Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This is mainly due to the fantastic location between the sea and the mountains. Modern skyscrapers, countless parks, elegant shopping streets, restaurants, cafés, bars and well-known cultural sights are close together in the centre of Vancouver and invite visitors to varied discovery tours. A vibrant metropolis that you should have seen once in your life.
Welcome to Canada!
It’s not uncommon for Vancouvers to see whales swimming in the ocean in the morning, eat in hip restaurants, and start the weekend on Fridays with a mountain hike or skiing.
The city offers a high recreational value, which Canadians appreciate very much. 2.4 million people live in the city on the Pacific. This makes it one of the largest in western Canada. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors travel to Vancouver to explore the city’s charms. Many sights make your stay in the big city metropolis eventful.
In short: Anyone who visits Vancouver falls head over heels in love with the city and is enchanted by its beauty. The large city centre alone inspires with very different districts such as the maritime harbour district of Gastown, the beach of the West End or the cosmopolitan Yaletown.
In addition, the interesting, diverse cultural landscape of the city, in the heart of the state of British Columbia, is impressive. The UBC Museum of Anthropology provides visitors with vivid information about the life and history of the First Nations, Canada’s indigenous peoples. Modern galleries, on the other hand, represent the culture of the present. Robson Square is home to international fashion stores and large shopping arcades selling the trends of tomorrow. Chinatown is the heart of an Asian city.
There are tens of thousands of small shops and delicious restaurants here. A look at the city’s calendar of events makes it clear that night owls also get their money’s worth here. Popular music festivals, art exhibitions and other event highlights take place regularly. Tourists really realize Vancouver’s unique location from a bird’s eye view: huge fjords, large forests, and the white peaks of the Coast Mountains surround Vancouver and Stanley Park.
Vancouver City Garden
Canada’s largest urban park is located in the center of the city, on a 400-hectare peninsula. Stanley Park is also known as Vancouver’s green lung, as over 500,000 trees grow high into the sky here.
Inconceivable! The park is known among day-trippers for the totem poles – carvings of the indigenous people that tell interesting stories from ancient times. In addition, a large network of cycle paths and walking paths runs through the park. You will pass lovingly designed rose gardens, children’s playgrounds and romantic places to relax. The Stadtgarten is surrounded by the 9 km long waterfront promenade – Seawall.
If you cross it, you stand on the beach and have an indescribable view of the Pacific Ocean and the big city behind you. The waterfront promenade is perfect for a morning jog or for relaxed bike rides. Especially in good weather, there is an unforgettable view of the skyline. Families with young children should plan a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium. It is located in the middle of the peninsula and is home to around 70,000 species of fish.
Foodlover: Discover Vancouver’s culinary delights
On the other hand, if you want to get to know the country’s cuisine, you should visit the Granville Island Public Market. Here you will find a large selection of typical local specialties, freshly caught fish and sea bulls as well as regional delicacies. Book a guided tour with a local guide and discover delicacies from all over the world together.
Tastings included! Another culinary treat that is part of any Vancouver vacation is a visit to the Honey Dip Donut at Lee’s. Here you can find by far the best donuts in town. A souvenir that should not be missing in any suitcase is of course the popular Canadian maple syrup. It can be bought everywhere in the city. So you can revive holiday memories at home while enjoying freshly baked pancakes.
Coast Mountains – a local recreation area at the gates of the big city
The Canadian coastal mountains, just outside the city, are an 85-million-year-old mountain range. The Coast Mountains stretch along the Pacific coast. The highest elevation is Mount Waddington, which is over 4000 meters high.
The mountains are one of the most diverse local recreation areas for Vancouvians. Many people spend their free time here. 342 kilometres of slopes with perfect snow conditions attract city dwellers to the mountains in winter. In the Coast Mountains alone, there are 48 ski lifts in the immediate vicinity of the city. In addition, there are countless water and leisure parks for families with children in the valley. Of course, the area is also ideal for extensive discovery tours into the Canadian wilderness. There are hikes with a guide to particularly beautiful places.
Tip: If you want to experience Vancouver’s breathtaking natural landscape from above, you should book a sightseeing flight on a seaplane. Acrophobia? Then visit the 4D simulator and take a virtual “Fly Over Canada Tour”. A unique experience paired with beautiful nature shots and special effects.
Final tips for a trip to Canada
Vancouver is worth a visit at any time of the year! In spring, the city shines in a delicate shade of pink, because then the blossoms of the cherry trees bloom and everywhere in the city it smells wonderfully sweet and flowery. Summer lures people out into nature. Nearby national parks offer outdoor enthusiasts a wide variety of leisure activities.
In autumn, the countless trees of Stanley Park shine in every conceivable hue. A unique spectacle! Winter is going to be cozy. Then the city is transformed into a Christmas winter wonderland and the snow attracts ski bunnies to the slopes. For a holiday in Vancouver, a minimum stay of 3 to 4 nights is recommended.
The city has so much to offer and you can plan great follow-up tours from Vancouver, such as a round trip through British Columbia or a ski holiday in Whistler – one of the most popular winter sports resorts in the country. One thing you should not forget during your holiday: Allow yourself enough time to enjoy and let the beautiful place work its magic on you with a coffee or Canadian delicacies. Soak up the special atmosphere of the city and experience first-hand why Vancouver is one of the most livable metropolises on earth. This love will not pass so quickly!
