Vancouver World Cup Planning: Do You Need to Rent a Car for Vancouver (or the Surrounding Area)?

In addition to its world-renowned natural beauty and electrifying city life, Vancouver shines as a globally recognized sports destination year-round. During the upcoming 2026 FIFA Vancouver World Cup, our city will be right in the middle of the action.

Between matches happening at BC Place, a Fan Festival at the PNE in Hastings Park, and endless sights to see scattered around the city, you might be wondering whether you’ll need to rent a car to get around Vancouver and its surrounding areas during the big week.

Luckily for visitors to the city coming from far and wide, Vancouver is one of the most easy to navigate cities in Canada, so you won’t need to rent a car to get around. Whether it’s a meandering walk through historic neighbourhoods, a scenic bike ride along the seawall, or a zippy ride on Vancouver public transit on a game day, our city has endless ways to get around.

What does transportation Downtown look like?

There are many easy, short-term transportation options available in Downtown Vancouver that make getting between neighbourhoods and venues simple. As a green city, we prioritize sustainable travel, and there are plenty of options to choose from.

Once you’ve taken in the awe-inspiring views of the surrounding North Shore mountains and False Creek waterway from BC Place, you’ll find yourself itching to explore the historic neighbourhoods located just a few minutes away from the stadium, like Yaletown, Gastown, and Chinatown.

One stylish, easy option for getting around is Lime E-Scooters. Their electric scooters are activated through the Lime app and are available to rent for short-term, on demand transportation. Powered by reusable batteries, these scooters offer a convenient and environmentally friendly way to get around downtown.

Vancouver’s super popular public bike share system, Mobi, is another easy, convenient way to get around. These bikes are rented through the Mobi app or website. Just pick up and drop off at designated docking stations around the city, and you’re off to the races!

If you’re looking to rent a scooter or bike for a longer period of time (like a few hours), check out Cycle BC Rentals and Tours in Mount Pleasant just a few blocks from Science World, or Spokes Bicycle Rentals, located right at the entrance of Stanley Park.

How does Vancouver public transit work?

The speediest way to get around the city via Vancouver public transit is our SkyTrain system. This light rail rapid transit system provides a direct, straightforward connection between Vancouver International Airport and the city centre.

In around 25 minutes, you can get from the airport to your downtown hotel without needing to transfer to another train or flag down a taxi at the busy terminal.

Since the SkyTrain runs above ground, you can also catch amazing views just outside the window while you ride, including stunning angles of the North Shore Mountains and striking city skylines.

The SkyTrain is part of TransLink, the larger Vancouver public transit system, which also includes a robust bus network and the SeaBus passenger ferry to North Vancouver.

In order to use any of TransLink’s Vancouver public transit, you’ll need to get a reloadable Compass Card at any SkyTrain station (there’s one at the airport!), or you can use a contactless form of payment like your credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet. Just tap in when boarding buses or at SkyTrain gates and remember to keep in mind fare validity (90 minutes for transfers) and the city’s zone systems.

What do you need to know when renting a car for a daytrip?

Even though you certainly don’t need a car to get around Vancouver and its surrounding areas, if the travel bug has you spoiling for adventure, it’s easy to rent a car for just one day.

Car rental in Vancouver can be a simple process with a little preparation, and signing up for Evo Car Share in advance makes this especially convenient. These 100% hybrid cars can be found parked all around the city. The best part? You can simply drop the Evo car off in a massive variety of designated, residential, and permit-only spots throughout the city when you’re done with it.

With nearby mountains, islands, rivers, and forests, day-trippers are spoiled for choice. For more ideas on how to get out and explore beyond the city for a day-trip, check out our guide here.

Since the city will be especially busy during the FIFA Vancouver World Cup, you might not want to use a car every day during this time. Fortunately, getting around by foot or public transit couldn’t be easier. The city’s busy buzzing energy is all part of the FIFA excitement, and we promise the enthusiasm here is infectious.

We’re ready to welcome you to Vancouver for the FIFA World Cup 2026. From the exhilarating atmosphere of the stadium to the serene tranquility of the rainforest, your time here will be memorable in every sense of the word.