Vancouver is one of the most popular and beautiful cities to visit in Canada, and it is renowned for its natural beauty and cultural diversity. Vancouver has it all – picturesque mountains, vibrant city life, clear ocean waters, and beautiful beaches. If Vancouver is not on your list, it has to be, and here is everything you need to know before visiting!
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit Vancouver is in the summer and fall. Summertime is the most crowded but has the longest daylight hours, and fall has fewer crowds and beautiful fall foliage. It rains the most from November to March, and if you’re not a fan of rain, avoid visiting during that time. However, if you don’t mind it, winter is also the least crowded time to visit.
Things to Do
Vancouver has an endless amount of things to do in the city, including hiking, visiting museums, shopping, going to parks, laying on the beach, and more. Here are my favorite places you need to visit in Vancouver: Vancouver Lookout, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Library, Robson Street, Gastown, Olympic Village, Granville Island, Queen Elizabeth Park, Horseshoe Bay, Whyte Cliff Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Lynn Canyon, Downtown Vancouver, Canada Place, Sunset Beach, English Bay, Lighthouse Park, Cleveland Dam, Stanley Park, and Lyons Gate Bridge.
How to Get Around
There are many ways to get around the city from the SkyTrain, SeaBus, bus, taxis, and Uber. The cheapest way to get around is to take the train, bus, or SeaBus, and you can use your contactless card to pay as you go. The SeaBus connects from downtown Vancouver to North Vancouver every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night, and it is a low-cost way to get across the water. Alternatively, taxis and Uber are options you can take instead of public transportation which is faster but more costly.
How Long to Stay
To see all of Vancouver and its surrounding areas, I highly recommend visiting for 4-5 days. It will give you the perfect amount of time to see Vancouver and experience both nature and city life at a relaxing pace. One tip I highly recommend is to rent a car. Vancouver’s public transportation is great, but to see other beautiful sceneries near Vancouver, renting a car will allow you to visit places farther and more efficiently. I highly recommend visiting North, South, East, and West Vancouver, Squamish, and Richmond. Driving around Vancouver is easy and is just like driving in the US (but make sure to familiarize yourself especially since there are some slight differences in the laws!).
Where to Stay
The best place to stay in Vancouver is Downtown Vancouver. It is the most central neighborhood, especially if you visit for the first time. It is also home to top-rated hotels, delicious restaurants, and popular attractions. It is close to the waterfront, Robson Street (a popular shopping district), and Olympic Village. Everything in Downtown Vancouver is within walking distance.
Which Hotel to Stay At
Downtown Vancouver has many wonderful hotels to stay at, but for the best experience, you NEED to stay at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver! It is the ultimate 5-star hotel that is centrally located, has the best amenities, and provides amazing hospitality. The staff makes you feel at home while providing the ultimate luxury experience.
The rooms themselves were spacious, luxurious, and comfy, and I stayed in the junior suite which had a living room, a relaxing couch, a large working desk, 2 TVs, a comfy bed, a rain shower, and a bathtub. My personal favorite has to be the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city.
The hotel also has world-class restaurants so you have many dining options to choose from (and you never have to leave the hotel!), a beautiful rooftop with the Veuve Clicquot Lounge to grab delicious food and aesthetic drinks, and e-bike rentals for free for the first 2 hours. I rode an e-bike around the beautiful Olympic Village and False Creek and had the best time exploring the city!
Staying at JW Marriot Parq Vancouver was one of the best experiences I’ve had in Vancouver, and it was so relaxing to stay there. I highly recommend booking your accommodation there for the ultimate luxurious and relaxing stay.
Note: this review was taken as part of a sponsored stay, but everything written reflects my personal experience.
Is there anything you’d like to know about Vancouver? Let me know in the comments below!
