The PATH is a network of mostly underground pedestrian walkways beneath downtown Toronto. According to the City of Toronto, it spans more than 30 kilometres (about 19 miles) and holds 1,200 restaurants, shops, and services across 3.7 million square feet (about 344,000 square metres) of retail space. It began in 1900 as a tunnel link between Eaton’s buildings.
Size and what the City says
The City’s PATH page lists more than 75 buildings connected to the network, including six subway stations, three major department stores, nine hotels, and Union Station. It gives about $1.7 billion in annual sales and an estimated 4,600 jobs for the businesses inside, and says the PATH serves more than 200,000 business-day commuters. The page does not mention a Guinness World Records title, so no such claim is made here. Other published figures for the length are lower, such as 27 or 28 kilometres, so the number depends on what is counted and when.
How the system grew
There is no single builder. The City page notes that each segment is owned and controlled by the owner of the property it crosses, and that about 35 corporations are involved. The City’s own timeline is short.
| Year | Event, as listed by the City of Toronto |
|---|---|
| 1900 | The T. Eaton Co. connects its stores by tunnels |
| 1917 | Five tunnels exist in the downtown core |
| 1927 | A tunnel links Union Station to the Royal York Hotel |
| 1970s | Major growth begins with a tunnel joining the Richmond-Adelaide and Sheraton Centres |
| 1987 | City Council becomes the coordinating agency and agrees to pay for system-wide signage design |
| 2016 to 2017 | A new wayfinding system is developed; it was installed in spring 2018 |
The Eaton’s connection is the starting point. The company and its store at Yonge and Queen streets are covered in the article on Eaton’s in Toronto. That article does not discuss the tunnels, so the 1900 date rests on the City page alone.
Finding the way
Routes run from the waterfront near Union Station to the Downtown Yonge area, and from the Entertainment District to Yonge Street through the Financial District. Because the PATH is a patchwork of private corridors, layouts change with building renovations. The City offers a downloadable PATH map on its page, and the 2018 wayfinding signs were designed to make the system easier to read. The subway stations and the Eaton Centre are fixed points on most routes.
Hours and accessibility
The City page gives no opening hours. Since each section belongs to the building it passes through, access times follow those buildings and can differ along one route. The page also carries no statement about elevators or ramps. It says that some map content has no text alternative and names the Financial District BIA (416-849-3856) as the contact for alternate formats and map help. Anyone who needs step-free routes should ask that office or the individual building before planning a trip.
A note for newcomers
Newcomers to Toronto often find that learning local practicalities, such as which walkway stays warm in January, is as useful as any course. For those arranging finances in a new country, бухгалтерские курсы online для иммигрантов поможет выстроить базу и избежать частых ошибок.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the PATH?
The City of Toronto says it spans more than 30 kilometres. Other published figures run lower, so the number varies by source.
Is the PATH in the Guinness book?
The City’s PATH page does not mention it. Guinness World Records is the place to check the current title holder in this category.
Who runs the PATH?
No single operator does. Each section is owned by the property owner, and the City has acted as coordinator since 1987.
When did the first tunnel open?
The City dates the first Eaton’s tunnels to 1900.
Last verified: October 2026
Sources
- City of Toronto, PATH: Toronto’s downtown pedestrian walkway
- Wikipedia, Path (Toronto), used only as a pointer to the City’s archived page)
Related reading
- Eaton’s department store, 1900 to 1969
- The Eaton Centre and shopping districts
- Rogers Centre, the PATH and the Music Garden
- History of public transit in Toronto
- Visiting Toronto: landmarks and districts
Cite this page
APA: History of Toronto. (2026, October 27). The PATH: Toronto’s Underground Walkway Network, Explained. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/toronto-canadas-astonishing-underground-shopping-mall-a-shoppers-paradise
MLA: “The PATH: Toronto’s Underground Walkway Network, Explained.” History of Toronto, 27 Oct. 2026, https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/toronto-canadas-astonishing-underground-shopping-mall-a-shoppers-paradise. Accessed .
Chicago: History of Toronto. “The PATH: Toronto’s Underground Walkway Network, Explained.” Last modified October 27, 2026. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/toronto-canadas-astonishing-underground-shopping-mall-a-shoppers-paradise.
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