An adult and two children kneel and stand on a wooden path by a pond in a forest, watching ripples in the water—a tranquil scene straight out of a Vancouver travel guide, with sunlight filtering through the lush greenery.

Vancouver Travel Guide

Travel like a local

AI-POWERED CONCIERGE

Enjoy the city

with ease

From weather to timezones to tipping culture, we’ll let you in on all of Vancouver’s intricacies so you’re ready for your best trip yet.

A smiling family of four walks outside on a sunny day in Vancouver, enjoying ice cream cones together. The parents and two children appear happy in casual clothes—an ideal moment from a Vancouver travel guide, with trees and buildings in the background.
Four people in winter clothing stand on a snowy mountain slope, overlooking a scenic view of mountains, forest, and a lake under a bright, partly cloudy sky—a perfect scene for any Vancouver travel guide.

When to visit and what to pack

​​Learn about weather and climate

Time zones

Like the American West Coast, Vancouver is 8 hours behind GMT, on Pacific Time (PT). Daylight savings is observed here, meaning our clocks move forward one hour every March, and one hour backward every October.

White text on a teal background reads GMT -8 hours Time zone, with a faint clock graphic in the background—perfect detail for your Vancouver travel guide.

Currency

The Canadian Dollar (CAD) is used in Vancouver. Though most places take Visa, Mastercard, and other major cards, it’s still handy to carry some cash. Withdraw cash from the many ATMs around the city, or exchange cash at a local currency exchange mart.

Green background with a large, faint dollar sign. Bold white text in the center reads CAD ($), and below it, smaller text says Currency—perfect for your Vancouver travel guide planning.

Tipping

Don’t forget to tip! While it’s not mandatory, tipping is customary here. While visiting restaurants, bars, salons or receiving other services, it’s common for guests to tip 12-18% as a token of gratitude.

Orange background with bold white text in the center reading 12–18%, and smaller text below saying Tipping. Abstract circular shapes are faintly visible—perfect for highlighting tipping info in a Vancouver travel guide.
A floatplane rests on calm water at sunset, with colorful clouds and a vibrant sky reflecting on the surface—a scene straight from a Vancouver travel guide. Distant boats and a shoreline are visible in the background.

Visa and border information

To enter Canada, international visitors need a valid passport and the appropriate visas. U.S citizens and permanent residents with a NEXUS or FAST membership can simply flash their pass as proof of citizenship if arriving via a land or marine border.   

Learn about getting here
Languages

Though English and French are Vancouver’s official languages, you’ll hear a myriad of tongues engaging in lively dialog. With an immigrant population of more than 40%, keep your ears open for Mandarine, Cantonese, Punjabi, German, Korean, Farsi, and more on the streets of Vancouver.

Workdays, store hours, holidays

Vancouverites work Mon-Fri from 9am-5pm, similar to much of North America. You’ll find most public and private services open during this time. Bars, restaurants, and select retail stores will usually open later into the evening. On public holidays, these hours may be affected.

​Alcohol regulations

BC’s legal drinking age is 19, with most establishments asking for two pieces of government ID. Though public alcohol consumption is prohibited, you can still enjoy a few drinks in designated public parks from 11am to 10pm. Many restaurants also offer BYOB with a corkage fee.

Additional tips

Want more quick travel tips to make your Vancouver trip a breeze? Check out more tips from the locals themselves.

An aerial view of a garden at night, illuminated with colorful holiday lights outlining trees, pathways, and structures, with crowds of people enjoying the festive display—a must-see highlight in any Vancouver travel guide.

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