Toronto Guidebook

Complete details for when visiting Toronto: Complete details for when visiting Toronto: https://www.destinationtoronto.com/health-safety/

Public transit Explore Toronto on one of North America’s finest transportation systems—the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). With easy-to-navigate subways, buses and streetcars, getting around the city is a snap. GO Transit is Ontario’s inter-regional bus and train service. It links Toronto with outlying areas of the Greater Toronto and beyond. GO Trains and buses depart from Toronto’s Union Station at regular intervals throughout the day. If you are planning to use public transit, be sure to purchase a PRESTO card, an easy-to-use reloadable payment card that lets you pay your fare on the TTC,

Toronto’s streets follow a basic grid pattern and are easy to navigate Speed limit signs are posted on each street The city’s weekday “rush hour” is more than an hour long—count on heavy traffic from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and again from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Plenty of Toronto’s major streets have bicycle lanes nearest the curb. Please respect cyclists in the city—they’re environmentally friendly!

Parking on most downtown streets is limited to specific times of day, and often requires you to purchase and display a ticket from one of the parking machines located along the street. Be sure to check and obey the signs posted along the street to make sure your vehicle doesn’t get ticketed or, worse, towed away. There are also a variety of public parking lots throughout the city. City-owned lots are indicated by the ‘Green P’ logo—a large ‘P’ in a green circle. Plan in advance using Green P’s parking locator to find the nearest lot.

There are a number of different taxi companies in Toronto, including Co-Op Cabs. Ride sharing services Uber and Lyft are available in the city too. Taxi fares are standard, metered and non-negotiable The driver should start the meter at the beginning of your ride and stop it when you reach your destination If your service was acceptable, a 10 to 15% tip is customary

Take charge of your travel needs by consulting The Canadian Travel Agencies guide for those with special requirements. For accessibility standards in Ontario, please visit Citizens With Disabilities Ontario. Accessibility is a prime objective of business establishments, sporting events, entertainment venues and public transportation in the Toronto region. For details about the accessibility of specific attractions (e.g. Art Gallery of Ontario), please check each organization’s website for information.

Experience the city on two wheels. Enjoy the freedom of cycling from one neighbourhood to the next and the convenience of exploring city attractions by bike. Visit the Cycle Toronto page for more info or find great rides on the top cycling routes in Toronto.

There are two official Canadian languages—English and French. In addition to these, the top five languages spoken in Toronto are Chinese, Italian, Tamil, Portuguese and Spanish

Toronto’s currency is the Canadian dollar For denominations under five dollars we use coins—some we’ve even given cute names: the loonie ($1), and toonie ($2) Since 2013 our bills have been made of polymer and have a number of interesting design elements U.S. dollars are accepted in many Toronto establishments, although you’ll receive change in Canadian funds and exchange rates will differ from me

If you’re happy with the service you receive, a 15 to 20% tip on the pre-tax bill is a standard expression of appreciation when dining out in the city. Note that some restaurants automatically add this gratuity when serving large groups, so be sure to check your bill. Tips are also expected for services such as haircuts, shoe shines and taxi rides. 15 to 20% is standard in these situations as well.

The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is a 13% tax that is applied to most purchases of taxable supplies of goods and services in the Province of Ontario. The HST consists of a 5% federal portion and an 8% retail sales tax portion.