Holiday rentals in Vancouver

Vancouver, located in the southwest of British Columbia, is a port city of high apartment towers and glorious views of the Strait of Georgia, easy access to mountains, and some of the best restaurants in Canada. From Gastown’s thriving design shops and fashion boutiques to the hubbub of the Granville Island Public Market, from the breweries of South Main to the chic sidewalk cafes of Yaletown, Vancouver’s neighborhoods thrum with life. The metropolitan area is also one of the country’s most linguistically diverse areas, and Vancouver’s historic Chinatown — one of North America’s largest — is now almost a satellite to the suburb of Richmond, where you’ll eat some of the best dim sum outside of Hong Kong and where hot pot restaurants engage in ferocious competition for your loyalty.

The city’s cultural offerings include renowned museums like Science World, the Museum of Anthropology, and Vancouver Art Gallery, while green spaces abound — even downtown — and paddling around the harbour is a peaceful way to start or end the day. Take a ferry across the strait to visit Vancouver Island, a major draw for wildlife lovers seeking a not-so-close encounter with black bears, humpback whales, and sea lions.

Vancouver’s mild, oceanic climate may make it one of the warmest cities in Canada, but the winters here are far from balmy. From autumn through late spring, expect grey skies and rain — mostly drizzle, but sometimes full-on downpours, especially from November through January. If you’re planning to leave the city for the mountains in December or January, pack a warm coat, gloves, and boots, because all that precipitation at sea level means snow at higher altitudes. This is music to the ears of winter sports fanatics, and a wealth of opportunities to ski, snowboard, and skate are under an hour away. By contrast, July and August tend to be the driest and warmest months of the year, making them particularly appealing for boat trips, bike rides, and long walks around the city, as well as for soaking up the atmosphere at music festivals and outdoor arts events.

Stanley Park

An expanse of green that covers a peninsula just west of downtown, Stanley Park’s 1,000 acres of beaches, botanical gardens, and public open spaces make it the epitome of a natural theme park. Rent a bike and feel the wind rushing past your ears as you circle the waterfront or pass through verdant stretches of ferns and ancient cedars. You may even catch sight of a beaver or bald eagle along the way.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

At this park 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, seven pedestrian bridges allow you to wander through the treetops. The vertiginous cliffwalk may not be for the faint-hearted, but the bird’s-eye view from most walks (hello, selfies!) is worth the trip. The on-site Story Centre traces the history of the area, and guided walks can bring you through the surrounding forest.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden

This classical Chinese garden, located at the intersection of Carrall and Keefer streets, helps mark the cultural and historical importance of Vancouver’s Chinatown. The garden, which is open Wednesdays to Sundays, is named for the philosopher and politician whose mission was to create understanding between China and the rest of the world. In the gift store, you can peruse handcrafted ceramics and woven textiles.