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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Markham
Base in Markham only if you have a car or a reason (family, tech office, cheaper bed): 1 night, or a half-day for Unionville's Main Street.
Markham is a suburban city of about 300,000 directly north of Toronto, in York Region. It is not a sightseeing city: its draw is three 19th-century heritage districts (Unionville, Markham Village, Thornhill), a large Chinese-mall cluster around Pacific Mall and Highway 7, and hotel rooms that undercut downtown Toronto. Transit reaches it, but a car makes it work.
- Country
- Canada
- Best months
- May–Oct; late Sep–mid Oct for the Unionville streets
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, icy pavements); no month is crowded
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$70–110 excl. bed · Mid C$120–200 excl. bed · High C$220+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$2.50–5 |
| Noodle soup or a food-court meal | C$12–20 |
| Dinner main in a mid-range restaurant | C$20–35 |
| Draught beer / can at a store | C$7–9 / C$2.50–4 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshare | C$15–22 |
| GO train, Unionville to Toronto Union, one way | C$7–9 (check) |
| Museum entry (Markham Museum) | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YYZ · Toronto Pearson International
- Nearest major airport, in Mississauga; about 30–45 min by car to Markham depending on traffic (check).
- YTZ · Billy Bishop Toronto City
- Smaller downtown airport; longer transit trip north to Markham.
Typical fares
- GO train Unionville → Toronto Union
- about C$7–9 one way, 40–50 min (check)
- YRT/Viva single fare
- about C$4–5, two-hour transfer (check)
- Taxi or rideshare, Markham Centre → Unionville
- C$15–20
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The city is a grid and most trips are by car. Three agencies run buses: YRT/Viva (Viva Blue north–south, Viva Purple east–west, transfer at Richmond Hill Centre Terminal), GO Transit (Stouffville line trains to Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy, plus buses), and TTC from Toronto (route 53 Steeles East from Finch Station; route 102D Markham Rd from Warden Station). Unionville GO station is about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) from the Unionville heritage district, so plan a walk or a short bus.The city is a grid and most trips are by car. Three agencies run buses: YRT/Viva (Viva Blue north–south, Viva Purple east–west, transfer at Richmond Hill Centre Terminal), GO Transit (Stouffville line trains to Unionville, Centennial, Markham and Mount Joy, plus buses), and TTC from Toronto (route 53 Steeles East from Finch Station; route 102D Markham Rd from Warden Station). Unionville GO station is about 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from the Unionville heritage district, so plan a walk or a short bus.
See and do
Known for
- Main Street Unionville heritage district
- Pacific Mall and the Highway 7 Chinese food strip
- Markham Museum open-air village
- Cathedral of the Transfiguration
- Tech-company offices
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | GO train from Unionville or Markham station to Union, or TTC route 53 from Finch Station | 1–1.5 h |
| Vaughan | Car via Highway 7 or the 407 (toll); YRT/Viva buses also cross | 30–50 min |
| Richmond Hill, Ontario | Viva Blue to Richmond Hill Centre Terminal, then local bus | 30–45 min |
| Newmarket, Ontario | GO train on the Stouffville line to Newmarket, or Viva/YRT buses | 45–70 min |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | GO train to Stouffville, or car via Highway 48 | 30–50 min |
| Aurora, Ontario | Car via Highway 404, or GO/YRT buses | 40–60 min |
Sleep
- Highway 7 / Markham Centre
- Newer hotels, restaurants and Viva buses; best base without a car.
- Unionville
- Heritage Main Street, walkable evenings; few beds, so book early.
- Markham Village (Main Street Markham)
- Small-town centre with shops; Markham GO station about 400 m north.
- Thornhill
- Closest heritage district to Toronto; easiest to reach from Finch Station.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank youEnglish is the working language |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Sorryused constantly, for any bump |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card?yes almost everywhere, tap is standard |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the washroom?ask for the washroom, not the toilet |
| No tipping, thanks | —not a normal request; tip 15–20% at table service |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Highway 407 is a toll road and the bill goes to the rental company, often with an admin fee: ask before you drive it.
- Two different Main Streets, over 4 km apart: Main Street Unionville (west) and Main Street Markham (east). Confirm which one you want.
- Many Unionville buildings are private homes: look, don't enter porches or gardens.
- Winter pavements ice up; sidewalks in newer subdivisions may be uncleared.
Very safe by big-city standards; the real risks are driving (401/404/407 traffic), winter ice, and leaving valuables visible in a parked car.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Markham yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Main Street Unionville heritage district
- Pacific Mall and the Highway 7 Chinese food strip
- Markham Museum open-air village
- Cathedral of the Transfiguration
- Tech-company offices
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Markham: www.markham.ca/
- York Region Transit: www.yrt.ca
- GO Transit: www.gotransit.com
- TTC: www.ttc.ca
- Wikivoyage: Markham, revision 5325858 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5325858
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Markham
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
No embassies in Markham; the US consulate-general and most others are in downtown Toronto (check).
Tipping is expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/markham). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.