Lina & Andrew's Vancouver Guide

Things to Do

Some things to do around Vancouver. We hope you find something you enjoy.

Back to Explore

MOVE SEE EAT STAY TIPS

Jump to

Local / Close By

Attraction Near You

Local / Live Weather Guide

Weather-Based Plan

Things To Do / Pick a Day

Days We'd Actually Do

These are places and routes we genuinely enjoy and would happily do ourselves.

8 ideas.

Main Street storefronts and local shopping strip
Full Day Plan Perfect Day

Main Street - Science World to Granville Island

A full day we'd recommend to a first-time visitor.
Sunset Beach and West End waterfront path
Full Day Plan Perfect Day

West End → Sunset Beach → Cardero Bikeway

Short downtown waterfront route with cafe starts, Sunset Beach, and a quieter Cardero return.
Downtown route from Granville Station toward English Bay
Full Day Plan Perfect Day

Granville Station, Robson, and English Bay

July evening route with Robson shopping, dinner on Robson or Denman, and an English Bay sunset.

Things To Do / Our Favourite

Beaches

Vancouver has a lot of great beaches. These are the ones we'd recommend.

  • West End

    English Bay Beach

    Probably the easiest sunset spot if you're staying downtown.

    English Bay shoreline in daylight

    Current lens: Sunset

    • Transit

      15 minutes from downtown.

    • Vibe

      Classic city-beach scene.

    • Crowd

      Busy in summer evenings.

    • Tip

      Arrive 45-60 min before sunset.

  • Kitsilano

    Kitsilano Beach

    If you want the busiest and most social beach, go to Kits.

    Kitsilano waterfront scene in daytime

    Current lens: Sunset

    • Transit

      20-25 minutes by bus.

    • Vibe

      Active and social all day.

    • Crowd

      High on sunny weekends.

    • Tip

      Best for long midday hangs.

  • West Point Grey

    Jericho Beach

    Quieter than Kits with lots of space and great mountain views.

    Jericho Beach shoreline in daytime

    Current lens: Sunset

    • Transit

      30-35 minutes from downtown.

    • Vibe

      Calm, scenic, and spacious.

    • Crowd

      Medium, lighter at sunrise.

    • Tip

      Great choice for picnic afternoons.

  • West Point Grey

    Spanish Banks

    Lots of space, great sunsets, and usually less crowded than the city beaches.

    Spanish Banks shoreline in daytime

    Current lens: Sunset

    • Transit

      35-45 minutes by transit.

    • Vibe

      Open, airy, and expansive.

    • Crowd

      Spread out, rarely cramped.

    • Tip

      Check tide timing before you go.

  • UBC Bluffs

    Wreck Beach

    Wild, beautiful, and a little rough around the edges.

    Wreck Beach style natural waterfront view

    Current lens: Sunset

    • Transit

      45+ minutes plus steep stairs.

    • Vibe

      Raw, remote, and quiet.

    • Crowd

      Mixed, less packed than city beaches.

    • Tip

      Bring water and pack for stairs.

  • False Creek Edge

    Sunset Beach

    Easy, central, and great around sunset.

    Sunset Beach area skyline and water

    Current lens: Night

    • Transit

      Easy walk from Davie Street.

    • Vibe

      Quiet and walkable shoreline.

    • Crowd

      Medium, steady after work hours.

    • Tip

      Great for blue-hour city views.

Things To Do / Attractions

Attractions

A few places to visit if they fit your day.

Attractions / Free Section

Free

Open a card for details. Tap a card for details.

Worth Planning Around

Tree-lined trail and waterfront paths near Stanley Park.

Stanley Park

Seawall + cedar trails

Stanley Park

West End / Coal Harbour

Classic first-time Vancouver stop with ocean, forest, and skyline in one loop.

  • Iconic urban park with seawall loops
  • Best early morning or golden hour
  • 1.5-3 hrs depending route
Granville area streets and market district feel.

Granville Market

Food + local makers

Granville Island Public Market

False Creek / Granville Island

Best for sampling local food, coffee, and craft stalls in one compact walk.

  • Produce, pastries, and artisan stalls
  • Go early to avoid lunch crowd
  • 60-120 min
North Shore forest trail scene near suspension bridge viewpoints.

Lynn Canyon Park

Bridge + waterfalls

Lynn Canyon Park

North Vancouver

One of the easiest ways to experience North Shore nature.

  • Free suspension bridge + creek lookouts
  • Trails can be slippery after rain
  • 1.5-2.5 hrs
Hilltop neighborhood greenery and city outlook.

Queen Elizabeth Park

Skyline hilltop gardens

Queen Elizabeth Park

Cambie & 33rd Ave

One of the best city views for very little effort.

  • One of the best city viewpoints
  • Easy stop before dinner nearby
  • 45-90 min

If You're Nearby

Forest ecology centre and nature trail context.

Ecology Centre

Nature exhibits + trails

Ecology Centre

North Vancouver

A small nature stop that pairs well with easy forest trails and creek viewpoints.

  • Great add-on after Lynn Canyon
  • Low-cost, low-effort nature break
  • 30-60 min
Gallery district and waterfront architecture in North Vancouver.

The Polygon Gallery

Photo-focused exhibits

The Polygon Gallery

Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver

A small contemporary gallery that is easy to pair with quay views and lunch.

  • Contemporary photography curation
  • Great rainy-day indoor stop
  • 45-75 min
Richmond natural trails and wetlands.

Richmond Nature Park

Bog trails + birdlife

Richmond Nature Park

Richmond, BC

Quiet boardwalk trails through bog habitat when you want a calm reset.

  • Quiet boardwalks through bog habitat
  • Low-crowd nature reset option
  • 45-90 min
Richmond civic arts district and gallery context.

Richmond Art Gallery

Contemporary art shows

Richmond Art Gallery

Richmond Cultural Centre

A compact contemporary art stop that works well on a Richmond day.

  • Rotating local + contemporary exhibits
  • Easy rainy-day option
  • 30-60 min

Attractions / Budget Range

$1-$20

Open a card for details. Tap a card for details.

Worth Planning Around

Historic neighborhood architecture and streets.

Roedde House

1893 heritage home

Roedde House Museum

West End, Vancouver

A quick heritage stop showing what daily life looked like in old Vancouver.

  • Compact heritage interior tour
  • Great add-on near Robson area
  • 30-45 min
Museum district and city attractions context.

Museum of Vancouver

City culture + history

Museum of Vancouver

Vanier Park, Vancouver

Strong context on Vancouver's history before exploring other neighborhoods.

  • Best contextual primer on the city
  • Good rainy-day option
  • 60-90 min
Museum-style interior and science exhibits context.

Beaty Biodiversity

Blue whale + natural history

Beaty Biodiversity Museum

UBC, Vancouver

Science museum with the huge blue whale skeleton hall.

  • Massive blue whale skeleton centerpiece
  • Great for families + curious adults
  • 60-90 min
Botanical garden pathways and landscaped greenery.

VanDusen Garden

Seasonal blooms + paths

VanDusen Botanical Garden

Oakridge / South Cambie

Manicured gardens and winding paths that feel far from the city pace.

  • Landscaped collections and quiet paths
  • Check seasonal bloom windows
  • 1-2 hrs
Classical garden architecture and serene pathways.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen

Classical Chinese garden

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden

Chinatown, Vancouver

A reflective, architectural garden stop with calm courtyards and detail.

  • Authentic classical Chinese design
  • Compact but visually rich stop
  • 45-60 min

If You're Nearby

Waterfront museum and maritime context.

Maritime Museum

Nautical + arctic history

Vancouver Maritime Museum

Vanier Park, Vancouver

Compact maritime history with expedition artifacts and coastal ship stories.

  • Ship + arctic expedition stories
  • Pair with MOV in one stop
  • 45-75 min
Historic village boardwalk and museum area in Steveston.

Steveston Museum

Village history + post office

Steveston Museum & Post Office

Steveston, Richmond

A quick heritage stop that pairs with the fishing village waterfront walk.

  • Local history in a compact format
  • Easy to combine with lunch nearby
  • 30-60 min
Richmond civic museum exhibits and archives context.

Richmond Museum

Regional stories + archives

Richmond Museum

Richmond Cultural Centre

A local-history museum that is easy to slot into a Richmond day.

  • Focused on Richmond community history
  • Calm indoor stop in any weather
  • 45-75 min
Indoor tropical conservatory with dome structure and birds.

Bloedel Conservatory

Tropical dome + exotic birds

Bloedel Conservatory

Queen Elizabeth Park

Warm indoor tropical plants and birds in a quick, family-friendly stop.

  • Good all-weather backup plan
  • Easy combo with Queen Elizabeth Park
  • 30-60 min
Downtown gallery interior and Northwest Coast art context.

Bill Reid Gallery

Northwest Coast art

Bill Reid Gallery

Downtown Vancouver

An intimate downtown gallery with focused Indigenous art exhibitions.

  • Well-curated smaller museum
  • Easy add-on between downtown stops
  • 45-75 min

Attractions / Mid-Range

$20-$60

Open a card for details. Tap a card for details.

Worth Planning Around

Downtown art museum district.

Vancouver Art Gallery

Major rotating exhibitions

Vancouver Art Gallery

Downtown Vancouver

Major downtown museum with changing exhibitions.

  • Canadian and international exhibitions
  • Check special exhibition dates
  • 1.5-2.5 hrs
Science center architecture and False Creek surroundings.

Science World

Interactive exhibits

Science World

False Creek / Main St

Interactive exhibits that work for both adults and family groups.

  • Hands-on exhibits across themes
  • Strong option for groups/families
  • 1.5-3 hrs
Downtown skyline viewpoint from Harbour Centre.

Vancouver Lookout

360-degree skyline views

Vancouver Lookout

Harbour Centre, Downtown

Fast elevator-to-view option for a full-city orientation stop.

  • Great first-day city overview
  • Easy short stop
  • 30-60 min

If You're Nearby

Canada Place waterfront and immersive attraction context.

FlyOver

Immersive flight theatre

FlyOver in Vancouver

Canada Place, Downtown

Short, high-production ride when you want a downtown wow-factor stop.

  • High-production visual flight experience
  • Reserve timed entries on weekends
  • 45-75 min
Planetarium and astronomy exhibits in Vanier Park.

Space Centre

Planetarium + astronomy

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

Vanier Park, Vancouver

Classic planetarium programming and space exhibits in a compact venue.

  • Good rainy-day option
  • Often paired with nearby museums
  • 60-90 min
Amusement rides and midway lights at Playland.

Playland

Rides + fairground energy

Playland at the PNE

Hastings Park, Vancouver

Seasonal amusement-park energy with rides and carnival atmosphere.

  • Best with advance ticket planning
  • Good option for mixed-age groups
  • 2-4 hrs

Attractions / Premium

$60+

Open a card for details. Tap a card for details.

Worth Planning Around

Aquarium exhibits and marine habitat displays in Stanley Park.

Vancouver Aquarium

Marine life + conservation

Vancouver Aquarium

Stanley Park

Large marine-focused attraction with conservation storytelling.

  • Great for all-weather visits
  • Popular with families and groups
  • 2-3 hrs
Forest canyon and suspension bridge atmosphere.

Capilano Bridge Park

Bridge + treetop walks

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

North Vancouver

High-impact suspension bridge experience with forest canopy adventures.

  • Bridge crossing + cliff walk circuits
  • Arrive early for best flow
  • 2-3 hrs
Mountain ridge and summit view context.

Grouse Mountain

Summit views + activities

Grouse Mountain

North Vancouver

Reliable summit panorama with activities, dining, and weather-dependent views.

  • Panoramic city + inlet views
  • Visibility varies with weather
  • 2-4 hrs
Sea to Sky corridor mountain and fjord view context.

Sea to Sky Gondola

Fjord + alpine views

Sea to Sky Gondola

Squamish

Big mountain and fjord payoff with minimal hiking effort for the view.

  • Big elevation views fast
  • Best on clear weather windows
  • 2-4 hrs

If You're Nearby

Historic mining site and mountain backdrop along Sea-to-Sky.

Britannia Mine

Mining history + exhibits

Britannia Mine Museum

Britannia Beach

A distinctive Sea-to-Sky stop with industrial history and interactive exhibits.

  • Great stop en route to Squamish
  • Good mix of indoor + outdoor sections
  • 1.5-2.5 hrs
Bowen Island village and coastal views.

Bowen Island

Ferry day trip + village

Bowen Island

Horseshoe Bay ferry route

Easy ferry escape with coastal views, short hikes, and a relaxed village core.

  • Easy half-day or full-day trip
  • Check ferry timing before departure
  • 4-8 hrs
Whale watching tour boat in coastal waters near Vancouver.

Whale Watching

Marine wildlife tours

Whale Watching

Departures from Downtown / Steveston

A bigger-ticket wildlife trip if you have the time and budget.

  • Best in clear weather windows
  • Dress warmer than city forecast
  • 3-5 hrs

Things To Do / Shopping

Shopping

Pick an area and browse the shops.

Ready to explore

Things To Do / Hikes

Hikes We'd Recommend

A few walks and hikes, with distance and effort notes.

Quarry Rock viewpoint trail

Quarry Rock

3.8km • 1-1.5h • Moderate • ~100m gain

Great views without a huge effort.

Lynn Canyon forest and suspension bridge trail

Lynn Canyon Loop

5.1km • ~1.5h • Easy • ~160m gain

Easy hike with forest, water, and a suspension bridge.

Dog Mountain trail with city and mountain views

Dog Mountain

5km • 1.5-2h • Easy • ~150m gain

Easy trail with great views at the end.

Eagle Bluffs trail and Howe Sound viewpoint

Eagle Bluffs

8km • ~4h • Moderate • ~350m gain

Longer hike with great Howe Sound views.

St. Mark's Summit coastal mountain trail

St. Mark's Summit

11km • 4-5h • Moderate • ~460m gain

Beautiful coastal views. Bring water and leave yourself plenty of time.

Stawamus Chief steep granite trail

Stawamus Chief

11km • 5-6h • Hard • ~700m gain

Big climb and serious exposure. Best for experienced, prepared groups.

Grouse Grind steep forest trail

Grouse Grind

2.9km up • 1.5-2.5h • Hard • ~850m gain

Short but intense climb. Best if you want a tough workout with summit views.

Trips / Extended Trips

Extended Trips

If you have extra time, these are some great trips outside Vancouver.

Harrison Hot Springs waterfront village

Harrison Hot Springs

Fraser Valley • Relaxed day trip

  • ~130 km from Vancouver
  • 1.5 to 2 hours by car
  • Style: Lakeside + hot pools
  • Drive: Mostly low elevation
  • Highlights: Mineral baths + waterfront
  • Crowds: Busy on summer weekends

Easy escape for a slower pace day with spa time, lake views, and simple walking paths around town.

Open in Google Maps
Mount Baker alpine terrain

Mount Baker (USA)

North Cascades • Alpine scenery

  • ~150 km from Vancouver
  • 2.5 to 3.5 hours with border
  • Style: Alpine viewpoints + trails
  • Roads reach high elevation zones
  • Highlights: Artist Point + glacier views
  • Crowds: Moderate to high in peak season

Great if you want big mountain scenery in a single day.

Open in Google Maps
Seattle skyline and waterfront

Seattle (USA)

Washington • Food + culture weekend

  • ~230 km from Vancouver
  • 3 to 4.5 hours with border
  • Style: City museums + neighborhoods
  • Urban trip with minimal elevation gain
  • Highlights: Pike Place + waterfront + music history
  • Crowds: High in downtown core

Great for food, live music, and a change of pace from Vancouver.

Open in Google Maps
Sea to Sky highway route toward Whistler

Whistler

Sea to Sky • Mountain village day trip

  • ~120 km from Vancouver
  • About 1.75 to 2.5 hours each way
  • Style: Mountain village + scenic drive

Best with a rental car and an early start. The drive is beautiful, but bridge and highway timing can make the return much slower.

Open in Google Maps
Victoria harbor and seaside architecture

Victoria

Vancouver Island • Capital city getaway

  • ~115 km plus ferry segment
  • 3 to 4 hours total travel
  • Style: Historic core + gardens
  • Low elevation and walkable downtown
  • Highlights: Inner Harbour + Butchart Gardens
  • Crowds: Moderate to high on holidays

One of the easiest and most popular trips from Vancouver.

Open in Google Maps
Okanagan valley vineyard landscape

Okanagan Valley

Interior BC • Wine + lake towns

  • ~390 km to Kelowna
  • 4.5 to 5.5 hours by car
  • Style: Wineries + beaches + orchards
  • Mountain highway drive sections
  • Highlights: Wine routes + warm lake stops
  • Crowds: Peak in midsummer

Great for a longer trip if you want wineries, lakes, and warmer weather.

Open in Google Maps
Tofino beach and surf coastline

Tofino

West Coast Island • Surf town energy

  • ~315 km plus ferry
  • 5.5 to 7 hours total travel
  • Style: Beaches + rainforest boardwalks
  • Coastal highways with winding sections
  • Highlights: Long Beach + Pacific Rim trails
  • Crowds: High in summer weekends

A long trip, but one of the most beautiful places in BC.

Open in Google Maps
Olympic National Park mountain and forest scenery

Olympic National Park (USA)

Washington Peninsula • Multi-ecosystem adventure

  • ~300 to 420 km depending route
  • 5.5 to 7 hours with border/ferry
  • Style: Rainforest + coastline + ridge views
  • Mixed terrain from sea level to mountain roads
  • Highlights: Hoh, Rialto, Hurricane Ridge
  • Crowds: Moderate, seasonal peaks

Best for a weekend if you want forests, coastline, and mountain views all in one trip.

Open in Google Maps