Getting Here

Air

If you’re arriving by air, you’ll most likely be flying into Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Located just 25 minutes from downtown, YVR is consistently rated one of the best airports in North America. There are more than a dozen international flights in and out of YVR every day, with 22 bound for the United States. For an estimate of how long it might take to fly to Vancouver, see our international flying times map in our map.

Air Canada is your best choice to Vancouver with the most non-stop flights and access from over 190 cities worldwide.

❐ See Getting to/from the Airport for additional information if departing via Vancouver International Airport.

However, if you’re flying into Vancouver from a short-haul, domestic destination such as Victoria or other parts of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands or Whistler, you can also travel via scheduled floatplane or helicopter services. Both offer departures from downtown Vancouver, or from Richmond—close to YVR.

Car & RV

If you want the flexibility to take your time, stopping along the way to enjoy the view, driving your own vehicle is the way to go! Renting a car lets you establish your own timetable for sightseeing and getting around Vancouver. If you’re traveling further afield, especially to more remote regions, a Recreational Vehicle (RV) is a good choice, allowing you to skip hotels while still enjoying comfortable accommodations.

Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, accesses Vancouver from points east. If planning a driving tour, allow 4 hours from Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley, 12 hours from Calgary, and five days from Montreal. If you’re arriving in Vancouver from Victoria or Vancouver Island, you’ll need to take your car on a BC Ferries vessel across the Strait of Georgia to the mainland. Vancouver is only three hours north of Seattle. Take the Interstate 5, which becomes Highway 99 at the United States-Canada border.

❐ View our Map for additional information about traveling within and around Vancouver.
❐ For information on road conditions within BC, contact BC Ministry of Transportation at 604.660.9770 (Vancouver) or visit www.th.gov.bc.ca

Bus

Leave the driving to someone else, and take a scheduled bus service into Vancouver. Our coach line partners offer regular service to Vancouver from destinations including Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver Island, Whistler and the Okanagan Valley.

Water

Whether traveling to Vancouver Island, cruising to Alaska, or simply enjoying the views and fresh air, sailing on the spectacular Pacific Ocean is a highlight of visiting Vancouver!

BC Ferries provides regularly scheduled passenger and vehicle service between Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and other parts of coastal British Columbia. Reservations can be made on some routes. Find out more by visiting their website or calling 1.888.223.3779 or 1 250.386.3431 (outside North America).

Train

Make the journey part of the adventure by taking the train to Vancouver! Riding the rails offers sightseeing at its finest, allowing you to watch the beauty of B.C. from the comfort of the observation lounge or dining car. Travel across Canada on VIA Rail’s transcontinental service running from Vancouver to Toronto, via Jasper, three times per week, year-round. If you’re heading to Vancouver from the U.S., consider the Amtrak Cascades route between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, via Portland and Seattle.

Pacific Central Station is the terminus for both VIA Rail and Amtrak trains, and is located just east downtown Vancouver at Main and Terminal streets. Rocky Mountaineer trains operate out of their own facilities, with stations in East Vancouver (close to Pacific Central Station) and North Vancouver.