I’ve been to Toronto a few times for various conferences and gatherings, and I’ve always been there without a car. So I’ve tried a few different ways to get from YYZ airport to Downtown Toronto, and I thought that I would share some of what I’ve found out. There are a few different ways you can try, but I think I’ve found the best way to get from Toronto Pearson airport to Downtown Toronto, and I thought I would display the different options so that you can make the right decision for your particular situation.
How to get from Toronto airport to Downtown Toronto – car, taxi or Uber
The first thing to understand if you are traveling from Toronto airport to Downtown Toronto is that there are TWO airports in Toronto. Downtown Toronto Billy Bishop airport (YTZ) is much closer to Downtown Toronto, and barely needs a guide. This guide on the cheapest and best way to get form Toronto airport to Downtown Toronto is talking about Lester B. Pearson Airport (YYZ). You can get from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) by car, taxi or Uber of course, but depending on traffic, you’re going to be either paying an arm and a leg… or TWO arms and TWO legs :-). How far is it from YYZ airport to Downtown Toronto? It’s only about 15 to 20 miles, depending on where exactly you’re going, but it can take quite awhile if there’s traffic.
It will take you about 25-30 minutes if there’s no traffic, and can be as much as 40 to 60 minutes if traffic is bad. How much will it cost to get from YYZ to Downtown Toronto with Uber? In the times I’ve checked, it’s been anywhere from CAD$30 to $60 (that’s about USD$22 to $45)
If you do want to take a taxi, you can generally get better rates if you book it through a service like Carmel Limo — plus you can save $4 off using this link.
There are a variety of airport shuttles as well which will cost about the same amount to get to Downtown Toronto. You can check out GO Airport Shuttle, and use coupon code GOWEB to save $5 off your ride anywhere between YYZ and points downtown.
The cheapest and best way to get from Toronto YYZ airport to Toronto
My preferred way to get from YYZ to downtown Toronto and what I think is the best way to get from the Toronto Pearson airport to downtown is taking public transport, specifically the Union-Pearson (UP) Express.
The UP Express has a station right in Terminal 1 of YYZ and has a direct route to Toronto’s Union Station.
Step-by-Step Guide To Using The UP Express to get from YYZ to Downtown Toronto
The UP Express runs every 15 minutes from the airport, and it’s quite easy to get to the station. After you clear Canadian immigration and exit the secure area, follow the signs for the UP Express or “Train to City” .You will go up to Level 2
Then, cross over a pedestrian bridge over to the parking garage. Continue following the signs for “Train to City”. Note that you can also take a free train that goes to Terminal 3 or Viscount.
It takes about 5 to 10 minutes to walk through the terminal over to the train station for the Union-Pearson express train from YYZ to Downtown Toronto
How To Pay For The UP Express From YYZ To Toronto
Once you’ve reached the UP Express train station, you’ll need to pay for your UP Express ticket to go from YYZ to Downtown Toronto. Toronto’s public transit system uses the Presto card, but if you are a visitor like I am, the good news is that you don’t need to get an actual physical Presto card. Instead, you can either use Google Pay or Apple Pay or even a contactless credit card. I used my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (read review) – you just tap it on one of these machines that are located right outside the train platform.
You will want to both tap on and tap off when using your Apple Pay, Google Pay or contactless credit card.
How much does it cost to ride the UP Express from YYZ To Downtown Toronto?
The normal ticket price to ride the Union-Pearson Express from Pearson Airport to Toronto is CAD$12.35. But if you use Apple Pay, Google Pay or a contactless credit card to ride the UP Express from YYZ to Downtown Toronto, you’re given the same discount that users of a Presto card have. That makes the one-way fair $9.25. But remember that is $9.25 Canadian – at the time of this writing, that was about USD$6.50.
Riding The UP Express From YYZ To Downtown Toronto
The UP Express runs every 15 minutes in between Pearson Airport and Downtown Toronto. There are 2 stops in between Pearson and Union Station, and of course you can get off at either of those stops if those fit your travel plans. You can also easily connect to various rail networks as well as Line 1 and Line 2 of the Toronto subway.
Onboard, the UP Express does have a few areas to store luggage near each entrance.
There are also a few overhead bins that can accommodate smaller pieces of luggage. Both times I rode the UP Express it was in the afternoon and there was plenty of room to just put your luggage on the seat next to you.
The seats are in a 2-2 configuration and fairly comfortable.
It’s also worth noting that there is free wifi on the UP Express
The Bottom Line
The total trip from YYZ to Downtown Toronto should take you about 25 minutes, and the best part about your trip is that you won’t have to deal with traffic. I would say that it is definitely significantly cheaper to take the train to get from YYZ to Downtown Toronto, and it’s likely faster in most cases as well.
Readers – any other tips on how to get from Toronto Pearson airport to Downtown Toronto?
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I would definitely recommend the UP Express. We’ve done both the hire car and the Express as we’ve been travelling to Toronto for many years. The express also has the advantage of dropping you right in the centre of town but you can also pick up the subway if you need to go further up town for your hotel, as the two stations are linked.
Thanks for adding your thoughts in. I was staying at the Hyatt Regency Toronto which was a pleasant 15 minute walk or so from Union Station, but your point about being able to connect to the subway, train or streetcar network is a great one.
Cheapest option: 900 express bus to Kipling subway station, with free transfer to subway and onward on the TTC system for 2 hours. $3.30 (CAD) if you use Presto or a card.
Just sayin’.
Thanks for sharing that option. I did look at taking a bus but I thought that it would be much slower since you’re dealing with traffic. I took the streetcar a couple of times while I was in Toronto and it was pretty slow. But you’re absolutely right that is the cheapest way to get from YYZ to Downtown Toronto
The 900 bus to Kipling subway is an express service that only has 5-6 stops and runs on the 427 highway for the majority of the journey, so no stops and 60 mph/100 kmh speeds. Took it 3 times in past week when connecting through Toronto.