The cheapest way from Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal to downtown Victoria is a BC Transit bus. Route 70 is the express and takes about an hour, while Route 72 reaches downtown by a more local route. A taxi or car covers the roughly 32 km in about 35 minutes by road.
Route 70 and Route 72
Several Victoria Regional Transit routes serve the terminal: 70, 71, 72, 76 and 81. For downtown Victoria the useful ones are 70 and 72. Route 70 runs south along Highway 17 with fewer stops, ending at Legislature Exchange in the city. Route 72 goes through Central Saanich and makes more stops, so it is slower. Use the BC Transit trip planner for Victoria to see the next departure after your ferry docks, and to confirm the fare and payment options.
Taxi, car or bike
A taxi is faster than any bus and handles luggage well, though the fare for a 32 km ride adds up. The taxi fare estimator gives a ballpark figure, and the Victoria taxi page lists local companies. Anyone flying out of Victoria International Airport will find it about 10 minutes from the terminal along the same highway.
Cyclists have the Lochside Regional Trail, a 29 km route that links Swartz Bay with Victoria. It is a long ride with bags, so plan the time and check the trail’s current condition before you set off.
Driving and leaving a car at the terminal
Drivers follow Highway 17, the Patricia Bay Highway, south toward the city. The terminal has about 172 short-term and 544 long-term parking spaces run by a private operator for BC Ferries, so check the BC Ferries site for rates and how to reserve, especially in summer.
Parking downtown is a different matter. Meter hours, rates and garage prices change, and the City of Victoria website has the current rules. Read the posted signs on the street before you leave the car.
- Check the sailing arrival time on the BC Ferries website.
- Compare it with the next Route 70 departure.
- Keep a taxi as a backup if the bus is more than a short wait.