Most visitors arrive by ferry. BC Ferries runs the big ships from Tsawwassen, near Vancouver, to Swartz Bay just north of Victoria — a 90-minute crossing through the Gulf Islands. Black Ball Ferry sails the MV Coho between Port Angeles in Washington State and the Inner Harbour itself. From downtown Seattle the Victoria Clipper passenger catamaran does the trip in under three hours.
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) sits 25 km north of the city and has direct flights from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Seattle. The most scenic option is a Harbour Air seaplane: it leaves from downtown Vancouver and lands in the Inner Harbour in 35 minutes.