How to get around in Vancouver

New students often wonder how to get around. The city can seem very crazy on the first day, but you can use this guide to travel more easily in and around Vancouver!

Vancouver only has one public transportation company: TransLink. It operates Vancouver’s SkyTrain, buses, and sea buses.

Compass Card

If you want to use TransLink’s services, you can pay in cash but it is more convenient to purchase a Compass Card. For example, if you buy a single ticket at a bus, you will not be able to use this for the SkyTrain and you will have to pay again. However, if you have a Compass Card, you can travel across buses, the SkyTrain, and sea buses within 90 minutes of the start of your trip.

You can buy a Compass Card at any Skytrain station, London Drugs, and a few other retailers. Each card costs $6, but you can return it for a refund when you leave Canada. After purchasing, it is highly recommended that you register your card here. If you lose your card or it gets stolen, you can recover your balance using this registration.

After you get your card, find a Compass Vending Machine located at SkyTrain stations or London Drugs. Tap the “Load Compass Card” option. You can either decide how much money to put into your card or buy a monthly pass. After loading your card, you just tap in and out of transit.

Vancouver’s Zones and Transit Prices

Vancouver is divided into 3 zones. You can pay each individual trip using the regular fares below, or you can buy monthly passes for unlimited travel within your zone. Also, people who do not have a monthly pass have to pay an extra $5 to go to the Vancouver Airport using the SkyTrain.

Regular Fares

Type	Zone*	Fare
Adult
	1	$2.85
	2	$4.10
	3	$5.60
Concession**
	1	$1.80
	2	$2.80
	3	$3.80

*Customers can travel across all zones for the price of a 1-Zone Fare on weekdays after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Monthly Passes

Zone	Adult	Concession**
1	$93	$53
2	$126	$53
3	$172	$53

**Eligible for HandyCard holders, seniors 65 years and older and youth 14 to 18 years with valid photo identification proving age, and children 5 to 13 years. Children under 5 years ride free when accompanied by an adult (maximum 4 children per adult).
All buses are zone 1, so it is cheaper if you live farther but it might be slow. The SkyTrain and sea buses are divided into 3 zones, so your trip might be more expensive but it will be faster.

So, we hope this will help you get around in Vancouver more easily! If you want to plan your trip, including prices and alternatives, go to Trip Planner. Happy Travels! 🙂