Everything You Need To Know About Vancouver’s Water Taxis

You could stroll into downtown Vancouver. You could drive. You could even take the bus. But why would you when there’s a fleet of boats waiting to whisk you across the water? Vancouver’s water taxis are one of the best ways to get around False Creek, connecting neighbourhoods like Granville Island, Yaletown and Olympic Village with a ride that doubles as a sightseeing tour.

Two family-run companies operate the service: False Creek Ferries and Aquabus. Between them, they run a fleet of lovely boats that zip from shore to shore across False Creek, connecting you to markets, museums, breweries and beaches along the way.

Here’s everything you need to know before you hop on.

False Creek Ferries

False Creek Ferries has been running its blue-and-white fleet since 1982. Today, the company serves nine stops ranging from Kitsilano all the way east to Science World.

Stops: Maritime Museum, Sunset Beach, Granville Island, David Lam Park, Stamps Landing, Spyglass, Yaletown, Plaza of Nations, Science World.

Hours: Boats depart every five to 15 minutes from roughly 7 AM to 9 PM, depending on the route and season.

Fares: The ferry service offers individual tickets, day passes and monthly passes that can be purchased online. You can also pay on board with card or cash.

Accessibility: While the boats can accommodate passengers who have collapsible mobility devices and can handle a step or two, they are not big enough to safely host full-time wheelchair users.

Pets: Welcome! Dogs should be dry, leashed and kept at a safe distance from other passengers.

Bikes: Not accommodated.

The differentiator: False Creek Ferries is the only operator that reaches the Aquatic Centre at Sunset Beach and the Maritime Museum at Vanier Park. This makes it ideal to get you to the Maritime Museum, the Museum of Vancouver or a summer evening at Bard on the Beach.

Aquabus

The rainbow fleet. Aquabus launched in 1985 and has been a family-run operation ever since. You’ll spot these colourful boats from a distance, and their larger platform vessels make them a solid choice for travellers with wheels of any kind.

Stops: Hornby Street, Granville Island, David Lam Park, Stamp’s Landing, Spyglass Place, Yaletown, Plaza of Nations and Science World.

Hours: Ferries run every 15 minutes from 7AM to 9:15PM, daily, with hours extended to 10:30PM in the summer.

Fares: Passengers can purchase individual tickets, day passes or monthly and multi-month passes online. You can also pay on board with cash or card.

Accessibility: Over half the Aquabus fleet are larger platform boats that are wheelchair accessible. Most docks are accessible, with the exception of Spyglass and Plaza of Nations.

Pets: Welcome on all boats.

Bikes: Accommodated on larger platform vessels for an additional fee of $1.

The differentiator: Aquabus is the only operator with a Hornby Street dock. That puts you right in the heart of downtown, just steps away from shopping and great dining.

How to Choose Your Ride

Both services overlap at several stops and offer a similar experience on the water. Your choice comes down to where you’re going, your access needs and what you’re bringing with you.

Headed to Vanier Park or Kitsilano Beach? False Creek Ferries is your only option.

Starting from downtown? Aquabus's Hornby Street dock has you covered.

Travelling with a bike? Need full wheelchair access? Use the Aquabus large platform boats.

One more thing. The two companies operate independently, so a day pass for one won't work on the other. If your itinerary uses stops unique to both operators, you may want to buy individual tickets as you go rather than committing to a single pass

A Sample Day on False Creek

Here’s one way you can spend a day hopping between docks and neighbourhoods around False Creek.

Morning: If you’re staying downtown, start at Aquabus’s Hornby Street dock and take the five-minute ride to Granville Island. Grab a coffee and a pastry at the Public Market and wander through the artisan shops while the crowds are thin.

Midday: Catch a False Creek Ferries boat from the island to the Maritime Museum at Vanier Park and walk five minutes to Kitsilano Beach for lunch with a view of the mountains and tankers passing by.

Afternoon: Take one of the two water taxis back towards Olympic Village for a stroll around the water.

Evening: Hop on an Aquabus from Science World to Yaletown. This is one of Vancouver’s best spots for dinner, with restaurants lining the converted warehouse streets.

Practical Tips

Before you take your first ferry ride, keep these things in mind:

Get on the Water

Whether you're crossing to Granville Island for a morning pastry or hopping between neighbourhoods on a sunny afternoon, Vancouver's water taxis turn a simple commute into one of the best parts of your day. Pick a dock. Any dock. We’ll see you on the water.