Canada » Getting to Toronto

Toronto's primary airport is Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), straddling Toronto's western boundary with Mississauga. Pearson's air traffic is just under 30 million passengers annually and it is the world's largest originator of air traffic into the U.S. The city also has a smaller commercial airport, the Toronto City Centre Airport (YTZ). Situated on the Toronto Islands, the City Centre Airport is primarily a general aviation airport. Air Canada Jazz operated commercial flights out of YTZ until February 2006. In recent years the destinations served from YTZ have been reduced, and Ottawa was the only destination for commercial flights. The airport is connected to the mainland by a short ferry that is free to airline passengers.

The Hamilton International Airport is an alternate, relief airport to Pearson, but not in the GTA. Situated in Hamilton, 85 km (53 miles) southwest of Toronto, it is also a terminus for low-cost carrier, charter airline, and courier traffic.

By Train

Toronto is served by inter-city VIA Rail, Ontario Northland, and Amtrak trains through Union Station, a grand neoclassical structure in the heart of the city's downtown, which is shared with GO Transit's commuter trains. Toronto may soon have its own high-speed airport to downtown rail link with the proposed construction of the Blue22 transit route, although this has not met final approval. 

By Road

There are a number of freeways that serve the city and the Greater Toronto Area. Forming part of Toronto's municipal expressway system, the Don Valley Parkway (or colloquially, the DVP or sarcastically as the 'Don Valley Parking Lot' because of its constant major traffic jams) connects the city's eastern and northern suburbs to downtown, while the Gardiner Expressway (or colloquially, "the Gardiner") connects its western suburbs to the downtown core. Extending northward from the Don Valley Parkway is Highway 404, towards Markham, Richmond Hill, Aurora, and New market. Extending westward from the Gardiner Expressway is the Queen Elizabeth Way (often called the QEW), which heads towards Hamilton, Niagara, and Fort Erie (borders New York State).

By Bus

A large GO bus terminal is located next to Union Station. However, the main inter-city bus terminal is at Bay & Dundas.