Vancouver, BC
A city that got the setting and is still working out the rest
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.
Where People Live
Downtown & Coal Harbour
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.
Gastown & Chinatown
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.
Yaletown & False Creek
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.
Kitsilano
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.
Commercial Drive & Mount Pleasant
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.
North Shore
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.
Richmond
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.
Must-see attractions
Spanish Banks Beach
NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1A1
Eat & drink
Northern Cafe & Grill
Restaurant — 1640 E Kent Avenue S, Vancouver, BC V5P 2S7
The Roxy Cabaret
Bar
Restaurants & places to go
Strathcona Beer Company
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Strathcona Beer Company || Open noon til 11:00 pm each day (12:00 on Fri & Sat) || 895 East Hastings St.… · strathconabeer.com
Fresh St. Market
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">1650 Marine Dr., West Vancouver. Where Fresh Meets Everyday.</p>. The Instagram home for all Fresh St. Market… · freshstmarket.com
West Restaurant
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">The jewel in Vancouver's culinary crown, featuring outstanding contemporary regional cuisine andÂ… · westrestaurant.com
Bimini's Public House
bars, pubs · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">A long standing haunt for west side locals and energetic college folk, The Bimini remains a… · biminispub.ca
Kobe Japanese Steak & Seafood House
steakhouses, steak restaurants, seafoods, sushi restaurants, Teppanyaki restaurants · . Here at the "KOBE", we carry on the ancient art of teppanyaki -… · koberestaurant.com
Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Official Twitter account for anything Spaghetti in Canada.</p>. · oldspaghettifactory.ca
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse
<p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Brazilian Steakhouse in Downtown Vancouver</p>. · riobraziliansteakhouse.ca
Fresh St. Market Vancouver House
Fork Lift Kitchen & Bar · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">A Totally New Grocery Experience</p>. · freshstmarket.com
Vij's
. Dining Room | Bar | Lounge | Private Dining Open 5:30 nightly 3106 Cambie St. Vancouver | BC | Canada First-come, First-seated + Online Reservations · 3106…
Brandi's Exotic Show Lounge, Vancouver
Vancouver gentlemens clubs, Vencouver nightclubs, Vancouver night clubs · 595 Hornby St , Vancouver, BC · brandislounge.com
Kevin & Kevin Juice
organic cold pressed juices, juicing, juice bars, restaurants · 488 Gore Ave, Vancouver, BC V6A 2Z4 · kevinandkevinjuice.com
Boteco Vancouver
Brazilian steakhouses · boteco.ca
Cartems Donuts
donuts · cartems.com
GRETA Bar, Vancouver
sports bars, sports bars, arcades, arcade games · gretabar.com
Hidden Gems
restaurants · tryhiddengems.com
Mumu Kitchen
Vancouver retaurants · mumukitchen.ca
No 5 Orange
vancouver stripclubs · no5orange.ca
Onda YVR
restaurants · ondayvr.ca
Rolla Skate Club
rollerskating, rollerskates, rollerskate clubs, roller skates · rollaskateclub.com
The Charlatan
1447 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3X8 · thecharlatanrestaurant.com
Airports
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) 9.7 km to the centre
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).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 30 airlines, 75 direct destinations
- Air Canada AC (Dash 8-300, A319, A320, 767-300, Embraer 190, 777-300ER…) · 49 routes: Auckland, Beijing, Calgary, Campbell River, Castlegar*, Chicago*, Cranbrook*, Denver*, Edmonton, Fort Mcmurray*, Fort Saint John*, Frankfurt*, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Kahului, Kamloops*, Kelowna*, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Montreal, Munich*, Nanaimo*, Newark, Ottawa, Penticton*, Portland*, Prince George*, Prince Pupert*, Puerto Vallarta, Quesnel, Regina*, San Francisco, Sandspit*, Saskatoon*, Seattle*, Seoul, Shanghai, Smithers* … +9 more
- WestJet WS (737-700, 737-800, Dash 8-400, 736, 737-800) · 26 routes: Calgary, Cancun, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth*, Edmonton, Fort Saint John, Honolulu, Kahului, Kelowna, Kona, Las Vegas, Lihue, Los Angeles, Montreal, Palm Springs, Prince George, Puerto Vallarta, Regina, San Francisco, San Jose Del Cabo, Santa Ana, Saskatoon, Terrace, Toronto, Victoria, Winnipeg
- Pacific Coastal Airline 8P (BE1, Saab 340) · 10 routes: Bella Coola, Campbell River, Comox, Cranbrook, Masset, Port Hardy, Powell River, Trail, Victoria, Williams Lake
- American Airlines AA (737, Dash 8-400, A319, A321, 737-800, 747-400…) · 9 routes: Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Las Vegas, London*, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland*, Seattle*, Tokyo
- Delta Air Lines DL (737-700, 737-800, A330-300, Embraer 175, CRJ-900, CRJ-700…) · 8 routes: Amsterdam*, Chicago*, Honolulu*, Las Vegas*, Minneapolis*, Salt Lake City*, Santa Ana*, Seattle*
- United Airlines UA (A319, A320, 737-900, 737-700, 737-800, Dash 8-300…) · 8 routes: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles*, Newark*, Portland*, San Francisco, Seattle*
- Air Transat TS (330) · 5 routes: Calgary, Cancun, London, Manchester, Puerto Vallarta
- Alaska Airlines AS (Dash 8-400, 734, 737-900, 73J) · 3 routes: Los Angeles, Portland*, Seattle*
- All Nippon Airways NH (767-300, A319) · 3 routes: Newark, Tokyo, Tokyo*
- Hawkair BH (Dash 8-100) · 3 routes: Prince Pupert, Smithers, Terrace
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, 747-400, 777-300ER) · 3 routes: Frankfurt, London*, Munich
- Air China CA (330, 767-300) · 2 routes: Beijing, Shanghai*
- Air North Charter - Canada 4N (737) · 2 routes: Kelowna, Whitehorse
- Cathay Pacific CX (777-300ER) · 2 routes: Hong Kong, New York
- Japan Airlines Domestic JL (787-8, 737-700) · 2 routes: Edmonton*, Tokyo
- Philippine Airlines PR (777-300) · 2 routes: Manila, Toronto
- US Airways US (A319, A321, 737-800) · 2 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix
- Air New Zealand NZ (777-200) · 1 route: Auckland
- Asiana Airlines OZ (767-300) · 1 route: Seoul*
- British Airways BA (747-400) · 1 route: London
- China Airlines CI (A340-300) · 1 route: Taipei
- China Eastern Airlines MU (A330-200) · 1 route: Shanghai
- China Southern Airlines CZ (787) · 1 route: Guangzhou
- Condor Flugdienst DE (767) · 1 route: Frankfurt
- EVA Air BR (747-400) · 1 route: Taipei
- Finnair AY (747-400) · 1 route: London*
- Iberia Airlines IB (747-400) · 1 route: London*
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (330) · 1 route: Amsterdam
- Korean Air KE (777-200) · 1 route: Seoul
- Sichuan Airlines 3U (330) · 1 route: Shenyang
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.
Boundary Bay Airport (YDT) 24 km to the centre
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.
Regional airports
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.
Victoria International Airport (YYJ) 73 km to the centre
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 →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 8 direct destinations
- WestJet WS (737-700, 737-800, Dash 8-400, 736) · 6 routes: Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Las Vegas, Toronto, Vancouver
- Air Canada AC (Dash 8-400, A320, CRJ, Dash 8-300) · 4 routes: Calgary*, San Francisco*, Toronto, Vancouver*
- Alaska Airlines AS (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Seattle*
- Pacific Coastal Airline 8P (BE1) · 1 route: Vancouver
- United Airlines UA (CRJ) · 1 route: San Francisco*
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 International Airport (BLI) 69 km to the centre
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 →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 2 airlines, 9 direct destinations
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80, 757) · 6 routes: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mesa, Oakland, Palm Springs, San Diego
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800, Dash 8-400) · 4 routes: Honolulu, Las Vegas, Portland*, Seattle*
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.
Getting there by ferry
Hornby Terminal (Aquabus)
Ferry terminal · 0.1 km from the centre · Aquabus
Granville Island Dock (False Creek Ferries)
Ferry terminal · 0.2 km from the centre · False Creek Ferries
Aquatic Centre Dock (False Creek Ferries)
Ferry terminal · 0.3 km from the centre · False Creek Ferries
Granville Island Terminal (Aquabus)
Ferry terminal · 0.3 km from the centre · Aquabus
David Lam Park Terminal
Ferry terminal · 0.8 km from the centre · Aquabus & False Creek Ferries
Maritime Museum Dock (False Creek Ferries)
Ferry terminal · 1 km from the centre · False Creek Ferries
Granville Island - Hornby
Ferry route · Aquabus
Granville Island - Aquatic Centre
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
1 Aquatic Centre
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
1 Granville Island
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
Granville Island - David Lam Park
Ferry route · False Creek Ferries
Yaletown - Spyglass
Ferry route · Aquabus
Stamps Landing - Spyglass
Ferry route · Aquabus
David Lam Park - Stamps Landing
Ferry route · Aquabus
Local transit
TransLink
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
Aquabus Ferries
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Trains & rail
Rocky Mountaineer
Rail operator
West Coast Express
Rail operator
Rocky Mountaineer → Banff, Alberta
Daylight luxury rail Vancouver–Kamloops–Banff or Jasper through the Rockies, April to October. · Banff, Alberta guide →
VIA Rail Canada
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Ebus → Kelowna, BC
Vancouver to Kelowna through the Coquihalla, about six hours. · Kelowna, BC guide →
Epic Rides → Whistler, BC
Direct coach, about two hours; picks up downtown and at YVR, more departures in ski season. · Whistler, BC guide →
Pacific Coach → Whistler, BC
Coach to Whistler, BC · Whistler, BC guide →
YVR Skylynx → Whistler, BC
Vancouver airport and downtown to Whistler village, roughly two and a half hours. · Whistler, BC guide →
FlixBus → Seattle, Washington
Cross-border coach Vancouver–Seattle, about four hours including the border. · Seattle, Washington guide →
Rider Express
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
London Air Services
Charter · Learjet, Challenger · Vancouver-based charter operator.
Chartright Air Group
Charter, management · Light to large-cabin · Toronto-based charter and aircraft management.
Skyservice
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, Challenger, Global · Canada's largest business-aviation company: charter, management and FBOs in Toronto, Montréal, Calgary and Vancouver.
AirSprint
Fractional · Praetor 500, Citation CJ3+, Legacy 450 · Canada's fractional-ownership operator, based in Calgary.
Air Charter Service
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
Living Here
Getting about
- TransLink's SkyTrain (three automated lines), the SeaBus across the harbour and an extensive bus network cover the region; a Compass card or contactless tap works on all of them. Downtown is compact and walkable.
- Cycling is excellent — protected lanes downtown and the seawall — and Mobi bike-share covers the core. Rain gear is the only requirement.
- YVR airport is 25 minutes downtown on the Canada Line. Pacific Central station has VIA and Amtrak trains to Seattle; the ferries to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands leave from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay; seaplanes fly from the harbour to Victoria in 35 minutes.
- A car is useful for the mountains and Whistler, unnecessary in the city, and parking downtown is expensive.
Health
- Vancouver General and St Paul's are the major hospitals; BC Children's Hospital is the paediatric centre. BC's Medical Services Plan covers residents.
- Dial 911. Pharmacies and walk-in clinics are the first stop for minor problems, though family doctors are in short supply across the province.
- Visitors should carry travel insurance. The rain is a mood hazard more than a health one; the sun, when it appears, is stronger than it looks.
Work & study
- The University of British Columbia is one of the world's top universities, on a spectacular peninsula campus; Simon Fraser is on Burnaby Mountain; Emily Carr is the art school on Granville Island.
- Film and television ('Hollywood North'), tech and games, the port (the busiest in Canada), tourism, and resource-company head offices. Real estate is an industry in itself.
- The cost of living is the constant subject; salaries have not kept pace with housing, and many people commute from the suburbs.
Money & manners
- Canadian dollars; cards and tap are universal. Tip 15–20%. Provincial and federal sales taxes are added at the register.
- Relaxed, outdoorsy and health-conscious; the fleece and the rain jacket are formalwear. Coffee is taken seriously, and so is sushi.
- Acknowledge the land — you will hear it at every public event. Do not feed the wildlife: the raccoons, coyotes and occasional bear are real.
News
Situations Vacant
Classified
Property
Sport
Display Advertising
Sources
- City of Vancouver
- Downtown Vancouver
- Gastown
- MyVanCity
- Tourism Vancouver
- Vancouver is Awesome
- vancouverattractions.com
- vancouversnorthshore.com
- vancouvertourist.com
- Village of Belcarra
- West End BIA
- Wikipedia — Vancouver, BC
- City of Vancouver
- Destination Vancouver (official)
- TransLink
- University of British Columbia