Vancouver, B.C. is picture-book pretty. Glittering glass towers and cobblestone streets; soaring mountains and lush forests; and water everywhere you look. Its unique blend of urban energy and natural serenity makes Vancouver a great weekend destination — and it’s just a three-hour drive from Seattle.

In this five-minute travel guide, we’ll suggest some of the very best things to do, see and eat in Vancouver, B.C. Remember to bring your passport, your hiking boots and your appetite!

3 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for Canada 

Do you need travel insurance for a trip to Canada? Many Americans assume they don’t — especially because Vancouver is so close to the U.S. border. But travel protection is essential. Here’s why.

1. Your regular health insurance may not adequately protect you. Canada has high-quality medical care, but it’s a government-controlled system. This means that “quick and easy access to ongoing medical care is difficult for temporary visitors who are not members of each province’s government-run health care plans,” the U.S. Department of State explains.ⁱ Emergency room waits can be lengthy. And U.S. Medicare does not cover you in Canada, except in very specific situations (e.g. you’re traveling through Canada to reach Alaska).ⁱⁱ For all these reasons, it’s really important to buy travel insurance with emergency medical/dental and emergency medical transportation benefits when you’re visiting Canada.
2. Insurance can help you deal with flight delays. In 2018, more than 17 percent of domestic flights were delayed.ⁱⁱⁱ If your plane to Vancouver experiences a covered delay, travel delay benefits can reimburse you for meals, accommodation and transportation expenses during that covered delay. Or, with travel protection plans that include SmartBenefits^TM, you can choose a fixed payment of $100 for covered travel delays and baggage delays. No receipts required — just proof of delay!
3. Travel insurance can safeguard your vacation expenses. Vancouver isn’t a cheap city to visit, so it’s wise to protect your trip investment with travel insurance that includes trip cancellation benefits. This benefit can reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel the trip for a covered reason.

What’s the best travel insurance for Canada? The OneTrip Basic Plan is an affordable option for domestic travel, with up to $10,000 in trip cancellation benefits. If you travel more than three times per year, an AllTrips annual travel insurance plan might be your best bet. To find the right plan, get a quote!

3 of the Best Things to Do in Vancouver 

1. Wander the streets of Gastown. Back in 1867, a former steamboat captain named “Gassy” Jack Deighton (so-called because he loved to talk) opened a saloon south of Burrard Inlet. Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, Gastown, was named for Deighton.^iv Today, it’s a trendy area known for its boutiques and great restaurants.
2. Bring your market basket to Granville Island. Take the Aquabus ferry to Granville Island, where you’ll find art galleries, restaurants and a bustling market. Local specialties include Dungeness crab, BC spot prawns, and maple-filled chocolates. For a little taste of everything, take a foodie tour.
3. Change your altitude. Vancouver is surrounded by wild areas that offer unforgettable adventures. Dog Mountain is a popular trail that rewards you with a beautiful view of the city. For a more challenging trek, tackle the Lions Binkert Trail, which ascends the twin Lions peaks and overlooks Howe Sound.^v And in winter, there’s skiing galore.

3 Boutique Hotels in Vancouver

The Loden, a 77-room boutique hotel in central Vancouver, is effortlessly elegant and warmly welcoming. All guests get free use of bikes and the fitness studio, plus complimentary car service. Traveling with a four-legged friend? The Loden offers house-made dog treats, dog beds for every size pup, and pet mini-bars.

If you’ve ever dreamed of spending the night in a museum, you need to check in to the Listel Hotel. Its 129 rooms and suites are filled with original artwork: one floor features modern art, one floor is dedicated to regional First Nations art, and on yet another floor, the rooms are set up like miniature galleries. The Listel is also an eco-star, with solar panels and zero-waste practices.

Or, consider Skwachàys Lodge, Canada's first indigenous arts hotel. The 18 suites at Skwachàys (pronounced skwatch-eyes) feature indigenous artwork, and the proceeds from the hotel operations fund 24 artists’ live/work studios on-site.

3 of the Best Places to Eat in Vancouver

Vancouver cuisine is known for Asian influences and the freshest Pacific seafood. So where should you eat? For a lively night out, try Kingyo, a popular izakaya (Japanese-style pub). Try the stone-grilled Kobe beef, the tempura tiger prawns or the salmon sushi, then wash it down with a cold Sapporo.

If you’re yearning for an unforgettable fine dining experience, West Restaurant is acclaimed as one of the absolute best restaurants in Vancouver. West serves creative takes on contemporary Pacific cuisine with ingredients like sablefish, diver-harvested scallops, Alberta beef and foraged mushrooms.

Good cheap eats abound too! Save On Meats might not have the most appetizing name, but this old-school diner (founded in 1957) will charm your socks off. Locals love the boozy milkshakes, burgers, and chicken-and-waffles. Not only that, but Save On Meats has fed more than 2 million people through its token program. Customers can buy a red-and-white token for $2.25 and give it to a person in need to redeem for a sandwich.

Whenever you’re heading north of the border — or anywhere in the world — be sure to protect yourself with travel insurance. See your plan options.

What Do I Need to Travel to Vancouver?

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