Vancouver is the largest city in both British Columbia and Western Canada. It’s a coastal city and Canada’a busiest seaport located in the lower mainland of south-western British Columbia. Vancouver is named after Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer, who explored the inner harbour of Burrard Inlet in 1792 and gave various places British names. It’s a dynamic and multicultural city, with areas including Chinatown, Punjabi Market, Little Italy, Greektown and Japantown. Vancouver is set in a spectacular natural environment, it’s this scenic location that makes it a major tourist destination. Visitors come for the city’s gardens, mountains, ocean, forest and parklands surrounding the city. No matter what time of year you visit, Vancouver has much to offer its visitor.

British Columbia was the second Canadian jurisdiction to legalise same-sex marriage. Vancouver boasts the largest gay and lesbian population in Western Canada. The vibrant LGBT community centres around two energetic and welcoming gay neighbourhoods – the West End and Commercial Drive. A walk down Davie Street - ‘Davie Village’ - takes you into the heart of the gay village. Feel the excitement as you stroll by fabulous West End shops, cafés, restaurants, bars and electrifying gay and lesbian nightclubs. Join the locals at nearby English Bay for stunning beach, mountain and ocean views and for ever-popular people watching and gay cruises. The Commercial Drive area, known locally as ‘The Drive’, is an eclectic, ethnically diverse neighbourhood where the LGBT community thrives. The Drive is a hive of world-beat culture, eclectic dining, funky boutiques, cosy cafés and lively nightspots. It’s also a popular meeting place for the Vancouver Dyke March and Festival held during Vancouver’s Pride Week. Vancouver holds one of Canada’s largest Pride Parades.

We’ve listed the best of the hotels, bars and restaurants, which are either gay owned and run or gay-friendly.