The Slightly Deranged Navigator's Guide: How to Get to Kensington Market Without Losing Your Dignity

The Slightly Unhinged But Absolutely Reliable Guide on How to Get to Kensington Market

Navigating to Kensington Market requires the strategic planning of a military operation combined with the flexibility of improvisational jazz. While Torontonians might casually direct you with a flippant “it’s just west of Chinatown,” visitors deserve more precision before embarking on this urban expedition. Below are your transportation options, ranked from most sensible to most likely to become an anecdote at your next dinner party.

From Pearson International Airport: The Baptism by Transit

Fresh off your flight and eager to dive into Toronto’s bohemian heart? The most efficient route to Kensington Market from Pearson International involves the UP Express train—a rare example of North American airport transit that actually functions as advertised. For $12.35 USD, board this gleaming marvel at Terminal 1 and ride to Union Station in downtown Toronto. The trains depart every 15 minutes and complete the journey in a brisk 25 minutes—approximately the same time it takes to navigate the security line at LaGuardia on a good day.

From Union Station, transfer to the TTC subway (look for the red “T” signs that indicate Toronto’s transit system, not a misplaced Target logo). Take Line 1 (yellow) northbound to St. Patrick station. Exit and walk west on Dundas Street for approximately 15 minutes, or catch the 505 Dundas streetcar westbound to Augusta Avenue. The total journey from airport to market takes approximately 50 minutes, assuming you don’t become distracted by the underground PATH system—Toronto’s 19-mile subterranean shopping mall that has claimed the sanity of many directionally-challenged visitors.

For those whose luggage weighs more than their commitment to public transit, taxis and rideshares offer door-to-door service for $45-60 USD. Just be warned that during rush hours (7-9am and 4-6pm), Toronto’s traffic congestion can make Manhattan’s streets look like an Iowa highway by comparison.

By Public Transit (The TTC): Toronto’s Charmingly Antiquated System

The Toronto Transit Commission—affectionately known as the TTC—offers the most economical path to Kensington Market at $3.25 USD per ride (cash) or $2.90 with a PRESTO card. The system operates with the delightful unpredictability of a cat deciding whether to acknowledge your existence, but generally runs every 4-5 minutes during peak hours.

From downtown hotels, the simplest route involves Line 1 subway to Queen’s Park or St. Patrick stations. From Queen’s Park, walk northwest for 15 minutes along College Street until you reach Spadina Avenue, then turn south. From St. Patrick, walk west along Dundas Street for approximately the same distance. Both routes involve enough walking to justify that extra butter tart you’ll inevitably consume upon arrival.

Toronto’s streetcars deserve special mention as they operate with a unique etiquette system. When boarding, prepare to witness the beautiful tension between Canadian politeness and rush-hour pragmatism—a ballet of mumbled apologies and passive-aggressive positioning that reflects the nation’s soul. The 505 Dundas and 506 College streetcars both skirt Kensington’s edges and provide excellent drop-off points.

Pro tip: TTC fares include a two-hour transfer window, allowing multiple rides on a single fare. This means you can hop between subway, streetcar, and bus without additional payment—a rare transit bargain that feels almost suspiciously generous.

By Car: An Exercise in Vehicular Masochism

For those determined to drive to Kensington Market—perhaps as some form of self-imposed character building exercise—prepare for a parking situation that makes Boston look like an empty Walmart lot in rural Nebraska. The market is bounded by Spadina Avenue to the east, Dundas Street to the south, Bathurst Street to the west, and College Street to the north. Your GPS will get you there; finding legal parking is where the true adventure begins.

The market itself contains approximately 40 public parking spots—a number so inadequate it borders on mathematical parody given the area’s popularity. Green P parking lots (Toronto’s municipal parking authority) offer salvation at Augusta Avenue and Oxford Street ($3-4 USD per hour), but fill faster than free sample stations at Costco on a Sunday.

Street parking exists theoretically but most spots have one-hour limits and are monitored by parking enforcement officers who seem to possess teleportation abilities. Adding to the challenge, Kensington Market becomes car-free on the last Sunday of each month from May to October—a delightful pedestrian experience that catches uninformed drivers in a web of road closures and redirections.

If you absolutely must drive, arrive before 10am or after 7pm when turnover increases slightly. Otherwise, consider parking near Bathurst and College Streets and enjoying a 10-minute walk—your blood pressure will thank you, even if your step counter doesn’t.

By Bike: The Smug Option

Toronto has enthusiastically embraced bike culture with the fervor of a recent convert, making cycling one of the most practical ways to reach Kensington Market. Bike Share Toronto offers day passes for $3.25 USD or 72-hour access for $7 USD—a bargain that would make even the most frugal Midwesterner nod in approval.

Docking stations proliferate throughout downtown, with convenient locations at Augusta Avenue and College Street, and at Bellevue Square Park in the market’s heart. The city’s protected bike lanes—while not quite achieving Amsterdam-level integration—provide reasonably safe routes from most downtown hotels.

Toronto cyclists embody a unique blend of Canadian politeness and urban warrior spirit. They signal turns with the precision of synchronized swimmers but will silently judge your technique with the intensity of Olympic figure skating coaches. When cycling to Kensington, use College Street’s bike lanes from the east or Dundas Street from the south for the most direct routes.

Winter visitors should note that Toronto maintains many bike lanes year-round, though cycling in January when temperatures hover around 21°F requires either exceptional commitment or questionable judgment.

From Major Downtown Hotels: The Walking Option

Walking to Kensington Market offers the dual benefits of burning calories and allowing for spontaneous discoveries along the way. The feasibility depends entirely on your starting point and tolerance for urban hiking.

From Chinatown hotels, Kensington sits a mere 5-minute stroll away—so close that taking transit would be like using a moving walkway to cross your living room. From the Entertainment District, budget 25 minutes of walking northwest, potentially passing through the kaleidoscopic Graffiti Alley off Queen Street West. From Yorkville’s luxury accommodations, the southwestward 35-minute walk traverses the University of Toronto’s picturesque campus—a pleasant journey in summer when temperatures reach 77°F, considerably less enchanting in February’s 21°F frigid embrace.

Toronto’s street grid makes navigation refreshingly straightforward compared to older cities where streets appear to have been designed by drunken cartographers. The exception is Kensington itself, which abandoned the grid in favor of what can only be described as “vibes-based urban planning.”

For the Directionally Challenged: Landmark Navigation

Those whose internal compasses point simultaneously in all directions can rely on Toronto’s helpful landmarks. The CN Tower serves as the city’s unofficial north star—if it’s behind you while walking west on Dundas or College Streets, you’re heading toward Kensington Market. The giant “TORONTO” sign at Nathan Phillips Square provides another orientation point; head west and slightly north from there.

Download Google Maps offline before venturing out, as coverage can be spotty in some downtown areas. For foolproof entry, look for the colorful Kensington Market street sign at Augusta Avenue, or the neighborhood’s iconic garden car installation—a sedan permanently parked and transformed into an overflowing planter, representing the area’s commitment to both recycling and theatrical urban decoration.

When all else fails, ask a local. Torontonians possess the unique quality of appearing initially reserved yet becoming enthusiastically helpful once engaged. Their directions will likely include apologizing for construction detours and recommendations for their favorite empanada spot—accept both with gratitude.

Rideshare and Taxi Options: The Path of Least Resistance

For those prioritizing convenience over experience, rideshare services operate with remarkable efficiency throughout Toronto. Current Uber/Lyft rates from downtown hotels to Kensington Market range from $8-12 USD depending on time of day and precise location. Waiting times average 2-5 minutes in the downtown core—significantly faster than it takes to decide which Kensington vintage shop gets your money first.

Ask drivers to drop you at the intersection of Nassau Street and Augusta Avenue, depositing you directly into the market’s bustling heart. For traditional taxi service, Beck Taxi (416-751-5555) operates Toronto’s largest fleet, recognizable by their distinctive orange and green vehicles. Their drivers frequently possess encyclopedic knowledge of Toronto streets that would make Google Maps engineers weep with inadequacy.

How to get to Kensington Market ultimately depends on your starting point, budget, and personal tolerance for transit adventures. Each option offers its own unique perspective on Toronto—from the elevated views of the UP Express to the street-level immersion of walking. The journey becomes part of the Kensington experience, a prelude to the sensory carnival awaiting at your destination.