Travelling from Toronto to Vancouver: what you need to know
Kick off your travels at one of Toronto's main airports, Pearson International Airport (YYZ) or Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ). Check out your options for booking a flight from Toronto to Vancouver jetting off from either of these.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH) are the major arrival points in Vancouver.
Around 5 hours 5 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct Toronto to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver's timezone is UTC-7, which makes Vancouver three hours behind Toronto.
The busiest route for flights from Toronto to Vancouver is Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to {"defaultCase":"Vancouver International Airport","accusativeCase":"Vancouver International Airport","nominativeCase":"Vancouver International Airport","dativeCase":"Vancouver International Airport"} (YVR). Pick from 187 services between these two airports every week.
For stress-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to catch your Toronto to Vancouver flight.
Flying during a peak time such as August? Public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer lines at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Toronto to Vancouver
Book 11 months before you want to fly. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Toronto to Vancouver flights.
The best month for finding cheap plane tickets from Toronto to Vancouver is February. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates that offer the lowest fares.
There's no need to check back in every day to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you the moment a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Toronto to Vancouver.
Find a cheap Toronto to Vancouver flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Toronto
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
You can book a direct flight from Toronto to Vancouver taking off from Pearson International Airport (YYZ). Board your plane at YYZ and then touch down at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
These are some of the major airlines offering direct Toronto to Vancouver plane tickets with departures from YYZ:
YYZ is about 19 kilometres from central Toronto. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 50 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Toronto to Vancouver? Avoid rushing to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels close to Pearson International Airport:
63.97% of flights leaving from Pearson International Airport make it to their destination on time.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Toronto to YTZ in around 40 minutes. The airport is roughly 3 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 35 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not spend an extra night away? Consider checking in to one of these hotels near Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport the day before your flight from Toronto to Vancouver:
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport has an on-time performance of 62.09%. This figure gives an insight into how often flights departing from this airport reach their destination on time.
Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF)
You can take off on a direct flight from Toronto to Vancouver departing from Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF). YKF has nonstop services to Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Abbotsford Airport (YXX).
Get ready to jet away with Flair Airlines. It offers direct Toronto to Vancouver plane tickets from YKF.
The journey to YKF from the centre of Toronto is around 4 hours 5 minutes on public transport. If you're in a car, it'll take you about 1 hour 15 minutes to cover the 80 kilometres or so.
Set yourself up for a smooth departure — stay close to Region of Waterloo International Airport and know you'll get to your gate with time to spare. Get settled at one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early Toronto to Vancouver flight:
The on-time performance rate of YKF is 63.64%. To put it simply, that's how often flights departing this airport arrive as planned.
Arriving in Vancouver
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
The distance from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to central Vancouver is approximately 11 kilometres. It'll take you around 25 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 35 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Book a hotel close to YVR if you have a late flight from Toronto to Vancouver. Check in to one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up a Vancouver International Airport rental car and explore Vancouver and beyond with your own set of wheels. Routes Car Rentals, Thrifty and Avis are top outlets to choose from here.
To get the lowest price, reserve your ride from Vancouver International Airport about one week in advance of your Toronto to Vancouver flight.
Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH)
Central Vancouver is approximately 0.80 kilometres from Vancouver Harbour Sea Plane Base Airport (CXH). Once your flight from Toronto to Vancouver has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should take about 5 minutes.
If you travel by public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 15 minutes or so.
There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to CXH. Unwind after your Toronto to Vancouver flight at any of these well-located options:
Save time at the rental desk by completing your booking beforehand. Reserve your ride from CXH ahead of time so you can just grab the keys and get going.
Abbotsford Airport (YXX)
Set off for the city centre after your flight from Toronto to Vancouver has touched down. Central Vancouver is around 64 kilometres from Abbotsford Airport (YXX) and takes roughly 1 hour to get there in a car.
If you go by public transport, the journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
If you don't want to make the journey into the centre, choose a hotel near YXX. Get settled at one of these stays after your Toronto to Vancouver flight:
Start your travels without stressing about how to arrive at your destination with an Abbotsford Airport rental car. Find your perfect set of wheels with trusted companies here like Hertz, Thrifty and Enterprise.
Around one week ahead of your flight from Toronto to Vancouver is the ideal time to book your ride from YXX. You're more likely to get a better rate or get access to early bird discounts.
Best time to go to Vancouver
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Toronto to Vancouver. August is the most popular month to travel to Vancouver. If you like a more peaceful vibe, go in May.
Lock in a Toronto to Vancouver ticket departing in August if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Vancouver to range from 13ºC to 24ºC.
Search for cheap flights from Toronto to Vancouver in December if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 7ºC on average.
More about Vancouver
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Vancouver right here. Explore these hotels after locking in your flight from Toronto to Vancouver:
Every great holiday has to include a little sightseeing. Stanley Park, Granville Island and Science World are essential stops on your Vancouver itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
Surrey is just one of the many places in Canada waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Vancouver. Around 32 kilometres to the south-east, popular attractions include Senator Reid Park, Port Mann Park and Morgan Creek Park.
Around 97 kilometres south of Vancouver, Victoria is another essential stop in Canada. No visit is complete without checking out Royal BC Museum, Craigdarroch Castle and Inner Harbour.
