Arrival brief · Toronto YYZ
YYZ Arrival Guide: Toronto Pearson to Downtown, Without the Traps
Toronto Pearson has a fast train straight to downtown, so there's nothing to dodge — just skip the 'limo' touts inside the terminal. Take the UP Express, tap your card, and you're at Union Station in 25 minutes.
2026-08-26
What to expect after landing
Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is a large, modern, well-run airport, and arrival is straightforward — regulated taxis, rideshare, and a fast train. The honest option is simply the UP Express train downtown. The only thing to skip is the occasional ‘limo’ tout inside the terminal.
You barely need cash (nearly cashless); if you want some, use a bank ATM and choose Canadian dollars, skipping the airport exchange.
Option 1 — UP Express train (best value)
The UP Express runs from Pearson to Union Station downtown in ~25 minutes for a reasonable flat fare, traffic-free — the easy, best-value choice. Tap a contactless card or buy a ticket.
Option 2 — Rideshare or official taxi
Uber/Lyft run from the designated pickup areas (match car and plate), and the official metered taxi rank is fine — both pricier than the train. Don’t accept an in-terminal ‘limo’/‘taxi’ tout.
What it looks like
At YYZ there’s essentially nothing to defend against — taxis are metered, rideshare is fixed-price, and the UP Express is fast and cheap. The only tell is the in-terminal ‘limo’ tout, easily skipped for the train or an app. Beyond that, just know tax is added at the till and tipping is expected — neither a scam, just how Canada works.
Do this instead
Take the UP Express to Union Station (~25 min, best value), or Uber/Lyft / the official taxi rank — never an in-terminal ‘limo’ tout. Tap a contactless card and pay in Canadian dollars, budgeting for till-added tax and tipping. That’s the whole YYZ arrival — one of the easiest anywhere.
Late-night arrivals
The UP Express runs until late (check the last departure), and Uber/Lyft and official taxis run 24/7, so a late landing is easy. Toronto is safe at night; use the train, an app, or the official taxi rank rather than a ‘limo’ tout, and tap your card downtown.
Quick answers
What's the best way from Toronto Pearson to downtown?
The UP Express train — it runs from Pearson (YYZ, Terminal 1) directly to Union Station downtown in about 25 minutes for a reasonable flat fare, traffic-free, and it's the easy, best-value option. Otherwise Uber and Lyft operate from designated pickup areas, and official metered taxis are at the rank. Avoid unofficial 'limo' or 'taxi' touts who approach you inside the terminal — use the UP Express, an app, or the official taxi rank. Tap a contactless card for the train. If your flight uses Billy Bishop (YTZ) instead, that airport is right downtown via a short tunnel/ferry.
Are there taxi scams at Toronto Pearson?
Not really — official taxis and limos are metered/regulated and fine, and Uber/Lyft are fixed-price. The only thing to avoid is unofficial touts who approach you inside the arrivals hall offering a 'limo' or 'taxi,' which can overcharge; ignore them and use the official taxi rank, an app from the designated area, or the UP Express train. The train is much cheaper than a taxi to downtown anyway. Match your rideshare car and plate to the app, and there's no meaningful overcharge scene beyond avoiding the in-terminal touts.
Do I need cash at Toronto Pearson, and what about tax and tipping?
You barely need cash — Canada is nearly cashless, and cards and contactless work everywhere, including the UP Express and transit. Canada uses the Canadian dollar. If you withdraw, use a bank ATM and choose to be charged in Canadian dollars rather than your home currency to avoid a poor 'dynamic currency conversion' rate, and choose Canadian dollars on card terminals. Two things that surprise visitors (not scams): sales tax is added at the till rather than shown on the price tag, and tipping (~15–20%) is expected at restaurants and prompted on card machines. Skip the airport exchange counters.
What if I land at Toronto Pearson late at night?
The UP Express runs frequently until late (check the last departure), and Uber/Lyft and official taxis operate 24/7, so a late arrival is easy — take the train if it's still running, or an app/official taxi. Toronto is a safe city at night; just use the UP Express, an app, or the official taxi rank rather than an in-terminal 'limo' tout, tap your card, and head downtown. For a very late landing, rideshare or the official taxi is simplest.