Overview

According to topschoolsintheusa, the westernmost province of Canada, British Columbia is vast and of incredible natural beauty and diversity. Outdoor enthusiasts will absolutely love the endless opportunities for hiking, tubing, sailing and skiing, to name just a few activities. Everywhere in British Columbia, breathtaking mountains soar against vast blue skies, and long stretches of rocky coastline are part of the landscape, along with sandy beaches, wineries, orchards, forests and snow-fed lakes. In the southern Okanagan region is even Canada’s only desert, Osoyoos, home to rattlesnakes, scorpions and prickly pear cactus. If you are looking for untouched nature, British Columbia is the right place for you. It has seven national parks and numerous provincial parks. The cities of British Columbia also have a lot to offer, especially Vancouver with its countless galleries, museums and bars. But even in this big city, you’re never too far from nature, as the enormous Stanley Park, Canada’s largest urban park, feels more like a wooded area than a North American metropolis.

Getting there

Arriving by plane

Lufthansa (LH) flies non-stop from Frankfurt and Munich, Edelweiss Air (WK) flies directly from Zurich to Vancouver. Air Canada (AC) flies from Zurich to Vancouver in summer. A variety of major and minor airlines operate within the province of British Columbia; These include Air Canada (AC), American Airlines (AA) and Central Mountain Air (9M).

Departure fee

An Airport Improvement Fee (AIF) is payable at most Canadian airports. For British Columbia, this is C$5. For more information see Getting to Canada.

Arrival by car

The Trans-Canada Highway comes from Calgary, Alberta and runs through the south of the province to Vancouver. The other major highways are Highways 3, 5, 6, 16, 95, and 97. With the exception of Highway 97, which leads north into the Yukon Territory, most of the roads are in the south of the province. There are good road connections to Seattle/USA. Long-distance bus: The route network of Greyhound USA, a subsidiary of Flixbus, includes services from Vancouver to Seattle (USA). There are also a number of regional bus companies such as Translink, BC Transit and Gray Line. Toll: There are no toll roads. However, for the Portman Bridge and the Golden Ears Bridge, both crossing the Fraser River in the greater Vancouver area, to pay tolls. The toll is automatically recorded via the license plate; the registered keeper pays the fee online. Documents: The German national driving license is valid for 6 months in Canada. However, it is recommended that you carry your international driver’s license with you. All other nationalities require the International Driving Permit. The German national driving license is valid for 6 months in Canada. However, it is recommended that you carry your international driver’s license with you. All other nationalities require the International Driving Permit. The German national driving license is valid for 6 months in Canada. However, it is recommended that you carry your international driver’s license with you. All other nationalities require the International Driving Permit.

Arrival by train

Amtrak Cascades trains operate the Vancouver, BC – Seattle (WA) – Tacoma (WA) – Portland (OR) – Salem (OR) – Eugene (OR) international route. Journey time: 10 hr 25 min VIA Rail Canada serves the following routes into and within British Columbia: Edmonton – Prince Rupert via Jasper, Alberta; Edmonton – Vancouver via Jasper (Alberta); Toronto – Vancouver (several times weekly, The Canadian) via Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton. The Rocky Mountaineer connects Vancouver to Jasper, Banff and Calgary in the province of Alberta. The Jasper-Prince Rupert train takes you from Jasper via Prince George to Prince Rupert on the Pacific Coast. For more information, contact VIA Rail.

rail passes

The Canrailpass and Canrailpass – Corridor are also valid in British Columbia. For more information on Rail Passes, contact Via Rail Canada or CRD, or see Canada – Local Mobility.

Arrival by ship

Vancouver is an international passenger port with regular service to ports on the North Shore of the United States and the Far East.

Ferry provider

The largest shipping company is Washington State Ferries, which connects Victoria with Seattle (USA), Port Townsend (USA) and Port Angeles (USA), among others. Southern Gulf Islands, Northern Gulf Islands, and the Alaska Marine Highway System operate ferries between British Columbia’s coastal cities and on the inland waterways. British Columbia Ferries offer car and passenger service from Tsawwassen (outside Vancouver) to Swartz Bay (Victoria); also the route from Port Hardy (on the northern tip of Vancouver Island) to Prince Rupert from June to September. Clipper Vacations operate a passenger ferry service from Victoria to Seattle (USA) several times a day with their Victoria Clipper, a high-speed catamaran (journey time: 2 hrs 45 mins). For more information, contact BC Ferries at 1-888-223-3779 or The Ferry Traveler at 1-800-686-0446 (within North America), 1-604-733-9113 (outside North America). The luxury ferry V2V Vacations connects Vancouver with Victoria.

Passport and visa regulations

Entry with children

Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.

Language

Overview

Mainly English.

Public Holidays

Overview

As in the rest of Canada, plus:

Contact addresses

Tourism British Columbia (Corporate Communications)

c/o Marketing Service International (MSI)

(also responsible for Austria and Switzerland)

Frankfurter Strasse 175
Neu-Isenburg, Germany
Germany
+49 (6102) 88 47 9-0
http://www.hellobc.de
http://www.hellobc.de DestinationBritish Columbia

c/o MSI – Marketing Services International GmbH

(also responsible for Austria and Switzerland)

Frankfurter Strasse 175
Neu-Isenburg
Germany
+49 (6102) 88 47 9-0.
http://www.hellobc.de
http://www.hellobc.de Tourism British Columbia (brochure distribution)

c/o Marketing Services International GmbH (MSi)

(also responsible for Austria and Switzerland)

Frankfurter Strasse 175
Neu-Isenburg
Germany
+49 (6102) 88 47 9-0.
http://www.hellobc.de
http://www.hellobc.de

Business

Business contacts

Ministry of Economic Development Office Ste 730 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1 Tel: (604) 660 24 21 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gov.bc.ca

Nightlife

Introduction

In the larger cities you will find top restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Vancouver has an excellent theater scene. Good entertainment programs are also offered in the hotels.

Culinary

Overview

British Columbia’s cuisine is heavily influenced by English tradition. The Pacific offers a wide variety of seafood, including king prawns (deep sea crabs), oysters, shrimp and other shellfish, as well as cod, haddock and salmon (various types) served smoked, fried, breaded, baked or grilled and served with local vegetables. The fruits of the province are apples, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries, blackberries, Bing cherries (a type of cherry) and loganberries. The famous Victoria Creams chocolates are made from a recipe dating back to 1885 and are sold worldwide. Drinks: In the Okanagan Valley, sparkling wine is pressed, and all common alcoholic beverages are widely available in licensed restaurants, inns and bars. Taverns are open until 1am, bars and cabarets until 2am. The minimum age for purchasing alcohol is 19 years.

Accommodation

Hotels

The offer ranges from top hotels in Victoria and Vancouver to motels on the side of the highway in the south to simple mountain cabins in the Rocky Mountains. Vacation homes and bungalows are primarily available on Vancouver Island. In the central Cariboo Chilcotin region, “ranch vacations” are very popular. Information is available from Old English B&B Registry, 1226 Silverwood Crescent, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7P 1J3. (tel: (604) 986 50 69) or the Western Canada Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Guild, PO Box 74534, 2803 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6K 4P4. (Web: http://bcsbestbnbs.com/). The Tourist Office’s annual guide lists guesthouses and other accommodation options. Categories: The blue Approved Accommodations sign indicates that the hotel’s standard is verified by the Ministry of Tourism. Contact Tourism British Columbia or the Hotels Association, British Columbia & Yukon Hotels Association, 2nd Floor, 948 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1N9 for details. (Tel: (604) 681 71 64. Web: www.bcyha.com). Contact Tourism British Columbia or the Hotels Association, British Columbia & Yukon Hotels Association, 2nd Floor, 948 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1N9 for details. (Tel: (604) 681 71 64. Web: www.bcyha.com). Contact Tourism British Columbia or the Hotels Association, British Columbia & Yukon Hotels Association, 2nd Floor, 948 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1N9 for details. (Tel: (604) 681 71 64. Web: www.bcyha.com).

Camping

There are nearly 10,000 campgrounds in the state’s 150 parks, most of which have no hook-ups for trailers. Some of the parks have been designated as Nature Conservancy Areas where motorized vehicles are prohibited. The scenic diversity of the campsites ranges from sandy beaches that can be driven on by car to islands and glaciers that can only be reached by boat or plane. Max. stay per pitch is 14 days. Reservations are not accepted. Some rental car companies rent fully equipped campers. For details see accommodation in main entry Canada, or from British Columbia Lodging & Campgrounds Association, Suite 209, 3003 St. John’s Street, Port Moody, British Columbia V3H 2C4. (Phone:

Climate

Best travel time

British Columbia is one of the warmest provinces in Canada with pleasantly warm summers and mild winters. Only in the Rocky Mountains is there a lot of snowfall.

Country data

Area (sq km)

944735

Population

5,071,336

Population density (per square km)

5

Population statistics year

2019