Vancouver
Canada
BC Place
Getting There
SkyTrain from airport to Stadium-Chinatown station. Excellent, clean system. Very walkable downtown.
Weather & What to Pack
Mild summers, rarely hot. Comfortable for outdoor activities. Light jacket for evenings.
Where to Stay
Yaletown
$$$$Near stadium, upscale restaurants
Gastown
$$$Historic area, boutiques and bars
Downtown
$$$Central location
Commercial Drive
$$Eclectic, multicultural
Local Soccer Culture
Insider Tips
- 1
Vancouver might be the most beautiful World Cup host city. Mountains, ocean, and city views everywhere.
- 2
BC Place is downtown with a retractable roof. Weather won't be an issue. Walking distance from waterfront hotels.
- 3
The Cascadia rivalry (Vancouver, Seattle, Portland) is real. Whitecaps fans will have opinions about the Sounders.
- 4
Sushi here rivals Tokyo. Massive Japanese population = incredible Japanese food. Don't skip it.
- 5
It rarely rains in Vancouver summer. The "Raincouver" reputation is from fall/winter. June-July are gorgeous.
- 6
Whistler is 90 minutes away. Even in summer, there's hiking, mountain biking, and stunning scenery.
Bars & Restaurants
The Lamplighter
Whitecaps supporters bar, live music venue
Yaletown Brewing Company
Local craft beer near the stadium
The Alibi Room
50+ local craft beers on tap
Tojo's
Legendary sushi, invented the BC Roll
Vij's
Indian fine dining, no reservations
Miku
Aburi sushi (flame-seared), stunning waterfront views
Japadog
Japanese-style hot dogs - sounds weird, tastes amazing
Pre-Game Spots
Yaletown
0.2 milesUpscale neighborhood immediately adjacent to BC Place. Restaurants, patios, and easy walk to game.
Gastown
0.5 milesHistoric area with steam clock, cobblestones, and great bars. Quick SkyTrain ride to stadium.
Olympic Village
1 mile (scenic walk)Waterfront area with breweries and views. Walk along the seawall to the game.
Must-Try Local Food
Sushi
Vancouver has the best sushi outside Japan. Massive Japanese community means authentic omakase.
Salmon
Pacific wild salmon is everywhere and incredible. Smoked, candied, or fresh.
Japadog
Japanese-style hot dogs with unique toppings like nori, bonito, teriyaki. Only in Vancouver.
Dim Sum
Massive Chinese population = incredible dim sum. Richmond is the epicenter.
Craft Beer
Vancouver has an incredible craft beer scene. Breweries everywhere.
Fan FAQs
What's the Cascadia rivalry?
Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders, and Portland Timbers form the Cascadia Cup rivalry. It's the best rivalry in MLS. Whitecaps fans will have opinions about Seattle.
Does it really rain all the time?
Not in summer! June-July are Vancouver's dry months. Average of 2-3 inches of rain combined. The rainy reputation is from October-March.
Is the stadium downtown?
Yes! BC Place is right downtown, walkable from most hotels. SkyTrain goes directly to Stadium-Chinatown station. Retractable roof means weather won't be an issue.
Should I go to Whistler?
If you have a day, yes. 90 minutes by car or bus. Summer activities include hiking, mountain biking, gondola rides, and bear watching. Gorgeous year-round.
How expensive is Vancouver?
Expensive. One of North America's priciest cities. Hotels downtown run $200-400+/night during events. Budget by eating Asian food (excellent and cheaper) and using transit.
Budget Tips
- The Compass Card saves money on transit. SkyTrain from airport to downtown is $9.30.
- Richmond has incredible Asian food at much lower prices than downtown.
- Granville Island Market has free samples and you can picnic. Skip sit-down restaurants.
- Stanley Park is free. Rent a bike ($15/2hrs) and do the seawall.
- Many craft breweries do happy hour flights for $8-12.
- Skip Uber in downtown - SkyTrain and walking are faster and cheaper.
Hidden Gems
- Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge - free alternative to the famous (and expensive) Capilano bridge. Equally beautiful.
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden - serene escape in Chinatown. One of the finest outside China.
- Deep Cove - kayaking and hiking 30 min from downtown. The honey doughnuts at Honey Doughnuts & Goodies are legendary.
- Granville Island - public market, arts studios, breweries. Touristy but worth it. Take the tiny ferry.
- Queen Elizabeth Park - free park with views over the city. Bloedel Conservatory (tropical birds) is cheap.
- Commercial Drive - "The Drive" is Vancouver's eclectic neighborhood. Italian roots, bohemian vibes, great cheap eats.
Local Lingo
Local Voices
Insider tips from the fans who know Vancouver best
The Southsiders
@vancouversouthsidersVancouver Whitecaps Supporter Group
“BC Place is downtown and walkable from everywhere. Hit up Yaletown or Gastown before the match - tons of bars with outdoor patios. Then march to the stadium with us. The south stand is where it's at.”
Christine Sinclair
@sinaboratCanadian Soccer Legend
“Vancouver raised me as a soccer player. The city lives and breathes the game. When Canada plays at BC Place, the energy is unreal. Stanley Park run the morning of a match - that's my ritual.”
Cascadia Weekly
@cascadia_weeklyPNW Soccer Content Creator
“The Cascadia Cup rivalry (Vancouver-Seattle-Portland) is the best in MLS. If you can catch a Whitecaps-Sounders match while you're here, DO IT. The atmosphere rivals anything in the world.”
Richmond Dim Sum Dad
@richmond_dimsumguyVancouver Food Creator
“Skip downtown restaurants and take the SkyTrain to Richmond for the best Asian food in North America. Fisherman's Terrace for dim sum, then back to downtown for the match. Way cheaper and 10x better.”
Plan Your Vancouver Trip
Mid-range: hotel, food, transport, activities
Highlights
- Mountains meet ocean scenery
- Stanley Park and seawall
- Cascadia rivalry with Seattle and Portland
- Gateway to Whistler and nature
Accounts to Follow
Stadium Location
49.2768, -123.1120
Nearby Cities
🗺️ Combine with Nearby Cities
Planning a multi-city trip? These cities are easy to reach from Vancouver.
Toronto
BMO Field
San Francisco Bay Area
Levi's Stadium
Seattle
Lumen Field
Pacific Northwest beauty - 2 cities, multiple matches