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Voykit pocket guide · Canada
Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Skip Surrey as a base unless you have family or a specific errand: 1 night max, and only if you are already in the Vancouver area.
Surrey is Metro Vancouver's largest suburb by area and the second-largest city in British Columbia, about 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver on the Expo Line SkyTrain. It is a residential and industrial city with South Asian food, a small historic village in Cloverdale and a beach at Crescent Beach, not a sightseeing destination. Most travellers pass through or use it as a cheaper bed near Vancouver.
- Country
- Canada
- Local name
- Surrey, British Columbia
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rain)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CAD
- Money
- Currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, $). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget C$70–110 excl. bed · Mid C$120–190 excl. bed · High C$200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Rogers, Bell and Telus plus cheaper brands (Fido, Koodo, Public Mobile); prepaid SIMs in malls and stores. Canadian data is expensive — an eSIM is often cheaper.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Same as the US.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: CAD 1–2 per drink.; Taxi: 10–15%.; Housekeeping: CAD 3–5 a night.; Guide: 10–20% of the tour price.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable; treat water from lakes and streams (giardia).
- Toilets
- Free in malls, Tim Hortons, stations and park visitor centres.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | C$3–6 |
| South Asian meal in Newton | C$12–22 |
| Beer: draught in a pub / can at a liquor store | C$7–10 / C$2–4 |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare3.1 mi taxi or rideshare | C$18–28 |
| TransLink single fare, one zone | C$3.05 (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | C$20–40 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- YVR · Vancouver International
- About 30 min by car via Highway 91 or 99; also reachable by Canada Line to Waterfront, then Expo Line to Surrey Central
- YXX · Abbotsford International
- Smaller airport east of Surrey, reached via 16 Ave
- BLI · Bellingham International
- About 25 min south of the US border; limited direct routes
Typical fares
- SkyTrain Surrey Central to Waterfront, three zones
- about C$5.90, about 45 min (check)
- Taxi YVR to Surrey
- C$60–80, about 30 min (check)
- Bus 321 Surrey Central to White Rock
- one-zone fare, about 1 h (check)
Get around
TransLink runs SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus across Metro Vancouver. The Expo Line links Surrey Central and King George stations to downtown Vancouver in about 45 min. Compass Cards cost a $6 refundable deposit; contactless credit cards and mobile wallets also tap in. Fares are zone-based on weekdays before 6:30 pm when SkyTrain or SeaBus is involved, and single-zone otherwise; transfers last 90 minutes. Children 12 and under ride free.TransLink runs SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus across Metro Vancouver. The Expo Line links Surrey Central and King George stations to downtown Vancouver in about 45 min. Compass Cards cost a $6 refundable deposit; contactless credit cards and mobile wallets also tap in. Fares are zone-based on weekdays before 6:30 AM pm when SkyTrain or SeaBus is involved, and single-zone otherwise; transfers last 90 minutes. Children 12 and under ride free.
See and do
Known for
- South Asian food, especially in Newton
- Cloverdale historic village and antiques
- Crescent Beach
- Surrey Central SkyTrain hub
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | Expo Line SkyTrain from Surrey Central or King George to Waterfront | About 45–55 min |
| White Rock | Bus 321 from Surrey Central toward South Surrey, or drive via King George Blvd | About 1 h by bus |
| Delta | Bus 301 or 340 toward Delta, or drive via Highway 99 or 17 | About 45–60 min |
| Abbotsford | Drive via Highway 1, or bus 503 to Aldergrove then BC Transit route 21 | About 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Surrey City Centre / Whalley
- High-rises around Surrey Central SkyTrain; cheapest beds with the fastest link to Vancouver.
- Guildford
- Mall and bus exchange; quieter, still on the Expo Line corridor.
- Newton
- Central Surrey; the main South Asian shopping and restaurant cluster.
- South Surrey / Crescent Beach
- More affluent, near the US border and the water; needs a car or a long bus ride.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Thank you |
| Excuse me | Excuse me |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Can I pay by card? | Can I pay by card? |
| Where is the SkyTrain station? | Where is the SkyTrain station? |
| To this address, please | To this address, please |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; 'Bonjour' first in Québec; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks English
- Queues: Line up and wait your turn; avoid: Pushing in
- Apologising: 'Sorry' is politeness, not admission of fault; avoid: Loud confrontation
- Canada vs US: Treat Canada as its own country; avoid: Calling Canadians American
- Indigenous culture: Buy from Indigenous-owned businesses and ask before photos at ceremonies; avoid: Wearing headdresses as costume
Scams and watch-outs
- Surrey is spread out and mostly low-density: a car or a long bus ride is needed for Cloverdale, Newton and Crescent Beach.
- Some blocks around Whalley and Newton have property crime; keep bags close at night and use the SkyTrain stations rather than unlit side streets.
- The Expo Line does not run overnight; the N19 night bus is the only transit link to Vancouver after the last train.
- Border waits at Highway 99 (Peace Arch) and Highway 15 (Pacific Highway) can run to an hour on summer weekends.
Surrey is a normal big suburb, not a dangerous city, but it has pockets of property crime around Whalley and Newton. Use the SkyTrain stations at night, avoid unlit side streets, and do not leave anything visible in a parked car.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Surrey yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- South Asian food, especially in Newton
- Cloverdale historic village and antiques
- Crescent Beach
- Surrey Central SkyTrain hub
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Surrey: www.surrey.ca/
- Discover Surrey: discoversurreybc.com/
- TransLink: www.translink.ca/
- Wikivoyage: Surrey (British Columbia), revision 5261542 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5261542
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SurreySurrey, British Columbia
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The US has a consulate general in Vancouver; most other countries keep consulates in Vancouver or embassies in Ottawa.
English is the working language; no phrase list is needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/surrey-british-columbia). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.