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Destination highlights
Whether you need to know local public holidays or highlights through the seasons, we hope you will find the facts gathered below useful tools for your travel planning. Please feel free to contact us if we can assist you further.
General information
Although English sailor Captain George Vancouver landed on its beaches in 1792, the city of Vancouver really began nearly 100 years later when the Canadian Pacific Railway extended its line 20 kilometres (12 miles) westward from Port Moody to take advantage of a better harbour and terminal site. Today, Vancouver is an international Pacific Rim city known for its majestic mountains, beautiful parks and beaches and thriving business community.
The towering Coast Mountains and the shimmering Pacific Ocean create an unbeatable urban setting for a city that Mercer Consulting described in 2009 as one of the top cities in the world for quality of life. Canada’s third-largest city, this bustling port of 2.3 million enjoys rich cultural and ethnic diversity. Exceptionally safe and clean, Vancouver reflects both the natural grandeur of its surroundings and the genuine warmth of its residents – two elements that make Vancouver “Spectacular by Nature.”
In Vancouver’s commercial core, Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver is one block from Robson Street, the city’s renowned shopping corridor, and minutes from attractions such as Granville Island market, Gastown and Stanley Park. The city’s premier indoor fashion mall, Pacific Centre, is at your doorstep. Guests at the Hotel will soon enjoy indoor access to the new high-speed Canada Line airport train – offering the most convenient link.
Time zone
GMT -8 hours
Pacific Standard Time
Language(s) spoken
English
Electrical system
Local voltage is 110 to 120 volts AC. Adapters available; please request through the Concierge.
Shopping hours
Monday to Friday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (Some stores open until 9:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night)
Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm
(Hours may vary.)
Working hours
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
Time and distance to city centre
The Hotel is located in the city centre.
Time and distance to shopping
- Pacific Shopping Centre: 140 stores located just beneath the Hotel (entrance on ground level)
- Robson Street: 5-minute walk/0.3 kilometres/0.2 miles
- Gastown/Sinclair Centre: 10-minute walk/0.5 kilometres/0.3 miles
- Chinatown: 10-minute drive/2 kilometres/1.2 miles
- Granville Island: 10-minute drive/3 kilometres/2 miles
- South Granville: 10-minute drive/3 kilometres/2 miles
- Yaletown: 5-minute drive/1.5 kilometres/1 mile
- Metrotown Centre Mall: 30-minute drive/19 kilometres/12 miles
Time and distance to financial district
The Hotel is located in the heart of the financial and business district.
View in–depth travel advice from Frommers.com
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| Remembrance Day |
November 11, 2009 |
| Christmas Day |
December 25, 2009 |
| *Boxing Day |
December 26, 2009 |
| New Year's Day |
January 1, 2010 |
| Good Friday |
April 2, 2010 |
| Victoria Day |
May 24, 2010 |
| Canada Day |
July 1, 2010 |
| Heritage Day |
August 2, 2010 |
| Labour Day |
September 6, 2010 |
| Thanksgiving Day |
October 11, 2010 |
| Remembrance Day |
November 11, 2010 |
| Christmas Day |
December 25, 2010 |
| Boxing Day |
December 26, 2010 |
| *Holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are taken on the following Monday. |
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Seasonal highlights
The city of Vancouver surrounds you with its diversity of cultures and moods. A casual West Coast attitude and mild Pacific climate prevail. Sports, recreation, arts and culture thrive year-round. Underlying it all is attentive Four Seasons service to make everything possible. Our goal is to ensure that your stay with us is the finest Vancouver can offer.
If you are visiting at the beginning of January, you may see crowds of people heading into English Bay for the annual Polar Bear swim on New Year's Day. With a ski season that often lasts into April, Vancouver is a unique city where you can find glistening snowy slopes and beautifully green golf courses all in the same day.
Here are just a few of the many highlights:
January
- Polar Bear swim
- Dine Out Vancouver
- Push Festival
February
- Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
- ISU Four Continents Figure Skaing Championships
- Winterruption at Granville Island
- Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
- Vancouver Comedy Fest
- Chutzpah Festival
February-March
- As the host city for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver’s spirit and energy has never been more evident. Come and explore the completed venues now and feel the energy and excitement that’s building towards the Games. Experience today what the athletes will feel in 2010.
March
- Vancouver International Dance Festival
- CelticFest Vancouver
- Spring Break Theatre Festival
- Play Dome at BC Place Stadium
- Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival
- JUNO Awards
- Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival
- Vancouver Jewish Film Festival
April
- Vancouver Sun Run
- Vaisakhi Parade, Punjabi Market
April-September
April-November
May
- Vancouver International Marathon
- Penjing Festival
- Vancouver International Children’s Festival
- New Music West
- Peony Show
- Cloverdale Rodeo
May-September
- Chinatown Night Market
- Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
- Vancouver’s Farmers’ Markets Season
June
- Portuguese Heritage Month
- Vancouver New Play Festival
- Vancouver Francophone Summer Festival
- BC Highland Games
- Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5k Run/Walk
- Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
- Gastown Jazz Festival
June–July
- TD Canada Trust Vancouver International Jazz Festival
- Greek Summer Fest
- Vancouver International Flamenco Festival
July
- Canada Day Celebrations
- Canada Day on Granville Island
- Vancouver Folk Music Festival
- Vancouver Lantern Festival
- Tour de Gastown
- Caribbean Days Festival
- Vancouver Chamber Music Festival
- The Abbotsford BerryBeat Festival
July - August
- Early Music Festival
- Harmony Arts Festival
- HSBC Celebration of Light Fireworks Festival
- Vancouver Pride Festival
July-September
- Enchanted Evenings at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Classical Garden
August
- Annual BC Cultural Crawl
- Powell Street Festival
- MusicFest Vancouver
- Abbotsford International Airshow
- Vancouver Chinatown Festival
- Vancouver Queer Film Festival
- Vancouver Wooden Boat Festival
August-September
- Pacific National Exhibition
- Hockey Canada Cup (women’s)
September
- TaiwanFest
- Vancouver International Fringe Festival
- Feast of Fields
- Vancouver Global ComedyFest
October
- Vancouver International Film Festival
- Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
- Stanley Park Ghost Train
- Cranberry Festival
- Apple Festival
- Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival
- The Parade of the Lost Souls
- West Coast Chocolate Festival
- Vancouver International Film Festival
November
November–December
- Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain
November–January
- Bright Nights in Stanley Park
December
- Rogers Santa Claus Parade
- Carol Ships Parade of Lights
- Winter Solstice Lantern Procession
- Christmas at Canada Place
December – January
- VanDusen Botanical Garden Festival of Lights
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