Toronto: Getting there & around

Orientation

Capital of the province of Ontario, Toronto sits in the heart of the Great Lakes region of southeastern Canada, on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. The city is 350km (220mi) southwest of Ottawa, 500km (310mi) southwest of Montréal, 560km (350mi) west of New York City and 335km (210mi) northeast of Detroit.

The downtown area is clasped on almost all sides by a hotchpotch of bohemian, ethnic and historic neighbourhoods, with the remaining southern edge crisply defined by Lake Ontario, one of North America's Great Lakes. Yonge St, the main north-south artery, stretches about 18km (11mi) north from Lake Ontario through the central downtown area and beyond the city's northern boundary. Bloor, Queen and College Sts are the main east-west streets. At the lakeshore (south) end of Yonge St is the semi-developed Harbourfront area. Two blocks west is the CN Tower and the SkyDome, Toronto's vast sports arena. North of the arena, Chinatown starts along Dundas St, just west of Yonge. Just north of that is the bustling university area and Yorkville, and to the west, Little Italy and The Annex. To the east of downtown lies Cabbagetown, an increasingly gentrified neighbourhood that retains some Irish immigrant character. The Toronto Islands sit not far offshore in Lake Ontario.

Pearson International Airport is 27km (17mi) northwest of the downtown area, near Etobicoke. The cheapest way to get to/from the airport is by a combination of subway and bus, but there are also direct buses, taxis and hotel shuttles. Allow at least an hour if travelling by public bus from downtown Toronto. Ferries run every 15 minutes to the City Centre Airport from Bathurst St on Toronto's lakefront. The trip takes just minutes. The VIA Rail terminal, grand old Union Station, is a few blocks north of the Harbourfront area on Front St. The main bus terminal is at the edge of Chinatown on the corner of Bay and Dundas Sts.

Getting There

• bus

  Long-distance buses are cheaper than trains, although not as fast or comfortable. Numerous bus lines covering Ontario, as well as buses within Canada and to US destinations, originate at the Metro Toronto Coach Terminal (tel: 416 393 7911; Dundas Sq, 610 Bay St; subway Dundas), which has coin lockers and a Travellers' Aid Society (tel: 416 596 8647) help desk. When making reservations, always ask for the direct or express bus. Advance tickets do not guarantee a seat. Greyhound (tel: 416 367 8747, 800 661 8747; www.greyhound.ca) covers much of southwestern Ontario, including the Niagara region and Stratford. Discounts on standard one-way adult fares are given to ISIC cardholders, seniors, children and pairs travelling together. Purchase tickets at least a week in advance for the best fares.

• train

  Canadians feel a special attachment to the 'ribbons of steel' from coast to coast, although they don't take the train very often. Union Station downtown has currency exchange booths, a Travellers' Aid Society (tel: 416 366 7788) help desk, wi-fi, and left-luggage lockers. VIA Rail (tel: 416 366 8411, 888 842 7245; www.viarail.ca) services are excellent along the so-called Québec-Windsor corridor, an area of heavy traffic stretching from Québec City to Windsor, Ontario (just across the US-Canada border from Detroit, Michigan). Fares vary wildly, but are significantly cheaper if tickets are purchased at least one week in advance. VIA Rail's Corridor Pass is good for 10 days. Amtrak (tel: 800 872 7245; www.amtrak.com) has several routes between the USA and Canada. International passengers are responsible for securing all documentation (ie passports and visas) prior to on-board customs and immigration procedures. Reservations are required. For fares and schedules, contact Amtrak or stop by the information desk inside Union Station.

• air

  Canada's busiest airport, Lester B Pearson International Airport (tel: 416 247 7678, Terminal 3 tel: 416 776 5100; www.gtaa.com), is about a 27km (17mi) drive northwest of downtown Toronto. Most Canadian airlines and major international carriers arrive at Pearson. Tickets for flights departing Canada, whether purchased in Canada or abroad, usually include departure taxes. All terminals have a broad range of passenger facilities and inter-terminal courtesy shuttle buses run frequently. On the Toronto Islands, small Toronto City Centre Airport (tel: 416 203 6942) is used by regional airlines, helicopter companies, charter and private flights. Air Canada Jazz commuter flights from Ottawa to TCAA rather than Pearson are quicker because you're already downtown - and you get a better look at the city, too.

  Airport Express (tel: 905 564 3232, 800 387 6787; www. torontoairportexpress.com) operates a 24-hour express bus service that connects Pearson International Airport with the Metro Toronto Coach Terminal and major downtown hotels. Buses depart every 20 to 30 minutes.

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Getting Around

• bus

  Visitors won't find much use for TTC buses, which are slow and get held up in traffic. Women travelling alone between 21:00 and 05:00 can request special stops anywhere along regular bus routes; notify the driver in advance and exit via the front doors. Bus stops with blue-banded poles are part of the limited Blue Night Network operating basic routes around the city between 01:30 and 05:00 daily every 30 minutes or better. For more far-flung travel, the TTC system connects with bus routes in surrounding suburbs such as Richmond Hill and Brampton. For information on these routes, contact GO Transit (tel: 416 869 3200, 888 438 6646; www.gotransit.com).

• car

  Renting a car is only recommended for excursions outside Toronto. Driving in the city is nothing but a headache because urban expressways are continually congested and, except during winter, construction never ends. Rental rates go up and down like the stock market, so it's worth phoning around or surfing the Web to see what's available.

• walking

  The city centre is pedestrian friendly, with leafy residential neighbourhoods as well as retail strips. In winter, denizens forego often icy sidewalks in favour of the downtown PATH (www.city.toronto.on.ca/path), an underground walkway system. Nearly 30km (19mi) of mazelike tunnels ensure Torontonians never need see the grim light of a winter's day. If you become lost (as you almost certainly will), look up for cardinal directions posted on overhead signs and wall maps.

• tram

  Streetcars are slower than the subway, but they stop more often (usually every block or two). Streetcars display their route number and final destination on both the front and rear cars. On weekdays they usually operate from 05:00 until 01:30 , with reduced service on weekends. Routes are numbered in the 500s and streetcars roll on St Clair Ave and College, Dundas, Queen and King Sts (all of which run east-west). Bathurst St and Spadina Ave streetcars mainly run north-south, then turn at the lakefront west toward the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) grounds (511 Bathurst) or east toward Union Station (510 Spadina). The 509 Harbourfront streetcar travels from Union Station along Lake Shore Blvd west to the CNE grounds.

• taxi

  Taxis can be flagged on the street or you can find taxi ranks outside of hotels, museums, shopping malls and entertainment venues. Reliable companies include Crown Taxi (tel: 416 292 1212; www.crowntaxi.com), Diamond Taxicab (tel: 416 366 6868; www.diamondtaxi.ca) and Royal Taxi (tel: 416 777 9222; www.royaltaxi.ca), which has a fleet of wheelchair-accessible taxis.

• ferry

  During summer, Toronto Islands ferries (tel: 416 392 8193; www.toronto.ca/parks/island) run every 15 to 30 minutes from 08:00 to 23:30 . Queues can be long on weekends and holidays, so show up early. Ferry services are greatly reduced the rest of the year, running every 30 to 45 minutes daily. During winter, ferries service only Ward's Island. The ferry dock is at the foot of Bay St, off Queens Quay, just west of the Westin Harbour Castle.

• bicycle

  Toronto has 50km (31mi) of on-street bicycle lanes and over 40km (25mi) of marked routes for bicycles. In-line skaters can use sidewalks, but it is illegal for cyclists to do so. The free Toronto Cycling Map is distributed by the Toronto Cycling Committee (tel: 416 392 7592; www.city.toronto.on.ca/cycling/index.htm) located at City Hall, tourist offices and bicycle shops. Bicycles are permitted on TTC buses, streetcars and subways, except during weekday morning ( 06:30 to 09:30 ) and afternoon ( 15:30 to 18:30 ) rush hours or at other times when vehicles become heavily crowded. Bicycles are allowed on some, but not all, ferries to the Toronto Islands; restrictions usually apply during peak periods.

• underground rail

  Subway lines operate from approximately 06:00 ( 09:00 on Sunday) until 01:30 daily, with trains every five minutes. Stations have clearly marked Designated Waiting Areas (DWAs) monitored by security cameras and equipped with a bench, pay phone and an intercom link to the station manager; they are located where the subway guard's car stops along the platform.

• cycle taxi

  Deluxe bicycle rickshaws pedalled by fit young women and men can be hired around downtown during summer. Fares for longer trips should be negotiated with the driver before boarding. Tip generously.

• Disabled Travellers

  Toronto is a pretty friendly city for disabled travellers. Guide dogs may legally be brought into restaurants, hotels and other businesses, most curbs are dropped and most public buildings are wheelchair accessible. Many public service phone numbers and some pay phones are adapted for the hearing-impaired and larger private and chain hotels have suites for disabled guests.

  Only some subway stations and city buses are wheelchair-equipped - look for specially marked stops displaying the blue wheelchair icon. The TTC also runs separate Community Routes that are fully accessible. WheelTrans (tel: 416 393 4111, reservations tel: 416 393 4222, TTY 416 393 4555) offers door-to-door services at the cost of a regular bus ticket or subway token. VIA Rail and long-distance bus companies can accommodate wheelchairs and car-rental agencies can supply adapted vehicles if given sufficient advance notice. Locally, contact Kino Mobility Inc (tel: 416 635 5873, 888 495 4455; www.kinomobility.com). Parking permits for disabled spots must be applied for in advance through the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (tel: 416 235 2999).

  Other helpful resources include: Access Toronto (tel: 416 338 0338, TTY 416 338 0889; www.city.toronto.on.ca/services/accesstoronto.htm); Beyond Ability International (tel: 416 410 3748; www.beyond-ability.com); and Community Information Toronto (tel: 211, TTY 416 392 3778; www.211toronto.ca) which runs a 24-hour help line.

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