Vancouver- Victoria BC this spring

Will you rent a car? The BC ferry terminals from Vancouver to Victoria are aways from town at both ends.

You don’t need a car if you’re just going to the two cities.

Easy to get from Vancouver to the ferry to Vancouver Island by public transport
And easy to get back too.
We live here and use it frequently rather than driving!
Let me know if you need details on how.

No car rental.

I've been checking bcfconnector.com schedule for the bus/ ferry and reading a travel guide and learned the ferry dock is outside of Vancouver.

Hi Susan:

For example:

Arrive at YVR.
Skytrain into downtown Vancouver if you are staying there. About 35 minutes.
Walk or take local buses/cabs in the city.

Vancouver transport:
https://www.translink.ca/

To get to the island:
Skytrain : Waterfront Station or Vancouver Centre Station to Bridgeport Station. 20 minutes

At street level, get bus to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. About an hour.

https://www.bcferries.com/

Foot passenger on ferry to Swartz Bay Victoria terminal. 90 minutes.
No need to reserve as a foot passenger in April/May.
Bus from right there into downtown Victoria. About an hour.

Walk, bus, cab around Victoria.
Bus to Victoria Airport. About an hour.

Victoria transport:
https://www.bctransit.com/victoria/schedules-and-maps/

Also find the same routes with looking at CityMapper and Google Maps.

It’s very easy.

My only advice is to check the direct vs open-jaw airfares and the ground transportation from the two airports. One of the commenters gave directions from YVR. If Victoria is similarly straightforward and the cost of an open-jaw ticket is about the same, it makes more sense to fly into one and out of the other. Bring your rain jacket.

If all other factors are equal in terms of price for airfare etc, your decision could be based on whether you have a preference to start or finish with a smaller town feel (Victoria) versus Vancouver. Cruise season will have started so downtown Vancouver will be a bit busy and I don’t know how many cruise ships stop in Victoria these days so their inner harbour area can be busier on those days too.

I've decided to fly into Victoria and fly out of Vancouver. Timing of non-stop flights worked to avoid Toronto rush hour traffic. If I'm not travelling during rush hour it only takes about 30 minutes or less travelling to /from YYZ.

Flights booked and accommodation in Victoria booked. Now I need to decide on Vancouver location for accommodations.

That’s good!
You can get to Butchart Gardens by bus from Victoria if you still want to go there.
Sidney is a nice little town not far away too.

Just say if you want help deciding on Vancouver accommodation…..it’s expensive…..cruise ship season.