Downtown Vancouver is about a 25-minute ride on the automatic Blue Line subway for 9,65 cad, which goes to the main terminals.
From the South Terminal, downtown can be reached by a combination of the 412 bus and the Blue Line subway from Bridgeport Station in about 40 minutes at a cost of 4,65 cad.
| Price | Travel time | Terminals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | 4,65 cad - To the airport 9,65 cad - from the airport |
25 minutes | Main terminals |
| Bus 412 + metro | 4,65 cad - both directions | 40 minutes | South Terminal |
| Taxi | 37 cad - Downtown | 30 minutes | All terminals |
| Uber/Lyft | from 30 cad - Downtown | 30 minutes | All terminals |
Metro Canada Line
Vancouver's subway is called the "SkyTrain" and its blue line named Canada Line runs to major international, domestic and US terminals.
The downtown terminus is called Waterfront, and the subway goes from the airport through, for example, Olympic Village or Downtown.
On the way to the airport, Canada Line branches off. Half of the connections go to Vancouver Airport and half go to the Richmond - Brighouse station.
- Travel time - approximately 25 minutes
- Frequency - 6 to 12 minutes (late evening and weekends up to 20 minutes)
- Last subway from airport - 0:56
- First subway from Waterfront Station - 4:48
- Timetables and official information: translink.ca/skytrain#canada-line
Fares
Fares vary by direction. You will pay more to travel from the airport to the city centre than in the other direction.
When travelling from the airport, a fee YVR AddFare of 5 cad is added to all types of tickets.
| Direction | Ticket type | 90-minute | All day | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport -> Centre |
|
|
|
||||||
| Centre -> Airport |
|
|
|
Day ticket is valid only on a calendar day, not for 24 hours.
The 90-minute ticket is valid on the metro (SkyTrain) and all city buses and ferries for any number of journeys.
How do I pay the fare?
- With your own contactless card
- With a standard ticket purchased from a ticket machine
- Compass Card, which you load with any amount and individual fares for 90 minutes are cheaper after that
- You will pay a deposit 6 cad for the card, which you will get back if you return the card
Tickets and the Compass Card can be purchased from the ticket machine at the metro station or from the 7-Eleven shop in the arrivals hall of the domestic terminal.
The ticket or contactless card is attached to the turnstile when you enter and exit the station.
For detailed fare information, visit translink.ca/pricing-and-fare-zones.
The 10 best hotels in Vancouver
Bus 412
If your flight arrives at the South Terminal or Seaplane Terminal, public transportation is provided by the city's 412 bus.
The bus goes to Bridgeport Station, where you transfer to the Metro route Canada Line heading downtown.
- Travel time - 15 minutes to the subway station + 20 minutes by subway to downtown
- Frequency - 20 to 40 minutes (30 minutes on Saturday, no service on Sunday)
- Last bus from the airport - 19:15 (on Saturday already at 19:09)
- First bus from Bridgeport station - 6:25 a.m. (8:55 a.m. on Saturday)
- Timetables and official information: translink.ca/route/412
Fares
For downtown travel with a subway transfer, fares are as follows:
- 4,65 cad 90 minutes
- 11,50 cad for 1 calendar day
Unlike the metro, there is no charge for the 412 bus when travelling from the airport YVR AddFare.
You can purchase your ticket with your own contactless card by tapping the reader when you board the bus or in exact cash from the driver.
There is no ticket machine or Compass Card at the south terminal.
Car rental
If you're off to explore the wonders of British Columbia, renting a car is the number one choice.
There is either no or very limited public transport to the mountains and countryside.
Vancouver Airport has a wide range of car rental companies, with dozens of different companies located here.
The average price for a weekly rental in the summer season is around 600 cad. We recommend booking a car at least 3 months in advance of your planned trip.
Compare prices - book a car at YVR Airport
Taxi
Taxis are available outside all terminals, including the South Airport.
Prices are flat and fixed by zone - so there is no meter.
- Downtown - 37 cad
- Waterfront/Canada Place - 41 cad
- University of British Columbia - 42 cad
For a complete zone map with prices, visit the airport's official website at yvr.ca/taxis.
Uber, Lyft, KABU
Vancouver has mobile apps like Uber, Lyft and KABU that can offer lower fares than regular taxis.
For example, Downtown is usually available for about 30 cad and Waterfront for about 34 cad.
The location of the cars running through the mobile apps is always on level 2 (departures).
Bus to Whistler
There are direct SkyLynx buses between Vancouver Airport and the mountain resorts of Squamish and Whistler.
For a schedule and online ticket booking, visit yvrskylynx.com.
- Whistler - from 55 cad, runs 2-3 hours, 7-9 times daily
- Squamish - from 55 cad, runs 2 hours, 5 times daily
