6 Reasons to visit Vancouver on your next trip

I was never one of those people who dreamed of visiting Canada. I wanted to, of course, but it wasn't a priority.

In 2014, my family and I took a trip that passed through Toronto, extended across the United States and ended up spending two months in Vancouver.

I confess that the first city didn't really enchant me, but it may have been unlucky to have 5 cold and rainy days in the middle of summer. I've only heard wonderful things from the people who lived there, there's even a post here for the Living Outside tag.

Yes, Vancouver managed to get into my top 2 of places to visit again, second only to Sydney. The city is amazing, super friendly with tourists, beautiful and full of things to do.

As I see that it is not a priority for many people when putting together an itinerary, I decided to tell you the 6 reasons why I think you should visit Vancouver on your next trip. Just look:

6 Reasons to visit Vancouver

1. The weather is pleasant

Contrary to popular wisdom, in Canada it's not always cold! Temperatures on the west coast reach 25ºC in summer, the ideal temperature for enjoying a beach or enjoying the parks.

I recommend the Second and Third Beach, which are close to Stanley Park. They are beautiful and sandy, similar to Brazilian beaches. I also visited Kitsilano Beach, but I wasn't impressed by the amount of pebbles there were near the water. I don't imagine it would be comfortable to walk around barefoot.

The city has a total of nine beaches, as well as several public swimming pools for those who don't enjoy salt water. When I saw the Second Beach Pool I was super excited, but I was unlucky as it closed for the winter season two days before my visit. You must register on the city's website to get a spot in the pool.

January is the coldest time in the city, and temperatures usually vary between 0 and 5ºC, with negative minimums being rare.

2. People are very polite

You know when you have an idea of ​​a country, you get there and you're disappointed? Canadian education is the opposite, you know it exists, but you are impressed when you see it in action.

I can't think of a time when I felt uncomfortable in Vancouver or when someone wasn't nice. Everyone we spoke to, from residents to service providers, was very friendly, answered all our questions and talked as if they were our friends.

We visited several places that belonged to people from other cultures, and it seems that they also embraced the country's ways, as until our time we were treated very well.

I particularly remember when I went to the Katy Perry show, which should have ended around 22pm and only ended at midnight. I returned alone, by subway and walked alone for about 15 minutes through the center until I arrived at our apartment. As a good Brazilian, I was apprehensive, but I saw several women walking alone in the surrounding area, some even using headphones without paying attention to the path.

Vancouver has a problem with the number of homeless people, since it is an expensive city to live in, but it is nothing on the level of Los Angeles. Either way, it's always good to pay attention.

3. Cultural plurality

It's funny, but I can't think of the characteristics of a person from Vancouver. This because the city is full of immigrants and descendants, and you come into contact with different cultures throughout the day.

I didn't think it was such a big shock as I had already visited Sydney, but my parents were quite impressed by the size of the Asian community. The apartment we stayed in was in Downtown, and around us there were countless Korean BBQ restaurants, typical Eastern dishes and even Asian cosmetics stores.

The city has the second largest “Chinatown” neighborhood in North America, second only to San Francisco. Little Italy, Little India, Greektown and Japantown are also present, and signs translated into several languages ​​can be found along the streets.

If you've never been to a place with people from different backgrounds, you'll be enchanted by the different cultures when you visit Vancouver.

4. The currency is cheaper

Let's go to the part that weighs on your pocket! With the appreciation of the dollar, going to the United States has become much more expensive in the last two years, with the American currency reaching a value of almost R$4.

However, the same did not happen with Canada, and the current conversion is R$2,44 for each Canadian dollar. 

If you've ever shopped in the US, you've probably noticed that labels usually have two values, one in US$ and one in C$. In 2014, doing the math, the price ended up being almost the same after the conversion.

Currently, with each American dollar worth R$3,22, shopping is more worthwhile in Canada. A Naked palette, Urban Decay's flagship, costs US$55 + taxes in the United States, approximately R$185 with iof. The same, in Canadian lands, is sold for C$66, around R$165.

The Canadian Tips website has a post showing the best outlets in Vancouver.

November/2016 conversions.

Don't know how to start planning to visit Vancouver? Take a look at my post with tips for preparing for an international trip!

5. There are a lot of things to do

Of the 2 months I spent there, I think I can count on one hand the number of times we repeated a program. This is one of the great advantages of visiting Vancouver, one of the largest cities in Canada.

My favorite, without a doubt, is Granville Island Public Market. It's a market full of handmade products, artisanal foods, vegetables, fruits, seafood and wonderful sweets. Furthermore, at the back there are several restaurants and tables for people to enjoy the sun and music at lunch. The view is incredible and adds something extra to the moment.

For those who like parks, the Stanley Park It is a mandatory stop, with its 405 hectares and almost 30 kilometers of trails, making it the third largest park in North America. On sunny and hot days, it is one of the locals' favorite places, and many people go there to ride their bikes, eat ice cream, walk and enjoy the nearby beaches.

O Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is also another cool option, with a 140 meter long suspension bridge and a frightening 70 meter high over a river. Tickets cost around C$40.

Coal Harbour, Canada Place, Burrard St., Robson St. and Gastown are other cool parts to explore in the city.

You might also like: 10 Free Tours to Take in Los Angeles.

6. It's easy to get around

I visited the city in 2014, and at that time Uber had just started to be successful in the United States and wasn't even planned for Brazil.

We didn't rent a car at any time, and if we took a taxi it was out of tiredness, not out of necessity.

The city is super easy to get around, and there are both buses and SkyTrain to most places. The curious thing about this last one is that there are no turnstiles, the government says you will have a valid ticket and does not check entry. They randomly pass by some trains checking everyone's ticket, so don't try to do the Brazilian way, please! There are three lines, and depending on your final destination your ticket will be more expensive.

Large pharmacies, such as London Drugs, or convenience stores, such as 7/11, sell FareSaver bus pass cards, which are cheaper than buying each ticket individually. If you're going to be in the city for many days, it's worth buying some.

Information about bus lines and prices can be found on the bus website. Translink.

Convinced to visit Vancouver? So take a look at these resources to plan your trip:

• Everything about Vancouver from the website Tips from Canada;
• Lonely Planet's Canada Travel Guide, with tear-off map of Vancouver;
• Series of posts about Vancouver Travel on the Trip;
• Vancouver Travel Guide by Lonely Planet (in English, used to plan our trip!)
• Publifolha Visual Guide to Canada;

Now, those who have already visited, tell me... Is it one of the best cities in the world or not? <3