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City guide

Sidney, BC

Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia. It is one of the thirteen Greater Victoria municipalities.

Type CityPopulation 13,288

Why go

  • Town in British Columbia, Canada.
  • Home to roughly 13,288 people.

History

Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia. It is one of the thirteen Greater Victoria municipalities. It has a population of approximately 11,583. Sidney is located just east of Victoria International Airport, and about 6 km (4 mi) south of BC Ferries' Swartz Bay Terminal. The town is also the only Canadian port-of-call in the Washington State Ferries system, with ferries running from Sidney to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes. Sidney is located along Highway 17, which bisects the town from north to south. It is generally considered part of the Victoria metropolitan area.

Airports

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) 1.5 km to the centre
1640 Electra Blvd, Sidney, BC V8L 5V4 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 5 airlines (WestJet, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Pacific Coastal Airline…) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Vancouver, Calgary, San Francisco, Toronto, Edmonton… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Serves Vancouver (73 km) — the low-cost way in
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 8 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Friday Harbor Airport (FRD) 32 km to the centre
Friday Harbor, WA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Seattle (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Kenmore Air M5 (CNC) · 1 route: Seattle

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Orcas Island Airport (ESD) 37 km to the centre
Eastsound, WA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. Friday Harbor (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Roche Harbor Airport (RCE) 20 km to the centre
Roche Harbor, WA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 2 destinations incl. DHB, FBS (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 2 direct destinations
  • Kenmore Air M5 (DHP) · 2 routes: DHB, FBS*

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Lopez Island Airport (LPS) 39 km to the centre
Lopez, WA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor. ✈ 1 airline (Kenmore Air) · direct flights to 1 destination incl. WSX (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 1 airline, 1 direct destination
  • Kenmore Air M5 (DHP) · 1 route: WSX*

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Stuart Island Airpark (SSW) 17 km to the centre
Friday Harbor, WA, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Sidney International Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.1 km from the centre · Washington State Ferries
Outdoor
Sidney
Ferry terminal · 1.2 km from the centre
Outdoor
Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.9 km from the centre · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 5
Ferry terminal · 4.2 km from the centre · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 4
Ferry terminal · 4.2 km from the centre · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 3
Ferry terminal · 4.2 km from the centre · BC Ferries
Outdoor
Sidney Spit Ferry
Ferry route · Alpine Group
Outdoor
Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 1 (Foot Access)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 2 (Foot Access)
Ferry route
Outdoor
Berth 2 Approach
Ferry route
Outdoor
Berth 5 Approach
Ferry route
Outdoor
Berth 1 Approach
Ferry route
Outdoor
Berth 3 Approach
Ferry route
Outdoor
Berth 4 Approach
Ferry route
Outdoor

Where things are

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Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. We do not yet hold airport or rail details for Sidney, BC — check the official tourism sources below for the best routes in. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Sidney International Ferry Terminal, 1.1 km); routes include Sidney Spit Ferry, Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 1 (Foot Access), Victoria (Swartz Bay) Berth 2 (Foot Access).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Sidney, BC. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Bus · British Columbia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · Victoria, British Columbia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Fractional · Praetor 500, Citation CJ3+, Legacy 450 · Canada's fractional-ownership operator, based in Calgary.
Charter, management · Light to large-cabin · Toronto-based charter and aircraft management.
Charter · Learjet, Challenger · Vancouver-based charter operator.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, Challenger, Global · Canada's largest business-aviation company: charter, management and FBOs in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.

Tours & experiences