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520 Gorge RD E Victoria BC V8W 2P3

The Victoria Regional Transit System runs seven days a week serving the entire Greater Victoria region including the Victoria International Airport, all ferry terminals (Sidney, Swartz Bay, Brentwood Bay, Ogden Point and Inner Harbour), the downtown core and western communities (Langford, Colwood, Sooke and Metchosin).

Anyone who has exact change can purchase a $5 DayPASS directly from the bus driver and can enjoy all-day access to the Greater Victoria Area. For the parent or guardian who purchased a valid DayPASS (over 19 years old) you can bring up to four children, 12 years and under on board for free. The DayPASS is the easiest way to use BC Transit in Victoria.

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Planning a transit trip

Are you unsure how to plan your bus trip or where to find transit schedule and route information? Check out the smartTRANSIT Guide to learn how to plan a trip!

BC Transit, Kelowna Regional Transit’s provincial partner, offers the latest transit schedule and route information on the BC Transit Website. Trips can also be planned using the Google Transit based trip planning tool.

You can also get a copy of the latest  Transit Riders Guide  available on all buses and at most transit fare product outlets . The guide outlines all of Kelowna Regional’s routes and schedules and includes detailed route maps as well as great transit customer information to help you make the most of your trips!

For help with the Rider’s Guide, see the smartTRIPS guide to  Reading transit schedules .

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The Best Time to Visit Vancouver

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Your Trip to Vancouver: The Complete Guide

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Two hours away from world-class ski resort  Whistler/Blackcomb  and perched on the Pacific Ocean coast, the city holds appeal for soft to extreme adventure lovers and attracts more than 11 million visitors each year .

Vancouver is surrounded both by water and mountains and its proximity to nature gives residents love for the environment and a laid-back charm and friendliness. And although Birkenstocks are more the norm than Manolos, this cosmopolitan city also has upscale shopping, fabulous restaurants, and a happening nightlife.

Vancouver is on the southwest coast of British Columbia, Canada's most westerly province. It is about a three-hour drive from Seattle, Washington .

The City of Vancouver is one of more than 20 municipalities that makes up Greater Vancouver and sits on the edge of the Strait of Georgia, which separates it from Vancouver Island—home to the provincial capital of Victoria.

Vancouver's location is beautiful as it is surrounded by water and tucked into the slopes of the BC Coast Mountain Range.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit: Vancouver is the Canadian city with the best climate and the worst weather according to writer Allan Fotheringham. Mild and wet in winter, there's no bad time to visit Vancouver but the springtime brings cherry blossoms and the summer is typically high travel season in Vancouver; hotel rates and flights will be more expensive at this time of year. But the extra cost does assure you of better weather (generally speaking, August is the least rainy month). Whilst summer has plenty of festivals, including the incredibly popular  Honda Celebration of Light  fireworks display, there's always something amazing happening in Vancouver—from  fall foliage  to  winter snow sports  or springtime whale watching. 

Language: English, French.

Currency : Canadian Dollars are the official currency but US Dollars are also widely accepted, especially in the tourist shops of Gastown near the cruise terminal at Canada Place.

Getting Around: Vancouver's transit system TransLink is affordable and reliable, with an extensive system of buses, ferries, and Skytrain lines. Monthly, weekly, and daily passes are available and 90-minute passes can be bought onboard transit with exact change (starting at $3 for adults). Use contactless Visa or buy a Compass pass for $6 from 711s and London Drugs; it can be loaded with money to use during your visit.

Travel Tip: Vancouver is an outdoorsy city so be sure to bring your activewear to get out on adventures. It's also a casual city so there's no need to waste luggage space by bringing fancy clothes.

Things to Do

Vancouver is famous for its beautiful surroundings. From the sandy beaches of English Bay, Kitsilano, and Wreck Beach to the extensive forest and lakes of Stanley Park and the snow-sprinkled mountains of the North Shore, there are plenty of outdoor adventures from hiking and biking to kayaking and sailing.

• One of the city's top attractions , Stanley Park sits on almost 1,000 acres of land and offers plenty to do and see. With 6 miles of Seawall around the perimeter of the park, it's the perfect place to take a stroll or bike ride and see all the scenery, from Lions Gate Bridge to Point Grey. Visit Vancouver Aquarium or take a horse and carriage ride to explore the park.
• Canada Place is home to Vancouver's cruise terminal but it also has the incredible FlyOver Canada attraction and the seaplane terminal. Visit one of the waterside restaurants to watch the planes take off, with a stunning backdrop of Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains.
• Granville Island Market is a popular place to visit, thanks to the colorful produce stalls, delicious eating establishments, and variety of artisan shops.

Explore more attractions with our guide to the best things to do in Downtown Vancouver and the top things to do in Vancouver in the springtime .

What to Eat & Drink

Vancouver is a foodie paradise and here you'll find everything from hole-in-the-wall sushi joints to award-winning fine dining. The cuisine is varied but fans of Asian food such as sushi and ramen will be blown away by the selection on Robson Street and in Richmond. Fusion food such as West Coast meets Asian is a popular combination and fresh seafood can be found on most menus. Look out for Vancouver Aquarium's Oceanwise logo, which is a sign of sustainable seafood.

The city also has its share of cocktail bars, from Tiki-themed ones at The Waldorf and Shameful Tiki Room to Chinese apothecary-inspired bars ( The Keefer) and high-end hotel bars.

Explore our articles about the best restaurants in Vancouver and great restaurants to try in Downtown Vancouver .

Where to Stay

Vancouver has a lot of options when it comes to accommodations. There are luxury hotels, romantic hotels, budget hotels, hostels, and Airbnb rentals (including apartments and houses).

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is an elegant, historic favorite. The Listel Hotel is a smaller, art-infused downtown hotel with many perks, and the  Sandman Hotel  is a perfectly acceptable less-expensive alternative. Downtown and the West End are the most desirable places to stay as they are safe, central and on the main tourist tour routes .

Whether you're traveling with family, friends, or a romantic partner, use these guides to find the perfect accommodations for your next trip:

• Why You Should Stay in Downtown Vancouver
• Boutique Hotels in Downtown Vancouver 
• Top 10 Family Hotels in Vancouver

Getting There

By Air: The  Vancouver Int'l Airport  (YVR) is 25 min by car to downtown. Airport bus service is frequent and the Canada Line Skytrain travels between downtown and YVR.  Seattle, WA , airport is a three-hour drive.

By Train: Rocky Mountaineer Tours  go through the Rockies between BC and Alberta. ​ Amtrak Cascades  travels between Seattle and Vancouver. Check ​ VIA Rail .

By Bus: Greyhound Lines  serves Vancouver from numerous cities in the US and Canada.

By Water: Clipper Ferry  and ​ BC Ferries  sail between Seattle and Vancouver via Victoria.

By Car: Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, reaches Vancouver from points east. If driving, allow 12 hours from Calgary and five days from Montreal. Vancouver is three hours north of Seattle. Take Interstate 5, which becomes Highway 99 at the  U.S.-Canada border .

Money Saving Tips

• Vancouver Art Gallery is open by donation (suggested $10+) on Tuesday evenings between 5-9 pm.
• Stanley Park is free to visit and can be explored via foot, bike, rollerblades or even a horse-drawn carriage ride.
• Don't bother paying for Wi-Fi at any hotels or elsewhere—Vancouver's downtown area (and most of the surrounding areas) is equipped with free public Wi-Fi   .
• Vancouver's Tickets Tonight website offers discounts on tickets for arts, sports, attractions, and music events around the city.

Tourism Vancouver. "Vancouver's Tourism Industry Fast Facts."

City of Vancouver. "Stanley Park."

Tourism Vancouver. "Free Public Wi-Fi."

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Schedules and Maps

Find schedules and maps for bus, SeaBus, SkyTrain, and West Coast Express.

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Quickly look up scheduled times for a specific bus stop, bus route, SkyTrain line, or station.

SkyTrain Schedules

Our fully-automated rapid transit system offers fast, convenient travel along three lines from Downtown Vancouver to the airport and other major cities in Metro Vancouver.

SeaBus Schedules

Travel between Downtown Vancouver and North Vancouver via the Burrard Inlet on our passenger ferry.

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Travel between Downtown Vancouver and Mission City on our commuter rail service.

Service Changes

TransLink makes service changes every April, June, September, and December to reflect seasonal changes in demand.

Bus Schedules

Plan your bus trip, see real-time upcoming bus departures, and check transit alerts on Next Bus.

Our network of buses, trolleys, and Community Shuttles link to various hubs, exchanges, SkyTrain stations, and tourist destinations throughout Metro Vancouver.

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Get schedules and timetables for SeaBus and bus routes throughout the Lower Mainland region.

Learn all about our late-night bus service.

RapidBus is a bus service offering fewer stops and up to 20% faster service than local buses.

TransLink news, commentary, and behind-the-scenes stories.

The only guide you’ll need on how to take transit from Vancouver to Victoria

Don’t let the lack of a car stop you from exploring our beautiful capital city, Victoria, because you can easily ride public transit to get there! Visit Tourism Victoria ‘s website for all the city has to offer.

In total, the trip from Vancouver to Victoria will take you about four hours, so plan accordingly whether you’d like to do a day trip or spend a few days there. You’ll be riding with TransLink, BC Ferries and BC Transit, so there will be three separate fares.

Check list before you go

• $5 in coins for your BC Transit fare – $2.50 in coins to pay the fare for the bus ride from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to downtown Victoria, and another $2.50 for the return trip. Alternatively, you can purchase a BC Transit DayPASS for $5 for unlimited travel for the entire day on any route! You can find all fare details at bctransit.com/victoria .
• Your TransLink fare, which varies depending on how many zones you travel. You can easily estimate your fare on our website .

Riding transit to the ferry terminal

To get to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, you’ll have to take the 620 Tsawwassen Ferry Express bus from Bridgeport Station. There are many ways to get to Bridgeport Station to catch the 620, so we’ll cover the most common way: taking the SkyTrain’s Canada Line to Bridgeport Station from downtown Vancouver. But first, determine if you’ll start your trip on a bus or at a SkyTrain station.

If you’re starting your trip on the bus before  transferring onto the SkyTrain to get to Bridgeport Station, we recommend paying with a Compass Card or a contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card . If you pay by exact cash, the bus transfer is only works on other buses as it doesn’t open the faregates at SkyTrain stations. Operators also do not carry change.

If you’re starting at the SkyTrain station, you have three ways of paying your transit fare:

• Using Stored Value on your Compass Card
• Paying with your contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express credit card
• Purchasing a Compass Ticket from the Compass Vending Machine using cash, debit or credit.

The benefit of a Compass Card is fares are discounted, so if you’re planning to travel lots by transit, we recommend you pick up a Compass Card . They are available online at  compasscard.ca , at Compass Retailers, SkyTrain stations, SeaBus terminals, the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals, and select London Drugs stores in Vancouver.

Your transit fare includes transfers for up to 90 minutes. In other words, you do not need to pay again when switching from the SkyTrain to the 620 bus. Just tap the same Compass Card, Compass Ticket, or contactless credit card again to open the faregates to access the SkyTrain station.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Everyone must have their own proof of payment, so you can’t use one Compass Card or contactless credit card to pay for multiple people. You can, however, use one credit card to pay for one fare and then the same credit card on Apple Pay to pay for another fare.
• Children aged 12 and under ride TransLink (and also BC Transit) services free of charge .

Once you’re inside the SkyTrain station, follow signs to the trains headed towards Richmond–Brighouse or YVR Airport (if you are travelling southbound) to find your platform. Both the trains bound for Richmond–Brighouse or YVR Airport will take you to Bridgeport Station.

After you arrive, exit the station and catch the 620 bus from Bay 12 . To find this bay, you’ll have to double back after you exit the station. Please pay attention to the ground markings and follow the arrow and lines to queue up for the bus.

The travel time from Bridgeport Station to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal is typically around 30-45 minutes and we schedule our buses to match the ferry schedules as best we can. However, please always plan for extra travel time as our buses are only as reliable as the road it travels on. There’s often congestion, especially during peak hours, on Highway 99 and the George Massey Tunnel, which the 620 uses to get to the ferry terminal.

Use our Trip Planner or Google Trip Planner on our website to make sure you make it in time to the terminal for the ferry you want to catch. You can view ferry schedules on the BC Ferries website . Don’t forget to account for the time to walk from the bus stop to the inside the terminal to purchase your ferry ticket and then the time to walk to the berth to get on the ferry.

At the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal

Once inside, proceed to the ticketing counters or self-service ticket booths to purchase your ferry ticket. They accept cash, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express), debit cards and BC Ferries Experience™ Card. Check out travel tips on the BC Ferries website .

Walk-on passengers can make free reservations when travelling on routes connecting Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, as well as on the Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands route, to avoid sailing waits. BC Ferries customers can also take advantage of Saver fares, which can be booked for select off-peak sailings on many routes to help reduce lineups during peak hours.

The ferry terminal is like an airport, so your ticket will indicate a berth. Proceed to your berth to wait for boarding and be prepared to show your ticket to staff as you make your way there.

At the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal

Once you disembark from the ferry, follow the signs to exit and to the bus stop to catch the 70 Downtown or 72 Downtown buses.

While both buses take you to downtown Victoria, the 70 bus operates as an express — that means it doesn’t stop at as many stops between the terminal and downtown. Both bus routes will drop you off at Government and Superior Streets, near the Royal BC Museum and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

If you’re planning to make a return trip on the same day or plan to use BC Transit buses throughout the day, we recommend you purchase a DayPASS from the operator. The cost of a DayPASS is $5, which is the price of two adult cash fares. Once you have your DayPASS, the next time you ride the bus, you “pay” by showing the front of the pass to the driver.

The single trip cash fare for the Victoria Regional Transit System, operated by BC Transit, is $2.50 cash for adults, seniors and youth. There are no transfers, which means purchasing a DayPASS is your best option otherwise you have to pay a new fare every time you board a bus.

Note fare payment through Compass Card and contactless Visa, Mastercard or American Express payment is only possible on the TransLink system.

Returning to Vancouver

Ready to head home? Just make the reverse trip! The 70 and 72 bus departs from Government Street and Superior Street, or you can catch it along Douglas Street. The trip is typically between about an hour to an hour and 30 minutes from there to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal.

Use NextRide on your computer and the Transit app on your mobile device to plan your trip and access real-time transit information.

If there’s anything we missed, let us know in the comments!

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Just wanted to say this was well done. I did it for the first time about two months ago and was so apprehensive because I don’t usually take transit let alone travel to the ferry terminal to Victoria. It was quite the adventure and wish I had this the first time. It was a great refresher for my travels there this weekend. Happy thanksgiving! Maureen

A nice long description of how to get from Vancouver to Victoria, but no instruction about getting from Victoria to Vancouver ‘just make the trip in reverse’ doesn’t tell me anything about how to pay for bus and skytrain fares in Vancouver. I’m dizzy from reading the translink site and still don’t know how and how much I pay on the mainland side.

I am planning a holiday from New Zealand to Canada early 2024. This transit instruction page is excellent. Thank-you so much for making my holiday planning less stressful.

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Remixed from video by Dave Isenor Creative Commons Attribution licence

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Welcome to our Vancouver Trip Planner where you'll find everything you need to plan your trip to this beautiful city. Discover fun things to see and do in Vancouver including tourist attractions, parks, beaches, museums, art galleries, theatres, architecture, landmarks, historic districts and more. Get ideas for self-guided day trips and walking tours along with recommendations for dining, shopping, and hotels. Everything is family friendly.

Using public transit to explore the city during your visit will save you money. For example, Grayline offers a 24-hour Hop On Hop Off adult pass for $65, whereas an adult one-day pass for public transit costs just $11.25, providing more frequent service and extensive coverage throughout the area. On TourbyTransit you'll find tips and verified directions for getting to each attraction including step by step walking directions from the nearest station(s).

Whether you have just one day or 10 days to visit Vancouver, you've come to the right place for all your travel planning needs.

If you prefer the convenience of guided tours , you'll find a great selection at competitive prices.

See our Vancouver Travel Tips to save money and help your trip go smoothly.