Cheap flights to Vancouver

Vancouver climate

Vancouver has a maritime climate. The winters are fairly mild with little snow. Given its location on the Pacific Coast, it’s no surprise that Vancouver gets a lot of rain. Travellers taking trips to Vancouver in the winter months should pack a rain jacket – or two. The summer months are glorious with lots and lots of sunshine. Average temperatures are in the low 20s Celsius (70s Fahrenheit). Early Fall weather can be beautiful too.

Getting around Vancouver

Vancouver’s public transportation system, TransLink, consists of an efficient and reliable network of electric trolley buses, SeaBus passenger ferries, buses, the SkyTrain elevated light-rail and West Coast Express trains. Save some money by buying a FareSaver book of ten tickets, which you can find at newsagents. You can also get a day pass for unlimited travel on buses, SkyTrains and SeaBuses. Don’t rent a car and save yourself the hassle of dealing with congested traffic. You can hail a taxi on the street if you need one, or you can pedal yourself around the city one of the 16 cycling routes covering 129km of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods.   

What is good to know if travelling to Vancouver?

• Stanley Park is magnificent, filled with lagoons, gardens, beaches (Third Beach and Second Beach) and cedar trees. Wildlife such as beavers, coyotes, trumpeter swans and brent geese call the park home too. It’s very close to the downtown core.
• Taking the Sea Bus from Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver is a treat. The Lonsdale Quay Market sells lots of tempting souvenirs including melt-in-the-mouth fudge.
• The Vancouver Art Gallery is on Hornby Street. There are more than 200 major works by Emily Carr, the noted British Columbia artist. The gallery is the largest in Western Canada.
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, on the edge of Chinatown (Canada’s largest Chinatown), is the first authentic classical Chinese garden built outside China.
• Wreck Beach is Vancouver’s only clothing-optional beach. Lying between Locarno Beach and University of British Columbia lands, it is an 8km stretch of wilderness in the city. A voluntary organisation ensures it remains pristine.