Travel To Vancouver

YVR

Vancouver International Airport (YVR)

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a barrier-free North American airport that handles non-stop international flights daily to and from Europe, Asia, Oceania, the United States, and Mexico, and national flights within Canada.

Due to its proximity to Asia, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a barrier-free North American airport that handles non-stop international flights daily to and from Europe, Asia, Oceania, the United States, and Mexico, and national flights within Canada and its territories.

Due to its proximity to Asia, YVR is the major gateway between Canada and Asia, with more trans-Pacific flights than any other airport in Canada. For travelers from the United States, YVR is one of eight Canadian airports that have U.S. Border Preclearance facilities.

YVR operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

International flights to and from YVR include:

For more information regarding airlines to Vancouver, including airline reservations phone numbers, please visit Airlines at YVR & Destinations.

Visas and Entry into Canada

Find out if you require a visa to visit Canada, please see Visit Canada.

Most people need a visa OR an Electronic Travel Authorization to travel to Canada – not both. Some people may only need their valid passport.

If you're a Canadian permanent resident (PR), find out more about travelling to Canada with PR status.

Other important information for all visitors to Canada may be found here. 

Letters of invitation from the conference are given by request upon full payment of registration fees.

Airport Arrival 

Vancouver Airport is ranked among the top ten airports in the world. It has been awarded the Skytrax Best North American Airport for 10 consecutive years due to its level of customer service, design, and access to downtown. Signage in the terminal buildings are in English, French, and Chinese.

In 2019, YVR was voted Best Airport in North America by the Skytrax World Airport Awards, which are based on an independent survey of more than 13.5 million passengers from more than 100 countries. YVR is the only airport to have ever received this honour for ten consecutive years.

Getting to UBC

The conference venue and accommodations are located at The University of British Columbia (UBC), approximately 30 minutes from the airport. You can get to UBC by taxi, ride app services (Uber or Lyft), public transit, or car (rental). Taxis, Uber or Lyft are the easiest and quickest way to get to UBC from the airport.

Taxi

Taxis to UBC take approximately 30 minutes. Taxis are queued outside the domestic and international arrival gates and are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. If you are arriving from an international destination or the U.S.A., the taxi departure bay is outside the building on the same level. The flat fare to UBC is $36.00 CAD, credit card or cash.

All taxis that pick up passengers from the airport are fully licensed.

Transit: Buses & Rapid Rail, or “Canada Line Skytrain”

Alternatively, you can take transit from the airport to UBC. The above-ground monorail rapid rail, called the Canada Line Skytrain, from the airport into the city of Vancouver. All Skytrains leaving the airport head towards “Waterfront” Station.

The Canada Line Skytrain runs every seven minutes from YVR-Airport station during peak hours and every 15 minutes during off-peak hours. Total travel time from the airport to UBC is approximately 50 minutes.

Buses such as the R4 (stops at Oakridge station), the 49 (stops at Langara station) and the 99 (stops at Broadway station) and run until around midnight and stop at each Skytrain station every 5-15 minutes depending on the time of day. For more information please visit How to get to UBC.

Arriving from within Canada?

  • Your checked bags are at Arrivals on Level 2 of the Domestic Terminal
  • On Level 3, walk toward the Link Building (located between the International and Domestic Terminal)
  • Follow the signs marked Canada Line or ask any of our Customer Care staff in red or green vests for assistance

Arriving from outside Canada?

  • Once through the customs and immigration arrivals process, walk toward the exit to our International Arrivals Greeting Area
  • Exit the building following signs marked Canada Line
  • Before the parkade entrance, an escalator and elevator will take you up to the Canada Line platform

All transit users travelling on the Canada Line leaving YVR are subject to a $5 Canada Line YVR AddFare, in addition to the regular zone fare. AddFare is automatically added when a user purchases a fare card.

For information about fares, visit www.translink.ca.

Information on where to purchase tickets and directions on how to get to the Canada Line Skytrain from the arrivals terminals can be found at http://www.yvr.ca/en/getting-to-from-yvr/public-transportation.aspx

Information on current bus fares, schedules, and transit planning can be found at www.translink.bc.ca

Car Rental & Limousines

For full information on other transportation, including car rentals and limousines, please visit “For Getting To & From YVR” at  http://www.yvr.ca/en/passengers/transportation

Car rental facilities at the airport are located on the ground floor of the parkade. Companies include:

Parking At UBC

Limited parking is available for guests staying in the conference campus accommodations for $16.00 per day plus tax. Visitor parking is available at various parkades around campus.

Information regarding rates for visitor parking can be found on the “Find Parking” page of UBC Parking https://parking.ubc.ca/map