On Canada's West Coast, nestled between the rugged Coastal Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, you’ll find a city that wows everyone—Vancouver.
With a rare blend of cosmopolitan amenities, natural splendours and cultural attractions, our city is truly one of a kind. Vancouver enjoys a rich culture and ethnic diversity that permeates everything from cuisine and entertainment, to neighbourhoods and traditions. World renowned for our Spectacular by Nature setting and scenery, you can immerse yourself in the energy of the city yet minutes later enjoy the tranquility of a mountaintop lake. There is no easy way to describe Vancouver. You’ll just have to see for yourself.
Travel Tips & Tools
Every city's different, but with these handy travel tips about Vancouver, you'll feel just like a local in no time. From dog owners to weather worriers, and on to those that just want to get the lay of the land before they arrive, the below tips will help get you ready for your very own adventure.
FAST FACTS
Airport
The designated airport for entry by air into Vancouver is YVR, located at 3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, B.C. V7B0A4, Canada.
Languages
Federal government departments provide service in English and French, but most of the population speaks English as either a first or second language.
The City of Vancouver is quite cosmopolitan and is a mix of many multicultural groups. Because the city is multicultural, it's also multilingual on an unofficial level. Its people speak many different languages and many follow the traditions of their native lands, sometimes moderating them with Canadian culture.
After English and Chinese, the most common mother tongue languages spoken are Punjabi, German, Italian, French, Tagalog (Filipino) and Spanish. More than half of Vancouver's school-age children have been raised speaking a language other than English.
Currency We recommend all visitors use Canadian currency (the Canadian Dollar - CAD) when travelling within Canada. Visitors can exchange currency at Canadian chartered banks, trust companies, credit unions, or at offices of foreign exchange brokers, but it is advised to have local currency on hand prior to arriving. Some hotels, merchants, restaurants and suppliers accept US or other foreign currency at a pre-determined rate, which may differ from the daily rate posted by financial institutions.
The Canadian Dollar is made up of 100 Canadian cents. Coins are in denominations of 5 cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter), $1 (loonie), and $2 (toonie). Notes are in denominations $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $1,000.
Note that Canada phased out use of the 1 cent (penny) coin in 2013. If you are paying cash, the total amount of your purchases will be rounded either up or down to the closest 5 cents. Credit card and debit card payments are not rounded. For more information, visit the Royal Canadian Mint website.
Taxation
Most purchases in British Columbia are subject to a 7% Provincial Sales Tax (PST) as well as a federal 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST), with a few exceptions including liquor (10% PST) and accommodation (8% PST plus up to 3% hotel tax). Some goods such as food and restaurant meals, books and magazines, and children’s clothing are GST and/or PST exempt. For more information, visit the Province of British Columbia's website.
Time Zone
Vancouver is in the Pacific Time Zone and observes Daylight Savings Time from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. You can see Vancouver's time in relation to most cities around the globe by visiting www.thetimenow.com, which is also home to a Canadian calendar with important dates.
Using Tobacco and Vaping Products in Vancouver
Inside use of Tobacco and Vaping is prohibited in Vancouver. The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulation sets a six metre zone around all doorways, air intakes and open windows to any public and work places in B.C. This means there must be a six metre area around any doorway, air intake or open window to any public or work place in which no one can stand and use tobacco or vapour products. This protects against emissions entering these places and protects people as they enter or exit.
Vancouver's Neighbourhoods
If a city is judged by its diversity and culture, we're proud to say that Vancouver's neighbourhoods take top honours. No less than a dozen different enclaves invite visitors and locals to stroll colourful sidewalks, savour spectacular settings and soak in a wide range of urban vibes with roots in many different cultures and ways of life. And the bonus for visitors is that many of the neighbourhoods in Vancouver are located close to each other, making it possible to see many sides of the city during your visit.
It would take weeks, if not months, to see all there is to see in each neighbourhood, so you can focus on just a few in great detail or hit the highlights of them all. To help you narrow down the choices, we've provided this guide to Vancouver neighborhoods.
Cuisine/Restaurants
Vancouverites know their city's culinary scene. They know where to find the best tower of fresh seafood, the finest house-made charcuterie, the most delicious taco truck, and the best list of B.C. wines. Vancouverites are entirely capable of having a stand-up argument about which sushi restaurant is the best, even if both restaurants are exquisite.
And the city's restaurants, wine bars, tasting rooms, cocktail dens, food trucks, farmer's markets and bakeries are absolutely deserving of this passion. So go ahead and explore what Vancouver's restaurants have to offer.