How to use the subway, bus and streetcar in Toronto

What the TTC is

The TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) runs all of the city’s public transit:

• Subway: Lines 1 (yellow, U-shaped, running through downtown) and 2 (green, east to west) are the main ones. Line 4 serves the north of the city, and Lines 5 and 6 are the newest.
• Streetcars: the red streetcars that run on downtown streets, such as King Street and Queen Street.
• Buses: they reach the neighbourhoods the subway does not, and some run overnight.

To see every station, the transfers between lines and which ones are wheelchair accessible, use our Toronto subway map.

How to pay

You have three practical ways to pay:

1. PRESTO card: the region’s transit card. You load money on it and tap it on the reader when you board. There is also a version on your phone.
2. Credit or debit card: just tap your card (or your phone with a digital wallet) on the reader, no sign-up needed.
3. Cash: still accepted, but it does not include the two-hour transfer.

The fare that lasts two hours

When you pay with PRESTO or a card, the TTC automatically applies a two-hour transfer: within that time, you can take the subway, buses and streetcars as many times as you want without paying again. You can even run a quick errand and come back on the same fare.

Helpful apps

• Google Maps: shows transit routes and schedules.
• Transit: widely used in Toronto, it shows in real time when the next bus or streetcar is coming.

Other ways to get around

On nice days, cycling is a great option. Bike Share Toronto has stations all over the city: on our Bike Share map you can see how many bikes are available at each station, live. And to plan your route, see the cycling map.