Tucked between rugged mountains and a picturesque harbor, Prince Rupert is a small port city in Ts’msyen territory on British Columbia’s northwest coast. As a remote coastal community, ocean activities make up the most popular things to do in Prince Rupert; here, you can go whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife viewing in the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary. On land, visitors can discover local artisans in Cow Bay, learn about local Indigenous peoples at the Museum of Northern BC, and immerse themselves in fishing history at the North Pacific Cannery.
Known as the City of Rainbows thanks to the region’s abundant rainfall, Prince Rupert is best visited from June to August, when the weather is drier and milder, and the city experiences long hours of daylight (more than 17 hours at the solstice). The summer months also offer excellent opportunities to spot regional wildlife and hit the town's nearby hiking trails, including the Butze Rapids and the Tall Trees Trails.
Prince Rupert is located at the edge of a vast region and can be reached by road, ferry, rail, or air. The city itself is compact and walkable, which makes it easy to explore without a car. There are a number of public bus routes, taxis, and car rental agencies for those who want to head to the town’s outskirts, as well as a variety of guided tours for taking in area highlights.
One of the best ways to get a good sense of how remote and rugged Prince Rupert is is by traveling to the town with BC Ferries. In the summer, there are daily early-morning departures from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island. The 16-hour cruise sails through the famed Inside Passage, weaving through waterways where passengers often spot whales, sea lions, and porpoises.