Getting to Victoria

Connected to Canadian and US centres Travelling to Victoria is easy.

 

Take it from the 3.5 million people who visit us here each year. By either direct flight or scenic route, we offer a myriad of transportation options.

By Air. Delegates can fly direct to the Victoria International Airport (30 minutes from downtown) from Canadian and US destinations, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle. And if you are coming from Vancouver, it’s just a hop over to Victoria, cruising above the beautiful Gulf Islands and the sparkling waters of the Strait of Georgia.

Victoria is very accessible with over 40 domestic flights arriving daily, including two Air Canada direct flights from Toronto. Other Canadian cities with direct flights to Victoria include Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Prince George, Kelowna, Winnipeg and Vancouver. For delegates arriving from the United States, easy access is available through two primary hubs: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Vancouver International Airport.

AirportFrom Vancouver, via Air Canada or Pacific Coastal, more than 850 seats are available on 20 flights per day. And from Seattle-Tacoma to Victoria, Horizon Air offers 230 seats daily and United Express, 120 seats daily.

Victoria International Airport is a 15-minute flight by jet from Vancouver, a short 30 minutes from Seattle, and 1 hour 20 minutes from Calgary. From the airport, a shuttle bus leaves periodically throughout the day for selected sites within the downtown area. Taxi and limousine service is also available.

Air Options. Regular floatplane and helicopter service to downtown Victoria is also available from Vancouver and Seattle. The world’s only scheduled inter-city helijet service connects Vancouver and Seattle to Victoria in just 30 minutes. Charter options are also available.

BC FerriesBy Ferry. BC Ferries operates one of the largest car ferry systems in the world, carrying over
21 million passengers annually. Some 35 vessels operate on 25 routes between the BC mainland, Vancouver Island, and the many islands dotted along the coast.

Eight passenger/vehicle ferries – including the two giant “Spirit” vessels, each capable of carrying up to 2,100 passengers and 470 vehicles – sail on a regularly scheduled daily basis from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay). BC Ferries increases sailings up to 20 round trips daily during peak months. Whether you board a bus in Vancouver or travel by car, the 95-minute sea voyage across the Strait of Georgia and through the famous Active Pass is well worth taking.

High-speed catamaran ferries operate regularly scheduled, 300-passenger-only sailings from Seattle. Car-ferry services also connect Victoria with Port Angeles and Anacortes, Washington, during summer months.

By Bus. Pacific Coach Lines operate a daily scheduled service onboard all scheduled BC Ferries’ sailings between Vancouver and Victoria. Victoria’s bus terminal is next to the Victoria Conference Centre.

Getting Around. Car rentals and Taxi services. All the major car rental companies have outlets in Victoria. And as you would expect for a capital city, Victoria is well serviced by taxicabs. Travel options also include limousine services, airport bus and public bus transportation.

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