One of the first things you need to know when you are planning a trip to British Columbia is likely how to get from Vancouver Airport to downtown Vancouver. Whether you are coming into Vancouver before your Alaska cruise or are coming into the city for a holiday, there are several ways to get into the city. Vancouver International Airport is not actually in Vancouver, it is in nearby Richmond, but as distance goes, just a few kilometers from the city of Vancouver
This post will give you all of the options when it comes to traveling from Vancouver Airport to downtown Vancouver. There are several ways to get into the city centre from YVR including renting a car, taking a limo, a taxi, Uber, Lyft or public transit.
How to get from Vancouver Airport to Vancouver
Car Rental
Many major car rental companies have desks at YVR, so hiring and returning your rental car is easy and convenient. You should book your car in advance, gone are the days of choosing a car on arrival. If you are planning on heading outside of downtown Vancouver, a rental car is the easiest way to get around.
Click here to get a quote on renting a car.
Taxi
If you’re taking a taxi from YVR to Vancouver after arrival, use one of the taxi stands located on Level 2. Taxis operating from the airport are licensed and will use a zoned fare rate that will depend on your destination.
Uber and Lyft
Metro Vancouver has two main ride-hailing apps: Uber and Lyft. However there are more than two in the area. Besides these two, KABU is also authorized to pick up passengers at Vancouver Airport and take them into the city (or anywhere else they want to go).
There are three places to get picked up at YVR, they include International Arrivals, Level 2, Domestic Arrivals, Level 2, and South Terminal.
When should I request a ride? Ride App drivers have a dedicated waiting area at YVR, which is a short distance from the terminal. Please wait to collect your luggage before requesting a ride.
Limo and Private Car Service
When flying into YVR, many companies offer pre-arranged meet-and-greet services or simply use YVR’s official licensed limousine company. you can grab a limo on arrival (subject to availability)
Public Transit
Vancouver does not have a subway, but it does have rapid transit, and most of it is the SkyTrain. The Canada Line portion provides rapid rail service linking Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver. Trains leave the airport station approximately every seven minutes during most times of the day. There are 16 stops along the line, with downtown Vancouver stops including Yaletown, Vancouver City Centre and Waterfront. The trip from Vancouver Airport to downtown Vancouver takes less than 30 minutes and costs approx $9.25
More Vancouver Resources:
If you are going on an Alaska cruise from Vancouver, check out these hotels near the Vancouver cruise terminal. While you are in the city, check out this list of things to do in Vancouver in summer.
Depending on how much time you have in the city, check out this three-day Vancouver itinerary to get your planning started.
If you are planning on renting a car and road tripping, read about our 5 day trip from Vancouver to Banff.
Lindsay Nieminen is the creator of UncoveringBC.com. She grew up and still lives in the suburbs of Vancouver with her family. She aims to inspire inform, and educate others about traveling in her home province of British Columbia. She is also the creator of carpediemourway.com which aims to show parents how to seek out adventure at home or abroad, with their children in tow!