The 9 Can't-Miss Towns In British Columbia

British Columbia is about as diverse as it comes. The westernmost Canadian province is home to everything from the desert town of Osoyoos to the world-class ski destination of Whistler. In between, and along the coast of Vancouver Island, are an assortment of truly unmissable places where the array of natural and commercial attractions offers something for everyone. Whether it's the sleepy, lake-lined town of Nakusp or the surfing paradise of Tofino, each of these spots showcases B.C.'s wild beauty. From watching humpbacks crash through the stormy waves of the Pacific Ocean to floating down a lazy channel in the Okanagan, BC truly gives visitors just about everything they could want without ever leaving the province.

Osoyoos

Osoyoos is a can't-miss town in B.C., perched on Canada’s warmest freshwater lake, where its “pocket desert” setting fuels summer activity. Gyro Park and the nearby Watermark Beach Resort share sandy beaches along the lake, where stand-up paddleboarders trace the shoreline while little ones tackle Splash BC’s floating obstacle course. The seasonal Osoyoos Farmers’ Market runs from spring through fall in Town Hall Square, offering local produce, wine, and crafts alongside Main Street’s lineup of restaurants like La Marqueza and Queen of the South. Nk’Mip Cellars and La Stella Winery serve as on-site tasting rooms, letting visitors sip regional wines without having to go into nearby Oliver, where a larger selection of wineries can be found. On either side of the town’s namesake lake are Osoyoos Golf Club and Sonora Dunes; the former provides two distinct championship 18-hole courses, and the latter a 9-hole executive course within town limits.

Ganges

A short ferry ride from Vancouver Island is the largest and most popular of B.C.'s Southern Gulf Islands. At the heart of Salt Spring is Ganges, the main village that sprawls along the harbor with a cove that opens into the Strait of Georgia. The Saturday Farmers’ Market runs weekly from April through October, filling Centennial Park with stalls of handmade soaps, knitted scarves, pottery, and local produce. Just steps away, Buzzy’s Luncheonette serves Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches with the former comedian owner cracking jokes as easily as he slices brisket, while the Tree House Cafe wraps a dining nook around a living tree, letting visitors sip coffee while watching the harbor bustle. The village itself threads together galleries, boutiques, and cafes, all with glimpses of the water visible between timber-framed storefronts. Mere minutes away is The Hastings House, a resort, restaurant, and spa where rooms look out over the marina and the distant Salish Sea.

Whistler

Whistler made its mark on the world stage as one of the central venues for the 2010 Winter Olympics, a legacy you feel in every lift line, run, and alpine view. The pedestrian-only Whistler Village sits at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, where timber-framed shops and cobblestone paths meet ski-in, ski-out access. Whistler is so much more than a magical ski destination that shines under Christmas lights every winter. Olympic Plaza pulses with summer concerts and seasonal markets, while bakeries like Purebread, fine dining such as Araxi, and bars like Longhorn Saloon and The Raven Room keep the village fueled just steps from the slopes. Alpha Lake and Lost Lake draw crowds outside of the winter months, as they are wonderful places to swim and cycle under evergreens, while Scandinave Spa tucks cedar-scented steam and plunge pools into the forest.

Penticton

At the south end of Okanagan Lake, where water narrows into the Penticton Channel before meeting Skaha Lake, Penticton builds its identity around two shorelines and the strip of city between them. Gyro Park and Okanagan Lake Park line the northern waterfront, hosting Music in the Park through summer and the Canada Day Market within steps of the marina, while paddleboard and kayak rentals keep visitors on the water in one of the quietest parts of the Okanagan. While Kelowna is the popular tourist destination in the area, Penticton is well worth the hour-long drive south. The 7-kilometer Channel Float alone is a reason to take the time to visit. The Channel Float sends inner tubers drifting from one lake to the other, a ritual as recognizable as the climb up Munson Mountain to the giant 'PENTICTON' sign overlooking the valley. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail begins within city limits, too, tracing a former railway bed above vineyards and shoreline.

Fernie

Historic 2nd Avenue is the heart of Fernie's downtown core, where century-old facades frame The Arts Station, a restored Canadian Pacific Railway depot now hosting exhibitions and live performances. Five kilometers from that strip, Fernie Alpine Resort rises into five alpine bowls, including Polar Peak at 2,134 meters, with a 1,052-meter vertical drop and terrain featuring 22 expert and extreme ski and snowboarding runs. For winter sports enthusiasts, this Rocky Mountain town is an absolute must-visit. However, when the snow clears, the Elk River becomes the main artery through town and is where locals launch inner tubes near Fernie North Bridge and float roughly 1.5 to 2 hours toward the Stanford area.

Revelstoke

The Selkirk Mountains stand behind downtown Revelstoke, where heritage brick buildings and vintage signage mark the four-block core. Terravita’s Kitchen draws a crowd with farm-to-table breakfasts around five minutes' walk from Grizzly Plaza, a go-to spot for summer concerts. Mount Revelstoke National Park edges the town, where the Giant Cedars Boardwalk winds through 500-year-old trees. Revelstoke Mountain Resort sprawls beyond, holding North America’s longest vertical drop at 1,730 meters (5,620 feet) and 3,121 acres of steep terrain. Nearly half of its runs are black or double black, threaded with chutes, couloirs, and glade lines. While the mountain is certainly a 'must' for downhill skiers and snowboarders, the resort also provides plenty of opportunities for snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, and snowmobiling.

Nakusp

While getting to Nakusp from B.C.'s bigger cities may be a trip, it is certainly worth it. Over three hours from Kelowna, Nakusp edges Upper Arrow Lake with the Selkirk Mountains pressing close behind the village. The boardwalk stretches past the century-old Leland Hotel and the Japanese Garden at Waterfront Park, where koi glide beneath maple branches planted in memory of families relocated in the 1940s. The boardwalk also runs parallel to Broadway, where a number of small restaurants are located, such as Hoss & Jill's Bistro, Bella Soriah, and Mountain Top Cafe. Nakusp is also the gateway town to numerous hot springs, which are arguably the star attractions of the area. Nakusp Hot Springs is found up in the Kuskanax Valley, while Halfway Hot Springs hides 35 minutes away in forested terrain. Further up the lake, Halcyon Hot Springs Resort blends decadent pools and trails along the lakeshore.

Tofino

At the edge of Vancouver Island’s west coast, where the Pacific presses into Clayoquot Sound and old-growth rainforest crowds the shoreline, is the surf-destination town of Tofino. This is a well-known tourist destination in British Columbia, but given its relatively remote location, it does take time and effort to get there. However, the town is well worth the trip. Everything from the lavish Wickaninnish Inn to the Tofino Resort + Marina provides guests with magical views of the untamed coast and the forest that surrounds it. From March to late November, gray whales, humpbacks, and orcas can all be seen offshore with the Whale Centre Tofino's whale-watching tour. Acclaimed restaurants like Wolf in the Fog, along with various surf shops like Storm Surf and Long Beach Surf, can be found in town. Then there are the near-endless surfing opportunities at Mackenzie Beach and Chesterman Beach, just to name a few.

Nelson

Nelson is a must-visit town in B.C., and at the top of the list of reasons to go is its restaurant scene. Downtown is lined with over 300 heritage buildings and has more restaurants per capita than Manhattan or San Francisco. Among them are Broken Hill, Louie’s Steakhouse, Finley’s Bar & Grill, Sage, The Black Cauldron, and Oso Negro Café, which fills its garden courtyard with coffee and pastries each morning. This culinary scene naturally blends into the town’s heritage architecture and arts culture. Murals peek from alleys, galleries line side streets, and live music at The Royal spills into the evening, letting diners wander from plates to performances without leaving the compact downtown core. Nelson’s location in the Selkirk Mountains keeps recreation minutes from downtown, whether paddling on Kootenay Lake, cycling forested ridges, or skiing Whitewater Mountain Resort in winter.

From Osoyoos’s warm desert shores to Whistler’s Olympic slopes, and from Ganges’s harbor markets to Tofino’s wild Pacific coast, British Columbia offers a spectrum of landscapes and experiences that simply cannot be missed. Float down Penticton’s channel, explore Nelson’s culinary scene, settle into Nakusp’s hot springs, or hike the trails framing Revelstoke. Each town’s setting and attractions create a complete portrait of what makes B.C. truly extraordinary.