One of the practical advantages of studying English in Vancouver is how easy it is to leave the city. Some of British Columbia's most popular destinations sit within a two-hour reach of downtown, and most can be done on a student budget without renting a car. If you are looking for things to do around Vancouver outside the city itself, this guide covers five tested day trips from Vancouver — Bowen Island, Squamish, Whistler, Victoria, and the Sea-to-Sky Highway road trip — with current travel times, approximate costs in CAD, and transport options for students who arrive without a driver's licence.
Day Trips from Vancouver at a Glance
| Destination | Travel time from downtown | Day or weekend | Approx. return transport (public, CAD) | Trip type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen Island | 50–70 min | Half-day | $20–30 | Nature, café village |
| Squamish | 1 h 15 min | Day | $50–70 | Hiking, gondola |
| Whistler | 2 h | Day or weekend | $60–90 | Mountain resort, year-round |
| Victoria | 3 h door-to-door | Day or weekend | $100–130 | Capital city, museums, parks |
| Sea-to-Sky road trip | 2 h driving (one way) | Weekend | Best with rental car | Multi-stop scenic drive |
Prices are approximate 2026 figures. Always check current ferry and shuttle schedules before booking.
How to Plan a Trip from Downtown Vancouver
Most international students arrive in Vancouver without a car and stay that way. Public transport reaches the main day-trip starting points across the Lower Mainland, and a few private shuttles fill the gaps. Most shuttle pickups, the 257 Horseshoe Bay Express bus, and the SeaBus terminal are within a 10-minute walk of CEL's downtown Vancouver campus.
Getting around without a car
The TransLink network — SkyTrain, SeaBus, and buses — connects downtown Vancouver to Horseshoe Bay (for Bowen Island ferries), to BC Ferries terminals (for Victoria), and to most shuttle pick-up points. A standard adult single fare is around CAD 3–4. BC Ferries — the provincial public ferry operator — runs the Bowen Island and Vancouver Island routes. Pacific Coach runs a daily bus-and-ferry service to Victoria. Epic Rides and Squamish Connector run scheduled shuttles north on the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish and Whistler.
Renting a car for a weekend
A small rental car in Vancouver costs roughly CAD 80–150 per day, plus insurance and fuel. Most agencies require drivers to be at least 21, and some charge a young-driver surcharge under 25. Splitting the cost between three or four students usually beats public transport for the Sea-to-Sky route specifically. For Bowen Island and Victoria, the ferry vehicle fare adds CAD 60–80 each way, so foot-passenger travel is almost always cheaper.
When to go
Whistler is busiest from December to March (skiing) and July to August (hiking and mountain biking). Squamish hiking is best from May to October. BC Ferries to Victoria fills up on summer weekends — book the day before. Sea-to-Sky weather can be 5–10°C cooler than downtown and changes quickly.
Bowen Island — The Easy Half-Day Escape
Bowen Island is the cheapest, simplest trip on this list. A short BC Ferries ride from Horseshoe Bay drops foot passengers at Snug Cove, a small village of cafés, a bakery, a bookshop, and the start of the Killarney Lake loop trail. The full crossing takes about 20 minutes, and the return foot-passenger fare is around CAD 13. Including the bus from downtown to Horseshoe Bay, expect CAD 20–30 return.
A typical Saturday looks like this: take the 257 Horseshoe Bay Express from downtown Vancouver, walk onto the ferry at Horseshoe Bay, and arrive on Bowen Island before lunch. After a coffee in Snug Cove and the two-hour Killarney Lake walk, students usually catch an afternoon ferry back and return downtown by early evening. It is the closest thing to a forest reset that fits in a single Saturday.
Squamish — Hiking, Climbing and the Sea-to-Sky Gondola
Squamish is a small town on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, and is British Columbia's outdoor-sports hub. A day trip from downtown Vancouver takes about 1 hour 15 minutes by shuttle. Three things draw most student visitors: the Stawamus Chief, a large granite rock with three hiking peaks; Shannon Falls, the third-highest waterfall in BC; and the Sea-to-Sky Gondola, which carries you to an 885-metre viewing platform with a suspension bridge.
The Squamish Connector and Epic Rides both run a return service from downtown Vancouver hotels, typically CAD 50–70 return. The Sea-to-Sky Gondola adult ticket is approximately CAD 75. A full day in Squamish — shuttle, gondola, and a packed lunch — sits comfortably under CAD 150.
Squamish is best between May and October when the trails are dry. The first Stawamus Chief peak is a steep but achievable half-day hike for most students with reasonable fitness.
Whistler — Day Trip or Weekend Getaway
Whistler is the most well-known destination on this list and the most expensive. In winter it is one of North America's largest ski resorts. In summer it is a mountain biking, hiking, and lake-swimming town. The Peak 2 Peak Gondola — a cable car linking Whistler and Blackcomb mountains — runs year-round.
Getting there. Epic Rides and Pacific Coach run daily return services from downtown Vancouver for roughly CAD 60–90 return. The drive is around two hours along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The Sea-to-Sky drive itself is one of the most scenic in Canada, which is part of why renting a car for a weekend appeals to groups.
Costs to plan for. Winter ski lift tickets at the window can exceed CAD 200 per day; advance online tickets and multi-day passes lower the per-day rate significantly. Equipment rental runs CAD 50–80 per day. Hostel beds in Whistler village start around CAD 50–80 per night in low season and rise sharply in peak weeks. Restaurants in Whistler village are noticeably more expensive than in Vancouver — expect CAD 25–35 for a main course. A realistic weekend total — transport, one night, food, and one mountain activity — is CAD 250–450. A winter ski day adds approximately CAD 200–280 for lift ticket and equipment rental.
Whistler is doable as a day trip in summer, when long daylight and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola make the round trip worthwhile without an overnight stay.
Victoria — A Ferry Ride to the Provincial Capital
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, sits on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The trip takes around three hours door to door and is a long but rewarding day or a relaxed weekend.
Two main options. BC Ferries from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay carries foot passengers for approximately CAD 19 one way; from Swartz Bay, a local bus reaches downtown Victoria in about 40 minutes. Pacific Coach runs an all-in-one bus-and-ferry service from downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria for around CAD 100–130 return, which is more expensive but simpler.
What students usually do in Victoria: walk the Inner Harbour, visit the Royal BC Museum, spend an hour in Beacon Hill Park, and have lunch at Fisherman's Wharf. Craft breweries and bookshops fill the afternoon. The city is compact and easy to cover on foot.
A day trip is possible if you take an early ferry and return late. An overnight stay in a hostel (CAD 40–60) gives you a slower morning and lets you reach the coast or Butchart Gardens before heading back.
The Sea-to-Sky Highway Road Trip
The Sea-to-Sky Highway is the 120-kilometre coastal road from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler. Driving it as a one- or two-day road trip is the only item on this list where a rental car genuinely changes the experience — public shuttles are point-to-point, not multi-stop.
A typical Sea-to-Sky route: Horseshoe Bay, Britannia Beach, Shannon Falls, Squamish (Stawamus Chief or Sea-to-Sky Gondola), and finally Whistler village. Britannia Beach — home to the Britannia Mine Museum, a former copper mine now run as a national historic site — is a 30-minute drive from Horseshoe Bay. With stops, the one-way drive takes four to five hours. A rental car for a weekend, split between four students, can work out at CAD 80–120 per person including fuel.
This is the trip to save for when you have a group, a free Saturday and Sunday, and at least one person in the group over 21 who can drive.
How Much Should a Student Budget for a Weekend Trip from Vancouver?
| Budget level | Trip | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Under CAD 50 | Bowen Island day trip | Return bus, foot-passenger ferry, café lunch |
| CAD 75–150 | Squamish or Victoria day trip | Return shuttle or ferry, one activity, one meal |
| CAD 250–450 | Whistler weekend | Return shuttle, one hostel night, food, one mountain activity |
These figures assume a student travelling alone or sharing transport with classmates. Group rentals, hostel sharing, and packed lunches lower the total further. The full cost of studying English in Vancouver — including weekly tuition, housing, and living expenses — is covered in a separate guide on our Vancouver pages.
Practical Tips for Trips Out of Vancouver
- Walk on as a foot passenger when possible. BC Ferries vehicle fares and waiting lines add cost and time.
- Buy Whistler lift tickets and gondola tickets online in advance for the best rate.
- Aim for an early Saturday start. Sunday-evening returns — especially BC Ferries through Tsawwassen and Whistler shuttles — are the busiest of the week.
- Carry your study permit, passport, and student card on any trip, even within British Columbia.
- Check weather before leaving downtown. Mountain forecasts differ from city forecasts.
- For activities within the city itself, see our guide to outdoor activities in Vancouver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do a day trip from Vancouver without a car?
Yes. Bowen Island, Squamish, Whistler, and Victoria are all reachable by public transport or scheduled shuttle from downtown Vancouver. The Sea-to-Sky Highway multi-stop road trip is the only item on this list that genuinely requires a rental car.
What is the cheapest trip from Vancouver for a student?
A Bowen Island half-day trip is the cheapest, at roughly CAD 20–30 return for a foot passenger including the bus to Horseshoe Bay. A Squamish day trip is the next step up, usually under CAD 150 including shuttle and the Sea-to-Sky Gondola ticket.
How do I get to Whistler from downtown Vancouver?
Epic Rides and Pacific Coach run daily return shuttle services from downtown Vancouver to Whistler village for approximately CAD 60–90 return. The drive takes around two hours along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. A rental car for the weekend, split between four students, can match the per-person cost.
Is Victoria worth a day trip, or do I need to stay overnight?
A day trip is possible by taking an early-morning ferry and a late return, but it is a long day. An overnight stay in a Victoria hostel (CAD 40–60) gives you time for the Royal BC Museum, the Inner Harbour, Beacon Hill Park, and either the coast or Butchart Gardens without rushing.
Do I need a special permit to travel within Canada on my study permit?
No. A valid Canadian study permit allows you to travel anywhere inside Canada. For trips that leave the country — including across the border to Seattle — check that your study permit remains valid for re-entry and that you have any required visa for the destination.
Vancouver is one of the easiest North American cities to leave for a weekend, and most of the trips in this guide are doable on a student budget without a rental car. You can explore English courses in Vancouver and read about studying English in Canada on our main pages.
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