How to Spend Your Layover at Toronto Airport

A layover is the free stretch between two flights, the hours you while away at an airport before catching your onward connection. Have a layover at Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) coming up? There is no cause for stress. Thanks to the excellent facilities and services on offer, even a brief stopover can turn out pleasant and productive.

Long waits are another matter, and they can drag if you spend the lot inside the terminal. Happily, downtown Toronto lies only a 30 to 40 minute drive off, while the UP Express Train reaches Union Station in a mere 25 minutes. Put simply, a lengthier layover is the ideal chance to get out and explore the multicultural capital of Ontario.

Things to Do at Toronto Airport

Should your stopover be short and leaving the airport off the table, you can still make good use of the time by working through what YYZ has to offer. A free Terminal LINK Train joins the two terminals around the clock, so moving between them is simple.

Shop Till You Drop

Plenty of retail awaits across both terminals at Pearson. Between international labels, homegrown Canadian shops, and sprawling duty-free zones, there is no shortage of scope for gift-hunting, a personal treat, or a spot of idle browsing.

Dining & Drinking Options

A wide sweep of cafés, bars, fast-food counters, casual restaurants, and smarter sit-down venues fills the terminals. Whether you crave a quick bite, a proper meal, a coffee, or a cocktail, the airport's food scene has every taste covered.

Surf the Net

Free Wi-Fi blankets the whole of Toronto Pearson Airport. Catch up on work, scroll through social media, stream a film, or check in with friends and family. Free iPads also sit near the departure gates and the lounge areas.

Spa & Wellness

Spoil yourself mid-layover with a visit to one of the airport's spa outlets. The menu runs to massages, beauty treatments, and mani-pedi sessions, a fine way to unwind before the next flight.

Explore Art & Culture

Pearson works as a cultural space too, with artworks and installations placed throughout both terminals.

Over in Terminal 1, the highlights take in:

  • "As One" in the International Baggage Hall
  • "Flight Song", a Level 3 paper plane installation
  • "Tilted Spheres" in International Departures
  • "Wall Drawing #1100" in International Arrivals
  • "Skyward" in Domestic Departures
  • "Inukshuks" from the Transport Canada Collection
  • "Jetstream", a landside installation

Terminal 3, for its part, shows off the "Ice Fishing Huts" piece in the Connector Tunnel along with three large sculptures up on the Departures level.

Religious & Spiritual Spaces

Each terminal keeps a chapel landside on Level 1. These rooms offer quiet reflection, spiritual reading material, and the occasional support session or service.

Live Music

Now and then Pearson stages live performances under its YYZ Live Music Program. Glance at the airport displays or the online schedules to see whether a set is on during your layover.

Traveling with Pets

Pet relief areas are scattered across the airport, among them:

  • T1 Level 2 near public exits
  • Near Gate F83 (T1)
  • T1 Arrivals Transfer Level (international gates)
  • T1 Level 3 near Aisle 15
  • T1 Ground Public Area near Post S
  • T1 Canada Customs Hall (Primary Inspection)
  • T3 Gate B26
  • T3 Gate A9
  • T3 International Arrivals above Gate C36
  • Pier A (Lobby Level 1)
  • T3 Ground Public Area outside Door A

Traveling with Children

Families are looked after well at YYZ. Mamava nursing pods stand near Gates D22, E80/E81, and F59 in T1, and near Gates C30/C31, B22, and A12/A13 in T3. Nursing rooms can be found too.

There is a children's playground in Terminal 1 near Gate D24, while colouring books and interactive games turn up at the information kiosks.

Exercise During Your Layover

GoodLife Fitness sits landside in Terminal 1 on the Arrivals Level (Level 1). This fully kitted-out gym throws in luggage storage, towels, and even sportswear to buy for anyone keen to stay active between flights.

Relax & Sleep

Several areas of Toronto Pearson Airport offer seating without armrests, letting passengers stretch out and rest in comfort. Premium lounges are on hand as well, some open to members only, others reachable for a fee.

The Sheraton Gateway Hotel connects directly to Terminal 3 but lies landside, which means clearing security again. Day-use rooms may come free depending on how full it is. For a shower, head to the lounges, the spa facilities, the Sheraton, or GoodLife Fitness.

Accessible Services at YYZ

Accessibility ranks high among the priorities at Toronto Pearson Airport. On offer are accessible restrooms, check-in kiosks, wheelchairs, specialist apps, in-terminal shuttle services, and even therapy dogs to assist passengers with particular needs.

Tip: Lighting up is allowed only in the 10 designated outdoor smoking areas dotted across the various terminal levels.

Things to Do in Toronto During a Long Layover

Got several hours to spare? Heading into the city comes highly recommended. Downtown is 25 minutes away on the UP Express or 40 minutes by cab. Do allow enough buffer: be back at least 3 hours before an international flight and 2 hours before a domestic departure.

Family Tip: A family (2 adults plus up to 3 children under 19) can ride round-trip on the UP Express for roughly 25.70 CAD.

Visit the CN Tower

The city's most famous landmark serves up breathtaking views from its observation deck. The bold can attempt the EdgeWalk, a hands-free stroll around the outside of the tower.

Tip: Ripley's Aquarium of Canada sits a mere 2-minute walk from the CN Tower.

Hockey Hall of Fame

A must for hockey fans, the Hockey Hall of Fame holds the world's largest hockey collection alongside interactive exhibits in downtown Toronto.

Shopping Districts

Wander Toronto's shopping neighbourhoods:

  • Kensington Market: bohemian, vintage vibes
  • Yorkville: luxury boutiques and designer brands
  • Queen Street West: trendy shops, street art, cafés

St Lawrence Market

Counted among the world's top food markets, St Lawrence Market is a Toronto institution, perfect for sampling local flavours and gourmet finds.

Casa Loma

Resembling a European castle, this Gothic-style mansion is one of the city's more unusual draws. Wander its rooms, the underground tunnel, the stables, and the vintage car collection.

Toronto Museums

  • Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): over 6 million exhibits spanning art, history, and natural science
  • Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO): more than 98,000 artworks inside an iconic building
  • Bata Shoe Museum: over 13,000 shoes covering 4,500 years of history

Boat & Helicopter Tours

Boat cruises around Toronto Harbour and the islands lay on relaxing views of the city. For something genuinely unforgettable, a helicopter tour delivers aerial sweeps of the skyline and, weather permitting, Niagara Falls.

Tip 1: Nathan Phillips Square and the famous Toronto sign sit a 10 to 15 minute walk from Union Station.
Tip 2: Be sure to sample the local cuisine; from poutine to sushi pizza, the city's food scene mirrors its multicultural character.