Travelling from San Jose to Vancouver: what you need to know
Planning your getaway starts with working out where you'll leave from in San Jose. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from San Jose to Vancouver jetting off from here.
Vancouver has a good selection of airports you can jet into. Touch down at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) or Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
San Jose and Vancouver are both in the UTC-7 timezone. This means you won't have to change your watch when you arrive.
Leave enough time to make your San Jose to Vancouver flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a peak time like August? Major public holidays and other popular seasons can lead to longer queues at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Jose to Vancouver
Booking ahead of time is often the key to scoring a cheap San Jose to Vancouver flight. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from San Jose to Vancouver across the month. It's a great way to find a bargain if your dates are flexible.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from San Jose to Vancouver by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Find an affordable San Jose to Vancouver flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from San Jose
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC)
We make it a breeze to find a San Jose to Vancouver flight with a stopover. To see the options departing from Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply select a flight that has a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Popular stopovers include:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
The journey from central San Jose to SJC takes about 45 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 5 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a leisurely start to your holiday? Stay near Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from San Jose to Vancouver or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport gets high marks for on-time performance. 84.69% of flights that take off from SJC land on time.
SJC's address is 1701 Airport Boulevard, Suite B-1130.
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver takes about 25 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 10 kilometres away.
It typically takes 35 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
If you're coming in on a late flight from San Jose to Vancouver, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing not long after at one of these hotels near YVR:
Hit the road running by picking up a Vancouver International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty or Avis and explore beyond Vancouver's usual tourist stops.
Secure the lowest price by reserving your vehicle from Vancouver International Airport around one week before your trip.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) is roughly 0.80 kilometres from the centre of Vancouver. Once you've hopped off your flight from San Jose to Vancouver, it'll take you approximately 5 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take around 15 minutes.
After your flight from San Jose to Vancouver, tuck yourself in at a hotel close to CXH. These are some comfortable options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Get the vehicle you actually want, not just what's left, by securing your ride from CXH before your arrival. You can also avoid paying more than you need to, especially during busy airport times.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Hop off your flight from San Jose to Vancouver and go straight to your hotel or start sightseeing right away. Central Vancouver is around 64 kilometres from Abbotsford Airport (YXX) and typically takes 1 hour to reach by car.
Public transport can get you there in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Choose a hotel near YXX and go from the plane to your bed in a flash. Whether you're coming in on a late San Jose to Vancouver flight or just want to keep your travel plans simple, these stays put comfort right within reach:
Begin your trip without stressing over how to get to your destination with an Abbotsford Airport rental car. You can book with reliable companies here like Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
Plan ahead and enjoy the payoff. Book your ride from YXX one week before your flight from San Jose to Vancouver for the best deals.
Best time to go to Vancouver
May is the quietest month for flights from San Jose to Vancouver, while August is the most popular. Find the ideal time to visit Vancouver based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Book a San Jose to Vancouver ticket departing in August if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Vancouver to range from 13ºC to 24ºC.
December sees average temperatures of between -1ºC and 7ºC. Look for cheap flights from San Jose to Vancouver around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Vancouver
Start your Vancouver trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from San Jose to Vancouver, check out our range of accommodation options including:
Stanley Park and Granville Island are just a couple of the leading attractions to add to your Vancouver must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Science World.
Explore more of Canada
Vancouver has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of Canada waiting to be explored. Around 32 kilometres south-east of Vancouver, a visit to Surrey will keep you busy. Start with leading sights like Senator Reid Park, Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park.
If there's time to check out another major stop in Canada, head for Victoria, roughly 97 kilometres south of Vancouver. Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour are highlights.
