Vancouver

Vancouver is Canada's gateway to the Pacific Rim and has been deemed one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Vancouver is clean, colourful and friendly, with the open cosmopolitan flair that West Coast cities are known for. The buzz of this urban centre is contrasted by its spectacular natural surroundings. Vancouver is bordered by water on three sides, filled with lush green spaces and beaches and is nestled beside the towering, majestic Coast Mountains.

When Captain George Vancouver first sailed into what is now Vancouver’s English Bay and Burrard Inlet, he found settlements of First Nations people. European settlement began in Vancouver in 1862 with the discovery of coal in Coal Harbour and by the 1880’s major development was underway, including the Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental line. It was "Gassy" Jack Deighton, however, who became the real pioneer of Vancouver by establishing a saloon, in 1867, in what is today known as Gastown.

Today Vancouver is British Columbia’s largest city and Canada’s fastest-growing metropolis. With over two million people, close to half of the population of British Columbia lives in the city of Vancouver and its suburbs which include: Richmond, Burnaby, Delta, Surrey, North and West Vancouver, New Westminster and Coquitlam. Most major cities have a mixed heritage, but few have attracted a more diverse cross-section of cultures than Vancouver.

Vancouver is bursting with things to see and do. Many visitors come to Vancouver to enjoy the excitement and energy of a large city. The most common urban attractions include Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Science World, Gastown, Chinatown, Granville Island, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Queen Elizabeth Park, the Vancouver Art Gallery, world-class entertainment and sporting events, fantastic cuisine and some of the finest and most eclectic shopping around.

Others come to Vancouver to access the breathtaking scenery and untouched wilderness of the west coast and to leave city living behind. Wide open spaces on land and water provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Visitors seeking adventure can ski, golf, cycle, hike, fish, kayak, swim, windsurf or scuba dive.

Travelling to or from Vancouver is most commonly and conveniently done via the Vancouver International Airport or via BC Ferries through its Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen terminals. Whether travelling by air, ferry, train, float plane, helicopter, car or bus, Vancouver is an ideal place to begin your exploration of beautiful British Columbia.

For more information on Vancouver, please visit Tourism Vancouver's web site.