If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Toronto Pearson Airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Pearson Airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.
We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.
Sleeping in Toronto Pearson Airport
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Locations & Seating
Nappers are in luck, with a good amount of armrest-free seating throughout both the landside and airside areas. We’ve also heard rumours about a few free sleep pods for a quick cat nap, but we don’t know precisely where on the airside these are located. If you prefer to stretch out, the floor is an option, with some corner nooks providing shelter, but do bring a blanket, sleep mat, or sleeping bag for cushion and warmth.
Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:
- The designated rest zones in Terminal 1’s landside areas.
- The bar near Gate C34 has some benches and long, armrest-free seating you can use once it closes for the night.
- The 24-hour Starbucks on the landside area, but be sure to purchase something for your time.
- Landside, head behind the check-in counters to find some armrest-free benches and carpeted floors.
- Landside windows that line one side of the terminal have heat vents that more than one traveller took advantage of!
Rest Zones
Toronto Pearson Airport offers a few designated rest zones where tired travellers can relax and enjoy some stress-free time before their flight. The free lounge areas offer comfortable padded seats. Both lounges are located in the landside areas of Terminal 1: CIBC Welcome Centre (Arrivals Level) and Lounge 15 (Departures Level, Aisle 15).
Hotels
Do you prefer the comfort and privacy of a hotel room? The Sheraton Gateway Hotel is connected to Terminal 3 via a climate-controlled walkway, so you can check in between flights without the hassle of being too far from the airport. Fitness center-only packages are also available.
Several more hotels are within a quick 5-minute drive of the airport, and some are within walking distance. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Toronto Airport.
Lounges
While Toronto Pearson Airport has many lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Toronto Pearson Airport Guide that you can pay to access.
More Airport Services & Facilities
For information about drinking water, 24-hour food & drink options, luggage storage, showers, mobile charging and WiFi, visit our Toronto Airport Guide.
Airport Conditions
If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Temperature – Airport temperatures run from mild to very cold. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.
- Lighting – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
- Noise – The noise levels here are pretty average, with the usual hum of daily airport activity. It depends on your sleep spot at night, but a few reviewers mentioned little to no announcements and music during the night. Still, be prepared with earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.
Security & Safety
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Toronto Pearson Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
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