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How much time do you have?
Our recommendations take into account your actual arrival and departure times, airport processing, and transit friction.
From YTZ
🏢
Under 3h
Stay airside
🚕
3–6 hours
Quick city stop
🗽
6–10 hours
Full exploration
🌃
10+ hours
Multi-neighborhood
IMMIGRATION20m
TRANSIT15m
EXPLORE3h 25m
RETURN15m
BUFFER15m
Recommended Itinerary
Your layover plan
Arrive & Immigration
~20 min · YTZ
Follow signs to passport control immediately on landing
Have onward boarding pass and hotel/address ready for questions
Queues are often manageable; still allow buffer during peaks.
Transit into the city
15 min
Very close to downtown; ferry/tunnel + short transit makes city access fast.
Explore Toronto
~3h 25m of free time
At YYZ, remain airside—use lounges or food courts and move toward your gate early since processing slows during peak periods.
We recommend you stay airside: Pearson is large and processing times vary, making short exits risky.
A short downtown visit via UP Express is possible if immigration is smooth.
Treat this like a proper city break. Downtown or waterfront neighborhoods work well for food, walks, and attractions. Public transit is reliable, distances are manageable, and the city rewards unhurried exploration, especially if you keep plans centered and flexible.
Return to YTZ
15 min back to airport
Leave enough buffer - trains run to a schedule and can be delayed
Buy your return ticket in advance if possible
Set an alarm 30 min before your departure gate closes
Back through security
~15 min buffer before gate
Re-entry security at YTZ typically takes 10-20 min
Check your gate - it may have changed while you were out
Liquids bought in the city cannot pass security - finish or bin them
Where to Eat
Best eats for a layover
Short on time? Stay airside.
🍴
Toronto Food Walking Tour
Taste the best of the city with a local guide. Perfect for a layover.
Under 4 hours? Most city sights won't be feasible. Check the Itinerary tab for airside-only recommendations.
Practical Info
What you need to know
Currency
Canadian dollar (CA$). Cards accepted everywhere and contactless is standard. Skip airport exchange bureaus, ATMs give better rates.
Language
English. French is Canada's other official language but is rarely needed in Toronto.
Visa
Canada requires an eTA (electronic Travel Authorization) for most visa-exempt visitors, CA$7, valid 5 years. US citizens enter with passport only. Verify before travel, visa rules change.
Transit
UP Express: YYZ to Union Station in 25 min, every 15 min, CA$12.35. From YTZ (Billy Bishop), a free 6-min pedestrian tunnel connects to the mainland and a 509/510 streetcar reaches downtown in 10 min.
Weather
Humid continental. Hot humid summers (25-30°C), cold snowy winters that often hit -10°C. May through October is the comfortable window for layovers.
Tipping
Expected. 15-20% at sit-down restaurants, CA$1-2 per drink at bars, round up in taxis.
Emergency
911 (universal, police, fire, ambulance).
Time Zone
EST (UTC-5). Clocks move to EDT (UTC-4) from mid-March through early November.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Data from arrival, no roaming fees. Instant activation via Airalo.
