Vancouver to Victoria Ferry | Victoria BC Guide

BC Ferries Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay: fast facts

Operator

BC Ferries

Route

Tsawwassen (Vancouver), BC to Swartz Bay (north of Victoria), BC

Sailing or flight time

1 h 35 min. BC Ferries lists a sailing duration of 1 h 35 min.

Leaves from

Tsawwassen ferry terminal

Arrives at

Swartz Bay ferry terminal

Cars

Yes

Check-in

Check-in times depend on your booking type; see your booking confirmation on bcferries.com.

Schedule

Oct 18, 2026 (times vary by day and season). Departures: 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm, 10:00 pm.

Adult (12+), at terminal

$21 per person, one way. Prepaid is the same; Saver fares are lower. A 5% fuel surcharge is added at payment. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

Child (5–11)

$10.50 per person, one way. Under 5 travel free. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

Vehicle up to 20 ft

$89 per vehicle, one way. Excludes driver and passengers. Extra length is $8 per foot over 20 ft. A 5% fuel surcharge is added. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

Saver adult

$15 per person, one way. Saver fares are limited and must be prepaid in full. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

Fuel surcharge

$5 of net fares. Applied at payment to the net fares, except stowage. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

Reservation fee (book now, pay later)

$20 per booking. Only for customers who book ahead but do not prepay. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

BC Ferries Connector bus + ferry

$86 per adult, plus taxes and fees. Valid “May 15 – March 31” per the listing. The page shows “$” without naming the currency; BC Ferries prices in Canadian dollars. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

BC Transit single ride

$3 per person. Adult, senior and youth single ride as listed. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

BC Transit DayPASS

$6 per person per day. Adult, senior and youth DayPASS as listed. Verified October 18, 2026. Source.

Facts checked October 18, 2026 on the operator’s page. Always confirm with the operator before you travel.

Step by step

1. Reach Tsawwassen. The terminal is south of Vancouver. The tool above assumes 60 minutes from downtown Vancouver and 30 minutes at the terminal; change both if your start point is different.

2. Choose your fare. Terminal and prepaid fares are the same; Saver fares are limited and prepaid. The fuel surcharge of 5% is applied at payment to the net fares, except stowage.

3. Sail 1 h 35 min. On 18 October 2026 BC Ferries listed 12 sailings each way, from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm from Tsawwassen and 7:00 am to 9:00 pm from Swartz Bay. Times change by day and season, so use the live schedule.

4. Get from Swartz Bay into Victoria. By car, drive into Victoria (the tool assumes this is 10 minutes quicker than the bus, an estimate). On foot, BC Transit’s single ride is $3 and a DayPASS is $6. The BC Ferries Connector instead drops you at the Victoria bus terminus.

Without a car

Walking on costs one foot-passenger fare each way, then a bus fare in Victoria. Compare it with the floatplane in the tool above, or if you only have a day see the day trip from Vancouver time check.

Sailing times on a sample day (18 October 2026)

If you are coming from the US side, see the Port Angeles and Seattle routes.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria?

BC Ferries lists a sailing duration of 1 hour 35 minutes between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay. Getting to the Tsawwassen terminal and from Swartz Bay into Victoria adds more time, which the comparison above estimates and lets you edit.

Can I go from Vancouver to Victoria without a car?

Yes. Foot passengers pay the adult or child fare, then take a bus from Swartz Bay. BC Transit route 70 serves Swartz Bay and downtown Victoria. The BC Ferries Connector runs bus and ferry together from Pacific Central Station in Vancouver; its listing shows $86 per adult plus taxes and fees for May 15 to March 31.

How much does the BC Ferries Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay ferry cost?

On the fare guide effective 16 June 2026: adults and children 12 and over $21, children 5–11 $10.50, under 5 free, standard vehicle up to 20 ft $89 (excluding driver and passengers) and motorcycle $44.50. A 5% fuel surcharge is added at payment. Saver fares are lower on some sailings: adults $15, children $7.50, vehicles $34 to $84.

Do I need a reservation?

Booking is optional. Customers who book ahead but do not prepay can add a separate $20 reservation fee and pay the terminal fare on departure. Prepaid fares are the same as terminal fares; Saver fares must be prepaid in full.

Is a floatplane faster than the ferry?

Harbour Air says its Vancouver to Victoria flight takes about 35 minutes dock to dock, between downtown harbours. Even with check-in the floatplane is much quicker; the ferry usually costs less. The comparison above shows door-to-door estimates for your party.

How far is Swartz Bay from downtown Victoria?

BC Transit’s route 70 timetable for the Swartz Bay direction shows trips of roughly 46 to 55 minutes between downtown Victoria and the terminal. Allow more time in traffic or if a bus is held for a delayed ferry.

This is an independent planning site, not the operator or a government body. Prices checked on October 18, 2026; confirm with the operator before you book.

Vancouver to Victoria ferry (Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay)

Ferry, floatplane or flight: compare door to door

BC Ferries Tsawwassen–Swartz Bay: fast facts

Step by step

Without a car

Sailing times on a sample day (18 October 2026)

Frequently asked questions

More ways to reach Victoria

Sources