Vancouver constantly ranks high on lists of the best places on the planet. With the best views, food, rat research, and expensive homes, we expect to finish in the top 10, at least.
But 22nd place in the latest World’s Best Cities report leaves us confused, considering which cities finished way above or below us.
London finished first, with New York and Paris taking the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
But Toronto landed above Vancouver in the 15th spot. Do we need to say more? Okay, let’s say more. Also finishing higher were Seattle, Boston, Chicago, and Dubai, for its “labour force participation.”
Meanwhile, Montreal, a historically beautiful city with some of the best music and culture spots in the country, finished at 35th.
The reason for Vancouver’s ranking seems to be based on a few factors.
“A panorama of ancient forests, totem poles, pan-Asian diaspora, and hockey-loving hipsters makes Vancouver a coveted destination,” is put on the pro side.
“Hockey-loving hipsters” is a term we don’t often hear used to describe Vancouverites.
@Canucks/X
The city is also set to see some major events. The AA convention among them?
“Vancouver will host the Invictus Games, the 90th anniversary of the first international Alcoholics Anonymous convention and part of the FIFA World Cup,” the list reads in part.
The Invictus Games is coming sooner than they suggest. The games begin on February 8 in Vancouver and Whistler. We’d argue Taylor Swift, the Junos, and the most recent Grey Cup were also worth mentioning.
“I AM” sign for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 at Jack Poole Plaza. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Another pro?
“An elemental collision of urban velocity and timeless, serene nature means that epic skiing, mountain biking, and hiking are just a half-hour’s transit or bike ride north, while the city itself is studded with sandy shorelines, verdant gardens and Canada’s urban green-space jewel: Stanley Park.”
While our shorelines can be sandy, we certainly don’t have the same powder-soft offerings of some other spots, like Miami, which ranked a spot lower than Vancouver.
eFlexion/Shutterstock
If you didn’t catch it, the report suggests getting to the North Shore for skiing, biking, or hiking is just 30 minutes away by bus or by bike. Sounds like a dream!
We hope they share their shortcuts with us.
But the cons? Apparently the lack of space in hotels and the ongoing ban on short-term rentals.
“In the midst of rising real estate prices, the city is facing another challenge: fewer hotel rooms — a direct result of the government converting hundreds of rooms into social housing during the pandemic and cracking down on Airbnb-only rentals (ostensibly to free up rental housing).”
The validity of that statement is highly debatable. City officials have been concerned about the hotel crunch for a long time, well before the pandemic.
“Although the economy related to tourism and conferences has continued to grow, the number of hotel rooms in the city has declined by 1,105 rooms over the past decade. A further 1,674 hotel rooms are at risk in the short and medium term for redevelopment, primarily to residential,” a report ordered in 2018 reads in part.
“No Airbnb” sign at the main entrance of a condo building in downtown Vancouver in October 2023, ahead of the provincial crackdown in May 2024. (Kenneth Chan/Daily Hive)
Adding that, apparently, that short-term rental crackdown, which saw a lot of support from locals when it came into full force provincially in May, makes hotel rooms too expensive for young people.
“That means the existing hotel rooms and vacation rentals are often too prohibitively priced to allow a new generation to fall in love with this beguiling city in the wilderness (yes, Tree Cover is Top 5).”
Vancouver’s hotel room prices during peak times have made headlines repeatedly for years, and generational uses haven’t been studied as far as we can tell. Plus, many of the hotels are award-winning for their ocean views, luxury spas, and one-of-a-kind dining offerings, and they are favourites of huge celebrities, so how cheap should they go?
We do know that young people are still falling in love with our “beguiling” city regardless of their hotel stay. Vancouver was recently named one of the best cities for young professionals and the second-best spot for solo tourists to visit.
We want to hear your thoughts on this ranking from you, hockey-loving hipster. Let us know in the comments below!