Towering Toronto
Land in the heart of all the action, when you fly from Chicago to Toronto with Porter.
Minutes from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, you’ll find some of the best things to do in Toronto. Whether you walk to walk along the Toronto waterfront, take the TTC transit to the CN Tower, or a ferry to the Toronto Islands, Porter’s convenient downtown location puts you in the middle of the excitement.
If the Centreville Theme Park on Centre Island doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, head to the heart-pounding Canada’s Wonderland. With some of the world’s tallest roller coasters, this amusement park is a stomach-dropping stop on your trip from Chicago.
If heights aren’t your thing, take a trip to the Toronto Zoo. Amazing animals from all over the world live in this extensive zoo. Peek in at the pandas or chill with the polar bears during your visit. For more aquatic animals, dive into the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
Creatures of all kinds make their home in the High Park Zoo. While the zoo initially only housed deer when it opened in 1893, there are now 11 paddocks with a variety of birds and mammals. The rest of High Park composes one of Toronto’s favourite green spaces, spanning 400 acres. With over 1,500 parks and 600 km of trails throughout Toronto, High Park is just the start.
Get some refreshments after hiking Toronto’s trails, in the historic Distillery District. Restaurants and bars of every flavour make this revived neighbourhood a go-to for gourmands. Foodies will also find the St. Lawrence Market to be a real treat. Everything from fresh fish to aged cheese are for sale in the St. Lawrence.
Just about everything else is on sale in Kensington Market. This dense collection of boutique and independent stores is one of Toronto’s most unique shopping destinations. For big name brands, drop in and shop at the Toronto Eaton Centre.
Just outside the Eaton Centre, Yonge-Dundas square is a hotbed of Toronto activities. Cultural events and concerts make this public square the perfect way to take in the Toronto arts scene before returning to Chicago.
Distillery District
A taste of Toronto’s history
The hip and historic Distillery District will be the toast of your trip from Chicago to Toronto.
In 1832, business partners and brothers-in-law William Gooderham and James Worts began what became a distilling empire. But after years of neglect, their distilleries declined into a collection of derelict Victorian buildings.
In 2003, 47 restored buildings became what is now known as the Distillery District. With plenty of bars and breweries, the spirits of Gooderham and Worts are alive and well along the neighbourhood’s cobblestone streets.
You’ll find pubs serving up local beers, alongside Canadian classics like poutine. If you’re thirsty for coffee instead, keep an eye out for the industrial-buildings-turned-cafés tucked away throughout the neighbourhood.
Restaurants in the Distillery District are anything but predictable. Treat yourself to everything from experimental French food to classic comfort food. From one of the restaurant patios, you can watch the hustle and bustle of the area’s European-style pedestrian roads.
If that’s not enough excitement for you, the Distillery District’s art galleries and theatres are just the ticket. In the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, the Soulpepper Theatre continually lights up the stage. Producing critically acclaimed productions year after year, Soulpepper is the heart of the arts in the Distillery District.
Before you fly back to Chicago, pick up something to remember your trip by at one of the Distillery District’s 80 boutiques and shops. From sake to scented candles, these eclectic shops sell the best of Toronto’s artisanal goods.
Garden District
Stop and smell the garden
After your flight to Toronto from Chicago, add some greenery to your trip with a visit to the Garden District.
Since 1910, Allan Gardens has been the site of an ever-growing collection of exotic plants. This historic cast iron and glass greenhouse holds a colourful variety of plantlife. Get lost amid the gorgeous greenery in this botanical garden, no matter the season.
Another kind of garden awaits at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres. After opening their curtains in 1913, these stacked theatres became as famous for their design as for their shows. With the ornately elegant Elgin and the whimsical woodland decor of the Winter Garden, you’ll have a choice of backdrops for your theatrical experience.
Even more entertainment venues await in the Garden District’s Massey Hall and Ed Mirvish Theatre. The sound of music is always pouring out of Massey Hall, with performances ranging from comic to classical. The stage and screen are both lit up in the 1920’s vaudeville Ed Mirvish Theatre. Live theatre and not-so-live films are always showing in this multi-purpose venue.
In Yonge-Dundas Square, live performances turn this public square into a concert hall. Next door, Toronto’s Eaton Centre offers a fully stocked shopping experience. Whether you’re looking for big name brands or designer goods, you’ll find something chic to bring back to Chicago.
Getting to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Porter’s check-in desk is located in concourse A.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is about 9 km / 6 mi from downtown Chicago.
Transportation
The Go Airport Express shuttle bus provides service to the airport from downtown. The fare is $27 USD.
Taxis from downtown cost about $20 USD per person. Car service is available.
Take the Chicago Transit Authority orange line train from the Midway stop. The fare is $2.50 USD.
Car rental services are available at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). Take the shuttle to the rental car area from the pick-up location at door 3 of the lower level, near the baggage claim area.
Please allow sufficient time to drop off your car rental before your departing flight.
Uber and Lyft pickup is available at Chicago Midway Airport. To find your ride, exit at the baggage claims level, exit through door 4, and cross the street. Fares from MDW to downtown Chicago start at $23.
Chicago Midway International Airport Parking
Driving to Chicago Midway International Airport? There are many parking options at Chicago Airport. There are two economy parking lots with a rate of $2 USD for 30 minutes, $5 USD for 30 minutes to an hour, and a maximum of $15 USD for 24 hours. Or, choose the terminal garage, which offers hourly or daily rates. The daily lot has a 24-hour rate of $30 USD and is a long-term lot. You may also reserve a parking space ahead of time for a fee of $10 USD per space, per day.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport Transportation to Downtown
There are many options for transportation to downtown Toronto from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ).
The trip is just 3 km / 2 mi away.
Transportation to downtown Toronto
From the base of Bathurst, you can take the 511 streetcar to Bathurst subway station or the 509 streetcar to Union subway station. You can take the subway, GO Transit, PATH or UP Express to and from Union Station. TTC fare for subways, buses, and streetcars is $3.25 CAD.
Hertz is conveniently located in-terminal at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the lower level.
Uber and Lyft pickup is available at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. To find your ride, head to the rideshare pickup curb outside of the mainland terminal. Fares from the airport to downtown Toronto start at $9 CAD.
You can choose to take the pedestrian tunnel to the mainland terminal of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, or the 90-second ferry ride that runs every 15 minutes across Toronto’s inner harbour.
Taxis to downtown cost about $10 CAD. Car service is about $40 CAD.
The shuttle pick-up is just outside the mainland terminal area, under the shuttle bus sign. The pick-up and drop-off location is by the west entrance of the Royal York Hotel on York Street. The shuttle bus offers comfortable and complimentary service between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and downtown, approximately every 15 minutes. Times may vary due to traffic and road conditions.
The UP Express Train connects you between Union Station, Bloor Station, Weston Station and Pearson Airport. For ticket fares and schedules, visit upexpress.com
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) Parking
Offsite parking is available at the Queens Quay West location in a bright, clean, eight-story parking facility with 1,100 parking spaces available to passengers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The facility is monitored by a security team, and is equipped with video surveillance to provide a safe environment for the guests. The daily rate is $15 when prebooked, and free shuttle runs to and from the airport.
The information and figures above are for reference only, and may not be current. Please visit each airport's website for up-to-date details.
Flights may be operated by Porter Airlines (Canada) Ltd or Porter Airlines Inc.
