Vancouver: What to Know Before You Go

Vancouver is an easy city to visit and a slightly confusing one to plan, because the best of it is spread out: the park in one direction, the market in another, the mountains across the water. Once you understand the map, it falls into place.

How the city is laid out

Downtown sits on a peninsula. Stanley Park fills its north-western tip, the West End is the residential grid next to it, and Coal Harbour, Gastown and Yaletown line the edges. To the south, across False Creek, are Granville Island, Kitsilano and the long ribbon of beaches out to the University of British Columbia (UBC). To the north, across Burrard Inlet, are North and West Vancouver and the mountains. The seawall links most of the waterfront, and it's the thread we use in every guide on this site.

Entry and money

Visitors from visa-exempt countries who fly into Canada need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), applied for online on the Government of Canada website. US citizens don't need one, and neither do people arriving by land, rail or ferry. Use the official site only, since copycat sites charge extra. Canada uses the Canadian dollar, and cards, including contactless, work almost everywhere.

Taxes and tipping

Prices on menus and shelves usually don't include sales tax, which is added at the till. Hotel bills carry extra accommodation taxes on top of the room rate. In restaurants and bars, a tip of 15 to 20 percent is expected, and card machines will prompt you for it.

Rain and planning

From November to March, Vancouver is wet and grey more often than not. It rarely pours, it just keeps going. Plan indoor backups (the Museum of Anthropology, the aquarium, Granville Island's market) and keep outdoor days flexible. Summer is dry and mild. Our best time to visit guide goes month by month.

A word on the Downtown Eastside

A few blocks east of Gastown, around East Hastings Street, you'll see open drug use and people living on the street. It's the most visible sign of a long public health crisis. Visitors aren't the target, and walking through in daytime is generally fine, but most travellers find it upsetting the first time. Stick to Water Street in Gastown and take transit to Chinatown if you'd rather avoid it.

The rest is simple: Vancouver is safe, clean and friendly, tap water is excellent, and plugs are the North American two-pin type. For what to put in the suitcase, see our what to wear guide.