Vancouver Transit Guide

This is a Vancouver transit guide. Using a transit system in a new city can be a bit confusing; these are tips for easy ways to get around the city using Translink.

Plan your trip out to local attractions using Google or use Vancouver airport transportation on the Canada Line. Find your way around Vancouver easily.

That easily gives you everything you need to know, including walking times.

(Be aware that walking times are at a brisk walking pace – if you want to dawdle you may want to give yourself some extra time).

Google is pretty dependable to give you the ideal route. Translink (the name of the Metro Vancouver transit authority) also has a trip planner on their official website, but it's trickier to navigate and takes longer to process.

Often times, I just call Tranlink’s customer service (604-953-3333; press 0 to speak to a customer service rep; open from 6:30am-11:30pm). They are quite helpful.

This is definitely the way to go if you're already out and about and especially if you’re not sure the best route to take.

At the same phone number, you can also quickly get the next bus times if you know the stop number (this is printed on top right of the sign at the bus stop). Press 1 to access that option from the main menu.

Crossing into another zone means a more expensive fare on weekdays. After 6:30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends, a one-zone ticket gets you across all zones. As of 2010, 1-zone is $2.50, 2-zones is $3.75 and 3-zones is $5.00: Translink Official Fare Info Opens New Window

You have a few options to pay your fare.

• Single fare – pay cash for the ticket at full price. Obtain transfer as proof of payment and to allow you to transfer to another bus, Skytrain or Seabus within 90 minutes; the expiry time is printed on the back.
• FareSaver tickets – buy a book of 10 and save about 25%. Validate the ticket as you enter the bus or Skytrain/Seabus station. This is your proof of payment and works the same way as a single fare (valid for 90 minutes). Purchase tickets at convenience stores like 7-Eleven.
• Daypass – use for 1 calendar day, allows you to cross all zones. You need to plan about 4 trips within one zone or a minimum of 2 trips across 3 zones plus 1 trip within one zone to make this worthwhile.

Since I bike frequently and usually only 2 trips (there and back in one day) I find that a book of tickets is the best option for me, but it all depends on your particular situation.

As for how to pay: buses only take coins, no change is given. Skytrain and Seabus stations take bills up to $20 and most also accept debit/credit cards. Westcoast Express is more expensive than a regular Vancouver transit fare and the stations all accept coins, bills, debit and credit cards.

The brand-new Canada Line (opened August 2009) connects to the airport, providing much needed Vancouver airport transportation for residents and tourists alike. The trip to the airport is more expensive - an $5 AddFare is required to help pay for Airport Improvements. If you have a pre-paid ticket (Faresaver or Daypass), this doesn't apply. However, it will still be cheaper than a taxi for most people!

Vancouver transit has many modes. Now that you know how to find your way around on transit, find out what you're going to travel on!

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