Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) Guide: Toronto, Canada

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada’s largest airport and the country’s biggest global air gateway. YYZ is the airport for Air Canada hub connections, long-haul international flights, US preclearance, and the broadest route map in Canada, but Toronto traffic makes the train especially valuable.

This guide is written for travelers who want the useful details first: the real airport name, where it sits, how much to budget for transport, what to expect in the terminal, where to search for flights, and which services to arrange before landing. Prices and routes are updated for June 2026 and should be treated as practical planning ranges rather than fixed promises.

Quick airport facts

• Best for: Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, long-haul Canada connections, Air Canada hub flights, US preclearance, and global itineraries.
• Main route logic: every major Canadian city, US hubs, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, and seasonal leisure routes.
• Airport style: huge two-terminal airport with UP Express rail, TTC/GO/MiWay buses, taxis, rideshare, car rental, hotels, lounges, duty-free, shops, restaurants, and US preclearance.
• Planning rule: use UP Express for downtown unless your hotel is far from Union/Bloor/Weston/Mount Dennis.

Address and location

Use Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) for flight searches and Pearson Airport, Toronto International Airport, Malton Airport, YYZ Airport as backup search wording in maps, hotel messages, and taxi conversations. The practical address is:

6301 Silver Dart Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; coordinates 43.675935, -79.629421.

About 25-30 km northwest of downtown Toronto; UP Express takes 28 minutes to Union Station and taxis usually take 35-70+ minutes depending on traffic. For a serious itinerary, save the airport coordinates offline, download the city area in Google Maps or Organic Maps, and keep your hotel address in both English and the local language where possible.

How to get from the airport to the city

UP Express is the cleanest answer for downtown Toronto. For Mississauga, Brampton, North York, Markham, or suburbs, buses, rideshare, or rental car may make more sense.

Transport tips

• 🧾 Confirm the fare before loading luggage, especially when there is no visible meter or posted rate.
• 📍 Save the exact hotel pin offline; airport drivers may know districts better than street names.
• 💵 Carry small local cash for the first transfer, baggage carts, snacks, or phone calls.
• 🌐 Install an eSIM before departure so you can message your driver immediately after landing.

Public transport and metro

YYZ is not on the TTC subway, but UP Express links to Union Station. For city planning use Toronto Metro Map or Toronto Guide and Subway map.

Where public transport exists, it is usually best for daylight arrivals with light luggage. For late flights, family travel, heavy bags, or first-time visits, a taxi, hotel transfer, or pre-booked private driver is usually worth the extra cost.

Taxi prices and transfer strategy

Taxi prices around airports are rarely as neat as an official table. Time of day, luggage, driver availability, fuel prices, and whether the destination is inside or outside the central city all matter. The ranges above are realistic planning budgets, but the best practice is simple: agree the fare before moving, keep your phone map open, and avoid changing money with random drivers.

For smoother arrival logistics:

• 🚕 Use official taxi ranks or a hotel-arranged driver where available.
• 🧳 Pre-book a transfer if you land late, carry equipment, or travel with children.
• 🚗 Compare rental cars before arrival with DiscoverCars if you need regional freedom.
• 🏨 Use Expedia to check hotels near the airport and in the city before choosing a transfer.

Airport facilities, shops, and restaurants

• Two large passenger terminals with domestic, international, and US-transborder areas, US preclearance, duty-free, luxury and convenience shops, restaurants, lounges, hotels, rail station, buses, taxis, rideshare, car rental, family services, free Wi-Fi, and accessibility support.
• Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are connected by the automated Terminal Link train.
• US preclearance and long-haul check-in require more time than domestic hops.
• Traffic around the airport and Highway 401 can be severe at peak times.

The smart rule at YYZ is to treat the terminal as a transfer point rather than as a shopping destination. Eat before arriving when possible, keep a refillable bottle where security rules allow, and bring a small power bank. If you have a long delay, an airport-area hotel or city hotel is usually more comfortable than waiting in the terminal.

Airlines and where the airport flies

YYZ has Canada’s largest route map. Search Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, St. John’s, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Rome, Madrid, Istanbul, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei, Lima, Bogota, Mexico City, Cancun, Punta Cana, Kingston, and many more.

Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Air Transat, Flair, United, American, Delta, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, EVA Air, Saudia, Caribbean Airlines, Aeromexico, Avianca, LATAM, and many others serve YYZ.

Cheap routes to check first

• Toronto to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, or Halifax: core domestic competition.
• Toronto to New York, Florida, Las Vegas, or Los Angeles: strong North America benchmarks.
• Toronto to London, Lisbon, Paris, Delhi, or Dubai: compare nonstop, baggage, and alliance connections.

Cheap airport strategy is different from simply sorting by lowest fare. Always compare the final cost after checked baggage, seat selection, payment fees, transfer costs, and missed-connection risk. A slightly more expensive flight into the correct airport can be cheaper than a low base fare that forces a long taxi ride or overnight hotel.

Where to buy flights and hotels

Start with broad searches, then verify the exact airport code before paying. This is especially important in cities with more than one airport or with airport transitions.

eSIM, internet, insurance, and car rental

• 🌐 Internet: install Yesim eSIM before the flight. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow, blocked by SMS verification, or unavailable exactly when you need maps.
• 🛡️ Insurance: compare policy wording with SafetyWing. Read exclusions for the destination, adventure activities, medical evacuation, political/security events, and pre-existing conditions.
• 🚗 Cars: compare vehicles on DiscoverCars before arrival. Airport counters can run out of automatic cars or quote higher walk-up rates.
• 🎟️ Tours: use Viator for airport transfers, city tours, day trips, and guided experiences when independent transport is inconvenient.

Practical arrival checklist

Safety and travel notes

Use UP Express for predictable downtown timing, give US/international flights generous buffers, and avoid tight self-transfers between airlines unless bags and terminals are protected.

The most reliable traveler is the boringly prepared traveler: documents printed, data working, transport confirmed, hotel address saved, and enough time between every moving part of the itinerary.

Short airport excursion idea

If you have a long layover or an overnight stop, choose one simple plan rather than trying to see everything. Stay close to the city center or a known hotel district, keep the return transfer booked, and avoid cutting the return to the airport too close. In smaller airports, a missed flight may mean waiting a day or more for the next practical departure.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Toronto Pearson International Airport from Toronto?

About 25-30 km northwest of downtown Toronto; UP Express takes 28 minutes to Union Station and taxis usually take 35-70+ minutes depending on traffic.

How much is a taxi from YYZ airport?

Typical taxi planning ranges are shown in the transport table above. The safest method is to confirm the price before loading luggage and to use a hotel-arranged driver when arriving late or visiting for the first time.

Are there restaurants and shops at Toronto Pearson International Airport?

Yes, but the depth of choice depends on the airport size and operating schedule. Expect practical cafes or snack options at smaller airports and a better range at major hubs. Carry backup snacks and water for delays.

Which airlines should I check first?

Air Canada, WestJet, Porter, Air Transat, Flair, United, American, Delta, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, EVA Air, Saudia, Caribbean Airlines, Aeromexico, Avianca, LATAM, and many others serve YYZ.

Is there a metro to the airport?

YYZ is not on the TTC subway, but UP Express links to Union Station. For city planning use Toronto Metro Map or Toronto Guide and Subway map.

Related airport guides

• International airports by country
• More airport guides in Canada
• Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT)
• Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
• Stephenville Dymond International Airport (YJT)
• Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
• St. John’s International Airport (YYT)
• Whitehorse / Erik Nielsen International Airport (YXY)
• Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport (YXE)
• Windsor International Airport (YQG)

Sources checked

• https://www.torontopearson.com/en/transportation-and-parking/up-express
• https://www.upexpress.com/en/ways-to-pay/up-express-fares
• https://www.torontopearson.com/en/airlines
• https://www.flightsfrom.com/YYZ
• https://www.torontopearson.com/en/contact-us