Transfers in Toronto

About Toronto

Toronto is the capital of Ontario and Canada’s largest city, with about 3 million residents in the city proper and roughly 6.4 million across the wider Greater Toronto Area. The downtown core sits on the north shore of Lake Ontario, anchored by the CN Tower, Rogers Centre and the Financial District around Bay and King. Beyond downtown, the city stretches north to Yonge and Eglinton, west to Etobicoke and east to Scarborough.

Toronto is the financial and corporate capital of Canada, headquartering the five major banks, the TSX and the head offices of Rogers, Bell and Loblaw. That density of business activity, combined with the city’s role as the main international gateway to Canada, drives steady demand through Pearson and a growing volume of business shuttle traffic through Billy Bishop.

Getting around

The TTC runs subway, streetcar and bus services across the city on a single fare (C$3.30 with a Presto card or contactless tap, C$3.35 cash). The Line 1 subway serves the entire downtown spine. The Union Pearson Express train links YYZ to Union Station in about 25 minutes for C$12.35 one way (C$9.25 with Presto) and is often the fastest option for a solo traveller without luggage.

For groups, families or anyone with multiple bags, a pre-booked private transfer typically wins on cost and convenience, particularly during the 07:00 to 09:30 and 16:00 to 19:00 peaks when the Gardiner and the DVP can crawl. Ride-hail apps work citywide but surge sharply during TIFF in September, Caribana in August and Maple Leafs or Raptors playoff games.

Best time to visit

Toronto’s peak season runs from May through October, when daytime highs sit between 18 and 28 °C. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, with patio season at full tilt, the CNE in late August and steady demand for transfers from Pearson and the cruise port. September brings TIFF and a noticeable spike in airport arrivals around the festival’s opening weekend.

Winter (December to March) is cold, with highs near 0 °C and overnight lows around minus 7 °C. Snow and freezing rain can extend YYZ drive times to 60 to 90 minutes, which is when flight tracking and a fixed fare matter most. Spring is short, wet and cheap, often the best value window for hotel rates.

Transferring from Toronto’s airports

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is Canada’s busiest airport, handling 46.8 million passengers in 2024 across two terminals. T1 serves Air Canada, Star Alliance and most international carriers; T3 serves WestJet, oneworld and SkyTeam. The airport sits 27 km north-west of downtown, with pre-booked transfers picking up from designated bays on the arrivals level of each terminal.

Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport (YTZ) sits on the Toronto Islands directly opposite the downtown waterfront. The drive from the mainland terminal to the Financial District is barely 3 km and takes around 10 minutes. Porter Airlines operates the bulk of flights, with regional routes to Boston, Chicago, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax.

For cruise arrivals, the Port of Toronto on the central waterfront serves Great Lakes cruise lines and the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal handles year-round services to the Toronto Islands. Most cruise berths are within a 5-minute drive of Union Station.

Common transfer routes

• YYZ Pearson to Toronto downtown: 27 km, about 30 minutes
• YYZ Pearson to North York: 22 km, about 25 minutes
• YYZ Pearson to Mississauga: 12 km, about 15 minutes
• YTZ Billy Bishop to Toronto downtown: 3 km, about 10 minutes
• Port of Toronto to YYZ Pearson: 28 km, about 35 minutes
• YYZ Pearson to Niagara Falls: 130 km, about 90 minutes
• YYZ Pearson to Hamilton: 60 km, about 50 minutes

Booking your Toronto transfer

Pre-booking gives you a fixed fare with no airport surcharges, a vetted licensed Ontario driver, flight or ship tracking with 60 minutes of free wait time, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup. Pay in CAD or your home currency using Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, iDEAL, Wero or PayPal at checkout.