Vancouver Travel: 15 Things You Need To Know

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I’ve lived in Vancouver for well over a decade. In fact, other than the place I was born and grew up in, Carlisle, England, Vancouver is the place I’ve spent the most time. And while everyone seems to know that Vancouver is very beautiful and we once hosted the Winter Olympics, I figured there were a few other Vancouver travel tips I should share.

What you need to know about Vancouver

Planning to visit somewhere you’ve never been before is full of the unknown. Most tourism websites will put a positive spin on everything. But I find that a local is the best person to tell it like it really is. So as someone who lives in Vancouver, here are some things you need to know before visiting. From the good to the bad and everything in between.

The smell of weed is everywhere

Marijuana is legal in Canada, not that this ever stopped the good folks of Vancouver dabbling in recreational use before that change in law. Vancouver has always been known as a 420-Friendly city.

If that’s your thing then there are plenty of places you can go to buy it. If it’s not your thing, that’s OK too. But it’s important to know that you may encounter the smell of weed on the streets of Vancouver while out and about.

The mountains are north

This will come in handy as many Vancouverites will refer to things being north, south, east or west. So a good point of reference is that if you’re facing the mountains, you’re facing north.

We love including the direction in our neighborhoods: East Vancouver, West End, West Vancouver (not the same thing), North Vancouver, South Granville. The list goes on.

As someone who can barely remember left vs. right, the whole north vs. south thing was not easy when I first got here. But that piece of advice about the mountains always helped.

Vancouver has a high homeless population

One of the most unfortunate things about the beautiful city of Vancouver is the homeless crisis here. Rising living costs and lack of affordable housing are the biggest reasons.

For the most part, Vancouver’s homeless population keep to themselves and are not a risk. The worst you might get is someone yelling or being asked for change. But it’s worth knowing if you’re visiting Vancouver.

Local’s Tip: The Downtown Eastside – particularly Hastings Street anywhere too far past Cambie Street is an area you will likely want to avoid when visiting the city. Hastings and Main, just a couple blocks from Chinatown is also one of the worst areas.

Getting from the airport couldn’t be easier

Or cheaper. The Vancouver Skytrain is part of our transit system, and although we don’t have a bazillion lines like London or NYC, they get us where we need to go. The most convenient is the Canada Line which goes directly from YVR airport to downtown Vancouver.

For less than $10 you can ride from YVR to downtown in around 30 minutes. As Vancouver travel goes, it’s much cheaper than a taxi which can be in excess of $40 after tax/tip.

The fare has an AddFare of $5 if traveling from YVR – however this doesn’t apply on the way to the airport so your fare is only around $5 even during peak times.

We love our brunch

I mean, who doesn’t, right?! But Vancouverites really love brunch. So much that the popular spots have long queues. And it’s just accepted here as the norm with little complaining.

Vancouver has some fantastic breakfast spots whether you’re looking for cheap and cheerful or uber hipster and unique.

Try Maxine’s for breakfast with a little French flair, Jam Cafe for a ridiculous number of awesome options, or Catch 122 for something a little more unique (cauliflower benny, anyone?).

For more mainstream breakfast options on the lower end of the budget scale try Paul’s Omelettery or The Templeton (my favorite classic diner in Vancouver). These unpretentious eateries are actually two of my favorite in the city and I go whenever I have a chance.

Local’s Tip: Plan in advance and make reservations where possible to cut down on queuing time.

We also love our coffee

Much like our American neighbor to the south, Seattle, Vancouver loves its coffee. There are coffee shops everywhere and you’ll find Vancouver people can be very emphatic when talking about their love of the world’s favorite caffeinated beverage.

There used to be a Starbucks on almost every corner, however in recent years the independent coffee shops are making a comeback. Nemesis and Prototype are among the best in the city and worth a visit.

Closing the streets is a popular occurrence

If you’ve ever seen a map of Vancouver you’ll notice that our downtown area is almost surrounded by water. It’s almost an island, and to get outside of that island you will typically need to take one of our many bridges. Street closures can therefore cause a bit of traffic chaos when they happen.

Between festivals (we have an awesome Pride week) and runs and marathons through the summer you should keep an eye on our events calendar when planning Vancouver travel. Vancouver also loves a good protest at any time of year. Planned or otherwise, they often lead to traffic diversions.

Always be prepared for changing weather

“Raincouver” is our nickname. It’s for a very good reason of course – and the rain is why Vancouver is so wonderfully green. Needless to say it’s always worth carrying layers and an umbrella.

Vancouverites always joke that they can be skiing in the morning and on the beach in the afternoon. That should give you an idea of how different our microclimates can be. Plan for every eventuality, but don’t be surprised if it rains at least once during your visit. Instead, just embrace it like a local.

Local’s Tip: Have some “rainy day activities” planned, just in case, and be prepared to alter your schedule depending on the weather. Vancouver has some amazing museums: try the Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver Maritime Museum or the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art (fabulous native art gallery downtown).

Vancouver doesn’t have the best drivers

Maybe our streets aren’t built for high volumes of traffic, and our one-way systems can make things even more complicated. But the real truth is that Vancouver drivers are not always the best.

Canadian politeness goes out of the window when you enter the Vancouver traffic scene. Don’t be surprised if you get beeped at for taking a second to move after the lights turn green, or have people weaving from lane to lane.

Our bridges cause traffic to funnel which make Vancouver travel in rush hour a nightmare – getting into and out of the city can be slow going. Overall we still have less traffic than most big cities – but we love to complain about it anyway.

Vancouver is a bike city

Speaking of traffic and Vancouver travel modes, if you want to skip the car and get around a bit quicker, a bicycle might be for you. Vancouver is very much a bike city – there are bike lanes everywhere, and bikes often get much more right of way than cars (or pedestrians in some cases).

Visit Stanley Park in the summer and you’ll see hundreds of people cycling the seawall. Vancouver has a bike share program called Mobi. You can get a day pass or longer for access to hundreds of bikes. Simply pick one up at one bike station and drop it at another when you’re done.

Local’s Tip: Get up early one morning and go for a beautiful sunrise cycle around Stanley Park’s seawall using a bike from the Mobi bike share program. You’ll almost have the place to yourself.

You’re never too far from the water

As I mentioned before, downtown Vancouver is almost surrounded by water. The Burrard inlet to the north, False Creek to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. I love living by the water as I’m sure most Vancouverites do. And we like to make good use of it.

For Vancouver travel on the water there’s a seabus to get people to the North Shore and water taxis along False Creek for getting around. There are sail boats, yachts, kayakers and paddle boarders all around the city. When in Rome Vancouver, why not join in on the water fun?

Vancouver is surrounded by islands

Speaking of water, living on the coast means there are lots of islands nearby. In the summer, these are islands are popular weekend trips for locals – and visitors. But if there’s one thing you need to understand it’s that locals will often refer to “the island”. This means Vancouver Island – the biggest island, where Victoria is located.

Now visitors have a habit of calling it Victoria Island after the city over there, so that’s an easy way to spot a tourist. Fit in like a local and call it The Island, and you’ll be fine. BC Ferries will get you to the Island, with or without your car. Or for a more scenic (and quicker journey) to Victoria for a few days take Harbour Air seaplanes.

Other popular island/coastal getaways include: Saltspring Island, Pender Island or the Sunshine Coast which is about as lovely as it sounds.

The city is very walkable

I love how walkable Vancouver is. The city is not that big, especially as a visitor you’re likely spending most of your time downtown. So when we’re not cycling or kayaking we’re walking.

It’s quite easy to walk from one area to another, and there are lots of parks to take a rest or walk around. Vancouver’s seawall is a popular route to walk, as well as the trails through Stanley Park.

Local’s Tip: Some sidewalks are shared with cyclists so make sure to keep to the correct side. This goes especially for Stanley Park where the path is divided for cyclists and pedestrians.

Vancouver is a very gay/queer friendly city

Spend some time in Vancouver and you’ll really notice how inclusive the city can be. Rainbow flags adorn many hotels and store windows before you even step foot on Davie Street, Vancouver’s gay district.

But you don’t have to be part of the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy what Davie Village has to offer.

Bars often feature fun drag acts, the neighborhood has (in my opinion) some of the best restaurants in the city, and during Pride week everything shuts down for street party after street party.

Local’s Tip: You’ll find Vancouver’s original Rainbow crosswalk at the intersection of Davie and Thurlow street right next to Mary’s on Davie diner, a Vancouver institution.

You don’t need to dress up here

When I first moved to Vancouver from England I would get dressed up to go out with friends. I soon realized I was the only one. Vancouver is a laid back city with a dress code to match.

Unless you’re out for a fancy dinner, a trip to the theater or to go clubbing (way past that now), you can get away with more casual attire. Even our office wear is business casual. Vancouverites live for their LuluLemon athletic wear whether they’re hitting the gym, the shops or their favorite brunch spot.

The city has very distinct neighborhoods

We’ve established that Davie Street/West End is Vancouver’s gay-friendly district, but Vancouver is split into many other distinct neighborhoods. There’s the Entertainment District down Granville Street with it’s bars and theaters. There’s Gastown, the historic area of the city. And Yaletown with it’s trendy upscale restaurants.

Be sure to explore all of Vancouver’s best neighborhoods on your visit. My favorites are the West End where I used to live (I love the beaches and access to Stanley Park), and Main Street with its eclectic shops and hipster vibes.

Vancouver isn’t cheap

Sad but true, Vancouver travel isn’t cheap – and it’s also not cheap to live in. Affordable housing is hard to come by and is pushing more people further from the city. And for visitors the average nightly hotel cost keeps increasing. If you visit Vancouver, just be prepared.

Even though dining out is always a big chunk of your vacation budget, Vancouver still has some cheaper options if you know where to look. Happy Hour will be your friend and make sure to take advantage of cheaper cafes for light lunches.

As for attractions, you might have to be selective what you do – but there are lots of free activities in Vancouver too. Locals are good at scouting out the free alternatives to popular places and activities so make sure you ask.

There’s green space everywhere

Vancouver is so green. The rain helps with that, for sure. But it’s the care and attention to parks and green space that really makes the city nice to walk around. Almost every neighborhood has a park or two, and locals like to spend a lot of time hanging out in them.

Summer is all about picnics, relaxing in nature and enjoying the walks and trails. Stanley Park is an amazing oasis in the city and is a definite highlight in Vancouver. There are often events happening in the various parks – summer evening movie nights at Second Beach park is one of my favorites.

Vancouver is an environmental city

Did you know Vancouver is where Greenpeace was founded? Vancouver is a very environmentally aware city. Plastic straws and bags in supermarkets are almost eradicated – so pack a reusable bag for your trip.

Our electric buses are connected to their own series of power lines, and the city has both car and bike share programs. This makes Vancouver travel environmentally friendly too.

Canada charges an environmental fee on single use plastic bottles and cans, and Vancouver is (rightly so) really big on recycling. So don’t commit the ultimate crime and throw a plastic bottle in the garbage.

Local’s Tip: There are handy holders around the outside of our bins for cans/bottles. Many people, such as homeless residents, make money by can collecting, so putting your empties here makes it easier for them to get them.

Vancouver has so many markets

Vancouver loves a farmer’s market. Any excuse to buy local, shop organic or try out the latest trend – and a farmer’s market suits all three. You’ll find one most days in the summer in various neighborhoods.

My favorites are the West End market on Saturdays, the Downtown market outside the Art Gallery on Wednesdays. Or if you’re up for an adventure into suburbia, the Ladner farmer’s market on select Sundays in the summer.

Then there’s the Granville Island market and Lonsdale Quay market (in North Vancouver), open every day. Summer weekend evenings also hold the Richmond Night Market where you can try all the latest Asian food trends. It’s only a 5-minute walk from Bridgeport Skytrain station on the Canada Line train.

Vancouver Travel Tips For Visitors

Vancouverites will tell you any chance they get about how much they love it here. They may complain about the weather, rising housing costs or that this is a “no fun” city. But the truth is that the temperate climate, gorgeous scenery and unlimited activities make this one of the most desirable places to live in Canada. And we know it.

Vancouver residents are passionate about things: their breakfast spots, worthwhile causes and (much to our ongoing despair) their ill-fated sports teams. So while we may not seem overly friendly from the outset, ask us about the hockey game last night or where our favorite craft brewery is and we’ll talk for hours.

I love showing off my city any chance I get because I know how special it is. We know we’re sometimes a little high maintenance, but trust me, Vancouver is worth the effort.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you ever visited Van City? What are your Vancouver travel must-knows?