Arriving in Toronto – Pearson Int. Airport
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and a melting pot of culture, language, industry and art. With more than 5 million people in the Greater Toronto Area, it is one of the best places to experience life in Canada. In this article we cover what to do when arriving at Pearson International Airport, things to do downtown, what discounts are available, and how to get around the city using the transit and bikeshare options. Toronto is an expensive place to visit, so be prepared to spend. For budget backpackers, it’s still expensive so you may need to pick and choose which things to prioritize on your trip.
Toronto doesn’t share the same small town feel, culture and you won’t hear “eh dere boys” (said in a very thick French Accent) like you may in the main bilingual cities like Ottawa or Montreal. Instead you’ll find the people in Toronto are incredibly kind and welcoming, from backgrounds as varied as they get. Somehow despite city’s enormous growth, it has kept a sense of Canadian kindness you’d expect to find in small cities. I like to say arriving at Pearson International Airport that “Looking around you can’t tell where you’ve landed until you see a sign, but people sure are friendly“. The city is home of some of Canada’s largest immigrant populations and walking downtown you’ll be as likely to hear Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Greek, or Mandarin as you are to hear the official Canadian languages, French and English.
Toronto - Pearson Int. Airport
Toronto’s Pearson International Airport is Canada’s Welcome Mat. The airport is Canada’s largest hub for international flights and your likely first stop as a new visitor.
**Warning: 2020 please be advised to wear masks if traveling through Pearson or other major international flight hubs due to the Corona-Virus. ***
The airport is divided into two terminals: Terminal 1 for International Arrivals and Departures, and Terminal 3 for US & Canada flights only.
Due to the layout of the airport, you may be required to pass through security twice on a connecting international flight. On short layovers, I like to make use of the large open cafeteria on the ground floor of Terminal 1. It is usually less crowded and has unlimited free Wi-Fi. You can find places to eat listed on the interactive airport map here.
On longer layovers, like my 12 hour layover to Cuba I take the UP Express Train to Union Station to enjoy touring the city.
UP Express to Union Station
The UP Express can be found in Terminal 1, just follow the signs overhead after the baggage claim. The short walk will take you across a concrete walkway and around a corner, up an escalator to a the platform to Terminal 3. Keep walking straight ahead and the UP Express Ticket Machine is on the right hand side. If you can’t find it, there is usually an employee stationed by the platform doors up ahead that can help you out with any questions.
An UP Express ticket to Downtown costs: $
- 12.35 CAD one way and runs every 15 minutes
- Hours: 55 am to 1:00 am.
- *Family passes are also available.
- Long layovers: Ask the attendant about the long layover return ticket.
The long layover ticket is to downtown and back to Pearson for $12.35 but you must return within 7 hours. It also will get you a discount at the Hockey Hall of Fame and other venues around the city.
The terminus in Downtown Toronto is the historic (Third) Union Station, approved for construction in 1905 and officially opened in 1927 in a gold scissor ribbon cutting ceremony with Prince Edward and Price George (Queen Elizabeth’s II Uncle and Father).
The old station is located at the center of the downtown core, only a short walk from the CN Tower, Roger’s Arena and Aquarium.
CN Tower
The CN Tower was built in 1976 and was the tallest free standing structure in the world for until 2009 when it was passed by the famous Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates. The tower acts as a telecommunications tower and wonderful viewing platform looking over the city of Toronto.
Ticket Prices:
- $35 adults
- $25 child
- Family Passes Available
A bit expensive but well worth it on a nice sunny day. Every city in the world has a tower platform you can pay to see the view of the city, you either find it worth it paying for or not.
Inside the CN Tower, you’ll take an elevator up to the viewing platform 446.5 m (1,465 ft) high above the city. The platform has industrial strength glass floors that are really scary to lay down on! It took me a few minutes to overcome the immense fear. Looking down through the glass, you can see the nearby Aquarium and Roger’s Centre (Home of the Toronto BlueJays Major League Baseball Team.
Roger's Centre - BlueJays
Roger’s Centre is home to the Toronto BlueJays, Canada’s only Major League Baseball team since the departure of the Montreal expos in 2004 for Washington DC. Watching a baseball game is a great way to spend the day in Toronto. Fans dressed in blue poor into downtown from across the Greater Toronto Area. Games are played from the end of March until the end of September and tickets range from $5 CAD to $100 CAD depending on the section. (Behind home plate is the most expensive)
The nice part about the BlueJays games is the affordability. The more popular Toronto Raptors (2018-2019 NBA Champions) and the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL are nearly impossible to pick up even for locals.
Find tickets on SeatGeek.
Toronto Airbnbs
Airbnb is one of the best options for booking accommodations in Toronto. Traditional Hotels are very expensive near Downtown and many locals in the Greater Toronto Area have rooms to entire houses available for visitors.
Price Range:
- $80 to $120 CAD for a room/ night
- $150 to $220 CAD for an Entire Place/ night.
On my last visit, I booked a full week in Etobicoke, a suburb near Downtown at Wycliffe and Marion’s. We booked the entire two bedroom house with a nice backyard and simply used Uber to make our way downtown for the day. Parking was available at the Airbnb, but not conveniently downtown.
The hosts came over once we were checked in to greet us and let us know they are available if we had any questions. In Canada, this is very common as many Airbnb hosts are avid travelers themselves. You can tell by the little touches: Oatmeal, Granola bars, Unlimited Coffee & Green Tea, a Bottle of Wine, Beers in the fridge (complimentary, not extra), napkins to take on the go, and printed instructions for everything like Wi-Fi and the TV.
Since I was visiting for a business conference the following days, these little touches were amazing since I didn’t have time to go grocery shopping. Toronto is expensive, so if the sticker price is off-putting for backpackers, consider a hostel in our Master List Article.For deep discounted hotels, I use Hotels.com in Canada.
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is a wonderful museum located at 30 Yonge Street in Downtown Toronto. For NHL fans, there is no greater place to visit than the halls decorated with the jerseys and photos of the sport’s greatest athletes.
- Ticket Price: $20 CAD Adult, $14 CAD for Children
- Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm M-F. Extended hours on the Weekend.
- Promotion: 20% Ticket Price with Proof of the UP Express Long Layer Ticket.(Valid Until September 2020)
Every young boy and girl in Canada grows up watching hockey. The museum also features stories from athletes from all over the world, from Japan and China to Russia’s KHL.
Most importantly, the hall houses the Stanley Cup on display during the off-season. Kids and hockey lovers like myself can take photos with the cup. There is also a fun activities section inside the museum with fake ice for kids to shoot at targets and win prizes. Participation in activities is free.
The Toronto Maple Leafs play in Scotiabank Centre, but tickets are almost always sold out. If you are interested in attending a live game, check out the Toronto Marlies, an American Hockey League team that also plays in the Coca-Cola Coliseum or Scotiabank Arena in downtown. Tickets start from $11.99 CAD.
Hockey is a sport that really embodies Canada and the spirit of Canadians. It’s a fierce sport where the team is more important than any single superstar player. It’s nearly impossible for a player to carry a team to victory in the modern game. It’s a game with an honor code where rivalries are intense but respectful. If it’s your first time visiting Canada, checking out a local game is a must.
Fighting is permitted, but used in accordance with “the Code (Youtube)“.
Players tend to stick to their ‘weight class’ when fighting. A defenseman will fight another defenseman (they tend to be the biggest players on the ice) A 4th line forward that has a reputation as a real bruiser, will fight the other team’s 4th line bruiser. Not the 1st star player. If a star player like Sydney Crosby or Connor McDavid does something clearly egregious on the ice, than another Star Player in the same class has to step up and challenge them to a fight. Fights are always 1 on 1.
One unspoken rule is you don’t mess with the goalies, as they are more prone to career ending injuries. So players get really upset when a goalie is hit.
Fights involving goalies are rare and involve a special etiquette. Goalies for the most part must accept the challenge, they can’t simply be dragged into a fight. Usually, goalies fight the opposing team’s goalie and remove both the gloves and helmet. Here is a great goalie fight example (Youtube).
Scotiabank Arena - Raptors
Scotiabank Arena is home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the 2018-2019 NBA Champions, the Raptors (Youtube Mini Documentary).
I had the opportunity to be in Toronto for last year’s NBA finals, watching the games from filled up bars downtown. Restaurants and sports bars were full 4 or 5 hours before the last game 6 even started.
Raptors Games are played from October to the beginning of April. Tickets range from $26 to $150 per seat. Average tickets prices depend which other team is playing but usually average $110 CAD per seat.
The NHL’s Maple Leafs also play at the Scotiabank Arena, but tickets are almost always sold out. When tickets are available average $220 CAD per seat.
Find tickets on SeatGeek.
Smoque N Bones
A southern style BBQ joint at 869 Queen St. W in Toronto. This hole in the wall rustic style restaurants serves up some of the best BBQ in the city.
Prices are very affordable with entrees starting at $18 to $48 for a full rack of ribs. Other feature dishes include Sugar Maple Smoked Chicken, Beef Brisket, Baby Ribs and Pulled Pork Sandwiches with a side of homestyle Mac N Cheese. Delicious.
Attached in the same restaurant is Kohl Whiskey Bar, offering an assortment of high ends Whiskeys and Bourbons.
Kayaking - Paddle Toronto
Downtown Toronto has a lively boardwalk that stretches more than 5 kilometers with public parks, piers with dozens of restaurants, cafes and even Kayak and Paddleboard rentals.
You can rent a single Kayak, Tandem Kayak or Paddleboard from the Harbour Front Canoe and Kayak Centre. You’ll be tested for your ability such as balance and paddling sills on a single Kayak.
Price Range:
- Single Kayak $45 for 2 hours, $75 for 4+ hours
- Tandem Kayak (2 person) $60 for 2 hours, $95 for 4+ hours.
- Paddleboard $50 for 2 hours, $80 for 4+ hours.
- Discounts Available Online
Off the coast of Toronto are 15 small islands run by the forestry and parks department of Toronto. Ferry service is available from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal to each of the 3 main islands.
On the Toronto Island (as all the islands are connected), visitors can picnic for the day, enjoy the beautiful beaches and clothing optional beach near Hanlan’s Point. There is even a small theater, garden area and amusement park to take the kids.
Having such a great recreational space available so close to downtown is part of what makes Toronto a very friendly city for everyone.
The Island and all rentals servicing it at only open from early May until the end of September. It wouldn’t be as enjoyable in the winter months.
Once back on the mainland, take some time to check out some of the scheduled local festivals that take place on the oceanfront and throughout downtown Toronto.
Getting Around in Toronto
The city of Toronto has an excellent transit network of buses and subway lines. Driving around downtown, it’s clear that parking is very limited and parkade parking is incredibly expensive, $20/hour.
So my great-grandfather will be a little upset at the lack of parking, but modern day travelers can rejoice at the ease of getting around downtown. If you’ve ever seen roads in Canada in the winter, you’ll be happy to take the subway.
- Daily Bus Fare: $3.25 per trip
- Daily Pass: $13.00
- Convention Pass: Can be purchased by an organization attending events and conferences in the city for $9.75 per person per day pass.
*Subway fares are organized by zone, so each ride will depend how far you are traveling and from which zones. But generally, it’s $3-$6 per trip.
**Single Trip tickets have a 2 hour transfer time for buses.
***The UP Express and Go Trains which connect suburb far outside the city are run separately from the main transit lines.
Bike Share Toronto
Managed bikeshares is one of my favorite new transit focused innovations of the last decades. I say “managed” because the ones in cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal are partnered with each city to promote active transportation and tourism.
- Single Trip: $3.25
- Day Pass: $7.00
- 3 Day Pass: $15.00
In China where bikesharing really started exploding 5 years ago, they use bikes that are left free-standing in massive piles on the sidewalks, preventing people from even walking comfortably, it’s a chaotic mess.
In Toronto, you can simply find a bike station (465 across the city) and take out a bike for 30 minutes, overage fees for longer trips, docking it at any other station when you are finished. Biking around the city is a great way to get from A to B or simply enjoy touring for the sights.
Check out Toronto Cycle Network Map here, you can find all bike paths and dedicated bike lanes.
City to City Transportation
Ready to move on to the next destination? There are a few different options for traveling between Toronto and other Canadian cities.
- Via Rail Line
- Bus Lines (MegaBus, Greyhound, Busbud Booking)
- Carshare (Kangaride, Kijiji Rideshare, Facebook Groups)
- Flying Domestically (Porter, Westjet or AirCanada)
The most popular destinations after Toronto include Niagara Falls (1.5 hours south by car), Ottawa (4 hours North East), The Muskoka Lakes (1.5 hours North), and Montreal (6 hours North East).
A few words on Caresharing:
- Caresharing in Canada is very safe in my experience as a male in my twenties (I can’t change who I am). I’ve gotten rides with people all across Canada on long haul journeys to short day trips. If you feel unsure about it, ask around on Facebook groups like Canada Backpackers.
- You can find Mini-Van Careshare businesses on Kijiji that take larger groups in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal corridor. A ride from one city to another can be just $15 one way in these mini vans. They are popular among student looking to get away for the weekend and usually have pick ups near college campuses in each city.
More Info for Travel to Canada
For your pre-trip downtime, check out our List of Recommended Books, Movies and Podcasts all featuring Canada! Lastly, I recommend picking up a Prepaid SIM Card for your own hotspot device or mobile phone. You can order in advance on our Tallypack Store and have delivered to your hotel upon your arrival!
If you find this useful, follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
