Spending a few nights in Vancouver before or after your ski holiday is - in our opinion - a no-brainer. Set in beautiful British Columbia, this cultural hub is a sure stop en route to resorts like Whistler, Sun Peaks, Big White and Silver Star. Being such an easy destination to tag on at the beginning or end of your ski holiday, Vancouver is just asking to be explored.
The city has a compact, cosmopolitan centre with a perfect balance of old and new, rural and urban - you’ll find modern architecture alongside picturesque historical streets. All with the Coast Range Mountains and the Pacific Ocean providing the perfect backdrop to the city's skyline.
For short stays in Vancouver, we recommend starting with the historic streets and lively bars of Gastown, before exploring the artisan crafts of Granville Island and the shops on Robson Street. The craft beer pubs are our favourite spots to start an evening, while the restaurant scene is hard to beat. As Vancouver is far quieter in the winter than in the summer, restaurants often offer deals, especially during the late-January food festival that celebrates diverse culinary tastes.
We highly recommend catching an ice hockey game at Rogers Arena for an unforgettable evening. Whether you're a die-hard fan or don’t know the first thing about the sport, the electric atmosphere is worth every penny. If the Vancouver Canucks, the city’s beloved home team, score a goal, expect a burst of confetti and roaring cheers.
Nature-lovers will love reaching new heights by crossing the treetop walks in the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, or a visit to VanDusen Botanical Gardens, which features a ‘Festival of Lights’ during wintertime. If you’re seeking an adrenaline buzz, soar over the city’s coast and nearby mountains in a seaplane for breathtaking aerial views.
Due to its convenient location, Vancouver can be easily added to our Okanagan Explorer Ski Safari and Whistler Peaks Ski Safari, to combine epic skiing with Vancouver’s West Coast charm.
For more inspiration on what to do in this bustling city, Rupert's blog, Winter in Vancouver, includes some great ideas.
As you'd expect in a major city, Vancouver has an excellent range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets, as well as a variety of locations depending on what you want to see and do. We recommend going as central as possible at the modern 4* Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre (which boasts some of the best views in the city) or opting for a touch of luxury at the stunning 5* Fairmont Waterfront.
There's so much to see and do in Vancouver, it's impossible to list it all here! This is what our team get up to when we're in town:
Ski safari itineraries featuring a Vancouver city stay.
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To give you the most choice and best value, we create every holiday from scratch. This means that the quotation you receive is unique, based on your preferred departure dates, group size and holiday preferences.
We do all the hard work for you, sifting through the prices and promotions for every airline, hotel and resort, exploring all options. We don’t publish all our prices online, just enough to give you an idea of costs.
What our customers say about Vancouver.
Every holiday is tailor-made, just for you. Our ski specialists will look at your enquiry and will be in touch within a day or two. We promise it's worth the wait!
