Toronto Travel Forum

Hi everyone,

We have a nine (9) hour layover in Toronto. Arrive Toronto at 5:45AM on a Mon., depart Toronto for Chicago at 3PM.

We would like to visit:

*CN Tower, opens at 9AM
*Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF), opens at 10AM
*Eat somewhere unique to Toronto near both places above


-Can we check our luggage in lockers at the airport?
(We only have a total of two suitcases (carry-on size))

-What's the best way to get to Toronto from the airport and back?

-Is the HHOF within walking distance of the CN Tower? or do we taxi?

-Should we buy our CN Tower tickets online in advance?


Thanks so much everyone, we very excited to visit Toronto for the first time! :)

DJ

I'm not the best expert, but I'm gonna say go with a taxi on this one. Airport is on outskirts. HHOF is on Yonge, and CN is by Rogers Centre (Skydome). You could prob walk it..maybe half an hour brisk walk (?) or couple mins by taxi. I don't think there are lockers at the airport, but maybe some luggage check-in..Don't forget to give at least 2hrs for security at Pearson to get back to your flight...

Hi DJ,

I would assume there be lockers or some place to check your luggage in.
You can take the airport bus and you can get dropped off at the Royal York Hotel. This is much cheaper than cabbing it. This is a Front/York ST. Across from Union stn. (train/subway) This is perfect since you plan on going to the CN Tower. I don't think you will need to buy tickets in advance. It's only spring. From the CN Tower or reverse you can walk to the HHOF. About 15 minute walk.
If your hungry by then, I suggest going to the St. Lawrence Market, front/Church St. Don't forget to go downstairs theres more. Remember Toronto is a very multicultural city. Even if you don't grab a bite here it's worth checking out. There are restaurants on Front St.

Theres the waterfront just south of Front Street. About a 20 minute walk.
If it's shopping what your after, walk north on Yonge street to the Eaton Centre (20 min. walk) a three storey shopping mall. Everything under one roof. Weather is good now, just stroll north on Yonge Street, loaded with shops, services until you get to Bloor St. (equilevant to Michigan Ave) Walking West on Bloor St gets more high end. Starting with the famous canadian Holt Renfrew. They you will notice the american stores. Pottery barn, Williams Sonoma, Cole Haan, Sephora. Since your on Bloor St and if you walk west over to Avenue Rd, you will see the newly renovated ROM (royal ontario museum) The Crystal. Designed by Michael Lee Chin and Daniel Liebskind. The ROM has had mixed reviews upon opening, you be the judge.
I hope you enjoy your stopover. This is the best time to come now, finally winter is over and theres no trace of snow to be found.

au revoir

Okay, I totally don't want to rain on your day... because if the travel gods are on your side you can TOTALLY do the CN Tower, visit the Hall of Fame and get back for your flight!

Just make sure you give yourself ample time since you will have to go through customs. I would be at the airport no later than 12:30 to catch a 3 pm international flight.

That being said your two choices are perfect easy to get to from the airport and very close together. Walking distance, don't bother hailing a cab.

I think your two best travel options would be by car, http://www.aeroporttaxi.com/index.htm
Have them take you to the CN Tower since it opens first.

or by shuttle bus it leaves every 30 minutes.
http://www.torontoairportexpress.com/index.html
Get off at the Intercontinental Front St. (CN Tower) or Royal York Hotel (HHOF)

You will save a little bit of money taking the shuttle, but decide once you arrive according to the time. Or think about shuttle in and call the car for the route back.

Do not try to go to St. Lawrence Market, sadly it is not open on Mondays.

Hope you have a great time. Any questions, let me know!

5:45 am
Plane lands

7:00
suitcases are stored and you are outside ready to take a bus or limosine
Limosine to Royal York Hotel one way $ 46
Pacific Western Bus return $ 30 ( bus leaves every 30 min maybe 20 min at this time)
Highways are clogged at this time , Limo is probably the fastest

8:00 am arrive at Royal York

8:15 am - you have walked to CN tower

9:00 am- up you go. Do not buy tickets on line - It may be a rainy day

10:30 am - you are back down
10:45 am - you hav walked to Hall of Fame

Not much time to eat

Maybe ST. Lawerence Market two blocks east of HH of F

To be safe you should be back at Royal York for departure at 1:00 pm
maybe 1:30

I have done this trip at this time and arrived at the gate in 45 minutes.
Add 15 minutes to clear US immigration .

How long would the CN Tower experience be? 1-1/2 hours? We were hoping to just go up and then down, not spending too much time there b/c we'd really like to be at HHOF right when it opens at 10am or shortly after....

No lockers at Pearson, but you may be able to check in early for your afternoon flight and that would alleviate your worries about line ups on your return. Check with your carrier. If the limo downtown (they're only Lincolns, not REAL limos :p ) is $46 and the bus is $30 ea, then the Limo would be cheaper for 2 people.

CN tower on a Monday, shouldn't have much of a line-up (when are you coming?) ... but it does take time for the process of getting up there, so the 1 1/2 hrs. allocated time above would probably be realistic.

Hi, thanks everyone for all your information. :) We'll be in Toronto mid-June. I found this information for storage of luggage at Pearson:

http://www.gtaa.com/en/travellers/connecting/baggage/

Anyone hear anything good/bad about this? I will call the airline about checking in early but there's just no guarantee...? I love to check luggage all the way through but we'll see, I need a backup so we're not lugging two carryons throughout the city!

I never knew that that store had lugggage storage facilities. One learns something new all the time.

Who is your carrier? If it's a connecting flight booked as one trip, you should be able to check your luggage the whole way through, so make sure your carry-on is minimized for the layover. I had an 8 hr. layover in LAX on the way back from Oz once and remember only having my carry-on with me.

That's totally going to be my first choice, checking them all the way through b/c we plan on buying a few things at the HHOF and can't be lugging all this stuff through the airport. We're flying on United and its partner Air Canada.

If we take a bus from the airport that drops us off at Royal York Hotel...how long of a walk is it from the Hockey Hall of Fame to the Royal York? Or should we take a taxi to the bus pick up at Royal York?

About a five minute walk, eastward from teh Royal York.

Great, thanks!!! Do you recommend buying our Toronto Airport Express bus tickets to/from airport to downtown in advance?

There is a 10% discount by booking online, so I would recommend it.
The links to the website etc. are in my Toronto transportation page.\http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d8970/dc8fa/9/

link posting again:

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d8970/dc8fa/9/

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d8970/dc8fa/9/