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Your hours, planned
Survive & recharge
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Connections at YYZ: the honest numbers
The indicative minimum international-to-international connection at Toronto Pearson is 90 minutes on a single booking with bags checked through. On separate tickets, add roughly 90 minutes: you'll collect bags, recheck them, and re-clear security — and no airline is obliged to help if the first leg runs late.
Transfer specifics
- Canada offers sterile international transit for many itineraries — but US-bound flights clear US preclearance at YYZ, so ESTA/visa rules apply in Toronto.
- T1 (Air Canada/Star) and T3 are linked by the free LINK train — cross-terminal connections want 90+ minutes.
Leaving YYZ during a layover
Canada requires an eTA (CAD$7, online, usually minutes but apply days ahead) even for TRANSIT for visa-exempt passports incl. Australia, NZ, UK and most of the EU — US citizens exempt. US-bound? You clear US preclearance at YYZ itself, meaning ESTA/visa rules apply in Toronto. Exiting is easy once documented: the UP Express train reaches Union Station in 25 minutes. The city is about 25 minutes away one-way; as a rule of thumb you want 6+ hours before exiting is worth the queues, and you should be back through security 90 minutes before boarding.
Worth your hours in Toronto
- 6h+: UP Express to Union (25 min) — CN Tower base, St Lawrence Market, waterfront
- 7h+: add Kensington Market or a Blue Jays game if the calendar cooperates
- Winter: same honesty as Chicago — January layovers stay inside
Staying airside instead
- T1 post-security is solid: proper restaurants over fast food, decent seating design
- Plaza Premium's Canadian home turf — good pay-in lounge coverage
- US preclearance gates are effectively a US terminal — once through, options shrink
Sleeping, showers and lounges at YYZ
Sleep: Plaza Premium day rooms in T1/T3; the Sheraton Gateway is connected to T3.
Showers: Plaza Premium lounges and day rooms.
Lounges: Strong Priority Pass/Plaza Premium coverage in both terminals.
Overnight reality: Open 24h and safe; T1 quiet corners exist, but the connected Sheraton or a day room beats them.
YYZ layover FAQ
Do I need an eTA just to transit Toronto?
Yes for most visa-exempt passports (Australia, NZ, UK, most EU) — Canada requires an eTA even for airside transit. CAD$7 online, usually approved in minutes, but apply days ahead in case of manual review. US citizens are exempt.
What is US preclearance at Pearson?
US-bound flights clear US immigration and customs AT YYZ before boarding — ESTA/visa rules apply in Toronto, and you land stateside as a domestic arrival. Budget the preclearance queue on top of the normal connection.
Can I see Toronto on a layover?
Yes — the UP Express runs from inside T1 to Union Station in 25 minutes. Six hours buys the waterfront and market comfortably.
Is 90 minutes enough to connect at Pearson?
For international→international on one booking it's the working floor; cross-terminal (LINK train) or US-preclearance connections deserve 2 hours+.
Minimum connection times are indicative and vary by airline, terminal pair and season; visa notes are simplified general guidance, not immigration advice. Facts on this page were last verified on 2026-07-02. If anything has changed, tell us and we'll fix it fast.