Hamilton from Toronto works as a day trip, and GO Transit serves Hamilton by train and bus. Once you arrive, local HSR routes connect several key stops.
- Starting point: North York, Toronto, home to Edward Hotel North York
- Regional connections: GO train and bus service runs year-round on weekdays and weekends
- Day-trip ideas: Dundurn National Historic Site or Royal Botanical Gardens
Is Hamilton practical as a day trip?
Yes. GO Transit offers year-round train and bus service to Hamilton on weekdays and weekends. For a broader look at local connections before you set out, read how to get around Toronto from North York.
How do you get from North York to Hamilton?
GO Transit connects Toronto and Hamilton by train and bus, with Route 16 serving as the Hamilton/Toronto Express. The City of Hamilton says this express bus runs directly between Hamilton GO Centre and Union Station in downtown Toronto, without other stops.
West Harbour GO Station is another connection point, with service to Toronto and Niagara. The city describes a connection there from HSR Route 20 to the Lakeshore West GO train. Check your origin, destination and preferred arrival point in GO Transit’s Trip Planner, since the best option depends on your route and departure.
GO fares depend on the fare type and the distance between your selected origin and destination; children 12 and under travel free. Use GO Transit’s Trip Planner to calculate the fare. Published PDF schedules may not be the latest, so use the planner for current departures.
If you’re travelling to Toronto by air before continuing to Hamilton, see the guide to YYZ airport transportation to Edward Hotel North York.
Getting around once you arrive
Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) serves destinations around the city, including downtown, Hamilton GO Centre and West Harbour GO Station. Route 20, the A-Line Express, runs between Hamilton International Airport and the waterfront, stopping at Mohawk College and those downtown and GO locations.
For local travel, an adult single-ride fare is $2.85 with PRESTO or $3.75 in cash. Youth and senior PRESTO single rides are $2.35. Children aged 5 and under travel free with a paying customer; children aged 6 to 12 travel free with an HSR PRESTO card.
An HSR PRESTO fare includes a two-hour transfer window from the first tap. Within that window, transfers between HSR and Burlington Transit are available without an additional fare when you use PRESTO. When you transfer between GO Transit and HSR using PRESTO, an adult HSR single-ride-fare discount is applied automatically; it does not apply to monthly or annual passes.
Route 20 runs from 5:25 a.m. to 12:44 a.m. Monday to Friday, to 12:14 a.m. on Saturday, and to 11:05 p.m. on Sunday. Confirm your route and departure before setting out.
Build a day around one or two stops
For a focused visit, choose one main destination and add a second only if your connections and timing allow. Dundurn National Historic Site offers a guided tour, while Royal Botanical Gardens spans Hamilton and Burlington and has both garden locations and trails.
Dundurn National Historic Site
The guided tour takes approximately one hour and includes admission to The Hamilton Military Museum. The site is open Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., and closed Mondays and on specified holidays.
Admission is $16.75 for adults aged 18 to 59, $14.25 for seniors aged 60 and older and youth aged 13 to 17, $10 for children aged 6 to 12, and free for children aged 5 and under; a family ticket for two adults and dependent children under 18 is $45.75.
Dundurn Castle and the military museum are partially accessible to mobility devices up to 29 inches wide. Strollers and infant carriers cannot go on the castle tour, but an indoor stroller-parking area is available.
Royal Botanical Gardens
Royal Botanical Gardens describes itself as Canada’s largest botanical garden. Its RBG Centre is at 680 Plains Road West in Burlington, while the Rock Garden is at 1185 York Boulevard in Hamilton; the sites are approximately 2 km apart. The gardens recommend driving, biking or taking transit between them.
Admission fees apply to the gardens during standard operating hours, and you can buy admission online or at the door. Events and exhibits require separate tickets. Trails are open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk throughout the year. Garden hours vary by area and can have exceptions, so check the official site before you go.
Check return connections before leaving
Before you leave Hamilton, check the return departure from your chosen GO station and allow time to reach it from your final stop. Hamilton GO Centre and West Harbour GO Station serve different connections, so confirm which one matches your route back to Toronto.
For HSR, consult the published schedules and service updates when planning your trip. For GO departures and fares, use GO Transit’s Trip Planner rather than relying on a PDF schedule that may not be current.
FAQs
Can you visit Hamilton from Toronto in one day?
Yes. GO Transit offers year-round train and bus service, and there are stops such as Dundurn National Historic Site and Royal Botanical Gardens to build a visit around.
Is there a direct bus between Hamilton and downtown Toronto?
Yes. The City of Hamilton describes GO Route 16 as a direct express bus between Hamilton GO Centre and Union Station, with no other stops.
Can you visit Dundurn National Historic Site and the Hamilton Military Museum together?
Yes. The approximately one-hour guided tour at Dundurn includes admission to The Hamilton Military Museum.
Are Royal Botanical Gardens and the Rock Garden the same location?
No. RBG Centre is in Burlington and the Rock Garden is in Hamilton; the two locations are approximately 2 km apart.