Getting around · Victoria · Canada
Getting around Victoria
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Smably at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
Downtown Victoria and the Inner Harbour are compact and easy to walk. BC Transit buses cover the region, harbour ferries cross the water, and the city is one of Canada's most bike-friendly. A car or tour is useful for Butchart Gardens, the west shore and day trips up the island. Not for the city itself; walking, buses, bikes and harbour ferries cover downtown.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- YYJ, YWH
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Walking
The Inner Harbour, downtown, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Road waterfront are all within about 25 minutes' walk of each other.
Bus
BC Transit's Victoria Regional Transit System covers the city, Oak Bay, Sidney and the west shore, including a route to Butchart Gardens.
Check the BC Transit website or app for routes and fare options before you ride.
Boat
Victoria Harbour Ferry's small boats shuttle between docks around the Inner Harbour and run harbour and Gorge waterway tours.
Cycling
Protected bike lanes downtown connect with the Galloping Goose and Lochside regional trails, and bike and e-bike rentals are easy to find.
Ferry
BC Ferries sail from Swartz Bay, about 32 km north, to Tsawwassen near Vancouver in about 1 hour 35 minutes, and to the Southern Gulf Islands.
Car
A car helps for Butchart Gardens, the Juan de Fuca coast and the Cowichan Valley; downtown parking is metered and limited.
The Malahat highway north of the city can close or slow for collisions; check DriveBC before setting out.
From the airport
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is about 25 km north of downtown in North Saanich, roughly 30 minutes by car; BC Transit buses also serve the airport area. Floatplanes and helicopters fly from the Inner Harbour (YWH) to downtown Vancouver in about 35 minutes.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city itself; walking, buses, bikes and harbour ferries cover downtown. Rent a car or join a tour for Butchart Gardens, the west coast beaches and the Cowichan Valley.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Cowichan Valley and Duncan | About 50 minutes by car | Car via the Malahat (Highway 1) |
| Chemainus | About 1 hour by car | Car via Highway 1 |
| Sooke and East Sooke Park | About 45 minutes by car | Car via Highway 14 |
| Juan de Fuca coast and Botanical Beach | About 2 hours by car | Car via Highway 14 to Port Renfrew |
| Salt Spring Island | About 1.5 hours including the ferry | BC Ferries from Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour |
| Vancouver | About 3.5 hours by bus and ferry; 35 minutes by floatplane | BC Ferries via Swartz Bay–Tsawwassen, or floatplane from the Inner Harbour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Victoria?
Not for the city itself; walking, buses, bikes and harbour ferries cover downtown. Rent a car or join a tour for Butchart Gardens, the west coast beaches and the Cowichan Valley.
+How do you get from the airport to Victoria?
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is about 25 km north of downtown in North Saanich, roughly 30 minutes by car; BC Transit buses also serve the airport area. Floatplanes and helicopters fly from the Inner Harbour (YWH) to downtown Vancouver in about 35 minutes.
+What is the best way to get around Victoria?
Walking: The Inner Harbour, downtown, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park and the Dallas Road waterfront are all within about 25 minutes' walk of each other.