Vancouver, a coastal seaport city in Canada, boasts stunning mountain ranges, sandy beaches, and a breathtaking rainforest. It is consistently ranked as one of the world's most desirable places to live and is known for its energy, diversity, and cultural richness. This city is truly a unique and captivating destination.
Canadian Dollar (CAD), C$1 = 100 cents
Fire, Police & Ambulance: 911
Vancouver Sun — www.vancouversun.com
The Province — www.theprovince.com
Ming Pao (Cantonese) — www.mingpaocanada.com/van
World Journal (Mandarin) — www.worldjournal.com
The Georgia Straight — www.straight.com
Banks: Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30pm, extended hours (including weekends) at some locations.
Stores are mostly open Mon–Sat 10am–9pm and Sun 10am–6pm.
City: 662,248 (2021 census)
Metropolitan area: 2,642,825 (2021 census)
Vancouver Virtual Visitor Services
200 Burrard Street, Vancouver
+1 604 683 2000
Note: the physical Visitor Centre is closed to the public, but you can get help over the phone, online and through Google Messages.
www.destinationvancouver.com
The city of Vancouver offers everything from stunning landscapes, superb restaurants, remarkable cultural diversity and some of the best sporting events in the world.
Vancouver is a city with many neighborhoods, each with its own characteristics. Gastown is a charming and historic area with small shops and intimate restaurants. Kitsilano is a casual and health-conscious neighborhood. Chinatown has traditional architecture and large open-air markets. Robson Street is known for its fashionable boutique shopping and unique eateries.
It boasts 400 hectares of breathtaking scenery in Stanley Park, which has been designated a national historic site of Canada and attracts visitors and residents alike to enjoy the outdoors at its finest.
It is no wonder that Vancouver has been named one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world.
Vancouver is consistently recognized as one of the greenest cities in the world. It is a true example of inspiring environmental action on a bug urban scale with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita within Northern America.
The city has set many ambitious goals, including a plan to become zero waste by 2040. The plan aims at reducing air pollution and waste, fostering energy-efficient construction and improving the city's natural environment.
Stanley Park
Enjoying the city's cultural, natural and social attractions is easy. Whether by foot, bus or boat, you can feel the pulse of this vibrant city everywhere you go. Discover the magnificent green oasis and surrounding landscapes that make Vancouver a favourite for visitors from all over the world.
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Gastown
Vancouver Lookout
Science World
Canada Place
Stanley Park
Chinatown
Granville Island
Grouse Mountain
English Bay
Lynn Canyon
Queen Elizabeth Park
9 O'Clock Gun
Rocky Mountaineer Train from Vancouver
The multicultural character of Vancouver can easily be seen in the wide range of cuisine, a fusion of many ethnic flavours: African/Indian, Greek/Italian and Mediterranean/French, with fresh seafood is on almost every menu. With chefs blurring international boundaries and restaurants ranging from bohemian to ultra chic, Vancouver has refined the art of eating out.
Farmer's Apprentice
Le Crocodile
La Quercia
Cuchillo
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
L’Abattoir
CinCin Ristorante & Bar
Simba’s Grill
Pink Pearl Chinese Seafood
Water Street Café
Vancouver is a great destination for coffee lovers, with a number of cafes offering cups of slow-brewed java made with organic, fair-trade, and locally-roasted beans. In addition to their delicious coffee, many of these cafes also have lovely outdoor seating with views over the water. Whether you're looking to relax and take in the sights or simply need a pick-me-up, these cafes are the perfect place to enjoy a great cup of coffee in Vancouver.
Caffe Artigiano
Trees Organic Coffee & Roasting House
Terra Breads
Mink Chocolate Café
Kafka’s Coffee Roasting
Bel Café
From the flamboyant and outrageous to the laid-back and quiet, bars and pubs offer Vancouver residents and visitors alike a wide array of choices. The legal drinking age in Vancouver is 19, yet many up-scale establishments enforce a 21-23 age limit.
Nightlife in Vancouver has something to offer everyone, from dance clubs to Irish pubs, live music venues and plenty of theatre and arts. Busy Granville Street on a Saturday night is electrifying, while Gastown and Yaletown have more than their share of hip, trendy spots.
The Diamond
L’Abattoir
The casual shopper will enjoy a stroll along Robson Street with its unique boutiques, coffeehouses and restaurants. Granville Island is one of Vancouver’s shopping hotspots and the hub of epicurean delight. The Public Market overflows with fresh vegetables, fruits and exotic herbs and spices. Art and handcrafted items, custom-built kayaks, wooden musical instruments, blown glass, leather goods and one-of-a-kind toys are a small sampling of items for sale.
Mink Chocolate Café
Granville Island Public Market
Kaarigar Handicrafts
Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery
Fazakas Gallery
Treasure Green Tea Company
Chinatown
Kitsilano
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is located 16 km/10 miles from downtown Vancouver. Canada Line (the city's rapid transit railway system) connects the airport to downtown Vancouver in under 30 minutes, departing every 7-15 minutes. There are also numerous car rental companies present at the airport, as well as taxi services.
Address: Vancouver International Airport, Richmond
Email: customercallcentre@yvr.ca
Phone: +1 604 207 7077
Website: www.yvr.ca
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Abbotsford International Airport (YXX)
Abbotsford International Airport (YXX): Located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, about 65 km (40 mi) east of Vancouver, Abbotsford International Airport is a smaller regional airport that primarily serves domestic and regional flights within Canada and the United States.
The airport is accessible by car, public transportation, and taxi, and offer a range of amenities and services for travelers, including shops, restaurants, lounges, and other amenities.
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Phone: +1 604 855 1001
Website: www.abbotsfordairport.ca
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Public transport
In Vancouver, private vehicles are the most popular mode of transportation. Mass transit include local buses, Skytrain and Seabus. A Translink Day Pass, which can be purchased at many stations, grocery stores and 7/11's, can be used on all of these. Bicycle rental is another very popular way for visitors to get around the city and cover more ground that walking. Several companies located around the city offer these services.
Vancouver has a comprehensive public transportation system that includes buses, trains, and ferries. The main agency responsible for public transportation in the city is TransLink, which operates a network of buses, trains, and ferries that serve the Metro Vancouver area.
Buses: The bus system in Vancouver is extensive, with routes serving the city and surrounding areas. Buses run frequently, and many routes operate 24 hours a day. TransLink also operates a number of express and limited-stop bus routes that offer faster service to popular destinations.
Trains: The SkyTrain is Vancouver's rapid transit rail system, which consists of three lines: the Expo Line, the Millennium Line, and the Canada Line. The SkyTrain serves a number of cities in the Metro Vancouver area, including Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Richmond.
Ferries: The SeaBus is a passenger ferry service that operates between downtown Vancouver and the North Shore. The SeaBus operates every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours.
In addition to these services, TransLink also operates a number of other public transportation options, including community shuttles, HandyDART (a door-to-door service for people with disabilities), and the West Coast Express (a commuter rail service).
Public transportation in Vancouver can be accessed using a variety of fare payment options, including fares paid in cash, fares paid using a Compass Card (a reloadable electronic fare card), and fares paid using the TransLink mobile app.
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Website: www.translink.ca
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Taxi
Taxis in Vancouver are generally reliable and can be a convenient option for getting around the city. Most taxis in the city are metered, with rates determined by distance and time, and there are a number of different companies operating in the city.
Ridesharing services, such as Uber, Lyft and Blacklane, have become increasingly popular in recent years, and offer a convenient and often more affordable alternative to traditional taxis. These services allow users to request a ride and pay for it through the app, and drivers are typically independent contractors who use their own vehicles to provide transportation.
Address: Vancouver Taxi
Email:
Phone: +1 604 871 1111
Website: www.destinationvancouver.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around
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Postal Service
In Vancouver, Canada Post offers a variety of services, including letter and parcel delivery, post office boxes, and money orders. The company also provides a range of shipping options for individuals and businesses, including priority, express, and international shipping.
Address: Canada Post, 495 W Georgia Street, Vancouver
Email:
Phone: +1 866 607 6301
Website: www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/fpo/personal/findPostOfficeDetail?outletId=0000647365
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Pharmacy
Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Rexall and Pharmasave: These Canadian chains have numerous locations throughout Vancouver and offer a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as health and wellness products, beauty products, and more.
In addition to these larger chain stores, there are also many independent pharmacies throughout the city that offer a range of medications and other health-related products. Many of these pharmacies also offer additional services such as prescription refills, flu shots, and other immunizations.
Address: Shoppers Drug Mart, 1125 Davie Street, Vancouver
Email: asdm272@shoppersdrugmart.ca
Phone: +1 604 669 2424
Website: www.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/store-locator/store/272
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Telephone
Country code: +1
Area code: 604
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Electricity
Canada uses 110-volt electricity, 60 cycle electric power, same as the USA. Unless your appliance is dual voltage, you need to use a “converter” or a “transformer”. Power outlets are designed for use with a two prong and some accept a 3 prong (with ground) plug.
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