» Getting Here
Vancouver is the hub for a wide array of national and international transport options, ranging from major airline routes to intercity buses and regional ferry and train services. You can even drive yourself - the city is located on main freeway routes from the US and the rest of Canada.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Located on Sea Island, just south of the city, the main airport is divided into International and Domestic terminals. In addition, the nearby South Terminal - linked via courtesy shuttle - is home to smaller regional airplane and helicopter services. As well as full Canada Customs and Immigration facilities, America-bound travellers can clear US Customs and Immigration at Vancouver International Airport.
Routes and carriers: The airport's main carriers are Air Canada (www.aircanada.com) and Westjet (www.westjet.com), while Pacific Coastal Airlines (www.pacificcoastal.com) is an important regional operator. More than 60 other air carriers, operating 18 international and 24 US-scheduled spokes use the airport regularly. The airport's carriers provide extensive cross-Canada services and also operate routes to 31 B.C. communities. Airport services: YVR was the first airport in North America to offer a full-service drugstore, walk-in dental centre, medical clinic and laboratory service, meaning that passengers can fulfill all of their health care needs without leaving the terminal. For travelling families, there is a nursery and several play areas around the airport. As well as Internet terminals, YVR is also wireless-enabled for those travelling with their own laptops. And among the wide array of retail services are bookstores, gift shops, a postal outlet and a large selection of food and beverage providers. In addition, the airport has its own health club, two on-site spas and a full-service high-end hotel within the main terminal building.
NEXUS Air: YVR was the first airport in North America to offer NEXUS Air, which makes flying to and from the United States or other international destinations more efficient for low-risk, pre-approved travellers. NEXUS Air complements the existing CANPASS Air program, and both assist program members in bypassing border line-ups use cutting-edge biometric iris recognition technology. Self-service check-in: YVR has introduced self-service check-in kiosks in a significant number of Vancouver hotels. In addition, YVR has also revealed plans to have these remote kiosks at select Olympic venues to avoid gridlock at the airport following the closing ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The kiosks were introduced in 2002 and have so far enabled most airlines to provide self-service check-in. Connecting to YVR: It's a 25-minute taxi ride ($25-$35) from the airport to downtown Vancouver. The cabs - which operate around the clock and are available just outside the two arrivals areas - are regulated by the city. Alternatively, the Airporter (www.yvrairporter.com) shuttle bus costs $13.75 one-way or $21.50 return. Reservations are not required and tickets can be purchased on board. Limojet Gold (www.limojetgold.com) offers sedan and limousine services to and from the airport on a 24-hour basis. Vehicles fit up to six passengers and rates to downtown run from $39-$45. Every major car hire agency also operates at the airport, including Avis, Alamo, Budget, Hertz, National and Thrifty.
VIA Rail (www.viarail.ca): Canada's national passenger rail service operates a western transcontinental train - The Canadian - between Vancouver and Toronto, with stops in Kamloops, Jasper, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Sioux Lookout and Sudbury Junction. Services depart Vancouver's Pacific Central Station on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays, and Toronto on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The entire journey takes three days and the train offers two service classes: Comfort (economy) and Silver & Blue (first class). Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (www.rockymountaineer.com): The Rocky Mountaineer is a luxury, two-day train trip between Vancouver and Calgary, Banff or Jasper. Overnighting in Kamloops, B.C., the train runs during the day, so travellers don't miss out on the spectacular scenery. In 2006, the company added two new services: the Fraser Discovery Route runs from Jasper to Whistler via the rugged B.C. interior and overnights in Quesnel, while the Whistler Mountaineer (www.whistlermountaineer.com) winds between Whistler and North Vancouver. Amtrak (www.amtrak.com): The US passenger train service is part of Amtrak's Pacific Northwest route system, servicing Oregon and Washington States. Its Cascades service travels daily between Seattle and Vancouver. West Coast Express (www.westcoastexpress.com): These popular regional commuter trains arrive at downtown Vancouver's Waterfront Station on weekday mornings and depart in the early evening. Stations served include Mission City, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.
Greyhound (www.greyhound.ca): Regular inter-city Greyhound bus services arrive at Vancouver's Pacific Central Station from locations including Seattle, Whistler, Kelowna and Calgary. Perimeter Transportation (www.perimeterbus.com): Bus services arrive in downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport from Whistler throughout the day. Snowbus (www.snowbus.ca): This winter-only service links Vancouver and Whistler, with stops in Richmond, Kerrisdale, Kitsilano and downtown Vancouver. Pacific Coach Lines (www.pacificcoach.com): Frequent PCL bus services arrive at Pacific Central Station from downtown Victoria, via the BC Ferries Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route.
Car From the States, Highway 99 runs due north from the Canada-US border at Blaine. After entering Vancouver, it travels up to Whistler and further into B.C. where it eventually meets Highway 97, the province's main north-south route. A three-hour drive between Seattle and Vancouver, the border crossing can be especially busy on holiday weekends when line-ups are common.
Cruise ship The cruises, which run up to two weeks, follow one of two main routes - although each shares the same path along a fijorded coastline of islands known as the Inside Passage. The islands here help protect the waterway from Pacific storms, thus making for a more sedate journey. The Inside Passage route has long been the traditional way to cruise Alaska - ships complete a round-trip voyage from Vancouver through glacier country as far north as Skagway or Juneau. In contrast, ships on the longer Gulf of Alaska route cover more territory - they travel beyond the Inside Passage as far as Anchorage. Canada Place - the city landmark with the boat sail design - is located in Vancouver's downtown core at the north foot of Burrard Street. Refurbished and upgraded in 1995, Ballantyne Pier - at 655 Centennial Road - is about a kilometre (half-mile) east from here. There's a free shuttle between the two facilities. The Port of Vancouver spent around $80 million to develop a third cruise berth at Canada Place for the 2003 season. The London-based Berlitz travel publishing company recently named the Port of Vancouver as North America's most passenger-friendly cruise facility.
Ferry Launched in 1960 with just two ships and 225 employees, the government-owned and regulated BC Ferries system now has 36 vessels and 47 ports of call. It carries around 21 million passengers and eight million vehicles annually. British Columbians generally view the ferry routes as essential marine highways and the system is quite dependable - although one or two sailing waits are common during the height of the summer season and at Christmas or other public holidays. Reservations are available and recommended.
Floatplane The city's floatplane operators include:
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