The Vancouver SeaBus is the most underrated experience on the city’s transit system — a 12-minute catamaran crossing of Burrard Inlet that doubles as a working commuter ferry and a C$2.85 mini-cruise on evenings and weekends (C$4.20 on weekday daytimes, with Compass stored value). A four-vessel fleet (Burrard Beaver, Burrard Pacific Breeze, Burrard Otter II and Burrard Chinook) connects Waterfront Station downtown to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver every 10-15 minutes during the day, included in your regular transit fare.
For visitors, the SeaBus unlocks the entire North Shore — Lonsdale Quay’s market, Capilano Suspension Bridge connections, Grouse Mountain access, Lynn Canyon, and the cafes and restaurants of Lower Lonsdale. It’s also one of the city’s best photo opportunities, with Burrard Inlet panoramas, downtown skyline, mountains, and harbor traffic all visible from the seats.
Table of Contents
Vancouver SeaBus: Quick Visitor Facts
- Crossing time: 12 minutes Waterfront ↔ Lonsdale Quay
- Distance: 3.24 km (1.75 nautical miles) across Burrard Inlet
- Fleet: Four catamarans seating up to 395 passengers each (Burrard Beaver, Burrard Pacific Breeze, Burrard Otter II and Burrard Chinook)
- Frequency: Every 10 minutes in weekday peaks; 15 minutes through most of the day and early evening; 30 minutes late at night
- Hours: About 6:00 AM-1:00 AM Monday-Saturday; 8:00 AM-11:30 PM Sundays/holidays (exact times differ by terminal)
- Fare: C$2.85 stored value (one-zone after 6:30 PM, weekends and holidays; otherwise two-zone C$4.20)
- Operated by: TransLink (same fare/transfer system as bus and SkyTrain)
SeaBus Fares
The SeaBus crossing counts as two zones on weekdays before 6:30 p.m. and as one zone in the evening, on weekends and on statutory holidays.
Fare table (adult, since July 1, 2026):
- Weekday before 6:30 PM: Two-zone fare C$4.20 (stored value) / C$5.10 (cash)
- Weekday after 6:30 PM: One-zone fare C$2.85 / C$3.50
- All weekend and holidays: One-zone fare C$2.85 / C$3.50
- July 1, 2026 increase: averaged 5% and is already in the fares above
How to pay:
- Tap Compass Card or contactless credit/debit at the gate
- Buy single-trip ticket at vending machines
- Tap-out at destination (mandatory for SeaBus, like SkyTrain)
- Children 12 and under ride free
Transfers: A fare covers connecting bus and SkyTrain travel within 90 minutes, as long as it covers the zones the crossing needs. A one-zone bus fare doesn’t cover a weekday-daytime SeaBus trip, and a cash bus transfer doesn’t carry over to the SeaBus.
Schedule & Frequency
The SeaBus runs roughly 7 days a week with reduced Sunday/holiday hours.
Monday-Saturday from Waterfront:
- First sailing: 6:01 AM weekdays (5:47 AM from Lonsdale Quay); 6:16 AM Saturdays (6:02 AM from Lonsdale Quay)
- Weekday peaks, every 10 minutes: 7:15-9:45 AM and 3:15-6:45 PM from Waterfront (7-9:30 AM and 3-6:30 PM from Lonsdale Quay)
- Off-peak: every 15 minutes
- Late evening: every 30 minutes from 9:16 PM (9:02 PM from Lonsdale Quay)
- Last sailing from Waterfront: 1:22 AM
- Last sailing from Lonsdale Quay: 1:00 AM
Sunday/holidays:
- First sailing: 8:16 AM (8:02 AM from Lonsdale Quay)
- Frequency: every 15 minutes during the day, every 30 minutes late in the evening
- Last sailing: ~11:30 PM
Real-time tracking: Google Maps and the Transit app both show next-departure times. The SeaBus runs reliably; cancellations are rare except in extreme weather (high winds, ice).
The Route & Crossing Experience
The SeaBus traces a 3.24 km diagonal route across Burrard Inlet, the deep harbor that separates downtown Vancouver from the North Shore mountains.
What you’ll see during the crossing:
- Departing Waterfront: Canada Place’s iconic white sails to your left, downtown skyscrapers behind
- Mid-crossing: Container ships, cruise ships (May-Sep), grain terminals, Stanley Park to the left
- Approaching Lonsdale: Lonsdale Quay’s market hall, the Burrard Dry Dock heritage cranes, Lions Gate Bridge to the left
- Always: The North Shore mountains rising behind Lonsdale
Inside the boat: Comfortable ergonomic seats, large windows, indoor heating/cooling, washrooms, bicycle racks on board. Outdoor deck is closed to passengers (safety reasons).
Best seats: The front (bow) for forward views; the seats facing inward have less view but are quieter. Back of the boat (stern) for downtown skyline views during return trip.
Here’s the part visitors miss: the SeaBus is ordinary TransLink transit, not a separate tourist boat. The 12-minute crossing counts as two zones on weekdays before 6:30 p.m. and one zone in the evening, on weekends and on statutory holidays. A Compass transfer lasts 90 minutes, so a bus or SkyTrain fare you tapped recently carries you across as long as it covers the zones the crossing needs. Take any window seat for the harbour and the downtown skyline; for a transit fare, it’s one of the best-value harbour views in the city.
Boarding at Waterfront Station
Waterfront Station is the SeaBus’s southern terminus and Vancouver’s grand transit hub.
Getting there:
- Canada Line SkyTrain → Waterfront (final stop)
- Expo Line SkyTrain → Waterfront
- Walking from Canada Place: a short walk
- Walking from Gastown: a short walk
- Walking from Coal Harbour: east along the waterfront
Inside Waterfront Station: Follow signs to “SeaBus” — about 200m walk through the heritage station building. Compass Card vending machines are everywhere.
Boarding: Tap your Compass at the gate. Wait in the boarding lounge (scheduled departure displayed). Unloading and boarding together take about three minutes, so be ready in the lounge when the boat docks.
Boarding at Lonsdale Quay
The Lonsdale Quay terminal is at the south end of Lonsdale Avenue in North Vancouver.
Getting there:
- Bus: many North Shore routes connect at Lonsdale Quay; check TransLink’s route map for yours
- Drive: via Lions Gate Bridge or Second Narrows; the journey time depends on traffic
- Parking: Paid parking nearby; check the posted rates at the lot
The terminal: Modern facility with the Lonsdale Quay Public Market directly attached. Buy/load Compass Card, grab coffee or food before boarding.
Boarding: Same as Waterfront — tap Compass, wait in lounge, board when announced.
Things to Do at Lonsdale Quay
Lonsdale Quay is more than a transit terminal. The market hall makes it a worthwhile destination on its own.
Lonsdale Quay Public Market: Two-story market with food vendors, fresh produce, prepared foods, gift shops. Smaller and less crowded than Granville Island but with similar variety. Open 9 AM-7 PM most days.
Local dining standouts: Tap & Barrel Lonsdale (waterfront beer + Pacific Northwest), The Lift Bar & Grill (rooftop dining), Burgoo Bistro (comfort food), Famoso Neapolitan Pizza, Olive & Anchor (charcuterie + wine).
Nearby attractions:
- Shipyards District (5-min walk): Heritage industrial-converted-to-marketplace area with breweries, restaurants, ice rink in winter
- Polygon Gallery: Free contemporary photography gallery on the waterfront
- Burrard Dry Dock heritage site
- Lonsdale Avenue boutiques and restaurants (uphill from the quay)
Worth combining: “SeaBus + Lonsdale Quay lunch” works as a stand-alone outing — allow 2-3 hours, scenic, low effort, low cost.
Onward to Capilano, Grouse, Lynn Canyon
From Lonsdale Quay, transfer to bus for the North Shore’s main attractions.
Capilano Suspension Bridge: 236 bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge stop, then walk. (The free Capilano shuttle from Canada Place is often easier — it’s spring-fall only.)
Grouse Mountain SkyRide: 236 bus directly to Grouse Mountain SkyRide base. About 25 minutes from Lonsdale Quay.
Lynn Canyon Park (free Capilano alternative): Bus 228 from Lonsdale Quay to Lynn Valley Road and Peters Road, then a 15-minute walk. The park and its suspension bridge are free; the Ecology Centre asks for a donation (suggested C$2 per person or C$5 per family).
Mount Seymour: In winter the resort runs a shuttle from Parkgate Community Centre and from opposite Rupert SkyTrain Station; check Mount Seymour’s getting-here page for times and fares. Otherwise it’s a longer journey best done by car or organized tour.
Deep Cove (Quarry Rock hike, Honey Doughnuts): Route 212 runs to Deep Cove from Phibbs Exchange; plan the first leg from Lonsdale Quay in TransLink’s Trip Planner.
Best Photos & Views
The SeaBus is one of Vancouver’s most photogenic public transit experiences.
Best photo windows:
- Sunrise (looking south toward downtown): Pink and gold light on skyscrapers
- Sunset (looking west): Mountains silhouetted against Howe Sound
- Blue hour (30 min after sunset): Downtown lights turning on; magic-hour mountain reflection
- Cruise ship season: Big ships at Canada Place create unique scale
Where to shoot:
- Front rows on the lower deck for forward-facing shots
- Side rail position for wide harbor panoramas
- Rear seats for departure shots of the city you just left
- Upstairs (wheelhouse area) — limited but offers higher vantage
Photography tips:
- Bring a polarizing filter to cut glare on water
- Wide-angle lens for skyline panoramas (16-35mm equivalent)
- Mid-tele for compressed mountain shots (70-200mm)
- Set fast shutter (1/250+) to handle the boat’s gentle motion
The SeaBus Fleet
TransLink’s SeaBus fleet is four catamarans: the Burrard Beaver, Burrard Pacific Breeze, Burrard Otter II and Burrard Chinook.
Burrard Otter II (2014): Up to 395 passengers. Replaced the original 1976 Burrard Otter. Diesel-electric.
Burrard Chinook (built 2019, in service 2021): Up to 395 passengers. Newest vessel; diesel-powered.
Burrard Pacific Breeze (2009): Up to 395 passengers.
Operating environment: The whole crossing stays within Burrard Inlet. The boats run reliably in rain, fog, snow, and high winds.
A Brief History
The SeaBus launched on June 17, 1977, bringing back a passenger ferry across the inlet nearly two decades after the old North Vancouver ferries stopped running in 1958. People had been crossing since the mid-1860s, the first of them by private rowboat. Its launch was a deliberate alternative to building another road bridge across Burrard Inlet — the city chose marine transit over highway expansion.
Key dates:
- 1977: Original Burrard Otter and Burrard Beaver enter service
- 2009: Burrard Pacific Breeze enters service (December)
- 2014: Burrard Otter II built; the original Burrard Otter retires in December 2016
- 2021: Burrard Chinook enters service in July, the fourth vessel in the fleet
Cultural status: The SeaBus is iconic to Vancouver — it has appeared in countless films, TV shows, and tourism campaigns. Locals consider it part of the city’s identity, and visitors often rate it as a top “free” tourist experience.
Accessibility, Bikes & Practical Tips
Both SeaBus terminals and vessels are fully step-free — level boarding, wide doors, and room for wheelchairs and strollers — and bikes ride free. Sailings run about every 10–15 minutes through the day and every 30 minutes in the late evening, so you rarely wait long. Tap your Compass card or a contactless credit card at the fare gates before boarding, and remember it’s the same fare system as the rest of Vancouver’s transit network. There are washrooms at both Waterfront and Lonsdale Quay, but not on the boat.
Is the SeaBus Worth It for Visitors?
Absolutely — and not just as transport. For the price of a single transit fare you get a mini harbour cruise, a reason to explore the Lonsdale Quay Market, and the easiest gateway to the North Shore’s big three: Capilano, Grouse, and Lynn Canyon. Ride mid-morning or around sunset for the best light, skip the weekday peak windows (roughly 7–9:45 a.m. and 3–6:45 p.m., depending on the terminal) if you want elbow room, and treat the return crossing as a second photo op — the downtown skyline looks completely different lit up at night.
Vancouver SeaBus FAQs
How long is the SeaBus crossing?
12 minutes from Waterfront to Lonsdale Quay (and vice versa).
How much does the SeaBus cost?
An adult fare is C$2.85-4.20 with Compass stored value, depending on when you ride. Weekdays before 6:30 p.m. are two-zone (C$4.20); evenings, weekends and holidays are one-zone (C$2.85). Paying cash or contactless costs C$5.10 or C$3.50.
Is the SeaBus included in transit transfers?
Yes, within 90 minutes, provided the fare covers the zones the crossing needs: two zones on weekdays before 6:30 p.m., one zone otherwise.
How often does the SeaBus run?
Every 10 minutes in weekday peaks, every 15 minutes through most of the day and early evening, and every 30 minutes late at night. Hours: 6 AM-1 AM weekdays.
Can I bring a bike on the SeaBus?
Yes. Bikes are allowed at all times, up to six per sailing during weekday peaks. No reservations needed.
Are the SeaBus crossings rough?
No. Burrard Inlet is sheltered; the catamarans are stable. Even on windy days the ride is smooth.
What’s at Lonsdale Quay besides the ferry?
A two-story public market with food and shops, restaurants, the Polygon Gallery, the Shipyards District, and connections to North Shore attractions.
Related reading: Pair this with our SkyTrain guide, Compass Card, and Vancouver buses.