British Columbia · Canada

Vancouver

The largest city on Canada’s west coast, between the Pacific and the mountains: Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown and, in North Vancouver, suspension bridges and the Grouse cable car.

British Columbia

In the photo: English Bay, Vancouver

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Vancouver lies on the Pacific coast in British Columbia, where the Coast Mountains drop almost to the sea. Downtown occupies a peninsula surrounded by water, with glass towers, urban beaches and Stanley Park at the tip, connected to North Vancouver by the Lions Gate Bridge.

The city developed around the port and the transcontinental railway at the end of the 19th century. Gastown, the oldest core, has brick streets and the steam clock; Chinatown is one of Canada’s largest, featuring the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Granville Island, beneath a bridge, has turned former factories into a public market, studios and theaters.

The region is the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, and the art of the coastal nations appears on the totem poles in Stanley Park and at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.

Across the bay, North Vancouver has the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Grouse Mountain with its cable car and city views, and Lynn Canyon. Vancouver is also the starting point for Whistler via the Sea-to-Sky Highway and for Victoria by ferry.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Vancouver, North Vancouver.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Vancouver is

Boundaries: Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence) / geoBoundaries. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Vancouver

✈ Vancouver International Airport (YVR), in Richmond · 13 km to Vancouver

Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, is about 13 km from downtown and is connected by the Canada Line train. VIA Rail trains and intercity buses arrive at Pacific Central Station. Ferries link the region to Vancouver Island.

Suggested arrival point: Vancouver

Colúmbia Britânica · Vancouver Suggested arrival point

Vancouver

The largest city in British Columbia, on a peninsula between the Pacific and the mountains. It has Stanley Park, with the Seawall promenade and the Vancouver Aquarium, Granville Island, Gastown and Chinatown with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, the UBC Museum of Anthropology and Queen Elizabeth Park, at the highest point in the city.

Colúmbia Britânica · Vancouver

North Vancouver

City on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, opposite downtown Vancouver, at the foot of the Coast Mountains. It has the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Grouse Mountain with its cable car and city views, and Lynn Canyon. Lonsdale Quay, on the waterfront, receives the SeaBus from downtown.

The local experience

Things to do in Vancouver

North Vancouver · British Columbia · Suspension bridge

Capilano Suspension Bridge

A pedestrian bridge about 137 meters long suspended roughly 70 meters above the Capilano River, in a park with treetop walkways and another span anchored to the canyon wall.

Vancouver · British Columbia · Park

Stanley Park

A park of about 400 hectares at the tip of the downtown peninsula, with cedar and fir forest, the Seawall waterfront promenade, beaches and the Brockton Point totem poles.

Vancouver · British Columbia · Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium

An aquarium inside Stanley Park dedicated to Pacific coast marine life and other seas, featuring sea otters, seals, sea lions, jellyfish and a rainforest gallery.

North Vancouver · British Columbia · Mountain

Grouse Mountain

Mountain about 1,230 meters above North Vancouver, with a gondola, city, harbour and island views, an orphaned grizzly refuge and ski runs in winter.

See 6 more places in Vancouver

Vancouver · British Columbia · Market

Granville Island

A former industrial area under the Granville Bridge transformed into a public market, artist studios, galleries, theatres and breweries, on the edge of False Creek.

North Vancouver · British Columbia · Park

Lynn Canyon Park

Municipal temperate-forest park with a suspension bridge about 50 meters above the Lynn River, waterfalls, natural pools and trails, free to enter.

Vancouver · British Columbia · Historic neighborhood

Gastown

The oldest core of Vancouver, with cobblestone streets, late-19th-century brick buildings, the steam clock and the statue of Gassy Jack, who gave the neighbourhood its name.

Vancouver · British Columbia · Museum

Museum of Anthropology at UBC

University of British Columbia museum dedicated to world cultures and the nations of the northwest coast, with monumental totem poles in a glass hall facing the sea.

Vancouver · British Columbia · Garden

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

A scholar-style Ming dynasty garden in Chinatown, made by Suzhou artisans with materials brought from China, featuring a pond, pavilions and water-sculpted rocks.

Vancouver · British Columbia · Park

Queen Elizabeth Park

Park on Vancouver’s highest point, a former quarry turned into gardens, with views of downtown and the mountains and a tropical conservatory under a dome.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Summer, from June to September, is the driest and sunniest season, with mild days. From October to April it rains frequently, but the city rarely sees snow while the nearby mountains receive skiers. Spring brings flowering cherry trees, usually from March to April.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three or four days for Stanley Park, the neighborhoods, the museums and North Vancouver. Add days for Victoria by ferry and for Whistler via the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Which city to stay in

Downtown and the West End, near Stanley Park and English Bay, are within walking distance of most attractions. Yaletown has lodging near restaurants and the SkyTrain. Kitsilano, across the bay, is more residential and close to the beaches. North Vancouver, near Lonsdale Quay, is a 12-minute ferry ride from downtown.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Vancouver

How many days should you stay in Vancouver?

Three or four days for the city and North Vancouver. With more time, it’s worth including Victoria and Whistler.

How do you get from Vancouver airport to downtown?

By the Canada Line train, about 25 minutes to Waterfront Station in downtown.

Does it rain a lot in Vancouver?

From October to April, yes — frequent rain and overcast days. Summer is usually dry and sunny.

Do you need a car in Vancouver?

Not in the city, which has the SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus to North Vancouver. A car is useful for Whistler and the interior.

Can you go from Vancouver to Victoria in one day?

Yes, by ferry, with about a 1.5-hour crossing plus travel time to the terminals. There are also seaplanes between the two ports.

What time zone is Vancouver in?

British Columbia Pacific Time, UTC−7 year‑round, without clock changes.

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Vancouver

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.