Toronto Corporate Traveller Guide

Toronto, Canada

Toronto is Ontario’s lakeside capital and Canada’s most populous city. The Toronto skyline is formed of eclectic architecture and globally recognisable for the iconic CN Tower, City Hall, and the Gooderham 'Flat Iron' Building. In terms of business, this Canadian commercial hub forms part of the border between Canada and the United States making it a vital industrial centre with a key role driving the country’s trade. After becoming a ‘megacity’ in 1998, Toronto quickly cemented its position as Canada’s leader in finance, media, and real estate. 

With such global presence in major industrial and commercial sectors, many corporates travel and relocate to Toronto each year. If you have corporate commitments in the city, read on for all the necessary knowledge you need to know before you go.

Toronto Key Information

Weather in Toronto 

Toronto has a continental climate with warm summers and freezing winters. July averages above 20°C while January can get as cold as -9°C. Rainfall is consistent year-round, with thunderstorms more frequent in summer and snow very common in autumn, winter and even into spring.

Currency in Toronto

Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Toronto deals in the Canadian Dollar and the city mostly uses card (Visa and MasterCard). You can get cash out at ATMs for a small fee – don’t accept the ATM conversion to your home currency as it will end up costing more, proceed without conversion.

It is voluntary but customary to tip taxi drivers after an enjoyable ride, barbers and salons for a good trim, and in restaurants for good service. 

Health & Well-being in Toronto

 With Toronto's seasonal weather, you may wish to switch up your exercise routine throughout the year. Many like to run and walk during the warmer months, while cross-country skiing and snowshoe hiking are common in snowy winters.

For indoor workouts, try the unique Sweat and Tonic which has a bar on-site for after your sweat session, or the world-renowned F45 and Barry’s Bootcamp for an intense class.

Data in Toronto

Before getting an international SIM, make sure your phone has the SIM lock turned off – you can do this yourself in phone settings or ask at a tech shop. If you’re only visiting the country short-term and able to make calls on apps such as Whatsapp, we would recommend buying a data-only travel SIM to avoid getting a temporary new phone number. If you’re relocating, however, a normal SIM is favourable. SIMs can be purchased and activated in 7-11 convenience stores or phone shops such as T-Mobile.

Free Wi-Fi can be found on the UP Express, TTC and GO Transit stations, public libraries and shopping centres.

Plug Type: Type A & B

Cuisine in Toronto

Toronto has quite the collection of local ‘delicacies’ that have become emblematic of the city - the peameal bacon sandwich, for example, has become quite the media sensation and you can try the original at Carousel Bakery. Other local favourites include sushi pizza, ketchup flavoured crisps, butter tarts, and poutine (otherwise known as cheesy chips with gravy).

Green Spaces in Toronto

High Park will keep your family occupied all year round with a public pool for swimming in the summer and an ice rink for skating in the winter – it even has tennis courts, baseball diamonds and a zoo. Humber Bay Parks offer great views of Lake Ontario, Trillium Park is ideal for cycle routes, and Riverdale Park has plenty of activities and an impressive sunset view of the skyline.

Language in Toronto

Canada has both English and French as its official language. In Toronto, English is most common and only a small portion of English-speaking Torontonians report to be bi-lingual in French. Due to the city’s large Chinese ethic population, varieties of Chinese are also widely spoken and understood.

Toronto is known for its very own dialect spoken largely amongst young people in the inner city. The formation of this dialect is attributed to the large numbers of Caribbean migrants that came to the city during the 60s and 70s. It has since been made mainstream through music and popular culture, slang terms include bare (a lot/very), dry (boring), marved (starving), bait (suspicious/dangerous). This slang dialect has origins in Jamaican Patois and is an important part of migrant heritage in Toronto’s culture.

Transport in Toronto

If you arrive into Toronto via air, you can travel from Pearson International Airport to Toronto downtown in 25 minutes on the Union-Pearson (UP) Express. It’s even easier to get to downtown if arriving into Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport – simply hop on a short ferry ride or use the pedestrian tunnel if you’re travelling light and don’t mind a stroll.

Despite the extensive public transport network, driving is still fairly common among locals in Toronto so be aware of commuter rush hours between 7-9am and 4-6pm. Popular taxi services include Uber, Lyft and Co-Op Cabs. For visitors, many agree having a car is not necessary and can be more unsafe to drive in snowy winters.

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) services the city with buses, subways and trams (streetcars), and GO Transit is the city’s bus and train network connecting it to outer regions. The PRESTO card is the city’s loadable travel card and the easiest way to pay for your transport on all major transport services. All single fares on TTC services will cost around C$3.25, but it can be cost effective to purchase a daily, weekly, or monthly pass if you plan to use it more than once.

Toronto’s subway runs 6:00am to 1:30am Monday-Saturday, and 8:00am to 1:30am on Sunday. There are 4 lines – Yonge-University, Bloor-Danforth, Scarborough, and Sheppard – and reach as far north as neighbouring city, Vaughn.

Not including the UP Express, there are 7 inner-city train routes by GO Transit that all pass through Union Station, the city’s primary transport hub. If you fancy heading out of Toronto and visiting other Canadian cities, VIA Rail Canada offers routes to Vancouver, Montréal, Québec, Calgary, and even a Mountaineer tour through the Rockies.

Buses and streetcars have the best coverage of the city and, with most streetcars running 24-hours a day, many favour them as the most convenient way to get around the city.

Top tip: download the Citymapper app for live travel alerts, route planning and travel time tracking.

Toronto Map

Now that you’ve brushed up on all the basics for your stay in Toronto, browse our selection of Toronto serviced apartments and get in touch to book today.

SilverDoor offers a wide range of serviced apartments in Toronto. From the top five corporate housing and furnished apartment rentals in Toronto, to the 11 reasons you should relocate to Toronto, you’ll be counting down the days until your next business trip to Toronto with SilverDoor.