Government of B.C.

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Travelling in B.C.

Learn about b.c..

Thinking about visiting British Columbia? You won't be disappointed. B.C.'s culture and history is as diverse as its landscapes and geography. The food is excellent, nature is abundant, cities are vibrant, and there's warmth and hospitality to welcome all visitors. There's really so much to see and do in B.C.

Before you visit, learn about B.C.’s:

  • Climate and weather
  • Culture and history
  • Winter driving
  • Visa and passport requirements
  • Visitor Centres

Plan Your B.C. Vacation

If you want to plan a trip to B.C., visit Destination British Columbia's official tourism and travel website www.HelloBC.com .  Here you can book your accommodations and travel excursions in advance and get ideas on things to do, and places to go. #Explore BC.

Provincial Parks

B.C. is known for its spectacular national and provincial parks. The breathtaking scenery and inspiring natural surroundings in our parks provide the perfect setting for tuning into nature, learning about it, appreciating it and respecting it.

  • BC Parks offer campsites, day-use areas, and thousands of kilometres of trails.
  • Parks Canada  offers campsites, day-use areas, and hiking including the famous multi-day west coast trail.
  • Recreation sites and trails offers a backcountry experience like no other, with simple, rustic camping, generally located in remote areas and accessed by gravel forestry roads.

Getting Around B.C.

Whether travelling by land, water, air or rail, B.C.'s transportation network provides safe and reliable service.

  • Travel by Air
  • Travel by Train
  • Travel by Water
  • Bus / coach / shuttle travel
  • Campers / RV travel
  • Car / truck / motorcycle travel
  • Limo / taxi travel
  • See road events, driving conditions and plan your driving route
  • BC Transit provides public transportation for Victoria, Kelowna, Whistler, and dozens of other communities in B.C.
  • TransLink is Metro Vancouver's public transportation system
  • Find maps of B.C.

Check out www.HelloBC.com , Destination BC's consumer website providing travel information and trip planning ideas.

a B.C. ferry

Travel from the mainland to the islands with BC Ferries.

Drive BC logo

Driving info enroute. 

Get the latest info on border delays, inland ferries, road conditions and so much more.

Contact information

Contact HelloBC's travel experts .

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

travelling in british columbia

Getty Images/iStockphoto

British Columbia

Visitors to Canada's westernmost province should pack a long list of superlatives to deploy here; the words 'wow,' 'amazing' and 'spectacular' will only go so far. Luckily, it's not too hard to wax lyrical about the mighty mountains, deep forests and dramatic coastlines that instantly lower heart rates to tranquil levels.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real British Columbia. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Colors of the autumn. Gorgeous sea walk in the park. Stanley Park in Vancouver. Canada.; Shutterstock ID 115945702; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

Stanley Park

One of North America’s largest urban green spaces, Stanley Park is revered for its dramatic forest-and-mountain oceanfront views. But there’s more to this…

Takakia Lake at sunset, Moresby Island, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada.

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve & Haida Heritage Site

Haida Gwaii

This huge Unesco World Heritage site encompasses Moresby and 137 smaller islands at its southern end. It combines a time-capsule look at abandoned Haida…

Sea to Sky Gondola

Sea to Sky Gondola

Squamish & Around

On a warm summer’s evening, with a 7.5km ascent under your belt and a pint of craft beer on the table in front of you, there are few better places in…

travelling in british columbia

Bowron Lake Provincial Park

Forming a natural circle with sections of the Isaac, Cariboo and Bowron Rivers, the park's 116km canoe circuit (permits $30 to $60) is one of the world’s…

Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens

Vancouver Island

Far more than just another pretty flower arrangement, Butchart is a national historic site and a triumph of early-20th-century gardening aesthetics. With…

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

One in a magnificent seven of BC national parks, Pacific Rim is replete with wave-whipped beaches and brooding forests, most of them far from civilization…

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park

This 1950-sq-km park is justly renowned for hiking trails colored by diverse flora, abundant wildlife and panoramic vistas. Summer hikers seem…

Totem poles, Totem park, Royal BC Museum, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Royal BC Museum

Arguably the finest museum in British Columbia and carrier of a ‘royal’ prefix since 1987, Victoria’s flagship sight mixes the cream of BC’s provincial…

Plan with a local

Experience the real Canada

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

travelling in british columbia

Latest stories from British Columbia

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  • Beaches, Coasts & Islands
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travelling in british columbia

May 26, 2023 • 3 min read

When she was 21 Beth Lewis went solo camping in the wilderness of British Columbia – and felt only truly at home after a nocturnal encounter with a bear.

JUN 18, 2016: First Nation (Native) dancers performing at the Victoria Aboriginal Cultural Festival at the Royal BC Museum in the heart of downtown Victoria.

Sep 8, 2020 • 7 min read

old growth forest in Cathedral Grove MacMillan Provincial Park Vancouver Island British Columbia Canada

Aug 5, 2020 • 3 min read

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Lighthouse on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

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British Columbia and beyond

Downtown Vancouver during the day with snow-capped mountains across the strait.

IMAGES

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  3. British Columbia 2021: Top 10 Touren & Aktivitäten (mit Fotos

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  4. The Best Places to Visit in British Columbia

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  6. British Columbia Travel Guide

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VIDEO

  1. Travelling to British Columbia at Autumn season

  2. Travelling from Vancouver to Port Moody by West Coast Express train. #westcoast #train #waterfront

  3. Beautiful British Columbia

COMMENTS

  1. British Columbia travel

    British Columbia. Visitors to Canada's westernmost province should pack a long list of superlatives to deploy here; the words 'wow,' 'amazing' and 'spectacular' will only go so far. Luckily, it's not too hard to wax lyrical about the mighty mountains, deep forests and dramatic coastlines that instantly lower heart rates to tranquil levels.

  2. Know Before You Go

    Planning on travelling in BC? Plan ahead so you can explore BC safely and responsibly— always monitor official information sources (detailed below) regularly, before and during your trip. Visitors are encouraged to download and allow notifications from Alertable, an emergency notification app with customizable settings, to receive the latest ...