Getting Here
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| Long Wave, Allen Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place, Toronto Photo courtesy of Toronto Tourism & Visitors Association |
Toronto Pearson International Airport (code YYZ) is the main point of landing for most domestic and international flights. Toronto Pearson is 27 km (17 miles) west of downtown (about a half-hour drive). To get from the airport to downtown, you can:
1. Take the UP (Union Pearson) Express, a brand-new dedicated express rail service connecting Union station to Toronto Pearson, departing every 15 minutes. Fares cost up to $27.50 depending on destination and type of pass, go to UPExpress.com to find out more.
2. Hire a taxi or an airport limo: Look for the lineup signs for taxis. The average cost into the city is about $50.
3. Catch a shuttle bus: Many hotels offer airport shuttles, so check whether yours does.
4. Rent a car: You’ll find major car-rental outfits at both Terminal 1 and Terminal. Most are open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
- Alamo, 1-800-GO-ALAMO
- Avis, 1-800-TRY-AVIS Budget, 1-800-268-8900
- Dollar, 1-800-800-4000 Enterprise, 1-800-261-7331
- Hertz, 1-800-263-0600 National, 1-800-CAR-RENT
- Thrifty, 1-800-THRIFTY
5. Take public transit: You’ll save money if you take the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Catch the 192 Airport Rocket bus to Kipling subway station, or take the 52A Lawrence West bus to Lawrence West subway station. Both stations are on subway lines servicing the downtown core. Visit ttc.ca.
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (code YTZ), located on the Toronto Islands, services domestic, chartered and select U.S. flights. Billy Bishop is a short ferry ride from Toronto’s Harbourfront district, then mere minutes from downtown’s taxis and public transit. A tunnel is being built and will make the connection even faster (anticipated completion is early 2015).
Travelling by Bus
Toronto Coach Terminal is the main intercity bus depot, located downtown at 610 Bay St. GO Transit buses service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The GO Transit bus hub is located at 140 Bay St. (at Front Street, just east of Union Station). Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com.
Travelling by Train
All trains arrive and depart from Union Station (65 Front St. W.). VIA Rail handles most of Canada’s intercity routes and connects to the U.S. via Amtrak. The Amtrak/VIA Maple Leaf route runs between New York City and Toronto daily and takes around 12 hours, depending on the border wait. For more information: 1-888-VIA-RAIL and viarail.ca; 1-800-USA-RAIL and amtrak.com. GO Transit trains service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The green-and-white trains operate from Union Station. Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com. For general station information, call the Travellers’ Aid Society of Toronto at 416-366-7788.
Getting Around
The conference will be held at Victoria College, University of Toronto.
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| Gooderham Building Photo courtesy of Toronto Tourism & Visitors Association |
Exploring the City
1. By Toronto Transit Commission (TTC): With four lines and 69 stops, Toronto’s subway system is easy to navigate. Maps are displayed on all subway cars and are available at station ticket booths. Subway stops connect to streetcar or bus routes that weave throughout the city and extend to the GTA (hold on to your paper transfer for free connections). Single fare is $3 for adults, $2 for students/seniors and 75 cents for children; keep in mind that drivers don’t provide change. You can save money by buying multiple tokens or tickets or a one-day or one-week transit pass. Single-day passes cost $11 and allow unlimited rides from the start of service until 5:30 the following morning. On weekends and statutory holidays, the $11 day pass provides unlimited travel for a group of up to six people, with a maximum of two adults. Weekly passes, valid from Monday to Sunday, cost $39.25 for adults and $31.25 for students/ seniors. Visit ttc.ca or call 416-393-INFO for more information.
2. By GO Transit: For routes out of Toronto into neighbouring suburbs, check GO Transit bus and train schedules at gotransit.com.
3. By regional transit: Visiting Mississauga? Go to the Click n’ Ride route planner on mississauga. ca, type in your origin and destination, and the website will map out your best route. For route information in Brampton, visit Brampton Transit at brampton.ca.
4. By taxi: Toronto has numerous cab companies, and all charge the same base rate of $4.25, plus $1.75 per kilometre ($1.09 per mile) or 52 cents a minute. The easiest cab number to remember is 416-TAXICAB, which connects you to all taxi and airport-limo companies.
5. By bike: Renting a bike is easy. Keep an eye peeled for automated bike stands throughout the city. Bike rentals are ideal for shorter rides and are a great alternative to taxi jaunts. Grab a bike at one stand, then return it to another. Visit toronto.ca for a Toronto cycling map.
6. By foot: Toronto is a safe and walkable city. Look for trails throughout the parks, gardens and beaches; routes are outlined at toronto.ca. Explore the PATH, an easy-to-navigate system of underground walkways and shopping arcades that runs beneath the downtown core. The 30-km x subway stations, major hotels and several attractions, including Union Station, Roy Thomson Hall, The Air Canada Centre, CN Tower, Toronto Eaton Centre, Queens Quay and City Hall. Maps are available at toronto.ca.