🇨🇦 Getting Around Vancouver

Mountains meet ocean in one of the world's most scenic transit cities. SkyTrain, SeaBus, and waterfront bike lanes make car-free living effortless.

Main Transport Options

SkyTrain

Fully automated driverless rapid transit — 3 lines across Metro Vancouver

CA$3.15 (1 zone, Compass Card)

•Expo Line: Downtown to Surrey and King George
•Millennium Line: East Van to Lafarge Lake-Douglas
•Canada Line: Downtown to YVR Airport and Richmond
•Runs from ~5 AM to 1:15 AM daily

Pro Tip: Sit at the very front of the driverless train — you get a full windshield view of the entire route!

SeaBus

Iconic passenger ferry crossing Burrard Inlet between downtown and North Vancouver

CA$3.15 (2-zone fare)

•12-minute crossing every 15 minutes
•Stunning harbour and mountain views
•Connects to Lonsdale Quay Market
•Compass Card accepted

Pro Tip: Take the SeaBus at sunset — the North Shore mountains glow pink behind the city skyline!

TransLink Buses

Extensive bus network covering all of Metro Vancouver

CA$3.15 (1 zone)

•200+ routes across Metro Vancouver
•Express B-Line buses on major corridors
•Night Owl service on key routes
•Free transfer within 90 minutes

Pro Tip: The 99 B-Line is the busiest bus route in North America — it's practically a surface subway!

Mobi Bike Share

Vancouver's public bike share with 2,500+ bikes and 250 stations

CA$2.50 unlock + CA$0.15/min

•Classic and e-bikes available
•Stations from Stanley Park to Commercial Drive
•Seawall bike path is world-famous
•Helmets required by law (provided at stations)

Pro Tip: Ride the Stanley Park Seawall — 10 km of oceanfront cycling with mountain views around every corner!

Passes & Tickets

Compass Card

Reloadable smart card for SkyTrain, SeaBus, and all buses

Best for: Everyone — essential for Vancouver transit

✓CA$6 refundable deposit
✓90-minute free transfers
✓Zone-based pricing (1-3 zones)

Day Pass

Unlimited rides on all TransLink services for one day

Best for: Heavy sightseeing days

✓CA$11.25 for all zones
✓SkyTrain, SeaBus, buses included
✓Valid until end of service

Monthly Pass

Unlimited rides for a calendar month

Best for: Extended stays

✓CA$102.55 (1 zone) to CA$177.45 (3 zones)
✓All TransLink services
✓Auto-load available on Compass

Navigation Apps & Tools

TransLink App

Official app with real-time SkyTrain and bus tracking

Transit App

Excellent multi-modal planner with live departure times

Google Maps

Reliable routing across Metro Vancouver

Mobi App

Find bike stations, check availability, and unlock bikes

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

SkyTrain over False Creek

Elevated train crossing the water with Science World dome in frame

SeaBus from Waterfront

North Shore mountains reflected in Burrard Inlet from the ferry deck

Seawall bike ride

Stanley Park oceanfront path with Lions Gate Bridge towering above

Canada Line to YVR

Sleek train crossing Richmond farmland with mountain panorama

Aquabus to Granville Island

Tiny rainbow ferries crossing False Creek to the famous market

Insider Tips

1Sit at the front of the SkyTrain — it's driverless, so you get the full windshield view
2After 6:30 PM and weekends, all zones cost 1-zone fare — huge savings on the SkyTrain
3The Canada Line from YVR Airport to downtown is CA$9.30 and takes 25 min — skip the taxi
4Helmets are legally required for cycling — Mobi stations provide them free
5The SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay is the best-value scenic ride in the city
6Vancouver is very walkable downtown — many attractions are within 20 minutes on foot