Canada, as many of you know, experiences very cold winters when the temperatures range from -5°C to -30°C. Toronto, in comparison to the northern parts of Canada, is spared the extreme temperatures such as -30°C but it’s still pretty cold. For this reason and for the ease of commute, the City Of Toronto has constructed the PATH.
So… what is the PATH?
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The PATH is an underground pathway system that connects many commercial buildings, the subway system, and some tourist attractions in downtown Toronto. The advantage of such a pathway is to help people easily move between buildings without the need to go outside, which proves to be a huge benefit, especially in winter.
The PATH network is massive and spans 130 km in length. New users are sometimes intimidated by its complexity and feel like they have entered a labyrinth. However, once you understand how to interpret the color code system, it’s easier to navigate. Check out my complete guide below which will help make things a lot easier.
Click on the links below to jump directly to the topic of interest
The PATH map
To help people get a sense of where they are and which direction they should go, the PATH has maps all along the passageway. So, if you feel you are lost, look around and you’ll find one of these maps that show you your location. Download a simplified map of the PATH here.
How to use the PATH?
In addition to maps, there are signboards throughout to help you. The signboards give you complete information on your location and the direction you should take.
As you see in the picture above, there are arrows of different colors on the board. These colors indicate the four cardinal directions of North, South, East and West. To understand the color-code used see the list below:
- Blue represents the cold weather of the North
- Red represents the warmth of the South
- Yellow represents the rising sun in the East
- Orange represents the setting sun in the West
If you find that remembering the color code is a hassle, you’ll find the directional information in the signboard itself. For example, in the picture above, you’ll see that the signboard first tells you your current position, that is Scotia Plaza; then it says to the North, you’ll find Bay Adelaide Centre and to the South, you’ll find the Commerce Court.
As you see, with the help of such signboards, it’s very easy to navigate the path and it no longer feels like a maze.
What’s on the PATH?
The PATH is not just a series of boring passages that connect buildings, it’s filled with shops and restaurants and is a tourist attraction in its own right. It also has access to other famous attractions in downtown Toronto. The complete list of tourist attractions accessible by the PATH is :
- The Brookfield Place – The Hockey Hall Of Fame, Allan Lambert Galleria, Sam Pollock Square
- CN Tower
- Ripley’s Aquarium Of Canada
- Rogers Centre
- Roy Thomson Hall
- Toronto City Hall
- Air Canada Centre
In case of attractions like the Brookfield place, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Air Canada Centre and the Roy Thomson Hall the enclosed pathway takes you all the way into the building. However, in the case of CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium Of Canada, and the Rogers Centre the last part of the route is outdoors. It also includes an enclosed above-ground skywalk as shown in the picture.
To reach the skywalk, follow the underground route to the Union Station. From the Union Station, walk up a flight of stairs to reach the Great Hall. From the Great Hall, follow signboards leading you toward the skywalk which will lead you to the CN Tower.
Shops and Restaurants
As mentioned before, the PATH has many shops and restaurants. Infact, it has over 1200 shops and restaurants ranging from high-end brands to local businesses. It has direct access to popular shopping malls in Toronto such as The Eaton Centre, The Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue.
Hotels on the PATH
Some hotels in downtown have a direct connection to the PATH providing their customers the easy of connecting to the subway and other attractions. Here’s a list of hotels that are directly on the PATH
Subway Stations on the PATH
If you refer to the map shown here , the subway stations are clearly marked in yellow. Specifically, the subway stations – College, Dundas, Queen, King, Union, St.Andrew, Osgoode, St.Patrick and Queen’s Park stations are all on this walkway. It also has has access to GO Train station and GO Bus Terminal at Union Station and Toronto Coach Terminal.
Is the PATH Open on Weekends?
During weekdays, the PATH is abuzz with people commuting to and fro from work and usually, there’s a mad rush to get to the subway stations in the evenings. However, on weekends some parts of the PATH almost look like a scene right out of an apocalyptic zombie flick. While the walkway itself is open, the restaurants and shops are closed giving it a deserted appearance as seen in the picture above.
The PATH Walking Tours
Discover the PATH with this walking tour run by Viator.com. In this 2 hour walking tour of the PATH you’ll visit Toronto City Hall, Union Station, Brookfield Place, and other highlights. If you are looking for a private tour of the PATH, pick this tour instead also run by viator.
I hope you now have all the information you need to explore this underground walkway on your visit to Toronto. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. Also, if you found this article useful, please don’t forget to share it on social media.
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[…] CN Tower Skywalk Explore the PATH, an underground walkway in downtown Toronto, that connects many office and commercial buildings. The PATH is interesting, you will find many shops and restaurants. I find it particularly useful in the winter, when it is too cold to walk outside. The PATH also has many tourist attractions along the way such the CN Tower, The Brookfield Place, Rogers Centre and many others. Read how to navigate the PATH and the attractions in my post here: The PATH Toronto […]
I love the PATH Toronto! It’s a great way to get around the city and see all the different neighbourhoods. I especially love the arcade in the basement!