4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
Ten hours from Paris by plane (flying direct)
When to go
Any time of year
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Vancouver (Canada)
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Flickr cc Lucas Gomes
Practical information on Vancouver
Reviews of Vancouver
The largest city in Western Canada, Vancouver is world famous for its high quality of life, the beauty of its scenery and the possibilities for outdoor sports it offers at all times of year!
My suggestion:
Vancouver itself is an attractive place: very much like other North American cities in character, but quite quick to visit. The use of a car will enable you to better explore what the wider region has to offer (Whistler and Vancouver Island in particular).
My review
During my year abroad in Canada I travelled around the country a great deal and even ended up spending two months living and working in Vancouver.
I have very fond memories of the nature and wildlife found all around this city: the raccoons in Stanley Park, trips by bicycle, and long outings to the aquarium (highly recommended if you enjoy looking at different kinds of fish!).
Vancouver is quite expensive however, so you do need quite a substantial budget if you want to enjoy everything it has to offer (outings, sporting activities, the museums, etc.).
Tremendously cosmopolitan in character, Vancouver is a place that lends itself to casual exploration on foot or by bicycle: don't be at all reluctant to go for a leisurely stroll around, visiting and enjoying the various different worlds you'll encounter in the city (Chinatown, the Punjabi Market, etc.). This is yet another reason why Vancouver is such a charming place!
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Magnus Larsson
This major metropolis constitutes one of the main places to see when visiting Western Canada, and it justifiably enjoys an excellent reputation. Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city that manages to ally the beauty of urban architecture with that of nature.
My suggestion:
What I remember most fondly about Vancouver are its numerous sushi restaurants! With its relatively large population of people of Japanese origin, those exquisite Japanese rolls are ubiquitous in the city.
My review
Vancouver quickly becomes a firm favourite with almost everyone who visits it due to its perfect geographical location, its atmosphere, its population's reputation for green awareness, its general air of multiculturalism – in short, all those aspects that make Vancouver a highly enjoyable and unforgettable place to visit.
In my opinion, the city's most beautiful and wonderful feature is Stanley Park. Visiting this green space located right in the middle of a major metropolis gave me the opportunity to see and admire around twenty historic monuments, various totem poles and thousands of rose bushes. It's one of the essential places to see in the city, without any question.
Vancouver, however, also has a less appealing side. You do see a number of homeless people and junkies (as they're referred to) camped on street corners in the city, openly asking passers-by for money so they can pay for their daily fix.
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Flickr cc Lucas Gomes
Vancouver is a town in west Canada which is often acknowledged to have a great quality of life. Near to the sea, the mountains and the USA, it has lots of attractions.
My suggestion:
Be careful to choose when you visit according to what you want to do: skiing, oceans trips or just exploring the town.
My review
Vancouver is a cosmopolitan town which has something to please everyone. It has all the assets of a big city: easy access to culture, to sporting events, and also to nature. The famous Whistler slopes are barely an hour away by car. The climate is quite wet but is fairly mild all year round.
Those who love sushi (like me) will be ok because, thanks to its proximity to Asia, the town has a large number of Asian expatriates in it, and consequently a lot of Asian restaurants.
Gastown is the oldest but one of the most dynamic parts of the town and is especially well-known for its night life.
The only drawback is that the cost of living is quite high, so you need to be careful about your budget before your trip to Canada.
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Thinkstock
164 travelers' photos
