7 Hour Layover in Toronto

[Simaahoy]

Wondering if a layover at YYZ for 7 hours is like? Should I go out into the city and check things out? :confused: I am connecting from a domestic flight to a international flight. Only reason why I am considering to option in order to have a 3 and a 1/2 hour layover in Amsterdam.

Flights arrives on 9:30am and departs at 5pm

Thanks

[DiceMan]

Hmm, that's not a huge amount of time, if you can believe it. These are the timelines I would use. Yes, the transit times to and from the airport are exaggerated but you should probably budget for that time in case of traffic jams. You can also return to the airport later, but you really never know how busy it going to be - maybe arrive 2 hours before instead of 2.5. So basically, you comfortably have 2.5 - 3 hours time to look around and have lunch.

9:30 arrival. Half an hour to deplane and get out to the buses/taxis.
10:00 take a taxi or airport express downtown. Budget an hour.

11:00 - 1:30 Free time for lunch and walk around.

1:30 Take taxi or bus back to airport
2:30 Arrive at airport 2.5 hours early for international flight.

[4seasonscentre]

Unfortunately the Toronto Airport isn't close to anything interesting except the Toronto Airport.

You really should be back 3 hours before departure. That might be overkill because you don't have to clear customs but I am always paranoid of missing my flight.

The only thing you can really do is explore the airport and have lunch. My friend and I made a trip to the airport once and spent a good part of the day checking out planes and the architecture. There's a tram that connects the two terminals with a parking lot.

[shannn]

I wouldn't risk it.

One car accident on the 401 and you are missing your flight.

Also, if you are either leaving or coming back to the airport at rush hour, that's a lot of time wasted.

[Mark77]

Wondering if a layover at YYZ for 7 hours is like? Should I go out into the city and check things out? :confused: I am connecting from a domestic flight to a international flight. Only reason why I am considering to option in order to have a 3 and a 1/2 hour layover in Amsterdam.

For sure. TTC to downtown is only $2.50. Its very reliable.

Or get yourself a lounge pass (ie: Maple Leaf Lounge if you're on AC) and get drunk (but not drunk enough that they'll deny you boarding).

[IceBlueShoes]

I'd do it.
Take a trip to the CN Tower (if you've never been).
But this is assuming you've done online check in. 3hrs is only for US flights. I've always been checked in, and done security in about an hr, except for US flights.

[rob444]

I'd do it.
Take a trip to the CN Tower (if you've never been).
But this is assuming you've done online check in. 3hrs is only for US flights. I've always been checked in, and done security in about an hr, except for US flights.

As this looks like just a long layover with connecting flight, the OP should already be checked-in with ticket in hand and the luggage already transfered to the new flight. So once you get back to the airport it should just be a matter of going right to the security check and then the gate. No waiting in line for a ticket/luggage. Getting there 2 hrs before is more than fine, even 1 hr if you dont mind cutting it a bit close! But if you have to re-check-in and everything again, obviously give yourself lots more time.

If you take a taxi downtown it's around a $40-$50 cost i think. Not sure about getting back to the airport, if regular taxis will take you there? I've always used special airport taxis. As others mentioned bad rush hour traffic starts around 3:30-4 if this is on a weekday, and can take a while getting to the airport.

Anyways as this poster mentioned, CN Tower is probably the most famous attraction in TO and can see fairly quickly. And from there you can walk to places like Hockey Hall of Fame if you're into that, or Harbourfront area which is nice if the weathers nice. Its not like New York though where there are famous landmarks and hotspots everywhere!

[frugal1]

If you've never been to Toronto, I don't see why you won't do it. It requires a fair bit of planning though and it won't be leisurely. In order to save time, there are a few things you have to ensure. You have to make sure that your bags are checked through and you have your boarding pass for your international flight before you leave Pearson and go into the city. I'm not sure if you can do this when you check in at your home airport. If not, you have to do it at Pearson when you land. With your bags checked and boarding pass in hand, all you need to worry about is getting through security and to the gate on your return to Peason. I think an hour and a half for this process should be enough, but others may disagree.

How much time you need to get to back Pearson from downtown Toronto really depends on where you are when you start heading back. It could take you 20 minutes to half an hour to just get to the onramp of the Gardiner Expressway. Once you are on the Gardiner Expressway, then it should take about 30 mins to get to the airport.

I would suggest that you think about what you want to do and see in Toronto in 2-3 hours. Also, do you want to skip lunch to see a few more things. My recommendation is that you just try to do a walking tour on your own by planning out a route before hand and eating at a hot dog stand -- it's very Toronto and they are practically everywhere downtown.

If you want a route, let me know.

[FairCall]

There is a bus that connects the airport so the subway system.

However, there isn't much to really see in Toronto. I would suggest you get drunk in the Airport instead. Perhaps see if you can use the Airport Hotel's gym/sauna?

[Simaahoy]

I am not going to risk it and just chill @ the airport, wifi is totally free right?

[jjj112]

I am not going to risk it and just chill @ the airport, wifi is totally free right?

Yep free

[Raggie]

You can grab a taxi to Sherway Garden (10 mins) or Yorkdale Mall (15 mins non rush hour). But I wouldn't chance going downtown.

[fruchick]

TTC is actually the most reliable way to get downtown. 192 Rocket bus from Pearson to Kipling is about 15 minutes, and subway from Kipling down to Union another 45 mins.

Assuming all the baggage is taken care of, and customs cleared, and all that other stuff... it's certainly do-able. Quick trip up to the CN Tower, a few hours at the Hockey Hall of Fame, and you've seen Toronto!

[iridium001]

You can drop by in Mississauga, there's Square One, restaurants. See their landmark Absolute Towers that look all twisty and feminine, next to the mall. It's a lot closer to the airport than downtown Toronto.