The town centre is compact and easy to walk. Beacon Avenue, Sidney's main street, runs only a few blocks and is entirely manageable on foot — the bookshops, the aquarium, and the marina are all within a short stroll of each other.
A car is useful if you want to explore the broader Saanich Peninsula, visit the Butchart Gardens, or access the BC Ferries terminal at Swartz Bay. The peninsula is also pleasant cycling country: the terrain is relatively flat, and designated cycling routes connect Sidney to Victoria and to points along the coast. Bike rentals are available in the area.
Sidney Spit on Sidney Island is only accessible by passenger ferry. The seasonal service departs from the Sidney waterfront and crosses in about 20 minutes.