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Victoria Capital Regional District
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BC Ferries
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BC Ferries

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4,494 reviews
#4 of 23 things to do in Sidney
Ferries
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7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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About
BC Ferries provides passenger and vehicle ferry services to 45 ports of call across coastal BC, with sailings to and from Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, and Northern BC. BC Ferries Vacations also offers over 100 travel packages, including return ferry and accommodation. When on board BC Ferries, there are plenty of options for food and shopping, along with great wildlife and sightseeing opportunities.
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Tours & experiences
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
690 within 5 kms
Legislative Dining Room
316
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Ithaka Greek Restaurant
1,417
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • Greek • Grill
Fishhook
901
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • French • Indian • Seafood
Frankie's Modern Diner
657
0.4 km$$ - $$$ • Diner • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Clive's Classic Lounge
233
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • International • European
Cora
689
0.2 km$$ - $$$ • American • Cafe • Healthy
Bartholomew's Public House
597
0.1 km$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • British
Dutch Bakery & Diner
395
0.4 km$ • Bakeries • Dutch • Cafe
Q at The Empress
774
0.2 km$$$$ • Seafood • Canadian • Vegetarian Friendly
Red Fish Blue Fish
2,974
0.5 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Seafood • Fast food
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Attractions
163 within 10 kms
Royal BC Museum
7,123
0.2 kmSpeciality Museums
Thunderbird Park
248
0.1 kmParks
Miniature World
1,127
0.2 kmSpeciality Museums • Children's Museums
Empress Hotel National Historic Site of Canada
2,298
0.2 kmHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia
302
0.2 kmSpeciality Museums
Inner Harbour
5,343
0.3 kmBodies of Water • Historic Walking Areas
Victoria Conference Centre
17
0.1 kmTheatres
The Table
2
0.1 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
St. Ann's Academy National Historic Site
48
0.2 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks
Victoria Bug Zoo
895
0.3 kmZoos
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
4,494 reviews
Excellent
2,170
Very good
1,439
Average
490
Poor
166
Terrible
229
Yenelli A
Redmond, OR2 contributions
Magical Islands
Mar. 2022
I went on a magnificent ferry ride to Vancouver Island from the mainland in BC. We wove between half a dozen (or more) islands so close that you could almost touch them: it felt more like a kayak trip (without the sore arms or wet butt)--I don't remember the size of the ferry or WHICH route this was, because it was 30 years ago. I know we arrived an hour or more outside of Victoria. I'd like to repeat this trip. Which trip do you think we took? Do we need reservations?
Written November 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CanTravel12345
Vancouver, Canada29 contributions
DO NOT BUY AN EXPERIENCE CARD
Oct. 2022 • Couples
DO NOT BUY AN EXPERIENCE CARD. The Ferry Corporation encourages purchasing these but they can only be used on the ferry (coffee, etc) or at the ticket booth. You cannot use them to make a reservation and as local travellers know, it is almost always necessary to have a reservation. I am currently sitting on $300 worth of experience cards that I cannot redeem.
Written October 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LarryTheRadioGuy
Edmonton, Canada672 contributions
Nice trip....poor choice of food while waiting.
Oct. 2022
Ferry trip was fine, as usual....but the restaurant while waiting is pretty bad. Hotdog---no ingredients to put on the overly salty wiener (other than mustard and relish). And what they call a 'cob salad' isn't anything like any cob salad I've had before----despite it's hefty price. Once you get on the ship....their clam chowder is pretty good (but possibly an acquired taste).
Written October 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Emily J
3 contributions
0 Stars
Oct. 2022 • Family
This is not a cruise ship. This is a cash grab with in predictable sailings and long waits, gross bathrooms and poor service. There are no alternatives within islands so saddle up for disappointment
Written October 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
GPaCalgary
Calgary, Canada1,926 contributions
Two Good Trips on the Queen of Cumberland
Sep. 2022
Our departure from Pender was ( as we have come to expect) delayed by twenty minutes. No big deal, except by the time I had completed my errands in and around Sidney and returned to the terminal ( 50 minutes before the 2:20 PM sailing) the boat was already full!. Fortunately I was one of the last vehicles that they squeezed on the boat. The staff did an excellent job getting more than normal onto the ship.
Written September 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BCFCustomerCare
Hi there, Thank you for your reviewing your experience! We apologize for the delay you experienced, however, we are so glad to hear that you were able to board your sailing considering how busy it was. We look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon! Kind regards, Thomas S - Customer Care BC Ferries
Written October 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Terry S
Fareham, UK162 contributions
Trip to Victoria
Sep. 2022 • Couples
Because of an early start did not have time to have breakfast. We expected to be able to get something to eat on the ferry. Wrong most food outlets were closed and the one that was open had two very long queues. When one of the queues died down it was shut down. When we eventually got to look at what was on offer we were not impressed. Very cold sandwiches with ingredients not listed on the packaging. Will be tacking our own on the return trip.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BCFCustomerCare
Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We regret to hear that you were not impressed with the menu-offerings onboard the vessel. In the future, I recommend speaking with any crew member in the café, as they would be able to provide you with the list of ingredients for menu items and provide you with different options that are currently available. We look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon! Kind regards, Thomas S - Customer Care BC Ferries
Written October 21, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael L
2 contributions
Vancouver to Victor
Aug. 2022
An excellent company --- we had a very pleasant ride from Vancouver to Victoria, had a wonderful breakfast on the way (delicious bacon and eggs!!!!), and everything was smooth and coordinated. One incident that I want to write about is one of our group forgot his jacket and glasses on the morning ferry, and through a coordinated effort by West Coast Sightseeing bus driver, Ed MacAulay, and the Chief Steward, Keith Rumsby (86112), we were able to get his jacket/glasses back on the return evening ferry. It was quite an effort and we really appreciate what they did for us. Thank you, Ed and Keith, for going the extra mile for us!!
Written August 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Glen W
Kamloops, Canada106 contributions
Abysmal
Aug. 2022 • Family
The worst. Over an hour late, half of the decks closed so they pack a 100% capacity vessel full of people into 50% of the space. Lounge? Closed. Buffet? Closed. But don't worry, you can still pay full price and have half the amenities available.
Written August 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Chris m
Victoria, Canada2 contributions
Cues not clear
Aug. 2022 • Family
When going to Saltspring be sure you drive into the Saltspring island booth cue and not the "Gulf Island" cue. They don't seem to agree that Saltspring is also a gulf island. You will lose your place in the line and have to wait till all others have passed. Explaining this to the manager didn't help as he was extremely rude.
Written August 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Julie D
1 contribution
Horrible and they don’t care!
Jul. 2022
Horrible service on the Sunshine Coast route! Can never get a reservation - stuck above the toll booth in the heat with no access to washrooms! If you have small children or elderly - good luck! It gets worse daily!
Written July 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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BC FERRIES (Sidney) - 2022 All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about BC Ferries
BC Ferries is open:
  • Mon - Fri 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
  • Sat - Sun 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
We recommend booking BC Ferries tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 BC Ferries tours on Tripadvisor