February 13, 2022, 12:23 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

Vancouver was founded around 1860 when many people were drawn to the area in search of gold. However, Vancouver’s prosperity came not from gold but from timber, mining, agriculture, and fishing. It’s no surprise that the Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada.

While it was once gold seekers who flocked to Vancouver, today you might also encounter stars here. The city is the most important film city in North America after Los Angeles and New York. Some even call Vancouver “Hollywood North.”

1. Grand Location with Water and Mountains

Tourists quickly fall in love with Vancouver, and for several reasons. The magnificent location offers views of the North Shore Mountains on one side and the Georgia Strait, connected to the Pacific Ocean, on the other. Water also separates North Vancouver from the main city and surrounds the International Airport.

Also interesting: Banff National Park in Canada – the Best Highlights and Tips

2. Cultural Diversity

Visitors to Vancouver are amazed by the many cultures that coexist here. Almost half of the residents are not of Canadian origin. In addition to Europeans–especially from England, Germany, and Scandinavia–many Chinese live in Vancouver. It’s no wonder the city has the second-largest Chinatown after San Francisco! There are also neighborhoods with Indian or Italian influences.

Given this diversity and the city’s location, it’s no surprise that Vancouver often ranks high among cities with the highest quality of life in Canada.

3. Skyscrapers and Historic Buildings

In Vancouver, skyscrapers dominate the skyline (aside from the mountains behind them). But scattered among them are historic buildings. The Sun Tower, for example, built in the Beaux-Arts style, is notable for its green dome. Or the Marine Building, inspired by the Empire State Building in New York. Among the modern structures is the 210-meter-tall Living Shangri-La skyscraper, which houses a luxury hotel, apartments, and offices. However, anyone wanting to build a high-rise in Vancouver must adhere to view protection guidelines–the city aims to prevent obstruction of the mountain views.

4. Vancouver’s Historic District Gastown

Perhaps it’s a good idea to visit the historic district after taking in the city’s skyline. The contrast is striking: In the Gastown district, you’ll find small red houses, a steam clock that whistles the time on the hour, and a sculpture of Gassy Jack, who opened the first saloon in the area in 1867. Standing here gives you a sense of how Vancouver came to be. Gastown was granted city rights on April 6, 1886, but had little time to enjoy them, as two months later, a great fire nearly destroyed the city. It wasn’t until 40 years later that Gastown was restored, and today it is a protected historic site.

Also interesting: Canada is the “best country in the world”

5. Stanley Park – Canada’s Largest Urban Park

One of the favorite spots for many tourists in Vancouver is Stanley Park, which, at just over 400 hectares, is Canada’s largest urban park. It is located at the tip of a peninsula and is also very popular with locals. Attractions here include eight million trees, a lake, a waterfront path, and the Vancouver Aquarium, as well as numerous totem poles that commemorate the area’s original inhabitants, the Squamish Indians. Much smaller but absolutely worth seeing is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Chinatown, which is lovingly designed with pagodas, water, stones, and a variety of plants. A piece of China in the middle of Canada. For more greenery, head to Vancouver Island for a few days: The largest island in the province of British Columbia is a magnificent piece of wild nature where you might even encounter black bears.

6. Art, Culture, and Festivals

Vancouver is also about art and culture. There are countless museums, such as the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Vancouver Maritime Museum. The latter houses, among other things, the ship St. Roch, the first to navigate the infamous Northwest Passage. The city also offers theater and music, and is home to world stars like Bryan Adams, Michael Bublé, Diana Krall, and the band Nickelback.

Rock concerts are usually held in large venues, and celebrations also take place outdoors. For example, during the Celebration of Light festival in July, the Chinese New Year, and the Gay Pride events, which demonstrate that Vancouver has a vibrant LGBTIQ community.

7. Sports

Then there’s sports, both passively through games of hockey, Canadian football, or baseball teams, and actively in the winter sports areas in the North Shore Mountains, on the countless beaches, at the beach volleyball courts, or while skateboarding. Kayaking is also a popular sport–after all, there’s plenty of water in Vancouver.

Important Note: Information on entry requirements and the current COVID-19 situation and restrictions in Canada can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

More on the topic

More than Tulips and Cheese These Unknown Places in Amsterdam Are Worth a Visit

Selected by National Geographic The 25 Coolest Travel Experiences Worldwide

Map: Location of Vancouver

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

Current Weather in Vancouver

Here you will find content from third-party providers

To interact with or display third-party content, we need your consent.

Activate

In order to display embedded content, your consent to the processing of personal data, which can be revoked at any time (via the switch or via “Revoke tracking and cookies” at the bottom of the page), is required. Data may be transferred to third countries such as the USA (Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). By switching to “on” you agree. You can find more information here.

(Text: Silke Böttcher)