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City guide

Western Canada

Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West, or Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a Canadian region that includes the four western provinces just north of the Canada–United States border namely British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The people of the region are often referred to as "Western Canadians" or "Westerners", and though diverse from province to province are largely seen as being collectively distinct from other Canadians along cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, geographic and political lines.

Type Place

Why go

  • Region of Canada.

History

Western Canada, also referred to as the Western provinces, Canadian West, or Western provinces of Canada, and commonly known within Canada as the West, is a Canadian region that includes the four western provinces just north of the Canada–United States border namely British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The people of the region are often referred to as "Western Canadians" or "Westerners", and though diverse from province to province are largely seen as being collectively distinct from other Canadians along cultural, linguistic, socioeconomic, geographic and political lines. They account for approximately 32% of Canada's total population.

Airports

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) 14 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

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.

Indoor
Boundary Bay Airport (YDT) 22 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.
Indoor | Outdoor
Langley Airport (YLY) 34 km to the centre
Langley, BC, CA — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Village Dock
Ferry terminal · 5.9 km from the centre · Aquabus & False Creek Ferries
Outdoor
Plaza of Nations Dock
Ferry terminal · 6.2 km from the centre · Aquabus & False Creek Ferries
Outdoor
Lonsdale Quay
Ferry terminal · 6.3 km from the centre
Outdoor
Waterfront
Ferry terminal · 6.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Seabus Terminal
Ferry terminal · 6.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Spyglass Dock
Ferry terminal · 6.6 km from the centre · Aquabus & False Creek Ferries
Outdoor
Plaza of Nations - The Village
Ferry route · Aquabus
Outdoor
Yaletown - Plaza of Nations
Ferry route · Aquabus
Outdoor
SeaBus
Ferry route · Translink
Outdoor
SeaBus (Waterfront --> Londsdale Quay)
Ferry route · Translink
Outdoor
SeaBus (Lonsdale Quay --> Waterfront)
Ferry route · Translink
Outdoor
Yaletown - Spyglass
Ferry route · Aquabus
Outdoor
Stamps Landing - Spyglass
Ferry route · Aquabus
Outdoor
David Lam Park - Stamps Landing
Ferry route · Aquabus
Outdoor

Where things are

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Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. We do not yet hold airport or rail details for Western Canada — check the official tourism sources below for the best routes in. By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Village Dock, 5.9 km); routes include Plaza of Nations - The Village, Yaletown - Plaza of Nations, SeaBus.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Western Canada. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Local transit

Bus · Vancouver, British Columbia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

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.