Welcome to the 6ix! Toronto is one of JFC’s favorite towns. It’s got everything you could want from a city (killer food and bar scene, solid public transit, great museums), and yet it’s pretty compact and never too overwhelming.

Here’s what you should expect to pay for your flight to Toronto, plus tips on getting around town, when to visit, and how to see that famous waterfall that’s just around the corner.

Visas

Most visitors to Canada will need either a visa or an eTA. The kind of paperwork you need will depend both on your country of origin, and how you intend to enter Canada (land, sea, or air). The Canadian government has an online questionnaire to help figure out what you need based on your nationality and the trip you plan to take.

US visitors are exempt and only require a passport, while most UK and EU visitors will require the eTA.

Cash & Currency

Like any city in Canada, Toronto uses Canadian dollars. The conversion rate means you’ll pay about 54 pence, 64 Euro cents, or 74 American cents per Canadian dollar.

You’ll likely be fine with either card or cash everywhere in the city, though cash might help you barter more easily in Chinatown or Kensington Market.

Getting There

From Europe:

• Expected average price range: €350-€500 RT
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 8-10
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: €217

From the UK:

• Expected average price range: £350s-£500 RT
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 8-10
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: £294

From the USA:

• Expected average price range: US$150-$350 RT depending on departure
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 12-18
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: US$82 RT

From Canada:

• Expected average price range: CA$70s-$200s RT
• How many cheap flight alerts we’d expect in a year: 10-15
• Lowest price we’ve ever seen: CA$109 RT

Pro-tip: Getting from Pearson airport (YYZ) to downtown Toronto is super easy. Just hop the UP Express to Union Station.

Getting Around Town

Unlike much of North America, Toronto actually has a pretty convenient public transit system. Unless you want to visit Niagara Falls without a tour group (more about that below), you will have no issues doing this trip without a car.

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) consists of the subway, streetcars, and buses. The subways are the most efficient, especially during rush hours, so we recommend booking accommodations near a subway station. 

Most major attractions can be found on these two lines: 

• Line 1, which runs perpendicular to Lake Ontario in a U-shape
• Line 2, which runs parallel to the lake and along Bloor street

They intersect twice and if you’re only in the city for a few days, you probably won’t need much other transportation. To fill in any other gaps (like for the Distillery District or Casa Loma), you can take the buses and streetcars, or grab an Uber or a local cab.

Paying for Transit

Supposedly, all TTC vehicles take contactless debit/credit card payments, but I seldom got mine to work. Apple Pay seemed to work pretty consistently.

If you have trouble with these methods, you can get a Presto card. They’re available from machines all over the city and in every subway station. You can load them up with your fares using any credit or debit card.

Visiting Niagara Falls from Toronto

If you only take one day trip from TO, it will probably be to North America’s most famous falls!

There are a few ways to make this trek:

• Simply rent a car and drive. You’ll gain more flexibility, but you’ll also have to plan around the (frequently horrid) traffic in that part of Ontario, and then handle the tricky parking at the falls. Drive time ranges from about 1.5-2.5 hours depending on traffic.
• Take the train with GO Transit or VIA rail. This will be cheaper (as low as $10 CAD if you buy the weekend GO pass), but there are only a few trains each way per day, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. This method takes about 2.5 hours.
• Ride with Flixbus, Megabus, or Red Arrow. Fares start around $8 CAD each way. Most folks recommend taking the train over the buses, but if you avoid rush hour, this method can be both super cheap and super fast.
• Go with a tour group. There are tons of day tour options leaving from Toronto! They average around $90 CAD and generally include boat cruise tickets, plus other activities like wine tastings and historic sites.

When to visit Toronto

You’ve basically got three seasons in Toronto: lovely but expensive, freezing but affordable, and “wildcard mode.” Here’s a rundown…

December–February

Winter in Toronto is only for the brave. Hotels are significantly cheaper, but temps can drop as low as -25 C (-13 F), and the city gets a bit slushy and grey. That said, Torontonians don’t exactly hibernate. You can still enjoy most of the main attractions, along with ice skating and snowshoeing. Travel via PATH if you want to stay out of the cold as much as possible. 

March-May

Spring can be lovely, if a little unpredictable. While March still hangs onto those freezing temps, late April through May is a bit of a sweet spot between the cold winter and the expensive summer. Just bring a jacket in case the weather gets itself into a sudden 5 C (40 F) mood.

June–August

Summer in Toronto is beautiful, and perfect for relaxing on the shores of Lake Ontario, or taking in one of the many festivals. Temps stick to the 20s to low 30s C (70s to mid-80s F) and you’ll get a lot of sunshine. However, it’s also the peak tourist season, so expect things to be more expensive. 

September–November

The first half of autumn is ideal; the second half is a little rough. From September to early October, the warm weather slowly dwindles with the tourists and the fall foliage starts to put on a show. This is one of the best times to visit, especially since it comes with one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. After that, October’s weather takes on a moodiness similar to spring, and by November, things start getting back to the winter dreariness.

Travel Style

Toronto is an ideal city if you want a fast-paced trip, but don’t want to do too much planning. It’s easy to get around and there’s plenty to do and see, but it’s not as daunting as larger cities like New York or London. You can definitely familiarize yourself with the place pretty quickly! 

There’s just a little something for everyone here. The zoo, aquarium, and dozens of kid-friendly museums could keep vacationing families happy for weeks. Diverse culture means diverse restaurants, so foodies will have a feast of options. And speaking of restaurants, you’ll never run out of romantic date night spots around here.

It’s also a great city for LGBT travel — Church-Wellesley might be the most iconic gay neighborhood in the country, with tons of friendly bars and pride shops.

So if you’re looking for an easy trip with big-city amenities but without big-city stress, try Toronto.

Useful links

• Canada’s visa portal
• TTC routes and schedules