Pearson Airport to Downtown Toronto - UP Express, TTC, Taxi Costs

Toronto Pearson is about 27 kilometres northwest of downtown, and unusually for this network of guides, the road is not the best answer: the UP Express train beats every car in most traffic. Here is how the options compare, and how to reach each hotel in this guide.

UP Express: the default

The UP Express runs from its own station at Terminal 1 to Union Station in the heart of downtown in 25 minutes, every 15 minutes, from about 4:55 am to 1:00 am daily. An adult one-way fare is $12.35, dropping to $9.25 with a PRESTO card; children under 12 ride free, and youth, students and seniors get discounts with PRESTO. From Terminal 3, take the free LINK train to Terminal 1 first. From Union Station you can walk to the CN Tower and the waterfront or connect to the subway. In winter or Friday traffic, the train’s fixed 25 minutes is the whole argument.

TTC: cheapest, slower

Toronto’s public transit reaches the airport too. The 900 Airport Express bus links both terminals with Kipling subway station, where Line 2 continues across the city, all on a regular TTC fare of under $4. Other routes, including the 52 and the night-running 300, serve the airport for the same fare. Plan roughly 60 to 90 minutes downtown depending on connections; with luggage, the UP Express is usually worth the difference.

Taxis, limos and ride-hailing

Metered taxis and flat-rate airport limos wait at both terminals around the clock; budget roughly CAD 60 to 75 downtown, 25 to 45 minutes depending on the 427 and Gardiner Expressway. Uber and Lyft operate from marked pickup zones and often undercut the meter off-peak. For three or four people with luggage, a flat-rate limo can rival two UP Express fares.

Hotel shuttles and the LINK train

The two best-connected hotels need no vehicle at all: the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport is inside Terminal 3, and the ALT Hotel Toronto Pearson is one stop away on the free 24/7 LINK train from Viscount Station. Of the shuttle hotels, the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, DoubleTree by Hilton Toronto Airport and Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Toronto Airport run free 24-hour shuttles; the Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel runs 24/7 every 30 minutes with published pickup posts (Terminal 1: Post S5, Ground Transportation level; Terminal 3: Post 37, Arrivals level); the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel runs every 30 minutes from about 3:30 am to 2:00 am; and The Westin Toronto Airport operates a 24-hour shuttle on reservation, with its listings differing on whether a small charge applies. None of the hotel shuttles serve downtown.

Onward and between flights

If your stay is really a layover, weigh the round trip against rest: door to door, downtown and back consumes at least two hours plus fares. Our day rooms guide covers the alternatives, from the ALT’s day-use rooms to the Sheraton Gateway’s lounge passes.

If you are driving instead, see park, sleep and fly. For the cheapest rooms near the airport, see budget hotels at Pearson, and for travelling with children, family and pet-friendly hotels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way from Pearson Airport to downtown Toronto?

The UP Express train from Terminal 1 to Union Station: 25 minutes, every 15 minutes from about 4:55 am to 1:00 am. An adult one-way fare is $12.35, or $9.25 with a PRESTO card; children under 12 ride free.

Is there a cheaper public transit option than the UP Express?

Yes. TTC bus routes from the terminals, including the 900 Airport Express to Kipling subway station, connect to the subway network on a regular TTC fare of under $4, taking roughly 60 to 90 minutes downtown depending on connections.

How much is a taxi from Pearson to downtown Toronto?

Budget roughly CAD 60 to 75 by metered taxi or flat-rate airport limo for the 27-kilometre trip, taking 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic on the 427 and Gardiner. Ride-hailing apps serve marked pickup zones and often price slightly lower off-peak.

Information last verified: July 30, 2026