Vancouver is easy to reach and to navigate with numerous transportation options, including ferries, buses and trains. Most Vancouver attractions, shopping centers and visitor destinations are one easy trip away.
ARRIVING IN VANCOUVER:
By Air
Vancouver is served by Vancouver International Airport (airport code: YVR), only 25 minutes from downtown. Not only is Vancouver International close to the city, it is rated as one of the best airports on the continent. YVR has more than a dozen international flights daily, and 22 between Canada and the U.S.
By Car
Vancouver is easily accessed by car or RV. Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, brings visitors from the east. Calgary is about 12 hours away, while Montreal is a 5-day road trip. From Seattle, visitors should take Interstate 5, which turns into Highway 99 at the border.
By Bus
Greyhound serves Vancouver from many U.S. and Canadian cities.
By Ferry
Harbour Lynx brings passengers from downtown Nanaimo, while BC Ferries come from Victoria as well as other points inside and outside of British Columbia.
GETTING AROUND VANCOUVER:
The Vancouver transportation system, TransLink, features many modes of travel, including buses and trains. TransLink serves over 695 square miles (1800 square kilometers) of the city. Many vehicles are wheelchair accessible and also have bicycle racks.
TransLink divides Vancouver into three fare zones for all transit services, and fares are calculated based on the number of zones a passenger travels through:
- One Zone: $ 2.25
- Two Zone: $ 3.25
- Three Zone: $ 4.50
- Off Peak (No Zones): $ 2.25 Adults
By TransLink Buses
TransLink Buses are operated from 5:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. by Coast Mountain Bus Co.
By SeaBus
Coast Mountain Co. also operates the SeaBus, a wheelchair accessible ferry that runs between Vancouver at Waterfront Station and Lonsdale Quay on the North Shore. The 12-minute trip is not only quick, but scenic, offering a panoramic view of the skyline, the sea and the mountains.
By Commuter Train
Running Monday through Friday, West Coast Express connects downtown Vancouver with the outlying suburbs. In the morning, trains from westbound from Mission, and in late afternoon, trains run eastbound from Vancouver.
On the False Creek AquaBus
The False Creek AquaBus provides an efficient transport between the downtown Seawall of Vancouver and Granville Island, where many shops, restaurants, theaters and the public market are located. The AquaBus runs every day between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., about every 20 minutes.
By Ferry
BC Ferries maintains two ferry terminals: Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay. Ferries run between Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast, every one to two hours on the hour, depending on the season. Tsawwassen is about 45 minutes south of downtown, and runs to Victoria, Nanaimo and the Southern Gulf Islands. Horseshoe Bay is about 45 minutes north of Vancouver, and runs to Nanaimo, Bowen Island and the Sunshine Coast.
