Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson
Toronto Pearson has two passenger terminals, and which one you use affects the choice of hotel. The free LINK train connects them 24 hours a day, so every hotel in this guide can be reached from either terminal.
Who flies from where
Terminal 1 is the larger building and Air Canada’s global hub, with Star Alliance partners including United, Lufthansa, ANA and EVA Air, and Emirates. Domestic, transborder and international flights all operate from its piers.
Terminal 3 handles most other carriers: WestJet, Porter, American Airlines, Delta, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM and Air France among them.
Airlines do change terminals, so check your booking confirmation. If you are connecting between the two, allow for the train ride plus the walk at both ends.
The LINK train
The LINK train is free, automated and runs 24 hours a day, connecting Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and Viscount Station. The ride takes two to eight minutes depending on where you board, with departures roughly every four minutes at peak times and every eight minutes off-peak. Because it runs all night, it is available for a 4:00 am departure.
Choosing a hotel by terminal
Flying from Terminal 3: the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport is inside the terminal, so you walk to check-in. It is the only hotel inside a terminal at Pearson.
Flying from Terminal 1: no hotel stands inside Terminal 1, so the choice is between the LINK train and a shuttle. The ALT Hotel Toronto Pearson beside Viscount Station is a train ride from either terminal, with no shuttle timetable, so it works equally for Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 departures.
Either terminal, by shuttle: the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites stands directly opposite the airport, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Toronto Airport, Hampton Inn & Suites and Sandman Signature Toronto Airport Hotel all run free 24-hour shuttles that serve both terminals. The Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel and The Westin Toronto Airport also cover both.
A practical rule
If your flight leaves Terminal 3 before 6:00 am, stay in Terminal 3. If it leaves Terminal 1, or you are not sure which terminal you will end up in, the ALT Hotel on the LINK train serves both. For the shuttle hotels, shuttle frequency matters more than distance: a scheduled shuttle every 30 minutes from two kilometres away is more reliable than an on-request shuttle from a kilometre closer.
Related guides
See sleeping in Toronto Pearson for the overnight terminal picture, Pearson day rooms for layovers, and showers and lounges at YYZ for freshening up between flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines use Terminal 1 at Toronto Pearson?
Terminal 1 is Air Canada's global hub and handles Star Alliance partners such as United, Lufthansa, ANA and EVA Air, plus Emirates, across domestic, transborder and international gates.
Which airlines use Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson?
Terminal 3 handles WestJet, Porter, American Airlines, Delta, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, KLM and Air France, among others. Always check your booking, since airlines do move between terminals.
How do you travel between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3?
The LINK train is free and runs 24 hours a day, taking two to eight minutes between stations. It departs about every four minutes at peak times and every eight minutes off-peak, and also stops at Viscount Station.
Information last verified: September 16, 2026