The Pacific Northwest is a special place. With wild coastlines, dense forests and soaring mountains, there is no end to the natural beauty here. Nestled in this incredible wilderness, on the edge of the Puget Sound in the USA you’ll find the beautiful city of Seattle – the largest city in North America’s Pacific Northwest and one of the biggest tourist destinations in this part of the world. Whether you’re from the area or are just visiting, one of the most unique experiences you can have is taking the ferry from Seattle to Victoria BC, Canada. Because the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island dips below the mainland border between the US and Canada, the Canadian capital city of Victoria is geographically very close to Seattle making it easily accessible via ferry! Victoria provides visitors with a laid-back vibe – a perfect break from the hustle and bustle of a metropolis. So when you’re creating your Seattle itinerary, be sure to make time to visit Victoria!
Victoria Clipper: Seattle, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia
Once a day, one of the passenger-only, high-speed FRS Clipper catamarans, the Victoria Clipper V departs from the ferry terminal at Seattle’s Pier 69 in downtown Seattle to Victoria BC’s Belleville Terminal in downtown Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The ferry ride takes only 2 hours and 45 minutes during which you’ll have unprecedented views of the Puget Sound, San Juan Islands and Strait of Juan de Fuca. During the journey, you can do some whale watching and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the porpoises, sea lions and eagles that frequent these waters! As the only direct fast ferry service between Seattle and Victoria, the Clipper provides passengers with a stunning, affordable and fast way to travel between the US and Canada, year-round!
Victoria Clipper Fares and Seating
There are three main classes of service that you can choose from on the Victoria Clipper ferry: Economy, Vista and Comfort with further upgrade options within each ticket class. No matter what ticket level you purchase, all guests can purchase locally sourced food, spirits and beverages from the onboard café!
Economy: Offers guests comfortable main cabin seating with optional table or group seating if available.
Economy Panoramic: Guests will be able to sit in a window seat in the main cabin area. Table or group seating is available in select areas.
Vista: Vista ticket holders can enjoy the ride in deluxe leather seats with panoramic views and a unique skylight feature from the main upper deck area. Table and group seating is available in some sections.
Vista Panoramic: Choose a spacious leather window seat and don’t miss a moment of the scenery from the upper deck. Table and group seating is available in some sections.
Comfort: Comfort class ticket holders will be able to relax in the peace and quiet of a private cabin at the bow of the ship. With spacious leather seats and complimentary coffee, tea, soft drinks, fruit and snacks, you can ride to and from Victoria in style!
Comfort VIP: In the private cabin, VIP ticket holders can enjoy panoramic views from front or side window seats in spacious leather seats. Complimentary snacks, coffee, tea and soft drinks are offered to VIP ticket holders.
Victoria Clipper Day Trips
Explore Downtown Victoria
Because the crossing from Seattle to Victoria takes less than 3 hours, it is absolutely possible to visit Victoria BC for a day trip! You won’t have to worry about needing a vehicle as the ferry conveniently departs from downtown Seattle and arrives downtown Victoria in the beautiful Inner Harbour. From here, you can explore historic Victoria, starting with the stunning Parliament Buildings and Fairmont Empress right in the Inner Harbour, take pictures in one of North America’s oldest Chinatowns and sample some delicious food, local beverages and spirits! At the end of the day, you simply meet back at Belleville Terminal to enjoy the beautiful crossing back to Seattle.
Visit the Butchart Gardens
If you want to do more during your day trip to Victoria, consider the Butchart Garden package offered by Clipper vacations! Known as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world and rated as one of the top attractions on Vancouver Island, Butchart Gardens is a must-see! With over a thousand different blooms and five distinct gardens to enjoy, Butchart offers guests a beautiful and peaceful walk just north of Victoria. With Clipper vacations, it’s easier than ever to see Butchart Gardens from Seattle! Book the Butchart Garden package with Clipper and you’ll have a round-trip from Seattle to Victoria on the ferry plus a coach seat from Victoria to Butchart and access to the garden!
Overnight Trips
If you prefer to spend more time in the Garden City, you can! Simply book your return ticket for a different day and find a great downtown Victoria rental property! With an efficient public transportation system and easy walking access to the entire city, you won’t need a vehicle to make your trip to Victoria an incredible one!
Victoria has more restaurants per-capita than any other Canadian city and it is really known for its incredible food scene. Most restaurants use locally sourced, seasonable and sustainable ingredients which means that everything you order is incredibly fresh and consciously made – for our favourite restaurants in the city, click here! Victoria also has incredible heritage sites to explore, amazing shopping, fun water taxis, gorgeous city walks, paddleboarding, whale watching and so much more!
Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria, British Columbia
When you’re considering visiting Victoria from Washington State, another option is to take the MV Coho ferry operated by Black Ball Ferry Line from Port Angeles to Victoria. Port Angeles is a beautiful coastal town on the edge of Olympic National Park, a 2 hour and 45 minute drive away from Seattle. If you’re already planning on visiting Olympic National Park and Port Angeles, you should consider taking the 90 minute ferry for an overnight visit to Victoria! For more information on fees and schedules, check the website!
