"The little village on the edge of the rainforest,” as Vancouver was once famously described, is no longer that. Sure, the city’s incredible natural beauty remains undimmed—surrounded by snow-capped mountains on one side and the Pacific on the other, Canada’s third largest city is a rare place where “ you can swim in the ocean in the morning and go skiing in the afternoon,” according to cliché. (Nobody does this. Still.) Today, this sophisticated, cosmopolitan center is not just for the sporty, Gore-tex clad crowd. Perennially near or at the top of most “Best Places to Live” lists, travelers are drawn to this bustling seaport for its parks, museums, shopping and, perhaps most notably, a rich and varied culinary and cocktail scene that has become even more impressive after the city’s star turn hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics. Oh, and about that rain? In the summer, Vancouver is the driest major city in Canada—just saying.
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Vancouver Travel Guide
Plan Your Vancouver Trip
Featured
NHL Star Turned Hotelier Willie Mitchell’s Favorite Places in Tofino, Vancouver Island
How hockey player & hotelier Willie Mitchell finds solace and sustenance on Canada’s Vancouver Island.
A Guide to Seeing Vancouver's Indigenous Heritage and Natural Beauty by Bicycle
How to tackle the longest uninterrupted waterfront bike path in the world—and the city—on two wheels, and where to eat and sleep in between.
These Indigenous-Owned Lodges Take Visitors Deep Into British Columbia
Expect hot springs, grizzly bear spotting, and plant medicine at these newly-opened eco-resorts.
15 Best Hotels in Vancouver
If you're looking for a place to stay, the West Coast city isn't short on options.
Editor Hotel Recommendations
Opus Vancouver$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 322 Davie StOver the last 15 years, Opus has become a focal point in Yaletown, Vancouver’s answer to New York City’s SoHo.Read full review
Fairmont Waterfront$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 900 Canada Pl.Coastal luxury in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront.Read full review
Loden Hotel$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1177 Melville St.As boutique as it gets in VancouverRead full review
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 900 W Georgia St.The Grand Dame of Vancouver, a true landmark, is the only local hotel that deserves the overused “iconic” label.Read full review
Rosewood Hotel Georgia$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 801 W Georgia St.Fresh off a tasteful, careful transformation, this hotel has again assumed its place as one of the finest in Vancouver.Read full review
Granville Island Hotel$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1253 Johnston St.This hotel, the only hotel on busy Granville Island, has great views and en eclectic architectural character that somehow works.Read full review
Wedgewood Hotel & Spa$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 845 Hornby St.From the formally dressed doorman, to the incredible flower arrangements in the lounge, this hotel evokes an air of civility.Read full review
Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1128 W Georgia StThis hotel occupies the first 15 floors of the tallest building in Vancouver, which rises more than 660 feet.Read full review
The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1601 Bayshore Dr.A true child of the 1960s—in a mid-century architectural way—the Bayshore has been a local landmark for decades.Read full review
Fairmont Pacific Rim$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1038 Canada PlA very special hotel with great dining and drinking, Pacific Rim is a luxurious, stylish stay you’ll remember for years.Read full review
JW Marriott Parq Vancouver$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 39 Smithe St.One of two stylish lodging options anchoring the Parq Vancouver—a splashy urban resortRead full review
Smithe House$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 225 Smithe St.A stylish, hands off, apartment-style stayRead full review
Paradox$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1161 West Georgia St.This is Luxury with a capital ‘L.’Read full review
Level Hotels & Furnished Suites$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1022 Seymour St.This apartment style hotel gives you all the amenities of a full service hotel, but with all the comforts of home.Read full review
Pan Pacific Vancouver$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 999 Canada Pl #300This comfortable luxury hotel—from a Singapore-based chain—has an exterior that has become synonymous with Vancouver itself.Read full review
The Best Things to Do in Vancouver
13 Best Things to Do in VancouverSurrounded by mountains and ocean, Vancouver is a paradise for people who love the outdoors—but it also has culture to a tee.
10 Best Museums in VancouverVancouver may be best known for its rugged natural beauty, but it's also got a vibrant cultural side.
11 Best Parks in VancouverVancouver is park lover’s paradise, and that’s not hyperbole: there are over 230 municipal local parks comprising 11% of the city’s footprint.
3 Best Day Trips From VancouverWhen you're ready for a break from the city, here's where to go—and what to do, eat, and see once you get there.
Vancouver ChinatownAn inside look at Vancouver's Chinatown from the March 2019 issue.
Editor Recommendations
VanDusen Botanical GardenCanada, Vancouver, 5251 Oak StThis 55-acre garden features an Elizabethan hedge maze made of 3,000 cedars, an Instagram-ready walkway, and much, much more.Read full review
Stanley ParkCanada, Vancouver,Heralded as one of the best parks in the world, this park is larger than the city’s entire downtown core.Read full review
Bard on the BeachCanada, Vancouver, Vanier ParkOne of Vancouver's most unique cultural venuesRead full review
Commercial DriveCanada, Vancouver,“The Drive” as locals call it, might not be right in the heart of downtown, but it has a pulse all of its own.Read full review
Wreck BeachCanada, Vancouver, SW Marine DrA clothing optional beach that's one of Vancouver’s most singular experiencesRead full review
Pacific Spirit Regional ParkCanada, Vancouver, 5495 Chancellor BlvdThere are 2,000 acres of forest and almost 50 miles of trails, including 22 miles suitable for bikes and horses.Read full review
Museum of Anthropology at UBCCanada, Vancouver, 6393 NW Marine DrWith its soaring totem poles, cedar canoes, Indigenous masks, and more, this anthropology museum is the city’s most beloved museum.Read full review
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese GardenCanada, Vancouver, 578 Carrall StPerched at the edge of Chinatown, this garden is modeled after a Ming Dynasty–era scholar’s gardens in China.Read full review
Grouse MountainCanada, North Vancouver, 6400 Nancy Greene WayDare to take on “mother nature’s stairmaster.”Read full review
Vancouver AquariumCanada, Vancouver, 845 Avison WayVancouver is surrounded by water, but the best way to peek at local marine life is at this legendary aquarium.Read full review
Granville IslandCanada, Vancouver,This former industrial site, with a huge indoor market and much more, is one of Vancouver’s most beloved attractions.Read full review
Chan Centre for the Performing ArtsCanada, Vancouver, 6265 Crescent Rd“The Chan,” this performing-arts venue is known, is famous for its impeccable acoustics, which draw top international musicians.Read full review
Snowshoe Tour on Cypress MountainCanada, West Vancouver, 6000 Cypress Bowl RdIf you’re not a Nordic racer but still crave winter magic, these snowshoe tours are worth the trek from downtown.Read full review
Prince of Whales Whale WatchingCanada, Vancouver, 1666 Duranleau StThis tour is a surefire way to see some of British Columbia’s incredible marine life, including orca whales, humpbacks, and more.Read full review
This Vancouver Hotel Is Home to Local Aboriginal Artists
In downtown Vancouver in British Columbia, at the very edge of Chinatown, you’ll find Skwachays Lodge, a hotel that houses aboriginal art, as well as the artists themselves.
The Best Places to Eat & Drink in Vancouver
19 Best Restaurants in VancouverEvery city should be lucky enough to have this kind of bounty.
14 Best Bars in VancouverMore so than any other Canadian city, Vancouver has been at the forefront of the cocktail revolution. Come thirsty.
11 Best Coffee Shops in VancouverA city this dynamic calls for an equally robust coffee scene.
10 Best Craft Beer Spots in VancouverThe city's scene rivals Portland, Oregon's—and we've got a primer so you can see just how well it stacks up.- Vancouver ChinatownAn inside look at Vancouver's Chinatown from the March 2019 issue.
Editor Restaurant and Bar Recommendations
Chez Céline$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 4298 Fraser St.You’ll want to be a regular after your first meal.
Sumibiyaki Arashi$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 363 E BroadwayIt's imperative to include one of the city's numerous omakase options, and Sumibiyaki Arashi is one of the best.
Bravo$ | Canada, Vancouver, 4194 Fraser St.Expect to find the freshest scallops, shrimp, and a darn good natural leaning wine list to match.
Elio Volpe$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 540 W 17th AvePutting a Pacific Northwestern slant on Italian classics
Elisa$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 1109 Hamilton StEvery city needs a swanky steak house, and this is Vancouver's..jpg)
Anh and Chi$ | Canada, Vancouver, 3388 Main St.You feel the love every step of the way at this authentic Viet spot.
Good Thief$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 3336 Main St.A scrappier, bolder, and more experimental bar with a Vietnamese soul and a global sensibility
Ama Raw Bar$ | Canada, Vancouver, 3980 Fraser St.Dark and moody, this Japanese snack bar is one of hottest tables in town.
La Fabrique St-George Winery$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 7 E 7th Ave.Come for bottles of natural and minimal-intervention BC wines.
Meo$$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 265 E Pender St.A cozy Chinatown spot that takes its aesthetics from Hong Kong’s 1970s love motels
Bar Tartare$$ | Canada, Vancouver, 54 Alexander St.A natural wine bar where no two sips are ever the same
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Beyond Lululemon: 7 Vancouver Fashion Brands You Should Know About
When you think of fashion and shopping in Vancouver, you may picture a sea of black yoga pants. But dig a bit deeper and you’ll find that Vancouver isn’t just the birthplace of Lululemon—here are seven other stylish brands that also call Vancity home.
More from Vancouver
Places to Stay
18 Best Airbnbs in Vancouver for Proximity to Nature, Culture, and Delicious Cuisine
From a funky floating home to a chic studio in Gastown, these standout stays let you experience Vancouver’s neighborhoods like a local.
Destinations
10 Best Affordable Hotels in Vancouver, Canada
These are the best places to stay for easy access to the city’s top attractions at an affordable price.
Places to Stay
27 Best Airbnbs in Canada, From Montreal to Vancouver
Whether you want a view of the CN Tower in Toronto or the Northern Lights in Yukon.
Style & Culture
Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week Showcased Stories of Its Community—With a Powerful Message
Since 2017, the annual runway shows have served as a crucial platform for Indigenous designers to showcase their work and stories.
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