Ferry Ticket & Passenger Information
Take the ferry to Toronto Island from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, located at 9 Queens Quay W., at the Queens Quay West and Bay Street intersection. The terminal is set back 100 metres south of the intersection, behind the Westin Harbour Castle.
The ferry is busiest on weekends and holidays. Peak travel times are typically:
- To the islands: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- From the islands: 5 to 9 p.m.
During these peak travel periods, wait times may exceed 30 to 60 minutes at the terminal or on the islands. To avoid longer wait times, consider travelling outside of peak hours.
The busiest route is to and from Centre Island. As an alternative, consider travelling to Ward’s Island, which is approximately a 35-minute walk to Centre Island.
View routes and schedules.
Food and snacks are available at Stefra Snack Bar inside the terminal.
The terminal and all ferries are smoke and vape-free. Smoking is not allowed inside the waiting area or on board the ferries.
Purchase tickets online in advance or at the ferry terminal from any open ticket booth. Monthly passes are available but must be purchased at the ferry terminal.
Tickets are valid for travel to any dock on the islands and for the return trip from any island dock to Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Tickets purchased online can be used on any day until the end of the year in which the ticket was bought. Example: a ticket bought online on July 1, 2026, can be used until December 31, 2026.
Tickets purchased in person at the ferry terminal must be used on the day the ticket was bought.
Discounts
A discount of 10 per cent is applied to the purchase of 10 or more round-trip tickets.
Refunds and Ticket Transfers
Tickets are non-refundable. Online tickets are transferable. Transfer a ticket to a family member or friend by forwarding the PDF ticket through email or by printing the ticket out.
Payment options
- Cash, at the ferry terminal only
- Visa Credit Card
- MasterCard Credit Card
- American Express Credit Card
Round Trip Ticket Costs
| Type of Ticket | Cost |
|---|---|
| Adult (20 to 64) | $9.57 |
| Older Adult (65 and over) | $6.15 |
| Youth (15 to 19) | $6.15 |
| Junior (two to 14) | $4.51 |
| Infant (under two) | Free |
Monthly Pass Costs
| Type of Pass | Cost |
|---|---|
| Adult (20 to 64) | $121.64 |
| Older Adult (65 and over) | $90.74 |
| Youth (15 to 19) | $90.74 |
| Junior (two to 14) | $60.99 |
Accessibility
The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal including the ferries, terminal washrooms and waiting shelters are accessible to passengers using wheelchairs or mobility-assisted devices.
Public Transit
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) offers subway, bus, streetcar and Wheel-Trans to take you to the terminal.
Parking
There is no parking at the ferry terminal. Off-site parking may be available at third-party parking lots around the area.
Bicycle
Bike Share Toronto operates stations around the terminal. You cannot take Bike Share bicycles on the ferry but terminals are also available on the islands, providing another convenient option to get around. For information on station locations, pass types and pricing, visit Bike Share Toronto.
For more information on the cycling infrastructure available around the terminal, visit the Toronto Cycling Map.
Ferry Capacity
Each ferry has a maximum passenger capacity, which varies by vessel and may be reduced to accommodate large items such as bicycles, strollers, or mobility devices. Boarding is first come, first serve. Staff may limit boarding if the ferry reaches its safe passenger capacity.
Security & Bag Checks
Staff conduct visual inspections for prohibited items at ticketing or prior to boarding. Passengers may be asked to open bags for inspection when required for safety purposes or during special events.
Bicycles, strollers, wagons and paddle crafts are welcome on board the ferry. Keep them on the main deck away from doors, emergency exits, hatch ramps or staircases. For safety, walk your bicycles when boarding and disembarking. Bike Share bicycles are not permitted on the ferries. Please dock your bike on either the mainland or the island before boarding.
E-bikes
E-bikes are welcome onboard at the discretion of staff. To help ensure safe and comfortable boarding, staff may ask passengers with larger e-bikes (roughly over 40 kilograms) to use the vehicle ferry. For safety reasons, charging e-bikes is not permitted onboard or at the terminal or landings. All e-bikes must remain fully powered off while onboard.
Pets are allowed and are required to be always on a leash inside the waiting area and on board the ferry. Do not leave them unattended.
Passengers will not be allowed on the ferry if they are carrying the following items:
- Dangerous goods such as butane, fireworks, gasoline, lighter fluid and propane
- Electric scooters or motorcycles
- Open alcohol
- Weapons and firearms, including ammunition
Lifejackets
Caregivers are encouraged to bring lifejackets for infants weighing less than 15kg. Get more information on choosing lifejackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs) on the Government of Canada's website.
Safety
- Listen to the pre-departure announcement on board the ferry
- Walk, don’t run on board or at landings
- During departure and docking, stay off the stairs until the ferry has come to a complete stop
- In case of emergency, please listen to the announcements and instructions from the crew
- Familiarize yourself with the location of life jackets aboard each of the ferries
- Stay aboard and don’t sit on railings on the upper deck
- Report any unattended baggage or items to the crew
Security
The City’s ferry service operates under a security certificate issued by Transport Canada. Based on these regulations, the City has enhanced security measures at the Jack Layton Ferry terminal and aboard vessels. All large baggage will undergo a visual search.
Washrooms are inside the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal waiting area and outside the exit gate, just west of the terminal booths.
The Sam McBride, William Inglis and Thomas Rennie ferries have washrooms on the main deck level.
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