This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Vancouver is a backpacker's paradise: large city, small carbon footprint, ocean access, a couple dozen hostels, and plenty of things to do! And there are plenty of Vancouver hostels as well. You’re bound to meet plenty of people in a city with a population of about 600,000. Although it’s already one of the “greenest” cities in North America, Vancouver is working hard with a goal is to be titled the “Greenest City” within the next few years.
There are many points of interest in Vancouver. You can see the site where the 2010 Winter Olympic Games were held. Vancouver is conveniently placed between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain Range, so you have the option to hike or spend a day at the beach. Vancouver is also affectionately nicknamed “Hollywood North” because so many movies and television shows are shot here, as well as the fact that so many theaters and film festivals take place. So whether you’re a film buff or a movie fanatic, you’re likely to find a theater or set that you’ll love to visit. Other attractions include the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For nightlife, check out Granville Street and other places downtown.
Because it is a large city, Vancouver is an easy place for a backpacker to get around. Choose to travel by the Vancouver International Airport, SkyTrain, SeaBus (a ferry service), Amtrak, or Highway 1. No matter where you go in Vancouver, you’re guaranteed to find an excellent hostel nearby, especially in the downtown area.
