Country Guides
British Columbia
Getting There
Getting There
British Columbia
Getting There by Air
Air Canada (AC) (website: www.aircanada.ca) serves British Columbia, and many other airlines from worldwide destinations also serve the province.
Main Airports
Vancouver (YVR) (website: www.yvr.ca) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city. It is served by airlines from the USA, Europe and the Far East. To/from the airport: Airport shuttles, scheduled buses and taxis are available (journey time - 25 minutes). Facilities: Banks and ATMs, a post office, business centre, restaurant, car parking, garage, car hire, nursery and duty-free shop.
Victoria (YYJ) (website: www.cyyj.ca) is 22km (14 miles) north of Victoria. To/from the airport: Bus services, an airport shuttle and taxis are available (journey time - 30 minutes). Facilities: ATM, foreign exchange, shops, restaurants and cafes.
Kelowna (YLW) (website: www.kelownaairport.com) is north of Kelowna. To/from the airport: Shuttle services are available (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shopping, restaurant, gift shop, ATMs, car hire and a cappuccino bar.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Vancouver (website: www.portvancouver.com) is an international passenger port, with regular sailings to the Far East and ports on the USA's northwestern coast as well as up to Alaska.
There are ferry services to and from all coastal ports in British Columbia. Ferry services link three points on Vancouver Island with Vancouver city's north (Horseshoe Bay) and south (Tsawwassen) terminals on the mainland. Foot passengers can take coaches from Vancouver city centre to Victoria city centre.
BC Ferries (tel: (250) 386 3431 or 1 888 223 3779; website: www.bcferries.com) operates a total of 25 routes between 46 ports of call in coastal British Columbia, including a scenic,15-hour, one-way, daylight voyage from Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island up the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, a crossing from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the Discovery Coast Passage, a summer route between Port Hardy and Bella Coola on the mid-coast mainland.
There is also a high-speed catamaran from Victoria to Seattle (USA), the Victoria Clipper (tel: (250) 382 8100; website: www.victoriaclipper.com), leaving twice a day (journey time - 2-3 hours). For further information on ferries, contact BC Ferries or consult The Ferry Traveller (tel: 1 800 686 0446; website: www.ferrytravel.com), a website with general ferry information.
Getting There by Rail
VIA Rail (tel: 1 888 842 7245; website: www.viarail.ca) train routes to and within British Columbia are: Edmonton to Prince Rupert via Jasper (Alberta); Victoria to Courtenay; Vancouver to Edmonton via Kamloops and Jasper, and on to Toronto three times a week (Western Transcontinental). The Whistler Mountaineer (tel: (604) 606 8460; website: www.whistlermountaineer.com) is a scenic, three-hour tourist train running between Vancouver and Whistler. The seasonal Rocky Mountaineer train (tel: (604) 606 7245; website: www.rockymountaineer.com) is a two-day, all-daylight tour between Vancouver and Banff and Calgary or Jasper and between Whistler and Jasper, operating between mid April and mid October.
Getting There by Road
The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) reaches British Columbia via Calgary, Alberta and continues through the south of the province to Vancouver, over to Nanaimo, and onto Victoria. The other main highways are numbers 3, 5, 16, 37, 95 and 97. Highway 99 runs from the US/Canadian border into Vancouver. Apart from Highway 97 and the remote scenic Highway 37, which run northwards to the Yukon, the province's road network is concentrated in the south. Road signs are international. There are good roads south to Seattle in the USA.
Bus: Translink (tel: (604) 953 3333; website: www.translink.bc.ca) runs buses in the Greater Vancouver area as part of an integrated public transport service. BC Transit (tel: (250) 385 2551; website: www.bctransit.com) provides a network of buses to many communities within British Columbia, including the capital, Victoria, and the resort town of Whistler.
Malaspina Coachlines (tel: 1 877 227 8287; website: www.malaspinacoach.com) provides services from Vancouver International airport to Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast. Pacific Coachlines (tel: (604) 662 7575; website: www.pacificcoach.com) provides services from various Vancouver locations to Victoria and Namaimo. Island Coach Lines with Gray Line West provide services on Vancouver Island including sightseeing routes (tel: (250) 388 6539 or 1 800 667 0882; website: www.victoriatours.com).
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Most of Vancouver's public transport network is operated by Translink (tel: (604) 953 3333; website: www.translink.bc.ca), including buses, commuter rail services between Vancouver and Mission, SkyTrain between Vancouver and Surrey, and SeaBuses between Vancouver and North Vancouver. Ferries between the mainland and Vancouver Island are provided by BC Ferries (see contact details above). Buses in Victoria are run by BC Transit (tel: (250) 385 2551; website: www.bctransit.com).
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Vancouver (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in British Columbia.
Air Road Rail Victoria 0.25 3.30 - Kamloops 0.55 4.00 9.00 Whistler 0.30 2.00 - Prince George 1.00 10.00 -
Getting There by Air
Air Canada (AC) (website: www.aircanada.ca) serves British Columbia, and many other airlines from worldwide destinations also serve the province.
Main Airports
Vancouver (YVR) (website: www.yvr.ca) is 15km (9 miles) southwest of the city. It is served by airlines from the USA, Europe and the Far East. To/from the airport: Airport shuttles, scheduled buses and taxis are available (journey time - 25 minutes). Facilities: Banks and ATMs, a post office, business centre, restaurant, car parking, garage, car hire, nursery and duty-free shop.
Victoria (YYJ) (website: www.cyyj.ca) is 22km (14 miles) north of Victoria. To/from the airport: Bus services, an airport shuttle and taxis are available (journey time - 30 minutes). Facilities: ATM, foreign exchange, shops, restaurants and cafes.
Kelowna (YLW) (website: www.kelownaairport.com) is north of Kelowna. To/from the airport: Shuttle services are available (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shopping, restaurant, gift shop, ATMs, car hire and a cappuccino bar.
Victoria (YYJ) (website: www.cyyj.ca) is 22km (14 miles) north of Victoria. To/from the airport: Bus services, an airport shuttle and taxis are available (journey time - 30 minutes). Facilities: ATM, foreign exchange, shops, restaurants and cafes.
Kelowna (YLW) (website: www.kelownaairport.com) is north of Kelowna. To/from the airport: Shuttle services are available (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Duty-free shopping, restaurant, gift shop, ATMs, car hire and a cappuccino bar.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Vancouver (website: www.portvancouver.com) is an international passenger port, with regular sailings to the Far East and ports on the USA's northwestern coast as well as up to Alaska.
There are ferry services to and from all coastal ports in British Columbia. Ferry services link three points on Vancouver Island with Vancouver city's north (Horseshoe Bay) and south (Tsawwassen) terminals on the mainland. Foot passengers can take coaches from Vancouver city centre to Victoria city centre.
BC Ferries (tel: (250) 386 3431 or 1 888 223 3779; website: www.bcferries.com) operates a total of 25 routes between 46 ports of call in coastal British Columbia, including a scenic,15-hour, one-way, daylight voyage from Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island up the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, a crossing from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the Discovery Coast Passage, a summer route between Port Hardy and Bella Coola on the mid-coast mainland.
There is also a high-speed catamaran from Victoria to Seattle (USA), the Victoria Clipper (tel: (250) 382 8100; website: www.victoriaclipper.com), leaving twice a day (journey time - 2-3 hours). For further information on ferries, contact BC Ferries or consult The Ferry Traveller (tel: 1 800 686 0446; website: www.ferrytravel.com), a website with general ferry information.
There are ferry services to and from all coastal ports in British Columbia. Ferry services link three points on Vancouver Island with Vancouver city's north (Horseshoe Bay) and south (Tsawwassen) terminals on the mainland. Foot passengers can take coaches from Vancouver city centre to Victoria city centre.
BC Ferries (tel: (250) 386 3431 or 1 888 223 3779; website: www.bcferries.com) operates a total of 25 routes between 46 ports of call in coastal British Columbia, including a scenic,15-hour, one-way, daylight voyage from Port Hardy on the northern tip of Vancouver Island up the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, a crossing from Prince Rupert to the Queen Charlotte Islands, and the Discovery Coast Passage, a summer route between Port Hardy and Bella Coola on the mid-coast mainland.
There is also a high-speed catamaran from Victoria to Seattle (USA), the Victoria Clipper (tel: (250) 382 8100; website: www.victoriaclipper.com), leaving twice a day (journey time - 2-3 hours). For further information on ferries, contact BC Ferries or consult The Ferry Traveller (tel: 1 800 686 0446; website: www.ferrytravel.com), a website with general ferry information.
Getting There by Rail
VIA Rail (tel: 1 888 842 7245; website: www.viarail.ca) train routes to and within British Columbia are: Edmonton to Prince Rupert via Jasper (Alberta); Victoria to Courtenay; Vancouver to Edmonton via Kamloops and Jasper, and on to Toronto three times a week (Western Transcontinental). The Whistler Mountaineer (tel: (604) 606 8460; website: www.whistlermountaineer.com) is a scenic, three-hour tourist train running between Vancouver and Whistler. The seasonal Rocky Mountaineer train (tel: (604) 606 7245; website: www.rockymountaineer.com) is a two-day, all-daylight tour between Vancouver and Banff and Calgary or Jasper and between Whistler and Jasper, operating between mid April and mid October.
Getting There by Road
The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) reaches British Columbia via Calgary, Alberta and continues through the south of the province to Vancouver, over to Nanaimo, and onto Victoria. The other main highways are numbers 3, 5, 16, 37, 95 and 97. Highway 99 runs from the US/Canadian border into Vancouver. Apart from Highway 97 and the remote scenic Highway 37, which run northwards to the Yukon, the province's road network is concentrated in the south. Road signs are international. There are good roads south to Seattle in the USA.
Bus: Translink (tel: (604) 953 3333; website: www.translink.bc.ca) runs buses in the Greater Vancouver area as part of an integrated public transport service. BC Transit (tel: (250) 385 2551; website: www.bctransit.com) provides a network of buses to many communities within British Columbia, including the capital, Victoria, and the resort town of Whistler.
Malaspina Coachlines (tel: 1 877 227 8287; website: www.malaspinacoach.com) provides services from Vancouver International airport to Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast. Pacific Coachlines (tel: (604) 662 7575; website: www.pacificcoach.com) provides services from various Vancouver locations to Victoria and Namaimo. Island Coach Lines with Gray Line West provide services on Vancouver Island including sightseeing routes (tel: (250) 388 6539 or 1 800 667 0882; website: www.victoriatours.com).
Bus: Translink (tel: (604) 953 3333; website: www.translink.bc.ca) runs buses in the Greater Vancouver area as part of an integrated public transport service. BC Transit (tel: (250) 385 2551; website: www.bctransit.com) provides a network of buses to many communities within British Columbia, including the capital, Victoria, and the resort town of Whistler.
Malaspina Coachlines (tel: 1 877 227 8287; website: www.malaspinacoach.com) provides services from Vancouver International airport to Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast. Pacific Coachlines (tel: (604) 662 7575; website: www.pacificcoach.com) provides services from various Vancouver locations to Victoria and Namaimo. Island Coach Lines with Gray Line West provide services on Vancouver Island including sightseeing routes (tel: (250) 388 6539 or 1 800 667 0882; website: www.victoriatours.com).
Getting Around Towns and Cities
Most of Vancouver's public transport network is operated by Translink (tel: (604) 953 3333; website: www.translink.bc.ca), including buses, commuter rail services between Vancouver and Mission, SkyTrain between Vancouver and Surrey, and SeaBuses between Vancouver and North Vancouver. Ferries between the mainland and Vancouver Island are provided by BC Ferries (see contact details above). Buses in Victoria are run by BC Transit (tel: (250) 385 2551; website: www.bctransit.com).
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Vancouver (in hours and minutes) to other major cities/towns in British Columbia.
| Air | Road | Rail | |
| Victoria | 0.25 | 3.30 | - |
| Kamloops | 0.55 | 4.00 | 9.00 |
| Whistler | 0.30 | 2.00 | - |
| Prince George | 1.00 | 10.00 | - |
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