Canada
The second-largest country on earth, which means Vancouver and Toronto are as different as London and Istanbul. British Columbia is where most of my coverage lives - and it earns it.
Canada has a habit of making travellers underestimate both its scale and its internal variation. Vancouver and Toronto are five hours apart by air and feel like different countries. Most of my coverage focuses on British Columbia - Vancouver and Vancouver Island in particular - which is where I have spent the most time and where the transport infrastructure makes for genuinely interesting travel.
British Columbia runs one of the best ferry networks I have encountered anywhere: BC Ferries connects the mainland to Vancouver Island and dozens of smaller islands, and the Hullo fast catamaran cuts the Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver hop to 70 minutes. Toronto is the more obvious first stop from Europe - more transatlantic traffic, the Air Canada hub - but Vancouver is the better city for a first visit, and BC as a region (Whistler, Tofino, the Gulf Islands) rewards staying longer than people allow.
The Best Time to Visit Canada
British Columbia is a Pacific coast climate - mild, wet, and green. Vancouver averages more rain than London but spread differently: the winters are grey and damp rather than cold; the summers are genuinely beautiful. July and August are the peak months, with temperatures around 22°C, low humidity, and long evenings. The mountains are accessible, Whistler runs outdoor activities, and the ferries are busy.
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are underrated. The shoulder months in Vancouver avoid the summer crowds and peak accommodation prices while keeping the weather reasonable. May in particular - the city is green, the cherry blossom season is ending, and Whistler often still has skiable snow.
Toronto has a more continental climate - cold winters (below 0°C, significant snow), hot summers (30°C+), and two short but pleasant shoulders. Summer is the time to visit for anyone doing the national parks, the Maritimes, or anywhere in the eastern provinces.
Monthly temperature
Vancouver averages below - mild Pacific coast climate. Wet winters but rarely cold. July-August is the reliable good-weather window. Toronto is significantly colder in winter and hotter in summer.
Getting there
Select your origin to see the best routing options.
Direct to both gateways in 8-10h. Toronto for the east and onward domestic connections; Vancouver for British Columbia.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | LHR/DUB - YYZ / YVR | Direct | 7-10h | The widest network to both Toronto and Vancouver, with the best onward domestic links. |
| Aer Lingus | DUB - YYZ | Direct | ~7h 30m | Direct from Dublin to Toronto, with US-style pre-clearance benefits on the return. |
| WestJet / BA | LHR/LGW - YVR / YYZ | Direct | 8-10h | WestJet from Gatwick to the west; BA serves both. |
Short cross-border hops on multiple carriers; the easiest international arrival of all. Note Vancouver and Toronto both have US pre-clearance.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada / WestJet | US hubs - YVR / YYZ | Direct | 1-6h | Dense cross-border network from the major US cities. |
| Alaska / United / Delta | SEA/SFO/LAX - YVR | Direct | 1-3h | Frequent West Coast hops into Vancouver. |
| Various | US - Toronto / Montreal | Direct | 1-3h | Wide choice into eastern Canada from the Northeast and Midwest. |
Air Canada flies the nonstop trans-Pacific into Vancouver - the natural gateway from the southern hemisphere.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | SYD/BNE - YVR | Direct | ~15h | Nonstop from Sydney and Brisbane into Vancouver (Melbourne is not yet served nonstop). |
| Air New Zealand | AKL - YVR | Direct | ~14h | Via Auckland, with a Pacific stopover option. |
| Qantas / United | SYD/MEL - SFO/LAX - YVR | 1 stop | 18-20h | Connect through a US West Coast hub. |
Domestic flights cover the cross-country distances; in British Columbia the ferries and rail are the experience. The reviews below are first-hand crossings and sectors.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC Ferries | Horseshoe Bay - Nanaimo (Departure Bay) | Ferry | ~1h 40m | The fastest mainland-to-Island car crossing, through Howe Sound. Reviewed. |
| Hullo | Nanaimo - downtown Vancouver | Ferry | ~70m | Fast foot-passenger catamaran, direct into the city. No car needed. Reviewed. |
| Air Canada / WestJet / Pacific Coastal | YVR - YYZ / YQQ / regional BC | Direct | 1-5h | Trunk routes plus regional BC on Pacific Coastal (reviewed). Flying is the only option cross-country. |
Getting around Canada
British Columbia's ferry network is the most interesting transport infrastructure in Canada for a visitor. BC Ferries runs the major crossings, including the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo route through Howe Sound with mountains on both sides; the Hullo catamaran is the fast foot-passenger alternative direct into downtown Vancouver. Within the city, TransLink's SkyTrain, bus and SeaBus network (Compass Card) is fast and reliable. Beyond BC, distances are continental - Air Canada and WestJet fly the trunk routes, Pacific Coastal serves smaller communities, and a hire car is essential for Vancouver Island and the Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler.
Tested routes
2024Porter Airlines: Miami to Vancouver via Toronto (economy)Good→2024Pacific Coastal Airlines: Vancouver to Comox (Beechcraft 1900D)Good→2024BC Ferries: the mainland to Vancouver Island crossingExcellent→Planning the logistics?
The facts above are the short version. The full libraries - flights, rail and ferries - live one level down under Getting There.