Canada — GF Gone Global

What to Pack for Canada

November · Cool & Rainy

GF Snacks & Essentials

Nuts & crunchy snacks Protein-dense and shelf-stable for the BC Ferries crossing and day trips with thin GF options — the North Shore, Butchart Gardens.
Texas pecans Pistachios Edamame Crunchy corn
Bars & crackers Easy to toss in a daypack for museum visits, ferry rides, or long walks between meals.
KIND protein bars Simple Mills cheddar crackers
Condiment packets Many traditional soy sauces contain wheat, so I carry tamari packets rather than relying on every restaurant having a GF option. PB packets turn any bread or fruit into a real snack.
Tamari packets PB packets
Backup GF meals Just-add-hot-water options for hotel or hostel kitchens on nights when GF dining falls through.
Instant GF noodles GF mac & cheese
Hydration & energy Electrolytes for long travel days, plus a caffeine boost for early ferries or steeper trail stretches.
Electrolytes Energy sticks

Travel Essentials

Documents & money Passport, ID, and any visa or entry paperwork Canada requires, plus cards and some cash. Photograph everything on your phone and leave a copy with someone at home, along with emergency contact details.
RFID card wallet Passport holder & organizer
Clothing basics Underwear, everyday socks, sleepwear, and a couple of casual outfits for evenings out, plus a sweater or sweatshirt as a mid-layer option beyond the technical pieces below. For shoes that aren't hiking boots or a rain shoe, something like this works well for everyday wear. My Pick: everyday shoes
Reusable water bottle Tap water is excellent in both Vancouver and Victoria. My Pick
Toiletries Travel-size essentials for hotel bathrooms and shared showers — one less thing to shop for once you land. Round it out with any skincare, makeup, or period products you use daily.
Electric travel toothbrush Travel toothpaste (4-pack) Detangler hairbrush Shampoo & conditioner Body wash Lotion Sunscreen Contact solution Razor Toilet spray Hair ties Claw clip Hand sanitizer Deodorant Floss Lip balm Face wash Travel tissues Wet wipes
Travel medicine cabinet Small over-the-counter basics so a headache, allergy flare-up, or rough ferry crossing doesn't derail the day. Pack any prescriptions in their original bottles with a few extra days' buffer, plus bandages or blister treatment for the walking-heavy days.
Travel Advil Benadryl Dramamine
Bags & packing organization Keeps everything corralled and easy to pull out at airport security — or find in a shared hotel drawer. A plastic bag works fine for separating dirty laundry, no need to buy anything special there.
Makeup brush holder Hanging makeup bag Compression packing cubes Hardside carry-on 60L travel backpack 50L travel backpack Personal item daybag Luggage tags TSA-approved lock
Technology A portable charger for everyday sightseeing days — museums, long walks, and photo stops add up fast. Round out the tech bag with a charging cable, a wall charger for the hotel room, and an AirTag if you want to track your luggage.
Portable charger Multi-device charging cable Wall charger block AirTag
Hair styling tools Universal voltage on both, so they're safe to plug in anywhere — no separate converter needed.
Universal-voltage hair straightener Universal-voltage travel hair dryer

Optional
Travel laundry detergent Sink packets for handwashing essentials if the trip runs long enough to need a rewear. A stain remover pen and a travel-size fabric refresher cover the rest.
Detergent sheets Stain remover pen Febreze fabric refresher

Optional

Canada-Wide Essentials

Power adapter (if traveling from overseas) Canada uses Type A/B plugs, the same as the US. My Pick
Rain jacket or waterproof shell November is the rainy season on the BC coast — Vancouver sees near-daily rain and Victoria a bit less, but pack for both. My Pick
Layers: Tops A merino base layer, softshell vest, and quarter-zip fleece cover everything from cool to cold — mix and match depending on the day.
Merino base layer Softshell vest Quarter-zip fleece
Layers: Bottoms Merino leggings under pants on the coldest days, joggers on their own when it's milder.
Merino leggings Women's joggers
Layers: Cold-weather accessories A warm hat and gloves are the first thing you'll miss on a damp 5°C day — touchscreen gloves mean you're not stuck taking them off for photos.
Ear warmer headband Touchscreen gloves
Compact umbrella For the constant drizzle between downpours, in Vancouver especially. My Pick
Comfortable waterproof walking shoes Wet sidewalks and lots of walking in both cities — North Shore trails in Vancouver, the harbour and parks in Victoria. My Pick
Sunglasses November skies aren't always gray — low winter sun off the water can be surprisingly bright on a clear day. My Pick

Flight Essentials

Only relevant if you're flying in — skip this section if you're driving or already local.

Sleep & comfort A proper neck pillow, a sleep mask that doubles as headphones, and real noise cancellation make a long flight actually restful.
Trtl neck pillow Sleep mask with headphones Bose noise-cancelling headphones

Optional
Compression socks Helps with circulation and swelling on longer flights, especially if you're connecting through a second airport to get here. My Pick
Optional
In-flight wellness Cabin air is dry and germy — small things that make arriving feel less rough.
Nasal spray Warm eye compress Antimicrobial face spray Hydrating face mask

Optional

Hiking & Outdoor Essentials

Skip this section if you're not planning to hike — everything below assumes at least one trail day.

Hiking daypack Enough room for water, layers, and snacks on longer outings — Capilano, Grouse Mountain, Cleveland Dam. A rain cover keeps everything dry, and downloading offline maps before you go means you're not relying on trail signal. My Pick
Optional
Trail safety Basics for staying safe and visible on trail, especially if a hike runs later than planned. Blister treatment, an emergency blanket, and a whistle are worth tucking into the first aid kit too.
First aid kit Headlamp (2-pack) Mosquito repellent bracelets

Optional
Hiking clothing Cargo pants for cooler trail days, shorts if it warms up, and a couple pairs of wool socks that stay warm even when wet.
Hiking cargo pants Hiking shorts Wool hiking socks

Optional
Waterproof hiking boots More support and grip than a walking shoe for the North Shore trails and Mount Tolmie's rougher paths. My Pick
Optional
Microfiber towel Fast-drying and packable for post-hike cleanup or an unexpected downpour. My Pick
Optional
Trail hydration A packable soft flask for refills plus a filter straw for longer trail days away from town.
Soft flask LifeStraw filter

Optional
Solar power bank Keeps your phone alive for photos and maps on full-day outings away from outlets. My Pick
Optional
Anti-chafe stick Cheap insurance for long days on foot, whether you're on a trail or just covering a lot of city ground. My Pick
Optional
Rain pants Worth it only if you're planning a longer, more exposed hike than a typical North Shore or Mount Tolmie outing — most day trips are fine with just the rain shell. My Pick
Optional

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a car in Canada?

No — my friend and I connected Vancouver and Victoria by BC Ferries rather than renting a car. The Tsawwassen-to-Swartz Bay crossing takes about 95 minutes, with 10 to 17 sailings a day depending on the season, and walk-on passengers rarely need reservations even though vehicles should book ahead. Within Vancouver, the Canada Line SkyTrain gets you from YVR to downtown in about 26 minutes for a fraction of what a taxi costs, and both cities are compact enough to explore mostly on foot once you're there. We'd only consider a car for day trips well outside either downtown core — Vancouver's North Shore attractions like Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain are close together and easy to combine into one outing, but they're easier with a car or an organized tour than with transit.

Is Canada safe for celiacs?

Yes — Canada was one of the easier countries I've traveled with celiac disease. It has strict CFIA gluten-free labeling laws in place since 2012, and both cities we visited backed that up in practice: Vancouver scored 8/10 for GF friendliness, with dedicated bakeries like The Gluten Free Epicurean and Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery plus wide GF sections at Whole Foods and the BC-based Choices Markets chain. Victoria came in at 7/10 — a notch more limited on dedicated restaurants, but Bartholomew's Public House had a dedicated fryer for pub food, and dedicated GF spots like Origin Gluten-Free Bakery (100% GF since 2009) and Be Love (100% plant-based and GF) are worth seeking out if you're there.

What's the best time to visit Canada?

My friend and I visited in November 2022, which is the wrong answer if you want dry weather — it's Vancouver's wettest month, and we had rain most days. Victoria was a little milder and drier than Vancouver during the same week, but neither city was shorts-and-sunglasses weather. If I went back for better conditions, I'd aim for Vancouver's best months of June through October, or Victoria's May through September window, when both cities are noticeably drier and the North Shore trails and Butchart Gardens are more enjoyable without waterproofing everything. November still worked fine for GF dining and indoor sightseeing — just don't expect to spend much time outside without a rain jacket.

GF Friendliness

What to Pack for Canada

Frequently Asked Questions