Downtown and West End
Stanley Park, beachesClose to the seawall and English Bay.
City guide
Things to do in Vancouver
Mountains and ocean in one view: cycling the Stanley Park seawall, Granville Island's market, Gastown and Chinatown, free suspension bridges in the rainforest, great Asian food and the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler.
12
Hostels in the city
7.4
Average, from 27,829 reviews
10 km
Stanley Park seawall
3–4
Days
City, sea and mountains
Vancouver sits between the Pacific and the Coast Mountains, and few cities anywhere put nature so close. You can cycle around Stanley Park in the morning, eat at Granville Island at lunch and be hiking in rainforest on the North Shore by the afternoon. In winter, the ski slopes of Grouse, Cypress and Seymour are visible from downtown.
The city itself is a collection of neighbourhoods: Gastown, the oldest, with cobbled streets and the steam clock; Chinatown, one of the largest in North America; Kitsilano, with beaches and yoga studios; and Main Street and Commercial Drive, with independent shops and bars. Vancouver has some of the best Asian food outside Asia, especially sushi, dim sum and Richmond's night market.
Vancouver is expensive, especially for accommodation, and it rains a lot from October to April. Give it three or four days, then continue up the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler or across to Vancouver Island.
Where to base yourself
Downtown and the West End for Stanley Park and the beaches, Gastown for nightlife and history, or Kitsilano for a quieter beach base.
Gastown and Chinatown
History, nightlifeCobbled streets, bars and restaurants.
Kitsilano
Beach, quieterBeaches and cafes across False Creek.
Main Street
Local bars, shopsIndependent shops and breweries.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Vancouver
Cycle or walk the seawall around Stanley Park, about 10 kilometres, past beaches, totem poles and the Lions Gate Bridge. Take the little ferry to Granville Island for its public market, then walk Gastown and Chinatown and see the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Cross to the North Shore for the rainforest: Lynn Canyon Park has a free suspension bridge, and the Capilano Suspension Bridge is the famous paid one. Climb the Grouse Grind, a steep trail up Grouse Mountain, or take the gondola. Visit the Museum of Anthropology at UBC for First Nations art.
Spend summer days on Kitsilano and English Bay beaches, kayak in False Creek or Deep Cove, and visit the Richmond Night Market on summer weekends.
More on things to do in Vancouver
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Stanley Park, the seawall and the city's beaches are free. Lynn Canyon Park has a free suspension bridge, and the Grouse Grind is free to hike, though the gondola down costs money.
Granville Island's market, Gastown and Chinatown cost nothing to explore.
The Vancouver Art Gallery has free or by-donation evenings; check the current schedule.
More on free things in Vancouver
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Vancouver is one of the best food cities in Canada, especially for Asian food: sushi, ramen, dim sum and Richmond's Chinese restaurants and night market. Try a Japadog, a Japanese-style hot dog, and BC salmon. The Nanaimo bar, a no-bake layered dessert, comes from Vancouver Island.
The city has a big craft beer scene, especially in Mount Pleasant and East Vancouver's 'Yeast Van'.
Menu prices do not include tax or tip: add sales tax at the till and 15 to 20 per cent tip in restaurants and bars.
More on food and drink in Vancouver
Nightlife
Going out
Granville Street downtown has clubs and big bars, Gastown has cocktail bars, and Main Street and Commercial Drive have local bars and live music. Breweries in East Vancouver are a relaxed evening out.
Most bars close at 2am, and some clubs later.
Alcohol is sold in government and private liquor stores, not supermarkets.
Getting around
Getting around
The Canada Line SkyTrain runs from Vancouver International Airport to downtown in around 25 minutes. SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus to North Vancouver are run by TransLink; pay by tapping a contactless card or phone, or with a Compass card.
Cycling is easy, with bike lanes and Mobi bike share. Downtown is walkable.
BC Ferries sail to Vancouver Island from Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay. For Whistler, take a bus or drive the Sea to Sky Highway.
Costs
What Vancouver costs
Vancouver is one of the most expensive cities in Canada. Dorm beds start at around €31 to €50 a night, more in summer. Restaurant mains cost €14 to €24 before tax and tip.
Sales tax in British Columbia is 12 per cent (5 per cent federal and 7 per cent provincial) on most things. Menu prices do not include tax or tip: add sales tax at the till and 15 to 20 per cent tip in restaurants and bars.
Free parks, beaches and cheap Asian food help.
More on costs in Vancouver
Safety
Safety and scams
Vancouver is generally safe. The Downtown Eastside, around East Hastings Street next to Gastown and Chinatown, has a visible drug and homelessness crisis; it is rarely dangerous for visitors, but stay alert and keep moving.
Bike theft and car break-ins are common, so lock everything and leave nothing in cars.
On North Shore trails, bring layers, water and a light, as conditions change quickly. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth leaving town for
Mountains, islands and the Sea to Sky.
Whistler
Skiing, biking and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola.
Squamish
The Sea to Sky Gondola and climbing.
Victoria
BC's capital on Vancouver Island.
Bowen Island
Trails and a small island village.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Fireworks, festivals and the ski season.
Late July
Honda Celebration of Light
English Bay
International fireworks over the bay.
Late July to early August
Vancouver Pride
West End
A big parade and festival.
May to October weekends
Richmond Night Market
Richmond
Asian street food.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Vancouver, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Hotel Willo
Rooms from €35 a night
See dates and book
Samesun Vancouver
Dorms from €27 a night
See dates and book
HI Vancouver Downtown
Dorms from €28 a night
See dates and book
Cambie Hostel - Gastown
Dorms from €17 a night
See dates and book
Cambie Hostel - Seymour
Dorms from €18 a night
See dates and book
St. Clair Hotel-Hostel
Dorms from €47 a night
See dates and book
Vancouver Backpacker House
Dorms from €14 a night
See dates and book
When to go
June to September is the best time, dry and warm. October to April is mild but rainy, with skiing on the local mountains from December. Spring brings cherry blossom.
Jan
Wet, ski season
Feb
Wet
Mar
Cherry blossom starts
Apr
Cherry blossom
May
Warming
Jun
Summer begins
Jul
Dry, Celebration of Light
Aug
Dry and sunny
Sep
Pleasant
Oct
Rain returns
Nov
Wet
Dec
Ski season
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Mild all year, wet in winter.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Vancouver prices.
Treat these as a guide, before tax and tip.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Vancouver questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Vancouver?
Three or four, plus day trips to Whistler or Vancouver Island.
How do I get from the airport to downtown?
By the Canada Line SkyTrain, in around 25 minutes.
Is Vancouver expensive?
Yes, especially for accommodation. Free parks and cheap Asian food help.
Is the Capilano Suspension Bridge worth it?
It is impressive but expensive. Lynn Canyon's bridge is free and smaller.
Does it rain a lot in Vancouver?
Yes, from October to April. Summers are mostly dry.
How do I get to Whistler?
By bus or car on the Sea to Sky Highway, in about two hours.
Is Vancouver safe?
Generally yes. Stay alert around East Hastings Street, and do not leave things in cars.
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