Are you ready to start planning your trip to British Columbia? The information on this page will help you get started. For up-to-date information about travel advisories, border information, and weather alerts, please visit our Know Before You Go page.
We all have a role to play in ensuring safe and responsible travel in BC, and there are protocols and expectations in place to keep you and our communities safe. For more information, visit our How To Travel Safely & Responsibly page.
A few areas in BC are currently being impacted by wildfires. See Emergency Info BC for more information.
Travellers entering Canada via air or land border are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination.
For more information on current federal border measures and requirements, including crossing the border via car, please visit the Government of Canada website.
There are many ways to travel to and within BC, including by air, rail, water, or road. To explore your options, please visit our Getting Here & Around page.
For information regarding border crossings and air travel to BC, please visit our Know Before You Go page.
Tip: DriveBC is an up-to-date resource to see if weather conditions have caused road closures anywhere in the province.
Looking to chart a course for your western Canada adventure? Visit our Maps page to see where to find the best powder, where to pitch your tent, or where to hit the road.
Canada Border Services Agency has current information for visitors to British Columbia about required travel documents, restricted goods, traveling with children and pets, and other resources.
For information about entering or reentering the United States, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Credit cards (mainly Visa and MasterCard) are accepted by most businesses, but it’s a good idea to carry some Canadian cash. ATMs, located in banks and retail areas, dispense Canadian currency. A bank or currency exchange outlet can change your funds to Canadian dollars. Banks are generally open Monday to Friday, with some open on weekends.
When booking accommodation or experiences online, be sure to clarify the currency being charged. Some online booking sites offer options.
A federal goods and services tax (GST) of 5% and a provincial sales tax (PST) of 7% are applicable to most purchased goods and services.
A tip of 15-20% at bars and restaurants is customary. Tips are also given to tour guides, taxi drivers, and for spa treatments and haircuts. Porters at airports, railway stations, and hotels generally expect $1-2 per item of luggage.
Canada uses the metric system. The following conversions may be useful:
Here are some resources if you are going to be driving in BC:
BC strives to be an inclusive destination for people of all abilities. To learn more about Accessible Travel in BC, please visit our Accessibility page.
To better serve travellers with accessibility needs, tourism businesses featured on our website have the ability to self assess with respect to mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive and general accessibility categories. Check individual Experience Provider and Accommodations listings for their accessibility details by selecting the “Accessibility” filters at the top of the page.
Indigenous cultures are alive and thriving. Learn how to travel with intent, and experience these communities responsibly. Here are some things to keep in mind:
To learn more, visit Indigenous Tourism BC.
If you’re looking to connect with a local tourism expert, there are more than 100 community-owned Visitor Centers and booths across the province that make up BC’s Visitor Services Network. To find local insight and expertise, visit our Visitor Information & Services page.
The weather in British Columbia is influenced by latitude, mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Temperature, average precipitation, and hours of sunshine can vary over short distances, but in general temperatures are warmer in the south and milder on the coast, and rainfall is heaviest in coastal communities. To learn more about seasonal weather, visit our Climate & Weather page.
Banks, government offices, and some stores will be closed on statutory holidays, or on the following Monday if the holiday falls on a weekend. View a list of statutory holidays.
British Columbia, with its diverse landscapes, pristine ecosystems, and vast tracts of wilderness, has one of the highest proportions of protected land of any jurisdiction in the world.
Visitors to British Columbia can arrive by air, road, rail, or ferry.
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