With its vibrant culture, diverse neighbourhoods and stunning natural beauty, Vancouver was voted the fifth-most-attractive city in the world to live in (Global Liveability Index 2022). It's home to world-class art galleries, theatre companies, universities and libraries, a thriving craft beer scene and first-rate international cuisine.
Depending on your mode of transportation, you'll notice a few key things when you arrive. Those of you who fly here will touch down in Richmond, the fourth-largest city in British Columbia and a hub for Chinese and South-East Asian communities. If you're feeling adventurous, go straight to Chinese Sauerkraut Fish on No. 3 Road. Or head to the Aberdeen Centre and sample some Taiwanese candy at Taiwan Kwong Leung Hing Dried Food Ltd.
Arriving by cruise ship will bring you to the Downtown core, where architectural wonders like the Convention Centre and the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver stretch above the port. The Harbour Centre Lookout offers great views of the city and surrounding mountains, while nearby Gastown is full of history, culture and boutique shopping.
If you come by car, you'll travel along routes that wind through dense forests and parks. You'll see bald eagles soaring overhead and snow-capped coastal mountains.
The walkabout
The beauty of a small city like Vancouver is its walkability. Downtown, you can see everything on foot. Most of the Downtown core is quite flat, so put on your sneakers and make a day of it.
If you're comfortable on a bike, you'll find plenty of bike lanes throughout the city. There are rental shops everywhere, especially in the Stanley Park area. Cycle City Tours and Bike Rentals, for example, is located near the intersection of Hornby and Georgia Streets. It's a great place to start.
Public transit is also an inexpensive and efficient way to see the city. The SkyTrain covers metropolitan Vancouver, while the buses are perfect for getting around the neighbourhoods. Use the SeaBus, a ferry service that connects Downtown to North Vancouver.
If you're looking for adventure and would like to explore areas outside of Downtown, there are plenty of tour companies offering sightseeing tours. From helicopter rides over the city skyline to whale watching in Howe Sound, you'll find something to fit your interests and budget.
While you're there, be sure to visit Stanley Park. With more than 400 hectares of lush rainforest, bicycle and walking paths, beaches, gardens and stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and Burrard Inlet, this is the city's central green oasis.
Notable neighbourhoods
Vancouver has several unique neighbourhoods that are worth exploring while you're in town. In the West End, you'll find Stanley Park and its iconic seawall, as well as nearby beaches. Davie Village, Vancouver's LGBTQ2+-friendly neighbourhood, is full of quirky bars, boutiques and bookshops.
Head through Downtown, past the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Orpheum Theatre - home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra - and you'll hit Yaletown, the trendy home of upscale eateries and nightlife venues. Expect to find unique boutiques showcasing local fashion and decor, along with outdoor terraces to enjoy in warm weather.
On the waterfront is David Lam Park, a great spot for a picnic or an afternoon stroll. Continue across Granville Bridge to the famous shops of Granville Island Public Market and explore local artisan studios while you're there.
Further east, you'll find Vancouver's Chinatown, the oldest neighbourhood in the city and the largest Chinatown in Canada, with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Sai Woo restaurant, Chinese herbalists and street art.
In Gastown, the famous Gastown Steam Clock is a kitschy but beloved landmark. The steam-powered clock chimes every 15 minutes. Stop by local favourites like the Blue Water Cafe seafood restaurant for an upscale lunch, or keep it casual at the Meat & Bread sandwich shop. At night, Gastown's Guilt & Company is the perfect space for cocktails, food and live performances of blues, soul, jazz, funk, fusion, country music - and everything in between.
If you keep going east, you'll soon come to Commercial Drive, a neighbourhood known as "The Drive" or "Little Italy". This is where Italian immigrants came to live from the 1940s to the 1970s. It's a culturally rich district with quaint boutiques, eclectic restaurants, live music venues, coffee houses, speciality food stores and bakeries. If you enjoy the theatre, visit the Cultch, a contemporary arts theatre and gallery with an exciting programme of performance art, solo shows and contemporary dance.
Finally, the Mount Pleasant area, south-east of Downtown, is the epicentre of the Vancouver Mural Festival, with events and exhibitions held throughout the year. You'll find huge, bold, colourful street art, indie fashion shops and a fantastic view of the famous Science World globe here. If you're in town on a Sunday, don't miss the Sunday Service. This weekly improvisation comedy show at the Fox Cabaret is one of Vancouver's best-loved local events.
Hike, swim, ski
Hike, swim, ski, all in one day. That's what you'll hear when you ask anyone what to do in Vancouver. Situated along the beautiful Pacific Northwest coast of North America, this glittering, glass city offers spectacular natural beauty and a year-round mild climate. It's this climate - alongside our convenient positioning between the North Shore Mountains (Cypress, Grouse, Seymour) and the Pacific Ocean - that makes the hiking, swimming and skiing more than just a dream.
The best time to attempt this feat is spring, when the snowpack is still high in the mountains, temperatures are mild and the days last well into the evening. Hikers have their pick of trails around Vancouver, from easy paths to more challenging mountain treks. Hotspots include the North Shore Mountains and Deep Cove. If you're not an avid hiker back home, don't worry. Unlike the steep Rocky Mountains to our east, Vancouver's coastal hikes are generally mild and forgiving. Expect rainforest-like scenery, ocean views and wide, well-trodden paths on excursions such as Lynn Canyon Loop, Quarry Rock and Lighthouse Park.
For the more experienced, there's the Grouse Grind, a popular 2.5-kilometre trail of wooden staircases and switchbacks up to the peak of Grouse Mountain. It's not for the faint of heart.
For bold climbers, there's also the Stawamus Chief hike in Squamish. This massive granite monolith rises 702 metres from its base, with three peaks offering multiple routes for novices as well as experienced climbers.
Swimmers and beachgoers are also spoilt for choice in the area. Kitsilano Beach (known locally as Kits Beach) and English Bay draw large crowds of sunbathers during the summer months, while Wreck Beach, Vancouver's "clothing-optional" beach, is a great spot to explore at any time of year. If you're keen on deep-sea diving, head to Howe Sound and the Strait of Georgia.
For people who like skiing and snowboarding, Cypress Mountain, Mount Seymour and Grouse Mountain are the most accessible and offer runs for all skill levels. All three are about a 30-minute drive from Downtown.
If you're venturing up the Sea to Sky highway, Whistler is an excellent choice for skiing, snowboarding or simply enjoying a hot drink with a stunning mountain view. Whistler Village has a good selection of restaurants and nightlife, so it's worth staying a night or two.
Adventures after dark
Vancouver's former reputation as the "no fun city" has been transformed in recent years. These days, the city is flush with Prohibition-style speakeasies, cocktail bars and more craft breweries than even the locals can keep track of. From the mysterious Laowai bar (to find it, look for the Blnd Tger dumpling shop in Chinatown, and ask for number seven) to Mount Pleasant's Key Party (is it an accounting office, or something more?), the city is a hub of creative nightlife experiences.
Luckily, you never have to go far to find something to eat. Every corner of the city is stacked with sushi bars, Banh Mi shops and trendy ramen spots. Vancouver's Asian influence is strong, with popular dishes like Korean BBQ and dim sum acting as local staples. The variety of flavours and styles is endless, with fusions of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indian and more, represented throughout the city.
Vancouver also recently celebrated its inaugural Michelin Guide, with eight restaurants receiving the highly prized stars in October of 2022. Among those named are long-loved local favourites, such as Kissa Tanto, a Japanese and Italian fusion restaurant that perfectly encapsulates the food scene in Vancouver; St. Lawrence, a charming upscale Québécois bistro, and Burdock & Co, an eatery that focuses on seasonal ingredients and farm-to-table dishes.
Perhaps most exciting of all about the Michelin Guide in 2022, at least for the locals, wasn't the star winners, but the Bib Gourmand, which recognized 12 casual spots that serve quality meals at a moderate price.
These include Oca Pastificio, an Italian eatery on Commercial Drive that specializes in handmade pasta; Phnom Penh, a Cambodian and Vietnamese restaurant that's become a Downtown Eastside staple; and Vij's Restaurant, a locally celebrated Indian establishment owned by Vikram Vij that has in the past attracted celebrity chefs such as Anthony Bourdain and Giada De Laurentiis.
When it comes to drinking, Vancouverites know their way around mixology and craft beer. We have an abundance of cocktail bars, such as the Keefer Bar (try their rosemary gimlet) and the Diamond in Gastown.
Vancouver also has plenty of craft breweries - popular favourites include 33 Acres in Mount Pleasant, Superflux on Clark Drive and Stanley Park Brewing in Stanley Park. Try some of the more experimental offerings: Vancouver's craft beer scene is known for its eccentricity.
As the sun sets on your day, take a moment to look up at the mountains, breathe in the ocean air and lose yourself in the beauty around you. Whether you're an adventurous traveller or just looking for a peaceful escape, this city has something for everyone. No matter how you spend your trip to Canada, its West Coast is sure to leave you with lasting memories.