Explore: The sophisticated Vancouver

Whether you are looking for outdoor adventure or sophisticated urban lifestyle, you’ll find it in Vancouver.

Having earned itself a range of titles including 'the world’s third most liveable city’ and the ‘tenth cleanest city in the world’, it’s no wonder the city’s population is expanding.

With coastal mountains and an oceanside location, Vancouver has attracted a young and vibrant population who go there in search of fun and adventure.

Eat & drink

Vancouver has more restaurants per capita than any other Canadian city, so plenty of choice for the picky eater.

Yaletown, situated in the south-east area of Vancouver’s downtown, is home to some of the city’s best eateries and pubs.

Popular chain, Hapa Izakaya offers a range of small sharing dishes including speciality poutine (a favourite with Canadians) and great tasting sushi, like the California Roll (actually invented in Vancouver!)

Gastown is the city’s oldest neighbourhood and a popular area with tourists for its contemporary boutiques and range of restaurants and bars. It’s also home to the famous steam powered-clock.

If you’re looking for a great place for drinks, The Flying Pig offer classic cocktails including their signature bacon bourbon caesar – an excellent cure for hangovers!

See & do

Snow-covered mountains tower over the city’s oceanside location with rainfall providing perfect skiing weather.

Breathtaking views, a lumberjack show and the chance to see grizzly bears in their natural habitat are your prize for climbing the famously tough Grouse Grind. But if your fitness isn’t what it used to be, you can travel by sky ride gondola to the top of the mountain.

Vancouver’s western location means the city has an overall temperate climate, and its residents experience beautiful weather for a large proportion of the year. Its scenic landscapes can be seen from various locations across the city, and one of the best is Deep Cove.

If you’d rather stay on the ground, Vancouver has plenty of green spaces for you to sit and enjoy its surroundings.

Stanley Park covers a huge 1001 acres (an area 10% larger than Central Park). Its surrounding seawall is the perfect location for a waterside stroll and also offers a cycle lane if you’d prefer to bike. It’s nine totem poles are one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city and offer a detailed look into Vancouver’s history.

Stanley Park is also home to the city’s Aquarium. Rated fifth in the world, it prides itself on supporting the conservation of aquatic life and protecting the wellbeing of its animals. The aquarium has plenty to see, including daily shows with beluga whales and dolphins.

Trendy Kitsilano boasts one of the city’s best beaches and is a popular spot for water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking. It’s a great place to stay if you plan to visit during the summer.

Originally written for tmrw magazine