What to See in British Columbia

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

British Columbia has 3 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Canadian Rockies Parks ★★★★ (1984)
Seven stunning parks in British Columbia (Kootenay, Yoho, plus three provincial parks) and Alberta (Banff, Jasper) united in a UNESCO-listed ensemble. Their mountains, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, and caves create a magnificent setting for enjoying a wide range of outdoor sports and nature activities.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Alaska Highway ★★
This nearly 3,000 km road is part of the Pan-American Highway. It connects British Columbia to Fairbanks in Alaska, via the Yukon.

Bowen Island ★★
Near Vancouver, the island is a popular excursion spot for its scenic beauty, small beaches, canoeing, and hiking opportunities.

Fort Steele ★★
This former Gold Rush town, later abandoned, has preserved its original buildings and has since been turned into an "open-air museum.".

Haida Gwaii ★★★
An archipelago of around 150 islands south of Alaska, designated as a nature reserve. Visitors come for the landscapes, hiking, beaches, canoeing, hunting, and fishing. Part of the islands are inhabited by the Haida people, whose culture remains vibrant, as seen in the UNESCO-listed village of SGang Gwaay.

Vancouver Island ★★★★
The large island facing Vancouver is a favorite spot for visitors. Beyond its beautiful capital, people come for its nature (a dozen parks), landscapes, and the many activities available (skiing, hiking, beaches, surfing, canoeing, fishing...).

Gulf Islands ★★
These are the many small islands between Vancouver Island and the mainland. You can enjoy nature and landscapes, as well as opportunities for diving, canoeing, or hiking.

Kootenays ★★★
This is the southeastern part of British Columbia, bordering the United States and Alberta. A highly mountainous region with several natural parks, it offers stunning landscapes and countless opportunities for outdoor activities, starting with skiing (many resorts) and hiking. You can also visit a few former mines (Nelson, Rossland, etc.).

Prince Rupert ★
This town near Alaska is a major port, including for cruise ships. It’s also a great base for exploring the surrounding area, which is ideal for fishing, outdoor activities, and the Indigenous culture that remains strong in the region.

Trans-Canada Highway ★
Stretching nearly 8,000 km, this highway crosses the entire country from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

Squamish ★
The small town between Vancouver and Whistler positions itself as Canada’s outdoor activity capital. It offers a wealth of opportunities in the heart of the Sea-to-Sky Corridor (hiking, mountain biking, rafting, climbing, and more).

Sun Peaks ★
A well-known ski resort (and summer outdoor activity destination) in the southeast of the province.

Sunshine Coast ★★★
This is the coastal region northwest of Vancouver with some beautiful villages. It is only accessible by boat (or small plane) and offers stunning mountain, forest, and sea landscapes perfect for hiking or sailing.

Tofino ★
A seaside resort on the west coast of Vancouver Island, surrounded by forests and renowned for its beaches, surfing, and whale migration.

Fraser Valley ★
The small agricultural region east of Vancouver is, among other things, a land of vineyards where you can visit several estates.

Okanagan Valley ★★
A mountain-fringed valley along a lake of the same name, this is a holiday hotspot for locals. It’s loved for its sunshine, lakeside beaches, outdoor sports (hiking, mountain biking, skiing, fishing, etc.), and, as a bonus, its vineyards around the main town of Penticton.

Vancouver ★★★
Young, lively, and dynamic, Vancouver is a very pleasant city nestled between sea and mountains. You can see some beautiful "old" buildings (Gastown district), a large Chinatown, several museums, parks and gardens, and also enjoy its surroundings for both beaches and places to hike and ski (Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, Mt Seymour...).

Victoria ★★★
With its English charm, museums, and numerous parks and gardens, the capital of BC is a pleasant city. You can see whales offshore.

Whistler ★★
A renowned winter sports resort that also served as a venue for the 2010 Olympics. It is located 120 km north of Vancouver and boasts the largest ski area in North America.

Natural Heritage

Fraser Canyon ★★
This narrow canyon stretching nearly 100 km along the Fraser River offers stunning landscapes best explored by train or car on the Trans-Canada Highway. There are also great rafting trips near Lytton.

Canadian Rockies Parks ★★★★
Seven stunning parks in British Columbia (Kootenay, Yoho, plus three provincial parks) and Alberta (Banff, Jasper) united in a UNESCO-listed ensemble. Their mountains, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons, and caves create a magnificent setting for enjoying a wide range of outdoor sports and nature activities.

Glacier National Park ★★★★
The park is home to dozens of glaciers of all sizes. It is one of the most visited parks in the country.

Cathedral Provincial Park ★★
Located on the U.S. border, it offers stunning mountain and lake landscapes along with opportunities for hiking and skiing. The same goes for the nearby Manning Park.

Garibaldi Provincial Park ★★
One of the beautiful parks in the Vancouver region, featuring mountains, lakes, and glaciers. It offers superb hikes.

Mount Robson Provincial Park ★★★
This park on the Alberta border is home to the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, which can also be climbed. It is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wells Gray Provincial Park ★★
A stunning mountain park featuring ancient volcanoes, canyons, valleys, lakes, and waterfalls, not far from Alberta. A prime spot for hiking, canoeing, fishing, and other outdoor activities (ATV, climbing, rafting).

Sea-to-Sky Corridor ★★★
This region in the hinterland of Vancouver includes a dozen small parks (including Garibaldi) and is internationally renowned for outdoor activities. You can go trekking, skiing, climbing, rafting, or canoeing in stunning landscapes.