Vancouver is Western Canada's biggest city, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and excellent transportation links. Tourists come in every season due to the spread of festivals and outdoor pursuits on hand, but the most comfortable time for all-around sightseeing is from June to August.Canadians are friendly and open-minded. Canada began welcoming immigrants in the 19th century, and Vancouver is a culturally diverse place because of the country's early welcoming policies. Visitors will find people from all walks of life living together in harmony.
Visitors will have no problems as long as they remember that openness and tolerance of Vancouverites is not only something they extend to others, but it's also something they expect in return. Visitors that put a priority on courtesy and respect will have a memorable experience.
The Canadian dollar is the national currency, and it's just a touch lighter than the US dollar. By all rights, shopping and dining in Vancouver will cost just as much as in any major Western city, especially on Robson Street or in other central districts. Buying bundled attraction cards for museums and other downtown sites is a good way for tourists to streamline their expenses.
ATMs are widespread and wired to accept international debit cards. Cash is needed for the markets of Granville Island, Chinatown and Punjabi Market, but credit cards are widely accepted in all mid-level to top-end shops, restaurants and hotels.
Vancouver's maritime climate is similar to Seattle's, with mild year-round temperatures. Winters are cold and rainy, but the nearby heights of Whistler and other ski resorts see plenty of snowfall. The city itself quiets down during the winter months, but the outlying region is busy with skiers and snowboarders.
Summer is the best time for non-skiers to visit Vancouver. Cloudy mornings usually give way to sunny afternoons and daytime temperatures are comfortably warm. The weather is as perfect for strolling along Robson Street as it is for hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park or Grouse Mountain.
The city's districts are sewn together with the SkyTrain, a modern light-rail transit system. This is the preferred means of travel as long as it passes through the neighborhood you plan to visit. Taxis are more expensive, while ferries make the most sense between waterfront destinations.
The SkyTrain is a more recent transport option from Vancouver International Airport (YVR). The Airporter shuttle bus departs four times per hour and stops by major hotels as well as the cruise terminal and bus station. It's convenient also to get from the airport to your destination via hire car or taxi, with plenty of both on hand. The cruise terminal is in the city center, and transfers are straightforward.
Population: 578,000, Greater Vancouver Regional District or Metro Vancouver population is approximately 2.2 million
Spoken languages: English, with a sizeable Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese speaking population.
Electrical: 110 Volts, 50 Hertz
Phone/calling code: +1 604
Find more information about Vancouver and hotels in the area:
Vancouver hotels | Canada hotels
