Is ~ 6 hours enough time in Toronto
 

I have a 6 layover in Toronto next week and would like to take the train to downtown Toronto instead of hanging out in the airport.

I'm arriving from the US on AC at about 7:45 AM next Thursday and departing on AC to Asia at about 13:45. US citizen with no criminal background / DUIs. Baggage will be checked through and I'll have a small backpack for carryon.

I know just hanging out in the airport and maybe the lounge is the safest and most boring option, but with the 12 hour flight ahead of me I'd like to walk around downtown instead of putz around the terminal.

Is this realistic? The website says the train runs between Pearson and Union Station every 20 minutes. I'd plan to be back at the airport no later than 12 noon. So, give or take 3 hours downtown.

Is the CBSA line at 8 AM on a Thursday usually quick enough to make this worthwhile?

The Union Pearson Express (UPX) is pretty good and you can get a special return ticket thats good for about 7h I think.

As a US citizen customs should be fairly easy but depends when other flights get in. It's summer so could be busy but it's unlikely to take more than 20 mins unless you get unlucky.

Union for those nof familiar is a maze so leave yourself an hour or so to get back, it's doable, but I'd venture you'll only have a hour downtown to get back at t-3. I'd personally venture back at about t-3, because that will leaves 1.5h to get an Uber or cab if something goes wrong and then 1.5h if security is a nightmare.

Yep -- the normal return fare (without Presto card, which wouldn't make sense in this case anyway) is CA$24, but there's a "Long Layover Return" ticket good for 7 hours that is a round-trip ticket for half-price/the same as a one-way fare (CA$12).

Thanks for the replies so far. I had kind of planned to at least be heading back by around 11 AM. Is security ever so bad that it takes 1.5 hours though? I assume there is a speedier lane for business class passengers? I should already have my boarding pass so it would be straight to security screening once I got back to the airport.

Nope, never had it take longer than 30 mins to be honest, but I'd prefer not to rely on that esp vitally as you want to be at the gate at t-30... Ah well business, so you'll be looking at likely 10 max via the priority line. I'd still, personally, want to be at the airport an hour before the flight though.

That sounds better. I've only flown out of YYZ once before, but it was directly through the US preclearance side and it was pretty quick then. I also want to be past security at least an hour before the flight departs.

Now going downtown sounds a little better, unless it is raining or my flight gets in late.

With the new train to Union station downtown, a 6-hour layover visit will work as the train is not subjected to usual downtown to airport vehicle traffic.

But getting from street level to the trains can be a challenge unless you are good with mazes. Plan a bit extra time on the return.

Intl departure area security is quite efficient if you are in the premium cabin except for the one time that I got behind a luxury premium tour group where not everyone knew what they were doing at CATSA check.

When you arrive at Union station, there is indeed a maze to get through if you are looking for step free exits, but without a suitcase, the easiest thing to do is to exit from the very first bit of 'tunnel' you walk into off the UP express, by stairs that go down to street level (there are a few sets). Then walk north ~ 50m or so, and you will find yourself at Front street. It is a lot easier doing this than trying to navigate through all the construction that is going on right now. If you take note where you come out, and where it meets Front street, you will also save yourself a lot of time coming back again as well.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...alkToronto.jpg

Looking at this picture, where the white hoarding is is now where the UP express comes to (this was taken during construction of the new platform I suspect).

The exit doors towards the centre of the picture, and the red stairs you see beyond the glass are down to street level, and then you go around the brown brick building to get to Front street (there's another set of doors further along that I used recently, but I can't find a good picture!)

Of course, this said, if you are checking out the CN tower, you can stay in the tunnel, and turn left as you exit the UP and follow it through and up the escalators etc to the CN tower!

You should have enough time if you time it carefully.

Don't go by a single instance of security taking less than 1.5 hours. For international flights, you want to give yourself 2 hours ... you never know when the lines will be incredibly long. Also, planes will leave without you. This has happened to me on a local flight before, and I don't want to imagine if it were international.

That still leaves you with roughly 3 hours to actually see some of the sights in Toronto. I would hang a left from Union Station and head straight for the CN Tower. You may or may not be able to get to the top, depending on how much you want to spend in terms of time and money.

You could then also grab a bite and maybe walk up to Yonge and Dundas.

Hope you enjoy the brief sightseeing!

Bear in mind Op is travelling in J and therefore has priority security. If the line is even 30 mins there tend to be people there asking for anyone with flights in x mins to push them through too - which generally only happens on long weekends.

If it takes someone with priority (or even without) 2h to clear security that plane is going to be rather empty.

All that to say, I'd still plan to be back at YYZ at minimum 90 mins. By which I mean check Uber's predictions for a taxi and if it's looking at getting you there much under 2h start getting to public transport in case something goes wrong and you have to change plans.

When you arrive at Union, head east along Front St to the St Lawrence Market (~10 minute walk). Have yourself a Peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery, a Toronto tradition. Then burn off the calories buy walking up Yonge St then west on College to Queen's Park (Provincial Capital) and University of Toronto, back down University Ave, east on Queen to Nathan Phillips Sq (City Hall) and Old City Hall, south on Bay to Union Station. That walk should take 1.5 hours not stopping, so you can extend it out and will give you some of the sights.

6 hrs is a bit tough. At most, you'll have ~30 minutes to spend in downtown after security clearance and commuting, and then doing it again after coming back to Airport. You are likely better off relaxing at a lounge before the long flight to Asia.

Even giving yourself 3h to get back to airport and clear, 30 mins downtown would mean you spend about 2h getting to the UPX, which it typically a 25 min trip downtown.

It has never taken me or anyone I've travelled with or met 2h to clear CBSA. The worst I've ever seen is 1.5h after a friend had a long wait at secondary ... I suspect, given Ops situation and being in J he'll be they to the UPX about 45 mins after touching down.

Unless the flight is late or you get stuck at YYZ for a red alert or something (in which case you don't want to go downtown as the weather will suck) you should get a good 2 hours downtown.

But pleae do report back ... I'll be downtown tomorrow myself and am hoping for good weather at lunchtime ;)

Unless it is pouring rain or I get in more than an hour late, I intend to get out to downtown. I have a hard time picturing myself sitting in a lounge for 5 hours and then sitting on a plane for another 12 1/2 hours. If Pearson were a little more transit visitor friendly and there was a lot to do in the terminal, it might be worth hanging out at the airport, but it doesn't look like there is even an observation deck at YYZ.

I'm going to see if the starts align, and maybe try CN tower, or just walk around the Skywalk and check out some of the stores. I think it will be a little too early for Steam Whistle.

Bear in mind the CNE is on too, though you wouldn't have huge time there.

CN tower to me isn't amazing. Overpriced and the views are hindered and not even 360 unless you go up further or into the restaurant (which is $100 and poor I hear). I've done it twice, day and night for what it's worth. Not saying don't do it, but set your expectations accordingly... the Empire State Building is far better.

Word of warning, likely obvious but you are potentially going to hit Union around the 8:45-9:15am mark. It WILL be busy especially if you hit a Go train or three each dumping 2000 people into the disaster that is continual construction. And most will be going in the opposite direction to you.