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Getting from Vancouver Airport to the City Centre

Packed with things to do and see, Vancouver is a great holiday destination. Its grand mountain range, beautiful ocean, rainforests and distinct four seasons make Vancouver one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Furthermore, Vancouver is a great city to visit as it is clean, green, safe and is a renowned walking city.

So when landing at Vancouver International Airport and you wish to make your way downtown, you have 2 different transportation options; you can either take an airport cab or private shuttle, or you can take the SkyTrain. Taking a Vancouver taxi or private shuttle is always a great way to travel to the city centre as they provide reliable 24/7 transportation straight to your Vancouver hotel. However, if you are travelling on a budget, the SkyTrain is a great alternative, as the railway provides a direct train to the city centre.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Vancouver at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €24.30 20min 24/7
Train €12.20 25min 05:07–00:56

How to get from Vancouver airport to the city centre by taxi

Vancouver airport taxis are a great way to get from YVR to downtown as they provide reasonable priced flat-rate fares, 24/7 door-to-door services in the comfort of a private vehicle. Moreover, they are easily recognisable as all airport taxis are yellow.

Taxi fare from Vancouver International Airport to the city centre

Vancouver airport taxi cabs offer fixed rate fares to downtown Vancouver and other various zones around the city.
Downtown Vancouver is in Zone 9 and it will cost you a flat rate of CA$36 (€24.30), this is excluding your drivers tip and the airport toll of CA$3 (€2).

All Vancouver taxis accept credit cards payments.

Cost

CA$36 (€24.30)

Trip Duration

20 Min.

*Rates do not vary depending on the time of day

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Vancouver International Airport

Where do I get it from?

The official taxi ranks at Vancouver International Airport are located at the taxi stands on the second level of the Domestic and International Arrivals.

Convenience

Choosing to take a taxi for your Vancouver airport transfer is a great idea, as arriving in a new city can be overwhelming. Furthermore, taxis are reasonably priced, especially if you are sharing the end fare with your travel group.

Editor’s Note

Please note that an airport toll fee of CA$3 (€2) will need to be paid by the passenger when leaving Vancouver International Airport.

Useful Tips

All taxis should accept bank card payments, however it is advisable to check with your driver beforehand.
Tipping your taxi driver in Vancouver is common, the usual tip would be 10 to 20 % of your final taxi fare.
Make sure to confirm the flat rate fare to downtown Vancouver before leaving the airport.

How to get from Vancouver airport to the city centre by train

A fast, efficient and cost-savvy option to get from Vancouver airport to downtown is to take the airport train, SkyTrain which is operated by Canada Line. The train runs between YVR airport station (Richmond) and Waterfront Station (downtown Vancouver) in just 25 minutes.

How much is a ticket on the Canada Line SkyTrain?

A one-way ticket from Vancouver airport to downtown costs CA$4 (€2.70), however, all users travelling on the Canada Line leaving YVR are subject to a CA$5 (€3.40) Canada Line YVR AddFare, in addition to the regular zone fare.

You can purchase your tickets at the SkyTrain ticket machines on all Canada Line station platforms. They accept cash, credit and debit/ATM cards. You may also buy SkyTrain tickets at the 7-Eleven Store on Level 1 at the airport’s Domestic Terminal building.

Cost

CA$9 (€6.10)

Trip Duration

25 Min.

There is an average waiting time of 6 minutes for the train during peak hours and 12 minutes during normal hours.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The SkyTrain is available Mon-Fri from 05:07 to 00:56, on Saturdays at 06:00 to 00:56 and on Sunday at 07:30 to 00:56.

Where do I get it from?

Canada Line’s YVR Airport station is centrally located between Vancouver airport’s International and Domestic Terminals. Follow the signs marked “Canada Line” or ask any of the Customer Care staff wearing red or green vests for assistance.

Convenience

Vancouver airport’s Skytrain is the cheapest and quickest way to get from Vancouver International Airport to downtown Vancouver as you are not subject to traffic. Nevertheless, if you arrive late at night or in the early hours of the morning you will have to take a taxi or private transfer to Vancouver city centre.

Editor’s Note

If you are travelling during peak hours, then taking the Vancouver airport train is a great option as you won’t be confronted with the city’s dense traffic.

Useful Tips

It is important to note that SkyTrains travelling from downtown Vancouver towards YVR airport/Richmond will alternate final destinations between Vancouver Airport and Richmond. If you are travelling to the Airport, make sure you board a Skytrain that is designated "YVR Airport" and not "Richmond".
When a traveller purchases a fare card, the CA$5 “AddFare” will automatically be added to your card.
Canada Line customer care staff are available around the airport for assistance and are easy to recognise as they wear red and green vests.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How far is Vancouver airport to downtown Vancouver?

Vancouver International Airport is located 12 km away from Vancouver city centre; taking 20 minutes by car or taxi and 25 minutes by train. 

How to get from Vancouver airport to downtown?

There are two transportation options to get from YVR airport to downtown Vancouver; you can either take a taxi or private transfer or you can take the SkyTrain.

How much is a Vancouver airport city transfer?

If you choose to take a Vancouver cab from the airport to downtown, you will pay a flat rate fare of CA$36 (€24.30). On the other hand, if you choose to take the SkyTrain to downtown Vancouver,  a one-way ticket will cost CA$9 (€6.10).

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