people, at once rich in culture and bursting with energy while also providing a truly global perspective. Its extraordinary depth in arts, business, cuisine, education, tech and sports make it one of the major cosmopolitan centers of the world. But that doesn’t mean the city is easy to navigate.

Operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Toronto’s antiquated subway, streetcar and bus system is adequate at best. At worst, it seriously under-delivers services to a city that continues to expand more rapidly than its infrastructure is improving. On a good day, you’ll get to where you need to go in the expected time frame. On a bad day – usually in midsummer or the throes of winter – you might wish you’d just stayed put.

So while the city offers a variety of public transportation options, it’s perhaps best explored on foot. Focus on a few nearby sights and meander the neighborhoods between them, and you’ll avoid spending unnecessary time crisscrossing the city. You’ll see more, learn how the city works, and have the freedom to pop in and out of places along the way.

But if you’ve got to get to a destination further than your feet can take you, here are the best ways to get around Toronto. 

Bike-rental agencies, charging about $15/35 per hour/day, are found along the waterfront; Wheel Excitement is highly recommended.

For short rides, consider using Bike Share Toronto, a citywide bike-share program that rents bikes in 30-minute increments, either for a single-use ($3.25) or for unlimited periods using one- and three-day passes ($7/15). These can be easy on the wallet and are a minimal hassle. Just remember to dock your bike every 30 minutes; otherwise, you’ll end up paying a premium.

City buses have easily loadable bike racks; they’re first-come, first-served. Bikes are permitted on streetcars and subway trains during off-peak hours only (before 6:30am, between 10am and 3:30pm, and after 7pm weekdays and all weekend).

Ferries and water taxis are the only way to get to the Toronto Islands.

Toronto Islands Ferries services run from the terminal at the foot of Bay St to Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point and Ward’s Island. Services are slashed to roughly hourly from October to March, only running to Ward’s Island. The journey to any of the islands takes only 15 minutes. During summer, lines can be long on weekends and holidays – show up early or book online to skip the purchase line.

Many water taxis also service the island from the ferry terminal; Tiki Taxi operates from a pier just off Spadina Ave. All charge about $10 per person (pay on board) and depart when full.

Buses are best for accessing areas outside Toronto’s core; service from 6am (8am Sunday) until 1am daily.

Regular city buses run every 10 minutes from 6am (8am Sunday) until 1am daily. “Blue Night Network” buses provide service on major bus routes every 30 minutes from 1:30am to 5am daily (6am Saturday, 9am Sunday); reflective blue bands mark transit stops. Check the TTC’s website for maps and timetables.

Buses pick up and drop off passengers at designated stops. The only exception is between 9pm and 5am when travelers can request to be dropped off between stops.

Driving in Toronto, especially downtown, is not ideal. Traffic is horrendous amid ongoing construction. If you must drive, remember to stop for streetcars – behind the rear doors when the streetcar collects or offloads passengers – and for pedestrians at crosswalks when signals are flashing. Look out for cyclists in your blind spots.

Parking in Toronto is expensive, usually $3 to $4 per half-hour in a private lot; public lots and street parking range from $1.50 to $4 per hour, depending on the neighborhood. Private lots offer reduced-rate parking before 7am and after 6pm.

Hwy 407, running east to west from Markham to Mississauga, is an electronic toll road. It can be a wonderful alternative to the congested 401. Cameras record your license plate and the time and distance traveled. Expect a bill in the mail (Canada, US or Zanzibar – they’ll find you).

Taxis are abundant and easy to hail in downtown Toronto. Often, major hotels have a line of taxis outside, too. In outer neighborhoods, you’ll have to call a cab. In either case, metered fares start at $4.25, plus $1.75 per kilometer (0.62 miles), depending on traffic. A tip of 15% to 20% is customary. Credit and debit cards are typically accepted.

Streetcars run extensive service throughout the city, though maddeningly slow during rush hour. They run 24 hours daily. Service slows to every 30 minutes from 1:30am to 5am. Streetcars are notoriously slow during rush hours, stopping frequently.

The main routes run east–west along St Clair Ave and College, Dundas, Queen and King Streets. North–south streetcars grind along Bathurst St and Spadina Ave.

Passenger pickup and drop-off are only at designated stops, sometimes in streetcar-only islands in the middle of a road.

To get off, wait until your stop is announced, then pull the yellow cord above the windows. Head towards the nearest door to step off.

Taking the subway is the fastest way to get across town.

The two main subway lines are the crosstown Green line (Bloor–Danforth) and the U-shaped Yellow line (Yonge–University–Spadina). The subway operates every two to six minutes from 6am (8am Sunday) to 1:30am daily. Check the TTC website for maps and timetables. Stations are generally safe and have Designated Waiting Areas (DWAs) monitored by security cameras.

Toronto gets a passing grade for accessibility – it’s not last in the class, but it’s certainly no teacher’s pet. The good news is that all TTC buses are low-floor accessible and have tools for the vision and hearing impaired. Only half of the subway stations have elevators, though, and few streetcars are accessible to the mobility impaired: the 509 and 510 lines are the only routes that accommodate everyone. (New streetcars are being purchased and deployed, but gradually.) It’s a similar story for hotels; modern hotels tend to have elevators and wider doors and bathrooms, while smaller hotels, many built in refurbished Victorians, often do not.

Tickets, tokens, day passes and PRESTO cards can all be used on the TTC ($3.20/free per adult/child).

Tokens are discounted ($3) if you buy at least three – a good idea if you plan to use public transportation for more than a day.

Day passes cost $13 and are good for unlimited travel until 5:30am the next day. On weekends, a one-day pass can be used by families or two adults. 

Tickets, tokens, and passes can be purchased at subway collector booths, kiosks in subway stations, and streetcar stops. Select vendors sell them, too; check online for locations.

A PRESTO card, a smart card storing credit, costs $6; it’s convenient if you’ll be using the TTC a lot or going to/from Toronto Pearson International Airport. 

You can transfer from one form of TTC transit to another for free using your transfer ticket or PRESTO card. You must be joining an intersecting route within two hours of having started your journey. Transfer tickets can be requested from streetcar and bus drivers and collected in subway stations from red machines after you pay your fare and go through the turnstile. Be sure to keep the transfer ticket. Transit police perform routine inspections and will issue fines if you fail to present proof of payment.

This article was originally published April 29, 2021.