In 2017 alone, Vancouver hit a record 10.3 million visitors — and the numbers continue to climb. There are lots of reasons that so many tourists are interested in setting foot on Canadian soil, and especially planning to travel to Vancouver. Often called one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, with a mountain range to one side and the blue waters of the Pacific to the other, Vancouver offers incredible restaurants, out of the world nightlife and attractions to suit every visitor’s interests.

In fact, an enthusiastic lottery player and traveler would say.“If I won the lottery, I would spend it in Vancouver!” Of all tourist destinations, why Vancouver? It’s simply beautiful and there’s a lot in store for both soft and extreme adventurers.

As usual, if you want to make the most out of something, you need to be prepared. Likewise, as you plan to travel to Vancouver, you need a road map and a guide that will help you make the most out of your trip. Here’s our travel guide to Vancouver.

1. Plan Your Trip

Century-old Brockton Point Lighthouse in Stanley Park, with Vancouver Downtown, BC, Canada, in the background.

As you plan your travel to Vancouver, there are several things that you need to put into consideration. For one, what’s the best time of year to visit? It’s worth noting that it is always a good time to visit Vancouver. However, different seasons will give you different experiences from mild Canadian winters (snow that does fall melts in a day or two!) to early spring flowers in the many gardens and parks, to whale watching through the summer, to colorful fall foliage.

Since there are so many options to choose from, you may want to base your visit on costs. What time of year is the cheapest to visit Vancouver? March to May and September to November when the weather is mild and many hotels offer bargains. When you travel in these seasons, flight prices will also tend to be less expensive.

2. What Language Do People in Vancouver Speak?

Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Vancouver, Canada, was built in 1986 — Photo by rabbit75_dep

One of the challenges that most tourists face while exploring new places is communication. The language barrier tends to limit fun. Vancouver is an English-speaking city, however, it’s a very multicultural destination. There’s a mix of ethnicities, religions and cultural groups.

If you speak an Asian language, you may be surprised to learn that Vancouver is often given the title of being the “most Asian city” outside of Asia. However, Chinatown is a popular Vancouver neighborhood with visitors from all cultures. If you visit, check out the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden — the first of its kind to ever be built in Canada.

3. Transportation in Vancouver

SkyTrain opened in January 1986 as a Showcase of Expo ’86 held in Vancouver. Image by onlyjf77 from Pixabay

How do you get around in Vancouver? The public transportation system is great. Expect to come across a fleet of buses, the SkyTrain rapid transit system, and the SeaBus on the waterfront. Getting around should not at all be a challenge — you can take the SkyTrain right from the airport. In fact, riding the SkyTrain and SeaBus is part of the Vancouver visitor experience!

The transit system is also convenient when it comes to buying tickets. You can use cash, visa, and other methods of payments to buy a pass. And services like Uber? Look for ride-sharing services to start in 2019 when you travel to Vancouver.

5. Planning Your Accommodations & Dining in Vancouver

Some say Vancouver may be the “Sushi capital of North America!” Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay

You won’t struggle to find accommodations and places to eat to suit every budget. You have a wide range of choices when it comes to both of them.

So, you may want to select your accommodations based on the city neighborhoods you’re interested in visiting when you travel to Vancouver. Coal Harbour/Waterfront is a good starter and a direct line from the airport on the SkyTrain. From here, you can catch a cruise ship, walk the seawall along the harbor, visit Canada Place and take the amazing FlyOver Canada simulation ride, or catch the hop-on, hop-off bus to explore further.

Historic Gastown is another favorite. What’s so special about Gastown? Well, it gets its name from the first local saloon owner, known as “Gassy Jack,” a man who loved to talk and talk and talk. And today, you’ll find its many historic brick buildings are home to wine bars, boutique shops and some of Vancouver’s best restaurants.

For a Vancouver neighborhood that gives you a taste of how locals live, try the West End. From the sandy beaches of English Bay to the nightlife of Davie Village, you’ll find it’s easy to feel right at home. After biking the seawall and visiting the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park, you’ll be ready to relax at the restaurants, cafes and brewpubs on Denman Street.

Day trips From Vancouver That Provide an Adrenaline Rush

Peak-to-Peak gondola in Whistler, BC. Image by Harry Wegley from Pixabay

When it comes to day trips from Vancouver, you’ll likely find it’s hard to decide what to try!

If you love adventures with an adrenaline rush, all seasons have something to offer. Take a winter day trip to ski in the local mountains — Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain and Mt Seymour. Or, head two hours north to Whistler (there’s an inexpensive express bus), home of the 2010 winter Olympics, and try some downhill or cross-country skiing, or up your game and check out the heli-skiing.

Once the mountain snow melts, try some whitewater! Day trips to the Thompson, Nahatlatch, Squamish, Elaho or Chilliwack rivers will challenge your paddling skills. If you enjoy the water, you may want to try a cliff jumping day trip near Vancouver instead of paddling. Start easy with a 20 foot jump at Pool 99 or take a 60 foot drop into saltwater at Lions Bay.

Zip-lining never gets old, especially when it’s the longest zipline in all of Canada and the US. In fact, Whistler’s Sasquatch zipline takes you +2 Kms over spectacular views and 7,000 feet of pure eco-exhilaration!

Still not convinced? Try: skydiving, scuba diving, surfing and skim boarding, paragliding and hang-gliding, kiteboarding, windsurfing, rocking climbing, ATVing, snowmobiling, and more!

More Information

Visit Tourism Vancouver online at: https://www.tourismvancouver.com/

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