VANCOUVER

Why is Vancouver worth a visit?

Huge city parks full of pristine nature, long city beaches full of sand and driftwood, beautiful mountains and national parks full of canyons and giant trees, gorgeous fjords and inlets full of sailing ships and kayaks, a magnificent skyline, exciting museums, an excellent gastronomic scene and, last but not least, a wonderfully relaxed, nature-oriented lifestyle. These are just a few of the reasons why Vancouver is one of the most beautiful and popular major cities in the world. It’s no wonder that with so much quality of life, the western Canadian metropolis achieves a top ranking every year in the election of the world’s most livable cities.

Here are our top 5 reasons to travel to Vancouver:

1. Few cities in the world are as close to nature as Vancouver. Around the city, you’ll find a unique mix of stunning waterways filled with deserted islands, breathtaking canyons with pulse-pounding bridges, magnificent mountains with gorgeous views, and beautiful national parks filled with rainforests.

2. Not only outside the city Vancouver shines with spectacular nature – also the city itself is exceptionally green. Almost no other city in the world offers such a large number and variety of gardens and parks as the western Canadian metropolis. And on top of that, there are plenty of great beaches.

3. Vancouver is an outstanding beauty. The city’s skyline amidst its magnificent natural scenery is worth a photo from almost every angle.

4. Vancouver is a sports city. You will hardly see as many cyclists and inline skaters in any other big city as here. The city’s many parks are a paradise for walkers and joggers. Beach volleyball players and surfers cavort on the city’s beaches. And the mountains surrounding the city are the terrain of hikers and mountain bikers in summer and skiers and snowboarders in winter.

5. Vancouver has a very pleasant laid-back lifestyle. Probably the proximity to nature helps the city’s residents to approach everything a little more relaxed than elsewhere.

For whom is Vancouver worth a visit?

Outdoor freaks:

Vancouver is pure nature and a true paradise for all people who prefer to spend their time outdoors rather than indoors. Huge city parks full of pristine nature, long city beaches full of driftwood, beautiful mountains and national parks full of giant trees, gorgeous fjords and inlets and breathtaking canyons with white water – probably no city in the world offers a greater variety of nature.

Athletes:

Vancouver is a sports city, both in summer and winter. Here you can find the right sport for every season. In spring and fall, Vancouver is a great place for walking, jogging, biking, mountain biking and inline skating. In summer, water and mountain sports are the order of the day – hiking, paragliding, surfing, kite surfing, kayaking and, of course, swimming (if you have a thicker skin). And in winter, skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing are excellent on the slopes and trails around the city.

Amateur photographers:

Vancouver is a real beauty. The city skyline is certainly one of the most beautiful in the world. Combined with the beautiful natural scenery in and around the city, the result is a dreamlike photo backdrop of nature and architecture.

Relaxation seekers:

Although Vancouver is a metropolis, the inhabitants maintain a very pleasant laid-back lifestyle. Unlike other big cities around the world, stress seems to be a foreign word for most Vancouverites (maybe it has to do with the abundant nature). So if you’re looking for a truly laid-back big city, you should get on a plane to Vancouver.

Beer drinkers:

North America is not necessarily known for its beer. But Vancouver is an exception in this respect. The city has an incredibly lively craft beer scene. In and around Vancouver, there are now more than 50 breweries that produce beer in a wide variety of forms with the addition of various ingredients, giving the hop-malt beverage unusual flavor colors.

Foodies:

Vancouver is a great place to eat. The city is a melting pot of immigrants from the most diverse countries in the world. Accordingly, its gastronomic scene is multi-ethnic and diverse. Especially lovers of Asian cuisine get their money’s worth here.

Families and children:

And last but not least, Vancouver is also a particularly good destination for families with children. The many parks and great beaches in the city, the beautiful nature of the surrounding area and the interesting science museums with their child-friendly exhibitions make Vancouver a real family experience.

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By Canadian standards, Vancouver has a very moderate and relatively mild climate year-round. Responsible for this are Pacific currents and the coastal mountains, which keep away both arctic winds and snow masses in winter and extreme temperatures in summer. The best time to visit Vancouver is during the summer months, when temperatures usually climb to just above 20 degrees during the day and you can enjoy 7-9 hours of sunshine daily with very little rain. In spring and fall, the weather can be much more changeable. Winter is not a recommended time to travel to Vancouver, as the winter months are the rainiest (sometimes it even rains for three weeks at a time) and stormiest. On the other hand, those who have come to Canada’s Pacific coast for skiing or snowboarding can have a lot of fun on the slopes (although snow is not guaranteed).

Find flights to Vancouver

Getting there

By car:

Inaccessible from Europe.

By train:

Inaccessible from Europe.

By plane:

Vancouver has an international airport with direct flights to many cities in Europe. In Germany, there are flights to Frankfurt (several times a day) and Munich (once a day). There are also connections to Zurich in Switzerland several times a week.

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Shopping

Although Vancouver does not necessarily have the image of a shopping city, shopping here is a lot of fun. From large shopping malls to small specialized stores to various markets, the city offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities.

For tourists, Granville Island is often the first address on the shopping list – and not without reason. The Granville Island Public Market, the city’s best-known food market, is located on the (half) island. Here you can find everything that is fresh and delicious – fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, bread and baked goods and specialties of all kinds.

In addition to the Public Market, Granville Island is also known for its many stores, galleries and workshops that sell design objects and artifacts. If you are looking for jewelry, paintings, accessories, furnishings and especially First Nations handicrafts, you have a good chance to find what you are looking for.

Because of the cultural and geographical proximity to the USA (and of course because of the often rainy weather) there are many excellent shopping malls in Vancouver. First and foremost is the huge department store The Bay, where you can spend a wonderful shopping day on four floors. But also the Royal Centre Mall in downtown Vancouver is worth a visit for mall fans.

Vancouver’s main shopping street is Robson Street, which runs right through the city center from BC Place Stadium in the southeast to Stanley Park in the northwest. Especially for fashionistas Robson Street is the first address in Vancouver. Just about all fashion and shoe chains in all price segments are represented here. The Pacific Centre shopping mall in downtown Vancouver is also well worth a visit for those interested in fashion.

If you are looking for a quieter shopping experience and prefer to avoid malls and shopping streets, you should head to the Gastown and Yaletown districts. Both neighborhoods have a thriving scene of stylish fashion boutiques, trendy souvenir and gift stores, and hip galleys. If you’re looking for something extravagant, Gastown and Yaletown will provide interesting shopping opportunities.

Food and drink

As a multicultural metropolis, Vancouver is a paradise for all people who enjoy multiethnic dining. Canada has always been a country of immigration for people from all over the world, who have all brought their national cuisines with them to their new home. So it’s no surprise that in Vancouver you’re spoiled for choice between Chinese, German, Greek, Indian, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Mexican and Russian food (to list just a few countries). Because of its location on the Pacific Ocean and the large number of residents of Asian origin, in Vancouver you can enjoy excellent Asian cuisine.

The waters off Vancouver are very rich in fish, which is why you can find a variety of excellent seafood restaurants in the city. Of course, Vancouver also offers excellent Canadian steaks. And meat lovers can even get specialties like moose and buffalo served here.

In terms of food and drink, Vancouver has two distinctive features to offer. First, the city has a very distinct food truck scene. Over 100 of these “food on wheels” vans are on the road in the city, serving fish, meat and other dishes in a variety of locations. There’s even a dedicated app to find out where the food trucks are located and what they offer. And second, Vancouver is known for its craft beer scene. In and around Vancouver, there are now more than 50 breweries that mix beer with a wide variety of ingredients to make sophisticated creations. You can find your own brewery favorites on the BC Craft Brewers website.

A little note for those who want to drink alcohol. It is only sold in so-called “government liquor stores” or “beer & wine stores” to people over 19. Bars, restaurants and nightclubs that are allowed to serve alcohol can be identified by a “licensed premises” sign. Drinking in public is strictly prohibited in Vancouver.

And last but not least, a little tip: Similar to the U.S., waiters in Canada receive only a very low base salary and are accordingly dependent on a decent tip. You should therefore make sure that it is around 15 to 20 percent of the total amount.

Nightlife and entertainment

Vancouver is the only major city in western Canada. Accordingly, the nightlife is vibrant and diverse. There is something for every taste in drinks and music.

Vancouver’s nightlife is concentrated in a few neighborhoods, each with its own character and vibe. For those who like to party long and hard, Granville Street in downtown Vancouver (especially in the section between Robson Street and Nelson Street) is the place to be. Bars and nightclubs line up here – making bar and club hopping easy.

If you’re into stylish cocktail bars, head to Yaletown. The neighborhood between Downtown and False Creek is known for its trendy bar scene, where see-and-be-seen is at the top of the agenda. No wonder Yaletown probably has the highest celebrity density in Vancouver. So if you want to drink a cocktail next to a Canucks hockey player or a Hollywood starlet (Vancouver is called “Hollywood North,” after all), you’ve got a good chance here.

If you prefer something more quaint and cozy, the historic Gastown district, east of downtown, is a good place to be. Here you will find a number of typical pubs. Gastown’s nightlife scene, however, is more diverse and also has some well-known cocktail bars and clubs.

Last but not least, Vancouver’s Main Street has a reputation for being the hub of the hipster scene. Those who prefer a more casual and relaxed atmosphere when going out will probably feel more comfortable in the bars and clubs on Main Street than in Downtown Vancouver.