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Home » North America » Canada » Vancouver

EPIC 3-DAY VANCOUVER ITINERARY (2024)

Vancouver, British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places to see in Canada! Every type of traveler will find something to love about this beautiful coastal city. With magnificent wildlife to awe-inspiring natural landscapes, lush mountain ranges, urban culture, vibrant art, theatre, and scene – Vancouver has it all!

There is something here for everyone, and your soul will be fed from the experiences on this 3-day Vancouver itinerary! Vancouver is a city that is thriving with many people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. You can truly enjoy a rich culture on your trip to Vancouver!

Enjoy the adventure of a lifetime and make memories that will stay with you forever! There are so many reasons to travel to Vancouver, and with this itinerary in hand, you are sure to see the best this city has to offer. We will share everything you need to know and give you all the best Vancouver landmarks for you to sightsee whilst you indulge in the joys of the city!

A Little Bit About this Vancouver Itinerary

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Finding your way around big cities can be challenging, especially when they are busy. Luckily, Vancouver has plenty of transportation options available! We will share a handful of the best options so that you know how to navigate your way around the city in the most stress-free way with our 3-day Vancouver itinerary.

The most popular option to use is The Sky Train. The vast majority of its track runs along on an elevated track, so you can sometimes score good views around the city this way as well as getting where you want to go quickly!

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Buses are everywhere in Vancouver during the day and make for an excellent option for group travelers to get you from A to B on this itinerary! Your driver will know exactly where to take you and can sometimes give you helpful pointers about each neighborhood.

It doesn’t stop there, Vancouver also has SeaBuses! This bus sails the oceans and will connect you from downtown Vancouver to the North Shore.

Walking is also a popular way to get around Vancouver, and with so much to see when you do so, it can be incredibly worthwhile. A lot of Vancouver’s bars and restaurants can be found in single areas, so if you decide to spend some time pub-hopping or enjoying a food tour, the best way to do it is by foot!

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3-Day Vancouver Itinerary Overview

Day 1 in Vancouver: Stanley Park , Vancouver Aquarium , Canada Place , Vancouver Lookout , Gastown

Day 2 in Vancouver: Vancouver Art Gallery , Pacific Spirit Regional Park , Museum of Anthropology , Granville Island

Day 3 in Vancouver: English Bay , Capilano Suspension Bridge , Grouse Mountain , Lions Gate Bridge

More Places to See in Vancouver: Queen Elizabeth Park , VanDusen Botanical Garden, Science World at TELUS World of Science

Part of planning a trip to Vancouver that will blow you away and leave you with memories to last a lifetime is choosing the right neighborhood to stay in! Knowing where to stay in Vancouver will help you have the best time, allowing you to be close to activities within walking distance whilst enjoying our Vancouver itinerary.

Yaletown is a wonderful neighborhood to consider and is the best place to stay in Vancouver during three days or more if you want to be close to the magnificent waterfront. Once this area used to be an exclusively industrial zone, but now it has become one of the hottest areas to stay in Vancouver! Yaletown boasts a bevy of independent boutique shops, modern restaurants, and hip bars.

Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest city, and it is thus incredibly rich with heritage and is made up of charming cobblestone streets. You can see some of the most stunning old-school architecture of Vancouver in Gastown, as well as enjoy the many bars and restaurants. History is brimming in this part of Vancouver, so it is an excellent place to base yourself if you want to immerse yourself in classic charm that has a modern twist. There are a lot of great Vancouver Airbnbs in Gastown too.

Kitsilano is found in the south of downtown Vancouver, and it is a super stylish and lively neighborhood that is especially family-friendly! This neighborhood is famous for coffee culture and poetry readings. The ‘flower children’ call this place their home, and you will meet a lot of free spirits in ‘Kits’ that will inspire you.

Best Hostel in Vancouver – Samesun Vancouver

Found within the city center, Samesun Vancouver is a hostel that provides you everything you need in a cozy and friendly environment!

You will be surrounded by the city’s best pubs, clubs, and restaurants, making it easy for you to walk to places with your travel companions at night.

Samesun Vancouver is one of the most enjoyable hostels in the city and it will add a touch of festivity to your travels!

Best Airbnb in Vancouver – Deluxe Junior One Bedroom with 2 Beds

Located just one block away from the world-famous Robson street there are a lot of various restaurants, stores, groceries are nearby. The condo building has a swimming pool, sauna, exercise gym, and jacuzzi.

Best Budget Hotel in Vancouver – GEC Granville Suites Downtown

This fabulous hotel is great for the price! GEC Granville Suites Downtown provides everything you need to have a fantastic stay.

You will find beautifully decorated rooms, comfortable beds, and an on-site restaurant serving scrumptious meals! The hotel also features a rooftop deck and sauna for those days when you want to relax.

Best Luxury Hotel in Vancouver – Rosewood Hotel Georgia

For 5-star luxury and exceptional facilities, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia is a must! It is found conveniently across the street from Vancouver Art Gallery, this hotel offers an indoor saltwater lap pool for you to keep in shape.

The bathrooms have heated floors, and you will find the rooms to be exquisite!

There is a lot to do in Vancouver . Spend your first day on this Vancouver itinerary admiring the lush beauty of this city’s natural landscapes and diving into the art world. Enjoy the best Vancouver attractions and more during the start of your two days in Vancouver!

10:00 AM – Stanley Park

As the largest and first park ever to exist in Vancouver, Stanley Park is a hub that pumps with life and showcases some of the city’s most incredible history, talent, and beauty.

You can stroll Stanley Park and find an endless amount of new sites and meet some of the friendly locals as you settle in before continuing with the exciting activities lined up on your 3-day Vancouver itinerary.

You will find yourself surrounded in a breathtaking green oasis that is spotted right in the heart of suburbia.

This magnificent urban park is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Vancouver.Explore the 400 hectares of this special park and be sure to see the West Coast rainforest. Then climb some of the small mountain trails, view stunning lakes shimmering in the morning sun, and bask in the magic. Whatever you do, Stanley Park provides a massive range of unforgettable experiences that are suited for every age group and every type of traveler.

If you haven’t had breakfast yet, The Teahouse, located in Stanley Park, is a fantastic, relaxed, and stylish place to grab breakfast and enjoy scenic views.

Cost: Free to enter. Parking is $3.50/hour.
How long should I stay here? 1-2 hours walking around.
Getting there: Bus #19 stops at several different places in the park.

12:00 PM – Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is the largest aquarium in British Columbia and attracts people from all over Canada. The aquarium is not only an outstanding place to view and learn about all types of marine life, but it is also a center for ground-breaking marine research, conservation, and of course, rehabilitation.

You will find a vast number of fantastic displays and meet inspired professionals whose passion is to learn from and protect the lives of sea creatures and their habitats.

Enjoy engaging exhibits and insightful shows that provide a rare chance to get up-close and personal with charming creatures like otters, dolphins, seals, sea lions, and many varieties of mesmerizing fish species.

The aquarium houses an impressive amount of facilities, including a 4D cinema where you can educate yourself of the ocean and the animals that call it their home. This is a must-see during your first day in Vancouver.

Cost: Adult=$38/$30/$21 for adults/students/children.
How long should I stay here? 1-2 hours
Getting there: The aquarium is located inside Stanley Park, which you should be in already. Walk, ride, or take public transit there.

2:00 PM – Canada Place

Canada Palace is one of the most beloved and iconic buildings in Vancouver, and it has become a legendary landmark among the sea of skylines and skyscrapers.

The structure itself is made up of white sails, adding a picturesque effect that makes Canada Place stand out from the other buildings along Vancouver’s waterfront.

With an innovative design, you will be automatically attracted to this unique venue. You can view it all the way from the Seawall in Stanley Park or from the North Wall.

You can catch every type of lively event happening at Canada Palace, but it is most famous for hosting the biggest Canada Day celebrations .

Close to Canada Place, you’ll also find one of the greatest hidden gems in Vancouver: the Marine Building. It features some of the most impressive Art Deco art in the world and is considered one of the finest examples of the movement. If you’re a fan of architecture, be sure to make the quick detour here along the way to the waterfront.

For lunch, there are lots of great places to eat around Canada Place and Downtown Vancouver. Drop by Chewies for some local oysters (make sure they’re from around Vancouver Island).

Cost: Free.
How long should I stay here? 1-3 hours depending on how many attractions you visit.
Getting there: Walk 30 minutes or 20 minutes by bus (#19).

5:00 PM – Vancouver Lookout

Start winding down your first day in Vancouver by enjoying an unforgettable panoramic view from the Vancouver Lookout!

Watch the sunset over the sweeping vistas, shining over the mountains and glimmering on the ocean waters. Watch as the city starts to come alive. People file out onto the streets after a hard day’s work to meet their friends and family for snacks and drinks.

The Vancouver Lookout tower is a brilliant place to get expansive views over the city and the majestic mountain ranges and the ocean. You can also enjoy a cup of coffee at the Revolving Restaurant.

The most fascinating and high-tech feature of this sightseeing tower is its elegant glass elevator that rides up the side and will take you to the top. Ultimately, this will be a highlight of our 3-day Vancouver itinerary.

Cost: $17.50/$12.50/$9.50 for adults/youth/children.
How long should I stay here? Around 1 hour or so.
Getting there: The Vancouver Lookout is right next to Canada Place and is less than a 10-minute walk.

7:00 PM – Gastown

gastown steam clock backpacking vancouver

Gastown is one of the most energetic neighborhoods in Vancouver and it is especially active after dark. This is one of the most popular places to eat and drink in the city and it seems that every other shop is either a restaurant or a bar.

Gastown’s reputation as a late-night area is nothing new either – this is used to be Vancouver’s redlight district way back when the city was no more than a logging town. It’s a bit more clean-cut now but still hangs on to a bit of that old grittiness.

The most infamous attraction here these days is the Gastown Steam Clock.

There is a huge variety of places to eat and drink in Gastown. Feeling like Latin-inspired dishes? Go to Cuchillo. Maybe something a bit more canuk? Check out Belgard Kitchen instead. Need a drink afterward? The Diamond serves up some amazing cocktails.

Nearby, you’ll also find the local Chinatown. Vancouver is very famous for its authentic dim sum and one could easily spend an entire evening (or day) in search of the perfect dumpling.

Cost: Food and drink are not cheap here…
How long should I stay here? All night!
Getting there: Gastown is less than 5 minutes walking from the Lookout.

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Get ready to enjoy day two in Vancouver! You will get to take in the most beautiful, intriguing points of interest and all of the facets of this glorious seaport city.

10:00 AM – Vancouver Art Gallery

Vancouver Art Gallery is world-renowned and is arguably the most respected innovative and visual arts museum in North America. The gallery houses revolutionary art and marvelous exhibits that will inspire you and open up your eyes to the fantastic world of Vancouver’s art scene and its truly excellent talent.

The gallery is relatively large (the 5th largest in Canda) and showcases historical art, contemporary art, and international pieces.

There is a special exhibition that places Asian Pacific Region artworks and First Nations artworks firmly into the limelight. You will be blown away by the variety of mediums, textures, use of color, and stories told by these impressive works of both modern and olden day art.

Take this chance to explore everything that art gifts to us: inspiration, emotion, movement, cultural philosophy, design, and architecture.

Once you’ve finished at the museum, be sure to grab a sandwich at Hubbub to-go. You’ll need it for the next activity.

Note : The Museum opens and closes late on Tuesday and Friday (12 pm – 8 pm) but between 5 pm and 8 pm on Tuesday nights, tickets are free. Donations are asked for instead.

Cost: $24/$20/$18/$6.50 for adults/seniors/students/children.
How long should I stay here? At least 2 hours.
Getting there: There is a metro stop (City Centre) nearby on Granville Street. Otherwise, several bus lines stop right outside the gallery on Howe Street.

1:00 PM – Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Vancouver has a host of incredible wildlife for all travelers to spot during their Vancouver trip, and one of the best places to bask in the bliss of nature is at the Pacific Spirit Regional Park! One of the most relaxing things you can do is to simply enjoy the magical natural parks, and this is a prime spot to do just that.

Amble through the dense rainforests, find canopies and breathe in the fresh air found in this magical park.

Escaping into the Pacific Regional Park will give you a chance to take a breather from the city and embrace the wonders of Vancouver’s abundant nature.

While walking, you will visit many different ecosystems, from the beach, the forests, wetlands, calm streams, and evergreen meadows. You can spot animals like bald eagles, salamanders, snakes, and squirrels.

There are many hiking trails here, leading you to peak viewpoints, relaxed coves, green oases, lush forests, and thriving natural habitats. We recommend making your slowly northwest towards the University of BS, either via the Salish Trail or the Clevland Trail.

How long should I stay here? 2-3 hours.
Getting there: Pacific Spirit is located pretty far away from Downtown Vancouver and we definitely recommend using a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft for this leg.

3:00 PM – Museum of Anthropology

Dive into the world of First Nations artwork and other cultural community pieces following your hike in Pacific Spirit Park. The Museum of Anthropology is an establishment run by people passionate to shed light and awareness of diverse cultures across the globe and celebrating the differences between nations.

They run a lot of programs with indigenous, local, and global communities to keep the fire of history and culture alive in today’s modern world.

The museum has a reputation worldwide for being a hub that protects cultural knowledge from all nations and all eras. You are going to be in for a whirlwind of new information and eye-opening knowledge when you visit this museum.

The museum houses a plethora of artwork and artifacts from old tribes and indigenous people, and it strives to protect the right for people to, “maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expression.”

Enjoy art from all around the world, and treat yourself to a walkabout. You will find yourself captivated by the murals, exhibits, and artworks all housed within the Museum of Anthropology!

Insider Tip: On Thursday evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm, tickets are only $10!

Cost: $18/$16 for adults/seniors & students.
How long should I stay here? 1-2 hours.
Getting there: The museum is about 5 or so km by foot from the center of Pacific Spirit Park.

6:00 PM – Granville Island

Let’s wrap our second day in Vancouver by visiting one of the coolest parts of the city: Granville Island. Known mostly as a shopper’s paradise, Granville is also a great place to grab a bite to eat or beer.

Shoppers can spend hours milling in and out of the endless variety of trendy shops, finding everything from clothing to gifts and kids’ toys.

Foodies will stumble across incredible cafes to have a cup of coffee or some homemade baked goods. If fine dining is more your scene, you can also find that here.

The art scene in Granville is also huge . You will run into design studios everywhere and have many chances to take a peek at some truly mesmerizing art done by the gifted artists in Vancouver. See things made from every type of material, from ceramic bowls and vases to stylish furniture and handcrafted jewelry.

This is a place for you to have fun and experience the joys of Vancouver’s atmosphere and all of the wonderful artistic creations made from the people who call ‘The City of Glass’ their home.

Cost: A bit cheaper than Gastown but still slightly expensive.
How long should I stay here? The rest of the day!
Getting there: Bus #084 leaves from atop University Hill on Chancellor Blvd and takes around 40 minutes to reach Granville. Otherwise, take another rideshare.

Today’s our third and last day in Vancouver so we’re making a good one! We’re heading to the mountains but not before we get some beach time first. 🙂

9:00 AM – English Bay Beach

English Bay is one of the most-loved of them all refers to both the bay itself as well as a beach near Stanley Park. English Bay Beach is also known as ‘First Beach.’

There’s a lot do here in the morning: you can go for a run or bike ride along the popular Seawell, go kayaking in the bay, or rent a chair and umbrella, then catch some early morning rays!

Only in Vancouver can you find a beach like English Bay in the middle of an urban landscape.

If you’re feeling brave, you can also use this opportunity to take a dip in the frigid Pacific waters.

You will find all sorts of fun things to do in English Bay and may even meet a four-legged friend along the way! English Bay has a designated ‘dog-off-leash’ areas where pooches can run freely, meeting people, and playing together. You will also find areas where people are playing volleyball, soccer, or cricket on the shores.

How long should I stay here? Around 2 hours.
Getting there: Bus #023 stops right in front of the beach.

12:00 PM – Capilano Suspension Bridge

This is probably the most touristy place featured on our 3-day Vancouver itinerary. That being said, it still shouldn’t be missed.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a well-built and simple bridge that crosses over the scenic Capilano River. You can walk along the relatively narrow bridge and take in breathtaking views of the forest landscape surrounding you and the flowing river underneath you.

The bridge is 140 meters long and quite a unique attraction in Vancouver. The entrance fee is somewhat pricey, but all proceeds go towards maintenance and other worthy causes that keep the surroundings pristine.

If you’re looking for something to eat after the bridge, DON’T go to the places near the bridge itself. Instead, head north and have food at Sushi Mori or look around Edgemont Village.

Cost: $43 per person.
Getting there: Head to West Georgia Street near Marina Square and take bus #246. The ride takes 30 minutes and will drop you off very close to the bridge.

2:00 PM – Grouse Mountain

What better way to wrap up our trip in Vancouver than by seeing it from afar? Grouse Mountain offers one of the most expansive views of the city and features a couple of interesting attractions as well. It is the perfect place to visit on a Vancouver day trip .

There are two ways to arrive at the top of Grouse Mountain:

The first via a somewhat expensive chair lift that operates in both summer and winter.

This is obviously the easiest and most convenient way to get the up mountain.

The other, more hardcore way to get up the mountain is via grueling hike called the “ Grouse Grind .” This hike is not at all easy and finishing it is like a right of passage for visiting Vancouver. You’ve been warned.

Once you arrive at the top of Grouse Mountain, bask in the views. If you’d like a bit more information about the mountains, you can find everything you need to know at the Blue Grouse Sustainability program. Grouse Mountain is a magnificent place to enjoy the beauty of the city and treat yourself to a fun adventure at the same time.

Cost: Lift tickets are $59/$52/$32 for adults/seniors/children.
How long should I stay here? A half-day.
Getting there: Bus #232 or #236 goes direct from Capilano to the foot of Grouse Mountain.

7:00 PM – Lions Gate Bridge

On the way back to Vancouver, we’re going to stop by one of its most iconic locations: Lion’s Gate Bridge. Known officially as the First Narrows Bridge, this bridge holds a lot of historical significance , and that is something that makes it a major spot to visit whilst touring Vancouver. Fun fact: a pair of sculpted lions once used to stand proudly at both sides on the entrance of the bridge!

This spot may not be the kind of place you could laze out and enjoy an afternoon, but it is a spectacular place to go see during sunset. You can’t walk along the bridge, but you can relax in the areas nearby and observe it from the safety of the bush or the sandy ocean shore. As the sun goes down, lights on the bridge come to life, and it becomes quite a spectacular sight to behold.

The scenery around the bridge is jaw-dropping and is a great way to end your 3 days in Vancouver.

Once you’ve gotten your fill, head back to the city to grab your last dinner, and pack your bags. Unfortunately, our time is up 🙁

How long should I stay here? Around 1 hour.
Getting there: It’s easiest to see the bridge from Stanley Park but there is no direct bus from Grouse Mountain. You’ll need to use a rideshare if you want to stop here.

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighbourhood in Vancouver:

Gastown is one of the oldest and most charming neighbourhoods in Vancouver. Located at the northeast end of Downtown Vancouver, this area is made up of cobblestone streets and stunning heritage architecture.

Visit the Steam Clock and stand at the spot where the city began.
Good drinks and a great atmosphere await you at the Lamplighter Public House, a classic and modern pub at the heart of the city.
Visit the Alibi Room for a great lineup of cocktails, beer, drinks and food.

Queen Elizabeth Park

Situated on Little Mountain, Queen Elizabeth Park is a major attraction in Vancouver and has a storied past that makes it a significant part of Vancouver’s heritage.

The rocks of this park were the ones that were quarried to make the very first roadways in the city! It has scarred the garden, but it has still got so much magic to offer and remains one of the most stunning parks in Vancouver.

You will find immaculate gardens, with neatly kept shrubs and trees all growing in a way that flows and creates a tranquil ambiance. The waters of the ponds are so still you can see your reflection smiling back at you! There are also plenty of birds dancing in the trees, singing tunes, and adding to the picturesque setting of Queen Elizabeth Park!

The park is one of the best places to go for a calming walk to take in the beauty of nature or sit back with a partner for a picnic. If you’re up for it, you can also join the teams that play sports in the park, such as tennis, basketball, pitch & putt, roller hockey, disc golf, and lawn bowling!

Cost: Free to enter.
How long should I stay here? 2-3 hours.
Getting there: The Canada Line Metro stops very near to the park on Oakridge and 41st.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

There are botanical gardens, and then there is the VanDusen Botanical Garden. This garden is expertly landscaped, with features like ponds, waterfalls, vibrant flower beds, streams, labyrinths, mazes, and hiking trails. There are all kinds of flower varieties within the garden and every species is flourishing!

The garden is operated by a joint team, the City of Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation and the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association.

These two organizers have been working hand-in-hand over 40 years to build and preserve the beauty of the VanDusen Botanical Garden.

With so much to see within these magical grounds, you can spend a lot of time becoming entranced by the fauna and flora, the bright colors, and tranquil atmosphere. Be sure to take a leisurely walkabout so that you can take it all in!

Insider Tip: The most famous labyrinth in the botanical garden is found beneath the Palace of Knossos on the island of Crete, and it is known to be the place where the hero Theseus killed the Minotaur in a well-known myth.

Cost: $8-$11 depending on the season.
Getting there: Bus #17 stops in front of the gardens.

Science World at TELUS World of Science

TELUS World of Science building is one of the most unique and recognizable structures in the city. Inside, you’ll find an even more interesting assortment of exhibits though. This is a great place for all age groups and will fascinate everyone, even if they don’t already think science is sweet.

At Science World, you will see a huge variety of exhibits that delve into the discoveries made across different topics throughout the years.

There are also permanent interactive displays that will allow you to take your learning to a new level.

This place is overflowing with inspiring things to do and see. You will also find amazing displays of artistic developments that incorporate scientific knowledge, making it another fantastic place to gaze into the mind of Vancouver’s visionaries!

Cost: Adult’s tickets are $27.15, children (3-12) get in for free.
How long should I stay here? 3-4 hours.

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When planning your vacation in Vancouver, it is essential to know the weather patterns of the city and understand what you can expect during the months that you want to visit. We will go over everything you need to know about the seasons and give a month-by-month breakdown in this Vancouver itinerary, so you can relax and leave the planning to us!

British Columbia and all of the PNW for that matter has a reputation for being dark and rainy all year long. Whilst this is certainly true in the winter and part of the spring, Vancouver is not always dreary. In fact, summers in Vancouver are almost always sunny!

As such, the best time of the year to visit is between April to October, when you are guaranteed more sunny days than any other time of the year. Vancouver’s peak seasons typically occur during late spring, between April and May, as well as during the fall between mid-September and October.

Summers in Vancouver are mild, with moderately hot days but no scorchers! As for winter, those can get icy and quite rainy, but it also adds a sense of nostalgia to the landscapes of British Columbia. This makes it a great time to go see the mountains and old-school architecture.

Vancouver’s off-season includes November through mid-December, with January being the quietest, most tourist-free month of the year. February to mid-March is also considered Vancouver’s off-season.

Deciding when to visit Vancouver is about choosing the most convenient time for you, whilst factoring in what to expect from the crowds and the weather.

Here is a table showing you exactly what is in store from month-to-month in Vancouver!

As with most big cities, there is a lot of crime, and it is an unavoidable reality in every part of the world. However, all things considered, Vancouver is a safe place to visit, and you won’t have any hassles if you keep general safety tips in mind during your travels.

Firstly, it’s important to know that Downtown Vancouver is one of the city’s biggest places for crime. This does not mean you should avoid this part of the city entirely, because it is also a magnificent place for sightseeing, but be vigilant when you are in this neck of the woods.

Try not to appear too ‘touristy’ and make sure of that when you travel Downtown. Know exactly where you are going so that you can avoid slipping down the wrong alley or getting stuck in a dodgy part of the city.

When you go out, be sure to have a group of trusted friends and companions with you, and be sure to keep an eye out for each other.

You also don’t want to drive drunk, so for women and men, take a taxi if you feel like having a night out on the town and indulging in the many bars of Vancouver.

Petty crimes can happen if you leave your stuff unattended, so make sure you have your belongings close at hand, or at least in viewing range of wherever it is that you are. When walking in the busy streets, keep your bag close, or have it in the middle of your chest and be sure it is zipped.

If you follow all of these simple precautions, you minimize any chance of a mishap, and you can enjoy your time in Vancouver knowing you’re likely to stay safe!

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Vancouver

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Final Thoughts

Even if you spent an entire one week in Vancouver exploring one neighborhood, you would still be finding new things to do and see! This aspect of the coastal city’s atmosphere will have you coming back for more every time with another one of your new Vancouver vacation ideas.

We know that each of our daily Vancouver itineraries will have you enjoying the best of this city, allowing you to delight in the many sensations it has to offer. If you are trying to have a longer holiday in Vancouver, you can simply pace yourself and take your time at each of these stops. Consider heading to Vancouver Island on a day trip; this one of the most beautiful places in all British Columbia and you may find yourself wanting to stay a couple of extra days here.

Book your favorite hotel or hostel and pack your bags. Don’t forget to bring your best travel camera !

Sheridan Cahoon

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Epic One Week Travel Itinerary And Guide To Visiting Vancouver

Published: September 27, 2023

Modified: January 3, 2024

by Layla Zalewski

Plan Your Trip
Travel Guide

Introduction

Welcome to the vibrant and beautiful city of Vancouver! Nestled between the picturesque mountains and stunning coastline of British Columbia, Vancouver offers visitors a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and exciting urban experiences. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a food lover, or a history buff, Vancouver has something to offer everyone.

With so much to see and do, it’s important to plan your visit carefully to make the most of your time in this incredible city. In this epic one-week travel itinerary and guide, we will take you on a journey through Vancouver’s top attractions and hidden gems, ensuring that you don’t miss out on any of the unforgettable experiences this city has to offer.

From exploring downtown Vancouver to venturing into the lush landscapes of Stanley Park and crossing the iconic Capilano Suspension Bridge, this itinerary will provide you with an immersive and comprehensive experience of the city. We’ll also guide you through the historic districts of Gastown and Chinatown, and even take a day trip to the charming city of Victoria on Vancouver Island.

As we embark on this adventure, keep in mind that Vancouver is known for its mild and rainy climate, so be prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear. Additionally, public transportation in Vancouver is well-developed and efficient, making it easy to navigate the city without a car. So, let’s get started on this unforgettable journey through the heart of Vancouver!

Day 1: Exploring Downtown Vancouver

Start your Vancouver adventure by immersing yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of downtown. Begin your day with a visit to the iconic Canada Place, a sail-shaped landmark that serves as a convention center and cruise ship terminal. Take a stroll along the waterfront promenade and soak in the stunning views of the harbor and North Shore mountains.

Next, head towards the bustling shopping district of Robson Street, where you’ll find a plethora of shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Treat yourself to a delicious brunch at one of the trendy cafes or grab a quick bite from the food trucks lining the street.

After brunch, make your way to the historic district of Gastown. Explore the cobblestone streets lined with charming Victorian buildings, and make sure to snap a photo of the famous Steam Clock. This is the perfect place to find unique boutiques, art galleries, and souvenir shops.

Continue your downtown exploration by visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery, located in the neoclassical former courthouse building. The gallery houses an extensive collection of artwork, showcasing both international and Canadian artists.

As the day winds down, make your way to Yaletown, one of Vancouver’s trendiest neighborhoods. This former warehouse district has been transformed into a lively area filled with upscale boutiques, trendy restaurants, and hip bars. Enjoy a delightful dinner at one of the many acclaimed eateries and unwind with a drink at a rooftop patio.

To end the day, take a leisurely stroll along the seawall, which stretches from Coal Harbour to False Creek. This scenic pathway offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and is the perfect way to cap off your first day in downtown Vancouver.

With its vibrant atmosphere, cultural landmarks, and stunning architecture, downtown Vancouver is a must-visit destination for any traveler. Immerse yourself in the energy of the city and get ready for more exciting adventures in the days to come!

Day 2: Stanley Park Adventure

Get ready to immerse yourself in nature as you embark on a day of adventure in Stanley Park, one of Vancouver’s most beloved and iconic attractions. Spanning over 1,000 acres, this urban park offers a stunning combination of lush greenery, awe-inspiring views, and recreational activities.

Start your day by renting a bike or lacing up your walking shoes to explore the park’s extensive network of trails. One of Stanley Park’s highlights is the seawall, a 9-kilometer paved pathway that encircles the park and offers breathtaking views of the ocean, mountains, and downtown Vancouver.

As you make your way along the seawall, take a short detour to visit the Totem Poles, a collection of intricately carved indigenous art pieces that showcase the rich history and culture of the First Nations people.

Continue your journey through the park to the Vancouver Aquarium, a world-class facility that houses a diverse range of marine life. From playful sea otters to majestic beluga whales, the aquarium offers a captivating experience for visitors of all ages.

After exploring the marine world, head towards the park’s picturesque interior to visit the stunning Stanley Park Gardens. Here, you’ll find beautifully manicured gardens, lily ponds, and vibrant flower displays. Take a moment to relax and soak in the tranquility of this enchanting oasis.

No visit to Stanley Park would be complete without experiencing its famous landmarks. Make a stop at the Prospect Point Lookout for a panoramic view of Vancouver’s skyline and the Lion’s Gate Bridge. End your day by venturing into the depths of the park to visit the famous Hollow Tree, a towering red cedar that has become an iconic symbol of the park’s natural beauty.

If you’re feeling hungry, Stanley Park offers a range of dining options, from casual picnic spots to elegant restaurants. Indulge in a leisurely lunch at one of the park’s picnic areas or grab a bite to eat at the acclaimed Teahouse restaurant, which offers stunning ocean views.

Whether you’re cycling along the seawall or exploring the park’s hidden gems, a day in Stanley Park will leave you feeling refreshed and connected to nature. Embrace the beauty of Vancouver’s urban oasis and get ready for more unforgettable adventures in the days to come.

Day 3: Granville Island Experience

Prepare for a day of culinary delights, artistic treasures, and vibrant markets as you explore Granville Island. Located in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown, this unique peninsula offers a captivating mix of artisan shops, bustling markets, and a thriving arts scene.

Start your day with a visit to the Granville Island Public Market, a bustling hub of fresh produce, gourmet foods, and local crafts. Explore the stalls of local farmers, bakers, butchers, and fishmongers, and indulge in a delicious breakfast featuring freshly baked goods, organic fruits, and specialty coffees.

After fueling up, take a leisurely stroll through the island’s streets and alleyways to discover a wide range of art galleries, boutiques, and studios. Granville Island is home to talented artists, sculptors, glassblowers, and jewelers who create stunning works of art right before your eyes.

As lunchtime approaches, make your way to the Granville Island Brewing Company for a brewery tour and a tasting of their award-winning craft beers. Learn about the beer-making process and sample a flight of their signature brews while enjoying views of the city skyline from the brewery’s patio.

Next, head to the Granville Island Kids Market, a paradise for young visitors and families. Explore the interactive shops, toy stores, and play areas that are sure to keep children entertained for hours.

In the afternoon, hop on a colorful Aquabus or False Creek Ferry and take a scenic ride along Vancouver’s waterfront. Enjoy the picturesque views of Yaletown, Science World, and the stunning cityscape as you cruise through the False Creek waterway.

As the day comes to a close, immerse yourself in Vancouver’s vibrant theater scene by catching a show at the Granville Island Stage or the Arts Club Theatre Company. Enjoy a performance ranging from comedy to drama, and experience the city’s artistic energy firsthand.

End your day with a delicious dinner at one of Granville Island’s renowned restaurants. From fresh seafood to international cuisine, you’ll find a variety of culinary options to satisfy your taste buds.

The Granville Island experience is a feast for the senses, combining delectable food, captivating art, and unique shops. Embrace the lively energy of this cultural hub and get ready for more exciting adventures in Vancouver.

Day 4: Gastown and Chinatown Exploration

Embark on a day of discovery as you explore the historic districts of Gastown and Chinatown, two vibrant neighborhoods that showcase the diverse cultural heritage of Vancouver.

Begin your day in Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, known for its charming cobblestone streets, Victorian architecture, and unique boutiques. Start at the famous steam clock, a beloved landmark that lets out a burst of steam and plays melodies every 15 minutes. Take a leisurely stroll along Water Street, lined with trendy shops, art galleries, and restaurants.

Next, make your way to the iconic Gastown Vancouver Lookout, located on top of the Harbour Centre building. Take the elevator to the observation deck and enjoy panoramic views of the city, mountains, and the ocean.

Continue your exploration by visiting the Vancouver Police Museum, housed in a heritage building that was once the city’s main police station. Learn about the fascinating history of law enforcement in Vancouver and explore unique exhibits, including old police equipment and historical crime artifacts.

As you venture into Chinatown, the largest in Canada and one of the oldest in North America, prepare to be immersed in a rich tapestry of vibrant colors, aromatic scents, and cultural landmarks. Start your exploration at the beautiful Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a tranquil oasis that combines nature, architecture, and traditional Chinese culture.

Afterwards, wander through the bustling streets of Chinatown and discover a plethora of herbal medicine shops, fashion boutiques, and specialty grocery stores. Indulge in a mouthwatering dim sum feast at one of the neighborhood’s famous eateries or sample aromatic teas at a traditional teahouse.

Make sure to visit the narrowest commercial building in the world, the Sam Kee Building, a testament to Vancouver’s unique architectural history. Explore the vibrant Chinese Cultural Centre, which offers insights into the history, traditions, and arts of the Chinese community in Vancouver.

As the day winds down, immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife of Gastown. Enjoy a craft cocktail at one of the trendy bars or indulge in a delicious dinner at one of the neighborhood’s renowned restaurants, which offer a diverse array of cuisines, from world-famous seafood to contemporary Canadian dishes.

The Gastown and Chinatown exploration will transport you to a world of rich history, cultural diversity, and culinary delights. From the cobblestone streets of Gastown to the vibrant markets of Chinatown, you’ll experience the vibrant tapestry of Vancouver’s heritage.

Day 5: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Prepare for an exhilarating adventure as you head to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, a must-visit attraction that offers a thrilling experience amidst the beauty of Vancouver’s lush rainforest.

Begin your day by crossing the iconic Capilano Suspension Bridge, a 137-meter-long bridge that hangs 70 meters above the Capilano River. As you make your way across, be prepared for a thrilling sway and stunning views of the surrounding forest. Take your time to immerse yourself in the serenity of the rainforest and listen to the sounds of rushing water.

Explore the park’s network of walking trails, which lead you through old-growth trees, firs, and cedars that have been standing for hundreds of years. Experience the Treetops Adventure, a series of suspended walkways and platforms that are elevated in the forest canopy, providing a unique perspective on the ecosystem.

After your treetop adventure, venture to the Cliffwalk, a thrilling walkway attached to the cliffside that offers breathtaking views of the canyon below. Feel the adrenaline rush as you navigate narrow walkways and glass-bottom observation points that extend out over the steep drop.

Immerse yourself in the culture and history of the indigenous peoples of the area by visiting the Kia’palano Totem Park. Marvel at the intricate carvings and learn about the stories behind the totems, which serve as symbols of cultural heritage and ancestral connections.

Take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch amidst the stunning surroundings or savor a meal at the park’s café, which offers a variety of fresh and delicious options.

Before leaving the park, visit the Trading Post and explore the unique selection of souvenirs, handmade crafts, and indigenous artwork. Take a piece of the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park with you as a lasting memory of your visit.

If you have extra time, consider taking a short drive to the nearby Cleveland Dam, where you can enjoy a scenic walk along the reservoir and enjoy panoramic views of the North Shore Mountains.

As you conclude your day at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, you’ll have experienced the thrill of walking amongst the treetops, the tranquility of the rainforest, and a deeper appreciation for the natural wonders of Vancouver. Get ready for more exciting adventures in the days to come!

Day 6: Grouse Mountain and Lynn Canyon Park

Get ready for a day of outdoor exploration as you venture to Grouse Mountain and Lynn Canyon Park, both offering incredible natural beauty and thrilling experiences.

Start your day by heading to Grouse Mountain, known as the “Peak of Vancouver.” Take the Skyride, a scenic gondola ride, to the mountaintop and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, ocean, and surrounding mountains. Once at the summit, choose from a range of activities to suit your interests and adrenaline level.

If you’re an adventure enthusiast, challenge yourself with the Grouse Grind, a steep hiking trail known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster.” The trail offers a rigorous workout, rewarding hikers with stunning views once they reach the top. Alternatively, opt for zip-lining, paragliding, or mountain biking to get your heart racing.

For a more leisurely experience, explore the mountaintop’s scenic trails, visit the resident grizzly bears at the wildlife refuge, or catch the entertaining Lumberjack Show, a display of traditional Canadian lumberjack skills.

After your time at Grouse Mountain, make your way to Lynn Canyon Park, a hidden gem just a short drive away. This beautiful park offers lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and a suspension bridge that rivals the more famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. Take a peaceful stroll along the park’s trails, listening to the sounds of nature and marveling at the towering trees.

Don’t miss the opportunity to cross the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge, which hangs 50 meters above the canyon floor. Feel the thrill as it sways beneath your feet and offers breathtaking views of Lynn Creek below. Explore the park’s various hiking trails, ensuring to visit Twin Falls, where you can witness the impressive twin waterfalls.

After a day of outdoor adventure, head back to Vancouver and treat yourself to a delicious dinner at one of the city’s renowned restaurants. Indulge in a mouthwatering meal that showcases the fresh flavors of British Columbia, from Pacific seafood to farm-to-table delights.

The combination of Grouse Mountain’s thrilling activities and Lynn Canyon Park’s serene beauty will leave you with unforgettable memories of Vancouver’s natural wonders. Relax, recharge, and get ready for the final day of exploring this incredible city.

Day 7: Day Trip to Victoria, BC

On your final day in Vancouver, embark on an unforgettable day trip to the picturesque city of Victoria, located on Vancouver Island. Known for its charming beauty, historic landmarks, and stunning gardens, Victoria offers a delightful escape from the bustling city.

Start your day by catching a ferry from Vancouver to Victoria, enjoying a scenic journey through the glistening waters of the Strait of Georgia. Upon arrival, make your way to the famous Butchart Gardens, a world-renowned horticultural paradise. Explore the stunning displays of colorful flowers, meandering pathways, and tranquil ponds. Take your time to soak in the peaceful ambiance and capture beautiful photos.

Next, head to the heart of Victoria and visit the historic Inner Harbour. Marvel at the grandeur of the Parliament Buildings, which dominate the skyline with their impressive architecture. Stroll along the waterfront promenade, lined with charming shops, restaurants, and street performers. Don’t forget to take a moment to enjoy the scenic views of the harbor and the iconic Empress Hotel.

For a taste of Victoria’s rich history, visit the Royal BC Museum, where you can explore fascinating exhibitions showcasing the region’s natural and cultural heritage. From First Nations history to British colonial era artifacts, the museum offers a captivating glimpse into the past.

No trip to Victoria is complete without indulging in a classic afternoon tea experience. Head to the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel and treat yourself to a traditional high tea, complete with delicate finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and an assortment of delectable pastries.

After tea, take a leisurely stroll through the stunning Beacon Hill Park, a sprawling green space featuring colorful gardens, meandering paths, and picturesque ponds. Visit the famous Mile Zero marker, which denotes the start of the Trans-Canada Highway, and soak in the beauty of this urban oasis.

Before returning to Vancouver, make sure to explore Victoria’s charming downtown streets, filled with boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. Pick up unique souvenirs or artwork to remember your trip by, and perhaps enjoy a delicious dinner at one of the city’s waterfront eateries.

As the day comes to an end, bid farewell to Victoria and board the ferry back to Vancouver, savoring the memories of your enchanting day trip.

The day trip to Victoria offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural landmarks, and quaint charm. Experience the best of this charming city and return to Vancouver with a heart full of memories and a desire to explore more of British Columbia in the future.

As your epic one-week journey through Vancouver comes to a close, you can reflect on the incredible experiences, diverse culture, and natural beauty that this city has to offer. From the bustling streets of downtown to the tranquil forests, stunning parks, and vibrant neighborhoods, you’ve had a taste of the best that Vancouver and its surrounding areas have to offer.

You’ve explored the iconic landmarks of downtown Vancouver, ventured into the lush greenery of Stanley Park, savored the flavors of Granville Island, delved into the rich history of Gastown and Chinatown, braved the heights of Capilano Suspension Bridge, and immersed yourself in nature at Grouse Mountain and Lynn Canyon Park. Finally, you took a memorable day trip to the charming city of Victoria, where you experienced the beauty of Butchart Gardens and the historic allure of the Inner Harbour.

Throughout your journey, you’ve come to appreciate the unique blend of urban sophistication and breathtaking natural landscapes that define Vancouver. The city’s commitment to sustainability, cultural diversity, and outdoor recreation has surely left a lasting impression on you.

From the stunning views of the mountains and the ocean to the friendly and welcoming locals, Vancouver has captured your heart and left you with memories that will last a lifetime. The beauty of this city lies not only in its physical landscapes but also in its vibrant communities, thriving arts scene, and culinary delights.

As you prepare to depart, we hope that this comprehensive and engaging travel itinerary and guide has inspired you to explore Vancouver in a way that truly showcases its unique character. Whether you’re a nature lover, a food enthusiast, or a history buff, Vancouver has something to offer for everyone.

So, as you bid farewell to this magnificent city, take a piece of it with you – the memories, the experiences, and the desire to return one day to continue your love affair with Vancouver.

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The PERFECT 3 Days in Vancouver Itinerary (2024 Guide)

Last Updated: February 9, 2024

If you’re looking for the perfect ‘how to spend 3 days in Vancouver itinerary’ you’ve come to the right place!

One of the best cities in all of Canada, Vancouver sees millions of visitors every year to admire some of the most stunning scenery in the World.

British Columbia is home to the Rocky Mountains. And those mountains are greeted by the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver, gifting you with the best of both worlds.

With a laid back vibe, incredible entertainment and food scenes, Vancouver boasts some of the most picturesque views in the country.

From the North Shore mountains to the chilled out vibe of Kitsilano, Vancouver has dozens of neighbourhoods to be found no matter what it is you’re looking for.

The city has a fantastic public transit system, which will make your visit so much easier. Travel by bus, SkyTrain and even SeaBus services to get you anywhere you want to go.

Even some of the city’s best hiking trails can be reached without the need for your own vehicle. This is a huge bonus, especially when doing your best to keep your budget in check.

A saying often used by many Vancouverites is “West Coast. Best Coast” and you’d be hard-pressed to disagree with them after checking out this itinerary for 3 days in Vancouver.

Plan your trip to Canada with our comprehensive Canada Travel Guide .

Table of Contents

10 am – Stanley Park

2 pm – granville island, 6 pm – sunset drinks at sunset beach, 7 pm – dinner (and more drinks) on granville street, 9 am – robson street to main street, 10 am – shopping, beach hopping & a game, 11 am – grab a bike and head to the beach, 3 pm – queen elizabeth park, 4 pm – wander main street, 6 pm – dinner and a game, 9 am – head over to north vancouver, 10 am – capilano suspension bridge park, 12 pm – make your way to the mountains, 6pm – drinks and dinner in gastown, when to visit vancouver, getting around vancouver, the best hostel in vancouver – the cambie hostel gastown, best budget accommodation for couples – atrium inn, best boutique hotel in vancouver – the burrard hotel, budget: the warehouse granville, mid-range: twisted fork bistro, high-end: five sails restaurant, enjoy this perfect 3 days in vancouver itinerary.

Vancouver, where the mountains meet the sea and where every scene looks like something straight from a postcard.

With a variety of awesome activities to be done, you could be skiing in the morning, cycling the seawall after lunch and exploring historic and trendy Gastown by night.

From Stanley Park, to Granville Island Public Market, to Grouse Mountain, to the nightlife and more, here is the perfect Vancouver itinerary that covers all the highlights of the city.

To find out what cool things to do for 3 days in Vancouver scroll on!

Vancouver Itinerary Day 1

Start the first of your 3 days in Vancouver itinerary by grabbing a coffee and takeaway breakfast from any nearby cafe. Vancouver knows how to do coffee on a whole other level!

You’ll need the fuel to get you moving straight towards one of the city’s most visited locations.

Visited by over 8 million people every year, Stanley Park is one of the most popular places to check out in downtown Vancouver. And for good reason too.

Located at the northwestern edge of downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park is easily accessible from the centre of everything.

Covering over 405 hectares, this is a public park like no other you’ve experienced before.

Stanley Park starts at the corner of Denman Street and West Georgia. From here you’ll hit the path that will take you nearly 6 miles from end to end.

Hit up a bike rental shop and grab some wheels to take you along the paths or take in the views on foot.

Alternatively, sign up for a guided bike tour to get an insider’s view of what makes Stanley Park so special.

The paths are well marked with tons of cool spots to stop along the way including Brockton Point Lighthouse, Stanley Park Tea House, and the Stanley Park Boat Club.

The whole park is well signposted with tons of off-shooting trails to discover.

One of the best views is definitely from Prospect Point out over the beautiful Lions Gate Bridge.

To check out the map of Stanley Park visit the website here .

If you carry on the whole way along the seawall you’ll hit Third and Second Beach.

While they may not have original names, these beaches make for an awesome swim/rest/picnic spot.

Stanley Park Seawall 3 Days In Vancouver

You’ll finish off your adventure in the West End where you can grab a bite at any of the numerous restaurants.

Or you can carry on to Granville Island on the cutest little rainbow coloured ferry.

Granville Island Public Market is home to 50 different vendors and stalls ranging from fresh fish, produce, cheesemongers, baked goods and so much more.

Granville Island Public Market is a perfect place to grab a bite, and maybe even some treats to take home for later.

Granville Island Brewery is a must for any beer lover, with awesome tours of the brewery, a great menu and a range of tasting flights to enjoy too.

This is the kind of place you’ll find buskers and street performers on every corner. Expect this to be true more so on sunny days, making it the perfect kind of place to sit on a patio and watch the world go by.

You can even rent kayaks and paddleboards to take out on the water around Granville Island.

After enjoying Granville Island, grab the ferry back over to the West End or head over to False Creek if you’re in the mood to check out the Science Center .

Or if you’ve taken your bike on the ferry the cycle path around False Creek is another beauty to explore.

As the sun starts to set you’ll want to get a front-row seat to the show at Sunset Beach .

Perfectly named for the incredible sunsets that happen, this beach is a great place to post up with a picnic and watch the sky explode.

If you fancy good drinks to go with your sunset head to Cactus Club Davie Street.

Located right on the beach you’ll get all the views while enjoying a fabulous drink before heading to the entertainment district, aka Granville Street.

It’s time to end the first day of your Vancouver itinerary with a bang.

This street in Vancouver is home to a ton of clubs, pubs, music venues and theatres.

A few must-visit venues include The Orpheum, Commodore Ballroom and the Vogue Theatre.

There are tonnes of places to eat as well, so find any restaurant that takes your fancy and grab a seat.

READ MORE: Be sure to check out all the top things to do in Vancouver on your trip!

Vancouver Itinerary Day 2

You’re ready to start your second day exploring downtown Vancouver. Hope you got some sleep and didn’t party too hard at The Roxy!

The second day of your 3 day Vancouver itinerary is going to be jam-packed so you should definitely stop into Abode for one of Vancouver’s best breakfasts first.

Located right on Robson street this is a great place to start the day off.

As one of the biggest cities in Canada, Vancouver plays host to some pretty impressive shopping opportunities.

Most of which can be found along Robson Street in the heart of the city.

This is where most visitors will find themselves at least once during their 3 days in Vancouver.

From unique souvenir shops to independent boutiques and of course the big shopping centre with several floors of everything you can imagine.

After spending some time browsing or window shopping it’s time to make for VanCity Bikes to grab a bike and head to the beach.

While summer may not last all year round that doesn’t mean that you have to skip the beaches.

Canada’s west coast is famous for its mountains but you may be surprised to hear that it is also home to dozens of beaches too, all of which have spectacular views.

As a super cycle-friendly city, you’ll be able to rent a bike and cruise over the Burrard Street Bridge , stopping to catch the view over Burrard Inlet and carrying on to Kitsilano.

Known as Kit’s by Vancouverites, this laid back neighbourhood is home to one of the best beaches in the city and the longest swimming pool in Canada.

Kitsilano Beach and Kitsilano Swimming Pool are right next to each other so if you don’t fancy swimming in the ocean just head for the pool.

Tons of volleyball nets are set up on the beach, and there is a huge green space parallel to the shore great for picnics and BBQs too.

Cruise along the bike path from Kits east towards Jericho Beach for a quieter vibe and a great place to watch fireworks on Canada Day.

Nearby you’ll also find Locarno Beach, Spanish Banks and Acadia Beach.

Even if the weather is not super warm, these are all great places to check out the views and go for a walk.

These beaches can also be reached by public transit and on foot if cycling isn’t your thing.

Stop into The Namm for a fantastic vegetarian feed to fuel you up before heading to one of the prettiest places in the city.

Situated on the adorably named Little Mountain sits 130 acres of gorgeous greenery known as Queen Elizabeth Park.

Named after Queen Elizabeth herself for an impending visit in 1993, the views here are definitely fit for a queen.

The park is free to enter and has tons of trails to explore, a cool waterfall in the middle, a conservatory and even tennis courts.

The views here are gorgeous year-round, and especially lovely in Autumn when the leaves start to turn golden and red.

If you’ve already been to Queen Elizabeth Park then head next door (and then some) to VanDusen Botanical Gardens instead.

Both are gorgeous options, and not too far off from Main Street.

The dividing street between the west side of downtown Vancouver and East Vancouver, this is one of the city’s hot spots for shopping and dining experiences.

Check out Smoking Lily , an independent boutique or Assembly of Text for all your quirky stationery needs.

For a fun night of drinks, The Cascade Room has a 1950’s theme with a vintage drinks menu to fit.

Dinner at Burgoo is always a good idea for amazing burgers and legendary mac & cheese.

To cap off night 2 of your 3 days in Vancouver make for either BC Place for a Whitecaps soccer game or Rogers Arena for a Canucks hockey game.

Check out this site to find tickets. If your budget doesn’t allow for watching the game live, head to The Sportsbar Live! for drinks and a great atmosphere.

If you’re not into sports, see what events or concerts are on at the Vancouver Convention Center in Canada Place.

READ MORE: Explore the area around with these day trips from Vancouver !

Vancouver Itinerary Day 3 – North Van to Gastown

If you think you’ve exhausted your list of what to do in Vancouver in 3 days, you’re wrong!

There is still 1 full day left on your 3 Days in Vancouver itinerary and you best believe the best is definitely saved for last!

3 Days in Vancouver are definitely not complete without a trip to the mountains.

With incredible mountain ranges surrounding the city, you’ll be able to see them no matter where you are.

But the best way is to get up close and personal with them. Why not hop on the SeaBus to North Vancouver , the quickest way and the most scenic way to get there.

From Waterfront Station near Canada Place to Lonsdale Quay is a gorgeous ride and you’ll be able to kick the day off at the Lonsdale Quay Market .

With over 80 different vendors, from jewellery to fresh produce, massage therapy and so much more it’s a hub for everything you can imagine in North Van.

And just a few blocks away is Waterfront Park , the perfect place to take your finds from the market for a nice picnic and to soak in the views.

READ MORE: Check out this post on the best things to do in Victoria on your next trip.

Or if you want a nice place to take your coffee and go for a stroll, Tilford Gardens ticks all those boxes.

Three acres of themed gardens, sculpture gardens and beautiful views will be sure to make your last morning in Vancouver so much better.

And now into the mountains!

Once you’re in North Van your hiking options are seemingly endless. Suspend your senses at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park .

The Capilano Suspension Bridge itself stands at 140 meters long and 70 meters high. Up here you’ll get some of the best views possible while exploring treetop walks, beautiful forests and so much more.

Buy your ticket to the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park ahead of time here .

If you’re trying to stick to a budget though, Lynn Canyon Park is for you!

This park is home to an equally impressive suspension bridge, but not nearly as high or long as Capilano Suspension Bridge and is free to visit.

The park is full of incredible trails, waterfalls and beautiful pools to admire or take a swim in.

For waterfall lovers, Norvan Falls is best visited in the summer so that you can go for a dip in the falls after your hike.

Or maybe Quarry Rock in Deep Cove is what you’re after. There really are an endless amount of trails to enjoy, to see the full list click here .

For winter visitors this side of the city is where you’ll find the best mountains to hit the slopes.

There are some amazing mountains in British Columbia near Vancouver, including Mount Seymour, Dog Mountain, and Grouse Mountain.

Mt. Seymour offers 23 runs throughout the ski/snowboard season and with a rental shop on-site, you can just rock up and hit the slopes.

There are also dozens of snowshoe trails on this mountain which is perfect for anyone looking for a slower pace to the afternoon.

The best view for snowshoers, or hikers in the summer, is up Dog Mountain.

On the clearest of days, you can see all the way out to the Islands and then some, well worth the climb to get there too.

Grouse Mountain is another great option. You can go skiing or snowboarding year-round at Grouse Mountain!

The awe-inspiring views of Vancouver’s skyline and the surrounding coastal mountains from the Grouse Mountain Skyride aerial tram provide a captivating backdrop to any visit.

Other fun things to do at Grouse Mountain include hiking the intense Grouse Grind trail or going zip lining.

After a full day in the mountains hop back on the ferry to Waterfront Station where you’ll be just steps away from historic Gastown .

The oldest and possibly most charming neighbourhood, Gastown has cobbled streets, gorgeous architecture and seems to be dripping in twinkling lights.

The neighbourhood is famous for the beautiful steam clock in the middle of town which chimes and lets off steam every 15 minutes. Hearing this gives you a feeling of being in a different decade.

The streets are lined with tons of galleries, boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants making it the perfect place to spend the last night of your itinerary for 3 days in Vancouver.

Tacofino, The Flying Pig and SteamWorks Brewery are perfect spots for that last dinner. And for a nightcap be sure to visit Six Acres or The Portside Pub .

If you’re super hungry, and want a super cool experience to finish your Vancouver travels on, sign up for this walking food tour of Gastown .

Vancouver Travel Guide

Now that you know the best things to do in a Vancouver Itinerary, here are some more travel tips. We’ll help you figure out the best time to visit, how to get around, where to stay and what to eat when visiting Vancouver.

Planning your 3 Days in Vancouver itinerary you’ll definitely want to make sure you fact in the time of year depending on what you want to do.

Home to the mildest winter weather in all of Canada, Vancouver is a great city to visit year-round.

That being said, some seasons are better than others.

Winters are mild, but also the wettest season in this city. While a little rain never killed anyone it does sometimes make it difficult to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking.

When rain falls in the city, there is a good chance snow is falling on the mountains so it’s great for any skiers/snowboarders planning a visit.

May – September boasts the driest weather, June and July being the hottest and busier months of the year.

Spring and Autumn are also known to be quite mild and while some days are rainy, it won’t be nearly enough to keep you from enjoying your 3 days in Vancouver itinerary.

If you’re wondering how to get around when visiting Vancouver in 3 days there are a few options.

Most of the city is connected on the bus and the Skytrain lines connecting downtown Vancouver to the Vancouver International Airport, the North Shore mountains, and even out to Surrey.

Translink services tons of destinations including the SeaBus which will get you over to North Vancouver in the most scenic way.

The transit map is broken up into zones and the fares relate to which zone you’re travelling.

A day pass can be purchased for $10.50 which allows you to ride the SkyTrain or the bus for an unlimited amount which will make it so easy for you to get around and explore.

For more information on transit visit the Translink website here .

Getting around the downtown core is best done on foot as traffic can be quite hectic, plus the views are better while walking than from any bus window.

When the weather is good the best way to get around to all the beaches and the Stanley Park Seawall is definitely by bike, if you don’t have your own there are dozens of rental shops around to choose from.

If you like doing those red hop-on hop-off bus tours, you can purchase your ticket here .

If you’re heading into the mountains such as Grouse Mountain, it’s easier to explore with a rental car!

The best way to get around is to rent a car and explore on your own! We recommend Rental Cars , which has the largest range of vehicles for the best value on the market.

Where to Stay in Vancouver , Canada

When it comes to exploring Vancouver in 3 days, you’ll want to know you have a great place to rest after a day of sightseeing.

Tons of factors come into play when making the decision, mountain view or ocean view? A quiet neighbourhood or right in the heart of the city? Rooftop spa or free breakfast?

A cozy romantic hotel suite, a dorm room to save some cash or maybe a room with a view of Coal Harbour and your own fireplace.

You’ll never be far from something incredible no matter what neighbourhood you choose to stay in either.

Whatever you’re looking for and whatever your budget might be Vancouver definitely has something for everyone.

The Cambie Hostel is located in the vibrant entertainment and cultural district of Gastown.

Enjoy discounts at the local pub, meet new friends, and share your favourite Vancouver moments with free wifi.

If you’re looking for the best place to stay for you and your other half for your 3 days in Vancouver itinerary head to the Atrium Inn .

Beautiful decor and spacious rooms will leave you hard-pressed to leave the hotel, but you’ll feel extra lucky with how close to the action this hotel is. The perfect place to sleep in and have breakfast in bed too!

Super funky and located right on Burrard Street, the Burrard Hotel is one of the trendiest spots to stay in the entire city.

One of the first hotels in downtown Vancouver, it has since been fully renovated to be hip, modern and high-end, but keeping to its roots and keeping the design from the 1950s.

Check out our full review of the Burrard Hotel here .

Best Restaurants In Vancouver, Canada

An itinerary for 3 days in Vancouver would not be complete without a few good meals to fuel your adventures.

You’ll find every cuisine to please any palette in this city and everyone’s wallet too.

If your 3 Days in Vancouver itinerary needs to be done on a strict budget look no further than The Warehouse Granville.

With the entire food menus under $6.00, this is the perfect place for anyone with a strict budget looking for a good feed, and in the heart of the entertainment district too.

In the heart of Gastown is the Twisted Fork Bistro. The cozy atmosphere is rivaled only by the menu of Canadian bistro fare with a French twist.

With brunch served daily and a perfectly matched drinks menu it would be a crime to miss out on a meal here.

With gorgeous views of the water and mountains, this fine dining restaurant is one of the best in downtown Vancouver.

They have lots of high-quality meat and seafood dishes as well as a high tea available. This restaurant is located inside the Pan Pacific Hotel in Canada Place.

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Vancouver Itinerary: 6 Must-Dos to Make the Most of Your Visit

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Jam Pack Your Vancouver Itinerary With These Tips By Laura, our Local Guide!

There are tons of things to do in Vancouver. Whether you’re staying in Vancouver for one day or a whole week, planning your trip can sometimes feel overwhelming!

But stick with me here, because I called Vancouver home for 2 years & have visited half a dozen times before that. I’ll make sure you see the best bits of the city – with some a little off the beaten path!

Some of you might be travelling to Canada for the first time . If that’s the case – amazing! There is plenty to do and see and we’re happy to show you around this beautiful country – and the Vancouver area.

>> Vancouver: 7-Hour Sea to Sky Tour – Check Out the Coastline and the Mountains in One Day! >> Sea Vancouver Waterfront Sightseeing Adventure – Discover the City from the Waterways! >> Vancouver & Capilano Suspension Bridge Sightseeing – Walk the Famous Bridge on a Half Day Adventure!

Table of Contents

Stanley Park + Sea Wall + Prospect Point

totem poles with green trees behind vancouver itinerary

No trip to Vancity is complete without setting foot along the seawall & Stanley Park.

Whether it’s by bike, Segway, or on foot, you’ll be amazed at the views you get of the city and the seriously amazing number of beaches you’ll find along the way.

Eric & Lisa’s Tip: We did a Vancouver bike tour that covered much of the city – and Stanley Park – and loved it!

In the summer, be sure to do a bit of beach hopping through first, second, & third beach until you reach sunset beach. As you can imagine, it boasts some pretty epic sunsets.

Pop into the aquarium if the weather is a little less favourable for the beach and keep your eyes peeled for eagles hovering and sea otters swimming!

A little off the path you’ll find one of my favourite spots at Prospect Point. Here, you get a great view out to North Vancouver & the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Day or night, rain or sun, no matter the weather – this is the quintessential must-see spot on anyone’s trip to Vancouver!

Granville Island + Brewery Tour

Because who doesn’t love boats & beer? If you’re feeling ambitious and you’ve just finished up your bike ride/walk of the seawall, you might find yourself in need of some grub and a pint (or 4).

So, why not grab the aquabus from False Creek (you can even pop your bike on the boat, space permitting) and in no more than 5 mins you’ll be stepping off into Granville Island Public Market.

The indoor market is home to a multitude of different treats, fresh produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, & everything in between. It’s best to head there on an empty stomach and try a little something from all the stalls.

That way, you’ll be primed and ready to get into the beers at Granville Island Brewery. Founded nearly 35 years ago, the Brewery is a social hub on the island and is a great spot for some drinks. Better yet, why not get a tour which includes a small flight of tasters?

As you head out, be sure to make a visit to their shop to stock up on your favourites. I’d suggest the Maple Shack Cream Ale. Then you can take on the rest of the island by strolling around and exploring the great independent shops that call the island home.

lamp with clock on sidewalk in vancouver itinerary

Gastown is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver and the one with the most character. Cobbled streets and gorgeous architecture might have you thinking you’re somewhere in England but you’re right in the heart of Canada here.

Speaking of Canada, for more amazing places to visit, check out this massive guide on the best attractions all over Canada !

Gastown is known for its whistling steam clock you won’t be able to miss it (ie: look for the crowd). If you’re hoping to spot it sans-crowd check it out in the early hours of the morning or after-dinner hours.

You’ll find shops to suit all tastes here, from designer boutiques, to independent art shops, classic souvenir stores, & so much more. And if that wasn’t enough, the eateries that line those cobbled streets are some of the best in the city.

I’d suggest checking out Tacofino , Back & Forth Bar , and Steamworks . And for dessert, don’t miss out on the epic and very Vancouver Cartems Doughnuts – the Earl Grey is something magical!

From the city, head out towards North Vancouver and you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to another world. The city fades away and you’re left with the most adorable little village vibes.

Facing East towards Indian Arm (a branch off of Burrard Inlet) you’ll have at the most stunning scenic views from the town.

Grab a coffee (and of course a sweet treat) from Honey Doughnuts and stroll along the beach and the boardwalk taking in all the views of the gorgeous boats with the mountains behind.

Keep your eyes peeled for some rather famous folk who call Deep Cove home (AKA Ben Affleck has a home here & has been back & forth frequently since 2000). If you want the best view that Deep Cove has to offer (in my opinion), then tie up your trainers and head up.

Quarry Rock is a Vancouver local favourite and can get quite crowded during the summer months, but outside of that season it remains pretty crowd-less and gives you sweeping panoramic views as far the eye can see. Definitely a great spot for a sunset, a picnic, or just soaking in the views.

Lynn Canyon

rope and wood bridge over green canyon vancouver itinerary

This was hands down my favourite place to be when I lived in Vancouver. Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge is a great alternative if you’re on a budget and looking to avoid paying the $40.00/each to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Home to 617 acres of sheer lush nature, Lynn Canyon has a fantastic trail system for all fitness levels & ages.

In the summer, you’ll hear loud screams from the brave (or insane) cliff jumpers at “30 Foot Pool”, and during the shoulder season, all you’ll be able to hear are the multiple waterfalls rushing as it seems on any given day you could be the only person out there.

There are stunning ancient trees stretching up towards the sky, waterfalls a-plenty, and you’ll get the most magical feeling as you walk through the forest.

Having been used a filming site for multiple tv shows & movies you’ll immediately get the sense that you’ve walked into a whole other universe.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll be hard pressed to believe that all of this exists less than 20km from the city centre.

Norvan Falls

waterfall with girl sitting vancouver itinerary

Saving the best for last? I may have, and I couldn’t let you leave Vancouver without getting out and doing some solid hiking now could I?

This is the perfect hike that can be completed no matter what the weather (rain, sun, or even snow) and you’ll be gifted with a wicked waterfall when you come to the end.

You’re looking at a 14km round trip adventure so be sure to pack lots of snacks & some good company for the trek. It’s not intense so you won’t feel like “oh all that beer from Granville Island last night wasn’t a great idea”.

The terrain is relatively flat for most of the way in. You’ll cross some streams and get up into the trees for a bit before coming out to a rock pool. Then just look to your right: bam – WATERFALL WONDERFULNESS!

If you start early enough or head out on a weekday, you may end up with the falls all to yourself. My first trip out was in the middle of the summer and we even got the chance to swim under the falls totally on our own. Fingers crossed that happens for you – it’s much more magical that way.

Whether it’s your first trip to Vancouver or a return visit, here’s hoping these suggestions give you a whole new appreciation for the city and what beautiful sights surround it!

You’ll never be without something to do, somewhere to eat, or some epic view to see! Vancouver is home to the most eclectic city vibes and there is something to do for everyone. Hopefully, these suggestions are just the start to your epic Vancouver plans!

And there you have it – Laura’s take on the best things to do in Vancouver. A huge shout out to Laura for being her awesome self and sharing these with our waddlers.

If you want to learn more about Laura and what she’s up to living and working abroad, check out her site at She Who Wanders . You can connect with her on her channels like Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook . She loves to chat about travel!

Compare flights on Skyscanner
Check for Hotel Deals or Book A Hostel
Get A Rental Car (depending on the destination)
Research plug types and possibly get a travel adapter
Go over our packing list

If you want to learn more about (Western) Canada, have a look at these posts as well:

Where to Stay in Vancouver
Things to Do in Victoria, BC
Vancouver to Victoria: All Options
Vancouver to Whistler Day Tour – Our Experience
The Best Time Of Year To Visit Canada

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Vancouver in One Day – The Perfect 24-Hour Itinerary

When traveling abroad, get a policy from one of the best travel insurance companies . Y ou can get a 5% discount on Heymondo , the only insurance that pays medical bills upfront for you, HERE!

Visiting Vancouver in one day was the best start we could have to what has been the best trip of our life so far. Vancouver is one of the top cities in western Canada, and with its eclectic blend of urbanity and natural beauty, it’s not hard to see why.

We took a 15-day Canadian Rockies road trip , but first, we spent one perfect day in Vancouver, British Columbia . There are so many things to do here, so deciding how to spend 24 hours in this city is no easy feat.

In this guide, I’ll share some ideas for what to do for 1 day in Vancouver . Whether you choose to stay downtown or want to check out the natural surroundings, there is something for you.

And if you have more time, don’t miss out our post with the 25 best things to do in Vancouver.

Vancouver in one day – morning itinerary

Have breakfast at The Templeton, the best way to start your day in Vancouver

We started our perfect day in Vancouver with a hearty breakfast at The Templeton , and I highly recommend it. This popular diner is close to several main attractions in the city center, so it’s the best place to fuel up for a big day.

The restaurant has an extensive breakfast and lunch menu with vegetarian options. Some of the highlights include the Farmers Breakfast and the Big Ass Breakfast , but everything is delicious, and the portions are enough for two or more people! It’s a popular hangout spot thanks to its classic 1950s style, complete with jukeboxes and huge milkshakes.

The Templeton is known for friendly service, good food, and a pleasant atmosphere, which we can attest to. Plus, it’s open daily, so you’ll be able to visit no matter when you plan your Vancouver 1-day itinerary .

Walk through Stanley Park

After a delicious brunch, enjoy a stroll around Stanley Park . Walking through this huge urban park will take a couple of hours, but you could also rent a bicycle to get around.

Follow the Seawall Path, which does a 5.5-mile loop around the park. You’ll pass by some interesting sites, including the Girl in a Wetsuit statue and Prospect Point, which provides awesome views of the lighthouse and harbor.

Stanley Park, 1-day vancouver itinerary what to do

Continue to Siwash Rock, then check out Second Beach. This dog-friendly beach has beach volleyball, a heated pool, and if you’re lucky, a chance to see some wild orcas. English Bay (First Beach) is a 15-minute walk south and offers a family-friendly atmosphere and kayak rentals.

Finally, the First Nations totem poles are a must-see in Vancouver in one day . These colorful monuments reflect the history and culture of the indigenous Salish people, who have lived on the land for hundreds of years.

Take a panorama tour by seaplane

After walking through Stanley Park, get a totally different perspective of the city. This seaplane tour departs from a marina next to the park and does a 20-minute loop over Vancouver.

Seaplane tour, one day in Vancouver what to do

Marvel at the giant splash of the plane as you take off from the harbor. You’ll get a breathtaking view of the city, including the unmistakable Canada Place, as well as the North Shore Mountains. If you’re wondering how to spend a day in Vancouver , this is it!

Have lunch at Granville Island Brewing

Next, head to Granville Island , which has a more laid-back vibe. It’s the perfect place to visit if you’re in Vancouver for one day without a car since you can take the footbridge or a ferry.

Granville Island is full of bars, restaurants, and specialty shops. I recommend stopping by the Granville Island Public Market, a shopping haven full of craft stalls, fresh produce, and any souvenir imaginable.

Granville Island Brewing, Vancouver one day trip

When you get hungry, grab a table at Granville Island Brewing Co. for some munchies and a beer or two. They also serve beer flights so you can sample 3, 6 or 10 different brews.

24 hours in Vancouver, Canada – afternoon itinerary

Take a waterfront sightseeing cruise

While you’re already in Granville, hop on a zodiac boat for a sightseeing tour. This 1.5-hour waterfront cruise is one of the best one-day tours in Vancouver, BC, and sails along the English Bay and North Shore.

Waterfront sightseeing cruise, what to do in one day Vancouver

Take in the beautiful views of the Vancouver cityscape and see Coal Harbour, False Creek, and other iconic sights. Keep your eyes peeled for seals and dolphins near the coast!

Visit Chinatown, a must-see in Vancouver in one day

Back on the mainland, a visit to Chinatown is something you must add to your Vancouver one-day itinerary . The city has a large Asian population, so its Chinatown is a bustling place of different cultures and cuisines.

One of the first things you’ll see is the Millennium Gate. Flanked by a stone lion on either side, the gate is three stories high and has a colorful terra cotta roof.

Chinatown, things to see in Vancouver in one day

As you walk through the neighborhood, you’ll pass by various restaurants and shops, several with vintage neon signs. Stop in for a snack or trinket, then check out the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. There is an entrance fee but it’s worth it because the grounds are filled with peaceful koi ponds, plants and shrubs, and a pagoda.

See the sunset from Vancouver Lookout

Not far from Chinatown is the Vancouver Lookout , a 553-foot-tall observatory. Take a 40-second ride to the top in a glass elevator, then look out over the city and enjoy 360º views.

Vancouver Lookout, 1 day in Vancouver what to do

From up there, you’ll be able to see Metro Vancouver, the beautiful North Shore Mountains, and on clear days even Vancouver Island just off the Pacific Coast. Plan your 1-day Vancouver itinerary so you get to the lookout just in time to see the sunset, then, climb back down and enjoy some evening fun in Gastown.

And don’t forget to visit the Gastown’s iconic Steam Clock. It’s just a 2-minute walk from the Lookout.

End your day in Vancouver, BC – evening itinerary

Have dinner at guilt & co., what to do in vancouver in 1 day.

You’ve had a perfect day in Vancouver , but it’s not over yet! After visiting the lookout, head to Guilt & Co. for dinner, cocktails, and live music. It’s in the Gastown neighborhood, so you’ll be in the ideal spot to wrap up your night.

Enjoy the nightlife in Gastown

Gastown is a lively area of alternative shops, cafes, and clubs, so it’s a ton of fun at night. Go bar-hopping and stop by the Royal Dinette to get a drink from the award-winning best bartender in the world, Kaitlyn Stewart.

The town’s cobblestone streets and jazz influence add to its appeal, and the neighborhood overlaps with Chinatown, so it’s always an active place. You can browse the shops, mingle with the locals, or listen to a live band. Whatever you do, if you’re only in Vancouver for a day , Gastown is a must-see.

End your perfect day in Vancouver at Fairmont Hotel

By the end of the night, you need somewhere to lay your head. If you’re looking for the best luxury hotels in town, I recommend the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver , which is conveniently located in the city center. Plus, it’s just five minutes from the SkyTrain, so you can easily get out of Vancouver without a car.

If you’re traveling on a budget, the Blue Horizon Hotel is also a great alternative and is not far from there.

Alternative things to do in Vancouver for a day

If you can only spend one day in Vancouver but prefer to enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings, we have a few ideas.

Above, you have seen what to do in Vancouver in a day to see the most important landmarks in the metro area. However, as you’ll learn in our guide on the best things to do in Vancouver , there are other tours and activities that can help our more outdoorsy readers create the perfect one day Vancouver itinerary.

Whale watching, a perfect morning alternative in Vancouver

Without a doubt, the highlight of our trip was whale-watching in Vancouver , so I must recommend it.

The tour we took lasted 5 hours and started in Granville Island at 8:30 am, making it the perfect alternative for the morning itinerary. If you’re looking for a different thing to do in one day in Vancouver, BC, or have some extra time before catching your flight, I can’t recommend this enough.

Whale watching, what to do a day in Vancouver

The surrounding waters of Vancouver are full of orcas and humpback whales, and you’ll probably see sea lions and bald eagles, too. The best thing is that if you’re not lucky and don’t see any whales, you can take another tour for free. However, you will need more than one day in Vancouver (or another upcoming trip) to take another tour.

Capilano Bridge, an alternative afternoon in Vancouver

For an adrenaline-filled afternoon, check out the Capilano suspension bridge . You can book this self-guided tour and spend a couple of hours taking in the gorgeous view.

The 450-foot-long hanging bridge is one of the city’s most exciting attractions, so it makes for a perfect day in Vancouver if you love extreme adventures. Suspended 230 feet above the ground, the bridge is the only way to get an above-canopy perspective of the forest.

Capilano Bridge, how to see Vancouver in one day

You may also want to check out the Story Centre, an educational exhibition where you can learn about the First Nations people at Kai’palano and their traditional totem poles.

Grouse Mountain, the perfect winter day in Vancouver

If you love snow sports and have one winter day in Vancouver , consider a visit to Grouse Mountain .

Located in the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Range, Grouse Mountain is just a 20-minute drive from downtown Vancouver and is the best winter destination for ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding.

During the warmer months it’s also quite popular with mountain bikers and hikers. There is also a popular hiking trail, the Grouse Grind , known as “Mother Nature’s Staircase.” The two-mile trek rises 2,800 feet in elevation, so it’s quite the hike.

Grouse Mountain, one day in Vancouver winter

Of course, you could also take the Super Skyride cable car to the top of the mountain. A two-way ticket is included with general admission to Grouse Mountain (it also includes a shuttle from/to downtown Vancouver from mid-May to September). However, if you visit in summer, I would opt for this combo tour that also takes you to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

For outdoor enthusiasts and snow sports lovers, Grouse Mountain is the ideal way to spend a day in Vancouver.

Sea to Sky Gondola, an alternative day in Vancouver

The Sea to Sky Gondola is perfect if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown (it’s a one-hour drive from the city center).

Open year-round, the gondola ascends over Howe Sound and the coastal forests of British Columbia. Not only are the views amazing, but there are several outdoor activities at the summit, so you can enjoy a perfect day in Vancouver’s natural beauty.

Sea to Sky Gondola, one day in Vancouver without a car

You’ll catch the gondola from Shannon Falls Provincial Park, named for British Columbia’s third-tallest waterfall, at nearly 2,000 feet. The gondola takes you up to the Summit Lodge 9,000 feet above sea level, where you can find the 330-foot-long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge that grants you panoramic views over the forest.

To make the most out of your day in Vancouver, you can take this tour, which not only includes the shuttle there, but also a guided tour around the most popular downtown attractions, such as Gastown, Chinatown, Stanley Park, and Granville Island.

Now you should have plenty of ideas for your next 24 hours in Vancouver ! This city has so much to offer, so if you can spend more time here, be sure to take advantage of your visit.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll be happy to help. Safe travels!

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Ballenas y orcas en Vancouver, los mejores tours de avistamiento

2 replies on “ Vancouver in One Day – The Perfect 24-Hour Itinerary ”

Don’t bother with ChinaTown, the area is gross and pretty unsafe in 2023. It was dirty, smelly, hardly any open shops and there were so many drug addicts and people acting quite volatile with very little police presence. Definitely do not go after dark, it was bad enough mid afternoon. We are from Hamilton/Toronto and even we found it shocking. Toronto Chinatown is much bigger, better and safer. Don’t waste your time in Vancouver. In fact, any further up or over than the gastown steam clock in that direction from the waterfront is pretty dodgy.

Hi Jackie, Yes, someone recently told us about the bad situation in Chinatown. However, that wasn’t the situation when we visited a couple of years ago. I hope it can recover and become what it once was!

Vancouver Travel Guide

There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to Vancouver, Canada. It's too cold, it rains all the time, it gets so dark, etc. Not only are these preconceived notions misguided, Vancouver actually has some of the most temperate weather in the entire country, making it an ideal destination to play, explore, and have adventures inside and out.

Once you realize you're not going to be swept away by freezing rain year-round, you can begin digging into the wide variety of things to see, do, eat, and explore. Canada's third largest city is a multicultural hub with stunning architecture that sits on the Strait of Georgia and is surrounded by epic mountains and lush green forests.

Because of its natural beauty, the city is set up for outdoor adventurers, whether cruising the streets of one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, riding bikes along the city's seawall, or hiking in nearby woodlands for some of the freshest air on earth.

Vancouver is a city that is proud of its diversity, its indigenous history, and its tolerance. Davie Village is a neighborhood in the city's West End where a thriving LGBTQ+ community comes out to play, while the city also boasts the third-largest urban Indigenous population in all of Canada.

So, throw your mistaken beliefs out the window and think about booking a ticket to Canada's western hub, you will not regret it.

Pacific Standard Time

Best Time to Go

There aren't any bad times to go to Vancouver, but because it's a northern city, there are reasons for every season. The summer months draw in the most tourists and boast the longest daylight hours, but the winter (which is surprisingly mild) is the least crowded time of year and has sprouting trees and flowers as early as February. Keep in mind that the rainiest months are from November to March, which leaves the month of September as the most idyllic time with changing leaves, cooling temps, and dry skies to get outside.

If you're into whale watching, April through November is prime time. For events and festivals, think about Chinese New Year, which lands between January and February, the Vancouver Marathon in May, Vancouver International Jazz Festival in June, or the Vancouver Pride Parade in July or August.

Things to Know

One of the best things about Vancouver is how easy it is to get around. Not only is the city incredibly walkable and bike-able, but there is also a plethora of public transit options. Don't bother renting a car here as hotel parking is pricey and taxis, buses, ferries, trains, and ride-share apps make moving around a cinch. Check out this handy transit guide by the Vancouver Tourism Board.

Another great item to note about Vancouver is that the city boasts 550 separate locations with free WiFi service. Look for the #VanWifi public network to connect in case you need touring advice at your fingertips. Also, if you're visiting Vancouver from the United States, you do not need an adapter for your electronics as all of Canada runs on standard 120 V.

As far as the geography of the city, Vancouver is broken up into neighborhoods. Popular hoods include the Downtown Centre, which is in the middle of the city; Gastown, which is known as the historic quarter filled with cobblestoned streets and trendy restaurants; Kitsilano for the beach and water enthusiasts; Yaletown for high-end shopping and eating; Chinatown for great eats and sites; and the West End, which leads outdoor lovers to the expansive Stanley Park.

Lastly, Vancouver is considered one of the safest cities in the world. But like all major metropolises, mind your belongings — especially in the highest touristy areas of the city.

Currency: Canadian Dollar – nicknamed the "loonie." (Check the current exchange rate )

Language: English

Calling Code: +1 604

Capital City: Victoria (capital of British Columbia)

How to Get Around

Trains: Vancouver SkyTrain is one of the most-efficient means of getting around the city. There are three lines: the Expo Line with four downtown stations, including Chinatown and the Waterfront; the Canada Line, which can take you to and from the airport, in addition to Vancouver City Centre and Yaletown; and the Millennium Line that links with the Westcoast Express commuter train. Depending on where you're going, fares run from $1.95 to $5.75.

Buses: Vancouver has an extensive bus system that typically runs from 5am to 1am with stops in every major neighborhood and beyond. Vancouver's TransLink website has a simple plug and play that can help you get to wherever you need to go and includes fare prices.

Taxis: If you plan on taking a taxi from the airport, the fares will change depending on the zone of your destination. Airport rates range from $20-$40. All taxis are regulated in the city and run on meters.

Ferries: Connecting downtown Vancouver with the North Shore is the SeaBus, a passenger-only ferry that departs every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. SeaBus fares are similar to SkyTrain fares.

Car service: When you arrive at the Vancouver International Airport, you have a bevy of transportation options. One of the most comfortable rides is hailing a luxury vehicle to whisk you into the city in style. There are officially-licensed limousine services from the airport that do not require any advanced bookings.

Best Hotels

Fairmont hotel vancouver.

Address: 900 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6, Canada Phone: +1 604-684-3131 Website

Arguably the nicest hotel in the entire city, the Fairmont resides in the central part of the city with epic waterfront views. The classic Châteauesque-styled hotel was built in the 1930s, has more than 500 rooms, and features an indoor pool. Other highlights of the property include its lavish afternoon tea and a pet-friendly policy.

Shangri-La Hotel

Address: 1128 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6E 0A8, Canada Phone: +1 604-689-1120 Website

Part of the luxurious Shangri-La chain of hotels, the Vancouver iteration is home to 119 rooms and 15 floors within the tallest building in the city. This central downtown spot is known for its Zen-inducing spa, award-winning service, and excellent dining at Miantiao — a Chinese/Italian fusion spot that's filled with surprises.

Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Address: 801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7, Canada Phone: +1 604-682-5566 Website

This vintage downtown hotel was originally opened in 1927 and has played host to A-list celebrities and British royalty alike. In 2011, the hotel unveiled a massive renovation, bringing the property into the 21st century with today's finest amenities. Guests here are treated to an incredible spa, 52-foot indoor saltwater lap pool, and personalized experiences that range from rainforest hikes to helicopter journeys.

Skwachàys Lodge

Address: 31 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1R3, Canada Phone: +1 604-687-3589 Website

Indigenous-owned and operated, the Skwachàys Lodge is a hotel in the Gastown areas of the city. This arts-forward property hosts an urban Indigenous artist residence and a gallery featuring Indigenous art. If you're looking for the soul of the Indigenous experience, the hotel offers a private sweat lodge purification ceremony on the rooftop garden, in addition to a smudging ceremony meant to purify the body.

Address: 1177 Melville St, Vancouver, BC V6E 0A3, Canada Phone: +1 604-669-5060 Website

This boutique hotel is close to Stanley Park and is constantly recognized as one of the best hotels in Vancouver. Known for its health and wellness program, each room comes with its own yoga mat and a 24-hour yoga channel on the in-room TVs. Other unique amenities include an infrared sauna and free use of electric cruiser bikes that can zip you around the city with ease.

Hotel Belmont

Address: 654 Nelson St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6K4, Canada Phone: +1 604-605-4333 Website

For tourists wanting to be in the fray of Vancouver's bustling nightlife, Hotel Belmont is in the perfect spot. This funky hotel is right off Granville Street, which is home to some of the city's best bars, pubs, and nightclubs. Inside, the hotel leans into kitsch with multicolored layouts and retro design. And if you want to keep the entertainment going at the property, The Basement has a neon-lit arcade with a bowling alley and late night DJ-led dance parties.

Address: 322 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5Z6, Canada Phone: +1 604-642-6787 Website

A Yaletown mainstay, Opus Hotel is a hip boutique that features in-house Muses who are there to design your entire stay in Vancouver – virtually anyway. The pre-ordained characters give you a helpful guide to the city based on your mood or personality. In addition to making your stay more personalized, the hotel also features a delectable Italian restaurant called Capo with tasty pizzas and slick cocktails.

Best Restaurants

Address: 200 Granville St #70, Vancouver, BC V6C 1S4, Canada Phone: +1 604-568-3900 Website

Not only does Miku have some of the best sushi in Vancouver, but it also prides itself on its sustainability. The restaurant is part of the Ocean Wise Program, which is overseen by the Vancouver Aquarium and recognizes restaurants for their commitment to sustainable fishing practices. As a result, you can feel good when you devour the specially curated Kaiseki meals or a la carte albacore, yellowtail, and king salmon nigiri.

L'Abattoir

Address: 217 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J2, Canada Phone: +1 604-568-1701 Website

There isn't a Michelin Guide in Vancouver, but if the French publication ever decided to review the city, L'Abattoir would be star worthy. Located in Gastown, the restaurant leans into West Coast cuisine with heavy French influences. Menu highlights include chilled marinated octopus, fillet of wild Pacific halibut "à la nage," and pigeon paillard.

Address: 207 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1K6, Canada Phone: +1 604-688-1655 Website

If you're looking for some of the best vegetarian and vegan options wrapped in Middle-Eastern flare, Nuba is the restaurant for you. This Lebanese spot is famous for their falafel, red lentil soup, Merguez meatballs, and creamy hummus. There are four separate locations, so you can generally fill up on Mediterranean delights anywhere in the city.

Cioppino's

Address: 1133 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5P6, Canada Phone: +1 604-688-7466 Website

Easily the best Italian restaurant in the city, Cioppino's is helmed by chef Giuseppe Posteraro, who is as much an artist as he is a cook. The restaurant is the recipient of the coveted three-fork rating from Italian food and wine magazine, Gambero Rosso—basically the Italian version of the Michelin guide. You'll quickly understand why when Pino whips up original, artistic meals on a nightly basis themed on whatever is in-season and whatever has inspired him on that day.

Burdock & Co.

Address: 2702 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3E8, Canada Phone: +1 604-879-0077 Website

Burdock & Co. was one of the first restaurants to adopt the concept of the 100-mile meal. The idea is to source all ingredients from the area and make out-of-this-world farm-to-table dishes that literally can't be seen anywhere else. As a result, the menu is chock-full of locally-forested mushrooms, freshly-caught mussels, charcoal-grilled steaks from local farms, and more. If you care about true sustainability, this is the restaurant for you.

Address: 801 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1P7, Canada Phone: +1 604-673-7000 Website

Typically one of the top-rated restaurants in the city, Hawksworth is a proponent of modern West Coast Canadian dining that sources only the finest-quality ingredients and delivers them in the most innovative of ways. A walk through chef Hawksworth's menu is a foodie's dreamscape that seems to travel around the globe with specialties like Korean-fried cauliflower, wagyu beef carpaccio, spring ricotta agnolotti, and his take on baby-back ribs.

Salmon n' Bannock

Address: 1128 W Broadway #7, Vancouver, BC V6H 1G5, Canada Phone: +1 604-568-8971 Website

The focus of Salmon n' Bannock is to highlight First Nations' traditions within the culinary space. The staff is a cacophony of First Nations' peoples, and the food represents a variety of First Nations' cultures. Classics include a bison pot roast, a "Fiss n' Rice" that's a wild sockeye atop Ojibway wild rice, and loads of Bannock breads with creative toppings.

Things to Do

Vancouver mural festival.

Address: 2410 Columbia St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 3E6, Canada Phone: +1 604-675-1793 Website

The Vancouver Mural Festival is a non-profit that was formed in 2016 with the aim of enhancing the artistic side of the city. Murals are created throughout the city every year and culminates in a yearly, multi-week event that spans 11 neighborhoods, and includes art walks, live shows, and more.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Address: 3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4J1, Canada Phone: +1 604-985-7474 Website

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a 450-foot-long, 230-foot-high bridge that crosses the Capilano River and has been freaking out acrophobes since 1889. The bridge is also part of an expansive park that traipses tourists through bridges and walkways among the coastal rainforest.

Talaysay Tours

Address: 334 Skawshen Rd, West Vancouver, BC V7P 3T1, Canada Phone : (800) 605-4643 Website

The guiding ethos of the Talaysay Tours is to simply 'love the land.' If you want to discover authentic cultural experiences, Talaysay Tours can give you an inside look at indigenous culture throughout Vancouver's history and ventures through Stanley Park and other historic sites.

Museum of Anthropology

Address: 6393 NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2, Canada Phone: +1 604-822-5087 Website

Since 1947, the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) has been displaying and celebrating the arts and cultures of First Nations' peoples and other communities in and around British Columbia. MOA is a teaching museum that houses upwards of 50,000 works from across the globe and is famous for its vast collection from the Northwest Coast.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Address: 750 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7, Canada Phone: +1 604-662-4700 Website

One of the largest museums in all of Canada, the Vancouver Art Gallery was first established in 1931 and features art from around the world with an emphasis on First Nations and Canadian art. Past exhibits include everything from Picasso and Monet to Murakami and anime.

City Cycle Tours

Address: 648 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6C 2G2, Canada Phone: +1 604-618-8626 Website

Vancouver is an incredibly bike-friendly city and riding is one of the best ways to see all the sites. A guided bike tour by City Cycle Tours can take you through Stanley Park, into Chinatown and Gastown, around the Public Market at Granville Island, and so much more. One of the true highlights is biking the seawall that has views of Vancouver's stunning seascapes and architecture.

Stanley Park

Address: Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada Phone: +1 604-681-6728 Website

Vancouver's largest play area, Stanley Park is a massive green space on the northwest side of the city that is home to Vancouver's famous Seawall, the Vancouver Aquarium, multiple beaches, and dozens of walking and biking trails. The 400-hectare park is a local's favorite and includes multiple dining outlets, swimming pools, ice rinks, golf courses, and more.

Grouse Mountain

Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9, Canada Phone: +1 604-980-9311 Website

If you want to take in the overwhelming beauty of Vancouver and British Columbia, think about jaunting up Grouse Mountain aboard the Super Skyride. Grouse Mountain is only 15 minutes from the city center and the gondola rises 4,100 feet to the summit for mesmerizing views. The mountain is also home to disc golf, paragliding, zip lines, and more.

Best Shopping

Granville island public market.

Address: Public Market, 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9, Canada Phone: +1 604-666-6655 Website

Just across the Granville Bridge, Granville Island Public Market is home to dozens of food stalls that can provide a full sampling of Vancouver's entire culinary scene. Outside the market are theaters, galleries, restaurants, and bars. Access to the island is via the Granville Bridge or one of Vancouver's SeaBuses.

Alberni/Robson Street

Address: 800 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1A7, Canada Website

For all kinds of shopping finds, the parallel streets of Robson and Alberni are a spender's paradise. Stores run the gamut from Zara and Lululemon to Tiffany & Co. and Jimmy Choo. If you can't find what you're looking for, you're not trying hard enough.

West 4th Avenue

Address: West 4th From Fir Street to Balsam Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M4, Canada Phone: +1 604-617-9070 Website

West 4th Street has been a shopping hub in Vancouver since the 1920s and shows no signs of slowing. There are more than 250 unique businesses along the street that include clothing, sporting goods, homeware, health and wellness, and a wide variety of specialty shops.

Address: 1100 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1B2, Canada Phone: +1 604-684-3251 Website

This Vancouver-born brand is known for high-end ladies' fashion. Since 1984, the brand has grown to more than 100 locations in North America and eight in Vancouver alone.

Herschel Supply Co.

Address: 347 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B8, Canada Phone: +1 604-620-1155 Website

Another Vancouver-born brand, Herschel Supply Co. is known for its wide range of bags, backpacks, duffels, totes, and so much more. The company now has more than 40 locations around the globe as their fine craftsmanship sees higher demand every year.

Saje Natural Wellness

Address: 2252 W 4th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1N8, Canada Phone : +1 604-738-7253 Website

Saje Natural Wellness is a Canadian-owned-and-operated wellness business that prides itself on all-natural products. The company is known for their soothing oils, lotions, diffusers, soaps, and shampoos. There are multiple Saje locations around Vancouver.

Neighborhoods to Know

Coal Harbour : Sitting on the north side of central Vancouver, Coal Harbour is a sleepy narrow neighborhood that is bordered by Canada Place to the east and Stanley Park to the west. Canada Place is home to the Vancouver Convention Centre that attracts international expositions. One of the main attractions of the neighborhood is the waterfront views where pedestrians can stroll and peer out into Vancouver Harbour while browsing small shops and eating at quaint cafés.

Chinatown : Vancouver's Chinatown dates back to the late 1800s and is considered a National Historic Site in Canada. One of the largest Chinatowns in the world, the central Vancouver neighborhood is filled with incredible Chinese restaurants and bakeries, apothecary shops, Asian markets, and more. A must-stop is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is a Ming Dynasty style garden, and plays host to festivals, concerts, and educational activities.

Davie Village : Vancouver has an incredibly diverse and thriving LGBTQ+ community, and Davie Village is a stretch of streets where you'll find rainbow-colored flags flying with pride. You'll know you're in the right place when you step over the vibrant rainbow crosswalk that leads to a bevy of great restaurants and cafés during the day and buzzing bars and clubs at night.

Gastown : For lovers of historic areas, the cobblestoned streets of Gastown are the place to be. The neighborhood dates back to 1867 and features buildings with classic Victorian architecture and restaurants that are a foodie's dream. Instagrammers might want to take a picture in front of Gastown's most famous landmark, an antique clock that's partially powered by steam.

Granville Island : Technically not an island (it is bordered by water on three sides), Granville Island is a short ferry ride or bridge drive across False Creek on the southwest side of town. Once there, a must-stop attraction is the Granville Island Public Market where vendors hawk every type of local food imaginable. Around the market are theaters, galleries, and waterfront restaurants and breweries.

Kitsilano : Across the water to the west, Kitsilano is one of Vancouver's bigger neighborhoods. Within its confines includes West 4th Avenue, which is one of the best shopping streets in the city, the Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver's Greektown, and lots of green space for joggers, bikers, and lazy weekend hangouts. Kitsilano was once considered the Haight-Ashbury of Vancouver and its hippy roots can still be seen with loads of healthy vegan restaurants and wellness shops. It's also the birthplace of famed clothing brand Lululemon.

West End : The West End is the largest neighborhood on the peninsula, encompassing Davie Village, and is bordered by Stanley Park on the northwest, and Nelson Park and Robson Square to the southeast. Within the area is the Vancouver Art Gallery, the shopping Meccas of Robson and Alberni Streets, and multiple beaches. One of the more popular attractions is biking the Stanley Park Seawall that hugs the west side of the neighborhood.

Yaletown : This tony neighborhood is home to some of the nicest restaurants in the city alongside chic boutiques and luscious green space. To the southeast is BC Place, Vancouver's largest sports complex for soccer and football matches, as well as mega concert performances. The parks along the waterfront draw in locals and tourists alike.

Summer is peak tourism season with the least amount of rain and long sunny days that are rarely unbearably hot. Winters are milder than you'd expect for a Canadian city, but you'll encounter more rain from November to March. Shoulder seasons of spring and fall feature stunning blooms and changing leaves.

The following are average Fahrenheit lows and highs by month. January: 37°F to 44°F February: 38°F to 47°F March: 40°F to 51°F April: 44°F to 56°F May: 49°F to 63°F June: 54°F to 67°F July: 58°F to 72°F August: 58°F to 72°F September: 53°F to 66°F October: 47°F to 57°F November: 41°F to 49°F December: 37°F to 44°F

Apps to Download

Mobi-Bikes : Vancouver is such a great biking city with dozens of trails that weave in and around the streets, parks, and boardwalks. Mobi is cheap and easy way to find bikes anywhere in the city. iOs | Android

Uber : For quick ride services, download the popular Uber app to zip you around the city with ease. iOs | Android

Street Food Vancouver : Vancouver has an excellent street-food scene and if you want to know where, when, and how to find it all, download this app and you'll be street-feasting in no time. iOs | Android

Vancouver Transit : This app will help you catch a train, bus, or ferry to anywhere you want or need to go in Vancouver. iOs | Android

OpenTable : For all your restaurant reservation needs, download OpenTable. iOs | Android

The Best Vancouver Itinerary For 7 Days

Beata Urmos

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Are you planning a trip to Vancouver and wondering how many days you need? Vancouver is one the most amazing cities in North America, one where buzzing city life is mixed with wonderful vistas and natural attractions. Okay, okay, we might be a bit biased, but Vancouver is one of our favorite cities in the world, and we called it home (oh, sweet home!) for a while. With a detailed Vancouver itinerary for 7 days we guarantee you won’t get bored here.

British Columbia is a huge, stunning province! You might not even realize how giant it is at first glance. But it’s not densely populated in general, and you’ll likely start your exploration in Vancouver, the largest city and transport hub. If you only have 2 or 3 days in Vancouver, here’s a shorter Vancouver itinerary for you . This post is for those who prefer exploring the city and its surroundings in depth.

This one week Vancouver itinerary has all the highlights, best viewpoints, parks, beaches and museums, even some lesser-known gems that most tourists miss. No day trips to Vancouver Island, Whistler or the Sunshine Coast is included, this is a 7 day Vancouver itinerary, focusing on the city and its metropolitan area. (You find lots of travel guides about Vancouver Island , the Squamish-Lillooet regional district or the Sunshine Coast on the rest of the blog.) So let’s see the very best places to visit in Vancouver.

Best accommodations in Vancouver:

Luxury: OPUS Vancouver (central location)
Mid-range: O Canada House Bed & Breakfast
Budget: Samesun Vancouver (central location)

Overview: Vancouver itinerary for 7 days

Here’s a quick overview of our detailed guide to visiting Vancouver in 7 days:

pretty views from Robson Square

Day 1: Gastown & Canada Place

Day 2: Seaplane tour, Vancouver Aquarium & Stanley Park

Day 3: Yaletown & West End

Day 4: vanier park, kitsilano beach, queen elizabeth park, day 5: granville island & whale-watching tour, day 6: false creek & science world, day 7: north vancouver.

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The itinerary of your first day depends on when you arrive, but I assume you’ll have about half a day.

Getting from Vancouver Airport to downtown

You’ll likely fly into Vancouver Airport, and getting downtown from there is quick and easy. You either take a taxi (or Uber or Lyft) or take the SkyTrain’s Canada Line. This is an automated train that takes you to the Waterfront Station in about half an hour. The Waterfront Station is a good starting point to explore Gastown, Canada Place and (surprise, hah?) the Waterfront neighborhood.

Find the best place to stay in Vancouver:

I’m not a huge fan of the term, but Gastown is a Vancouver must see . This neighborhood is the oldest in Vancouver, the first downtown. Its name comes from “Gassy” Jack Deighton whose bar became the center of community life. Find his statue (you won’t, it was taken down in 2022) as you stroll the cobbled streets, lined by Victorian buildings.

Steam Clock and food tour

Gastown Steam Clock, Vancouver, BC, Canada

You can also find countless galleries, boutiques, souvenir shops and restaurants in Gastown. And the Gastown Steam Clock, an iconic spot. It’s one of the few functioning steam-powered clocks in the world, it blows steam and whistles every 15 minutes.

A great way to explore the food scene is signing up for a guided Gastown food tour . This one is about 2.5 hours long and includes a variety of goodies, from Canadian classics to Japanese food and local craft beer, and also an insight into Gastown’s culture and history.

Vancouver Lookout

Go up to the Vancouver Lookout for a 360 degrees panorama of Vancouver Downtown, the Burrard Inlet and North Vancouver. It’s 168 meters high above the city, the last elevator goes up at 5:30 pm, and the attraction closes at 6 pm, so depending on your arrival, you might visit the lookout on another day.

Vancouver Lookout is only 5 minutes walk away from the Gastown Steam Clock.

Canada Place

To enjoy waterfront views (and admire the giant cruise ships), head to Canada Place. This is a convention center, ferry and cruise terminal, but even more. The building looks like a giant sailboat, and its western promenade is home to The Canadian Trail. This walking path gives insight into the history of Vancouver through information boards, and it treats you with nice views of the North Shore, Stanley Park and the Burrard Inlet.

FlyOver Canada experience

FlyOver Canada is also located on Canada Place. It’s a 4D simulation that takes you on a “plane” from the east coast of Canada to the west coast. Shows start every 15-20 minutes until 9 pm, so this is a great attraction for later in the day (but please check the opening hours before your visit).

Day 2: Seaplane tour & Vancouver Aquarium

The second day is an exciting mix of Vancouver tourist attractions. You get a bird-eye view of the city and its beautiful surroundings from a seaplane, walk in the Waterfront, Coal Harbor, Financial District and Chinatown neighborhoods, then finish your day in Stanley Park.

Start at the Olympic Cauldron and Jack Poole Plaza in the Waterfront . This square became home to the Olympic Cauldron when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010. You get nice views of the North Shore, and two of my favorite modern art statues in Vancouver can be found here: The Drop (a large steel statue resembling a raindrop) and the Digital Orca .

Seaplane tour

This is where you find the Seaplane Terminal, as well. Take a 30 minute seaplane tour over Vancouver to enjoy its stunning location from above. You can also choose longer tours from Vancouver to Victoria , Whistler or one of the Gulf Islands if you have the time.

Financial District

Stroll Burrard Street and Hornby Street to enjoy the best views in the Financial District. (Your neck might get hurt due to constantly looking up to the giant glass skyscrapers of the business district.)

Robson Square is the main square, surrounded by hotels, shopping malls and a few more glass giants. Here you find the Vancouver Art Gallery which showcases a wide variety of artworks , from AI-inspired installations to Shakespeare or paintings by Canadian artists. It’s worth walking up to the viewing terraces in the middle of Robson Square.

Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Buy your ticket for the Vancouver Art Gallery online!

From Robson Square, take Howe Street or Seymour Street, then West Pender Street which takes you to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden , one of the best things to see in Vancouver Chinatown. Honestly, other than Millenium Gate and Chinese food there’s not many other attractions in this district. In some areas the struggle with poverty, homelessness and drug addiction is quite obvious. If you wish to avoid those sad sights, stick to West Pender Street to reach the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver, BC, Canada

This is a traditionally constructed Chinese Garden, the first one built outside of China in 1985. It was opened just in time for the Expo in 1986. After purchasing a ticket, you can take a self-guided tour and learn about the traditional techniques used to build the garden, the history and lifestyle of the people who used this kind of garden. You can walk all around the garden in an hour.

Buy your ticket for the Chinese Garden online!

Seawide Greenway to Stanley Park

After having lunch in Chinatown or Gastown, head back to the Waterfront. The Seawide Greenway takes you to Stanley Park on a very scenic path through the Coal Harbor neighborhood , with picturesque views of the North Shore. You can walk, or rent a bike. Or join an electric bike tour that includes Stanley Park and other niehgborhoods, like Yaletown, Chinatown and Gastown.

The Seaside Greenway is a 28 kilometers long urban waterfront walkway, with separate lanes for pedestrians and bikers. It starts at Canada Place, and you can walk (or bike) to Stanley Park, English Bay, David Lam Park, all along False Creek, to Kitsilano Beach and Spanish Banks Beach on the other side of False Creek. The views are spectacular, and I added exploring sections of the Seaside Greenway to almost every day of this Vancouver trip itinerary.

Now just proceed to the entrance of Vancouver Aquarium, because it’s open only until 5 pm , and you need a few hours to look around inside.

Vancouver Aquarium

Vancouver Aquarium is located in the heart of Stanley Park. It’s not the biggest aquarium we’ve ever seen, but we liked the exhibitions which have a strong focus on local habitats and conservation. Oh, and you find seals and sea otters in the outdoor pools, with underwater viewing areas – who would need any more reason to be convinced to visit? Plan about 3-4 hours to comfortably explore the roughly 30 exhibits.

If ethical animal experiences are important for you, Vancouver Aquarium is still a great choice. They’re committed to research and rescue, and they keep no whales or dolphins.

Buy your ticket for the aquarium online. Get a discounted combo ticket for the Aquarium & Science World .

Stanley Park

Before and after your visit to the Aquarium, you can explore as much of Stanley Park as you fancy. Stanley Park is one of the coolest urban parks we’ve ever seen, with a scenic Seawall around the peninsula where it’s located. This peninsula is surrounded by ocean waters of the Burrard Inlet and English Bay.

The Stanley Park Seawall is a 10 km loop, so you either choose to walk only part of it this afternoon, or rent a bike. This giant park has rainforests, beaches, lakes, wildlife (don’t approach or feed them!), cultural landmarks and amazing views of both Downtown Vancouver and the mountains of the North Shore. This post tells you about the best things to do in the park, read it and choose what you like.

Catch the sunset at Third Beach, Second Beach or English Bay Beach – or stroll the section of the Stanley Park Seawall that passes each of these beautiful beaches.

Stroll the West End

After darkness falls, continue on Denman Street and Davie Street , find your favorite cocktail bar or craft beer bar.

Yaletown is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Downtown Vancouver. It’s an exciting mix of old and new, with historic warehouse buildings turned into trendy restaurants and boutiques, and with modern glass high rises on the waterfront. The percentage of patios is probably the highest here in all Vancouver neighborhoods, it has its own scenic stretch of the Seaside Greenway, lovely parks and some adorable, quirky attractions.

If you plan a trip to Vancouver, plan at least a few hours to explore Yaletown. Half a day is even better, so the first half of your third day will be spent here.

View of Yaletown from Cambie Bridge, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Casually stroll the neighborhood, enjoy the patios and the water views. I’ll give you a rough route below, but feel free to modify it on the go.

Engine 374 Pavilion

Engine 374 Pavilion is a good starting point, because opening hours are limited – check them here . Yaletown was once the terminal station of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and the Engine 374 Pavilion is a relic of that era. It’s staffed by volunteers, and it’s a free attraction, right by Roundhouse Community Center.

The pavilion is home to famous Engine 374, the first trans-continental train to arrive in Vancouver, cheered by the crowds. Learn about the retired engine and the rail history of the city, the staff is happy to answer your questions.

Jennifer Kostuik Gallery

If modern art is your jam, Yaletown will spoil you. It has lots of art galleries, but one of the most popular ones is the Jennifer Kostuik Gallery. It celebrates its 25 years anniversary and offers artworks on display from Vancouver, Canada, the USA, Europe, Mexico or Argentina.

Mainland Street

This is where you find those warehouses turned into restaurants standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

David Lam Park and George Wainborn Park

David Lam Park and George Wainborn Park are located along the False Creek Seawall, and they’re Yaletown’s prettiest green spaces, with large lawns, benches and playgrounds. David Lam Park is the one I like the most, and it reminds me a bit of New York’s Central Park : green lawns, backed up by skyscrapers, but instead of lake views, you have False Creek views here.

The Leslie House

I’ve already lived in Metro Vancouver for almost a year when I stumbled upon the Leslie House accidentally, and oh, I fell in love with it instantly! I think it’s one of the best hidden gems you can dig up in Vancouver.

It was built after the Great Vancouver Fire in 1886 as a family home for George Leslie, his wife and five children. At the end of the 19 th century Yaletown had many buildings like the Leslie House, but today it’s the only wood frame heritage house in the neighborhood. The rest of them were moved to Mole Hill in 2004 – and that’s the next place to go.

Mole Hill is Vancouver’s oldest heritage block, and it’s only about 15 minutes walk from the Leslie House. Search for Mole Hill Community Housing Society on Pendrell Street on Google Maps to find it. Then walk on Pendrell Street, wander into the narrow lanes and surrounding streets while you feel like being transported into 19 th century Vancouver.

Mole Hill has thirty heritage-listed Victorian and Edwardian houses which were built between 1888 and 1908. It’s named after Henry and Elizabeth Mole who are believed to be among the first settlers to this area, and it’s a “hill”, because this block is at the highest elevation in the West End.

If the weather is nice and you have time to kill, chill out on Sunset Beach. Otherwise, head to Burrard Bridge where you’ll enjoy some of the best views over Vancouver.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach has several small sandy bays, grassy areas, a concession stand and benches – and stunning sunset views. It’s a bit of a detour on the way to Burrard Bridge, but it’s a nice place to enjoy a sunny day and stroll this part of the Seawall.

Burrard Bridge

view from the western sidewalk of Burrard Bridge

Walking on Burrard Bridge means enjoying some of the best aerial views of Vancouver, backed up by the North Shore mountains. Pedestrian access to the Burrard Street Bridge from the West End is from Pacific Street.

The big question is: which side to choose? You have to decide before you start your walk on the bridge , because it’s not possible to safely cross the busy road later, only on the dedicated crosswalk at the other end of Burrard Bridge. You can walk on one side, then back on the other side if you have the time. Both treat you with spectacular views.

Yaletown from Burrard Bridge, Vancouver, BC, Canada

view from the eastern sidewalk of Burrard Bridge

The west sidewalk has views of the beaches of the West End and Stanley Park, Vanier Park, the North Shore mountains and Vancouver Island in the distance. The east sidewalk offers views of Yaletown, the harbors of False Creek and Granville Island.

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The fourth day of this one week Vancouver itinerary takes you out of downtown, to the other bank of False Creek.

Vanier Park

Vanier Park is one of the most scenic waterfront parks in Vancouver, right across from downtown, so it has amazing skyline views. You usually find countless Canadian geese grazing on the lawn, a small pebbly bay, a heritage harbor, benches by the water and three museums in the park : the Museum of Vancouver, H.R. MacMillan Space Center and the Vancouver Maritime Museum.

It’s part of the Seaside Greenway, you can walk (or bike) to Kitsilano Beach or along the False Creek Seawall from Vanier Park.

Vancouver Maritime Museum

Vancouver Maritime Museum is a family-friendly one that educates visitors about the maritime history of Vancouver, British Columbia and the Canadian Arctic. It has a free outdoor exhibition called the Heritage Harbour, featuring a collection of vintage wooden vessels.

Buy your ticket online!

Museum of Vancouver

If you’d rather visit the largest civic museum in Canada, you find the Museum of Vancouver in Vanier Park, as well. Here you’ll learn about the city’s history from 1900 to 1970, broken down by decades . Don’t forget to check out the temporary exhibitions, too.

As soon as you finish your museum visits, make your way towards Kitsilano Beach. You can have lunch at the Boathouse on Kitsilano Beach, or pick another restaurant nearby.

Kitsilano Beach

Kitsilano Beach is especially nice to visit in the summer when it’s full of people sunbathing, playing volleyball, swimming or paddling. Join them, or simply marvel at the large waves and distant downtown views. You find sport fields, an outdoor swimming pool and a playground for kids, as well.

If you rent a bike, you can quickly get to Jericho Beach, Locarno Beach and Spanish Banks Beach on a scenic coastal route. It’s still the Seaside Greenway, and walking there is just as nice, but takes more time.

Queen Elizabeth Park

From Kitsilano Beach it takes about half an hour to get to Queen Elizabeth Park either by bike or bus. Queen Elizabeth Park sits on the top of Vancouver, offering some of the best views over the city and the mountains.

You get the best panorama from the terrace in front of Bloedel Conservatory. By the way, Bloedel Conservatory is worth a visit if you have the time. It’s a temperature-controlled closed dome, home to a tropical paradise with over 100 exotic birds and 500 exotic plants. (It’s a great way to enjoy Queen Elizabeth Park on a rainy day.)

Another attraction in this large park is the Quarry Gardens which reminded us of Victoria’s Butchart Gardens, only they’re much smaller – and free to visit. The main Quarry Garden is a walled garden , it has flowerbeds, with beautiful seasonal flowers, and tiny creeks with bridges. Nearby North Quarry Garden is a small oriental garden .

Queen Elizabeth Park is especially spectacular at cherry blossom time (in mid-April), and in October when leaves turn red and golden.

A whale-watching tour is one of the best animal experiences when visiting Vancouver , so we’ll dedicate at least half a day to it in your Vancouver travel itinerary. Granville Island is a great base since tours regularly depart from there, and it’s a worthwhile attraction on its own.

Morning: Granville Island

You can either go on a whale-watching tour in the morning, then visit Granville Island, or you can start with Granville Island and sign up for an afternoon tour.

The name of Granville Island is tricky, because it’s a peninsula connected to Vancouver, not an actual island. It was an old industrial district once, but they turned it into a lively, quirky, colorful neighborhood where you find countless restaurants, shops and parks. With some pretty skyline views.

But one of the main attractions of Granville Island is the Granville Island Public Market . Here you can choose from a wide variety of fruits, veggies, sweets, fresh and baked goods. Join a guided Granville Island market tour, like this 2-hour small-group tour which includes a bunch of different tastings and is led by a foodie expert.

If you visit in the spring or summer, don’t miss the lovely green spaces on Granville Island. Sutcliffe Park has lots of cherry trees, flowerbeds, a small turtle pond and playground. Granville Island Water Park is a cool summer attraction for families. It’s a free public water park, with countless sprinklers, toy fire hoses and a large slide.

Afternoon: whale-watching tour

North America’s West Coast is among the best places for whale watching in the world. Thousands of whales migrate between Mexico and the Arctic each year, and you have a chance to spot orcas, humpback whales, minke whales, gray whales, porpoises and seals. You need some luck, but our favorite wildlife experiences are those when we observe animals in their natural habitat. Even though I hoped to see a pod of orcas on our tour which didn’t happen, I was happy with the giant humpback whale and the cute seals, too.

Migration season is between March and October, that’s when you have the best chance to see the whales. Orcas like to swim in the waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland (called the Strait of Georgia) in the summer.

Countless tours depart from Vancouver, most of them from Granville Island or Steveston (it’s outside of Vancouver, but still in Metro Vancouver). The Prince of Whales tours from Granville Island fit in your day perfectly. They take visitors on a 3-5-hour guided whale watching and marine wildlife tour, the exact length depends on how soon they’ll find wildlife.

The sixth day of this one week Vancouver itinerary takes you to a neighborhood that offers some of the best views of downtown: the False Creek neighborhood. We’ve written a separate article about all the great things to do at False Creek, read it here , and feel free to add more activities if you have the time. Otherwise, just follow the below agenda to see the highlights.

Morning: False Creek

If you only have time for one activity, bike the False Creek Seawall. This is where you get those fabulous downtown skyline views day and night. It runs from Vanier Park to the Science World, and you can walk on the three bridges over False Creek (Cambie Street Bridge, Burrard Street Bridge and Granville Street Bridge) which also have great views of the bay and the city.

Our favorite views are from Burrard Street Bridge, followed by Cambie Bridge. We like walking on Granville Street Bridge the least, because the pedestrian walkway is not that protected and is right by the very busy road.

Despite being an urban walking route, the False Creek Seawall offers many wildlife watching opportunities. Cormorants, ducks, herons, geese and gulls are the most common to see, but you can spot harbor seals, too, if you’re lucky.

Charleson Park

False Creek Seawall, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Charleson Park is right along the False Creek Seawall, and I like it because of the breathtaking skyline views. It’s home to one of the best playgrounds in Vancouver , with a giant embankment slide that the whole family can enjoy.

Cambie Bridge

Cambie Bridge is one that’s easy to access directly from the Seawall, through a series of stairs.

You’ll get amazing close views of the downtown buildings and a view over False Creek as you cross the bridge. You can walk on both sides, but crossing safely is only possible at the very end of the bridge on each side.

Habitat Island

Habitat Island is a tiny island just south of Cambie Bridge. Again, it’s debatable whether it’s a real island, because it’s usually accessible on foot through a rocky pathway from the Seawall . Walk around it in a few minutes, or find a quiet spot on the rocks to enjoy the skyline views.

Olympic Village

If you walk further south from Habitat Island, you’ll soon find yourself in the Olympic Village. This neighborhood was built to be the home of the athletes at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, but was converted to a residential neighborhood after the Olympics. It has stunning water and mountain views, and it’s one of the greenest communities in the world.

Afternoon: Science World

Science World is located at the end of False Creek. It’s a family-friendly science museum with interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits. It offers various exhibits and interactive play areas from age 1, encourages learning through play, and offers plenty of exciting exhibits, live science shows and even documentaries in the OMNIMAX theater , so any age group can find something interesting.

Tomi was three when we visited, and he got obsessed with several water play features and musical instruments, and he spent most of the time in two rooms. We, the serious adults, on the other hand enjoyed the T-Rex exhibition, and thankfully, it offered a mini excavation sandbox for the little ones, so that we could look around undisturbed. (Hah, not really. But we had family around to babysit.)

Plan a few hours to visit Science World. If you’re into science and experiments, you can easily spend a full day here.

Buy your ticket to Science World here!

Finally, marvel at the downtown skyline after dark. Walk back to Charleson Park from Science World, this is one of our favorite walking routes for sunset and night views.

Sponge Bob Trail, North Vancouver, BC, Canada

North Vancouver is where you find the prettiest natural attractions of Vancouver: rainforests, waterfalls, canyons, beaches, even a fjord. Technically, it doesn’t belong to the city of Vancouver, but Metro Vancouver. However, you can quickly and conveniently reach North Vancouver by the SeaBus (a passenger-only ferry) from Canada Place, or by car.

If you start a British Columbia road trip after visiting Vancouver, it’s practical to rent a car for this seventh day, as the North Vancouver attractions are quite spread out. Otherwise, take advantage of Capilano Park’s free shuttle and other public transit.

Any hiker can spend an endless amount of time in North Vancouver (and the connecting wilderness). This itinerary focuses on the most popular attractions that are suitable for almost any visitor, young or old.

Morning: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, North Vancouver, BC, Canada

Is Capilano Suspension Bridge Park worth a visit? Isn’t it overhyped? It is a bit overhyped, and the entrance fee is expensive, but here’s the thing: it’s unlike anything else. You find lots of breathtaking rainforest trails and parks, even suspension bridges in North Vancouver and Greater Vancouver which are free to visit. But the 137 meters (450 feet) long suspension bridge across the Capilano River Canyon, the treetop walks and the cliff face pathway of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park are one of a kind . It’s not simply a natural attraction, but also an adventure park.

Plan a few hours to cross the giant suspension bridge, complete the walk on the smaller suspension bridges of the Treetop Adventure, and look down onto Capilano River from the Cliff Walk. Learn about rainforests through games and information boards, and marvel at the canopy of an amazing West Coast rainforest.

Buy your ticket for the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park online!

Lynn Canyon Park

Whether you visit the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge Park or not, Lynn Canyon Park is another attraction you shouldn’t miss. It’s incredible that a public city park looks like this, with its own suspension bridge over Lynn Canyon, picturesque rainforest trails, waterfalls and turquoise pools along Lynn Creek.

It’s free to visit and somewhat less busy than Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. However, expect to meet lots of people in both parks on bright summer days. Still, I think it’s worth visiting both of them, and I’m deeply in love with both. (My 3-year-old is enthusiastic about the suspension bridges, so it’s another reason why it’s such a joy to visit them together.)

Read about my favorite hikes in Lynn Canyon in this post!

30 Foot Pool, Lynn Canyon Park, North Vancouver, BC, Canada

City views from the North Shore Mountains

How much time you’ll have for this depends on how long your visits are to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Lynn Canyon Park.

If you have a short time and would spare hiking, take the Grouse Mountain Skyride to the top of Grouse Mountain. Of course, if you want to go hiking, you can choose from a variety of mountaintop trails at the top of the gondola.

Dog Mountain Trail, Mount Seymour Provincial Park, BC, Canada

If you’d choose a short and relatively easy hike with a pretty panorama of Metro Vancouver at the end, hike the Dog Mountain Trail on Mount Seymour. It’s a very popular hike (and not my favorite mountain trail for this reason), but it’s a 5 kilometers round trip trail to a mountain peak. You can’t get any easier peaks than this.

Your third option is Cypress Mountain (already in West Vancouver). Drive to the Cypress Mountain Lookout which is right by the road, and enjoy a sunset or night view over the city.

More summer activities in Vancouver

Dundarave Beach, West Vancouver, BC, Canada

Beach day. Spend a day on one of the beaches in Vancouver or West Vancouver .

Rent a kayak to explore False Creek. In the warmest months, being on the water is an enjoyable way to see the Vancouver skyline views.

Take a boat tour to the Indian Arm. This zodiac tour lets you experience the most stunning water views. It starts at Granville Island, crosses False Creek and passes by Stanley Park. You’ll enjoy views of Lions Gate Bridge and the impressive stone spire of Siwash Rock, then you venture into Deep Cove to admire dramatic granite cliffs, Granite Falls and Silver Falls.

Kayak (or paddleboard) in Deep Cove. It’s the easternmost neighborhood of North Vancouver, but also the name of the small bay beside it. Kayak from Deep Cove to the Indian Arm, and enjoy the scenic fjord and mountain views.

Snorkel with seals in Howe Sound. Board a boat that takes you close to the Pam Rocks seal colony. Kayak, wetsuit and snorkel gear are provided, so you can choose your preferred way to get closer to the friendly seals. This is an eco-friendly tour.

Do you find planning your British Columbia road trip a bit overwhelming?

What if I told you that someone has ALL the planning done: get our compact, easy BC Road Trip Guide! Read it, then go and enjoy.

More winter activities in Vancouver

Go for a winter hike. Get up in the North Shore Mountains to experience a snowy wonderland instead of rainy Vancouver.

Go skiing. If hiking is not your jam, spend a day skiing in the North Shore Mountains.

Visit VanDusen Botanical Garden around Christmas. The Festival of Light display over the holidays is one of the best times to enjoy this botanical garden.

More year-round outdoor activities in Vancouver

Scuba diving at Whytecliff Park and Porteau Cove. Both are famous for rich marine life and sunken shipwrecks. Scuba diving is a popular activity all year, because ocean temperatures never get too warm in summer, but they’re not too cold in winter either (at least compared to air temperature). Wearing a wetsuit is essential though.

Rainforest trails. Rain, shine, fog or snow, getting lost in the majestic temperate rainforest of Metro Vancouver is always a good idea.

Coastal trails. The trails of Lighthouse Park, Whytecliff Park, Pacific Spirit Regional Park and Belcarra Regional Park are our favorites.

8 essentials to pack for Vancouver

Waterproof rain jacket : a lightweight, easily packable rain jacket is your best friend when visiting notoriously rainy Vancouver. You don’t want the rain to hold you back from exploring the city and the stunning rainforest trails. Columbia jackets are affordable and effective for the average hiker, here you find them for women and for men . Oh, and don’t bother with an umbrella, more often than not it’s totally useless due to the strong wind.

Waterproof backpack cover : you want to keep all the stuff in your backpack dry even on the rainiest day.

Hats : no matter which season your visit takes place, you’ll probably want some kind of hat. A sun hat ( for women and for men ) or classic baseball cap ( for women and for men ) protects you from the sun in the summer, a lightweight beanie keeps you warm between October and April.

Quick-drying, moisture-wicking T-shirts ( for women and for men ): you’ll likely spend at least part of your time in Vancouver on hiking trails, so a few pieces of technical T-shirts come handy when getting active.

Sweaters : a warm sweater or hoodie is a good idea even in the summer, because evenings get chilly. And it’s not even a question during the colder months. These Columbia fleece jackets ( for women and for men ) are great as an additional layer both for sightseeing or hiking days.

Waterproof hiking boots : so you’ll go hiking, because the natural attractions are among the highlights of a Vancouver visit. Trails are often muddy due to rain or snow melt, and your waterproof hiking boots will keep your feet dry and provide good traction. Actually, they come handy even in the city parks in wet weather. This Columbia Newton Ridge Plus is a great option for women, and the Newton Ridge Plus II for men.

Binoculars : a pair of binoculars make your whale-watching or bird watching experience so much better!

Waterproof phone case : whether you’re going kayaking, swimming or boating, or simply want to regularly use your phone outdoors for navigation in rainy weather, a waterproof phone case is insanely practical and requires barely any space in your luggage.

Finally, don’t pack bear spray . You’ll need one for hiking safely near Vancouver, but crossing borders with bear spray in your luggage, or boarding a plane while carrying bear spray is not allowed. You have to buy one once you arrive and dispose of it safely before you leave. Canadian Tire is the straightforward store to get bear spray.

The best time to visit Vancouver

Well, Canadians would probably tell you that Vancouver is a wonderful year-round destination, with mild winters and great outdoor activities any time of the year. Granted, it has the mildest winters you can ever find in Canada, and Vancouver, hugged by the ocean and the coastal mountains, is beautiful, no matter the weather.

However, being beautiful and being enjoyable are not the same. Your sightseeing time is strongly focused on outdoor activities, but Vancouver is an extremely rainy place to be between November and May. (There are temperate rainforests here, after all.) If you don’t mind walking and hiking mostly in the rain (drizzling or pouring), don’t let winter keep you away.

I’m not here to say you can’t enjoy anything during Vancouver winters, because we did enjoy many things. This post tells you all about delightful winter activities in and around the city.

But our absolute favorite time in Vancouver is summer. July and August feel like a different world, with sunshine, very little rain (if any), warm and even hot temperatures. You can enjoy the ocean breeze, beaches and lakes, and you can take amazing road trips to the rest of British Columbia.

You have a good chance for lovely weather between May and September, but still, May, September and even June can be a gamble. They can either be warm and dry, chilly and rainy, or a mix of both. July and August are the busiest months both for locals and visitors, but summer weather is guaranteed. (Okay, you know nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the weather, but chances are high that you’ll experience summer weather.)

City vibes change with the weather. Food trucks, farmer’s markets, street performers, parks full of picnicking people and all the colorful hustle and bustle can be experienced between May and September. The rest of the year is quieter, more chilly, and foggy-rainy days have their own mystic atmosphere.

One Day In Vancouver, BC: The Ideal 1-Day Vancouver Itinerary

Bea is a travel writer and the co-founder of In Love With BC, a blog about British Columbia travel, hiking and outdoor adventures. She’s been traveling for more than 10 years, and she’s passionate about sharing all she has learned along the way. North America is one of her favorite destinations, and she spent a year living in Vancouver and traveling all over BC with her family.

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25 Epic Things to Do in Vancouver (Perfect First Time Visit)

Things to do in vancouver: the 25 best places to visit (all highlights).

You want to visit Vancouver during your next trip?

Great idea!

Nestled between ocean and mountains , this western Canadian city boasts an exceptional location . It offers a bounty of varied natural landscapes and a wealth of activities to dive into.

Whether you’re there in winter, summer, autumn or spring , you’ll always find something to do in Vancouver!

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared this guide of the 25 best things to do in Vancouver , with all points of interest and must-see attractions.

In addition to my list of things to do and activities, I will also give you optimized itineraries to visit Vancouver in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days as well as my selection of the best accommodations depending on your budget.

So, what are the best things to do in Vancouver? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

1. Downtown Vancouver

2. the vancouver lookout, 3. whale and orca watching, 4. stanley park, 5. vancouver aquarium, 6. canada place, 7. the flyover canada, 8. granville island, 9. the museum of anthropology in vancouver, 10. flying over vancouver in a seaplane, 11. chinatown and dr. sun yat-sen’s chinese garden, 12. the vandusen botanical garden, 13. shopping in vancouver, 14. vancouver’s beaches, 15. the seawall, 16. more activity and visit ideas in vancouver, 17. what to do in vancouver with the family, 18. watch a hockey game in vancouver, 19. capilano suspension bridge, 20. lynn canyon park, 21. grouse mountain, 22. victoria, 23. deep cove, 24. burnaby, 25. whistler, how long should you visit vancouver for, one day in vancouver, 2 days in vancouver, 3 days in vancouver, where to stay in vancouver, where to eat in vancouver, how to get to vancouver, vancouver tourist map, you’re traveling in canada these articles will help you.

Visiting Vancouver and its surrounding area is about uncovering a city consistently listed amongst the world’s best places to live .

Nestled between ocean and mountains , this western Canadian city boasts an exceptional location . It offers a bounty of varied natural landscapes and a wealth of activities to dive into. Whether you’re there in winter, summer, or spring, you’ll always find something to do in Vancouver!

To help you organize your trip to Canada , I’ve prepared a comprehensive guide of all the must-see spots in Vancouver .

And to make the most of your visits, you’ll find our itinerary advice for exploring Vancouver and its environs over 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days plus my pick of the best accommodations .

So, what are the best things to do and see in Vancouver? Where to stay

Visit Vancouver: All must-see attractions

To kick off your Vancouver exploration and soak up the local atmosphere, nothing beats a little jaunt downtown . That’s where you can admire the skyscrapers and find yourself in the heart of the city’s bustle .

I particularly recommend these 2 neighborhoods :

1) Gastown, Vancouver’s historic district , to see some of the city’s most beautiful Victorian buildings . You can take a photo in front of the “Steam Clock” , a steam-operated clock that whistles every 15 minutes. The neighborhood is super cool with lots of open-air cafes and restaurants, perfect if you’re peckish.

2) Yaletown, the trendy and chill neighborhood.

Formerly a warehouse district, they’ve been renovated to house loads of little shops and many of Vancouver’s top restaurants .

The nightlife there is buzzing, the ideal place to go in Vancouver to party .

To miss nothing of Vancouver and benefit from a guide’s insights, you should go for a guided tour .

You’ll not only visit Gastown , but also Chinatown, Granville Island, Stanley Park, Canada Place, the Vancouver Lookout, and Robson Street (all Vancouver essentials!).

This is the best guided tour to discover Vancouver.

You can book it by clicking on the button below:

Every big city must have its observation tower and Vancouver is no exception.

Toronto has the CN Tower, Vancouver has the Vancouver Lookout ! The building is located near Gastown’s Steam Clock and just 5 minutes from the Waterfront.

In just 40 seconds with a glass elevator, you’ll ascend to 170 meters to view the city . An unbeatable 360° panorama awaits you.

Plus, there’s a revolving restaurant at the top of the tower , where you can munch your way around the city in just one hour without leaving your seat. It’s pretty cool!

Your ticket to the tower is valid for the entire day, so you can pop in and out – maybe once in the morning and then again at sunset . What a delightful idea!

If you’re keen on experiencing Vancouver’s premier tourist spot, I strongly advise grabbing your skip-the-line ticket in advance to avoid the pesky queues. Just hit that green button below:

Vancouver is brimming with companies offering whale and orca watching tours.

I especially recommend this half-day boat trip provided by GetYourGuide and operated by a local tour company . The departure point is right in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

You’ll embark on a 4-hour covered boat cruise on a quest to spot orcas and whales!

From start to finish, you’re taken care of – your only worry is snapping the perfect shot of these impressive sea mammals. It’ll be an unforgettable part of your Vancouver adventure, and only for €143 per person !

Advanced booking is required – just click the button below:

In major Anglo-Saxon cities, it’s a common sight to find a “ green lung ” where nature thrives amidst the urban landscape: Montreal boasts Mount-Royal Park, while New York has its iconic Central Park.

In Vancouver, it’s Stanley Park where you can enjoy a stroll and take in some nature. This enormous 400-hectare park is an absolute must-visit for a gorgeous waterfront walk. It offers stunning panoramas of the city and coast.

The place is also popular with joggers and cyclists . I recommend renting a bike if you want to see all the park has to offer – it’s definitely the best way to explore!

You’ll simply follow the 9km Seawall promenade that circles the park .

During your park tour, I suggest making a few pit stops :

At Brockton Point to see the Native American totems (a standalone tourist site in Vancouver)
At Siwash Rock
To see the “Girl In Wetsuit” sculpture
The Viewpoint, to admire Lions Gate Bridge.

And if you want to make sure you don’t miss a thing, there are guided bike tours of Stanley Park available. Find all the details by clicking the button below :

If you rent a bike, make sure to follow the park’s traffic flow – only counter-clockwise circulation is allowed!

Located within Stanley Park, you’ll find the Vancouver Aquarium. This is a perfect spot to visit in Vancouver with kids !

Canada’s largest aquarium , it is home to over 65,000 animals including dolphins, otters, and penguins. Here, you can discover the unique wildlife of the West Coast and Pacific Ocean .

As the aquarium is a much-loved Vancouver attraction , so you’d better purchase your skip-the-line tickets in advance to avoid queues. Your ticket even gives you access to the 4D theatre , where you can catch a short and immersive film.

Book your tickets for the Vancouver Aquarium by clicking on the button below:

Canada Place is a truly cool Vancouver spot for a walk along the Waterfront. This national monument boasts a unique architectural design with its five white sails evoking a ship.

It’s as if you’re wandering around a ship’s deck. The Canadian Trail is divided into sections representing the provinces and territories of Canada.

You’ll also get to enjoy views of Stanley Park and the mountains .

Continuing your stroll along the Waterfront, don’t forget to snap a photo of the gigantic Olympic Cauldron created for the 2010 Olympic Games, and the Digital Orca , a giant pixel art orca. Something you won’t see anywhere else on your Canadian journey !

Nested within Canada Place, there’s a must-do attraction on your Vancouver tour: the FlyOver Canada .

This ride offers you the chance to soar over Canadian landscapes and cities in just 8 minutes! Don’t sweat it, you’ll be comfy in your seat while you live out this 4D experience .

Thanks to a massive screen, dynamic seats, and wind effects, you’ll feel like you’re touring Canada by plane . It’s super well-done, and the sensory experience is truly immersive!

To ensure your spot, it’s essential to book your session for FlyOver Canada in advance . Don’t wait, secure your experience by clicking the green button below:

Next on our Vancouver journey is Granville Island .

The main highlight of Granville is its massive covered market . You can find loads of fresh products (fruits, veggies, cheeses) and local goods at affordable prices.

I recommend going there for lunch as there’s also a large food court offering dishes from cuisines around the world. Indian, Mexican, American, Chinese, there’s something for everyone.

You can then enjoy your meal outside, by the water . Don’t forget to pair your meal with a good beer, as there are plenty of microbreweries in Granville .

If you prefer, you can also opt for a 2-hour guided tour of the market including tastings. Info and reservations right here !

Granville is also the perfect place to hunt in vintage shops and look for original and unique creations made by local artisans.

To get to the island, you can take the Aquabus which will get you from Hornby Street to the shores of Granville.

If you’re a museum lover, I suggest you visit the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver (MOA). You’ll find it on the University of Vancouver campus.

The museum traces the history of the “First Nations” , the indigenous peoples of British Columbia and Canada.

Vancouver attaches particular importance to this and as you stroll around the surrounding cities, you’ll see that the town names are also indicated in First Nations’ languages.

This is a truly interesting museum to see in Vancouver that presents more than 16,000 objects related to the first peoples and other cultures around the world, especially from China and Africa.

You’ll see an impressive collection of totems , similar to those in the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa .

Info for your visit is on the official website .

For a unique activity in Vancouver, I recommend a city tour by seaplane .

It’s the perfect way to discover the city from a unique angle , original and unprecedented.

You should book your excursion right away with GetYourGuide.

This 20-minute flight will take you over the whole city, parks, and beaches of Vancouver . You’ll fly with Harbour Air, the local company with the largest seaplane fleet. Safety standards are top-notch.

For a little over €100 per person, you can have a unique experience during your Canadian escape . As always, just click on the button to book this great Vancouver activity:

You’re going to Vancouver?

You probably know it: the hardest part of planning your trip is to find an hotel offering a good value for money!

And that’s even worse in big touristic cities like Vancouver 😅.

The closer you get to your travel dates, the harder it will be to get a good deal. Lots of people will be visiting Vancouver on the same dates as you , so you can be sure that the best deals are booked extremely quickly!

Hopefully, there is a pretty simple solution to this problem: do like me and book your hotel as early as possible!

So, my best advice is to take 5 minutes (now) to have a look at the list of travelers’ favorite hotels in Vancouver.

And if you see a good offer, book it!

Most hotels offer free cancellation, so it’s quick, easy, and you will avoid the the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the current best deals for your hotel in Seville, simply click on the green button below 😎:

Once you’ve booked your hotel, it will be time to continue reading this guide and find out more about the best things to do in Vancouver!

Another commonality shared with cities like New York and Montreal, among the main attractions in Vancouver, is Chinatown .

Like in all Chinatowns around the world, you’ll find good, affordable Chinese restaurants and can buy your souvenirs at the most reasonable prices in town.

In Chinatown, I especially recommend visiting Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Chinese Garden or Classical Chinese Garden . Fun fact: it’s the first Chinese garden to be built outside China.

The garden is absolutely beautiful and hosts several events according to the season, including Chinese New Year celebrations. It offers a lovely display of flora as well as Chinese architecture . It’s really a nice place for a walk.

Tickets for the Chinese Garden are on sale here!

Another must-see garden in Vancouver: the VanDusen Botanical Garden . It’s located south of the city , a bit away from the center.

This 55-hectare garden is enormous and considered one of the most beautiful gardens in North America .

You can stroll amongst 7,500 varieties of plants and trees from around the world. The garden is artistically designed with waterfalls, fountains, wooden bridges, several ponds, and even a maze . Amazing!

If you want to visit the botanical garden during your Vancouver holiday , you should buy your ticket in advance here !

During your trip to Vancouver, you’ll probably want to do some shopping .

You’ll find your bliss along Robson Street, the commercial artery of downtown Vancouver. All major brands are represented, but there are also cool and original small shops and souvenir stores. You’ll be spoilt for choice.

Further from downtown, you can also visit Metrotown, the 3rd largest shopping center in Canada or the Park Royal Shopping Centre located in a pleasant setting by the ocean.

Vancouver has many beaches for a relaxing afternoon of swimming, reading by the water, or playing beach volleyball.

Here’s a quick tour of where to go in Vancouver:

Sunset beach – true to its name for enjoying the sunset.
Second beach – featuring a long outdoor heated pool.
Third beach (okay, they didn’t strain themselves for the name 😋 ).
English Bay Beach – also known for its sunset and the 14 funny statues you’ll find there.
Kistilano beach
Wreck Beach, a “clothing optional beach,” meaning you can swim either in a swimsuit or naked! It has a peace-and-love vibe.
Ambleside Beach and its view of the Lions Gate Bridge.
Jericho Beach
Spanisk Banks beach.

Let’s keep this Vancouver travel guide rolling with the Seawall, a lengthy promenade that hugs the ocean’s edge for nearly 22 kilometers .

You can either walk it or bike it .

Indeed, the Seawall is split into 2 zones throughout : one for pedestrians and one for cyclists. The whole path is one-way and should only be taken counter-clockwise.

The walk kicks off from Canada Place , passes through Stanley Park for 9 km (which I mentioned earlier), False Creek, Science World, Granville , and ends up at Kitsilano Beach .

Let’s beef up this list of things to do in Vancouver with a few more visit suggestions . Just click the orange links to book:

Vancouver hop-on hop-off bus tour . 24h or 48h pass with included English audio guide.
Commentated one-hour cruise in Vancouver’s harbor
Sunset cruise in Vancouver with included buffet dinner. Duration: 2h30
Gastown foodie tour + Food and drink tastings. Duration: 2h30
Guided walking tour themed around the city’s dark history with a professional actor.
Vancouver Art Gallery admission ticket.
Vancouver Museum ticket exploring civic history.
Ticket for Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Aside from the aquarium and FlyOver Canada, I suggest you visit Science World, the science museum.

It hosts various permanent interactive exhibits and fun activities where kids can learn more about fundamental physics concepts like light or sound. And for dinosaur enthusiasts, there are even awesome reconstructions !

Book your ticket for Science World right here:

Another fun idea for a family outing in Vancouver is Playland .

Playland is Canada’s oldest amusement park. Don’t worry, though, all the rides are modern and regularly updated!

It’s located in Hastings Park . There, you’ll find traditional roller coasters and other thrill rides . There are also rides for younger kids.

A great way to have a delightful time with your family during your Canadian holiday.

Still wondering what to do in Vancouver?

During your road trip in Canada , I highly recommend attending a hockey match at least once.

You’ll see that Canadians take their national sport seriously — the atmosphere during the matches is incredible.

In Vancouver, you should root for the Canucks, the local team . While shopping, don’t forget to grab a team jersey. It’ll make a great souvenir later!

Best things to do around Vancouver

If you’re planning to stay in Vancouver for several days , I recommend taking the opportunity to explore the surrounding area.

Here are my picks for the most beautiful places to see around Vancouver .

One of the most popular attractions near Vancouver is the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

It’s about 15 minutes from downtown .

At the park, you can trot across the iconic suspension bridge that hangs over the canyon , all 137 meters of it, and perched 70 meters up high ! Just a heads up, the more folks on it, the more it swings, so if you’re prone to vertigo, you’ve been warned!

You can also stroll along the trails, embark on a treetop adventure, and walk on the cliffwalk, a wooden platform hanging out in the void.

Don’t wait any longer! Book your Capilano Park entrance ticket now by clicking the green button below:

To get to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, hop on the free shuttle departing from Canada Place .

The Lynn Canyon Park is a bit like the Capilano Suspension Bridge but in the free version . It’s a fantastic alternative for sightseeing.

The Lynn Canyon Park is about twenty kilometers from downtown and you can easily get there by public transportation , which is super convenient.

You can also cross a suspension bridge – sure, it’s smaller and not as high as its big brother, but it’s still pretty cool.

You can also go hiking on one of the many trails set in the midst of the forest and enjoy a picnic in a tranquil and nature-filled spot.

Access information is right here .

If you’ve decided to visit Vancouver over the weekend , you could head to Lynn Canyon Park on an organized excursion . A bus will pick you up directly from your downtown hotel, and then you’ll get a guided tour in the park .

The detailed information about this excursion around Vancouver is available by clicking here !

Another iconic point of interest to visit near Vancouver is Grouse Mountain .

Located 20 minutes from Vancouver , Grouse Mountain offers a ton of activities:

If you’re wondering what to do in Vancouver in winter, it’s a ski resort with some slopes offering a breathtaking view of the city .
And in summer, you can hike, zip-line, paraglide, and even watch a lumberjack show where they chop logs faster than their shadows (promise, it’s not a joke!).

To get there, take the free shuttle from Canada Place , which will take you to the base of the cable car , at the bottom of Grouse Mountain.

Once you arrive and to avoid queuing , it’s better to have booked your cable car ticket in advance . You can do it right now by clicking on this button:

If you don’t have a car, it’s possible to visit Grouse Mountain and Capilano Bridge in the same day , thanks to an organized excursion and round-trip transport from Vancouver. It’s really very practical to see a maximum of things in one day.

Here is the link with the information:

If you’ve had your fill of Vancouver, I’ll invite you to take a trip over to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia . This place is a must-visit when you’re on a tour of western Canada.

You’ll find it at the southern end of Vancouver Island . To get there you have several options:

By ferry from Vancouver (departing from Tsawwassen).

And hey, make sure to book your crossing in advance (this also includes a bus transfer from the city centre to the ferry terminal):

Or for the thrill-seekers, how about getting there by seaplane ? Way faster than the ferry and the perfect way to soak up the landscape! Book here !

Victoria exudes a distinctively English charm , think Victorian houses with blooming gardens and grand old buildings.

In Victoria, here’s what I recommend you check out:

The stunning Empress Hotel
The Parliament
The Royal BC museum
Fisherman’s Wharf, a floating village of colourful houses
Beacon Hill Park

You can also take day tours from Vancouver to visit Victoria . They include a visit to the beautiful Butchart Gardens and a journey through the historic centre of Victoria .

Just hit the button below to book:

Located about 15km north of Vancouver is the quaint seaside village of Deep Cove .

A popular vacation spot for Vancouverites. The village is delightfully charming with its waterside homes.

You can indulge in various water sports, with kayaking being a firm favourite. And why not take a scenic walk on the hiking trails, especially the one that leads to Quarry Rock for a breathtaking view over Deep Cove .

In the vicinity of Vancouver, Burnaby is another lovely place to check out.

Here, a typical 1920s village has been recreated, complete with all its shops : bakery, post office, church, school, and even a blacksmith and a printing press…

You’ll be greeted by villagers in period costumes . And you can also peek inside the heritage houses, old buildings listed as city heritage.

Though the village has a retro vibe , it’s this charm that makes it truly special.

Whistler is a renowned ski resort located about 2 hours drive from Vancouver.

It’s one of the largest ski resorts in North America , famous for hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Apart from skiing, there’s a whole range of activities such as hiking trails, spas, golf courses , and plenty of shops, along with bars and restaurants .

In winter, you can also try your hand at snowmobiling, dog sledding, and snowshoeing .

You can find all the necessary information on the resort’s website .

From Vancouver, organized tours are available to visit Whistler as well as the Shannon Falls provincial park (including a ride on the famous Sea to Sky Gondola). Click here for more details !

I’d say, you should set aside at least 3 days to explore Vancouver , particularly if you’re keen to venture beyond city boundaries to spots like Capilano Bridge or Grouse Mountain.

And if you really want to soak up the city and its surrounding areas, 5 days won’t be excessive.

Now, I’m excited to present my suggested itineraries for exploring Vancouver in 1, 2, or 3 days !

If you’ve got just one day to tour Vancouver , here’s my suggested itinerary :

Kick-off in Vancouver’s historic neighborhood, Gastown
Check out Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden and seize the opportunity to wander around Chinatown
Stroll over to Canada Place and try out FlyOver Canada
Lunch break
Spend the afternoon exploring Stanley Park (by foot or on a bike)
Head up to Vancouver Lookout at the end of the day to catch the sunset
Dine and enjoy the evening in the Yaletown neighborhood , home to some of Vancouver’s best eateries

To explore Vancouver in 2 days , just pick up where day 1 left off and add:

A city flyover via seaplane for a unique Canadian experience
Head to Granville Island to stock up on local products
Lunch break: either a picnic option with the goodies you’ve bought from the market, or a “world cuisine” option by grabbing a dish from the massive market’s food court
Visit the Museum of Anthropology to learn about the history of the First Nations
Stop by Wreck Beach (right next to the museum)
Walk through VanDusen Botanical Garden
Wrap up the day with some shopping on Robson Street

To see Vancouver in 3 days, simply follow the itineraries from the previous 2 days. Then, I’d suggest a few options depending on your interests and budget .

Spend half the day whale watching
An afternoon at the Capilano Suspension Bridge or the Lynn Canyon Park for a budget-friendly alternative
Spend the morning at Capilano or Lynn Canyon
Afternoon at Grouse Mountain or Deep Cove (closer to Lynn Canyon)
Spend the day in Victoria , reachable by ferry from Vancouver . Considering the round-trip will take about 4 hours, you might choose to spend a night in Victoria and head back to Vancouver the next morning.
If you’re in Vancouver during the winter and you’re a fan of skiing, you could go skiing in Whistler or even try snowmobiling .

Of course, if you’re spending more than 3 days in Vancouver, you could dedicate a day to each of these 4 options . There’s so much to do, you could easily spend 4-5 days, even a week, in and around Vancouver . That way, you won’t have to pick and choose – you can see it all!

Samesun Vancouver : This funky youth hostel is right in the middle of the city, a stone’s throw away from Yaletown district. Bunk in a dorm from €40, breakfast included. Strong points: location in the city centre, the vibrant atmosphere, comfy beds, and a cracking breakfast with muffins and bagels. A top-notch pick for budget-friendly accommodations in Vancouver !
The Sylvia Hotel : Located just a two-minute stroll from Stanley Park and a minute from the beach. Spacious and bright double rooms starting at €120 per night. Strong points: prime location, friendly staff, and the authentic charm of the place.
Blue Horizon Hotel : This gem is on Robson Street, the main shopping artery of Vancouver. Super spacious, comfy double room with a killer view from €170. Strong points: fantastic location to explore Vancouver by foot, the view, plenty of shops and restaurants close by, room comfort. My favorite for its value for money In my opinion, the best hotel in Vancouver.
The St Regis Hotel : Nestled right in downtown, a hop, skip, and a jump away from Vancouver Lookout. Spacious and cozy double rooms from €240 per night, breakfast included. Strong points: optimal location, helpful and warm staff, room comfort, and a scrumptious and plentiful breakfast.
Rosewood Hotel Georgia : A splendid 5-star hotel in downtown Vancouver offering beautifully decorated rooms from €350 per night. Strong points: indoor swimming pool, spa, and top-notch services. The best hotel in Vancouver for a luxury stay !

Salmon n’Bannock Bistro : Located on West Broadway Street. The restaurant serves authentic Indigenous cuisine. The dishes are creative, generous, and beautifully presented. Bison burgers, elk, wild salmon with maple syrup – it’s all mouth-wateringly good.
Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail : Situated on Seymour Street. As the name suggests, the restaurant dishes up meaty mains. The meat is superb, tasty, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection. A tad pricey, but hey, you get what you pay for.
Ramen Danbo : Located on Robson Street. The restaurant specializes in Ramen. The cool thing is that you get to choose your soup base, noodle thickness, seasoning, and the amount of meat in your soup! The dishes are delicious, hearty, and offer excellent value for money. It’s the perfect quick lunch before getting back to sightseeing.

And don’t forget to check out the tasty restaurants in the Chinatown district, the food court of Granville Island and the famous Japadog from the food trucks (a Japanese-inspired hot dog!).

From France, numerous airlines offer flights to Vancouver. Only flights departing from Paris are direct. If you’re leaving from another French city, like Nice for example, there will be a layover.

As flight prices for Vancouver can vary dramatically, it’s a good idea to compare them as early as possible. To do this, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner . It’s the guarantee of getting the best price .

To help you visualize the city a bit better, I’ve created a tourist map of Vancouver, with all the best things to do and must-see attractions.

You can display the map’s legend by clicking the button with a small arrow located in the top left corner.

And you? What would you like to visit in Vancouver?

Discover all my articles about Canada : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Canada are listed there.

20 Best Things to do in Canada
20 Best Things to do in Quebec – All best places to visit in the French-speaking province!
Itinerary: One week in Canada: The perfect itinerary to visit Canada in 6, 7 or 8 days!
Itinerary: 10 days in Canada: All my best tips for organizing your 10-day trip to Canada
Itinerary: 2 weeks in Canada: How to visit Western Canada in 15 days.
Itinerary: 3 weeks in Canada: My epic itinerary to visit Western and Eastern Canada in 21 days
Itinerary: 1 month in Canada: How to visit Eastern Canada in a month!
Itinerary: One week in Quebec: How to visit Quebec in 6, 7 or 8 days, with all my best tips!
Itinerary: 10 days in Quebec: An amazing 10-day itinerary in Quebec
Itinerary: 2 weeks in Quebec: All my best tips to visit Quebec in 14, 15 or 16 days
Itinerary: 3 weeks in Quebec: the perfect 3-week road trip in Quebec !
Road trip in Canada: The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15, 21 days and 1 month
Road trip in Quebec: The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15 and 21 days
Calgary : Top 11 things to do during your visit
Montreal : 33 best things to see and do
Ottawa : 15 epic places to visit
Quebec City : Top 17 things to do and see
Toronto : The 17 things to do during your stay
Vancouver : Top 25 places to visit and activities
Toronto in 3 days – The perfect itinerary to visit the city in 72 hours!

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Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

2 Days in San Francisco: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

3 Days in San Francisco: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

4 Days in San Francisco: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

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Planning a Trip in Vancouver

Vancouver is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But it’s more than just a pretty face. “Van-groovy,” the locals call it, a cheeky little nod to its laidback lifestyle and a counterculture vibe that lingers even as real estate prices soar and yummy mummies insist on sporting the local uniform of yoga pants and designer handbags. Sure, there’s still plenty of well-intentioned, granola-fed earnestness to go around—after all, Greenpeace and the 100 Mile Diet were created here. Then again, so was the cosmetic application of Botox.

The climate is mild. The attitudes are tolerant. The economy is surprisingly stable. The populace is fit, obsessed with running, cycling, and climbing those big mountains to the north. It’s green here year round, even when the rest of Canada is buried in snow or withered with summer drought. These days, Vancouver’s very English heritage rubs along peaceably with its vibrant multicultural present, much as the shiny glass towers of Coal Harbour complement the red-brick Victorian low-rises of Gastown and the West End. The Edwardian manors of Shaughnessy, the soaring modernist homes of West Vancouver, the slice of modern Hong Kong that is Richmond’s Golden Village, the spices and saris that are Little India—they all coexist in a magnificent natural landscape of parks and gardens surrounded by ocean, mountains, and wilderness.

Vancouver is routinely named one of the world’s most livable cities. Which isn’t bad at all for a place that not so long ago was just a big, rough, rainy mill town on the edge of nowhere.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Frommer's EasyGuide to Vancouver and Victoria

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A First Timer’s Vancouver Itinerary for 7 Days

If you need the perfect little Vancouver itinerary for one week or 7 days, then this guide is for you! I think I did a pretty good amount of travel around one of Canada’s most famous cities, so hopefully this post gives you a bunch of ideas for your own trip.

My trip to Vancouver was SO much fun. It was also the first time in a while that I’d basically done all travel with very little downtime for work. I went to visit two of my friends, Maggie and Nathalie, and because I’ve never been to Canada before, Vancouver seemed like a great city to start with. Never mind I’ve grown up on the East Coast, so you’d think I’d have made it to Niagara Falls or Toronto beforehand!

Anyway, here’s my full Vancouver itinerary for 7 days!

How to Spend 7 Days in Vancouver

Day 1: Arrival + Dinner

I flew from Providence to Toronto to Vancouver and arrived around 6 pm. So, this is a bit of a cheat day because my itinerary starts quite late!

Check In: HI Vancouver Central

I checked into HI Vancouver Central , a popular hostel chain. I chose it because I knew I’d do a lot of sightseeing and walking around in downtown Vancouver for my first two days, and I wanted to be as central as possible. This city is pretty expensive, so the hostel was still about $150 CAD for two nights!

The HI hostels were the nicest I found for the best price, and I still shared a 4-female room and had a shared bathroom. For a hostel, it’s good but still quite small. I’m also getting to that age where sharing a dorm with strangers and sleeping on the top bunk is not my idea of restful. Check here for prices & availability

If you have a better budget than I did, try these hotels in Vancouver :

L’Hermitage Hotel
the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection

Dinner: Wingz

I met Maggie and her boyfriend, Dustin, at the subway station and we walked over to Wingz for dinner. We basically got to catch up, see a bit of Granville Street at night, and I got to try my first poutine in Canada!

Since my biological clock was 3 hours ahead, I went back and passed out by 9 pm.

Day 2: Granville Island, Gastown, & Yaletown

Breakfast: Elbow Cafe

My hostel’s breakfast was pretty simple — cereal, toast, coffee, tea, etc. I don’t mind this, especially when it’s “free,” but the line at 8:30 am was long and the area was crowded! Instead I just looked up nearby breakfast places.

The Elbow Cafe popped up and looked fun and quirky, so I went there, and it turned out to be such a fun place! The “rules” made me laugh, and everyone was super nice and friendly. My waiter taught me some Mandarin curse words as he gave me some tea haha.

Coffee: Blenz

I also wanted some coffee to go, so I #basicbitched and got a pumpkin spice latte from a nearby coffee shop that I found out later was a chain called Blenz Coffee. It was kind of chilly/rainy out, and I wore sandals, so I needed something warm!

Granville Island

The first thing on my list for the day was Granville Island — mainly because I didn’t want to get caught in the rain! You have to take the False Creek ferry over to Granville, and it’s $5.50 CAD round trip and takes maybe 10 minutes with ferries running super frequently (the sign says every 5 minutes).

Once upon a time, Granville Island was a dumping grown for industrial waste, but over the last fifty years, it’s transformed into a cool public area for the city. The big thing to do is walk around the Public Market and see all the vendors. Try a market tour like this one to learn more.

But the island is pretty fun to roam around. I just walked and checked out the different industrial-esque buildings and popped into a few shots. There’s a really nice park called Parc Ron Basford that was lovely to just sit and admire Alder Bay.

I ended my Granville trip with a salted caramel ice cream sandwich and house-made ginger ale from The Bread Affair. Loved the ice cream sandwich, wasn’t crazy about the Ginger Ale.

This was one of the days I spent a few hours doing work as I had some emails to send and client work to catch up on. Plus it had started to rain on my way back from Granville, so I wanted to sit and warm up before going back out again.

I’d read that Gastown was a bit like New York City, so I thought it might be nice to visit with it being so rainy and cloudy! The big landmark is this fun, whistling Steam Clock and Gastown’s version of a flatiron building.

It was actually Vancouver’s original settlement and is considered it’s first downtown. The name comes from “Gassy” Jack Deighton who was a steamboat captain and barkeeper. Today it’s full of the kind of trendy shops and restaurants you’d expect from neighborhood known for its similarities to New York City.

If you want to know more about Gastown, try this walking food tour.

Dinner: Misslam Tacorea

After a quick walk around Gastown, I went to meet Maggie and Nathalie for some dinner at Misslam Tacorea in Yaletown. It’s a super yummy Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant that was also kind of the perfect reunion spot since I met both of them in Korea!

I got there when it was dark and rainy, so I didn’t spend much time actually seeing Yaletown. However, if you do have the time, it’s know for being a hip place to get drinks!

Bonus: There’s a place called Uncle Tetsu’s that’s famous for this fluffy cheesecake from Japan. Apparently, you always have to wait in an obnoxiously long line for it. Whelp, this place has that same cake, and it’s just as good if not better depending on which local you ask! Plus , there’s no line.

Day 3: Gastown, Stanley Park, & Chinatown

Breakfast: Revolver

I woke up a little late since I was still getting over a bit of jet lag, and I decided to venture down to Revolver for breakfast. I had bookmarked it my research and Maggie had recommended it, so I figured why not! It also meant another little trip to Gastown, this time in sunnier weather.

Revolver was lovely, especially if you’re into that minimalistic decor. I had an iced latte and chocolate almond cake, which were both delicious. There’s not a lot of seating, though, so it got kind of crowded pretty quickly at 10 am on a Friday. If the cafe is too crowded when you try to go, two other nearby recommendations are Nemesis Cafe and Pure Bread Bakery.

Stanley Park

Before meeting Maggie for lunch, I decided to check out one of Vancouver’s most famous spots – Stanley Park! It’s pretty easy to grab a bus from Gastown to the entrance of the park. From there, I could walk along the seawall.

The park borders downtown Vancouver, Burrad Inlet, and English Bay and is pretty massive at over 1,000 acres. Originally settled by Indigenous peoples, it was colonized during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush in 1858. Then it became a park of the city in 1886. Its name comes from Lord Stanley, who was Governor General.

Maggie said she and her parents would sometimes come to the park to bike along the seawall, so if you have the time to do that, I’d look into renting a one or doing this guided bike tour.

Lunch: Phom Penh

Of course, I didn’t do anything super extensive in Stanley Park as I had to be in Chinatown to meet Maggie for lunch. We met at Phom Penh, which is apparently a huge local favorite and often packed. Like even during the week after the big lunch rush, we still had a 10-minute wait.

But I highly recommend. Like, I’m writing this post a year later, and I’m still thinking about how good those chicken wings were.

Afterwards while we were walking around, I got these cute little macarons from Crackle Creme:

Almost too cute to want to eat!

Okay, so this part of my itinerary you probably don’t really want to copy because it’s nothing special in terms of sightseeing! Maggie had an errand to run downtown, and then we decided to get our nails done. Mine were ragged, and she had a wedding that weekend, so we figured why not!

We then got my luggage from my hostel and went to Maggie’s house in the outer Vancouver area. Dinner-wise, I think we had pizza with her family, so you’ll want to check my Vancouver food guide for actual restaurant recommendations!

Alternative Things to Do on This Day:

Obviously, you’ll probably want to spend your afternoon doing different things! Take advantage of the hop-on, hop-off bus , go back and see more of Stanley Park, or do the Vancouver Lookout . Something tells me you’re not going to want to get your nails done or drive to Maggie’s house haha.

You could also do this nice evening tour of Vancouver , which lasts about 90 minutes and goes through Stanley Park, Prospect Point, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Gastown. Or for something even more relaxed, there’s this sunset cruise that goes through English Bay and Howe Sound.

Day 4: Hiking to Lindeman Lake

Morning: hiking.

We had a more relaxing afternoon on Day 3 mostly because we knew we’d have a more adventurous Day 4. From Maggie’s place, Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack was around a 2+ hour drive. Nathalie came with Dustin to pick us up around 10, and we decided to still go despite there being rain off and on.

I first saw Lindeman Lake on either Nathalie or Maggie’s instagram. It’s this beautiful blue lake that you have to hike over 3km to get to, and I figured it’d make a great little excursion with the fall foliage!

Whelp, this easier hike was a bit more difficult as it turned out to be a miserable day weather wise! What started out as gray skies turned into cold rain during our hike. Shout out to those three for still going through with the hiking because we got pretty soaked and disgusting by the time we got back to Nathalie’s car!

Lunch: Boiling Pot

We were all pretty beat after all the driving and hiking in the rain, so we got lunch at a place called Boiling Pot to warm ourselves back up. Mmm nothing like a nice warm stew to get you feeling normal again! Afterwards, I moved my stuff to Nathalie’s.

She actually indulged me, and we went to see Crazy Rich Asians at her local theater so I could FINALLY SEE IT! Guys, it’s so cute and fun. If you haven’t seen it, and you like romantic movies, watch! I obviously made all my friends watch it and even went to Singapore for a quick weekend a few months later!

Alternative Things to Do:

Anyway, I’m sure you won’t want to go to the movies on your trip! If you’re still staying in downtown Vancouver, you can head back and check out another restaurant or some other fun things to do in the city like the Vancouver Art Gallery or Museum of Vancouver. Just know both close by 5pm!

You could also stick around the area of Chilliwack and see what there is to do up there! If you have better weather than us, you could even bring camping gear to stay overnight by Lindeman Lake and do a bit of digital detox.

Day 5: Day Trip to Mayne Island

Did you know Vancouver has its own islands?! I did not, which is kind of a geographical failure on my fault, but I blame it on my public school education. They’re known as the Gulf Islands. The Southern Gulf Islands include Galiano, Mayne, North and South Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, Penelakut, Thetis, Valdes, Gabriola, Anvil, Gambier, Keats, Nelson, Pasley, and Thromanby. The Northern Gulf Islands include Denman, Hornby, Lasqueti, and Texada.

They even have a thing called “island life,” which is as cute and charming as it sounds for someone who loved Anne of Green Gables too much as a preteen.

We spent the full day on Mayne Island, and it was so lovely, I want to visit all of them. Nathalie drove, and we went to the different bays while I just took in the views all day. Don’t miss the lighthouse at Georgia’s Point, Bennet’s Bay, or the Japanese Garden! As for where to eat, we got a late breakfast/early lunch at Sunny Mayne Bakery and dinner at Bennett Bay Bistro.

Don’t forget that you need to reserve ferry tickets ahead of time.

If the islands aren’t your thing, you may like one of these day trip options instead:

Victoria and Butchart Gardens
7-Hour Sea to Sky Tour
Whale Watching Safari

Day 6: North Vancouver + Lynn Canyon

Morning: attempting to find the cafe from to all the boys i’ve loved before.

Nathalie and I decided to spend the day around North Vancouver to see some different things I had written down. The first stop was to visit the cafe from the movie To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which should explain to you the level of extra I’m capable of.

It turned out to be a total bust because the cafe was closed down! I already knew the exterior wouldn’t be as cute as the movie because I looked up photos before, but we couldn’t even enjoy the inside! They were completely shut down with a sign that said: “Under New Management.” The windows were boarded up and you could hear some construction going on inside.

Anyway, since we could get lunch at the cafe, we stopped got lunch elsewhere on our way to Lynn Canyon.

Obviously, there’s a lot more to North Vancouver, which is actually its own city separate from Vancouver! Deep Cover and Quarry Rock Hike should be nice for warm weather while Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge are a quite a popular attraction for the area ( get tickets here ).

Lynn Canyon Park

We skipped Capilano mostly because $50 CAD to enter a park seems ridiculous. Maybe I’ll go back and pay it another time! Instead we went to nearby Lynn Canyon Park which has its own cool suspension bridge for free.

We also did some hiking! There are a number of trails which are part of the huge Barden-Powell Trail, which is 48km that goes from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cover. The Twin Falls Loop Trail will take you over two waterfalls while the Thirty Foot Pool Trail goes to, well, a natural pool where you can go swimming.

Seymour Mountain Lookout

Afterward, we decided to go over to Seymour Mountain. We were originally going to hike a little on the trail, but we didn’t have a ton of time before meeting Maggie and Dustin for dinner, so we drove towards a lookout point on the road towards Seymour Resort!

Dinner: Tsuki Sushi in Gastown

Then we drove down to the city and met Maggie and Dustin in Gastown for some good sushi and ice cream. Get the oshi sushi, it was so good!

Later, we got some ice cream at Soft Peaks Ice Cream, where they use all organic milk, and I said goodbye!

Nathalie then dropped me off at my last accommodation switch, Marpole Guesthouse , which is fairly close to the airport. I checked in, showered, and organized my life before my final day! The guest house was really lovely, more like renting a room in someone’s home. Check prices & availability here

Day 7: Day Trip to Whistle & Shannon Falls

For my very last day, I decided to do a full on day trip. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to spend my last day doing, and I saw on Get Your Guide, there was a nice trip up to Whistler, so I thought why not!

I thought I’d get to go up in the cable cars but unfortunately they were closed for construction. However, our guide made it up to us by taking us to all these different waterfalls on the way!

You can book the tour I did here

Day 8: Fly out

I then checked out of Marpole quite early and flew to New Orleans for the next leg of my 2-months of travel!

For more travel in and near Vancouver, read these next

Quick Vancouver Guide
Where to Eat in the Iconic Pike Place Market
Mount Fremont Lookout Trail: The Perfect Hike to See Mt. Rainier
The Bagby Hot Springs Hike: Relaxation You Have to Work for
Portland in a Weekend: What to Do, See, + More

Have you been to Vancouver? What would you add to your itinerary, let me know!

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Hi there! Enjoyed reading your lengthy but very informative trip to Vancouver. I can’t wait to taste those food places you recommended. Got some questions as I am planning my family vacation in Vancouver this December, 2023. 1) Do you think your itinerary is still applicable in 2023? What would you add and remove from the list. 2) Which month did you visit? Would you alter anything for a December, winter trip? 3) How would you rate your pace…fast, moderate or easy pace? I’m going with my family with 2 kids 13 yrs and 11 yrs old. Which part of your trips are crazy walking days? 4) how did you go around….bus or skytrain? 5) Would you recommend I hop from one hotel to another or just have 1 home base? If 1 home base, which area would you recommned? 6) Do you think worth staying a few nights in whistler? I heard it would take around 2.5 hrs from Vancouver. Regards, Richard

1) I would say yes. The only things I’d always double check are restaurants. Google Maps is usually pretty good at having things up to date. 2) I visited in late September! I probably wouldn’t plan any hiking in December unless you’re used to winter hiking. Whistler should be even prettier though as a day trip. 3) Probably a fairly moderate-easy pace. Besides hiking, no days felt like crazy walking days. 4) Skytrain into the city and then I pretty much walked everywhere with maybe an Uber or two. My friends also had cars, so I was with them for things like North Vancouver or hiking 5) I always prefer 1 home base personally. I’d stay downtown so you have easy access to everything. 6) I only did a day trip so I’m not sure, but I imagine it’d be really bustling and pretty in the winter. If you plan on skiing, I say stay a few nights!

The Perfect 2 Day Vancouver Itinerary And City Guide (2023)

By: Author Lotte

Posted on Last updated: February 10, 2023

Categories Canada

the-perfect-2-day-vancouver-itinerary-phenomenalglobe (4)

Vancouver is located in British Columbia and is surrounded by beautiful mountains as well as the Pacific Ocean ocean.

Often the starting point of a Canada (road) trip many people spend a few days in Vancouver. Any Vancouver itinerary should at least include a visit to Gastown, Granville Island, and Stanley Park.

That being said, there are so many things to do in Vancouver, you'll be spoiled for choice!

This Vancouver 2-day itinerary will help you make the most of your Vancouver city trip, as well as answer all your Vancouver travel planning questions.

2 day Vancouver itinerary

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We're very grateful when you use our links to make a purchase:-).

Planning a trip to Vancouver? This Vancouver itinerary and city guide includes everything you need to know to plan the perfect Vancouver city trip. What to do in Vancouver, where to eat and where to stay. Includes a map with all Vancouver highlights such as Gastown, Canada Place, Stanley Park, Chinatown and more. | phenomenalglobe.com

Vancouver 2 day itinerary: map and highlights

So what to see in Vancouver during your trip? I've marked all the highlights we visited during our time in Vancouver on the map below.

I also added my favorite places to eat and where to stay.

Click here for the interactive map .

The best things to see and do in Vancouver in 2 days

Vancouver itinerary day 1.

Coffee at Tim Hortons
Breakfast at Purebread
Explore Gastown (incl. the Vancouver steam clock)

Admire the view from Canada Place

Take the Aquabus
Have lunch at Granville Island public market

Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery

Enjoy dinner at Ramen Gojiro

Vancouver itinerary day 2

Walk around Stanley Park (Totem poles, Lions Gate Bridge, Siwash rock, Lost Lagoon)
Check out the A-maze-ing Laughter statues and the Inukshuk
Grab lunch at Pholicious
Explore Chinatown and the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Park
Have dinner at St Regis Bar and Grill
Watch the sunset at Kitsilano Beach Park

Interested in doing a working holiday in Canada ? Check out the Global Work & Travel Canada package and get a €100 discount with the coupon code PHENOMENALGLOBE.

Canada-working-holiday-Phenomenal-Globe-Travel-Blog

Planning a trip to Vancouver

Is vancouver worth visiting.

Vancouver was our first stop in Canada as well and I'll be honest: it wasn't love at first sight.

When we arrived it was cold and the rain was pouring down from a dark-grey sky. We couldn't even see the mountains north of the city…

Sloshing through the streets in our rain-soaked clothes wasn't that much fun, so instead, we holed up in our cozy room for a Netflix marathon.

Luckily for us, the weather improved the next day and Vancouver had a chance to redeem itself. And redeem itself it did!

Vancouver is a great place for a city trip, it has a very walkable city center with interesting sites to visit.

There are lots of restaurants to choose from, whichever cuisine you feel like eating, you can find it in Vancouver.

In Gastown, there are many cute boutique stores and in Stanley Park, you can enjoy spectacular views over the bay. Read about all this and more Vancouver activities in the itinerary below.

How many days is enough for Vancouver?

There is plenty to see and do in this vibrant city so you can easily spend a couple of days here. That being said, most highlights in Vancouver can be visited in 2 days.

All the activities mentioned in this itinerary for Vancouver are within the city and can either be reached on foot or by public transport.

If you've got more time available in Vancouver, I've listed several (outdoor) activities to add to your itinerary in the last section of this post.

What is the best time to visit Vancouver?

Generally, the best time to visit Vancouver is between April and October . Average temperatures are between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius during these months and there are not so many rainy days.

We visited Vancouver both in June as well as October and during both visits, we had sunny days (20+ degrees Celsius) as well as a bit of rain.

As long as you bring a good raincoat you'll be fine!

Is Vancouver an expensive city?

That depends. While visiting Vancouver isn't cheap, there are lots of things you can do to stay within budget.

Most activities mentioned in this Vancouver trip itinerary are free. Grab a takeaway coffee and ‘portable' breakfast or lunch instead of sitting down at a cute (but more expensive) restaurant.

Travel by public transportation and walk instead of taking an Uber.

Be creative when it comes to accommodation, stay a bit further from the downtown area to cut costs. Further down in this post you can find more tips for budget accommodation in Vancouver.

How to get around Vancouver?

A great way to get around downtown Vancouver is the Aquabus , which serves several routes in the city center. You can find more information (map with docks, fares, etc.) on the Aquabus website .

Aside from the Aquabus, you can also get around Vancouver by Skytrain . There are 3 lines, the most important one is the Canada line which connects the city center and Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

You can buy a DayPass or a single ticket for the Skytrain. A single ticket is valid for 90 minutes, you can transfer as many times as you want within that time.

Prices can be found here . You can also use these cards on the bus, though for this Vancouver travel itinerary you don't need to take a bus.

To see the city’s most popular attractions in just a short amount of time, get a pass for the Vancouver hop-on hop-off bus .

It's a great and easy way to do some Vancouver city sightseeing while also learning more about Vancouver’s history from the onboard commentary. Check availability here .

Do you need a car in Vancouver?

No, you don't need a car to reach the most popular sights in Vancouver. You can either walk or use the public transit system as explained above.

Traffic in downtown Vancouver is always busy and there are so many traffic lights, driving here is no fun.

Believe me, we've driven around Vancouver a lot when we were getting our van ready for our cross-Canada road trip and I was often frustrated by the traffic jams.

That being said, if you plan to do a lot of Vancouver day trips (read more at the end of this post), a rental car could be convenient.

Especially for families, renting a car can be easier (and cheaper) than booking tour tickets for the whole family.

Check the best rates on Rentalcars.com

Where to stay in Vancouver

When we arrived in Canada we spent several days in the city to find the perfect van for our road trip. At the end of our trip, we returned to Vancouver to sell our car and spent another week in Vancouver.

Altogether, we spent quite a bit of time in the city and tried out several accommodation options. That's why I can say from personal experience: visiting Vancouver can be done on any budget!

More information about the accommodation listed in the table below can be found further down in this post.

Note: Prices for these Vancouver accommodation options depend on the time of year and how far in advance you book. Therefore, the prices mentioned above are a rough indication of the price per night to help you compare the different options. Check ‘click here’ to see the latest prices and book ahead to get the best deal.

The perfect Vancouver itinerary: highlights day 1

Get coffee at tim hortons.

There is nothing more Canadian than Tim Hortons! Don't believe me? Just watch this clip (and this one ) from How I Met Your Mother.

Their coffee is delicious and the perfect way to begin your first day of sightseeing around Vancouver.

Get breakfast at Purebread

Now that you've finished your coffee you may want some breakfast too. I cannot recommend Purebread enough, it's a cute little bakery on West Hastings Street and everything they sell is delicious.

It doesn't really matter what time of the day you go here, just go, you won't regret it!

Stroll through the streets of Gastown

Old buildings in Gastown - the best neighborhoods to explore in Vancouver

Great, now that you've got a full tummy and the necessary caffeine shot it's time to get going! One of the oldest neighborhoods in Vancouver is Gastown.

In Gastown, you'll find beautiful old houses, cute clothing boutiques shops, art galleries, souvenir shops and plenty of places to grab a bite if you are still hungry.

Water Street is Gastown's most famous street, but the neighborhood covers the entire area between Richards East and Main Street.

Be sure to check out the Gastown steam clock or eat your way around this quirky neighborhood with this excellent Gastown food tour .

The steam clock in Gastown downtown Vancouver BC Canada

Despite this highly visible and cool clock it's easy to lose track of time in this charming neighborhood! Read more about Gastown here .

To discover Vancouver's city secrets, check out this 2-hour tour with a local.

Beautiful view over the bay from Canada Place, Vancouver

Yup, Vancouver has it all:

Beautiful mountains: it's only a 90-minute scenic drive on the spectacular Sea to Sky highway to the snow-covered slopes of Whistler)
An equally beautiful ocean: there are several beaches in the city and lots of excellent boat trips on offer.

From Canada Place, you can see both the mountains and the sea and ask yourself why you are not living here.

Looking for a fun Vancouver day trip? Book this excellent Vancouver North Shore tour including the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and beautiful Grouse Mountain.

Hop on the Aqua Bus to Granville Island

The Aquabus fee from Hornby Street to Granville Island costs 3,50 CAD per person. It's a fun way to see Vancouver from a different perspective, plus, it's the quickest and easiest way to cross False Creek.

Instead of taking the Aquabus, you can also walk across the Granville bridge for a beautiful view of the city.

If you'd like to spend more time to explore the scenic waterways of Vancouver, hop aboard a zodiac boat on a 1.5-hour sightseeing cruise .

Have lunch at Granville Island Public Market

This 2 hour market tour with an off-duty chef gives you unique behind the scenes insights at Granville Island Public Market.

There are so many delicious things to eat at the famous Granville Island Public Market, it's impossible to choose. Fresh fruits, a variety of locally cured meats and cheeses, artisan breads, bubble tea, a wide assortment of sweets and more, you can always find something to your liking on Granville Market.

Because Granville Island Public Market is held indoor it's also a great activity for a rainy Vancouver day!

On the Granville Island website , you can find itineraries with suggested activities. You can choose from several itineraries, depending on how much time you plan to spend on the island.

If you are into art you must visit the Vancouver Art Gallery ! The gallery was founded in 1931 and is one of North America’s leading visual arts institutions.

The ticket price is $23 (Canadian Dollars obviously) per person.

Have dinner at Ramen Gojiro

I'm seriously addicted to Japanese food and was very happy to find this little restaurant. Each time we walked past this popular place to eat in Vancouver, there were always long lines outside.

It's worth the wait though, my huge steaming bowl of ramen was absolutely delicious…

The best Vancouver itinerary: highlights day 2

Explore stanley park and the sea wall.

Stanley Park is a National Historic Site and beloved by all Vancouverites. If you have enough time (and energy), I highly recommend doing the 9-kilometer walk around the Stanley Park Seawall.

Along the way, there are many interesting stops, such as the Lion's Gate Bridge to North Vancouver, the famous totem poles and Siwash Rock (pictured below).

Fun fact : Tripadvisor named Stanley Park ‘the top park in the entire world'.

Bottom line: if you are in Vancouver, you must visit Stanley Park! On this website , you can find a map of the Seawalk and popular spots to see along the way.

Alternatively, join this Stanley Park guided bike tour to learn more about the city’s green initiatives, historical past and olympic heritage.

Check out the A-maze-ing Laughter statues and Inukshuk

The A-maze-ing Laughter statues in Vancouver

The A-maze-ing Laughter statue put a smile on anyone's face, which happens to be the exact intention of the artist Yue Minjun.

He wanted to touch the heart of each visitor and it's a-maze-ing to see how he more than succeeded in doing so. Just spend 15 minutes watching people visiting the statues, you'll see what I mean.

Another beautiful sculpture is the Inukshuk on English Bay, which became famous as the symbol of the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.

More Inukshuk are found in the (far) north of Canada, they are part of the culture of the Inuit and other Arctic peoples.

Grab a quick lunch at Pholicious

It's probably because I've spent a lot of time in Southeast Asia , but I love the food from that region. Vietnamese may be my favorite cuisine, but it's really difficult to choose…

Regardless, the Bánh mì sandwich from Pholicious was delicious! And very cheap too (only 4,50 CAD).

Visit Chinatown and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park

Vancouver's Chinatown is the third-biggest Chinatown in North America, only New York, and San Francisco are bigger!

There are lots of Chinese shops and places to grab a quick snack (like Chinese pastries).

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park Chinese Garden Vancouver BC Canada

Within Chinatown, you'll also find the famous Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park, a classic Chinese Garden with a lovely pond and a pretty pagoda. Read more about the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden here .

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park in Chinatown Vancouver

Have dinner and a drink at St. Regis Bar & Grill

Adjacent to St. Regis Hotel is the St. Regis Bar and Grill , the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine or beer after walking around all day!

I loved the atmosphere, many people were very into the Canadian sports shown on the TV screens and it was fun to watch them cheer for (or shout at) their favorite team.

Dinner and a drink at St. Regis Bar & Grill

Besides the friendly vibe, the food is great too! We had the Cobb Salad and the Mushroom Swiss burger, the portions are very generous.

I was too full for dessert, though I would have loved to try the cheesecake or warm cookie skillet with an overdose of chocolate. Check out their menu here .

Watch the sunset from Kitsilano Beach Park

Kitsilano Beach Park is one of the best beaches in Vancouver

Did you know Vancouver has several beaches? In downtown Vancouver, you can visit Sunset Beach or English Bay Beach.

Just across the Burrard bridge, you will find Kitsilano Beach Park, the perfect place to watch the sunset!

Note: if you aren't visiting during the summer months, you probably would want to do this before dinner. Otherwise you'll miss the sunset;-).

Visiting Vancouver Island ? Check out the 10 best things to do in Co wichan Valley .

The best places to stay in Vancouver

Luxury hotel: the st. regis hotel.

Disclaimer: I was a guest of the St. Regis hotel in Vancouver. Nevertheless, all pictures and opinions are my own.

If you are looking to treat yourself to a nice hotel in Vancouver city center, the St. Regis hotel is your best choice!

We stayed here for 2 nights and it was the perfect way to end our 5 month trip around Canada and the U.S.A.

St. Regis is located in downtown Vancouver, so most of the sights are only a short walk from the hotel.

The Skytrain station (Vancouver City Centre, see more info about transport below) is only a 400 meter walk and it takes about 30 minutes to get to the airport (or from the airport to the hotel).

Our room at the St. Regis was beautiful, after living in a van for 5 months my husband and I almost got lost in our big suite! The bathroom alone was bigger than our entire little red house on wheels.

The bed was super comfy and WiFi very fast (each room has its own router). Breakfast was delicious (especially the omelet) and the staff is very helpful and friendly.

Room rates include breakfast and unlimited international calls (which was great since I spent hours on the phone with a terrible airline customer service support trying to sort out our flights to Bali ).

Check prices on Booking

Where to stay in Vancouver on a budget

If you are traveling Canada on a budget but don't have a car, there are several options when it comes to finding budget accommodation in Vancouver:

Airbnb: we stayed in a nice Airbnb in Richmond (when we hadn't bought our van yet) and paid only 40 CAD per night. Unfortunately, this room is no longer listed because the host moved to a different place.
Hostel : book a hostel in Vancouver
Hotel: while it can be tricky to find a cheap hotel in Vancouver (that isn't a dump), the Best Western Plus Sands usually has rooms available for €100 a night (which is definitely considered cheap for Vancouver).

There are some lovely 3-star hotels in Vancouver, such as the Burrard and Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel .

Camping in your car or campervan

If you are on a budget and have a rental car or campervan to sleep in, you can stay in Vancouver for free! There are several overnight camping spots, you can find them via the (free) iOverlander app .

Not listed on the app is the IKEA parking lot in Richmond, but we did spent a night there. I'm not sure if it's allowed but there weren't any ‘no overnight parking' signs so we decided to risk it (nobody bothered us or asked us to leave).

Also check out this post: Camping on Vancouver Island .

3-day Vancouver itinerary (or more)

Got more time to spend in Vancouver? Lucky you! There are many amazing Vancouver day trips that can easily be reached from the city.

21-best-day-trips-from-vancouver-phenomenalglobe.com

Grouse mountain

Hike the Grouse Grind Trail or take the Skyride to the top of Grouse Mountain. You'll be rewarded with some of the best views of Vancouver, the surrounding area, and the Pacific Ocean.

Book your Grouse Mountain admission ticket here.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Step into the rainforest and marvel at the towering evergreens, fragrant cedars, boardwalks, canyons, and ponds.

Cross the 137-meter-long suspension bridge and look down on the rushing water in the Capilano River 70 meters below. Click here to purchase your online ticket .

Join a whale-watching tour

There are few cities where it's so easy to such spectacular scenery only a stone's throw from downtown. Join a whale-watching tour and search for wildlife including orcas, seals, porpoises, and eagles.

The waters around Vancouver are renowned for attracting whales, offering an up to 90% success rate with sightings.

Click here to book your whale-watching tour online.

Killer whales on whale watching tour in Victoria Vancouver Island

Other Vancouver activities

Still looking for more Vancouver things to do? Visit the Vancouver Aquarium, take a leisurely stroll in Queen Elizabeth Park, go shopping on Robson Street (one of Vancouver's oldest commercial streets) or explore the Olympic Village.

Did you run out of time? No worries, that'll give you a good reason to return to Vancouver for another action-packed trip!

Plan your Canada trip like a pro with these tools: ✈️ Find the best flight deals with Kiwi.com . ? Rent a campervan for your Canada road trip (or a car via Rentalcars.com ). ? Arrange your Canada working holiday with Global Work & Travel . ? Plan your journey with the Canada Lonely Planet . ?️ Find the best hotel deals on Booking.com . ? Join the best tours in Canada via Get Your Guide or Viator . ?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing .

Vancouver trip itinerary: in conclusion

That’s everything about our trip to Vancouver! If you have any questions, leave a comment below or send me an email .

Do you want to read more about traveling in Canada ? Read these posts as well:

3 day Victoria itinerary
25 charming small towns in Canada
Things to do in Calgary
Things to do in Nelson BC
Things to do in Nanaimo

What to do in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The ultimate city trip guide to Vancouver, including top things to see and do, where to eat and where to stay! Perfect 2-day itinerary including printable map. Visit Gastown, Canada Place, Stanley Park, Chinatown and more… #Vancouver #Canada #citytrip | Guide to Vancouver| Things to do in Vancouver

Alex Thompson

Tuesday 7th of December 2021

Your explanation of the sights near Vancouver is so detailed with beautiful photos. Thanks a lot. The world has incredible beauty...

Thursday 9th of December 2021

Thank you, that's noce to hear:-) Canada is one of my favorite countries, it's sooooo beautiful...

Safe travels! Lotte

Thursday 17th of June 2021

I'd like to visit Canada for the first time. What are your favorite cities in Canada?

Canada is a wonderful country! It's hard to choose as there are many lovely cities but if I have to pick two it would be Victoria and Winnipeg:-) Happy travels!

Monday 27th of November 2017

Mighty good. Nice to see info from people who have been there. Keep the good work going, 5-stars!

Tuesday 28th of November 2017

Thank you Rudy:-)

Ryan Biddulph

Wednesday 1st of November 2017

This is a fabulous guide Lotte with sensational images. I find it neat how Vancouver grew on you too. I found that to be the case with more than a few cities. As for Tim Horton's I almost grabbed a cup there in NYC recently. Gotta try it. I am heading in NYC again tomorrow for a Seinfeld show and then a week long house sit so I will have my chance. Thanks for the rocking share.

Thursday 2nd of November 2017

Thank you so much! I bought a Nikon D3300 (my first camera ever) and I'm so happy to hear you love the pictures:-). Hope you get to grab a cup of Tim's in New York! Enjoy the housesit, I love this way of traveling. You get to experience what it's like to live somewhere instead of just visiting. Also, have fun at the Seinfeld show!

Monday 30th of October 2017

Great, Lotte! Vancouver looks great - I´ve heard loads about its great music scene and it looks like the food and culture aspects are good too. Airbnb is a great way to get a local flavour of a place - and often feels more authentic than a hotel.

Tuesday 31st of October 2017

Thank you Mark! Unfortunately we didn't have time to explore the music scene (perhaps next time) but we did have a lot of fun in Vancouver:-). And yes, I love Airbnb too. (Almost) all hosts are happy to share local advice about their city and the places they recommend often end up being your favorite!

Plan Your Trip to Canada: 7 Great Itineraries

Written by Lana Law Updated Sep 13, 2021

Planning a trip to Canada and figuring out an itinerary may seem monumental due to the size and geographical layout of the country. Bordered by three oceans, the Canadian motto "from sea to sea to sea" becomes more relevant when you start planning a cross country tour.

Most travelers with limited time who are looking to plan an 8- or 10-day Canada itinerary, tend to focus on one area of the country. This is a good idea, unless you incorporate some long-distance internal flights. Canada stretches more than 5,500 kilometers from east to west, and much of the remote north is all but inaccessible.

The best option, unless you have plenty of time, is to focus your itinerary on Western, Central, or Eastern Canada. Western Canada is home to some of the country's most spectacular scenery, with mountains, glaciers, alpine lakes, and Pacific coastline. Central Canada is most well-known for its vibrant cities, including Toronto , Montreal , and Ottawa , but also consists of prairies and the lakes and forests of the Canadian Shield. Atlantic Canada , which includes the Maritime Provinces and Newfoundland and Labrador, is known for endless shorelines, quaint coastal villages, and friendly cities with a small-town atmosphere.

1. Western Canada: Canadian Rockies Itinerary

2. canada west coast itinerary: vancouver, vancouver island & whistler, 3. central canada: toronto, montreal & beyond, 4. eastern canada: nova scotia & prince edward island, 5. newfoundland: explore the rock, 6. exploring canada's north: polar bears, arctic landscapes & culture, 7. city hopping across canada, map of canada: great itineraries, when to travel in canada: best times to visit.

Western Canada Itinerary Highlights: Vancouver, Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Lake Louise, Calgary

The best way to see the Canadian Rockies is by car, with a road trip beginning either in Vancouver and ending in Calgary, or doing it in the reverse order. A scenic seven-day trip will take you from Vancouver to Kelowna for a stop along the beautiful Lake Okanagan , and on to Banff National Park . From here, do a side trip up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper and end your trip in Calgary . This route runs through some of the most spectacular scenery in Canada.

Bow Lake on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park

Kelowna is a pleasant city that caters to skiers in the winter, with nearby ski resorts of Big White and Silver Star . These are two of the best ski resorts in Canada . In summer, this is a popular area for renting a cottage, golfing, or exploring the lakes by houseboat.

Banff and Jasper National Parks , including the area around Lake Louise , are highlights of this route, and offer some incredible day hikes . You can plan your own Banff to Jasper itinerary along the Icefields Parkway . Even if you are not interested in getting active, there are scenic pullouts along the Parkway to see the turquoise lakes, glaciers, waterfalls, and other sites.

The town of Banff , in the park of the same name, is a beautiful mountain tourist town with all kinds of accommodation, including camping . In town, the dining and shopping options are substantial, with too many stores and shops to count.

Just outside the park to the east, the small mountain town of Canmore is a great base, with plenty of resorts if you don't want to stay in Banff. Beyond Canmore, an hour and a half east of Banff, is the city of Calgary , home to the famous Calgary Stampede held in July.

Flights run regularly between Calgary and Vancouver. Another option for returning to Vancouver is a train trip on the Rocky Mountaineer , a high end rail journey through the Rocky Mountains.

West Coast Itinerary Highlights: Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria, Salt Spring Island, Tofino

Spend a couple of days seeing the sights of Vancouver . Drive or catch a bus up to the posh ski town of Whistler for a day, a fun destination any time of year, and head back down to Vancouver where you can catch a ferry to Victoria , the capital of British Columbia. For some people, depending on how much time you allow in Vancouver and Victoria, this might be enough to fill seven days.

However, if you find you still have more time, plan a Vancouver Island itinerary or some excursions from Victoria. For a day trip from Victoria catch a car ferry to Salt Spring Island for a day of sightseeing, or visiting local farms and artisan studios.

With a few days available, you can plan a Vancouver Island Road Trip. Drive up Vancouver Island to Tofino for a night or two, where you can stay in one of the beautiful seaside resorts . Spend some time surfing or walking along the beaches in Pacific Rim National Park , enjoy some of the beautiful day hikes around Tofino or near the village of Ucluelet , and see the pristine coastal forest all along this remote stretch of the island.

A car makes this trip simple and is the best way to see the attractions. If you are using public transport, it will be cheaper and include a bus to Whistler and walk-on ferries to Victoria and Salt Spring Island. With a car, be aware that taking a car ferry may require some wait time, especially around holidays. If you add on a trip to Tofino a car is almost essential.

If you are looking for more things to do on Vancouver Island, consider taking the time to explore the best hikes on Vancouver Island , or set up your tent or RV at one of the scenic campgrounds . The campgrounds near Tofino are especially beautiful. You can also plan excursions out of Nanaimo and Parksville.

Central Canada Itinerary Highlights: Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.

With Toronto being a major point of entry for many travelers to Canada, this is the best place to start a tour of Central Canada. Spend a few nights in Toronto to see the sights, take in a Broadway show, and do a day trip to Niagara Falls . There are several tour operators offering day trips to the falls, which usually include a stop at the lovely little town of Niagara-on-the-Lake , one of Ontario's most romantic small towns.

From Toronto, you can drive or take a train to Ottawa , Canada's capital, to see Parliament Hill , some national museums, and in winter, you may even be able to skate along the Rideau Canal running through the city.

Montreal is another must-see city in Central Canada. You can get there easily from Ottawa, or directly from Toronto if you choose to skip Ottawa. Trains run regularly from both cities to Montreal, and by car, it is quite an easy drive (4.5 hours from Toronto to Ottawa, 5.5 hours from Toronto to Montreal, and two hours from Ottawa to Montreal).

With more time available, you can continue on to Quebec City to tour this historic French city. This is a city definitely worth visiting, and may even serve as an alternative to visiting Montreal if you are unable to visit both.

Nova Scotia and PEI Itinerary Highlights: Halifax, Lunenburg, Charlottetown, Cape Breton Island

Eastern Canada is a large area and you may want to explore a region rather than try to see everything. Beginning with Nova Scotia and PEI is a good start. The most practical way to tour this area is with a car.

With eight to 10 days, you can easily see the highlights of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island . Begin in Halifax with some sightseeing around the city, and then spend a day touring the surroundings, with visits to Peggy's Cove and historic Lunenburg , before moving on to Annapolis Royal . From here, continue up and along the Bay of Fundy , making your way to the Confederation Bridge and over to Charlottetown , Prince Edward Island.

Take at least a day to explore the PEI, with a trip to Prince Edward Island National Park and Green Gables , the fictional home of Anne of green Gables. If the weather cooperates, take some time to enjoy the seashore. PEI's Brackley Beach with its long stretches of golden sand, is one of the best beaches in Canada . When you are ready to leave, take the Wood Islands Ferry to Caribou , Nova Scotia and head up to Cape Breton Island . There is plenty to see and do here, but the most popular activity is driving the scenic Cabot Trail , which runs through Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

If you have time, make your way out to Louisbourg to see the Fortress Louisbourg National Historic Site. From here you can head back to Halifax.

If you have another seven or 10 days for exploring the Maritimes, tack on a tour of Newfoundland .

Newfoundland Itinerary Highlights : St. John's, Gros Morne National Park, coastal towns

Start your Newfoundland itinerary with a stop in St. John's , the provincial capital, to explore Signal Hill National Historic Site and George Street , in the lovely downtown area. When you leave St. John's, take the scenic drive along Conception Bay and over to the Bonavista Peninsula to the charming town of Trinity. This scenic little seaside village with colorful houses looks out onto oceanfront cliffs. Tour some historic buildings to get a feel for the culture, take a whale-watching tour, or go for a hike. If you are visiting in the late spring, you may even see an iceberg.

From here, continue up the coast through Terra Nova National Park and on to the village of Twillingate to experience a quaint coastal community. After a night in Twillingate make your way to beautiful Gros Morne National Park , for a boat tour or some hiking in this spectacular landscape. Stay in the park at Rocky Harbour, Norris Point, or at nearby Deer Lake.

If you have more time, consider making a trip up to L'Anse Aux Meadows , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see some Viking history. Afterwards, make your way back to St. John's. Keep in mind, driving in Newfoundland may take longer than you expect, with winding roads and last-minute decisions to turn off the highway and visit coastal towns or scenic areas.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Newfoundland and Labrador

Northern Canada Itinerary Highlights: Churchill, Whitehorse, Yellowknife

There is no easy way to see all of Canada's north in one trip. The region is extremely remote, and the highlights are, in many cases, geographically distant from one another.

Here are some options for a Northern Canada itinerary:

If your goal is to see wildlife you should consider a trip to Churchill , Manitoba in the late fall to see the polar bear migration. Many different tours leave from Winnipeg , offering multi-day stays that include options to see the bears in a Tundra Buggy and stay in a Tundra Lodge. Most tours involve a flight from Winnipeg to Churchill, but it is also possible to take a train to Churchill.

The two main cities of the north are Whitehorse , in the Yukon , and Yellowknife , in the Northwest Territories . Both of these cities are accessible by car.

Many people incorporate the Yukon into a driving trip to Alaska . This route typically involves driving up through northern British Columbia and runs from Haines, going through Skagway, Carcross, Whitehorse, Dawson City, and into Alaska to the cities of Fairbanks and Anchorage , then back into the Yukon to Haines Junction and back to Haines. This route will give you a chance to experience some of the characters and cultures of the north, learn about the history of the Klondike Gold Rush, and see some of the beautiful landscape.

To reach Yellowknife , most people drive up the Mackenzie Highway from northern Alberta to Highway 3 running through Fort Providence. While in Yellowknife, be sure to get out on the waters of Great Slave Lake to battle the giant northern pike and trout waiting beneath the surface.

To see more of the north from Yellowknife, flights are in order. Possible options include side trips to Nahanni National Park , one of the jewels of Canada's north, or to the northern community of Inuvik, just 200 kilometers from the Arctic Circle, to see what life is like in the far north.

Read More: Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Whitehorse

Canadian Cities Itinerary Highlights: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal (Optional: Calgary, Halifax, St. John's, Quebec City)

If you are looking for a cross-Canada cosmopolitan adventure, the key cities are Toronto , Vancouver , Montreal , and the nation's capital, Ottawa . But if you want to probe a little deeper, you could easily add on Calgary , Halifax , St. John's , and even a side trip from Montreal to Quebec City . There are regular flights to all of these destinations and quick and convenient train connections that run between Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. Flights to the eastern cities of Halifax and St. John's are generally more expensive.

Vancouver is arguably Canada's most beautiful city, while Toronto is a great place to see a show, take a day trip to Niagara Falls, and enjoy the view from the CN Tower.

Montreal is an incredibly vibrant city known for its French culture, shopping and fashion, and trendy Old Town . With extra time, you could add on a trip to Ottawa , between Toronto and Montreal, to tour some of the best museums in Canada.

Nature lovers could make a stop in Calgary for a quick trip out to Banff National Park and Lake Louise. For a more complete picture of Canada, catch a flight to either Halifax or St. John's to enjoy some seafood and experience the culture and friendly people of Atlantic Canada.

Planning a trip to Canada involves more than geographical considerations; the weather should be high on the list of things to research as well. Canada is so massive that the country can be experiencing four seasons on the same day. For example, on a typical June day, it could be 30 degrees Celsius, hot and humid in Central Canada, fogbound and cool in the Atlantic provinces, pleasant with cool sea breezes in Vancouver, and snowing in the Rockies or far north.

The best months to visit Canada are July and August . During these months, you'll get the warmest temperatures and have the best chance to do all the activities you have planned. However, this is when all the Canadians like to do things as well, so prices tend to rise and the most popular places can get crowded. If you can get away in September, you'll be rewarded with warm days, cool nights, and less crowded attractions.

Vancouver and coastal British Columbia along with Eastern Canada have temperate climates - it rarely gets too hot or too cold. The farther you move inland from the moderating effect of the oceans, the more extreme the temperatures get.

Planning a trip in the winter is less popular, unless you are a downhill skier or hardy outdoorsman. The best winter month for a ski trip is March, with its more moderate temperatures, sunny days, and copious snowfall. December is early for consistent snow conditions; January and February can be bone-chillingly cold and have short days.

Winter can also be a great time to experience the arts. Enjoy the ballet, symphony, and theater, or spend some time at the museums.

More on Canada

Vancouver, Canada

Plan your trip to Vancouver, Canada

Guide Hotels Attractions Restaurants Shops

Regional Population: 1,837,969

Elevation: 7 meters

Time Zone: America/Vancouver

Local Currency: CAD

Latitude: 49.249657393

Longitude: -123.119340403

Nearby Airports: YVR

Vancouver is the largest city in Western Canada and third largest in the country overall. Located at the southwestern corner of the coastal province of British Columbia, it is well known for its majestic natural beauty, as it is nestled between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently ranked as one of the “best cities to live in” and is certainly a beautiful destination to visit. Vancouver will be the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics .

Must see attractions include the world-class Vancouver Aquarium and the 136-meter long Capilano Suspension Bridge across the Capilano River. In addition to the bridge, the river also boasts a large park, rainforest eco-tours and North America’s largest private collection of First Nations story poles. Grouse Mountain is also worth exploring. Hike 2.9 kilometers to the peak on the Grouse Grind trail . If you’re not up for the hike you can also catch the Skyride tram to the top to enjoy breathtaking views.

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How Far Is It : distance to Vancouver

Cost to Drive : how much is it to drive to Vancouver

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Vancouver’s Family Vacation Attractions

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Canada Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

the stunning Canadian rockies towering over western Canada

Canada is often skipped over on many round-the-world trips owing to its proximity to the US, poor flight connections, and few budget cross-country travel options.

But those people miss out on so much! Canada is one of the best countries in the world for RVing and road trips and it’s brimming with outdoor activities for all levels. Backpacking Canada is an amazing experience.

I love my friendly neighbor to the north and believe Canada is a really underrated destination. There’s a reason everyone around the world loves Canadians after all.

To top it all off, it’s also easy to get a working holiday visa here so you can stay longer and make money while you explore (there are huge seasonal industries across the country).

This travel guide to Canada can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this friendly natural wonderland!

Things to See and Do
Typical Costs
Suggested Budget
Money-Saving Tips
Where to Stay
How to Get Around
How to Stay Safe
Best Places to Book Your Trip
Related Blogs on Canada

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in canada.

The CN Tower and skyline of Toronto as seen from the island out on Lake Ontario

1. Tour Toronto

Toronto is often considered the most multicultural city in the world, as over half of the city’s population is foreign-born. It’s an awesome, hip, artsy city. Don’t miss Kensington Market for good eats and cool shops, and there are plenty of tasty eats to be found in the city’s massive Chinatown as well. If you want to play tourist, head up the CN Tower for the best views of the city. For a bit of swimming in the summer, check out some of Canada’s easily accessible beaches on Lake Ontario where you can go kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddle boarding, and more. And if you’re traveling with kids, don’t miss the nearby amusement park Wonderland.

2. Explore Jasper and the Columbia Icefield

The Icefields Parkway connects Banff and Jasper in Western Canada and is one of the most scenic drives in the country (if not the world). Stop along the way at the Columbia Icefield, an enormous icefield that feeds into eight glaciers. You can travel onto the 10,000-year-old Athabasca Glacier where you can hike around and even drink from the crystal-clear icy glacial water. If you’re not squeamish about heights, walk out to the cliff-top glass-floored Skywalk to get a spectacular panorama of the entire area. It’s easy to reach via an enormous bus or opt for a hiking tour where you can walk the glacier. There’s even a restaurant at the top that’s a bit expensive but worth at least a coffee for the view.

3. Road trip the Maritimes

Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick make up Canada’s east coast. If you want to spend your days hiking, relaxing by the ocean, and whale watching, this is the place to do it. Nova Scotia is sometimes considered the most beautiful province with rolling hills leading to lush green coastal cliffs over frothy shores. There are colorful little fishing villages like Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered one of the “Prettiest Painted Places in Canada.” It boasts delicious fresh seafood and friendly locals to chat with. Be sure to set aside a few days for an incredible road trip on the 298-kilometer (185-mile) Cabot Trail around Cape Breton and spend in the Highlands National Park where you can hike, camp, or fish. The east coast is stunning and sees very few tourists compared to other areas of the country.

4. Hang out in Montreal

Montreal offers a look at the French side of the country. Old Montreal is thriving with culture and a mix of old and new architecture within its European-style cobblestone streets, the Notre Dame Cathedral, museums, and river cruises. The other side of Montreal is extremely modern with an underground city and mall, funky jazz clubs, and amazing cuisine, which make this the hippest and most romantic city in the country. It’s also cheaper than most of the other large cities in Canada. Don’t forget to try the poutine and bagels when you visit!

5. Have fun in Vancouver

Other things to see and do in canada, 1. celebrate the calgary stampede.

During July, over 1 million people descend on Calgary for this multi-day rodeo, drinking festival, and carnival where everyone gets to be a cowboy. It’s a lot of fun, and you’ll meet tons of people from around the world. It’s one of Canada’s premier events so book early — prices rise and accommodation disappears fast! Also, wear cowboy boots and a hat if you want to fit in.

2. Hit the slopes

The mountains in Canada offer great skiing and snowboarding during the winter. Banff is a popular mountain town known for its excellent trails. It’s quite busy during the winter as locals and visitors alike hit the slopes, but it’s popular for a reason. While Banff is the most popular place to go, there are tons of other great skiing destinations in the country. Sunshine Village, Whistler Blackcomb, Lake Louise, Kicking Horse, and Mont Tremblant are just a few to check out (they stretch from British Columbia to Quebec so you’ve got lots of choices).

3. Discover Vancouver Island

Take a few days off from Vancouver to explore nearby Vancouver Island . Eat delicious seafood, hike, spot some whales (lots of orcas live near here), shop, and lounge on the beach. This is a place to just sit and relax. Since it is so close to Vancouver, it’s a popular getaway with the locals during the summer. Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is located on the island. It’s a quiet but gorgeous little city worth a couple days of exploring. From here you can also visit places like Tofino, where the bustling surf community has evolved into a fun hippie town. If you’d rather hike an incredible yet challenging trail, the West Coast Trail is famous for its rugged beach and rainforest trails, man-made ladders through the trees, and rare wildlife.

4. Hike the rainforest

Hike the Pacific Rim National Park for a wonderful look at some temperate rainforests on Vancouver Island. It’s one of the most popular parks in Canada, home to Western Red Cedars, Pacific Silver Firs, and tons of wildlife including deer, wolves, bears, and cougars. The Long Beach area is one of the most accessible places for hiking, but the sand dunes behind Wickaninnish Beach on the South Beach Trail are also worth the trek.

5. Explore Calgary

Often skipped over by travelers since it’s not on the coast, Calgary actually has a lot to offer when it comes to free and low-cost activities. Have a picnic in one of its many parks, go rollerblading, watch a hockey game, or head up to the top of the surrounding peaks. There’s great hiking, kayaking, skiing, water rafting, and camping here and you can easily rent a bike and explore the city via its many bike paths. Although it’s been long dismissed as an oil town, it’s one of the liveliest cities in Canada.

6. Visit the galleries of Toronto

Toronto has some of the best museums and galleries in the country, so take a day or two to admire the art of the city. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) are the two most famous art museums, but there are a plethora of smaller, specialty galleries too, like the Textiles Museum of Canada and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Galleries often offer discounts on certain days of the week, so check before you go to save some cash.

7. Take a road trip

This huge country is best explored by car or RV. It’s the ideal way to find yourself in tiny little towns, majestic mountains, amazing countryside, and plenty of off-the-beaten-track places. If you have a lot of time, this is your best and cheapest option to see the country. The Trans-Canada Highway stretches from coast to coast, making a road trip relatively easy to plan. Just keep in mind that the weather can be unpredictable (especially in the winter). Of course, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife and you’ll want to be prepared for long stretches of driving without any rest stops or gas stations. However, it’s worth it — the changing landscapes and scenic vistas are out of this world! you could easily spend weeks or months touring the country and still barely scratch the surface. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

8. Stroll the nation’s capital

Ottawa is a very easy city to explore on foot. Home to museums, art galleries, and plenty of shops, it’s a charming city worth visiting for a couple days. You can take a tour of Parliament Hill (the historic buildings where the Canadian government operates) or cross the Ottawa River and visit Quebec (the great Museum of Civilization is just across the bridge). The Canadian War Museum and the National Gallery of Canada are two must-visit museums in Ottawa. Also, don’t miss the busy Byward Market, and be sure to check out the craft breweries in Westboro. Try a beavertail (a sweet pastry with sugary toppings) when you’re here!

9. Get off the beaten path in Nova Scotia

The locals boast that Nova Scotia is home to the friendliest people in Canada. They might be right. That, combined with over 100 beaches, picturesque lighthouses, great sailing, mouth-watering seafood (this area of Canada is the main fishing region), and a marvelous coastline, makes Nova Scotia an amazing place to visit in Canada. Plus, the province doesn’t see lots of tourists so it’s far less crowded and unspoiled compared to other regions. It’s perfect for road trips and camping.

10. Admire Quebec City

Quebec City’s Old Town offers cobblestone walkways, well-preserved 17th-century architecture, and the only North American fortress, the Citadel. The historical Quartier Petit Champlain is stunning and gives you an authentic French feeling with little cheese shops, bistros, creperies, and boutiques. It’s especially magical in December as it’s fully decorated with twinkling lights, snow-covered canopies, and lined with beautiful Christmas trees. In the warm weather, you can easily lose track of time wandering the streets admiring the flowers everywhere and colorful window shutters and storefronts. Don’t forget to sample the local ice ciders, head out for drinks on Grande Allée, and explore the streets below the stunning Château Frontenac.

11. Visit Kelowna

Warm in the summer and mild in the winter, this glacial valley has some of the best weather in the entire country. It’s no wonder that this is where many Canadians spend their vacations. There’s a marina and a few golf courses, not to mention that the Okanagan Valley is home to Canada’s best vineyards and wineries (a four-hour wine tour costs around 125 CAD). In the summer, Canadians rent fancy houseboats complete with waterslides to vacation on nearby Okanagan Lake. Overall, this is just a gorgeous slice of the country that shouldn’t be missed.

12. Head north to Churchill, Manitoba

This might be a small town in the middle of nowhere, but it also happens to be the Polar Bear Capital of the World, the Beluga Whale Capital of the World, and one of the best places to view the Aurora Borealis. You can ride in a tundra buggy (a special bus raised on giant wheels to keep you out of reach from polar bears) and head out on the open plains to see polar bears in their natural habitats. Mother nature is alive and thriving here. Day tours in a tundra buggy during the summer start at around 250 CAD, including lunch.

13. See the iconic Niagara Falls

This is one of the most visited attractions on the entire continent. You can never imagine how big it is until you see it up close (you never envision so much mist either). To see it up close, on a boat tour and head out into the waterfalls (be prepared to get soaked). Walks runs a daily boat tour that has exclusive access to the best spots and includes access to behind the falls (tours are 107 CAD). The town itself is touristy and cheesy so don’t spend more than a day or two (it’s fun for kids though).

14. Get lost in the Yukon

The Yukon is the perfect place to get your nature fix. The chances of seeing a bear, elk, or deer are incredibly high (or you can tour the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where you’re guaranteed to see them). Go hiking in Tombstone Territorial Park, soak in a mineral hot pool at the Takhini Hot Springs, or swing by the Sign Post Forest with its unique collection of over 77,000 signposts. Hardly anyone ever visits the Yukon as visitors tend to stick to the major cities in the south of the country. Because of that, you’ll find yourself surrounded by unspoiled nature.

For more information on specific cities in Canada, check out these guides:

Calgary Travel Guide
Montreal Travel Guide
Nova Scotia Travel Guide
Ottawa Travel Guide
Quebec City Travel Guide
Toronto Travel Guide
Vancouver Travel Guide
Vancouver Island Travel Guide

Canada Travel Costs

Accommodation – Rates vary a lot depending on what city you’re staying in. On average, you’ll end up paying 35-45 CAD per night for a dorm room at a hostel. Expect to pay at least 90-120 CAD for a budget hotel room. Prices rise drastically in larger cities (notably Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa).

Airbnb is available across the country, rivaling budget hotels for price and convenience. Expect to pay an average of 60-90 CAD per night for a private room, while entire homes/apartments start around 100 CAD. Keep in mind that many smaller towns won’t have many options. However, there are usually locally owned hotels or motels that are generally quite cheap. Also, Airbnb prices can double (or triple) when not booked in advance so book early.

If camping is your thing, you’ll have plenty of options across the country. Prices vary depending on the grounds but expect to pay between 25-35 CAD per night for a basic pitch for two people. Many of the major national and provincial campgrounds sell out early in the summer, so be sure to book in advance during the peak season (June-August).

Food – Overall, the food here is a collage of dishes from other cultures, owing to the country’s diverse history of immigration. On the coasts, seafood is king while the prairies have more of a meat and potatoes diet. Be sure to sample some of Canada’s famous staples like poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds), beaver tails (fried dough with maple syrup), Canadian bacon, and the oddly tasty ketchup chips.

Overall, food can be inexpensive if you stick to cooking for yourself, eating street food, and dining at cheap fast-food places. Cheap sandwich shops and fast food are your best bet, usually costing less than 13 CAD per meal.

Pizzas cost 15-20 CAD while Asian food is usually 10-15 CAD for a main dish.

A meal out at a casual restaurant costs 20-35 CAD for a main dish and a drink. Casual fine dining costs double that.

Beer is around 7 CAD while a latte/cappuccino is around 4.60 CAD. Bottled water costs 2 CAD.

If you cook your own food, expect to pay 50-75 CAD per week for groceries. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, veggies, and some meat or fish.

Backpacking Canada Suggested Budgets

How much does it cost to visit Canada? Well, it’s complicated. How much you spend largely depends on where in Canada you’re going to visit. For example, Canada’s biggest cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver are considerably more expensive than the smaller ones (like Halifax, St. John’s, and Quebec City). The rural areas are even cheaper but getting around costs more as you may need to rent a car or take expensive buses.

On a backpacking budget, you should plan to spend around 70 CAD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel dorm, cooking all your meals, using public transportation, limiting your drinking, and sticking to free activities like hiking and enjoying nature.

On a mid-range budget of 185 CAD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, take buses between destinations, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, and do more paid activities like visiting museums or taking a food or wine tour.

On a “luxury” budget of 310 CAD per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car to get around, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though, the sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CAD.

Canada Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Given the size of Canada, there are plenty of ways to save money when you travel, but it varies by region (as I’ve been repeating). The general tips below can help but for specific tips visit our city guides!

Stay with a local – As Canada is not the most budget-friendly destination owing to its inconvenient size, you’ll be able to cut down on your costs by using Couchsurfing . While not huge in smaller towns, you won’t have a hard time finding a host in the major cities. Just be sure to plan ahead during the summer as that is prime tourist season and it’s much harder to find a host then.
Enjoy outdoor summer festivals – Since Canadians are stuck indoors all winter, they love to make the most of hot days by packing in lots of festivals into the short summer. Many of these, like Heritage Days (Edmonton), Kits Days (Vancouver), and Caribana (Toronto), are free. Check out upcoming events online by visiting the local tourism board’s website.
Embrace the outdoors – A vast country with a relatively minuscule population leaves lots of potential for outdoor activities. Rent a pair of cross-country skis or snowshoes in the winter and enjoy the free use of many trails (versus expensive downhill lift passes). In the summer, you can bike, hike, kayak, or canoe. The cost of most equipment rentals is around 25-100 CAD for a day, and you can explore many areas at no further cost.
Take the bus – Megabus runs in Ontario and Quebec (with connections into the U.S., including NYC). You can find tickets for as little as 1 CAD if booked in advance. This is the most affordable way to get between Toronto and Montreal (or into the U.S.).
Use ride-sharing services – If you are going to be traveling between cities or provinces, keep an eye out for people sharing their vehicles. Craigslist, Couchsurfing, Kangaride, and Facebook all have ride-share pages for most major cities. If you can find someone traveling in your direction you can tag along and share the cost of gas.
Eat street food – Every major Canadian city has plenty of street vendors selling hot dogs, sausages, and veggie dogs for as little as 3 CAD. You won’t find a cheaper lunch!
Take a free walking tour – Most major cities in Canada offer free walking tours. They are a great way to explore and get a feel for each location and its history. Most last a couple of hours and don’t need to be booked in advance. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!
Buy gas on native reserves – If you are driving around the country, keep your eyes peeled for native reserves — they are the cheapest places to buy gas in Canada. With lower taxes, you’ll find gas prices significantly cheaper than anywhere else. They are also great places to stop and experience the vibrant cultures of Canada’s First People.
Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Canada

Hostels are not that plentiful across Canada, but generally, they’re high quality and clean. Here are my suggested places to stay in Canada:

The Only Backpacker’s Inn (Toronto)
The Parkdale Hostellerie (Toronto)
Cambie Hostel Gastown (Vancouver)
Samesun Vancouver (Vancouver)
HI Calgary City Centre (Calgary)
HI Lake Louise (Banff)
HI Montreal Hostel (Montreal)
Alexandrie-Montréal (Montreal)

How to Get Around Canada

A person in a small kayak on the calm waters of Lake Louise near Banff, Alberta

Public transportation – Within city limits you’ll find great public transportation networks. Toronto and Montreal are the only two cities in Canada with subway systems (although Vancouver has SkyTrain), but even the smallest Canadian cities have extensive bus routes. It usually costs about 3.25 CAD for a one-way ticket.

Larger cities have passes designed for tourists to make the most of the metro system. For example, Toronto has a daily pass for unlimited travel for 13.50 CAD.

Bus – There’s no singular country-wide bus system here. Instead, regional operators vary per location. Megabus is the cheapest option when it comes to traveling between cities in Ontario and Quebec. Fares can be as low as 1 CAD if booked in advance. Red Arrow is primarily an Alberta coach line. On the east coast, Maritime Bus is the main coach company (except in Newfoundland where it’s DRL Group).

Toronto to Ottawa costs about 30-50 CAD with Flixbus, while Ottawa to Montreal is around 35-50 CAD. A longer ride — like the 13-hour drive from Calgary to Vancouver — costs around 125-165 CAD.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Train – There is a train service (VIA Rail) that runs from coast to coast and is very scenic, albeit not cheap. Many train routes are currently suspended or running with limited space due to COVID-19, meaning that journeys take even longer. It takes over 24 hours to get from Halifax to Ottawa, costing about 150-170 CAD. On the other hand, shorter routes like between Montreal and Quebec City (a 3.5-hour journey) are more affordable and start at 36 CAD.

Flying – As your last alternative, you can fly, but since the country has only two major airlines (WestJet and Air Canada) prices are often high. Round-trip flights from Toronto to Vancouver usually start at around 200 CAD when booked early but they can easily cost triple that price. Round-trip from Ottawa to Calgary is around 270 CAD, but again, this is when booked in advance. Expect to pay at least double that price if you don’t book early.

Overall, flying is worthwhile only if you want to see specific cities and have limited time. For shorter routes (like Montreal to Ottawa) you’ll save a lot of money if you just take the bus or train.

Car Rental – If you’re going between provinces or staying a while in the country, consider renting a car for 35-50 CAD per day. This is one of the best, most convenient ways to get around the country — especially if you’re interested in getting out of the cities and into Canada’s wilderness (ideally if you have someone to share the cost with too).

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

Ridesharing – If you are traveling between cities or provinces, keep an eye out for people sharing their vehicle. Check these websites for rides:

Couchsurfing

When to Go to Canada

Since Canada is such a large country, climate and temperature vary drastically from coast to coast. Canada has very defined seasons, and winter can be harsh and long in some places. For example, winters in the Northern Territories begin early and end late, and places like Newfoundland and Labrador can experience snow until late May.

On the other hand, winter in the Canadian Rockies is epic and people from all over the world flock to British Columbia and Alberta to hit the slopes around Whistler, Banff, and Revelstoke. Prepare for cold temperatures, though. In some places, like on the prairies, it can get as cold as -40°C (-40°F). In short, only visit in the winter if you’re planning to do winter sports.

Summer in Canada is beautiful, but it’s also the busiest time of year. June to the end of September is the main tourist season, with inflated prices and large crowds. On the other hand, the temperatures are lovely during this time, often in the high 20s°C (70s°F). There are music festivals galore and it’s a great time to hike, bike, and explore the Great Lakes.

Shoulder season is also a fantastic time to visit Canada, although spring (March-June) can be quite wet. Fall (September-October) is highly recommended, as temperatures are still warm enough and the autumn foliage is really something special. Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces are well worth an autumn trek.

How to Stay Safe in Canada

Canada is a safe place to backpack and travel — even if you’re traveling solo, and even as a solo female traveler. Violent attacks are rare and tend to be confined to certain areas (generally where drug and gang violence are a problem). You may encounter petty crime, like theft, around popular tourist landmarks, though that isn’t super common. Nevertheless, always keep an eye on your belongings, especially while taking public transportation, just to be safe.

Solo female travelers should feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

If visiting in the winter, dress warmly. It gets so cold here that people literally freeze to death so take precautions and always keep an eye on the forecast.

If you’re going out hiking, always check the weather beforehand and ensure you have enough water. Bring sunscreen and a hat too. It can get humid here!

Canada’s cannabis legalization has a whole lot of rules and restrictions. The CBC has a great outline on everything you need to know if you’re thinking of consuming cannabis while in Canada.

Scams here are rare, but it never hurts to be prepared. Read about common travel scams to avoid here if you’re worried about getting ripped off.

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Canada Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Canada Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Canada travel and continue planning your trip:

The 6 Best Hotels in Toronto

Where to Stay in Quebec City: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Toronto: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

How to Road Trip the Yukon on a Budget

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12 exciting experiences in every corner of Canada

May 7, 2024 • 8 min read

The mind boggles at the sheer scope of Canada .

The continent-spanning country’s vast territory encompasses frigid, treeless Baffin Island and the dense forests and mountains of Banff . Balmy Victoria , British Columbia and blustery St Johns , Newfoundland, six time zones away. Dinosaur bones at Drumheller and the ultra-modern skyscrapers of Toronto.

To come up with a dozen sights that capture the essence of this gargantuan country is like trying to nominate your 12 favorite stars in the Milky Way. Here’s our humble attempt to list all the best things to do in Canada.

People sit on the porch of Lake Agnes Tea House, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

1. Trek for a cup of tea above Lake Louise, Alberta

You could fill several summers hiking the countless trails in Banff National Park . But if you had to choose just two routes that combine wild mountain scenery with refreshing comforts, look no further than the Lake Louise teahouses. Originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the early 20th century, these two historic backcountry cabins are only accessible by foot or on horseback, and during the balmy days of summer serve a welcome menu of hot beverages and appetizing snacks. The Lake Agnes Teahouse is nestled in a mountain cirque (valley) 3.5km (2.2 miles) above Lake Louise. The Plain of the Six Glaciers Teahouse occupies a glade 5.6km (3.5 miles) southwest of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and within sight of the Victoria glacier. Energetic types can visit both in the same (ambitious) walk.

Colorful historic buildings against a mountain backdrop in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

2. See traces of the Gold Rush in Dawson City, Yukon Territory

One of Western Canada’s best-preserved and most evocative national historic sites, Dawson City pays homage to the 1896–98 Klondike Gold Rush, an event sometimes described as America’s “last grand adventure” – and one that left a lasting mark on Canadian culture and the folklore of the Yukon . A lasting legacy of this era is the tight grid of wooden buildings that have changed little since the settlement’s 20th-century heyday. In 2023, UNESCO made Tr’ondëk-Klondike a World Heritage site , to highlight the often-forgotten impact of the gold rush on the region’s Indigenous people. Lest we forget, two of the original prospectors, Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie, were from the Tagish First Nation.

Planning tip: Parks Canada docents dressed in period clothing lead excellent summer walking tours of the town’s important monuments. Meet them at the visitor center.

3. Admire the treasures of the reclaimed potlatch collection on Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Head north to Alert Bay on tiny Cormorant Island, just off Vancouver Island , to see one of the best manifestations of Canada’s rich Indigenous culture: the U’mista Cultural Centre , a unique museum modeled on a wooden Indigenous longhouse. On display is a vast collection of Kwakwaka’wakw artifacts – including masks, carvings and totems – reclaimed after being confiscated by Canadian authorities in the early 20th century when “potlatch” gift-giving ceremonies were (shamefully) prohibited.

A woman paints during Festival Mural, Montréal, Québec, Canada

4. Attend a festival in the “Franglish” city of Montréal

Few cities are as distinctly bilingual and bicultural as Montréal – and few host such a varied smorgasbord of festivals. June is when the main summer season kicks off, with Festival Mural , a graffiti and hip-hop extravaganza. Hot on its heels comes Les Francos de Montréal (Québécois music) and the Canadian Grand Prix (motor-racing), followed in July by Juste pour Rire (Just for Laughs, a giant comedy happening), with the peerless Festival International de Jazz de Montréal as the season’s high point. Yet those are just the appetizers. Many more parades, galas, circuses and street parties enliven Montréal’s streets the other 10 months of the year.

A view from a plane of Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories, Canada

5. Fly into roadless Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories

You’ll need to jump on a floatplane to see the unsullied glories of Nahanni in the Northwest Territories , a roadless national park acclaimed for wild rivers that curl around the MacKenzie Mountains through deep canyons and past a karst landscape riddled with interconnecting caves. With zero population and no services, visits here are pricey but truly rewarding, once-in-a-lifetime trips. Multi-day guided paddling excursions on the South Nahanni River are particularly spectacular.

Planning tip: Flights are best arranged out of Fort Simpson in the NWT or Whitehorse in the Yukon. Raft and canoe trips can be organized with licensed outfitters like Black Feather , which runs 14-day canoeing tours on the South Nahanni River.

6. Get close to Anglo-French colonial history in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

Tossed around like a tennis ball in the colonial wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, Annapolis Royal in rural Nova Scotia is today a small peaceful town that shows few signs of the sieges and skirmishes that once beset the region. Its pièce de résistance is Fort Anne , a historic bastion first fortified by the Scottish in 1629, re-established by the French in the 1640s and finally requisitioned by the British in 1713. Aside from the military citadel, the town guards several less contentious cultural heirlooms, including some of Canada’s oldest surviving houses.

Detour: Around 14km (9 miles) northwest of Annapolis Royal, the Port Royal National Historic Site is a replica of the one of the earliest permanent European settlements in North America, established by French colonist and explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1605.

A view of the Vancouver skyline from the top of Grouse Mountain, British Columbia, Canada

7. Explore Vancouver’s “back garden” in the North Shore Mountains

The roadless muddle of mountains and valleys just north of Vancouver is the city’s proverbial backyard – and, in the eyes of many, its finest attraction. Accessible via a network of well-mapped trails and easily reachable by public transport, the backcountry here is close enough to the city to be reconnoitered in a day. You might be observing bears in Hanes Valley at lunchtime, then singing “Mr Brightside” in a downtown karaoke bar by evening. Most tourists access the North Shore via the Grouse Mountain gondola – but only a 20-minute walk from the crowded summit restaurant lies a world of unadulterated subalpine forest and vertiginous ridgetops.

Planning tip: Recommended North Shore hikes include the rocky scramble to the top of Goat Mountain, the strenuous backcountry rollercoaster through the Hanes Valley and the popular, rootsy ramble to the viewpoint at St Mark’s Summit.

Parks Canada interpreters in period costumes performing traditional tasks inside a recreated Viking longhouse at L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, Newfoundland, Canada

8. Listen to ancient Viking sagas in L’Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland

Almost half a millennium before Columbus bumped into North America , a short-lived but pioneering Viking settlement took shape on the northern tip of Newfoundland . You can investigate its foggy legacy in several reconstructed sod houses at L’Anse aux Meadows , a national historic site first excavated by two Norwegian archaeologists in the 1960s. In the evenings, contemporary guides gather 'round in traditional kitchens to relate powerful Viking sagas.

9. Stroll the Plaines d’Abraham in Québec City

Québec City is one of the oldest European-founded settlements in Canada and the only walled city north of Mexico. It is also where the continent’s long-term fate was decided in a short, decisive battle between the British and French on the Plaines d’Abraham (Plains of Abraham) in 1759. You can absorb the historical details at the onsite Musée des Plaines d’Abraham , which explores that conflict through regalia and maps. Afterward, enjoy river views and a picnic in the adjoining park and finish off by visiting the imposing Citadelle de Québec , a fort built by the British atop old French defenses in the early 1800s.

Detour: Sandwiched between the Old Upper Town and the waterfront, the neighborhood of Petit-Champlain has the city’s most intriguing museums, along with plenty of outdoor cafes and restaurants lining its pedestrian-friendly streets.

A huge Tyrannosaurus rex statue at an intersection in downtown Drumheller, Alberta, Canada

10. Size up a Tyrannosaurus rex in Drumheller, Alberta

Paleontology is the overriding theme in dusty Drumheller , where the Royal Tyrrell Museum exhibits one of the planet’s pre-eminent fossil collections, many of them unearthed locally. On a slightly kitschier note, the city also exhibits the world’s largest dinosaur – a bulky fiberglass T. rex that visitors can climb up to peer through its open jaws.

Detour: Beyond the reptilian attractions, this arid pocket of eastern Alberta is famed for its classic Badlands scenery and eerie, mushroom-like rock columns called hoodoos. Several driving loops circumnavigate the striking geology.

Food vendors at the Taste of India festival, Nathan Philips Square, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

11. Get a taste of Toronto – literally

Comprising a complex potpourri of cultures and neighborhoods , Toronto is Canada’s urban colossus. This diversity finds its most delicious expression in the city’s food scene. The metropolis’ 7000-ish restaurants represent a phenomenal range of tastes, cultures and experiences. You can explore, graze and experiment through a gamut of neighborhoods, from fine dining in the Financial and Entertainment Districts to hole-in-the-wall eats in Kensington Market and Chinatown.

Detour: Old Town’s sensational St Lawrence Market has been a neighborhood meeting place for over two centuries. The restored, high-trussed South Market houses more than 120 specialty food stalls and shops – think cheese vendors, fishmongers, butchers, bakers, pasta makers and more.

People walk along the Cloudraker Skybridge, Whistler Mountain, British Columbia, Canada

12. Savor winter and summer alpine pursuits in Whistler, British Columbia

Cool, compact and ruggedly handsome, Whistler is the slick, alpine-style village that co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. Spread over two mountains and located a mere 120km (75 miles) north of Vancouver, Whistler has long been renowned for its humongous 8,171-acre ski area (one of the world’s largest). Yet these days – thanks to savvy marketing and subtle infrastructure adjustments – summer visitors outnumber their winter counterparts. Come in any season for instant access to a vast backcountry of wild mountains and recreational lakes.

Planning tip: Access to both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains is provided by high-speed gondolas, which are open year-round. Even better, the two mountaintops are linked by the world’s second-longest free-span gondola, the Peak 2 Peak .

This article was first published Sep 22, 2021 and updated May 7, 2024.

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Shocking videos show Air Canada Boeing jet leave Toronto airport spitting flames

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In multiple jaw-dropping videos shared on social media this week, a Paris-bound Air Canada flight is shown spitting flames as it returned to Pearson Airport after experiencing engine issues .

The videos, which were captured from multiple angles around the travel hub, show sparks flickering underneath the aircraft. The Boeing 777-200LR (twin-jet), was performing flight AC872 to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and took off on Wednesday at 8:46 p.m.

Air Canada Plane Spotted On Fire While Leaving Toronto Pearson Airport!😳🔥✈️🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/42iElf2hvR — 6ixDripTV (@6ixdrip) June 7, 2024

According to a reconstruction video posted by aviation YouTube channel, You can see ATC , air traffic controllers reportedly informed the flight's pilot of the issue, after another plane spotted flames coming from the aircraft.

"Air Canada 872, you got a lot of fire…I'm not sure where it's coming from," air traffic control said. "Air Canada 872, looks like the number two engine, sir. Just let me know what you need to do."

❗❗❗05-JUN-2024❗❗❗ “You got a lot of fire”. Air Canada Boeing 777 returns to Toronto Airport. Real ATC Full video: https://t.co/RW0F4vPSil pic.twitter.com/fOOuKvXEkY — YOU CAN SEE ATC (@RealATCComms) June 6, 2024

In response, the pilot of the aircraft declares PAN-PAN , a term used in radiotelephone communications to signify that there is an urgency on board a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

Superb work by the pilots and their air traffic controllers, dealing with a backfiring engine on takeoff. Heavy plane full of fuel, low cloud thunderstorms, repeated compressor stalls. Calm, competent, professional - well done! Details: https://t.co/VaJeEdpzcn @AirCanada pic.twitter.com/7aOHyFsR29 — Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) June 7, 2024

The term is most often used when there is a state of urgency but not in cases when there is an immediate danger to a person's life.

"PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, PAN-PAN, Air Canada 872, we’ve had to reduce engine power on the right hand side," the pilot says.

#WATCH : Footage of Air Canada Boeing flight 777 catching fire before turning back due to ‘engine issue’ yesterday. pic.twitter.com/BA1s0ts4pS — 6ixBuzzTV (@6ixbuzztv) June 7, 2024

Despite experiencing the alarming issues, the aircraft landed back at Pearson Airport without further incident. Fire emergency vehicles met the aircraft on the runway, and despite there being 389 passengers onboard, no injuries were reported.

In a statement shared to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Air Canada confirmed that the flight returned to Toronto shortly after departure due to an "engine issue that was determined to be a compressor stall."

The airline also acknowledged the videos posted to social media that showed the aircraft spitting flames.

"This can be caused by various factors, but the result is the flow of air through the engine is disrupted causing fuel to ignite further down the engine, which is why flames are visible in the video. It is not the engine itself on fire," the airline clarified.

Update on flight AC872 from June 5: pic.twitter.com/lkruMaM7KH — Air Canada (@AirCanada) June 7, 2024

"Our pilots are highly skilled professionals well trained to safely manage such incidents and in this case the situation was quickly stabilized as per our standard procedures and the aircraft landed normally."

Following the incident, the aircraft was taken out of service for thorough evaluation, and affected passengers were rescheduled on a flight that took off early Thursday morning.

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26 Best Things to Do in Vancouver

I’ve been looking for the best things to do in Vancouver since I was a kid.

As a child, I loved forest trails, beach strolls, and feeding the squirrels in Stanley Park.

As I grew older, my tastes evolved to include culture, cuisine, and cocktails.

So, let’s dive straight into my eclectic list of the most fun things to do in Vancouver and find a good balance!

How I Chose My List of Top Things to Do in Vancouver

OK, so being a local, it wasn’t that hard to come up with this list from personal experience .

That said, I’m looking at combining culture, nature, and food/drink in a way to create the best Vancouver experience possible.

I’m also adding one bonus tip for each of my best things to do.

Planning a trip? Bookmark me or join our Vancouver travel Facebook group for custom advice. We’re the only Vancouver travel blog on the web – and we’re eager to help!

Also, for a broader trip, make sure to read my Vancouver itineraries posts to get the timing right on everything:

One day in Vancouver
A weekend in Vancouver
Three days in Vancouver
Four days in Vancouver
Five days in Vancouver
A week in Vancouver

Alright, let’s look deeper into what to do in Vancouver!

A quick one: you should be pre-booking all activities , especially in high season – if you do, I’d appreciate it using my links as it gets me one step closer to doing this for a living – at no extra cost to you ???? I’ve built this site brick by brick over 1000’s of hours and I answer all inquiries free – just try me! 🙂

Best Things to Do in Vancouver, BC Canada

Climb grouse mountain.

Grouse Mountain is Vancouver’s year-round alpine recreational playground .

From the epic Grouse Grind hike and zip lining in Vancouver in summer to skiing in Vancouver in winter , the mountain has no shortage of year-round activities on offer.

You can also visit the popular wildlife sanctuary , take in a world-famous lumberjack show or even the best breakfast in Vancouver – because it’s with grizzly bears .

➡️ Tip : Walk the Grouse Grind in the summer to get to the top – you’ll save on the gondola.

Go Whale Watching

How many big cities can offer you once-in-a-lifetime wildlife right on your doorstep?

Especially between March and October , you’ll find the top Vancouver whale watching tours in full stride.

Here, just outside of Vancouver Harbour, you can experience killer whales , humpback whales, and all sorts of Pacific wildlife .

➡️ Tip : The best time to go whale watching is the afternoon trip – for golden hour photography.

Cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge

OK! Name any place that’ll string you on a line through an old-growth rainforest 280 feet above a thundering, salmon-filled river…

Then give you the rush of a roller coaster without even a slight drop in altitude.

The 800,000 people who traverse North Vancouver’s Capilano Suspension Bridge every year will tell you it’s one of the most unique experiences you can have.

➡️ Tip : On a budget? It’s further but Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge is a great alternative – and it’s free!

bbq pork and duck with rice at heritage asiann eatery vancouver bc canada

Go for Chinese Food

Many of Vancouver’s Best Restaurants tend to have an Asian twist.

Conde Nast Traveler even claimed Vancouver had the best Chinese food in the entire world (what?!).

No lie: their reviewer was left ‘trembling’ by the city’s variety of top Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Szechuan chefs utilizing the area’s top-notch seafood and produce.

➡️ Tip : Get noodles at Peaceful Restaurant or dumplings at Dinesty Dumping House

the raven and first men origin story at the museum of anthropology vancouver canada

Take in the Museum of Anthropology

Those looking for a window into the rich history of the Northwest Coast First Nations will find answers in the art and archaeology at the Museum of Anthropology .

The 535,000 archaeological objects also include a notable presence from faraway continents like Africa and Asia – making it number one on my list of best museums in Vancouver .

➡️ Tip : Plan the visit around dusk so you can see a spectacular sunset down at nearby Wreck Beach .

Take an Aerial Tour of the City

To truly appreciate all of Vancouver’s beauty together, these 20-minute Vancouver seaplane tours are a great option.

You’ll take off right in front of Canada Place and the Vancouver Cruise Terminal , cruise past Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge , trace the majestic Coast Mountains , then circle back for views of Vancouver’s beaches and cityscape.

Even better? You’ll be flying the world’s first carbon-neutral airline .

➡️ Tip : Book free-cancellation seaplane tour tickets with GetYourGuide to cover you in case it rains.

Walk Through Stanley Park

The mother of all Vancouver parks .

Stanley Park actually checks in about one-fifth bigger than Central Park in New York, with about (just a guess) 72 times more natural beauty.

It’s home to the Vancouver Aquarium , a miniature railway, and the city center’s world-famous Seawall .

capilano suspension bridge and grouse mountain tour banner for 2024

Stanley Park isn’t the work of a landscape architect but simply an old-growth forest that was allowed to evolve with a city next door.

You’ll swear you’re in the middle of the bush, not a city of millions.

➡️ Tip : Stanley Park Tours do a great job showing off the highlights – without the risk of getting lost.

Go on Vancouver Food Tours

For me, there’s no better way to discover a city than to eat up its local delicacies .

Among my list of the best Vancouver food tours , you’ll find the following:

Granville Island Market Food Tour
Chinatown Walking Food Tour
Gastown Historic Food Tour
Authentic Asian Eats Walking Tour

Along the way, you may even get to try signature eats like Canada’s national dish : poutine .

➡️ Tip : The Gastown Historic Food Tour makes you a Vancity expert + has the best food.

Visit Granville Island

Granville Island used to be a boring mud flat just south of downtown Vancouver , but today it has swapped its turn-of-the-century sawmills and machine shops for local artists and their art galleries .

It’s also home to street performers , some of Vancouver’s best shopping , and the city’s top food market .

A local seafood meal at Sandbar or a night at The Improv Centre are also can’t miss.

➡️ Tip : Don’t leave without Lee’s Donuts or candied salmon from Longliner Seafoods .

Get Educated at Science World

Yes, we locals still refer to Telus World of Science as Science World , and quite frankly, you should too for that full integration factor.

Here, we get an iconic Vancouver building : a geodesic sphere at the edge of False Creek that looks like Las Vegas had its way with a golf ball.

With a huge variety of science-themed galleries like BodyWorks, Puzzles & Illusions, Environmental Trail, and the Wonder Gallery, you’ll be edu-tained like no other place.

➡️ Tip : Science World has the largest OMNIMAX dome screen in the world, so make sure to book those tickets separately.

riders laughing as they fly over the canadian landscape at the flyover canada ride in vancouver bc

Cross the Country with a 4D Flight Simulator

Visit Canada Place , right next to the Vancouver Convention Centre in downtown Vancouver , for what has been dubbed “the ultimate flying experience.”

Flyover Canada utilizes state-of-the-art 4D video technology to simulate the sensations of flight across all of Canada’s disparate landscapes.

You’ll be strapped in to hang suspended in front of a 20-metre spherical screen for your exhilarating 8-minute journey clear across Canada.

➡️ Tip : My favourite Vancouver photo op: Douglas Coupland’s Digital Orca is right outside here.

Take a Vancouver Boat Tour

Vancouver’s city motto is By sea , land , and air ; we prosper – so it’s only fitting to pay tribute to the sea by taking Vancouver’s best boat tours .

And we’ve got some pretty insane options: harbour cruises, wildlife boat tours , whale watching tours, dinner cruises , sunset excursions and more.

As a base, expect most tours to take you along city beaches, Stanley Park, the Lions Gate Bridge, the Coast Mountains, and the city skyline.

➡️ Tip : Again, book free-cancellation boat tour tickets with Viator to cover you in case it rains.

two women walking by the vancouver art gallery during a every child matters demonstration

Hit the Vancouver Art Gallery

The largest art gallery in Western Canada hosts a permanent collection of about 11,000 pieces of art – with some notable contributions from Emily Carr, Marc Chagall, and the Group of Seven.

Walking down the famous Robson Street , you won’t miss this National Historic Site of Canada building. The Vancouver Art Gallery is often the site of protests and demonstrations and is the city’s true cultural heart .

All the big international exhibitions touch down here.

➡️ Tip : The cafe here offers a garden oasis in the middle of the city – and it’s never crowded.

Go Kayaking in False Creek

Why not discover Vancouver by water and perfect a useful skill while getting into shape at the same time? If you’re visiting between late April in Vancouver and early October, then hit up Creekside Kayaks .

Not wanting to lift a finger? You can try out one of Vancouver’s best kayaking tours for $44.80.

False Creek is our recommendation due to its connection with downtown Vancouver , sheltered waters and great stop-off options, like Science World, Granville Island and Yaletown .

➡️ Tip : For about $6.00 you can stay dry but see the same sites aboard the Aquabus .

Ride the Sea to Sky Highway

If you’ve got a car, there’s no greater way to soak up the breathtaking beauty of British Columbia than this scenic stretch of highway that connects Vancouver to Whistler .

Along the way, you can stop at the breathtaking Sea to Sky Gondola or the historic Britannia Mine Museum .

Pick a sunny day, and your senses won’t be able to decide between the evergreen elegance of our mountain rainforest or the scintillating sea below.

➡️ Tip : My free must-see here is Brandywine Falls , a spectacular old growth forest waterfall.

exhibition with chinese style dragons at the museum of vancouver

Visit the Museum of Vancouver

One of the best cheap things to do in Vancouver , the Museum of Vancouver is a popular civic history museum that recounts the history of its namesake city.

Learn about the history of the three local First Nations who called the area home long before the arrival of European explorers.

In all, expect an informative look at Vancouver’s dramatic transformation from a rough-and-tumble pioneer outpost to the cosmopolitan city we see today.

➡️ Tip : Save money! Admission is by donation the first Sunday of the month.

the gastown steam clock erupts with steam in vancouver canada

Visit Gastown’s Steam Clock

It may not get the air time as other Vancouver landmarks, but this is one of the only functioning steam clocks in the world . It was built in 1977 as part of a throwback revitalization plan for Gastown.

You’ll see it in action at the top of the hour and every 15 minutes after.

You can find more information in our Gastown neighbourhood guide.

➡️ Tip : Grab happy hour at the best Gastown bars to slow down your trip a bit.

Go For Sushi

The 600 sushi restaurants in Greater Vancouver account for about 10% of the city’s total eateries, making them as common as coffee shops. Still not impressed by the number? Los Angeles only has 300.

Vancouverites are sushi mad – but that’s because there’s an abundance of affordable yet delicious fish available around all of coastal British Columbia.

Another fun fact: the California roll was invented in Vancouver at Tojo’s .

➡️ Tip : Tom Sushi has been rated the second-best restaurant in Canada and it’s not even expensive!

Hit Some Vancouver Beaches

Ah, Vancouver in the summer months – spending a relaxing afternoon swimming, tanning, and barbecuing at one of Vancouver’s best beaches .

To hang with the beautiful people and check out Canada’s longest swimming pool , look no further than Kitsilano Beach : a quick taxi from downtown Vancouver .

If you’re staying downtown, though, you can’t go wrong with any of the beaches facing west into English Bay.

➡️ Tip : Got a car? Head to Jericho or Spanish Banks on the city’s West side for a more laid back beach day.

a red parrot at the bloedel conservatory at queen elizabeth park in vancouver bc canada

See the Bloedel Conservatory

If Vancouver’s gloomy weather has got you down, don’t fret; the city is home to its domed tropical paradise .

Located at beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park , the Bloedel Conservatory was constructed to foster “a better appreciation and understanding of the world of plants”.

In pursuit of this goal, this beautiful domed heritage building was stocked with over 500 species of tropical plants and 120 free-flying birds in its tropical temperature-controlled confines.

➡️ Tip : Check out our guide to the top Vancouver Hidden Gems .

stone inukshuk monument at second beach west end vancouver bc canada

Take in the Seaside Inukshuks

What was once a traditional stone landmark and navigational aid for Inuit cultures has become a symbol of the city – owing to Alvin Kanak’s inukshuk built-in English Bay in 1986.

Just west of the famous landmark, you’ll see hundreds of copycats along the Seawall trying to recreate their own versions representing the theme of northern hospitality and friendship .

➡️ Tip : After your attempt, walk to the West End for coffee, drinks, or a delicious ethnic meal.

Experience Commercial Drive

Vancouver’s Commercial Drive is part Little Italy and part hipster haven (maybe even more than Main Street ).

Here you can get into some Neapolitan pizza , hit a craft beer tasting room , sample some affordable cocktails, and visit a board game pub where dice determine your shots.

It’s one of the best neighbourhoods to stay in Vancouver .

➡️ Tip : Go to Bar Corso for a great Italian aperitivo.

Get Lost in VanDusen Botanical Garden

This 22-hectare public garden , maintained by over 1200 volunteers, displays plant species from all over the world with a particular focus on plants native to British Columbia .

If you’re visiting Vancouver in May, you’ll be treated to one of the world’s biggest Rhododendron collections , counting over 1000 varieties.

Also of note are the totem pole, Elizabethan hedge maze , and heirloom vegetable garden.

➡️ Tip : Queen Elizabeth Park is just a mile away and it’s free, if you’re trying to keep costs down.

Eat Some Canadian Food

When I travel, people always ask me if there are any traditional Canadian dishes . I usually mumble something self-deprecating and say ‘maple syrup’ before changing the subject.

But you won’t have to.

Salmon n’ Bannock is place you can try updated Indigenous classics like salmon, elk, bison pot roast, and oolichans. The Mr. Bannock food truck offers inventive “Indian fusion” items like Indian Tacos.

➡️ Tip : Check out my post on Vancouver food to discover all the best local dishes.

the final show of shaina twain's concert entitled queen of me tour along with her two back up dancers at the background at rogers arena.

Go to Concerts or Watch Sports

Throughout the year, you’ll find a ton of live concerts as well as big league sports like the Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Whitecaps .

If you can, try and catch a show at the Commodore Ballroom as it’s our best music venue by a mile.

There’s also Canucks Team Store , offering the city’s most extensive array of Canucks gear , situated at Gate 6 (Abbott Street and Pacific Blvd. corner).

➡️ Tip : Check out the Georgia Strait for all local events during your stay.

beautiful scenery with hanging lamps in dr. sun yat-sen classical chinese garden with people wearing traditional clothes

Visit Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a distinctive setting for cultural activities : the garden hosts guided tours , concerts, festivals, exhibitions, receptions, and educational programs.

This Ming Dynasty-inspired garden-home is the first of its kind constructed outside China, the collective collaboration of community members, the Canadian Government, and the People’s Republic of China.

➡️ Tip : After your visit, fit in a meal in Chinatown at Chinatown BBQ for epic peking duck.

Still Looking for Fun Things to Do in Vancouver?

This website goes beyond simply listing the top things to do in Vancouver and then disappearing. While that might be a straightforward approach, especially in this city, we aim to provide a more comprehensive experience.

If you’re seeking personalized recommendations for your upcoming holiday or night out in Vancity , feel free to drop a comment below, and I’ll be happy to assist!

This ensures you always have a wealth of things to do in Vancouver!

people taking pictures of the totem poles in stanley park vancouver bc

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busy outdoor plaza in front of granville island with vancouver skyline in background

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a woman lounging under an umbrella at second beach in vancouver in summer

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Two dozen United Airlines passengers fell ill on flight, had been on cruise

Around two dozen passengers fell ill on a United Airlines flight from Vancouver, Canada to Houston, Texas on Friday.

Approximately 25 people traveling in a group of 75 had nausea, according to Capt. Sedrick Robinett of the Houston Fire Department. HFD evaluated three passengers upon the plane’s arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport but none were transported to the hospital, he said.

“Several passengers who had been on the same cruise and did not feel well were on United Flight 1528 from Vancouver to Houston Friday night,” United told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. The airline did not answer a question about what cruise line or ship the flyers had been traveling on before their flight.

“United Airlines is actively coordinating with health authorities to address the situation,” the airline’s statement continued. “As a precautionary measure, the aircraft will be removed from service and go through a deep cleaning before returning to service. Ensuring the health and safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority.”

Is there a doctor on board?: Usually, yes. Here's why.

The Houston Health Department referred a request for comment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Public health officers from CDC’s Houston Port Health Station worked with EMS to evaluate ill passengers on board," a CDC spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "Most of the ill passengers reported mild GI symptoms. No passengers were noted to have a fever during the flight or upon public health assessment at landing. No passengers met CDC criteria for further public health follow-up. Passengers from the flight continued with their travel plans."

The news comes after dozens of passengers on a Condor flight from Mauritius to Frankfurt, Germany mysteriously became sick with nausea and vomiting last month.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

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EPIC 3-DAY VANCOUVER ITINERARY (2024)

A Little Bit About this Vancouver Itinerary

Unlock Our GREATEST Travel Secrets!

3-Day Vancouver Itinerary Overview

Best Hostel in Vancouver – Samesun Vancouver

Best Airbnb in Vancouver – Deluxe Junior One Bedroom with 2 Beds

Best Budget Hotel in Vancouver – GEC Granville Suites Downtown

Best Luxury Hotel in Vancouver – Rosewood Hotel Georgia

10:00 AM – Stanley Park

12:00 PM – Vancouver Aquarium

2:00 PM – Canada Place

5:00 PM – Vancouver Lookout

7:00 PM – Gastown

10:00 AM – Vancouver Art Gallery

1:00 PM – Pacific Spirit Regional Park

3:00 PM – Museum of Anthropology

6:00 PM – Granville Island

9:00 AM – English Bay Beach

12:00 PM – Capilano Suspension Bridge

2:00 PM – Grouse Mountain

7:00 PM – Lions Gate Bridge

Need a place quick? Here’s the best neighbourhood in Vancouver:

Queen Elizabeth Park

VanDusen Botanical Garden

Science World at TELUS World of Science

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Vancouver

Final Thoughts

Sheridan Cahoon

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Epic One Week Travel Itinerary And Guide To Visiting Vancouver

Introduction

Day 1: Exploring Downtown Vancouver

Day 2: Stanley Park Adventure

Day 3: Granville Island Experience

Day 4: Gastown and Chinatown Exploration

Day 5: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Day 6: Grouse Mountain and Lynn Canyon Park

Day 7: Day Trip to Victoria, BC

The PERFECT 3 Days in Vancouver Itinerary (2024 Guide)

10 am – Stanley Park

Vancouver Itinerary Day 1

Vancouver Itinerary Day 2

Vancouver Itinerary Day 3 – North Van to Gastown

Vancouver Travel Guide

Where to Stay in Vancouver , Canada

Best Restaurants In Vancouver, Canada

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