Layover in Toronto
 

I will have a 6 hour layover in Toronto in late April on the way back to Dulles from Paris. I will be arriving on a Monday around 1:00 pm and leaving at 7:00 pm. Inasmuch as I have not visited Toronto for a long, long time, I wonder if this layover will give me enough time to go downtown, walk around leisurely and have a nice meal before heading back to the airport? If this is feasible, I have a few questions:

(1) Is there some place secure at the airport where I can leave my hand luggage (larger than a tote bag but smaller than overnighter)? It would just be cumbersome to walk around with this bag.

(2) What is a relatively fast but not unreasonably priced mode of transportation from the airport to downtown? Shuttle? Rapid transit? Bus? Taxi?

(3) Where downtown would you recommend that I spend 2-3 hours?

(4) I'm a foodie and would love to get suggestions of places where I can have a great meal without spending a lot of time? I plan to do some research but would greatly appreciate any recommendations from those for whom eating well is an essential part of living.

(5) Is there anything I should watch out for that will/might eat up a lot of my layover time?

Many thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

please continue to follow this thread in our Canada forum. :)

best regards,

chrissxb
co-moderator
communitybuzz!

Let's work backwards form 7pm:
90 minutes for US departure with CBP pre-clearance; you are now at 5:30pm.
Limo/taxi from downtown during afternoon rush hour, 45 minute; you are now at 4:45.

Working forward from 1pm:
Deplane and Canadian immigration/customs, 15-30 minutes; 1:30pm
Head downtown, Airport Limo 30 minutes; 2:00pm

For a real foodie meal you are caught between lunch and dinner service.

Where in downtown: what are you interest in sights, museum and food? If you are not looking at a tasting menu you can do a quick lunch bite upon arrival into downtown and another quick pre-dinner bite before leaving.

Like most other question of this type, your flight information would help as to which terminal you land at and depart from.

Since I never transited at YYZ I cannot recommend any left bags service. You can google GTAA or Pearson Airport for airport amenities/maps.

Layover in Toronto
 

thanks for guiding me to the right forum.

Thank you so much for your detailed response. It was very helpful in allowing me to understand that I would have around 2 hours to spend downtown. I will be arriving on AC and leaving on UA. I took your suggestion and googled baggage storage at Pearson and there appears to be storage facilities at the Travel Store located on the Departures Level of Terminals 1 and 3. Based on information I currently have, my arrival and departure should be in Terminal 1.

When I eat isn't as important as what I eat so the real issue, as you have pointed out, is whether there are any places with great food that will serve me in the middle of the afternoon. Having said that, I am open to any suggestions for casual places with interesting, creative food -- tapas, small plates, fantastic sandwiches, etc. In fact, a quick, delicious bite would allow me time to stroll a few blocks downtown just to take in the local ambience.

The alternative of sitting in the AC business class lounge for 6 hours is just not very appealing. BTW, what is the business class lounge like at Pearson? Anyone?

Maple leaf lounge is what *A flights are using. It is better than most United clubs with the exception of the F lounges.

Yes you will be arriving and departing from T1. Make sure you do not take the transit to US turn off but head to CBSA Canadian arrival immigration and customs.

If you want unique, small plates there is a Indian Tapas place on Augusta Ave in Kensington Market; Waterfalls. http://www.waterfallsrestaurant.ca/home.html
There is also specialty dim sum, Lai Wah Heen in the Metropolitan Hotel within walking distance to/from Kensington Market. http://www.laiwahheen.com/

Between the two you can stroll around Kensington Market and old Chinatown. Any taxi will be able to get you back to the airport.

These are my two suggestions. There are many others out there.