Warsaw to Toronto (WAW–YYZ) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Polish passport holders need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to fly to Canada. Apply at canada.ca/eta for CAD 7 (about EUR 5). Approval is usually instant, often within minutes, and the eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires. It allows multiple visits of up to 6 months each. Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. If arriving by land from the US, no eTA is needed.

LOT Polish Airlines flies direct from Warsaw Chopin (WAW) to Toronto Pearson (YYZ) in about 9 hours westbound. This is the only nonstop route between Poland and Canada. For other Canadian cities, connect through Toronto or route via a European hub. Air Canada connects through Montreal (YUL) or Toronto from Frankfurt or London. Total travel time from Warsaw to Vancouver runs 13 to 16 hours with one connection.

Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD), trading at roughly 1.50 CAD per EUR 1. Card payments and contactless payments work everywhere, and many businesses are cashless. No mandatory vaccinations. CBSA (customs and border services) processing at YYZ takes 20 to 45 minutes. Use the primary inspection kiosks to speed things up. The UP Express train runs from Pearson airport to downtown Toronto (Union Station) in 25 minutes for CAD 12.35 (about EUR 8.25). Tipping is standard: 15 to 20% at restaurants.

SKM (Szybka Kolej Miejska) commuter rail Line S2/S3 connects Warsaw Central (Warszawa Centralna) to WAW in 25 minutes (PLN 4.40 within Zone 1, or PLN 7.00 including Zone 2). Trains depart roughly every 15–30 minutes. The platform is directly below the terminal; no bus transfer needed.Bus lines 175, 188, and N32 (night) serve the city center for PLN 4.40. Taxis cost PLN 40–60 from the center (20–30 min). Uber and Bolt (dominant ride-share in Poland) run PLN 30–50. Parking from PLN 30/day in the remote car park.

UP Express from T1 to Union Station runs every 15 minutes (25 min, CAD $12.35). The station is inside T1; take the LINK train from T3 arrivals first (free, 3 min). Taxis to downtown use a meter; expect CAD $55–75.Ride-hail (Uber, Lyft) picks up at the designated Ground Transportation area; follow signs. TTC buses run to the Kipling and Bloor–Yonge subway stations (CAD $3.30) for a longer but cheaper option. Car rental agencies are at T1 and accessible from T3 via the LINK train.

Humid continental climate. Winters are harsh (−10 to −1°C, December–March) with significant snowfall. Pearson closes runways for plowing and de-icing regularly, causing wave delays. Ice storms (freezing rain) are more disruptive than snowfall and can halt operations for hours. Buffalo-effect lake-effect snow can bring heavy accumulations with little warning.

Summers are warm and humid (22–30°C) with afternoon thunderstorms that delay departures July–August. Spring and fall are pleasant but unpredictable. YYZ connections in winter require significant schedule buffer. It is Canada's most weather-disrupted major hub.