Vancouver Travel Tips: What NOT to Do on Your First Trip
You’d think growing up in BC would mean I know what I’m doing in Vancouver. Ha, funny.
I grew up in the Okanagan, about four hours away, so Vancouver has never exactly felt far away. I visited a few times growing up and have been back a handful of times as an adult, but apparently proximity does not equal knowing what you’re doing.
I’ve definitely made some mistakes along the way, and there are a few things about visiting Vancouver that I wish I’d figured out sooner. It’s an easy city to love, even if the hotel prices make me question all of my financial decisions 😫
Vancouver Travel Tips & Mistakes to Avoid
So, rather than pretending I’m a Vancouver expert (I’m not!), these are the things I’ve learned from my own trips, plus a few tips I think are genuinely worth knowing before your first visit.
1. Relying on an Umbrella
Yes, it rains a lot in Vancouver. Shocking info, I know.
But, what might surprise you, is that Vancouver also gets plenty of days where it doesn’t really rain rain. It just drizzles and everything ends up damp anyway.
That’s why I’d worry less about packing an umbrella and more about having a good waterproof jacket and shoes that can handle getting wet. An umbrella can definitely be handy when it’s pouring, but it’s not something I’d want to carry around all day just in case. After all, wet feet will ruin your day approximately 700x faster than wet hair.
So yes, bring an umbrella if you want one. I’m not the umbrella police. But especially between fall and spring, I’d worry a lot more about keeping yourself warm and dry than squeezing an umbrella into your suitcase. You’re probably going to get a little wet anyway. Welcome to Vancouver!
2. Trying to Day Trip to Vancouver Island
Okay, I never fell for this one, but I know it gets some people. Vancouver Island looks SO close to Vancouver on a map. You can practically see it! Surely you can just pop over to Victoria for the afternoon? Absolutely not.
First, you have to get from Vancouver to the ferry terminal in Tsawwassen. Then you need to arrive early because this is a ferry, not a city bus you can casually wander onto. The crossing itself takes about 90 minutes, and once you get to Swartz Bay, you’re still nowhere near downtown Victoria.
And BC Ferries can be a nightmare.
I haven’t personally had a BC Ferries disaster (yet), but I have plenty of friends who have had their plans completely screwed up by a cancelled or missed sailing. If you’re bringing a vehicle, I’d make a reservation. I certainly wouldn’t want my entire day depending on just showing up and hoping there’s room.
Now listen, I love the island. It’s gorgeous. And that’s why I will always tell you that Vancouver Island deserves its own trip. At the very least, give yourself a couple of nights. Better yet, give yourself a week and actually explore beyond Victoria. Some of my favourite BC adventures are over there, including camping right on Mystic Beach and surfing in Tofino.
Could you technically visit Vancouver Island in a day? Sure. But you could also spend most of your vacation sitting in ferry terminals and see nothing.
3. Renting a Car to Explore Downtown Vancouver
Since I live in the Okanagan, I usually drive to Vancouver and, naturally, thought having the car downtown would be handy. Turns out, I don’t particularly enjoy driving in downtown Vancouver.
Parking downtown is expensive and can be a pain to find. And really, Vancouver is so walkable that bringing the car often feels like more trouble than it’s worth.
If you are driving into Vancouver, I’d make parking part of your hotel search from the beginning. Look for a hotel with parking and check how much it costs before you book because downtown parking can add a surprising amount to your stay. Once you’re there, you can leave the car behind whenever it makes sense.
If I were flying into Vancouver, though, I personally wouldn’t rent a car just to explore downtown. I’ve found the SkyTrain pretty easy to figure out, and between that and walking, you can get around without dealing with a car.
Save the parking money for something more exciting. Like Vancouver’s equally offensive cocktail prices.
4. Thinking Chinatown is the Only Spot for Great Asian Food
Growing up, I always thought Vancouver’s Chinatown was thee place to go for Chinese food. And to be fair, there are still some fantastic restaurants there, so I’m definitely not telling you to skip it.
What I didn’t realize until much later is how big the Asian food scene is outside of Chinatown, especially in Richmond. I haven’t actually made it out there myself yet (I know, I know), so I’m not about to start recommending specific restaurants I’ve never eaten at. But it’s VERY high on my list for my next Vancouver trip.
If you want to explore it yourself, the Golden Village is easy to reach from downtown on the SkyTrain. Aberdeen Station puts you right in the middle of an area packed with places to eat.
There’s also the Richmond Night Market in the summer, which I somehow haven’t made it to yet either.
So, learn from my mistake: don’t assume Chinatown is the only place to look for great Asian food in Vancouver. I did for YEARS, and apparently I’ve got some eating to catch up on.
5. Underestimating Vancouver’s “Easy” Hikes
I will never understand how many people show up to hikes in flip-flops. I see it in the Okanagan too, so Vancouver definitely doesn’t get all the blame here, but COME ON.
Just because a trail is short or close to the city doesn’t mean you’re walking on a nice little gravel path. Around Vancouver, you can go from an easy forest walk to picking your way over wet roots and rocks pretty quickly. Add a little rain (because Vancouver), and those roots get super slippery.
I’ve even seen people heading up the Grouse Grind in jeans and completely inappropriate shoes. To be fair, it’s one of Vancouver’s most popular hikes, so I think a lot of visitors genuinely don’t realize how hard it is until they’re already on it. It’s basically a giant outdoor StairMaster and it’s brutal.
You don’t need fancy hiking gear for every trail, but definitely look up what you’re getting yourself into before you leave. A decent pair of shoes will make your life a whole lot easier, especially if it’s been raining.
Oh, and bring water. I don’t care how short AllTrails says it is.
6. Thinking You Have to Dress Up (You Don’t)
For some reason, I used to think a trip to Vancouver meant I needed to dress nicer than I normally would. I’d throw a couple of dresses or nicer shoes into my suitcase thinking maybe we’ll go somewhere fancy. You know, the same clothes I bring on every trip and then proceed to completely ignore.
Most of it never left my suitcase. To be fair, that stuff isn’t really my style anyway, but I also didn’t realize just how casual Vancouver is. You’ll see people wearing Gore-Tex to brunch and yoga pants pretty much everywhere, which works GREAT for me.
Now I mostly pack based on how much walking we’re going to do and how likely it is to rain (very). I’d much rather have comfortable, waterproof shoes than cute boots I’m going to regret three hours into the day.
Obviously, bring something nice if you actually have somewhere fancy planned. Otherwise, leave the “maybe I’ll wear this” outfits at home. I promise you will not suddenly become a different person on vacation and start wearing them.
7. Only Visiting the Big Vancouver Attractions
When I’ve visited Vancouver, I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of trying to check off all the big attractions. Stanley Park. Capilano Suspension Bridge. Granville Island. Gastown. You know the ones.
And there’s nothing wrong with that! I loved seeing them and they’re popular for a reason. But I also think it’s worth leaving some room in your Vancouver itinerary to just… see where you end up.
It’s one of my favourite ways to explore any city, especially when we’re travelling in Europe. We’ll usually just start walking and see where the day takes us, popping into places that catch our attention along the way. Sometimes nothing particularly exciting comes of it, but other times those completely unplanned days end up being the ones I remember most.
So yes, read the travel blogs and save the reels (please, I have bills 😂), but don’t feel like you have to follow every “must-visit” recommendation you find. Leave yourself a little time to wander too.
8. Forgetting About Tipping & Sales Tax
If you’re visiting Vancouver from somewhere that includes tax in the listed price, welcome to one of my least favourite things about shopping in Canada: the price you see is probably not the price you’ll pay.
Restaurants are where you’ll probably notice it most. Your meal will have 5% GST added to the bill, and if you order alcohol, there are additional taxes on that too. Then comes the tip.
At a sit-down restaurant, 15–20% is pretty normal, with 18% becoming a common middle ground. You might tip more for fantastic service, but you definitely don’t need to. For counter service or grabbing a coffee, tipping is much more optional, even though the machine will probably still ask (and sometimes suggest something wild like 25%).
And Vancouver is already expensive enough before you start adding all of that.
If you’re coming from the US, none of this will be particularly shocking. But if you’re visiting from somewhere where the number printed on the menu is actually what you pay, prepare yourself.
One difference worth knowing if you’re coming from the US is that BC doesn’t have a separate lower minimum wage for servers. Restaurant staff are covered by the same general minimum wage as other workers, which is $18.25/hour as of June 2026. Tipping is still very much the norm for table service, but the wage system here works a little differently than you might be used to.
9. Skipping the Cultural Side of Vancouver
It’s very easy to look at Vancouver and focus on the pretty stuff. Mountains behind the skyline, beaches, Stanley Park… I get it. Half the reason I love visiting is because Vancouver is ridiculously beautiful.
But there’s a lot more to the city than the views.
One thing I think is especially important for visitors to know is that Vancouver sits on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Indigenous history here isn’t just something from the past, either. These Nations are very much part of Vancouver today.
If you want to learn more while you’re there, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is somewhere I’d look at adding to your trip. There’s also the Bill Reid Gallery downtown, which focuses on contemporary Indigenous Northwest Coast art.
You don’t have to turn your trip to Vancouver into a history lesson, but I do think knowing a little about the place you’re visiting makes travelling a whole lot more interesting.
10. Trying to Do Everything in One Trip
I’m very guilty of trying to cram too much into a trip. If I’m going somewhere, I want to see everything, do everything, eat everything, and still have time to relax. Obviously, that doesn’t work.
Vancouver is especially tempting because so much looks close together on a map. But then you actually start exploring and realize that getting around takes time and maybe you don’t want every day of your vacation scheduled down to the minute.
You also don’t need to see everything on your first trip. Leave some breathing room in your plans so you can spend longer somewhere you’re enjoying without worrying about what you’re “supposed” to be doing next.
Besides, anything you miss is just an excuse to come back.
Where to Stay in Vancouver
Where you stay can make a big difference in Vancouver, especially if you don’t have a car. I haven’t personally stayed in enough Vancouver hotels to pretend I have a secret favourite, but for a first trip, I’d focus more on choosing the right area than finding the coolest hotel.
Downtown & the West End
For a first visit, I’d start here. You’ll be within walking distance of a huge amount of the city, and it’s easy to hop on transit when you want to go farther. Downtown puts you right in the middle of everything, while the West End gets you closer to Stanley Park and English Bay and feels a little more residential.
Yaletown & Coal Harbour
If your hotel budget has a little more wiggle room, both are worth looking at. Yaletown puts you near False Creek with plenty happening nearby, while Coal Harbour is closer to Stanley Park and the waterfront.
Coal Harbour is also convenient if you’re staying in Vancouver before or after an Alaska cruise, since Canada Place is nearby.
What About Gastown & Chinatown?
Both are popular places to visit, but I’d do a little more research before automatically booking the cheapest hotel you find around here.
They’re close to the Downtown Eastside, where homelessness and the toxic-drug crisis are very visible. That can be difficult if you’re not expecting it, particularly around parts of East Hastings.
That doesn’t mean you need to avoid Gastown or Chinatown. I’d just look closely at the exact location of your hotel and read recent reviews before booking.
And honestly, that’s good advice anywhere in Vancouver. Hotel prices can be wild, so when you suddenly find something suspiciously cheap, there might be a reason.
Now Go Enjoy Vancouver!
I always leave Vancouver wishing I had more time. There’s so much to do, but hopefully these tips help you avoid a few mistakes and make planning your first trip a little easier.
And really, you don’t have to get everything right. Bring decent shoes, expect a little rain, leave yourself some room to wander, and enjoy being in one of the prettiest cities in Canada.
Have fun, eat something delicious, and please don’t attempt the Grouse Grind in flip-flops.
