Kelowna

Kelowna is a city in the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Kelowna is the largest inland city in British Columbia, in the heart of BC's wine country. Okanagan Lake is the main draw in the summer.

Understand
Kelowna is the largest city in the tourist-oriented Okanagan Valley with a population of about 142,000 in the city, and 215,000 in the metropolitan area (2020). During the summer, Okanagan Lake is the main draw, this 135 km jewel is a big draw for boaters (power and sail), swimmers and kite-boarders; in addition, golf, hiking and biking are popular summer activities. In winter thousands of tourists come from all parts of the world to ski at Big White resort, which is from the city.

Kelowna produces wines that have received international recognition. Vineyards are common around and south of the city where the climate is ideal for the many wineries. Tourists also come in the Sep-Nov (mostly) to experience and taste the Okanagan's world-class wines from wineries throughout the valley.

Climate
Kelowna is classified as a humid continental climate or an inland oceanic climate, with dry, hot, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters, and four seasons. Summers in Kelowna are hot (sometimes extremely hot) and sunny. Not unusually, heat waves occur in July, August, and even June and September on occasion, where temperatures above 30 C persist for weeks. During summer, clear, dry air allows night-time temperatures to fall rapidly. Kelowna has the second mildest winter of any non-coastal city in Canada, after neighboring Penticton, caused by the moderating effects of Okanagan Lake combined with mountains separating most of BC from the prairies. Weather conditions during December and January are characterized by persistent valley cloud as Okanagan Lake hardly ever freezes.

By car
Highway 97 is the major highway through Kelowna, with Vernon and Highway 1 to the north, Penticton and Highway 3 to the south, and Merritt (via the Okanagan Connector, a.k.a. Highway 97C) to the west. Highway 33 provides secondary access to points south and east. It's a 4-5 hour drive from Vancouver via the Okanagan Connector, and 8-9 hours from Calgary.

Ground transportation

 * Ebus (see below under By bus) stops at the airport terminal.
 * BC Transit (see below By public transit) bus routes 23 (limited trips northbound and southbound) and 90 (northbound trips only) have stops about 250 m west of the terminal. For far more trip options, you will need to walk 700 m west of the terminal along Airport Way to Innovation Dr (stop are on Innovation Dr just south of Airport Way), where all trips of routes 23 and 90 stop, heading northbound and southbound. For travel to and from downtown Kelowna, a transfer at UBC Okanagan (UBCO) is required. UBCO is the southern terminus for routes 23 and 90. Route 97 is the quickest bus route between UBCO and downtown Kelowna.
 * Taxis are also available (see below under By taxi).
 * Using ride hailing, only Lucky to go is authorized to service the airport.
 * Multiple car rental agencies are located at the airport.

By bus

 * Daily bus service on the following routes:
 * Between Kelowna and Vancouver with stops in Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, and Surrey. Travel time to Kelowna from Vancouver is 5.5 hours, from Abbotsford is 4.25 hours, and from Hope is 3 hours.
 * Kamloops and Kelowna with stops in Chase, Sorrento, Salmon Arm, Enderby, Armstrong, and Vernon. Travel time to Kelowna from Kamloops is 2.5-3.25 hours (some trips do not stop between Vernon and Kamloops), from Salmon Arm is 1 hour 50 minutes, and from Vernon is 1 hour.

By train
There is no train service available to Kelowna. However, you can use the nearest train terminal in Kamloops (about 90 minutes north-west of Kelowna by car).

Get around
Traffic can be quite heavy on major roads in Kelowna during the summer months, especially at the approaches to the floating bridge. A lack of advance left turn traffic lights contributes to accidents at major intersections.


 * Kelowna has an extensive network of bike lanes. Cyclists are advised to use bike lanes (when not obstructed by parked vehicles) and intersections with caution. Cycling on local highways is not recommended. See the City of Kelowna website for a detailed map.
 * There are several boat launches along the lakeshore with parking facilities. Be prepared to queue in the summer months. As for the lake itself, it can get crowded out there, especially with small watercraft.
 * The downtown area is pedestrian-friendly, especially along the waterfront.

By public transit

 * Bus route 97 is a limited stop frequent route. It travels between the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus (UBCO) and West Kelowna with stops in Rutland and downtown Kelowna. At most hours, it is the only option to cross Okanagan Lake between Kelowna, and West Kelowna and Peachland.
 * Bus route 97 is a limited stop frequent route. It travels between the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus (UBCO) and West Kelowna with stops in Rutland and downtown Kelowna. At most hours, it is the only option to cross Okanagan Lake between Kelowna, and West Kelowna and Peachland.

Vehicle rentals

 * Budget Car Rentals
 * Enterprise Rent-a-Car
 * Avis Car Rentals
 * Discount Car and Truck Rentals
 * Hertz
 * McScoot's Motorcycle & Scooter Rentals

Downtown
The Downtown Core is easily accessible with public transit as well as taxis and bicycles, once downtown you have two major parkades to choose from if you decide to drive yourself one is of Pandosy Street (the Verve Restaurant is in the first level) or at the library by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) Station, so parking shouldn't be a chore.

The rush hour (usually 4:30–6PM) can be a challenge in the downtown core as well as on the main transportation arteries: Highway 97C, Highway 33, Lakeshore Rd.

Do

 * Boating, Sailing, Seadoo-ing, Boating, and Windsurfing on Okanagan Lake.
 * Wine tasting in this significant region for vineyards and wineries. See "Drink" section for local wineries.
 * Enjoy the Athletic Centers
 * , Capital News Center).
 * Bike and hike the local mountains (Kettle Valley,, )
 * Golf on any of the many great golf courses, such as:
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Golf on any of the many great golf courses, such as:
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills
 * Skateboarding/longboarding--the skateparks are average but lots of great hills

Learn

 * Engineering Management and Education (UBC Okanagan).jpg

Work
The main industry in Kelowna is tourism, with its requisite offering of service industry jobs at or slightly above minimum wage. The local ski hill Big White offers winter employment for ski/board instructors, liftees, servers, and so on. With the boom in housing, there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in the construction industry.

Buy

 * (between Richter and Water Street) & the downtown area: Frock (vintage clothing), Olive & Elle (beautiful household items), Funktional
 * Rosebuds designer consignments
 * Rosebuds designer consignments
 * Rosebuds designer consignments
 * Rosebuds designer consignments

Drink
Pubs close at 1AM and clubs at 2AM.



Wineries
Wineries and wine tours have become popular things to do in Kelowna. There are over 20 wineries in Kelowna and the surrounding area, ranging from some of the biggest names in BC wine to small boutique wineries. The list below includes wineries that are in Kelowna only — several popular wineries associated with Kelowna, such as Mission Hill and Quail's Gate, are in neighbouring West Kelowna and covered there.


 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails
 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails
 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails
 * Explore: Kelowna Wine Trails

Sleep
If you will be staying in Kelowna between May and September, book your accommodations well in advance, especially for weekends.

Stay safe
Kelowna is a growing city and therefore has its growing pains, with these come the following recommendations; avoid Leon & Lawrence Avenues between Water and Ellis during night time. City Park at night is patrolled, however can be somewhat dodgy after hours too. Be cautious when visiting the other local parks and beaches during the evening as well as they are known for transients and illegal activity.

As long as you keep yourself aware of your surroundings, you will be fine.

In summer, the city is also prone to forest fires, having suffered large fires in 2003, 2009, and 2023. Depending on the season, there may be campfire bans or parks may be closed.

Go next

 * West Kelowna - If you're looking to round your wine experience, West Kelowna on the other side of Okanagan Lake via Hwy 97, is a good place to stop. It is home to some of the valley's best known wineries like Mission Hill, Mount Boucherie and Quail's Gate.
 * Penticton - 45-60 minutes south of Kelowna is Penticton, another popular summer vacation spot with loads to do. Hang out at a beach, float down a canal, rock climbing, walking and biking trails are all within the city. There are also many wineries in the area.
 * Peachland - A small community on the west side of Okanagan Lake between Kelowna and Penticton. The waterfront has a number of beaches while the hillside affords views of the lake and valley. There are also many walking trails along the waterfront, up the hillside and through Hardy Falls Regional Park.
 * Vernon - About 45 minutes north of Kelowna along Hwy 97, Vernon is a smaller quieter but still popular holiday destination. Highlights include the many parks that offer swimming, walking and hiking trails, a handful of wineries, and Predator Ridge, an acclaimed golf resort.
 * Big White — Ski resort and village southeast of Kelowna via Hwy 33. It lays claim to having to more ski-in ski-out accommodation than any other resort in British Columbia. Summer activities include hiking and sightseeing.