Public transportation in Toronto is managed by the Toronto Transit Commission, usually known just as the TTC. It's a wide-spread transportation network that includes buses, streetcars, and the subway.
System Coverage
The best way to see the city's transit coverage is with one of the maps on the TTC website. You can see the subway routes or a complete system map online.
The backbone of the entire network is the subway that runs through the city. That is the quickest way to get around, and is usually part of any trip across the city. There are 4 main sections or lines:
Yonge-University-Spadina - This subway route runs north and south through the middle of the city, between Finch and Union Station. It's actually a U-shape, meaning there are really 2 lines that meet at Union Station.
Bloor-Danforth - The is the main east-west line that pretty much follows a straight line across the city along Bloor Street. The Bloor line crosses the Yonge lines at Spadina, St. George and the Bloor/Yonge stations.
Sheppard - This is a newer part of the system, and provides a short run heading east and west from the Sheppard station at the north end of the city.
Scarborough RT - At the eastern end of the system, there is a section of above-ground light rail that goes to 5 stations in Scarborough.
The rest of the city is criss-crossed with bus routes that usually center on the nearest subway station. A few downtown routes use the large streetcars, but they operate just like the buses.
As for times, most of the TTC starts running at 6am (9am on Sundays) until 1am in the morning. There is still transit during the night, with the Blue Night buses. They run on different routes than daytime buses, so you should check the maps before planning a late-night trip.
Costs and Fares
For a single trip, it's $3 for an adult or 75c for a child. It's cheaper if you use tickets (available in sheets of 5 or 10), and then there are passes for more frequent travel. For tourists, a $10 day pass can be very handy to explore the city, and a weekly pass is $36. They allow unlimited travel for a day, or a week. Monthly passes are also available but not as handy for tourists.
You only have to pay once for your trip, even if you have to change buses or if you switch from subway to bus. As long as you are heading in the same direction, you can keep using transfers to go from one vehicle to the next. You can't stop for sight-seeing along the way though. The transfers are time-stamped and are supposed to be used for one continuous trip from A to B. If you are using a pass, none of this is a problem. But with cash or tickets, you must get a transfer when you pay, even if it's at an automated turnstile (transfer machines are just inside the doors). You need to prove that you've paid in order to move from one vehicle to the next.
You can easily see all the sights in Toronto using only the TTC to get around, which is more convenient and less expensive than trying to take taxis or a rental car. It's definitely a good option for tourists, as well as locals. If you are going to use the TTC extensively during your visit, read through their website for all the details and maps.
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