Pearson Airport to Downtown Toronto: Train, Bus, Taxi

The fastest public route from Toronto Pearson International Airport to downtown is the UP Express train to Union Station, which runs every 15 minutes and takes roughly 25 minutes. The Toronto Transit Commission offers a cheaper but slower route: the 900 Airport Express bus to Kipling Station, then the subway. Taxis, ride-hailing and driving are the other options. Billy Bishop is a different airport on Toronto Island. Fares and schedules below were checked in October 2026, so confirm them with the operator before you travel.

Pearson and its two terminals

Toronto Pearson is in Mississauga, west of the city centre. It has Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and the main transit options connect to both. The airport has carried the name YYZ for a long time, and the history of that code is covered in why Toronto’s airport is called YYZ.

Plan around luggage and arrival time. A late flight changes your choices, because some routes stop running or run less often at night. Check the date and hour of your own arrival against each operator’s schedule rather than assuming daytime service.

UP Express train to Union Station

UP Express is a dedicated train between the airport and downtown. Its stops, in order from downtown, are Union Station, Bloor Station, Mount Dennis Station, Weston Station and Pearson Station. The operator says trains run every 15 minutes and that the trains are fully accessible. Its published times from downtown are about 9 minutes to Bloor Station, 13 to Mount Dennis and 16 to Weston. The full trip between Pearson and Union is generally given as about 25 minutes, a little more with stops, but confirm the current timetable and the first and last trains before you rely on them.

Union Station is the end of the line, and it is a major hub for subway, streetcar and regional trains. For the building’s history and layout, see the guide to Toronto Union Station.

Fare, as published in October 2026

UP Express lists a PRESTO fare table. For a one-way trip between Union and Pearson it showed $9.25 for adults (13 to 64), $5.80 for seniors (65 and over) and $7.41 for youths (13 to 19) and post-secondary students, while children 12 and under travelled free. UP Express says only adult PRESTO fares are available when you tap a debit or credit card, so concession fares need a PRESTO card set up for that fare type. Fares for other fare types and for shorter trips differ, and fares change, so check the UP Express fare page before you buy.

Toronto Transit Commission buses and subway

The Toronto Transit Commission serves both terminals with several bus routes. It is the lowest-cost route and the slowest to plan, because it usually involves a transfer.

900 Airport Express. This bus connects Kipling Station on Line 2 with Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. The Toronto Transit Commission gives 20 to 25 minutes for the bus ride, and hours of about 5:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Saturday and about 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. on Sunday.
52A Lawrence West. This all-day route runs from Lawrence West Station on Line 1. The Toronto Transit Commission lists about 50 minutes off-peak and 75 minutes at peak. The 952 Lawrence West is a weekday peak-period express with similar peak times.
Overnight routes. The 300A Bloor-Danforth, 334A Eglinton and 352 Lawrence West serve the airport overnight, with long ride times of about 60 to 75 minutes.

To reach downtown from Kipling, take Line 2 east and transfer to Line 1 as needed. For the background to these lines, see the history of the Toronto subway.

In October 2026 the Toronto Transit Commission listed an adult fare of $3.30 with PRESTO or a tapped debit or credit card, with a two-hour transfer, and $3.35 in cash. Children 12 and under rode free. The Toronto Transit Commission states that service on the 52A and 952 to the airport is inside the Toronto fare zone, so a single fare applies, and that Mississauga Transit fares are not accepted at the airport stops. Confirm all fares and route times with the Toronto Transit Commission before you travel.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Licensed taxis and ride-hailing vehicles both pick up from designated outdoor areas at the terminals rather than at the arrivals door, and the exact bays and doors have been revised before. Follow the airport signs and the instructions in your ride-hailing app rather than relying on a guide that may be out of date.

This article gives no taxi or ride-hailing prices, because they depend on the time of day, traffic and, for apps, demand. Ask for an estimate in the app before you confirm, and in a taxi ask the driver about the fare structure before you leave. Both are door-to-door and handle luggage easily. Both are also affected by traffic on the highways into the city, particularly at the weekday morning and evening peaks.

Driving and parking

The airport sits beside several major highways, including Highway 427, Highway 409 and Highway 401. A common route into the city is Highway 427 south to the Gardiner Expressway, which runs along the lakeshore towards downtown. Use a navigation app for live traffic, because rush-hour delays can be long.

A rental car in the downtown core is expensive to park and rarely needed, so many visitors take the train and rent only if they plan trips outside the city. Airport parking rates are not given here. Check them with the airport before you drive.

Billy Bishop is a separate airport

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is on Toronto Island, about three kilometres from downtown. It is not served by UP Express or by the Toronto Transit Commission airport routes. The airport says you can reach it from the mainland by a pedestrian tunnel, by an electric ferry that crosses in about 90 seconds, or by a free shuttle bus from Union Station that runs about every 15 minutes. If your ticket says Billy Bishop, do not follow the directions in this guide.

The question of how a city has more than one airport is answered in how many airports Toronto has. For the island’s story, see the history of the Toronto Islands.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way from Pearson to downtown Toronto?

The UP Express train to Union Station is usually the fastest public option, at roughly 25 minutes with trains every 15 minutes. A taxi or ride-hailing car can be faster at quiet times but depends on traffic.

What is the cheapest way?

The Toronto Transit Commission bus and subway route, which in October 2026 cost one adult fare of $3.30 with PRESTO or a tapped card. It takes longer and usually needs a transfer.

Do children pay on UP Express and the Toronto Transit Commission?

In October 2026 both operators listed children 12 and under as free. Check each operator’s rules, including any requirement to travel with an adult.

Does UP Express stop anywhere besides Pearson and Union?

Yes. It also stops at Weston, Mount Dennis and Bloor stations, which connect to other transit.

Can I use UP Express to reach Billy Bishop airport?

No. UP Express serves Pearson. For Billy Bishop, take the free shuttle from Union Station or walk or ride to the island ferry or tunnel.

Sources

UP Express, Ride with UP: stops, travel times and frequency (accessed October 2026)
UP Express, PRESTO fares table (accessed October 2026)
Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto Pearson International Airport service page (accessed October 2026)
Toronto Transit Commission, Fares and passes (accessed October 2026)
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, To and from the airport (accessed October 2026)

Last verified: November 2026

Cite this page

APA: History of Toronto. (2026, November 1). Getting from Toronto Pearson Airport to Downtown Toronto. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/pearson-airport-to-downtown-toronto

MLA: “Getting from Toronto Pearson Airport to Downtown Toronto.” History of Toronto, 1 Nov 2026, https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/pearson-airport-to-downtown-toronto. Accessed .

Chicago: History of Toronto. “Getting from Toronto Pearson Airport to Downtown Toronto.” Last modified November 1, 2026. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/pearson-airport-to-downtown-toronto.

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