Need to Know

Canada Border Services Agency is the source for current information for visitors to British Columbia about required travel documents, restricted goods, travelling with children and pets, and more. For information about entering or reentering the United States, visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

There are many ways to travel to and within BC, including by air, rail, water, and road. To explore your options, please visit our Getting Here & Around page. Tip: DriveBC is an up-to-date resource to see if weather conditions have caused road closures anywhere in the province.

Things to keep in mind if you are going to be driving in BC:

• Visitors who hold a valid foreign or out-of-province licence can drive for up to six months. Any restrictions on your licence apply here, too.
• Visit ICBC to get familiar with BC’s driving rules and regulations as well as insurance coverage for your vehicle.
• Consult DriveBC for up-to-date information about road conditions and closures.
• Plan ahead with BCAA’s Ultimate Guide to Safe Road-Tripping in BC, including helpful resources such as the BCAA vehicle checklist, how to pack for an emergency, and more.
• Highways outside of Metro Vancouver and southeast Vancouver Island require winter tires from October 1 to April 30. Visit Shift Into Winter for more information on winter driving in BC.

Looking to chart a course for your western Canada adventure? Visit our Maps page to see where to find the best powder, where to pitch your tent, and where to hit the road.

Credit cards (mainly Visa and MasterCard) are accepted by most businesses, but it’s a good idea to carry some Canadian cash. ATMs, located in banks and retail areas, dispense Canadian currency. A bank or currency exchange outlet can change your funds to Canadian dollars. Banks are generally open Monday to Friday, with some open on weekends. When booking accommodation or experiences online, be sure to clarify the currency being charged. Some online booking sites offer options. A federal goods and services tax (GST) of 5% and a provincial sales tax (PST) of 7% are applicable to most purchased goods and services. A tip of 15-20% at bars and restaurants is customary. Tips are also given to tour guides, taxi drivers, and for spa treatments and haircuts. Porters at airports, railway stations, and hotels generally expect $1-2 per item of luggage. Currency Converter

Canada uses the metric system. The following conversions may be useful:

• °C to °F
• Kilometres to miles
• Km/hr to mi/hr
• Metres to feet
• Kilograms to pounds

More Conversions

BC strives to be an inclusive destination for people of all abilities. To learn more about accessibility in BC, please visit our Accessible Travel page. To better serve travellers with accessibility needs, tourism businesses featured on our website have the ability to self assess with respect to mobility, vision, hearing, cognitive, and general accessibility categories. Check individual Experience Provider and Accommodations listings for their accessibility details by selecting the “Accessibility” filters at the top of the page.

There are more than 200 First Nations in what is now known as British Columbia. Many Nations welcome visitors, sharing their stories, artwork, and traditional knowledge. To travel with intent and experience these communities responsibly, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Come with a mindset of gratitude and respect.
• Remember that everything is connected.
• Seek and follow the wisdom of Indigenous guides.
• Stay longer, and spend locally.

To learn more, visit Indigenous Tourism BC.

If you’re looking to connect with a local tourism expert, there are more than 100 community-owned Visitor Centers and booths across the province that make up BC’s Visitor Services Network. For access to local insight and expertise, visit our Visitor Information & Services page.

The weather in British Columbia is influenced by latitude, mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. Temperature, average precipitation, and hours of sunshine can vary over short distances, but in general temperatures are warmer in the south and milder on the coast, and rainfall is heaviest in coastal communities. To learn more about seasonal weather, visit our When to Go page.

Banks, government offices, and some stores will be closed on statutory holidays, or on the following Monday if the holiday falls on a weekend. View a list of statutory holidays.

British Columbia, with its diverse landscapes, pristine ecosystems, and vast tracts of wilderness, has one of the highest proportions of protected land of any country in the world.

• To learn about major parks around the province, visit BC Parks, Parks Canada, and Recreation Sites and Trails BC.
• Not all parks fall within national or provincial jurisdiction; many are managed by regional or municipal parks boards, who set their own rules and regulations to ensure visitor safety. Consult with each park’s website before planning your visit to learn about the latest updates.
• Before heading out, check for any alerts, closures, and warnings in BC's rustic campsites and recreational trails.