Vancouver International Airport to Burnaby: Transit, Taxi and Rideshare

For Vancouver International Airport to Burnaby, the main choices covered here are transit, taxi and rideshare. The Canada Line links the airport to Metro Vancouver, but reaching Metrotown by train requires a change between two separate SkyTrain lines. A taxi or rideshare can take you from the airport pickup area to your destination; fares and pickup arrangements differ.

YVR is about a 34-minute drive from Vancouver Backpacker House - 10 min walk to Metrotown skytrain station. That gives you a useful point of reference for the hotel, while your actual trip will depend on the option you choose.

The supplied information does not give a taxi or rideshare fare to Burnaby, so check the provider’s app or airport taxi information for current pricing before setting a budget.

YVR–Airport Station sits between the International and Domestic terminals, and the Canada Line connects it with Metro Vancouver. Follow the Canada Line signs to reach the station; elevators connect the line with the arrivals and departures levels.

If you arrive from within Canada, YVR directs passengers from Level 3 toward the Link Building between the terminals. Domestic checked bags are collected on Level 2.

To reach Metrotown by SkyTrain, take the Canada Line from YVR–Airport to Vancouver City Centre. From there, walk to Granville Station and board an Expo Line train toward King George or Production Way–University. Metrotown is on the Expo Line, so allow time for the walk between stations and for a possible wait when changing trains.

TransLink’s station-to-station figures give 2 minutes between Waterfront and Vancouver City Centre on the Canada Line, and 20 minutes between Waterfront and Metrotown on the Expo Line. Those figures don’t include the walk from Vancouver City Centre to Granville or transfer waiting time, so they are not a full YVR-to-Metrotown journey time.

The first Canada Line train from YVR–Airport toward Waterfront is listed at 5:09 a.m., and the last at 12:54 a.m. Trains are listed every 6 minutes at peak hours, 8 minutes midday, 12 minutes in the evening and 15 minutes late at night; weekend and holiday frequencies are listed as 8–15 minutes.

For a 2-zone SkyTrain trip, the adult cash fare is $5.10 and the adult Compass Stored Value fare is $4.20. Contactless fares are listed at cash-fare prices.

A $6.50 YVR Airport AddFare applies to eligible eastbound trips beginning at YVR–Airport, Sea Island Centre or Templeton and ending at Bridgeport or beyond. It does not apply to journeys to the airport. Some ticket types and pass holders are exempt.

A single fare is valid for 90 minutes across bus, SkyTrain, SeaBus and HandyDART. Trips across the system after 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and all weekend and statutory-holiday travel, are 1-zone fares.

For a taxi, go to the stand at International Arrivals Level 2 or Domestic Arrivals Level 2. Taxis are first come, first served, and airport rules require drivers to pick up passengers at the stands.

Trips departing YVR use zone fares for mapped zones; destinations outside the zone map are metered, as are trips to the airport. A $4.00 Passenger Load Charge is included in flat zone fares from the airport and added to metered fares outside the map. Listed rates do not include gratuities.

Taxis accept cash, credit and debit cards. YVR says there is no freight or baggage charge for luggage. Operators can accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids, and service animals are permitted onboard.

Lyft and Uber are YVR’s authorized Ride App providers. Pickup areas are International Arrivals Level 2, Domestic Arrivals Level 2 and the South Terminal. Collect your luggage before requesting a ride: drivers wait in a dedicated area a short distance from the terminal. Fare estimates appear in the provider’s app and vary by provider, time and location.

If someone is collecting you, YVR’s departures drop-off lanes are along the Level 3 curb and are for immediate unloading only. Unattended vehicles can be ticketed for tow, so arrange a prompt pickup rather than waiting there.

Metrotown Station is the train stop for the Metrotown area. From the hotel, the station is about an 11-minute walk or a 3-minute drive. If you are connecting from the airport by transit, follow the Canada Line and Expo Line route above; the two stations you transfer between in Vancouver are separate.

For a nearby outing after you have settled in, this guide to Central Park parking in Burnaby covers the park. If local history is on your itinerary, see the Burnaby Village Museum visit guide.

Choose transit if you’re comfortable changing lines and walking between Vancouver City Centre and Granville. Taxi and rideshare pickups are both organized at designated airport locations, but the rideshare process starts after you collect your bags.

For a late arrival, check the train schedule before committing to the SkyTrain connection; YVR also identifies the N10 NightBus for access to Downtown or Richmond when the Canada Line is closed, but the cited information does not describe an N10 route to Burnaby or Metrotown.

Before you go: Schedules, fares and airport pickup details can change, so check the official TransLink and YVR sites before you go.

For details about staying at Vancouver Backpacker House - 10 min walk to Metrotown skytrain station, see the hotel page.