You might have already looked at English courses in Toronto, but do you know all the essential information you’ll need before your adventure begins? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered! Read on.

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Getting to Toronto

Toronto is served by 2 major airports:

• Toronto Pearson International Airport: Pearson is one of the busiest airports in North America. It’s large and sprawling, clean, and has a great reputation for ease of use with excellent facilities. It is Canada’s biggest airport by far and handles mostly international flights, although it also runs a number of domestic routes, such as to Vancouver on the Pacific Coast and Montreal in Quebec.
• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport: This airport is mainly a base for domestic flights, but also runs a few short international routes to places like Boston and Chicago.

Getting around Toronto

Public Transit
Toronto is easy to navigate and boasts affordable inner city travel. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the answer to all your travel needs within the city; it operates on a single fare system across all modes of transport, including the subway, buses, and the iconic streetcars. ‘Go Transit’ also provides suburban transport in Toronto, and connects the city to the nearby areas.

Cycling
Toronto has a bike share system, which means that you can easily cycle your way around the city. Here you can find out how to use the bike share system in Toronto.

Taxi
You can also use a taxi to get around Toronto. Fares are standard, metered, and non-negotiable. The taxis in Toronto come in a variety of colours, but you can recognise them by the yellow lit up sign on the top of the vehicle. 

Ferries
If you are travelling to the Islands, you’ll need to catch a ferry. Here you can find the schedule as well as fares for the ferry trips.

Fun & useful info about Toronto

• Alcohol in Toronto can only be purchased from a government-authorised shop.
• Some restaurants expect a 20% tip, so be prepared to add that on top of your meal bill.
• The best time to walk in Toronto (and not use public transportation) is between 5 pm and 6:30 pm. This is the rush hour and it gets very cramped on all forms of transport, so try to walk to your destination if you can.
• Some museums offer late-night admissions, meaning that ticket prices are either 50% cheaper or completely free, so keep on the lookout for these special admission offers.
• If you are a lady using a bus at night, between the times of 9pm and 5am, most drivers will be open to ‘request stops’ to ensure you get home safely, just ask.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Fire: 911

Police: 911

Ambulance: 911

Information Assistance: 311

Useful Apps

• Hailo Taxi: Calculate your fare, trip duration, find cabs in your area, read driver reviews etc., pay with the app via your credit card
• Now Magazine: Weekly entertainment magazine for music, clubs, concerts, galleries, special events, exhibitions and much more.
• BlogTo: A great app to get “best of Toronto” tips
• MyBus Transit App: Real-time bus arrival information for any TTC stop in Toronto
• OpenTable: Find restaurants, deals, book tables (useful around the world, not only in Toronto)

Useful Links

• Plan your travel with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
• Plan your travel with Go Transit
• Toronto printable subway map.
• Bus routes in Toronto.
• Official guide for Toronto.
• Toronto interactive maps.
• Discount deals in Toronto.
• Events in Toronto.
• Tourist information centres in Toronto.
• Toronto news.

Final Tips

Don’t leave Toronto without doing this:

• Enjoy a panoramic view of the city from CN Tower. Whether you dare to adventure on the EdgeWalk or prefer to relax, enjoy exquisite food and admire the view from the 360 Restaurant (on top of the Tower itself)
• Have lunch on a rooftop patio (especially on a sunny day)
• Have brunch! ++Enough: “don’t leave Toronto without having brunch a few times, the locals won’t appreciate it”
• Try some Dim Sum in Chinatown (the locals love it so it must be good!)
• Go to the beach
• Trying something you’ve never eaten before at St. Lawrence’s Market
• Go for a walk in High Park
• Go to the islands and take pictures of the skyline
• Have a cold pint of craft beer in the Distillery District

Thinking of learning English in Toronto? For more helpful tips and tricks to living in this friendly city like a local, download our FREE  student guide today!

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