Vancouver sits between snow-capped mountains and the Pacific, with a rainforest park at its heart and a seawall you can cycle around before breakfast. The setting is the finest of any city in North America; the price of living in it is the constant argument.
Incorporated in 1886 as the terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway — the point where the transcontinental line met the sea — Vancouver burned to the ground two months later and rebuilt itself as Canada's Pacific port. Gastown is the original townsite; the downtown peninsula, with Stanley Park's thousand acres of old-growth forest at its tip, is the core. The Coast Salish peoples — the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh — were here for millennia before any of that, and the city sits on their unceded land, a fact now acknowledged at the start of most public events.
It is a young city that grew up fast, and it grew up outward and then, from the 1990s, upward: the glass condo towers of Yaletown and Coal Harbour, built on 'Vancouverism' — slim towers on low podiums, so the views stay open — are the skyline. Immigration from Hong Kong, mainland China, India, the Philippines and Iran made it one of the most Asian cities outside Asia; Richmond, to the south, is a Chinese city in its own right, and the food across the region reflects it.
The outdoors is the culture. The seawall runs around Stanley Park and along False Creek; Grouse and Cypress mountains are twenty minutes from downtown and ski in winter; the North Shore's trails are legendary and its grinds punishing; Whistler is two hours up the Sea to Sky highway; and the beaches — Kitsilano, Jericho, Spanish Banks, English Bay — are the summer. It rains from November to March, steadily and greyly, and Vancouverites deal with it by buying good jackets and going out anyway.
The problem is the price. Vancouver housing is the most expensive in Canada and among the least affordable in the world relative to income; it has hollowed out the middle of the city and pushed families to the suburbs and beyond. The Downtown Eastside's poverty and drug crisis, a few blocks from Gastown's boutiques, is the other face of that inequality, and the city is honest about it. What you get, if you can afford it, is a safe, green, outdoorsy, tolerant city in the most beautiful place any Canadian city has ever been put.
The glass peninsula — the waterfront walk from Canada Place to Stanley Park, the art gallery, Robson Street's shopping, and the seaplanes landing in the harbour.
The original town: Victorian brick, the steam clock, the cobbles and the cocktail bars; then the historic Chinatown with the Sun Yat-Sen garden, beside the Downtown Eastside.
Converted warehouses turned restaurants and condos on the creek, the seawall, Granville Island's market across the water by tiny ferry, and the Olympic Village.
Across the Burrard bridge — the beach, the pool, the yoga-and-organics main street of West 4th, and the Museum of Anthropology out at UBC. Vancouver's lifestyle brand, embodied.
The east side's two main streets — the Drive's Italian and Latin cafés and counterculture, and Main Street's breweries, brunch and vintage. Where the young and the creative live.
Across the Lions Gate or the SeaBus: North Vancouver's Lonsdale Quay and mountain trails, West Vancouver's beaches and mansions, and the ski hills above them.
The separate city south of the airport — the best Chinese food in North America along No. 3 Road, the night markets, and Steveston's fishing village on the Fraser.
NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1A1 · vancouver.ca
6000 Cypress Bowl Rd, Vancouver, BC V0N 1G0 · cypressmountain.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qru2QwBIJKk · 4300 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6N 4A6 · shaughnessy.org
NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1X8
University Endowment Lands, BC V6T 1Z1
White Rock Promenade, White Rock, BC V4B 1C7
1825 Comox St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1P9, Canada · thecomohotel.com
1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0E2, Canada · fairmont.com
801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7, Canada · rosewoodhotels.com
900 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5, Canada · fairmont.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4YOd0EXgPo · 999 Canada Pl #300, Vancouver, BC V6C 3B5, Canada · panpacific.com
791 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V7Y 1A1, Canada
123 Keefer St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X3, Canada · kalidohotels.com
833 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1K7, Canada · azurhotelvancouver.com
1821 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E4, Canada · timessquaresuites.com
446 W 13th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1W5, Canada · cambie.beautifulguesthouse.ca
1161 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6E 0C6, Canada · paradoxhotels.com
1225 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C3, Canada · bluehorizonhotel.com
177 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6B 0N3, Canada · hotelbluvancouver.com
1180 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6E 4R5, Canada · coasthotels.com
1253 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8, Canada · granvilleislandhotel.com
1221 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1B6, Canada · qualityinndowntownvancouver.com
733 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M4, Canada · hotelwillo.com
1154 Gilford St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2P6, Canada · sylviahotel.com
1100 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y7, Canada · theburrard.com
@, 711 W. Broadway, Heather St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3Y2, Canada · ihg.com
1431 Robson St #1, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C1, Canada · hotelopportune.com
180 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 4P4, Canada · sandmanhotels.com
510 Homer St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2V6, Canada · victorianhotel.ca
718 Drake St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2W6, Canada · grandparkdowntownvancouver.com
1133 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3T3, Canada · pinnacleharbourfronthotel.com
56 W 41st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 2R9, Canada · cozybedroomsinoakridge-vancouver.site
2030 Barclay St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1L5, Canada · rosellensuites.com
1379 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R5, Canada · vancouverdowntownhotel.net
900 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3L9, Canada · modahotel.ca
757 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3A6, Canada · kingstonhotelvancouver.com
1348 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C5, Canada · barclayhotel.ca
1150 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2M9, Canada · englishbayhotel.com
550 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1L6, Canada · marriott.com
655 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2R7, Canada · hyatt.com
1601 Bayshore Dr., Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4, Canada · marriott.com
1361 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1C6, Canada · pavillonimperial.com
1128 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6E 4R5, Canada · marriott.com
111 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2A8, Canada · hilton.com
1100 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2B6, Canada · bestwestern.com
1018 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1L5, Canada · samesun.com
1755 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6G 1W5, Canada · bestwestern.com
707 E 23rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V5V 1Y2, Canada · braydens-tip-is.eu
325 W 11th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1T3, Canada · beautifulguesthouse.ca
Restaurant — 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC V5P 2S7
Bar
Strathcona Beer Company || Open noon til 11:00 pm each day (12:00 on Fri Sat) || 895 East Hastings St. # strathconabeer . VANCOUVER || BEER ðŸ“Vancouver, BC… · strathconabeer.com
bars, pubs · A long standing haunt for west side locals and energetic college folk, The Bimini remains a Kitsilano institution and historic neighbourhood pub.… · biminispub.ca
steakhouses, steak restaurants, seafoods, sushi restaurants, Teppanyaki restaurants · . Here at the "KOBE", we carry on the ancient art of teppanyaki -… · koberestaurant.com
Fork Lift Kitchen & Bar · A Totally New Grocery Experience . · freshstmarket.com
organic cold pressed juices, juicing, juice bars, restaurants · 488 Gore Ave, Vancouver, BC V6A 2Z4 · kevinandkevinjuice.com
Brazilian steakhouses · boteco.ca
donuts · cartems.com
sports bars, sports bars, arcades, arcade games · gretabar.com
restaurants · tryhiddengems.com
Vancouver retaurants · mumukitchen.ca
rollerskating, rollerskates, rollerskate clubs, roller skates · rollaskateclub.com
1650 Marine Dr., West Vancouver. Where Fresh Meets Everyday. . The Instagram home for all Fresh St. Market locations! Here to motivate you to eat delicious… · freshstmarket.com
restaurants · ondayvr.ca
The jewel in Vancouver s culinary crown, featuring outstanding contemporary regional cuisine and exceptional service | Use # WestOnSouth to be featured . · westrestaurant.com
Official Twitter account for anything Spaghetti in Canada. . · oldspaghettifactory.ca
Brazilian Steakhouse in Downtown Vancouver . · riobraziliansteakhouse.ca
1447 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3X8 · thecharlatanrestaurant.com
. Dining Room | Bar | Lounge | Private Dining Open 5:30 nightly 3106 Cambie St. Vancouver | BC | Canada First-come, First-seated + Online Reservations · 3106…
Vancouver gentlemens clubs, Vencouver nightclubs, Vancouver night clubs · 595 Hornby St , Vancouver, BC · brandislounge.com
vancouver stripclubs · no5orange.ca
Vancouver, BC, CA — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 30 airlines (Air Canada, WestJet, Pacific Coastal Airline, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 75 destinations incl. London, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Las Vegas… (OpenFlights route data).
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Delta, BC, CA — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
1640 Electra Blvd, Sidney, BC V8L 5V4 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 5 airlines (WestJet, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Pacific Coastal Airline…) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Vancouver, Calgary, San Francisco, Toronto, Edmonton… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 73 km from Vancouver · WestJet, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines · Getting around Victoria, BC →
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Bellingham, WA, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 2 airlines (Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines) · direct flights to 9 destinations incl. Las Vegas, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Mesa, Oakland… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 69 km from Vancouver · Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines · Getting around Bellingham, WA →
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Ferry terminal · 0.1 km from the centre · Aquabus
Ferry terminal · 0.2 km from the centre · False Creek Ferries
Ferry terminal · 0.3 km from the centre · False Creek Ferries
Ferry terminal · 0.3 km from the centre · Aquabus
Ferry terminal · 0.8 km from the centre · Aquabus & False Creek Ferries
Ferry terminal · 1 km from the centre · False Creek Ferries
Ferry route · Aquabus
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
Ferry route · Aquabus
Ferry route · Aquabus
Ferry route · Aquabus
SkyTrain, bus, SeaBus · Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus and West Coast Express. · Fares: Compass card or contactless tap · Airport: Canada Line SkyTrain, YVR to dow
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Rail operator
Rail operator
Daylight luxury rail Vancouver–Kamloops–Banff or Jasper through the Rockies, April to October. · Banff, Alberta guide →
National rail
Vancouver to Kelowna through the Coquihalla, about six hours. · Kelowna, BC guide →
Direct coach, about two hours; picks up downtown and at YVR, more departures in ski season. · Whistler, BC guide →
Coach to Whistler, BC · Whistler, BC guide →
Vancouver airport and downtown to Whistler village, roughly two and a half hours. · Whistler, BC guide →
Cross-border coach Vancouver–Seattle, about four hours including the border. · Seattle, Washington guide →
Intercity coach
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Charter · Learjet, Challenger · Vancouver-based charter operator.
Charter, management · Light to large-cabin · Toronto-based charter and aircraft management.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, Challenger, Global · Canada's largest business-aviation company: charter, management and FBOs in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver.
Fractional · Praetor 500, Citation CJ3+, Legacy 450 · Canada's fractional-ownership operator, based in Calgary.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.