Pearson Airport (YYZ) · Canada
Photo: Héctor Berganza on Pexels.
Quick answer
Entry
Canada eTA required for most visa-exempt nationalities (except US) — apply at canada.ca/eTA ($7 CAD, instant approval). US citizens need passport only.
Into town
UP Express (to Union Station): 25 min, CAD $12.35.
Time outside
Stay airside — 3h is too tight
Times from YYZ arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
The sights in Toronto worth leaving the airport for.
1Victorian industrial complex turned arts district. Free to wander. Best Christmas market in North America (Dec).
Photo: Geo Swan stitched by Marku1988 This image was created with Hugin., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
2Ripley's Aquarium (CAD $40) beneath the CN Tower is excellent for families. The CN Tower glass floor is CAD $55.
Photo: EuroCarGT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
3Toronto's most bohemian neighbourhood — vintage shops, global street food, and the best empanadas in Canada.
Photo: Arild Vågen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
You are hereStay airside — 3h is too tight
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Insider tip
Pearson is one of the busiest airports in North America. NEXUS/Global Entry lanes move very fast for pre-cleared travellers. UP Express departs every 15 minutes.
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| UP Express (to Union Station) | CAD $12.35 | 25 min |
| Taxi / Uber | CAD $55–75 | 30–50 min |
Poutine (fries, cheese curds, gravy) at PDC (Poutineville) in the Distillery District — Toronto's definitive comfort food, CAD $15.
0–30 min
Stay airside and find your departure area
With 3 hours, leaving Pearson Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Toronto and security on the way back take most of the time.
30–120 min
Eat, rest or use a lounge airside
Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.
120–180 min
Go to your gate
Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Canada eTA required for most visa-exempt nationalities (except US) — apply at canada.ca/eTA ($7 CAD, instant approval). US citizens need passport only. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Stay airside — 3h is too tight. Getting into Toronto by UP Express (to Union Station) takes 25 min each way.
UP Express (to Union Station): 25 min, CAD $12.35. Taxi / Uber: 30–50 min, CAD $55–75.
Luggage storage near Pearson Airport and in Toronto is listed in our Toronto luggage storage guide.
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Car hire at Toronto Pearson Airport: desks, ratings and pricesCompare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Read our full destination guide — hotels, attractions, visa tips, and more.
Toronto Destination Guide →Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from YYZ.
Flights to Toronto from 87 cities: fares and airlines →
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
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Canada eTA required for most visa-exempt nationalities (except US) — apply at canada.ca/eTA ($7 CAD, instant approval). US citizens need passport only.
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Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.
Daylight in Toronto runs from about 8.8 hours in Dec to 15.2 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.
