Vancouver City Guide
Vancouver is a terrible flirt. A natural beauty and a gracious host, Canada’s third-largest city is easy to fall in love with–just ask the folks who flocked here for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Located on the West Coast near the Canada-US border, Vancouver boasts one of the mildest climates in Canada. Here, precipitation comes in the form of rain rather than snow and temperatures seldom drop below freezing. Whatever else you pack–and you won’t need many fancy duds in this casual city–include a good all-weather jacket, comfortable walking shoes and a collapsible umbrella.
Vancouver’s claim to fame is its proximity to nature. Tourism boosters like to say that you can ski and sail on the same day in Vancouver–and they’re telling the truth. The city is packed tightly between mountains and ocean, and from downtown it takes less than an hour to get to either a ski slope or a beach. Plan to spend a lot of time out of doors, no matter what time of year you visit.
Here are some links to get your trip-planning started. I’ll be adding to it in the weeks and months ahead:
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Grouse Mountain
- Granville Island
- How to enjoy Vancouver for free (or very nearly)
- Outdoor activities in Vancouver
- How to exercise like a local
- Shopping in Vancouver
- Sightseeing by public transit
- Sightseeing tours in Vancouver
- Top parks and gardens in Vancouver
- Vancouver beaches
- Top 10 Vancouver viewpoints
- Top Vancouver attractions
- Vancouver Neighbourhoods: Chinatown
- Vancouver Neighbourhoods: Kitsilano
- Vancouver Neighbourhoods: The West End
- Vancouver Day Trips: Richmond
- Vancouver Day Trips: Highway 99, Sea-to-Sky
- Vancouver Day Trips: Reifel Bird Sanctuary
>> More Things to Do in Vancouver
- TBEX special rate hotels
- Budget hotels in Vancouver
- Cheap hotels in Vancouver
- Cheap hostels in Vancouver
More Accommodation in Vancouver 
- Dining and drinking in Vancouver: Visiting Vancouver? Don’t forget to pack your appetite.
- Cheap eats in Vancouver: While Vancouver has a reputation for being an expensive city to visit, there are plenty of excellent budget dining options if you know what to look for.
- Breweries and brewpubs: While there are just a handful of breweries in the city, there are many excellent beer bars and bistros that will keep your glass full of the good stuff.
- Top spots for a sugar fix in downtown Vancouver: When you’re craving the sweet stuff, here’s where to head.
- DineOut Vancouver: Vancouver’s favorite annual foodie fest runs through the month of January.
- Airfare to Vancouver
- About Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Budget airlines that fly to Vancouver from the US: Several budget airlines fly from the US to Vancouver, including Alaska Airlines, Westjet, and Air Canada Jazz.
- Getting from Seattle to Vancouver via train or bus: Budget travelers coming from the US, may find if cheaper to fly into Seattle (SEA), and then drive, bus or train the three hours to Vancouver. Find flight deals to Seattle.
- Getting from New York to Vancouver: The quickest and most affordable way to fly between New York and Vancouver is usually Cathay Pacific’s non-stop flights that are generally priced around $500 CDN. Find cheap flights from New York to Vancouver
- Getting to Whistler from Vancouver: Even if you just go for the scenic drive along Highway 99, it’s worth putting aside an extra day to see the site of the 2010 Winter Games.
Getting around in Vancouver
Vancouver Trip-Planning Resources
- Things to Know About Vancouver
- First-time visitor’s guide to Vancouver
- Adding Vancouver to your RTW trip
- Vancouver in Spring
- Vancouver in Summer
- Top blogs and websites for Vancouver info
- Map of downtown Vancouver
- Apps for Vancouver visitors
- Vancouver on a budget
- Where to pee in Vancouver
Photo: Quinet