Lower Mainland

The Lower Mainland is in British Columbia, Canada. The official tourist information site calls the area "Vancouver, Coast and Mountains".

The term "lower mainland" has different meanings; for some people it is equivalent to "Greater Vancouver", while others include everything out to Abbotsford or Hope in the east, and Squamish or Whistler in the north. Here we use it to describe the area from Vancouver in the west to Hope in the east, and from the American border in the south, to the town of Whistler and the Sunshine Coast in the north.

Cities

 * — a major regional town with a commercial airport, and a hub of agriculture
 * — gateway to British Columbia's interior and the eastern end of the Fraser Valley
 * — home to a Catholic Mission that can be toured
 * — a small town that never grew up, it has a nice riverfront promenade and beautiful old neighbourhoods
 * — playground for the outdoor-minded: miles of hiking trails, mountain biking, skiing, kayaking
 * — home to a large Chinese immigrant population and Vancouver International Airport
 * — the second biggest city in British Columbia, after Vancouver, with a large South Asian community
 * — a city of steel and glass condominiums and outstanding natural beauty, frequently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world
 * — the biggest ski resort in North America, but plenty to see and do year-round. Summer: mountain biking; extensive valley trail system, hike, swim. Peak to peak cable car gondola open year round

Other destinations

 * — a small island at the entrance to Howe Sound, that draws tourists to wander the shops and explore the parks and natural areas
 * — a rugged wonderland set amid the Coast Mountains

Understand
This area is home to Greater Vancouver, the largest metropolitan area west of Toronto. It is also home to the mainly agricultural Fraser Valley, the outdoor playground of the Whistler environs and the laid back vacation area termed the Sunshine Coast.

Talk
The de facto language is English. Chinese (especially Cantonese and Mandarin) is the second most-spoken language in the city and there are sizable immigrant communities who speak other languages, such as Punjabi. Though there are few French speakers in British Columbia, Canada is officially bi-lingual so Canadian Government offices may offer services in French.

Primary airport in Lower Mainland for scheduled commercial flights

 * is a major airport and is the hub airport for British Columbia with frequent direct flights from other points in British Columbia, major cities across Canada and the United States, Asia, and several major cities in Europe. Frequent direct flights are also available from Mexico and Australia, increasing during Canada's winter.  Direct flights are not available from South America or Africa.  TransLink provides public transit SkyTrain service to the main terminal and bus service to the South Terminal.

Secondary airport in Lower Mainland for scheduled commercial flights

 * , about east of Vancouver in Abbotsford, handles mostly domestic and low-cost carrier flights. With an arranged ride, you can be in and out of this airport in under 10 min (with no checked in baggage).  There is no public transit service to this airport, but some inter-city buses stop here.

Small airport in Lower Mainland with scheduled commercial flights

 * offers scheduled departures to Vancouver International Airport. BC Transit provides public transit.

Other nearby secondary with scheduled commercial flights

 * , across the border in Washington state, serves mainly as a launching point for budget-minded Canadian travelers vacationing in the U.S.: excellent service from Hawaii and Las Vegas, but few other useful connections. Also offers connecting service through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Major airport further away with scheduled commercial flights

 * is a major American air hub, and can be a dramatically less expensive option than buying a direct flight from Canadian airports. A U.S. visa may be required and could take some time to procure.

Seaplane
A number of small airlines operate seaplanes departing from Vancouver, downtown and from near Vancouver International Airport, from the Sunshine Coast (from Sechelt and from Powell River), and from Whistler (summer only). Flight connect those destinations and flights are available to travel to some of those destination from Vancouver Island, including from Victoria and Nanaimo. These flights are expensive, but faster and more scenic than other options.

From Washington state
To cross this international border, you need an international travel document: a passport, a NEXUS card (see below), a US Passport Card, or certain US and Canadian "Enhanced ID" Drivers Licences.

There are five land border crossing points into the Lower Mainland region (Canadian name | US name), which operate 24 hours per day and have dedicated NEXUS card holder lanes unless otherwise noted. The following are the Lower Mainland borders crossings from west to east:

There are often lengthy lineups at the border, in either direction. During summer and long weekends, waits at the border can exceed three hours during peak times. You can see current wait time forecasts for both directions on the Canada Border Services Agency website, and for US-bound traffic on the US Customs and Border Protection website.

From other places in British Columbia
Most major highways from interior British Columbia converge at Hope, east of Vancouver, then follow the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) west into Vancouver. The routes below are land based. For options that involve arriving by ferry, see By boat section below.

Via Hope
Three major highways enter the Lower Mainland at Hope.


 * Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) connects to Hope from Alberta via Golden, Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, and Cache Creek. It intersects Highway 97 at Cache Creek, which travels to the Northern British Columbia communities such as Prince George.
 * Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) an east-west route that connects to Alberta via Osoyoos in the Okanagan, and Castlegar and Cranbrook in the Kootenays.
 * Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway) is the main highway and the most travelled route entering the Lower Mainland via Hope, as it is generally the fastest route to follow to reach the Lower Mainland, including from Alberta, Kamloops, and Kelowna.

From October 1 to April 1, vehicles on all three of the highways require snow tires, or mud and slush tires. On all three of these routes, there are portions with and without cell phone service.

Via Pemberton, BC
Highway 99 provides an alternate access to the Lower Mainland from Highway 97, about 10 km north of Cache Creek. However, north of Pemberton the route is a narrow, isolated, mountain road, which generally lacks cell phone service.

By bus
The Lower Mainland, especially Vancouver is well served by bus service. Most bus routes terminate in Vancouver at Pacific Central Station (see "By train" for location).

From Vancouver Island:



From British Columbia Interior and other provinces (stops with "(AR)" require advanced reservation):



From United States (crossing the border at the Pacific Highway Crossing):



By public transit
No public transit crosses the border with Washington State in the United States, though it is possible to travel solely by public transit, as buses terminate within blocks of the Sumas-Huntingdon Border Crossing between Abbotsford and Sumas. Theoretically, using public transit alone, a person could travel from Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island to Olympia via Vancouver and Seattle, though the trip would take multiple days.

By train
Taking the train to the Lower Mainland is unlikely to be the cheapest option, but it is a scenic one. All trains, except the Rocky Mountaineer terminate at:

Train options within Canada:



Train options from United States of America:
 * Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel by train is suspended as of March 2022, and travellers will use Amtrak's bus option to reach Vancouver.

Ferries

 * Ferry terminals in the Lower Mainland
 * Vancouver area
 * in West Vancouver. Has route from Nanaimo (Departure Bay) on Vancouver Island. Also has routes within the Lower Mainland connecting with Bowen Island (Snug Cove) and the Sunshine Coast (Langdale). TransLink provides public transit to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay).
 * in Delta. Has routes from Nanaimo (Duke Point) and Victoria (Swartz Bay) on Vancouver Island. Also has routes within the Lower Mainland connecting with several of the Southern Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna, and Salt Spring). TransLink provides public transit to Vancouver (Tsawwassen).
 * Lower Sunshine Coast
 * near Gibsons. Has routes within the Lower Mainland with vehicle ferries connecting with Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) ferry terminal, and foot passenger ferries connecting at nearby island terminals of Gambier (New Brighton), Keats (Keats Island), and Keats (Eastbourne). BC Transit provides public transit at Sunshine Coast (Langdale) to Sechelt via Gibsons.
 * near Egmont. Has route within Lower Mainland connecting with Powell River (Saltery Bay). No public transit at this terminal. There is no public transit, but there is an inter-city bus service between this terminal and Sunshine Coast (Langdale) with stops along the way, see below under "By bus."
 * Upper Sunshine Coast
 * near Powell River. Has route from Sunshine Coast (Earls Cove). BC Transit provides public transit that serves Powell River (Saltery Bay) on limited trips several days per week, timed to connect with an inter-city bus service that travels to Sunshine Coast (Earls Cove).
 * in Powell River. Has routes from Comox (Little River) on Vancouver Island and Texada Island (Blubber Bay). BC Transit provides public transit daily to Powell River (Westview) and Texada Island. Through a transfer in Powell River, riders can reach Lund. Most days of the week, BC Transit operates public transit bus service that serves Comox (Little River) terminal, traveling to Comox and Courtenay.
 * Other ferry terminals
 * North Shore
 * has a vehicle ferry route from Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay). TransLink provides public transit that services this ferry terminal.
 * Sunshine Coast
 * has foot passenger ferry route to Sunshine Coast (Langdale). No public transit at this terminal.
 * has foot passenger ferry route to Sunshine Coast (Langdale). No public transit at this terminal.
 * has foot passenger ferry route to Sunshine Coast (Langdale). This terminal has daily service, but far fewer trips than to Keats' other ferry terminal. No public transit at this terminal.
 * has vehicle ferry routes from Comox (Little River) on Vancouver Island and from Powell River (Westview). BC Transit provides a bus route that travels around Texada Island crosses on the ferry to Powell River.
 * Ferry capacity and reservations
 * Real-time remaining vehicle capacity available on ferry trips is available on BC Ferries' website and on some highway signs heading toward the terminals.
 * One most routes, reservations are available for travelers crossing with vehicles. At times during the year, reservations may be required between Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands. Otherwise reservations are never required, but are recommended for vehicles during peak travel times, such as late June to early September and long weekends. Reservations cost $17.
 * Parking
 * Long term parking is available from BC ferries at some terminals: Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), Vancouver (Tsawwassen Terminal the nearby Tsawwassen Ferry Park and Go), Victoria (Swartz Bay), Nanaimo (Departure Bay), Nanaimo (Duke Point), and Sunshine Coast (Langdale). The price of parking varies per terminal. Expect to pay $18-19 per day at BC Ferry Terminals in the Lower Mainland (2022). Other terminals may charge less. Real-time remaining parking capacity is available on BC Ferries' website.
 * Long term parking is available from BC ferries at some terminals: Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay), Vancouver (Tsawwassen Terminal the nearby Tsawwassen Ferry Park and Go), Victoria (Swartz Bay), Nanaimo (Departure Bay), Nanaimo (Duke Point), and Sunshine Coast (Langdale). The price of parking varies per terminal. Expect to pay $18-19 per day at BC Ferry Terminals in the Lower Mainland (2022). Other terminals may charge less. Real-time remaining parking capacity is available on BC Ferries' website.

Get around
Depending on how much you want to see, there may be a number of ways to get around the Lower Mainland.

By bus
Some parts of the Lower Mainland cannot be reached by public transit alone. In some cases, inter-city buses traveling only within the Lower Mainland are an option.

By public transit
TransLink

Within Vancouver and many of its suburbs, the TransLink public transit system can get you to most places. TransLink extends from Lions Bay and Bowen Island to the north-west, to Delta in the south-west, to Langley in the south-east, to Maple Ridge in the north-east. SkyTrain rail rapid transit connects Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, and Vancouver. In the remainder of British Columbia including other areas of the Lower Mainland, where public transit is available, it is offered by BC Transit.

Connections between the Fraser Valley and TransLink


 * TransLink's Westcoast Express offers weekday service between Vancouver and Mission, heading westbound during the morning rush hour and eastbound during the afternoon rush hour.
 * BC Transit bus 66 offers express bus service between Burnaby and Chilliwack including stops in Langley and Abbotsford.
 * BC Transit bus 21 offers local bus service between Langley to Abbotsford.

The Fraser Valley

Public transit within the Fraser Valley connects between communities including:


 * Abbotsford - BC Transit
 * Chilliwack, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Kent (including Agassiz) - BC Transit

The Sea to Sky Corridor

BC transit runs public transit systems in the following locations in the Sea to Sky corridor of the Lower Mainland, though they cannot be reached public transit (and, where necessary by BC Ferries) from Vancouver:


 * Squamish - BC Transit
 * Whistler - BC Transit
 * Pemberton - BC Transit. Note that a bus route travels to Whistler.

The Sunshine Coast

Public transit on the Sunshine Coast in separated into two systems, which do not have connections with each other.


 * Sunshine Coast - BC Transit provides public transit including to Sechelt and Gibsons. It is possible to reach Vancouver using public transit by connecting via BC Ferries.
 * Powell River - BC Transit

By car
The most convenient means of getting around the region is by car. Car rentals are readily available throughout the region. Major highways in the Lower Mainland:


 * Highway 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway) is the main thoroughfare, travelling from West Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) ferry terminal to the interior of BC via North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Hope.
 * Highway 7 travels from Vancouver to Hope via Burnaby, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Mission, and Kent (Agassiz).
 * Highway 17 travels from the Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal in Delta to Surrey.
 * Highway 91 is a freeway connecting Richmond, New Westminster, Delta, and Surrey.
 * Highway 99 begins at the US border Canada in Surrey, where it meets Interstate 5, then it continues north to Delta, Richmond, and Vancouver, then toward British Columbia's interior via North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Lions Bay, Squamish, Pemberton and Whistler.
 * Highway 101 connects the Sunshine Coast from Sunshine Coast (Langdale) ferry terminal to Lund, via Gibsons, Sechelt, and Powell River.

By boat
Some coastal parts of the Lower Mainland (Sunshine Coas t and Bowen Island) can only be accessed by boat. BC Ferries provides ferry services to these areas and visitors can walk on or take their car. See Get In under By boat above.


 * Ferry in this region:

See
For many people, Vancouver will be the starting point for a trip to the Lower Mainland. It's a city glass towers well supplied with beaches and picturesque mountains in the distance. Close to its downtown, you can walk the seawall around its huge Stanley Park, and then to lots of sushi and other Asian restaurants, a public art gallery, and an aquarium. Vancouver's suburbs are accessible by Skytrain and other transit, and offer a wide array of shopping, more sprawling parks, and many interesting historical site.

The Sea to Sky Highway offers spectacular scenery — exquisite alpine lakes, craggy peaks, waterfalls, glaciers — and a surprising amount of it is easily accessible from the highway. You'll need a boat or a plane, though, to see the Sunshine Coast's Princess Louisa Inlet, one of BC's most beautiful natural locations. The wide opening of Jervis Inlet narrows to become a 64-km-long fjord ending in the inlet.

In Whistler, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre showcases the art, history and culture of the local First Nations, while the Audain Art Museum has an excellent collection of art by British Columbia artists, and visiting exhibitions.

Do
There is so much do and see in the Lower Mainland, the following are only suggestions based on the regions.

Greater Vancouver, home to Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and many more. To see all the sights, take a day tour to become familiar with all the sights. There are a number of sightseeing companies who run trips daily. And also the public transportation is also any easy way to see everything and get into the surrounding communities. You also can't miss out on the dining experiences, you name it and there is a restaurant in Vancouver to serve it. With award winning and internationally known restaurants, there is always something new to try.

In the Fraser Valley, you are entering into an amazing region which has plenty of stops to fill your stomach. Here you can find a number of award winning wineries and family owned farms. You can sample the fresh fruits and vegetables at a number of stands along the highway or pop into a local restaurant and have a wild salmon dish. You can spend the day driving from each community or you can make a whole weekend of it. The valley offers a great opportunity to relax in the warm waters of Harrison Hot Springs. Whatever you do while visiting the Sea to Sky region, it will most likely involve some form of adventure outdoors. Here you will find some of the best golfing, skiing, hiking and many other outdoor activities. You can head up to the vibrant Whistler village or find your own mountain paradise.

The Sunshine Coast is your place to relax. Now relaxing means different things to everyone, this could mean sitting on your private B&B patio watching the sunset, or bobbing up and down while waiting for the fish below to take a bit of your bait, but whatever your image of relaxation it is found on the Sunshine Coast. Take a drive up the Sunshine Coast Highway and stop off at the galleries and farmer's markets to pick up some local goodies. But don't bother looking at your watch because here time is no of a concern.

The Sunshine Coast-Vancouver Island Circle Tour, a road trip involving ferries. The trip involves travel between Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, and eastern Vancouver Island between Comox and Victoria in circuit that does not involve backtracking.

Hiking
Regardless of what part of the Lower Mainland you are in, there will be hiking opportunities, ranging in length and amount of elevation gain. Vancouver Trails has information about over 200 trails around the Lower Mainland, especially more popular trails. Book stores in the region will generally have several different books in stock focused on describing local hiking trails.

Eat
The Lower Mainland is the scene of a quickly exploding food and wine revolution! Adjectives like diverse, fresh, delicious, unique don't even begin to describe the true nature of the region's bounty. World class cuisine from every corner of the globe is readily available throughout the region. West Coast cuisine shares the bill with Asian Fusion, Sushi, Italian, Indian, Mexican, Vegetarian, Chinese, Thai, French, Fish & Chips, Micro Breweries and Fruit Wineries.

Naturally, the region is so close to the Pacific Ocean that it provides a steady supply of the freshest of the fresh seafood. The catch of the day graces the plates of restaurants with famous BC salmon, halibut, cod, crab, scallops and oysters. Prepared simply, fantastically or fantastically simple... enjoy your 'catch of the day' in a fine dining establishment, a trendy eatery, a casual pub or right on the docks.

Farm fresh is a phrase heard repeatedly in the Lower Mainland. Just east of Vancouver is the Fraser Valley, a lush picturesque and productive valley which is home to a multitude of farms working diligently to deliver produce from the farm directly to the plate or to the visitor. Find fresh fruit and vegetables in season, farm-raised meat and eggs and extra special treats like home made jams and jellies.

Drink
The Fraser Valley has become a popular wine touring destination. Domaine de Chaberton Winery, a fixture in the beautiful south Langley countryside, has been joined by a number of other wineries (Township 7, Fort Wine Company, Glenugie Winery, Lotusland Vineyards and the Blue Heron Fruit Winery), all within a short drive of each other and from any location in the region. You can be in wine country in less than one hour drive from downtown Vancouver!The Lower Mainland also has some of the best tap water in the world.

Go next

 * The immense and beautiful Vancouver Island lies off the shore of the Lower Mainland. Offering numerous recreational opportunities, it is accessed by one of four BC Ferries routes from the Lower Mainland.
 * The Thompson-Okanagan region lies northeast of the Lower Mainland.
 * Extending north along the coast is the beautiful North Coast.
 * The US state of Washington lies to the south.