Virgin Voyages' guide to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Step ashore, and Vancouver is already buzzing. Coffee roasters hum. Cyclists glide along the waterfront. Seaplanes lift toward coastal towns. The air carries that Pacific blend of sea salt and cedar — crisp, clean, and just a little wild. Follow the harbor, and you’ll see Stanley Park, the city’s thousand-acre green giant. Cedars lean toward the shoreline while the seawall traces the Pacific’s edge. Walk it. Bike it. Pause often. Vancouver rewards a curious compass.

Beyond downtown, the wilderness wastes no time making an entrance. Canyon bridges sway above rushing rivers. Forest trails wind beneath towering evergreens. Mountain roads climb toward views that seem to stretch forever. As you explore, remember you are visiting the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, whose connection to these lands and waters continues today. We invite you to honor and uncover the history and culture in your travels.

Discover Northwest Coast art at Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery — Indigenous-owned and artist-focused, showcasing museum-quality carvings, jewelry, and works directly from First Nations artists — and at the family-run Lattimer Gallery, where exceptional contemporary Indigenous and Canadian pieces reflect a deep connection to Northwest Coast creators. For something more hands-on, Make Vancouver offers a community-driven space filled with locally made goods, workshops, and artisan-crafted finds worth bringing home. In this spectacular city, every path leads somewhere extraordinary.

The harbor stays busy to the very end. Floatplanes skim the water and lift toward distant coastal towns. Cargo ships drift quietly through Burrard Inlet. Behind it all, the North Shore mountains rise suddenly and confidently — a backdrop so dramatic it almost feels staged.

You start replaying the moments. Standing high above the Capilano River as the suspension bridge sways gently beneath your feet. Mist rising from the thunder of Shannon Falls along the Sea to Sky Highway. Gliding toward Grouse Mountain’s summit with the entire city, sea, and coastline spread below. Of course, Vancouver had other ways of winning you over — one unforgettable bite at a time.

Flame-kissed aburi sushi at Miku — buttery salmon, lightly seared, harbor glimmering beyond the glass. Fresh oysters and cedar-kissed salmon at Cardero’s as boats drift through Coal Harbour. A slow Gastown dinner at Water Street Café — house-made pasta, local clams, warm brick walls, and a glass worth lingering over.

Vancouver revealed itself in layers. City streets gave way to rainforest. Mountain peaks rose just beyond the harbor. Wild landscapes that began where the skyline ends. And as the ship turns west, the rhythm shifts again. The Pacific stretches wide ahead. One spectacular horizon traded for another.