Getting Around Toronto: TTC, GO Train & Uber Guide

Navigating Toronto is straightforward once you understand the system’s logic. Canada’s largest city has a comprehensive public transit network operated by the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), a regional rail network (GO Transit), an excellent cycling infrastructure, and abundant Uber and taxi service. For the vast majority of tourist destinations — the CN Tower, the ROM, St. Lawrence Market, Kensington Market, the ferry terminal, Casa Loma — you do not need a car. A PRESTO card and a basic understanding of the subway will cover most of what visitors want to do.

This guide covers everything: how the TTC works, how to pay, where the important stops are, when to use GO Transit, when cycling makes sense, and when Uber is the right call.

The TTC: Toronto’s subway, streetcars, and buses

The Toronto Transit Commission operates four subway lines, an extensive streetcar network, and a citywide bus network. The subway is the backbone of the system; the streetcars serve the downtown core and waterfront with excellent coverage; buses fill in the gaps.

The PRESTO card

The PRESTO card is the transit smartcard used across the TTC and GO Transit. Load it online, at TTC subway station machines, or at Shoppers Drug Mart locations. Tap on entry to the subway (at the fare gates) and on boarding streetcars and buses.

Fares with PRESTO (2024/2025 rates):

• Adult single ride: approximately CAD $3.30
• Day pass (unlimited rides after the second trip): approximately CAD $13.50
• Monthly pass: approximately CAD $156.00
• Children under 12 ride free

Single-trip tickets are available from station machines for approximately CAD $3.80 (higher than the PRESTO rate). If you are spending more than two days in Toronto and plan to use transit regularly, the PRESTO card pays for itself quickly.

Transfers: A single PRESTO tap covers you for two hours of transit — you can transfer between subway, streetcar, and bus within that window without additional charge.

The subway lines

Toronto’s subway has four lines:

Line 1 (Yonge-University): The most important line for tourists — a U-shaped route running north from Union Station, along University Avenue to Bloor Street, north to Eglinton and York Mills, then looping back along Yonge Street. Key stops: Union (Union Station, CN Tower area, St. Lawrence Market), King (Entertainment District, King West restaurants), Queen (Queen Street West), Dundas (Eaton Centre), Bloor-Yonge (transfer to Line 2), Bay (Yorkville), Museum (Royal Ontario Museum), St. George (Annex), Spadina (Kensington Market area), Dupont (Casa Loma).

Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth): Runs east-west along Bloor Street and the Danforth, from Kipling in Etobicoke to Kennedy in Scarborough. Key stops: Spadina, Bay, Bloor-Yonge (transfer to Line 1), Broadview (Leslieville access).

Line 3 (Ontario): A newer automated line running north from Kennedy to Scarborough Centre and beyond. Useful for Scarborough destinations.

Line 4 (Sheppard): Short east-west line in North York. Less relevant to typical tourist itineraries.

Streetcars

Toronto’s streetcar network covers the downtown core and waterfront areas that the subway bypasses. Modern Bombardier streetcars (fully accessible, low-floor) operate on dedicated surface routes.

Key routes for tourists:

• 504 King: East-west along King Street, the most useful streetcar for the Entertainment District, the Distillery District, and King West restaurants.
• 501 Queen: East-west along Queen Street — the longest streetcar route in North America, connecting Leslieville to the west end through all of Queen Street West.
• 509 Harbourfront / 510 Spadina: Waterfront and Queens Quay services — the ferry terminal, Harbourfront Centre, and Exhibition grounds.
• 506 College: East-west along College Street, connecting the east end through Kensington Market and Little Portugal.

Boarding streetcars: In the downtown core, many stops are in dedicated median stations requiring boarding from the centre of the street (look for the white shelter platform in the middle of the road). Away from downtown, streetcars stop at the curb.

Buses

The TTC bus network fills in coverage beyond the subway and streetcar lines. For typical tourist destinations, buses are less frequently needed, but key routes:

• 65 Parliament: North-south on Parliament Street, connecting King Street to Cabbagetown (useful for the Distillery District from the east end).
• 29/329 Dufferin: North-south on Dufferin Street (Exhibition access).

Night service

The Blue Night Network operates overnight (approximately 1:30am–5:30am) on key routes including Yonge, Spadina, Bloor, Queen, King, and Dufferin. Frequency is reduced compared to daytime service but coverage is sufficient for returning from late-night dining or events.

Browse Toronto city tours and guided experiences

Union Station: Toronto’s transit hub

Union Station at Front and Bay Streets is the fulcrum of Toronto’s transit system and a remarkable building in its own right. The Beaux-Arts Great Hall — a barrel-vaulted concourse flanked by Corinthian columns with a recently restored ceiling — is one of the finest public spaces in Canada.

From Union Station you can access:

• TTC subway (Line 1 Yonge-University, both directions)
• GO Transit regional rail (all GO corridors departing from Union)
• VIA Rail (intercity rail to Ottawa, Montreal, Niagara, Windsor, and beyond)
• UP Express (Union Pearson Express — direct train to Pearson Airport)
• The PATH underground walkway network (30km of underground connections to hotels, offices, and the Financial District)

For getting to the airport, the UP Express is the fastest and most reliable option — see the from the airport guide for full detail.

GO Transit: regional rail

GO Transit is the regional transit network serving Greater Toronto and the surrounding regions. From Union Station, GO rail lines extend in seven directions:

• Lakeshore West to Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, and Aldershot
• Lakeshore East to Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa
• Milton to Mississauga and Milton
• Kitchener to Brampton, Bramalea, Georgetown
• Barrie to Aurora, Newmarket, Barrie (seasonal)
• Richmond Hill to Richmond Hill
• Stouffville to Unionville, Stouffville

For tourists, GO Transit is most relevant for:

• Niagara Falls: GO Bus service from Union Station to Niagara Falls operates seasonally (spring through autumn). Check gotransit.com for current schedules. The trip takes approximately 2 hours.
• Hamilton: GO trains to Aldershot/Hamilton roughly hourly.
• Day trips beyond walking and TTC range: GO bus supplements GO rail for some destinations.

GO fares are distance-based and considerably higher than TTC fares — budget CAD $10–25+ per trip depending on distance.

The PATH underground network

Toronto’s PATH is a 30-kilometre network of underground pedestrian walkways connecting the subway system to hotels, office towers, shopping complexes, and public buildings throughout the downtown core. It is primarily a commuter amenity but is invaluable for tourists during winter cold and summer heat.

From Union Station, the PATH connects north to the Royal Bank Plaza, First Canadian Place, and the Eaton Centre area. It connects to Scotiabank Arena (home of the Maple Leafs and Raptors) via enclosed walkway.

PATH navigation is complex — signage is present but the system is labyrinthine. Download a PATH map before venturing into the underground. The official City of Toronto PATH map is available online.

Cycling

Toronto has invested significantly in cycling infrastructure over the past decade, and cycling is practical for visitors from April to October.

Bike Share Toronto operates a dock-based bike share system with over 800 stations across the city. A day pass costs approximately CAD $15 for unlimited 30-minute trips (longer trips incur additional charges). The app downloads stations in real time. Most tourist destinations are within 30-minute cycling distance of each other.

Key cycling routes:

• Martin Goodman Trail: A continuous multi-use path running 56 kilometres along the Lake Ontario waterfront from Etobicoke in the west to Scarborough in the east. This is the most pleasant urban cycling route in Toronto, entirely car-free, and connects the ferry terminal, Harbourfront, Exhibition, and the east-end waterfront.
• Bloor Street cycling lanes: Protected cycling infrastructure along Bloor Street West connects the Annex to Kensington Market and the west end.
• Danforth cycling route: Protected lanes along the Danforth in the east end.

Helmets: Ontario law requires cyclists under 18 to wear helmets; adults are strongly encouraged to wear them. Bike Share Toronto rents helmets at the terminal or bring your own.

Uber and taxis

Uber and Lyft operate across Toronto and are plentiful, particularly downtown. Taxis (Beck Taxi, Co-op Cabs) are also reliable.

When to use Uber/taxi over TTC:

• Carrying luggage to/from Union Station or the airport
• Travelling with young children and strollers at off-peak hours
• Late-night journeys when TTC frequency drops
• Destinations not well-served by transit (Bluffer’s Park, some outer neighbourhoods)
• When time is more important than cost

Typical fares: Downtown to Kensington Market approximately CAD $12–18. Downtown to Scarborough Bluffs approximately CAD $30–40. Airport to downtown approximately CAD $55–75 (see from airport guide).

Surge pricing applies during peak hours and major events (Maple Leafs games, concerts at Scotiabank Arena and Rogers Centre). Check the app before committing to an airport run after a Friday evening flight.

Driving and parking in Toronto

A car is unnecessary for visiting Toronto’s tourist attractions — and actively frustrating given parking costs and congestion. If you have a car (for day trips to Niagara Falls or Muskoka), park it at your hotel on arrival and use transit and Uber for city travel.

Parking costs in the downtown core range from CAD $5–8 per 30 minutes in commercial lots to CAD $20–40 for a full day. Green P (City of Toronto) parking lots are generally cheaper than private lots. Street parking is metered and time-limited throughout the downtown core.

Traffic: Toronto traffic is worst during weekday rush hours (7–9am and 4–7pm) and on the Gardiner Expressway/Lake Shore Boulevard corridor. Plan accordingly for airport journeys.

The Toronto PATH underground network in detail

The PATH deserves more than the brief mention in the overview above — it is genuinely transformative for winter visitors and for navigating the downtown core at any time.

The 30-kilometre PATH network connects 75 buildings including 6 major hotels, the Toronto Eaton Centre shopping mall, 10 subway stations, Scotiabank Arena, the Rogers Centre, Union Station, and most of the towers of the Financial District. It was built incrementally over several decades as individual building owners connected to adjacent underground concourses — the result is a system that has no single plan or consistent signage, but that reveals itself progressively to those who use it regularly.

Key PATH connections for visitors:

• Union Station to Scotiabank Arena: Follow PATH signs from Union Station concourse level west under York Street to the arena corridor. Approximately 10 minutes on foot, entirely indoors.
• Union Station to the Fairmont Royal York: Cross the street level or use the underground connection directly from the station’s Front Street level.
• Financial District towers: The Royal Bank Plaza, TD Centre, Commerce Court, First Canadian Place, and Bay Wellington Tower are all connected, allowing movement between major downtown hotels and offices without exposure to weather.
• Eaton Centre: Follow PATH signs north from Queen Station or south from Dundas — the underground level of the Eaton Centre is connected.

Navigation: Download the Toronto PATH app or save a PATH map (available on the City of Toronto website) before entering the underground system. Without a map, the first trip through PATH is confusing — the signage is present but inconsistent, and the underground junctions are not always intuitive. After two or three trips, the key connections become clear.

Hours: PATH is accessible during business hours for most connections (typically 6am to midnight on weekdays, reduced hours on weekends). Some sections close on weekends or at night — check specific building access if you need weekend coverage.

TTC accessibility

The TTC has invested significantly in accessibility infrastructure over the past decade, but the system remains uneven.

Accessible stations: Not all subway stations have elevator access. The following major stations on Line 1 are accessible: Union, King, Queen, Dundas, College, Bloor-Yonge, Bay, Museum, St. George, Spadina, Dupont, Sheppard-Yonge, and others. Check the TTC’s accessible services map at ttc.ca before planning routes if elevator access is required.

Streetcars: All modern Toronto streetcars (the Bombardier low-floor vehicles) are accessible with level boarding at platforms. The heritage Red Rocket streetcars (used on special occasions) are not accessible.

Buses: All TTC buses have kneeling functions and are accessible.

For visitors with mobility equipment: The TTC’s Wheel-Trans service is available for registered users with mobility impairments — registration requires advance planning and is not available for casual visitors. For ad-hoc accessible transport, accessible taxis and rideshares are the practical alternative.

GO Transit in more detail

GO Transit serves a broader audience than just commuters — for tourists, understanding GO’s geography opens up day trips that TTC cannot reach.

GO Bus service to Niagara Falls: Seasonal GO Bus service connects Union Station Coach Terminal to Niagara Falls in summer. This is the most economical public transit option for the Niagara day trip without a car. Check gotransit.com for current seasonal schedule and fares.

GO Train to Hamilton: Lakeshore West GO trains run approximately hourly to Aldershot/Hamilton during off-peak periods and more frequently during rush hours. Hamilton is currently developing excellent arts and food scenes and is increasingly worth the trip. Journey time approximately 60 minutes.

GO Train to the Niagara wine country: The GO system does not reach Niagara-on-the-Lake directly, but combined GO train/bus routing can reach the Niagara wine region with patience. A car or tour remains more practical for wine country exploration.

PRESTO on GO: The PRESTO card works on GO Transit as well as TTC, but fares are distance-based and charged separately from TTC fares — a single PRESTO tap in Toronto does not carry over to a GO trip. Load sufficient balance before boarding GO services.

Related Toronto guides

• Toronto Pearson Airport to Downtown — all transfer options
• Toronto weekend itinerary — a two-day plan using primarily TTC
• Toronto with kids — TTC and accessibility advice for families

Frequently asked questions about getting around Toronto

Do I need a car in Toronto?

No. For visiting Toronto’s main tourist attractions, the TTC and Uber provide full coverage without a car. A car is useful only for day trips to destinations like Muskoka, Prince Edward County, or the Scarborough Bluffs that are not well-served by transit.

What is a PRESTO card?

PRESTO is a reloadable transit smartcard used across TTC, GO Transit, and several other Ontario transit systems. Load it at any TTC station machine or Shoppers Drug Mart. It provides lower per-trip costs than cash fares and allows seamless transfers across TTC services within a two-hour window.

How do I get from Union Station to the main Toronto attractions?

Ripley’s Aquarium and CN Tower: 15-minute walk south. St. Lawrence Market: 5-minute walk east. ROM: Museum station, 3 stops north on Line 1. Casa Loma: Dupont station, 5 stops north on Line 1. Ferry terminal for Toronto Islands: 15-minute walk west along Queens Quay.

Is cycling safe in Toronto?

Cycling is generally safe in Toronto on the designated cycling infrastructure (the Martin Goodman Trail, Bloor Street lanes, the Danforth). Cycling on downtown streets outside designated lanes requires more experience with urban cycling. Visitors unfamiliar with city cycling should stick to the trail network and protected lanes.