When visiting Toronto, should you use public transportation, including the subway, rather than a rental car? After all, it’s among the most congested cities in North America and globally. While it’s convenient to rent a car at the airport, you might have a better experience using mass transit, like the subway and streetcars. If that’s not enough to convince you, do you know how much you might have to pay at parking garages and your hotel? If you want to save money while leaving a smaller carbon footprint, learn how to use Toronto’s public transportation.
TTC: Toronto’s Main Public Transportation System
In operation for over 100 years, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the leading public agency overseeing mass transportation in Canada’s largest city. Today, the TTC is among North America’s busiest public transportation systems, with an annual ridership of nearly 580 million. That figure is more than double that of Chicago’s CTA. Despite this, the TTC operates just four subway lines compared to Chicago’s eight lines and 36 in New York. However, the TTC maintains 11 streetcar lines and nearly 200 bus routes. With this in mind, you should be able to see everything you want with the subway and streetcars. It’s also important to note that Toronto’s public transportation is among the safest in the world.
GO Transit
Toronto has not one but two major public transportation systems operating in the city. However, GO Transit covers a much broader area while linking other towns in the Golden Horseshoe region. For instance, you can take a regional train from Toronto’s Union Station to Canadian cities like Hamilton and Niagara Falls. While GO Transit is an option for visiting other towns within the Greater Toronto area, you probably won’t have to use this system. That is, of course, unless you need transportation from the airport. On the other hand, it’s an excellent and affordable option if you wish to visit Niagara Falls. The government of Ontario operates GO Transit, while the city operates the TTC.
Union Pearson Express (UP Express/UPX)
To reach the heart of downtown Toronto, you can forget a rental car and take the UP Express. This train service is operated by Metrolinx, the public transportation agency that also oversees GO Transit. Metrolinx is also responsible for the PRESTO card, with information available in the Fare section. As for the UP Express, you can pay for a single ride or roundtrip (return) online, making it easy to catch a ride into the city.
Related: Montreal Metro Subway: How to Ride Montreal’s Public Transportation
Fares for TTC
While public transit is an excellent option for a car rental, the fares are among the world’s most expensive. Moreover, locals say the service is often unreliable, even though the subway is ranked in a tie with New York as North America’s most efficient. Despite all this, getting around Toronto with public transportation, mainly the subway, is your best option.
Fare Structure
There are different fares for different age groups and types of tickets. The basic fare for a single ride for those paying with cash is $3.35 for adults, $2.40, and $2.30 for travelers 65 and over. Please note that these rates are in Canadian dollars, therefore your fare is lower if you use U.S. dollars. For example, it would be $2.50, $1.79, and $1.71 in American dollars. The other type of fare to understand is with a PRESTO card, which is 5 cents Canadian less for every kind of fare. As for day passes, you can only purchase a $13.50 day pass with a PRESO card, and unfortunately, there is no discount for youths or those 65 years old and over. Fortunately, if you convert to U.S. dollars, $10.06 is a bit more affordable.
Transfers
You can use a transfer without paying an extra fare if you have to make a connection, say from a subway to a streetcar. If you pay by case, you can ask for a paper transfer. Similarly, you can get a transfer using the recommended PRESTO card, which automatically issues you a transfer should you need it. You can transfer multiple times within two hours.
PRESTO Card
Use the PRESTO card instead of paying cash each time you board a TTC bus, subway, or streetcar. This is a card that you can add fare and tap through turnstiles or as you board. This type of contactless payment system is similar to what you might find in New York, London, or other major cities. However, you can’t purchase a PRESTO card or add fare online unless you live in Canada. Instead, you obtain one at a fare/ticket vending machine, retail stores like Shoppers Drug Mart, or customer service outlets. One last note: as of August 8, a PRESTO card costs $4, down from $6. Incidentally, the PRESTO card is valid on all 11 public transportation agencies in Greater Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa.
Accessibility on Toronto Public Transportation
TTC Accessibility
According to the latest information from the TTC, all buses and streetcars are fully accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. On the other hand, more than half of the subway stations are accessible. For example, the Line 1 route and the King and College stations are inaccessible. As for the Line 2 route, the Christie station is not accessible. You can determine which subway stations are accessible by visiting the TTC’s routes and schedules link. Once you access this link, you can see a particular subway line with accessible stations indicated with the International Symbol of Access. Above all, you should visit the TTC link for accessibility to the most complete and up-to-date information.
GO Transit Accessibility
Like TTC and all other public transportation systems operating in the Greater Toronto Area, GO Transit commits to providing accessible service to its customers. You might not have to use this service because GO Transit trains serve destinations beyond downtown. However, Go Transit at Union Station is fully accessible. Please visit the GO Transit page on accessible services for complete details.
Related: Seattle Without a Rental Car: Use Public Transportation
Understanding the Subway System
To better help you get around Toronto, you’ll need to understand the subway and streetcar systems. That’s because, in most cases, you shouldn’t have to use a bus unless you have a specific spot not served by the subway or streetcar. First, you shouldn’t have to use all four of TTC’s subway lines. Instead, you’ll only have to remember the 1 line (yellow) and possibly the 2 line (green). That’s because the other two (3 and 4) serve outlying areas of the city. As such, the purpose of this guide is to focus on the central part of the city. The next step is to look and understand how to read a subway map.
How to Read Toronto’s Subway Map
Because there are only four subway lines, reading a subway map is far easier in Toronto than in other systems like New York, Paris, or London. Therefore, the first recommendation is to familiarize yourself with the color-coded routes and their beginning and ending points. Then, decide what attractions or destinations you wish to visit. For example, how would you get there if you’re at Union Station and want to go to the Royal Ontario Museum? By comparing the subway map to Google Maps, you can see that the yellow Line 1 makes a direction connection. However, you must know the ending point to take Line 1 in the correct direction. In this case, it would be Vaughn. But you would leave the subway at the Museum station rather than go to Vaughn at the end of the line.
Related: Interesting Facts You Might Not Know About Toronto, Canada
Example 2
If you’re at Casa Loma Castle and you now want to visit CF Toronto Eaton Centre, first, you would compare the subway map to a GPS map such as Google Maps. Then, you can see that you can walk 700 meters to the Dupont station to take Line 1. From the Dupont station, you would take Line 1 in the direction of Finch but get off at the Queen station.
Note: If you’re still having trouble understanding your route directions, many mobile apps are available. These include Google or Apple Maps, Moovit, Rome2Rio, and the Transit app. Of course, there are local apps to consider, such as TTC Watch and Safe TTC.
Related: Top Attractions You Can See with a Toronto CityPASS
Sample Attractions Along Toronto Subway Lines
Dundas Station
CF Eaton Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University, Yonge-Dundas Square,
Queen Station
CF Eaton Centre, Massey Hall, Nathan Philips Square, New City Hall, Old City Hall, St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, Toronto Metropolitan University, Yonge-Dundas Square
Queens Park Station
Toronto Police Museum, Queens Park, University of Toronto
St. Andrew Station
David Pecaut Square, Roy Thomson Hall, Royal Conservatory of Music, Royal Ontario Museum, University of Toronto
Union Station
Air Canada Centre, CN Tower, Distillery District, Hockey Hall of Fame, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Rogers Centre, Scotiabank Area, St. Lawrence Market
Understanding the Streetcar (Tram) System
Streetcars have been around Toronto much longer than the subway system. It has operated in the city since the late 19th century when the subway opened in 1954. While you might be able to get there by just taking the Line 1 subway line, you might find the streetcars helpful as well. Of the 11 streetcar lines, you might discover routes 501, 504, 505, and 510 helpful.
Reading the Streetcar Map
When you look at the streetcar map, you’ll notice that all lines are color-coded in red. Moreover, all but one route lies south of the 2 Green Line in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Route 501
Extending 24.6 km or over 15 miles, Route 501 Queen is the longest streetcar operating in North America. National Geographic has also mentioned it among the world’s top 10 trolley routes. However, the focus will be on the east-west portion, which serves only the downtown section. Traveling along Queen Street, Route 501 connects with the Line 1 subway at Dundas, Osgoode. Queen and St. Patric stations. In addition, the tram stops near attractions like Osgoode Hall, City Hall, and Yonge-Dundas Square.
Route 504
Route 504 is another streetcar line that runs east-west along King Street, south of Route 501. This second streetcar line serves the King and St. Andrew stations and notable attractions. For instance, the Hockey Hall of Fame is just two blocks away, as is the Metro Toronto Convention Center. Also close to a tram stop are St. Lawrence Market and the Gooderham Building, also known as the Flatiron Building.
Route 505
Yet another route that travels east-west or vice versa is Route 505. This streetcar line stands out because it serves two trendy downtown neighborhoods. Most importantly, it passes through Chinatown and the Kensington Market neighborhoods. Moreover, the tram also travels past the Art Gallery of Ontario and near Little Italy. Of course, because it runs along Dundas Street, it stops in bustling Yonge-Dundas Square.
Route 510
This route travels in a north-south direction and runs primarily west of the Route 1 subway line. On the lower end, 510 makes a convenient stop at the Rogers Centre, the home ballpark of the Toronto Blue Jays. As it travels northward, it passes near Kensington Market and the University of Toronto. In addition, this tram connects at the Spadina subway station on Line 2. You can connect to Line 1 at the next stop eastbound at St. George Station.
Attractions Not Served by Subway or Streetcar
Of the many attractions in Toronto, neither is served by the subway or streetcar. These two are the Ontario Science Center and Toronto Zoo, both outside the downtown area. However, if you want to visit either, it’s still possible to do so with a TTC or GO bus and likely a train, TTC streetcar, or subway transfer. For example, you can take TTC route 72 from Union Station and transfer to 25B to the Science Center. As for the Zoo, you can take the GO Lakeshore East train and transfer at Rouge Hill to TTC route 200. While this guide intends to focus primarily on downtown, you might want to see these attractions.
Bonus Attraction: Niagara Falls
If this is your first visit to Toronto, you also might be interested in taking a trip to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Sure, it’s not downtown, but it’s one of the most famous landmarks in North America, and it’s the largest by width and volume. While many full-day tours are available, you can save time and money with public transportation. Among the transportation services operating from Toronto to Niagara Falls are FlixBus, GO Transit, Megabus, and VIA Rail Canada. The bus operators offer the cheapest rates and surprisingly are the fastest. However, GO Trains from Union Station is another great option. However, you might have to transfer to another train before you arrive at the Niagara Falls bus and train station. On the other hand, you can combine a roundtrip ticket with the WEGO bus service in Niagara Falls. Of course, you can also walk about 30 minutes to the Falls and additional local attractions.
Related: Toronto Day Trip to Niagara Falls, Ontario
About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 stories still appear in syndication across over 20 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University in 2012. Randy has nearly 25 years of experience in the transportation industry.