Vancouver City Add-On
Canada
Known for its thriving culture and cuisine, Vancouver is the gateway to some of Canada’s best skiing and outdoor adventure - an essential add-on to any British Columbia ski holiday.
- Culture
- Family Friendly
- Honeymoons
- Luxury
- Nightlife
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.
"I love Vancouver. It's a fantastic city with so much to see and do - great restaurants, excellent shopping, fabulous parks... definitely worth spending a few days here before or after your ski holiday."
Attractions
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:
Get active
- Stanley Park is made up of 1,000 acres of lush forest, open parks, biking and walking trails, beautiful beaches and cultural landmarks. Vancouver’s famous Seawall, a 10 km paved path that loops around the park, is a popular and scenic walking or cycling route. This is our favourite spot at Christmas when the park is lit up with twinkling lights, and also in spring when the whole park is in bloom.
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is the best way to experience Vancouver's old-growth temperate rainforest, with a huge suspension bridge spanning the Capilano River. The park’s bridge is also lit up with beautiful lights during Vancouver’s quiet period in January and February. More woodland wonders await with the Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk bridges and platforms, great for the perfect photo!
Shopping
- The best high street shopping is on Robson Street, where you'll find every North American brand you can think of. If you’re shopping till you drop, head to the Pacific Centre shopping mall and the famous Nordstrom department store.
- Granville Island is a great spot for market shopping. There’s a huge indoor food market, lots of craft shops and Sandbar, a good seafood restaurant. The best way to get there is by catching the Aquabus across False Creek from Hornby Street.
- Food, beer or wine tours are a great way to explore the cultural heart of a city quickly. Not only will you try out some delicious produce, but you’ll also learn all the best food spots from local tour guides.
Sports and music
- The Rogers Arena is the home of the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team, Vancouver Warriors lacrosse team, and it regularly hosts huge international musicians and comedians.
- If you’re a football fan, BC Place Stadium is the home of Vancouver’s Whitecaps FC.
- Vancouver has a thriving live music and comedy scene, so make sure you take a look at what's on well before you visit.
Sightseeing
- FlyOver Canada is a family-friendly flight simulator with wind, scents and mist. Footage has been filmed and produced by the incredible Sherpa Cinemas, responsible for some of the best ski and snowboarding movies ever made.
- Jump on the sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off bus, which runs throughout the city.
- Book a seaplane sightseeing trip for a fantastic aerial view of Vancouver and the surrounding mountains.
- Vancouver's Science Museum is great on a rainy day, as is Vancouver Aquarium.
Our prices
Every holiday is tailor-made, just for you.
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 save you time and get the most for your money.
We sift through the prices and promotions for every airline, hotel and resort, exploring all options. We don’t publish all our prices online. Instead, we give personal quotations within 1-2 days of receiving your request.
