You've landed at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and your hotel is downtown. This guide compares your four ways into the city, what to arrange before you fly, where to meet a pre-booked driver, and what to expect when you reach your hotel.
Four ways to get downtown
YVR sits on Sea Island in Richmond, about 15 km south of downtown Vancouver.
| Option | Door to hotel door? | Your luggage | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Line (SkyTrain) | No. You walk from the nearest station | You carry it on and off the train | Light packers, solo travellers |
| Taxi | Yes | Varies | Travellers who don't want to pre-book |
| Rideshare | Yes | Varies | App users comfortable with the pickup area |
| Pre-booked private car | Yes | Your chauffeur helps with it | Families, groups, business travellers, late arrivals, lots of luggage |
The Canada Line takes less than half an hour to reach downtown Vancouver, according to YVR. The airport station sits between the International and Domestic terminals. Road traffic doesn't affect it, but you finish the trip on foot with your bags.
Three Canada Line stations serve downtown: Waterfront (West Cordova Street, near Canada Place), Vancouver City Centre (Granville and West Georgia) and Yaletown–Roundhouse (Davie and Mainland). Trips leaving YVR on the Canada Line also carry a YVR AddFare on top of the regular fare. Landing late at night? Check the TransLink SkyTrain schedule. YVR says the N10 NightBus runs to downtown when the Canada Line is closed.
Taxis wait at stands on Level 2 of both International and Domestic Arrivals, first come, first served (YVR taxi information).
Rideshare pickups are also on Arrivals Level 2. YVR advises collecting your luggage before you request a ride, because drivers wait in a separate area a short distance from the terminal (YVR rideshare information).
A pre-booked private car tracks your flight before you land. Your chauffeur meets you, helps with your bags, and drives you to your hotel door. That's what our Vancouver airport limo service does, and you can request a quote in a few lines.
Which option fits your trip?
It depends less on distance and more on who's travelling and what they're carrying.
- Solo, carry-on only, arriving mid-day: the Canada Line works well. Check which station is closest to your hotel before you land.
- A family with children and checked bags: door to door matters. Suitcases, a stroller and tired kids are hard work through a station and along downtown sidewalks.
- A business traveller going straight to a meeting: a known driver and a known meeting point, with time to make calls on the way in.
- A late-night or delayed arrival: a pickup that follows your flight means you aren't arranging a ride after a long trip.
- A group arriving together: one vehicle can be easier than several cabs. Which vehicles are available depends on your group size, luggage and date.
Before you land
Share your flight number. Your flight is tracked, so if you land early or late, your pickup moves with it.
Check your hotel's check-in time. If you'll arrive before your room is ready, ask the hotel in advance whether they can hold your bags.
Confirm your hotel's entrance. Some downtown hotels have more than one entrance, or a separate drop-off area for guests arriving by car. Include the hotel's street address in your quote request. If you know which entrance you'd like, mention it too, so your chauffeur pulls up in the right place and you aren't walking around the block with your bags.
Arriving late at night? Dispatch is available 24/7. Pickups between 2am and 6am carry an off-hours charge, shown in your written quote before you book.
Get your quote in writing. We work on flat-rate quotes. Your written quote includes applicable parking, tolls, ferry and meet-and-greet charges.
What to include in your quote request
- Your flight number and scheduled landing time
- Whether it's a domestic or an international flight
- Your hotel's name and street address
- How many passengers are travelling
- How many bags, and anything oversized (skis, golf bags, strollers)
- Any stops on the way
- Your return trip to YVR, if you'd like both quoted at once
When you land: finding your driver
Complimentary waiting, counted from when your flight lands: 40 minutes for domestic arrivals, and 60 minutes for international arrivals, where customs and baggage can take longer.
Domestic arrivals: your chauffeur meets you at the baggage carousel.
International arrivals: once you've cleared customs and collected your bags, walk out of the customs hall into the public meet-and-greet area. Your chauffeur meets you there, by the two wooden statues.
Your driver's name is sent to you before pickup, so you know who to look for.
Common arrival hiccups
Your bag didn't arrive. Report it at your airline's baggage service desk before you leave the arrivals hall, then let your driver know you're delayed.
Customs or baggage is taking longer than your complimentary wait. It happens, especially when several international flights land close together. As soon as you can see you'll run past your waiting allowance (40 minutes domestic, 60 minutes international, counted from landing), contact your chauffeur or call dispatch on 604-992-6999. Say where you are: still in the customs line, waiting at the carousel, or at the baggage desk. If you're unsure how extra waiting time is handled for your booking, ask when you call, so nothing is a surprise.
You landed early. Your flight is tracked, so an early landing is picked up automatically. Message or call if you're through faster than expected.
The drive into downtown
By car, the trip typically takes around 30 minutes. Allow more at weekday rush hour, on rainy evenings, or when a big event is on downtown.
Downtown hotels sit in a few distinct areas:
- Coal Harbour and the waterfront: near Canada Place and the cruise terminal
- Robson Street and the business district: shopping, offices and many large hotels
- Yaletown: restaurants and the seawall along False Creek
- The West End: quieter streets near Stanley Park and English Bay
Many downtown hotels have a covered entrance or a short loading zone. Your chauffeur pulls in there and helps unload your bags.
For route details, see our Downtown Vancouver–YVR airport transfer page.
Arriving before check-in
Overnight flights often land in the morning, and many hotel rooms aren't ready until the afternoon.
- Ask the hotel to hold your bags until your room is ready, and confirm this before you travel.
- Pack a change of clothes and essentials in your carry-on, so you can freshen up and head out.
Groups and extra luggage
Families and business groups often want to arrive together. Include your passenger and bag count in your quote request, and we'll recommend a vehicle that's available for your date. You can see the vehicles on our fleet page.
Heading back to YVR
- Follow your airline's recommended airport arrival time. It differs for domestic, US and other international flights.
- Allow for traffic, especially at rush hour and in bad weather.
- Book your return trip when you book your arrival, so it's settled before your stay starts.
If your trip continues by sea, we also run hotel-to-ship cruise transfers to Canada Place.
Going beyond downtown?
If your trip continues past the city, we also run Vancouver to Whistler transfers and Vancouver to Seattle transportation, including Seattle (Sea-Tac) and Bellingham airports. You can see all our Vancouver limo services on the homepage.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get from YVR to downtown Vancouver?
By car, typically around 30 minutes, and longer at rush hour or in bad weather. YVR says the Canada Line takes less than half an hour to reach downtown, plus your walk to the hotel.
What's the easiest way to get to a downtown hotel with luggage?
A taxi, rideshare or pre-booked car takes you door to door. A pre-booked car adds flight tracking, a named chauffeur and help with your bags.
Where do I meet my driver at YVR?
Domestic arrivals: at the baggage carousel. International arrivals: in the public meet-and-greet area just outside the customs hall, by the two wooden statues. Either way, you get your driver's name before pickup.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
Your flight is tracked, so your pickup follows your actual landing time. Complimentary waiting counts from landing: 40 minutes for domestic, 60 minutes for international.
Can I book a late-night or early-morning arrival?
Yes. Dispatch is available 24/7. Pickups between 2am and 6am carry an off-hours charge, shown in your written quote.
Is the fare agreed before I travel?
Yes. We provide flat-rate quotes. Your written quote includes applicable parking, tolls, ferry and meet-and-greet charges.
Can I book my return trip at the same time?
Yes. Add your departure date and flight details to your quote request, and we'll quote both trips together.