british columbia tourist office

British Columbia Tourism Information

Why visit british columbia.

British Columbia is the most-visited part of Canada, and tourism is the province’s second-biggest industry. Home to the country’s most ample concentration of stereotypical Canadian natural beauty as well as the thoroughly modern oceanside city of Vancouver , British Columbia has long been one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading vacation destinations.

Orientation

The vast majority of British Columbia’s most popular tourist destinations are found in or around the city of  Vancouver , which is located on a peninsula in the province’s southwestern corner, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean . From there, the cities of  Victoria and Whistler  are relatively easy to visit and leave within the same day. The rest of British Columbia, often called the interior , is largely rural, and is visited mostly by tourists interested in camping or other outdoor activities.

A view of Granville Island and False Creek. James Chen/Shutterstock

Downtown Vancouver’s most iconic tourist area is Historic Gastown , a street of modern shops and restaurants in a neighborhood that has been partially preserved and partially recreated to resemble a typical street from the late-19th century, when Vancouver was founded. The most iconic sight is the Gastown Clock , a large faux-Victorian timepiece that noisily vents bursts of steam every 15 minutes.

Vancouver Tourism

Vancouver is located on the tip of a peninsula that is fairly small geographically, but quite dense with buildings and people. The False Creek inlet and a couple of bridges separate the northern downtown core from the more residential south. The Lion’s Gate Bridge is attached to the peninsula’s north, and leads to North Vancouver , which is a completely separate city associated mostly with higher-end real estate and the waterfront  Lonsdale Quay Market .

Famed Vancouver landmarks include B.C. Place , a sports arena with a state-of-the-art retractable roof, the Vancouver Public Library , which was designed to resemble Rome’s famous coliseum, Canada Place , a convention centre and cruise ship port topped with a distinctive white sail roof, and the Harbour Centre building, which is one of those very tall buildings many large cities seem to have offering amazing panoramic views and a revolving restaurant at the top. There are a couple visible remnants of Vancouver’s stint hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics , most notably the giant snowflake-like Olympic Cauldron .

Stanley Park is one of the world’s biggest parks and is located on a peninsula on the edge of downtown. It’s home to a collection of totem poles and the large and modern Vancouver Aquarium . Circling the park’s perimeter on a route known as the Seawall is popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists.

A free downtown shuttle brings visitors to the expensive Capilano Suspension Bridge Park , a popular tourist attraction that centres around a 450-foot suspension bridge over the Capilano River as well as a newer glass bridge “cliffwalk” and other forest-themed attractions.

• Official Website, Tourism Vancouver
• The Top 10 Things to Do in Vancouver, TripAdvisor
• 10 Top Tourist Attractions in Vancouver, Touropia

Robson Street remains Vancouver’s most fashionable shopping area, though two enormous — and very pricy — department stores, Nordstrom and Holt Renfrew , offer strong competition. The two are conjoined by a small mall known as Pacific Center . The small and pretty marina-adjacent Granville Island Public Market is home to a lively marketplace of fresh fish, produce, baked goods, and candy, as well as some artisanal shops.

A half-hour drive from Vancouver brings you to Metropolis at Metrotown , the largest mall in British Columbia.

Granville Street is the city’s main bar and club district and contains Vancouver’s most popular live music venues. The area in and around the historic Gastown district (see above) is also home to several bars and clubs and becomes a hub of activity after dark. Davie Street is the gay area.

Aboriginal Art

Raven and First Man (1980), the masterpiece sculpture of Bill Reid (1920-1998), Canada's most famous aboriginal sculptor, on display at the Museum of Anthropology .

Museums and Galleries

The Vancouver Art Gallery sits in a refurbished downtown courthouse and is devoted primarily to traveling exhibits from around the world. It’s best known for containing a permanent collection of paintings by Emily Carr (1871-1945), British Columbia’s most famous landscape artist.

A half-hour drive outside the downtown core located on the sprawling, wooded campus of the University of British Columbia , the Museum of Anthropology is the city’s most famous museum, best known for its extensive collection of art and sculptures by the aboriginal peoples of North America’s west coast.

Telus World of Science is an iconic ball-shaped structure housing a mostly child-centric interactive museum of science, as well as an IMAX theatre.

Victoria's Inner Harbour with the B.C. Legislature looming in the background. GTS Productions/Shutterstock

Haida Gwaii 's moist and erratic island climate often features winters that are warmer than than summer.

B.C. Tourism Outside Vancouver

The city of Victoria is located on the confusingly-named Vancouver Island , which is actually nowhere near Vancouver proper (leading many tourists to call it “Victoria Island” instead). Only accessible as a day trip, getting there from downtown requires a long drive and ferry ride to reach the Island, followed by another long drive from the Island’s harbour to Victoria itself. The city has plenty of distinctive 19th century architecture, particularly the grand Empress Hotel and British Columbia Parliament Buildings . The Royal B.C. Museum is considered the province’s best. A half-hour drive north of Victoria are the Butchart Gardens , an enormous flower garden located in an abandoned quarry pit.

The west coast of the Island contains smaller communities known for natural beauty, beaches, and a laid-back way of life. The small coastal city of  Tofino is the most popular hotspot, and is a much-loved destination for surfers.

The Haidi Gwaii islands are located about 300 kilometres north of Vancouver Island, close to the Alaska Panhandle. Extremely remote, the “Galapagos of the North” can only be accessed by several hours of plane or ferry travel, but are home to more exotic nature, wildlife, and aboriginal ruins than anywhere else in the province.

• The Top 10 Things to do on Vancouver Island, TripAdvisor

B.C. Mountains

B.C. is known primarily to tourists for its mountains, though different ones offer different appeals. The province’s preeminent ski resort is based around the twin peaks of Whistler Blackcomb , with top-end hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife, shopping, and — of course — some of the world’s best slopes. During the winter months it becomes a boisterous hive of young tourists from all over the world.

Cypress Mountain is a smaller resort located closer to Vancouver, and is a more family-friendly destination lacking the Whistler party scene. Grouse Mountain is even smaller, and is a particularly popular destination during the non-winter months thanks to various summer attractions, including ziplines and lumberjack competitions, and is popular with hikers who enjoy attempting the gruelling “ Grouse Grind .”

Resort hotels in Whistler Village. spa/Shutterstock

British columbia tourism resources.

• Official British Columbia Tourism Website
• British Columbia, Lonely Planet
• British Columbia Travel Guide, Fodor's

The Stanley Park Seawall is an iconic nine kilometre pathway running along the coastal perimeter of Vancouver's Stanley Park. A beautiful paved trail beloved by cyclists, joggers, or just those out for a leisurely stroll by the oceanside.

Granville Island , one of Vancouver's most iconic shopping areas, home to a wide variety of fresh and specialty foods, as well as souvenirs galore.

The iconic gondola bringing visitors to the peak of Grouse Mountain .

The beaches of Tofino , a mecca of surfing on Vancouver Island .

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Tourists and Visas

Visiting British Columbia as a tourist is a great way to get to know us, especially if you are thinking of moving here. British Columbia is a large and diverse province with many things to see and do, so take the time to plan your stay as best you can.

• Find out if you need a visa .
• Visit HelloBC , B.C.'s official tourism website.
• Explore trip ideas and plan a B.C. adventure.
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B.C.'s official travel and tourism site offers guides and tools to help you #ExploreBC.

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Access funding and supports to help you grow your tourism business in B.C.

Find information in multiple languages about services that you will need to access when you first move to the province.

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This multi-language information page is designed with newcomers in mind, aiming to provide essential resources and support in more languages. You will find information about services that you will need to access when you first move to the province such as health care, driving and taxes.

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The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

Visitor Centre

Let our knowledgeable and friendly Visitor Centre team assist with your planning a memorable visit to Greater Victoria!

The Visitor Centre is proudly Biosphere Committed, discover how to explore Greater Victoria sustainably with responsible travel recommendations from our team.

Visitor Centre Hours of Operation

Monday – Sunday: 9:00AM – 3:30PM

Please contact or visit us to:

• Purchase tickets
• Make reservations
• Arrange transportation
• Book accommodation
• Get local advice and information

As Victoria’s official visitor resource, our friendly, knowledgeable staff will answer your questions and more. Drop in for free brochures and maps, to book hotels and tickets locally and to make reservations for tours and transportation. We’ll also share great insider tips to make your stay even more enjoyable.

Email: [email protected]

812 Wharf Street Victoria, B.C.   V8W 1T3 Canada

Cruise Ship Terminal

Pier B, 185 Dallas Road Victoria, B.C.    V8V 1A1 Canada

Destination Greater Victoria and the Visitor Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by Destination British Columbia , the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich . Their ongoing support helps us provide information to visitors and locals alike.

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Victoria Visitor Centre

812 Wharf Street Victoria, B.C.

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About Destination BC

Boer Mountain trails | Dave Silver

Destination British Columbia  (Destination BC) is a Provincially funded, industry-led Crown corporation that supports a strong and competitive future for BC’s tourism industry through a combination of global marketing, destination development, industry learning, cooperative community-based programs, and visitor servicing. Destination BC’s programs help to improve the visitor experience, support businesses and communities across the province, and strengthen BC’s worldwide reputation as a destination of choice.

Our Winning Aspiration

Grow sustainable social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits for all people in British Columbia by sharing the transformative power of BC nature and experiences with the world.

Naikoon Provincial Park | Grant Harder

Our Mandate

• We have a mandate to fulfil several key marketing and leadership responsibilities critical to the long-term, sustainable growth of BC’s tourism industry. Market British Columbia domestically, nationally and internationally as a tourist destination;
• Providing support for regional, sectoral and community tourism marketing;
• Providing industry leadership in tourism marketing;
• Promoting training and development in relation to tourism marketing;
• Providing support for visitor centres; and
• Conducting tourism-related market research;
• Enhance public awareness of tourism and its economic value to British Columbia;
• Provide advice and recommendations on tourism-related matters; and
• Administer and perform agreements assigned to it by the Minister.

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Our  corporate strategy  outlines how we will help BC reach its full potential as a tourism destination, and market the Super, Natural British Columbia® brand to the world.

Our strategic goals:

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We are accountable to the taxpayers of British Columbia through the  Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport . We follow the policies and directives of the Provincial Government’s Taxpayer Accountability Principles .

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