Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria airport to city centre: buses, taxis and costs
There is no train. Victoria International (YYJ) sits at Sidney, about 25 km (16 mi) north of downtown. Take the 88 bus to McTavish exchange then the 72 to downtown (about 60–75 min, CAD 2.50–3), or a taxi or ride-hail (about 30 min, CAD 60–75). Choose the bus if you are solo and unhurried; the taxi if you land after about 21:00 or carry bags.There is no train. Victoria International (YYJ) sits at Sidney, about 25 km (16 mi) north of downtown. Take the 88 bus to McTavish exchange then the 72 to downtown (about 60–75 min, CAD 2.50–3), or a taxi or ride-hail (about 30 min, CAD 60–75). Choose the bus if you are solo and unhurried; the taxi if you land after about 9:00 PM or carry bags.There is no train. Victoria International (YYJ) sits at Sidney, about 16 mi (25 km) north of downtown. Take the 88 bus to McTavish exchange then the 72 to downtown (about 60–75 min, CAD 2.50–3), or a taxi or ride-hail (about 30 min, CAD 60–75). Choose the bus if you are solo and unhurried; the taxi if you land after about 21:00 or carry bags.There is no train. Victoria International (YYJ) sits at Sidney, about 16 mi (25 km) north of downtown. Take the 88 bus to McTavish exchange then the 72 to downtown (about 60–75 min, CAD 2.50–3), or a taxi or ride-hail (about 30 min, CAD 60–75). Choose the bus if you are solo and unhurried; the taxi if you land after about 9:00 PM or carry bags.
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- Plan calculated
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Key facts
- Airport
- Victoria International (YYJ), at Sidney, about 25 km north of downtown
- Train
- None; the nearest rail is on the mainland, reached by ferry
- Buscheck
- Route 88 to McTavish exchange, then 72 toward downtown; about 60–75 min
- Bus farecheck
- CAD 2.50–3 one way, 2026 estimate
- Taxicheck
- About 30 min; CAD 60–75, 2026 estimate
- Ride-hail
- Uber and Lyft operate in the Victoria area
- Ferry linkcheck
- Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen about 1 h 35 min; foot passenger from about CAD 20
- Last buscheck
- Evening service thins out; check the day's last trip before you fly
Quick answer
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) is not in Victoria. It sits beside the town of Sidney, roughly 25 km north of the inner harbour, so every trip into town is a road trip of 30–75 minutes.
The cheapest way is the local bus: route 88 from the terminal to the McTavish exchange, then route 72 south toward downtown. It costs a couple of dollars and takes about an hour, more in traffic. A taxi or ride-hail costs roughly ten times as much and takes about half the time.
There is no train from the airport and no train on Vancouver Island at all. Rail in this part of Canada means VIA Rail on the mainland, which you reach by ferry from Swartz Bay.
| Option | Time to downtown | Cost (2026 estimate) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 88 + 72 | 60–75 min | CAD 2.50–3 | Solo travellers, light bags, daytime |
| Taxi | About 30 min | CAD 60–75 | Two or more, luggage, late arrivals |
| Ride-hail | About 30 min | Similar to taxi | App users, off-peak |
| Hotel shuttle | Varies | Free to about CAD 20 | Guests of participating hotels |
| Ferry + bus via Swartz Bay | 2 h 30 min+ | CAD 20+ ferry plus bus | Coming from Vancouver, not the airport |
Times are off-peak; add 10–20 min on weekday afternoons.
Options in detail
Bus. Route 88 meets the terminal and runs to the McTavish exchange, where you change to route 72 for the run into Victoria. Both are ordinary transit buses with no luggage rack, so a big suitcase is awkward at peak times. Pay with exact change or a tap card; BC Transit fares are set by zone, and the airport run is the outer zone.
Taxi. A metered cab from the terminal to downtown Victoria takes about half an hour outside rush hour. Expect CAD 60–75 with tip, more if you are heading out to Langford or the western suburbs. Taxis line up outside arrivals; there is no need to book ahead except for very early flights.
Ride-hail. Uber and Lyft both serve the Victoria region, with pickup at a marked area outside the terminal. Fares track taxis closely and surge when ferries and flights land together.
Hotel shuttle. Some airport-area and downtown hotels run their own shuttle, free or for a small fee. Ask when you book; it is the easiest option if your hotel offers it.
Car rental. All the major brands have desks at YYJ. A car makes sense if you plan to see the island beyond Victoria, but parking downtown is expensive and the centre is walkable.
- Allow 60–75 min for the bus door to door, plus waiting time at McTavish.
- Taxis take cards; ask before loading if you only have cash.
- Late-night arrivals after about 22:00 are taxi territory; bus service is thin.
Costs
Fares below are 2026 estimates for one adult, one way, in Canadian dollars. The bus is the only genuinely cheap option; everything else is a taxi-priced ride.
If you are arriving from Vancouver rather than by air, the ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay is the main route, about 1 hour 35 minutes, with foot passengers paying from roughly CAD 20 and cars much more. From Swartz Bay, buses continue into Victoria.
| Item | 2026 estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BC Transit fare, airport zone | CAD 2.50–3 | Exact change or tap card |
| Taxi, YYJ to downtown | CAD 60–75 | Plus 10–15% tip |
| Ride-hail, YYJ to downtown | CAD 55–80 | Surge at peak times |
| Hotel shuttle | CAD 0–20 | Hotel-dependent |
| BC Ferries, Swartz Bay–Tsawwassen foot passenger | From about CAD 20 | About 1 h 35 min |
| Rental car, per day | CAD 60–130 | Plus insurance and fuel |
Prices move with season and fuel; treat these as bands, not quotes.
Tips
Buy or load a tap card if you will use transit more than twice; it saves fumbling for change on the airport run.
Check the last bus of the day before you book a late flight. If your arrival is after about 21:00, budget for a taxi.
If your hotel is in Sidney rather than Victoria, you are minutes from the terminal and can walk or take a short cab; see the Sidney guide for what is there.
Coming from Vancouver, compare the ferry plus bus against a floatplane or a direct flight into YYJ; the ferry is cheapest but eats half a day.
For a first trip, pair this transfer with the Victoria itinerary so you are not backtracking across the peninsula.
- Keep CAD coins for the bus.
- Confirm shuttle eligibility with your hotel at booking.
- Rush hour on the Patricia Bay Highway runs roughly 15:30–18:00.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do I get from Victoria airport to the city centre?
Take bus 88 from the terminal to McTavish exchange, then bus 72 into downtown: about 60–75 minutes for CAD 2.50–3. A taxi or ride-hail does the same trip in about 30 minutes for CAD 60–75.
How much is a taxi from Victoria airport?
About CAD 60–75 to downtown Victoria, including a 10–15% tip, in 2026. It takes roughly 30 minutes off-peak. Rides to Langford or the western suburbs cost more.
Is there a train from Victoria airport?
No. There is no rail on Vancouver Island. The nearest trains are VIA Rail services on the mainland, reached by ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen, then onward transport.
How far is Victoria airport from downtown?
About 25 km, roughly 30 minutes by car and 60–75 minutes by bus. The airport is at Sidney, a separate town north of Victoria.
Can I use Uber or Lyft at Victoria airport?
Yes, both operate in the Victoria area with a designated pickup zone outside the terminal. Fares are close to taxi rates and rise at peak arrival times.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVictoria International Airport (YYJ)
- officialBC Transit
- officialBC Ferries
- officialDestination Greater Victoria
- secondaryWikivoyage – Victoria (British Columbia)