How the TTC Works: Toronto TTC Fares for Beginners

Toronto’s transit system looks intimidating on the map. In practice, you need about five minutes of knowledge, starting with what a Toronto TTC fare costs and how the two-hour transfer works. Here’s all of it.

Quick answer

Question	Answer
Adult fare	$3.30 (PRESTO, contactless card or phone)
Cash fare	$3.35
Transfer	Two hours of unlimited rides per fare
Kids	12 and under ride free
Day pass	$13.50 on PRESTO
Subway hours	About 6 AM to 2 AM (8 AM start on Sundays)
Need a PRESTO card?	No, just tap your card or phone

The system in 30 seconds

The TTC runs subways, streetcars and buses across the city. For visitors, two subway lines do most of the work:

Line 1 (Yonge-University): the U-shaped line through downtown, including Union, St. George and Bloor-Yonge
Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth): east-west across midtown

Streetcars handle crosstown trips along King, Queen and College. Buses fill in everywhere else.

The network has grown lately, too. Line 6 Finch West opened in December 2025 and Line 5 Eglinton opened in February 2026. Both are light rail lines in the north and midtown, so you’ll rarely need them for downtown sightseeing.

Toronto TTC fare: how to pay in 2026

You do not need a PRESTO card as a visitor. Just tap your contactless credit or debit card or your phone on the reader. It’s the same $3.30 adult fare as PRESTO and includes the two-hour transfer.

Method	Adult fare
PRESTO, or contactless card or phone	$3.30
Cash	$3.35
PRESTO day pass	$13.50

Kids 12 and under ride free. Cash is the least convenient option, and bus operators don’t make change.

The two-hour transfer is the whole game

One $3.30 tap buys you two hours of rides. Subway, streetcar, bus: hop on and off. Tap the same card or device each time. That means most sightseeing days cost $6.60 total (one fare out, one back), not a fare per ride.

Your first ride, step by step

Pick one card or device and stick with it all day. Switching between your phone and your physical card breaks the transfer.
At a subway station, tap at the fare gate and walk through.
On a streetcar, tap at a reader inside, near any door.
On a bus, tap at the reader as you board.
Tap every time you board, even inside your two-hour window. If you’re within the window, you won’t be charged again.
Keep your card or phone handy. Fare inspectors check that you’ve paid, and they’ll ask you to tap the same card or device on their reader.

The day pass

The $13.50 PRESTO day pass only pays off if you’d otherwise pay more than four separate fares in a day. Think morning outing, a break at the hotel, then an evening out. Do the math for your day before you buy.

Monthly fare capping (for longer stays)

Since September 1, 2026, the TTC caps fares monthly. After 47 paid trips in a calendar month on the same card or device, the rest of the month is free. No signup needed. At $3.30 a ride, that’s $155.10. Relevant if you’re in town for weeks, not days.

Hours, nights and holidays

Subway: about 6 AM to 2 AM Monday to Saturday, and about 8 AM to 2 AM on Sundays. Exact times vary by station.
Overnight: the Blue Night Network runs on major routes from about 1
to 5
AM, every 30 minutes or better. Night routes use 300-series numbers, and their stops have a reflective blue band.
Holidays: routes usually run on a Sunday schedule. On Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, 2026, service starts earlier, at about 6 AM.

Accessibility

The TTC is in the middle of adding elevators, accessible fare gates and automatic doors across the subway through its Easier Access program. Many stations are already accessible, but not all of them yet.

Before you go: check the TTC’s elevator and escalator status page, since an out-of-service elevator can change your route.
Buses and streetcars: board through the accessible doors and use the priority seating area.
Airport trips: the UP Express boards at platform level if you’re heading to Pearson.

How to reach the big sights by TTC

CN Tower, Ripley’s and the island ferry: Union station (Line 1). The ferry terminal is about a 10-minute walk south.
Art Gallery of Ontario: St. Patrick station (Line 1), then a short walk west on Dundas.
Kensington Market and Chinatown: the 510 Spadina streetcar to Dundas or College. Our Kensington Market walking guide has a route.
Distillery District: the 504 King streetcar to the Distillery Loop.
High Park: High Park station (Line 2).
Pearson Airport: the 900 Airport Express bus from Kipling station (Line 2), on a regular fare.

Common mistakes to avoid

Switching payment methods mid-trip. Your phone and the physical card behind it count as different devices. Pick one.
Buying a day pass by default. For most sightseeing days, two or three fares with transfers cost less.
Not tapping on a streetcar. Fare inspectors check, and “I was still in my transfer window” only counts if you tapped.
Ignoring weekend closures. Shuttle buses replace closed subway sections, which adds time.

Five rules for riding like a local

Stand right on escalators. This is sacred.
Let people off before you board. Also sacred.
Take the streetcar for the views. King and Queen are the best rides for seeing the city at street level.
Union Station is the hub. The subway, GO trains, the UP Express to the airport and the walk to the island ferry all connect here. Flying in? Read how to get from Pearson to downtown.
Check for closures on weekends. Subway maintenance often closes sections on Saturdays and Sundays. The TTC posts them in advance, so check before you plan around a line.

Want to see the streetcar routes from street level? Ride along on our Toronto walks on YouTube.

Quick answers

How much is a TTC fare in 2026?

An adult fare is $3.30 with PRESTO, a contactless credit or debit card, or a phone. Cash is $3.35. Kids 12 and under ride free.

Can you use a credit card on the TTC?

Yes. Tap a contactless credit or debit card, or your phone, on any reader. You pay the same $3.30 adult fare as PRESTO and get the two-hour transfer automatically.

How does the TTC two-hour transfer work?

When you tap with PRESTO, a card or your phone, you get two hours to ride the subway, streetcars and buses without paying again. Tap the same card or device each time.

Is the TTC day pass worth it?

The PRESTO day pass is $13.50, so it only pays off if you'd otherwise pay more than four separate fares in one day. For most sightseeing days, two or three fares with transfers cost less.

What is TTC fare capping?

Since September 1, 2026, rides are free for the rest of the calendar month after 47 paid trips on the same card or device. It works with PRESTO, credit and debit cards, and mobile wallets.

What are the TTC subway hours?

The subway runs from about 6 AM to 2 AM Monday to Saturday, and from about 8 AM to 2 AM on Sundays. Exact times vary by station, and Blue Night buses cover major routes overnight.

Sources

Prices, hours and schedules change. Check the official site before you go. Spot something out of date? Email info@truecitytourism.com. Some links may be affiliate links. Disclosure.