Travelling by ferry from Vancouver to Victoria is one of the most popular ways to reach BC’s capital from the lower mainland. Departing from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, south of Vancouver, the journey takes 90 minutes to reach Swartz Bay, a 30-minute drive from downtown Victoria. The BC Ferries transport vehicles and walk-on passengers.
Taking the ferry can be an enjoyable and comfortable experience, often offering the chance to spot marine life like seals, whales, and sea otters along the way! However, ferries are currently operating at high capacities, so planning ahead is vital to ensure you make your desired sailing and reach your destination in time.
Having grown up on Vancouver Island, I’ve travelled on the BC Ferries approximately 5 billion times in my life. Keep reading for everything you need to know for a smooth trip on the ferry.
How to Take the Ferry
The Vancouver to Victoria ferry departs from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal, located south of Vancouver in the city of Delta.
From Tsawwassen, the ferry travels across the Salish Sea to the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal in the town of Sidney, located on the Saanich Peninsula, about 30 km North of downtown Victoria.
The trip takes approximately 90 minutes, plus a little bit of extra time for loading and unloading.
Ferry Prices
Here’s an overview of one-way ferry fares from Vancouver to Victoria as of June 2024.
Keep in mind prices fluctuate depending on the type of vehicle, the number and age of passengers, and the time of year.
Different routes also have different prices, so what you see listed here for Vancouver to Victoria will be different from, say, the ferry from Victoria to Salt Spring Island.
You can always visit the BC Ferries website to double-check prices.
Passenger fares:
- 12 years or older: $19.10
- 5 to 11 years: $9.55
- Under 5 years: FREE
Note: Seniors travel FREE Monday to Thursday (except on Statutory Holidays).
Vehicle Fares:
If you’re travelling with a vehicle, you’ll pay this in addition to the passenger fares for each member of your party.
- Standard vehicles up to 20 ft (cars, trucks, motorhomes): $67.40
- Extra length rate (over 20 ft) per foot: $7.50
- Motorcycle: $33.75
Reservation fees
You can purchase a reservation to travel on a particular sailing for $20 in addition to your fare.
They are not necessary for walk-on passengers, but I advise them for anyone travelling with a vehicle (unless your schedule is very flexible).
Saver Fares
Due to the high occupancy of BC Ferries, they’ve introduced promotional rates called Saver Fares to encourage travel outside of peak hours. You can access these fares by booking ahead on the sailings that offer them.
Saver fares cost $49 for a passenger and vehicle, and they include a free reservation.
They aren’t available on every sailing, but they do represent significant savings, so it may be worth altering your plans to take advantage of them.
Visit this page to learn more.
Photo by Lauren Kan
Ferry Schedule
During the summer, ferries run from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay almost every hour from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the same goes for the return route from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. During the height of summer, July to September, there may be 10 p.m. sailings as well.
The schedule fluctuates depending on the time of year, so visit the BC Ferries website to ensure you’re looking at up-to-date information.
Booking the Ferry
If you’re planning to walk onto the ferry, booking ahead is unnecessary. You can turn up at the ferry terminal and purchase your ticket there. You’ll have the option to purchase from an agent or using a ticketing kiosk.
For anyone travelling with a vehicle, you can reserve your sailing online or risk it and purchase your ferry ticket when you arrive at the terminal.
If you’re travelling during peak season (summer) or on a Friday or Sunday, I encourage you to make a reservation, as ferries often operate at full capacity. Without a reservation, you may find yourself waiting at the ferry terminal for one or more sailings—not the ideal way to spend your vacation!
Walking on the ferry to Victoria
If you’re travelling without a car, you can walk onto the ferry. Travelling as a foot passenger saves you money and ensures you’ll make it onto your desired sailing. There doesn’t seem to be a cap to the number of walk-on passengers the way there is for vehicles.
There are a few different ways to get to and from the Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay ferry terminals.
BC Transit System
Public transportation is an affordable way to reach the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Vancouver.
You can use the Google Maps transit feature to find precise timing for bus and metro departures. Here’s a basic overview of how to get to Tsawwassen and then into Victoria once you arrive in Swartz Bay.
Vancouver to Tsawwassen
- Hop on the Canada Line Skytrain to reach Bridgeport Station Park & Ride in Richmond (this line services the YVR Airport and goes all the way to Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver)
- Take the 620 Bus to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal
You can pay for the Skytrain and bus by tapping your credit card. You’ll need to tap your credit once when boarding the Skytrain and again when exiting the station, so keep it handy. Then, you’ll tap again when you board the bus.
Swartz Bay to Victoria
- Walking out of the ferry terminal, you’ll see several buses to your right. Take buses number 70, 71, or 72 to reach downtown Victoria. The journey takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic and stops.
To pay for the bus on the Victoria side, download the Umo app and load your “wallet” with bus fare using your credit card. This is tedious but worth doing if you’re going to use the bus multiple times during your stay in Victoria. Buses cost $2.50 per ride or a max of $5 per day, so I’d add $10 to start with (I believe that’s the minimum).
Alternatively, you can pay with exact change. Bus fare for adults is $2.50 per ride or $5 for a day pass.
The BC Ferries Connector
This private coach service runs between Capital City Station (behind the Empress Hotel) in downtown Victoria and Pacific Central Station in Vancouver (near Science World).
It’s a Greyhound-style bus that will transport you right onto the ferry. Passengers can disembark once onboard the ferry to enjoy all the amenities, then hop back on the bus for the ride to the city center.
It’s a convenient way to go if you’re willing to spend some extra money. It’s pretty comfortable, and you won’t have to worry about lugging your bags on and off public transportation. Your ticket includes the BC Ferries fare.
Click here to book your ticket.
Taxis and Ride Share Services
Taxis or ride shares are a convenient way to get to and from the ferry terminal in both Vancouver and Victoria. You can usually flag a taxi at the ferry terminal to take you into downtown Victoria.
Uber is available in Victoria and Vancouver as well. For your reference, the average cost of an Uber from Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria is around $75-$90 (and a taxi is likely about the same).
Onboard Services & Amenities
BC Ferries offers all kinds of handy services and amenities for passengers, including:
- Coastal Cafe: Cafeteria-style dining serving burgers, salads, pre-made sandwiches, fountain sodas, and more. Local kids always go for the soft-serve ice cream. The food won’t blow your mind, but it’s a convenient way to get a bite on your journey. They also serve beer and wine.
- Coast Cafe Express: This coffee bar serves Starbucks coffee, baked goods, ready-made snacks, and assorted beverages.
- SeaWest Lounge: Some sailings offer paid access to the Seawest lounge. For $14, you can enjoy a variety of beverages, snacks, newspapers, and magazines from a quiet lounge with lovely ocean views.
- Passages Gift Shop: Here, you can buy candy bars, apparel, souvenirs, books, magazines, and more. You can also purchase transit passes for Victoria and Vancouver. They have a great selection of books published by local BC authors, which is always worth browsing!
- Kids play area: A kids play area on the main passenger deck has play structures and arcade-style games. There are televisions, too, usually playing news or sports.
- Amenities for pets: BC Ferries welcomes small pets, including cats and dogs, on board for free as long as they remain in the vehicle or the designated Pet Areas. There are Pet Areas on the vehicle decks, and, on ferries sailing from Tswassen, there is now a Pet Area on the upper passenger deck. Visit this page for more details.
- Workstations: Some ferries have small workstations with outlets and privacy barriers.
- Luggage handling: If you’re walking onto the ferry with luggage, you can check it for free before boarding the ferry in Tsawwassen. This will make your time on board much easier, as you’ll be free to walk around unburdened. You’re not obligated to check your luggage, but I highly recommend it.
Ferry Tips for a Comfy Sailing
These BC Ferries travel tips will help you have an easy journey.
- Arrive at least 45 minutes before your sailing. You can cut it closer if you’re walking on, but I’d still get there about 30 minutes early. Ticket sales stop 10 minutes before the ferry departs. If you’re driving on with a reservation, you still need to arrive a minimum of 30 minutes before departure or your reso will be invalid.
- Travel outside of peak times (if you have a vehicle). Avoiding the most popular travel times will give you a better chance of making your sailing, and it may even enable you to capitalize on saver fares! Peak travel times between Victoria and Vancouver are Thursday afternoon, Friday afternoon, and Saturday morning.
- Check your luggage (when walking on). This isn’t required, but it’s a free service that will tremendously improve your quality of life. You’ll see signs to check your luggage near the base of the escalators in the Tsawwassen terminal. When you get to Victoria, head up the escalator and out the sliding glass doors of the terminal, and you’ll see the luggage collection area just to your left.
- Check the BC Ferries site for weather advisories and cancellations. Occasionally, ferries get cancelled due to weather or staffing issues. It’s always wise to check for service notices on the BC Ferries website before going to the terminal to ensure everything is running as expected. Cancellations are more common in the fall and winter storm seasons and rare in the summer.
- Make a reservation if you’re travelling with a vehicle. The ferries between Vancouver and Victoria are operating at a high capacity. During peak season, it’s common for travellers to wait for several sailings before making it onto the ferry. Save yourself precious vacation time by making a reservation when you travel with a vehicle.
FAQs about taking the ferry to Victoria
What’s the cheapest way to get from Vancouver to Victoria?
The ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is the cheapest way to get from Vancouver to Victoria. The ferry costs about $19 to walk on, and you’ll spend $10-$15 in transit costs to get to and from the terminal.
Do I need to book a ferry to Victoria in advance?
It’s not required, but I strongly recommend making a ferry reservation if you’re travelling from Vancouver to Victoria by vehicle. It’s a popular route and it’s worth spending a little extra money so you don’t waste your precious vacation time in the ferry terminal parking lot.
Can you bring food on the ferry?
Yep! There are no restrictions on carrying food and beverages onto the ferry (except alcohol, which isn’t allowed). You’re welcome to bring food to snack on. In fact, I recommend it because the onboard menu isn’t necessarily the healthiest or particularly friendly for anyone with dietary restrictions.
