Vancouver Hotels

Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver, on the west coast of Canada, is regularly listed as one of the world’s best cities in which to live. Visiting this gem in beautiful British Columbia reveals an unbeatable lifestyle combining cool cosmopolitanism with an abundance of opportunities to explore the great outdoors.

The Seawall and Stanley Park

Following Vancouver’s Seawall is the ideal way to appreciate the city’s stunning waterfront plus a host of other sights. This incredibly picturesque pathway is split into two sections – one for walkers and joggers, the other for cyclists and rollerbladers. It is 22km long and extends from Kitsilano Beach to Coal Harbour.

A 9km section of the Seawall surrounds Stanley Park – a stunning urban green space featuring 27km of forest trails. Highlights here include the First Nations totem poles, Beaver Lake, the Lost Lagoon and exquisite flower gardens. Other notable landmarks are the unique Girl in a Wetsuit sculpture and Siwash Rock, approximately 32 million years old and the subject of an indigenous legend.

Eating and Shopping

An array of mouth-watering international cuisine is on offer in Vancouver; the sushi is famed for being particularly delicious owing to the local supply of fresh Pacific salmon. Foodies in search of a scrumptious lunch head to Granville Island Public Market, an indoor market with numerous vendors selling fruit, vegetables, pasta, cheese, fish, cakes, pastries, curries and coffee, along with handmade gifts. Musicians often perform in and around the market.

Granville Island is brimming with quirky independent shops and is also home to a microbrewery offering beer tasting tours. At the south end of Granville Street there are retail outlets, restaurants and vibrant coffee shops; at the north end, there is a SEARS department store as well as the Pacific Centre shopping mall.

Gastown, Vancouver’s most historic neighborhood, is the place to go for antiques and native art. Davie Village, Commercial Drive and Chinatown are great for budget meals.

Art and Culture

Vancouver has plenty to offer those looking for a dose of culture, with a large number of galleries and museums to explore. Art lovers should especially check out the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, but the city’s creative side can also be appreciated simply by walking around and spotting the pieces of public art on display. A popular contemporary sculpture next to the Convention Centre is the Digital Orca, a whale which looks like it is made of Lego.

An impressive collection of First Nations artefacts is exhibited at the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology, and there is an opportunity to step back in time 1,000 years in the tranquil Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. For a fantastic day trip, visitors can go to Burnaby Village Museum – a remarkable reconstruction of a 1920s village incorporating a school, café, cinema and shops. 

Planning a trip to this exciting destination? Take a look at our accommodation options in Vancouver.