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North AmericaCanadaBritish Columbia

Sidney

British Columbia, Canada · North America

About Sidney

Sidney is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Ardmore, 30km from San Juan Islands.

Sidney is a town located in British Columbia, Canada. With a population of 12,318, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Sidney sits in Canada, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Vancouver time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Sidney to your route.

About Sidney

Sidney is a town located at the northern end of the Saanich Peninsula, on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia. It is one of the thirteen Greater Victoria municipalities. It has a population of approximately 11,583. Sidney is located just east of Victoria International Airport, and about 6 km (4 mi)

Read more south of BC Ferries' Swartz Bay Terminal. The town is also the only Canadian port-of-call in the Washington State Ferries system, with ferries running from Sidney to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes. Sidney is located along Highway 17, which bisects the town from north to south. It is generally considered part of the Victoria metropolitan area. The town west of Highway 17 (also called Patricia Bay Highway, locally abbreviated as the Pat Bay Highway) has a mixture of single-family residences and light industry. The majority of the town is located east of Highway 17. Single-family units are also present east of the highway, but the eastern sector also has many condominium-type buildings, plus most of the service and retail outlets. The island-studded Haro Strait, part of the Salish Sea, forms Sidney's eastern boundary. There is a large boating and marine industry in the area, ranging from marinas to boatbuilders and marine suppliers. Sidney takes its name from nearby Sidney Island. In 1859, Captain George Henry Richards named that island for Frederick W. Sidney, who like Richards served in the survey branch of the Royal Navy.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Sidney

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Sidney?

Sidney offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Sidney?

Plan your road trip to Sidney with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Sidney as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Sidney located?

Sidney is located in British Columbia, Canada, North America. The coordinates are 48.6496 latitude, -123.4026 longitude.

What is the population of Sidney?

Sidney has a population of approximately 12,318 people, making it a town in Canada.

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Quick Information

Population
12,318
Continent
North America
Country
Canada
Region
British Columbia
Timezone
America/Vancouver
Coordinates
48.6496, -123.4026

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Canada

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

CAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Winter tyres mandatory in Quebec December–March.

Full driving guide for Canada

Tags

North AmericaCanadaBritish ColumbiaTown

Worth the detour from Sidney

1 notable place within an hour's drive.

natural wonder

San Juan Islands

A scenic Pacific Northwest archipelago accessible by ferry, renowned for orca whale watching, kayaking, and peaceful island life.

30 km · about 35 min drive

Driving roads near Sidney

  • 67 kmChuckanut Drive (WA-11)Washington's first scenic byway clings to sandstone cliffs between Bellingham and the Skagit flats, with oyster bars and Samish Bay sunsets over the San Juan Islands.
  • 76 kmHurricane Ridge ViewpointA mile-high viewpoint in Olympic National Park with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and on clear days, Mount Baker.
  • 76 kmLions Gate BridgeVancouver's iconic 1938 suspension bridge spanning the First Narrows from Stanley Park to the North Shore, gateway to the Sea-to-Sky Highway with mountain and harbour views from its green towers.
  • 80 kmCapilano Suspension BridgeA 137 m footbridge swaying 70 m above the Capilano River in North Vancouver, with treetop walkways and a granite cliffwalk: one of BC's most visited attractions since 1889.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Sidney.

North Saanich

🇨🇦 Canada

2 km awayPop. 11,089

Ardmore

🇨🇦 Canada

5 km awayPop. 1,014

Saanichton

🇨🇦 Canada

6 km awayPop. 1,565

Deep Cove

🇨🇦 Canada

6 km awayPop. 1,177

Brentwood Bay

🇨🇦 Canada

8 km awayPop. 7,581

Keating

🇨🇦 Canada

9 km awayPop. 1,403

Central Saanich

🇨🇦 Canada

9 km awayPop. 17,385

Mill Bay

🇨🇦 Canada

11 km awayPop. 7,200

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence