-By Rail
VIA Rail and AMTRAK bring visitors into the heart of the city each day. Toronto’s Union Station is centrally located downtown and connects to the subway by underground tunnel.
Niagara GO Train is a summer weekend excursion train from Union Station to Niagara Falls with stops in Port Credit, Oakville, Burlington, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls. The ride takes approximately 2 hours from Union station to the Niagara Falls station.
-Borders & Customs
Canada has one of the most advanced customs organizations in the world, and our borders and the processes we have in place to manage them are critical to our ability to provide Canadians and visitors to Canada with the security and opportunity they expect. Visitors entering Canada must clear Canada Customs border security upon entry.
-Entry into Canada
When you enter Canada, a Canadian Border Services Agency officer may ask to see your passport (and a valid visa, if one is necessary). If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada. However, you should carry proof of your citizenship, such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization, as well as photo identification. If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the U.S, you should bring your Permanent Resident Card with you.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) requires U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico departing from or entering the United States by air, land or sea ports-of-entry to have WHTI compliant documents. For more information on travel security, travel documents and border procedures, visit the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative website.
For more information on travel security and border procedures, visit the U.S. Department of State.
International Visitors: For specific information on travel documents required to visit Canada from countries other than the U.S., please refer to CBSA.gc.ca and CIC.gc.ca.
Meeting and Convention Attendees: You may be asked for proof that you are attending a meeting or convention and it may be useful to have a copy of the meeting agenda and/or registration on hand. This may also be useful when returning to the U.S. should a similar question be asked.
There is no requirement within the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or Regulations making it mandatory for persons seeking entry for work or business purposes to provide a letter on company letterhead stating the purpose for their visit, duration of stay and a Canadian contact name, address and phone number. This can certainly facilitate the process, as this includes a lot of the information that a Border Services Officer would need to make an appropriate assessment on the application for work in Canada as to whether or not all requirements are met for entry, including whether or not a work permit is required.
-Bringing children into Canada
Children 15 years of age and under are now required to show proof of citizenship (a certified copy of their birth certificate is acceptable). They are not required to show photo ID. If you are travelling with children, you should carry identification for each child. Divorced parents who share custody of their children should carry copies of the legal custody documents. Adults who are not parents or guardians should have written permission from the parents or guardians to supervise the children. When travelling with a group of vehicles, parents or guardians should travel in the same vehicle as the children when arriving at the border. Customs officers are looking for missing children and may ask questions about the children who are travelling with you.
-Returning to the United States
Every 30 days, returning U.S. citizens are allowed to bring back $800 (retail value) in merchandise duty-free, provided they have been out of the U.S. for 48 hours. This amount can include:
• one carton of cigarettes
• 100 cigars (not Cuban)
• two kilograms of smoking tobacco
• one litre of liquor, provided the buyer is 21 years of age
If the length of the stay is less than 48 hours, $200 in merchandise may be taken back to the U.S. duty-free (including up to five ounces of alcohol and 50 cigarettes). The following items are not permitted into the U.S.:
• Cuban or Iranian products
• fruits and vegetables
• uncooked grains
Goods bought in Canada but manufactured in the U.S. are duty-free and not included in the basic exemption. Original handmade crafts and works of art are also exempt; however, a receipt of purchase may be required. For further information on U.S. customs regulations, please visit CBP.gov.
-Getting Around
Everything you need to get here and blend in with the locals once you arrive. Find transportation options, maps and guides, money matters, sample itineraries and much more.
-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. When using the TTC a single fare will take you anywhere in the city on a one way trip. You can freely transfer between subways, streetcars and buses, but make sure you obtain a transfer when and where you pay your fare. On buses and streetcars, exact change is required.
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.
-Driving around town
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 7:00am to 9:00am and again from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
Plenty of Toronto’s major streets have bicycle lanes nearest the curb. Please respect cyclists in the city – they’re environmentally friendly!
-Parking
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.
-Hail a taxi
There are a number of different taxi companies in Toronto, including Co-Op Cabs and Diamond Taxicab.
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.
Refuse to ride in a taxi without an operational meter.
If your service was acceptable, a 10-15% tip is customary.
-The Underground City
PATH (PDF) is downtown Toronto’s underground walkway linking 27 kms (16 miles) of subterranean shopping, services and entertainment. Follow the brightly coloured PATH signs and you’ll reach your downtown destination easily in weatherproof comfort.
-Explore Toronto by bike
Experience the city on two wheels. Enjoy the great outdoors and freedom of biking from one neighbourhood to the next. Add Kensington market and Cabbagetown, Yorkville, Chinatown, the Distillery District and more to your tour. Enjoy the convenience of cycling to and from city attractions. Visit our Cycle Toronto page for more info.
- See more at: http://www.seetorontonow.com/getting-around/#sthash.zMzV45pM.dpuf
