Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia.
As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada after Toronto and Montreal. The region, together with the Fraser Valley, makes up the Lower Mainland, which has a total population of over 3 million. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada, with over 5,700 inhabitants per square kilometre (15,000/sq mi), and the fourth highest in North America.
Getting to Vancouver
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Worth seeing
While Vancouver is still a young city, it has a variety of attractions and points of interest for the visitor. Many of the city's landmarks and historical buildings can be found in the central business district.
Things to do
Vancouver isn't all about the outdoors. It offers a variety of theatre, concerts and other cultural events. There are symphony and opera venues in the central business district and much of the city's live theatre can be found in South Granville, particularly on Granville Island with its thriving arts scene. The city's Chinese heritage comes alive during Chinese New Year.
Where to eat
Where to begin? There is something for everyone in this cosmopolitan city, and the variety of cuisines and price points have been described as a foodie's delight. In particular, you will find many different kinds of Asian food available. If you fancy sushi many places offer "all you can eat" lunches for $12, which offers food of a wildly varying quality.
Getting around Vancouver the local way
- Get in{{go | name | url customercallcentre@yvr.ca | address 49.194993 | long Sea Island in Richmond | phone | hours | wikipedia Q321224 | content=The Domestic and International Terminal is the main terminal that most travellers will use, while the South Terminal has prop, small jet, and seaplane service to local communities in British Columbia and Yukon.
- Get inSee Vancouver International Airport for seaplane flights that land at that airport.
- Get inSeaplane airlines operating to downtown Vancouver: There are heliport facilities at YVR's South Terminal, though most flights operate to: {{go | name | url | address 49.022837 | long Abbotsford | phone | hours | wikipedia Q969671 | content=Around about east of Vancouver in Abbotsford is Vancouver's alternate airport.
- Get inTo reach the Vancouver area from other coastal communities, travellers need to reach either of the following ferry terminals: , in West Vancouver.
- Get inFerries travel between this terminal, and Bowen Island (Snug Cove) in 20 minutes, Nanaimo (Departure Bay) in 1 hour 40 minutes, and the Sunshine Coast (Langdale) in 40 minutes.
- Get inFerries travel between this terminal and Nanaimo (Duke Point) in 2 hours and Victoria (Swartz Bay) near Sidney on Vancouver Island in 1 hour 35 minutes.
- Get inFerries also connect this terminal with five of the Southern Gulf Islands.
- Get aroundThe SeaBus is a passenger ferry that connects Waterfront Station downtown to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.
From Wikivoyage: Vancouver, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Xicotencatl (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
