downtown Vancouver
In just a few days, you can experience the best of Vancouver, combining outdoor activities, cultural explorations, and time for strolling, snacking, and sipping. Vancouver’s public transit system makes it easy to get around without a car; this itinerary includes tips for the most convenient transit options.
Get your first glance of the city and orient yourself with the 360-degree view from the observation platform at the Vancouver Lookout downtown. Save your ticket to return later for the nighttime views.
Catch bus 50 on Granville Street to Granville Island. Browse the stalls and stop for a morning snack in the Granville Island Public Market, before checking out the galleries and shops in the Net Loft, on Railspur Alley, and throughout the island. Don’t miss the museum-quality aboriginal art at the Eagle Spirit Gallery.
downtown Vancouver
For lunch, return to the Public Market or sit down for a more leisurely meal, highlighting Canadian products, at Edible Canada Bistro.
To start your afternoon on an active note, rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard at Ecomarine Paddlesports Centre and spend an hour paddling around the island. Back on land, refresh yourself with a sake sampling at the Artisan Sake Maker or a craft cocktail made from the small-batch spirits at Liberty Distilling before catching the bus back downtown.
Your next stop is the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, which shows works by a noted First Nations artist. Nearby, you can wander the exhibits at the Vancouver Art Gallery, making sure to see paintings by B.C.’s renowned Emily Carr.
In the late afternoon, rent a bike and take a leisurely ride along the Seawall in Stanley Park, stopping to see the totem poles at Brockton Point, then pedal past landmark Siwash Rock. Pause to rest at English Bay Beach, which is also one of Vancouver’s best spots to watch the sun set over the ocean. Across the street from the beach, smile at A-maze-ing Laughter, a public art piece comprising 14 grinning bronze figures.
Siwash Rock, Stanley Park
Have dinner downtown, perhaps the imaginative contemporary fare at Royal Dinette or a creative pizza at Nightingale, then return to the Vancouver Lookout to gaze over the city’s twinkling lights.
Enjoy breakfast at Forage or Medina Café before exploring more of the city’s cultural highlights.
From Granville Street, catch bus 4 or 14 west to the University of British Columbia and the Museum of Anthropology. This first-rate museum has a particularly strong collection of First Nations art, including an awe-inspiring gallery of totem poles. After exploring the museum, take a walk through the serene Nitobe Japanese Garden nearby.
When you’re finished on campus, take bus 4 back toward Kitsilano for lunch on West 4th Avenue: Thai food at Maenam or French bistro fare at Au Comptoir. Check out the 4th Avenue shops before stopping for dessert at Beaucoup Bakery & Café or a shot of rich hot chocolate from Chocolate Arts.
Bus 4 or 7 will take you from Kits to Gastown. Walk along Water Street, watch the Gastown Steam Clock toot its steam whistle, and stop into several of the First Nations art galleries, like Hill’s Native Art.
Continue into Chinatown for a late-afternoon tour of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the only authentic Ming Dynasty garden outside China.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Stay in Chinatown for dinner. Try the unusual combination of Italian and Japanese elements at speakeasy-style Kissa Tanto or share modern Canadian plates at Juniper Kitchen & Bar. After your meal, have a drink at the Keefer Bar, or take a cab back downtown for a nightcap at Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar or elegant Prohibition Lounge.
Today, you’re exploring the mountains and rainforests on Vancouver’s North Shore. Catch the free shuttle from Canada Place to Grouse Mountain. If you’re up for a challenge, walk up the Grouse Grind, a trail nicknamed “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster.” But there’s no shame in taking the Skyride; it’s North America’s largest tram system. At the top, laugh at the lumberjack show, explore the wildlife refuge, and go for a short hike. The views are spectacular on a clear day.
Come down the mountain, and at the Grouse entrance, catch bus 236 to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This 450-foot (137-meter) span swings over a canyon high above the Capilano River. If you’re feeling brave, follow the Cliffwalk, a series of boardwalks cantilevered over the rushing river. Do you dare stand on the glass platform and look down (way down!)?
Get back on bus 236 to Lonsdale Quay. Stop for a drink, with views of the city skyline, at Pier 7 Restaurant & Bar, a short walk from the quay. Then take the SeaBus across the Burrard Inlet to Waterfront Station downtown.
Have dinner in Gastown, where L’Abbatoir serves French-accented west coast fare on the site of Vancouver’s first jail or stylish Chambar combines flavors of North Africa and Belgium with local ingredients.
With so many outdoor attractions, cool ways to get around the city, and kid-friendly restaurants, Vancouver is a fantastic destination for families. Whether you’re exploring a rainforest park, riding a ferry, or following the Dumpling Trail, Vancouver serves up plenty of family-focused fun. Tip: Always ask about special family rates or discounts when you’re buying tickets to any sights or attractions.
Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day in Stanley Park, Vancouver’s rainforest green space at the end of the downtown peninsula. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre first (it’s less crowded in the mornings), then enjoy your picnic near Lost Lagoon.
After lunch, rent bikes to explore more of the park; there are several rental shops just outside the park’s West Georgia Street entrance. Follow the Seawall to see the majestic totem poles at Brockton Point, stop to cool off in the splash park near Lumberman’s Arch, and let the kids play in the sand or go for a swim at Second Beach, where there’s a large pool, restrooms, and snack bar.
For dinner, try one of the Asian restaurants downtown. Most kids enjoy watching the dumpling makers at work at Dinesty Dumpling House, or you can dig into Japanese-style hot dogs at Japadog.
Buy a day pass for the Aquabus ferry, so you can hop on and off these cute little boats as you travel around Granville Island and False Creek. Take the Aquabus to Science World and spend the morning exploring the hands-on exhibits. When it’s time for lunch, cruise over to Granville Island, where there are plenty of family-friendly food options in the Granville Island Public Market.
Science World
Don’t miss the Kids Market, with its kid-approved shops and indoor playground. Check out Sea Village, too, to let the kids imagine what it would be like to live on a houseboat. When you’re done exploring the island, rent kayaks for an excursion along False Creek.
Have an early dinner at Go Fish (it’s a short stroll along the waterfront from Granville Island), then catch the Aquabus to Yaletown for dessert at Bella Gelateria Yaletown.
Start your day at Canada Place with a virtual flight across the country at FlyOver Canada. You even feel the spray as you soar (virtually) over Niagara Falls.
Canada Place
In front of Canada Place, catch the free shuttle to Grouse Mountain. Ride the Skyride tram to the top, where you can visit the grizzly bears at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, watch the falcons soar at the Birds in Motion demonstration, and get some chuckles at the Lumberjack Show. Go for a hike, and have lunch overlooking the city and water below.
Your next stop is the Capilano Suspension Bridge (from the Grouse Mountain entrance, take bus 236 down Capilano Road). Give the kids a thrill as they look from the bridge to the canyon way below. Explore the Treetops Adventure, too, where you follow a network of gently swaying wooden bridges to eight treehouse platforms in the forest. When you’re ready to go back downtown, catch the free shuttle.
For supper, let the kids play with the jukeboxes at retro diner The Templeton or slurp up a bowl of ramen at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka. The Korean shaved ice dessert called bingsoo, served at Snowy Village Dessert Café, makes a fun after-dinner treat.
Today, you’ll tour the museums on the University of British Columbia campus, check out another rainforest park, and then have time to relax at Jericho Beach.
From downtown, catch any UBC-bound bus to the campus bus loop. Walk over to the Museum of Anthropology, where there’s a fantastic collection of First Nations totem poles and other artifacts. Another short walk takes you to the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, which has more than two million specimens of bugs, fish, plants, and fossils that the kids can explore, as well as a massive blue whale skeleton. One more campus attraction, located at the UBC Botanical Garden, is the Greenheart TreeWalk, a network of aerial bridges that takes you high into the rainforest canopy.
Catch bus 99 to Point Grey Village (get off at W. 10th Ave. at Sasamat St.), where you can have a sandwich and a sweet at Mix the Bakery. After you’ve refueled, walk south to West 16th Avenue, where you can go for a stroll in the rainforest at Pacific Spirit Regional Park, which has more than 40 miles (70 kilometers) of hiking trails. The trails are fairly well marked, but the park is large, so you’ll need to pay attention to your route.
If the kids aren’t too tired, you can walk down to the Jericho Sailing Centre (it’s 1.25 miles, or two kilometers, straight down Trimble Street); if you’d rather go by bus, it’s fastest to take bus 25 or 33 on 16th Avenue back to the UBC Bus Loop, then change to bus 84, which will drop you on West 4th Avenue just above the beach. Have dinner overlooking the sand at The Galley Patio and Grill, go for a sunset kayak paddle, or simply sit on the beach and watch the sunset. When you’re ready to go back downtown, take bus 4 from West 4th Avenue.
Plan a whale-watching cruise today. Several operators run trips from Steveston Village in the suburb of Richmond, and most will include transportation from downtown. Spend the morning on the water looking for orcas, sea lions, and other aquatic life. Back on land, check out the fishing boats and vendors along the wharf, and stop for a fish-and-chips lunch at Pajo’s.
Richmond is the center of Vancouver’s Asian community, so instead of heading straight back downtown, catch bus 402, 407, or 410 from Steveston to Richmond’s Golden Village, where you can choose from countless Chinese restaurants for dinner. The kids might enjoy mapping out their route along Richmond’s Dumpling Trail (get a map at www.visitrichmondbc.com) or choosing from the long list of bubble teas at Pearl Castle Café. If you’re in town on a weekend between mid-May and mid-October, wrap up your day at the Richmond Night Market, where there’s plenty of Asian food to sample, before catching the Canada Line back downtown.
From spring through fall, head for the North Shore to enjoy a day outdoors. Although it’s possible to do this excursion by public transport, it’s easier if you have a car.
Start your day of adventure by assembling a picnic for lunch outdoors. Make a quick shopping stop at the Granville Island Public Market. Then go east from downtown, and cross the Second Narrows Bridge to the North Shore.
fruit tarts, Granville Island Public Market
Begin your visit to the scenic waterfront village of Deep Cove with a freshly made treat from local institution Honey Donuts. When you’ve sated your sweet tooth, rent a kayak for a leisurely paddle between the forests and mountains of Indian Arm fjord. If you’d rather go with a guide, Deep Cove Kayaks offers kayak tours, including a three-hour Deep Cove Explorer route that’s suitable for novice and more advanced paddlers alike.
Back on shore, it’s a short drive to Lynn Canyon Park, which has a suspension bridge that was built back in 1912—and it’s free. Find a shady spot to enjoy your picnic lunch. When you’re done eating, follow a forested hiking trail to one of the popular swimming areas and go for a dip.
Late in the afternoon, you’ll still have time for a visit to Grouse Mountain. Take the Skyride up the mountain, or if you have energy to spare, hike up the famous Grouse Grind trail. Nicknamed “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster,” it’s essentially a mountain staircase with an elevation gain of 2,800 feet (850 meters). However you get to the top, there’s plenty to do when you arrive: Go zip-lining, watch one of the wildlife shows, or try out a paragliding adventure. When you’re ready to relax, have a drink in the lounge overlooking the city.
zip-lining at Grouse Mountain
Aboriginal people have lived in western Canada for more than 10,000 years. For many visitors, the opportunity to explore this traditional culture and its present-day manifestations is a highlight.
Here are just a few of the numerous places where native culture remains strong. Another valuable resource for visitors interested in First Nations culture is the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (604/921-1070 or 877/266-2822, www.aboriginalbc.com).
Dedicated to the work of Haida First Nations artist Bill Reid, this gallery showcases Reid’s sculptures, carvings, and jewelry (click here).
Several First Nations made their traditional home in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. Tour Stanley Park with an aboriginal guide to learn more about the park’s aboriginal heritage (click here).
This excellent museum illuminates the culture of British Columbia’s aboriginal peoples and traditional cultures from around the world (click here).
This contemporary aboriginal bistro uses traditional ingredients in its elk burgers, game sausages, and bison tenderloin. They serve plenty of salmon and bannock (a native bread), too (click here).
Stay at Canada’s first aboriginal arts and culture hotel, where works by First Nations artists adorn the one-of-a-kind guest rooms (click here).
In Whistler, learn about the history and present-day culture of the region’s First Nations communities at this modern gallery (click here).
Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre
Return to Vancouver in time to watch the sunset from English Bay Beach. Ready for dinner? Stroll along Denman Street for tapas at España Restaurant, walk up Robson Street for farm-to-table fare at Forage, or go for high-end sushi overlooking Canada Place at Miku.
Wrap up your day downtown with drinks at all-Canadian gastropub Timber, where Caesars (Canada’s version of a Bloody Mary) are a signature, or head over to Granville Island for an always-entertaining improv show at Vancouver Theatre Sports League. Then get a good night’s sleep; with this active day, you’ve earned it.
Get a sweet start to your day in Gastown with coffee and a treat from Purebread, or pair your caffeine with an avocado toast at Nelson the Seagull. Walk from Gastown to Chinatown, then spend the rest of your morning at the peaceful Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Take a guided tour to learn more about the garden’s construction and rest up on a bench overlooking the koi pond.
Catch bus 23, Davie, outside the Chinese Garden at the corner of Keefer and Columbia Streets, and change to the Canada Line (Richmond branch) at Yaletown/Roundhouse station. You’re heading for the suburb of Richmond for a dim sum lunch in the Golden Village, which is full of Asian restaurants and shopping malls. Good dim sum options include Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant and Empire Seafood Restaurant. Both are a short walk from the Canada Line’s Richmond-Brighouse Station.
After you’ve eaten, continue south to the fishing port of Steveston. Bus 402, 407, or 410 can bring you to Steveston Village from outside the Richmond-Brighouse Station on Number 3 Road. Take a walk on the wharf, check out the fish vendors, then learn about the Asian, European, and First Nations workers who once staffed the Gulf of Georgia Cannery or the Britannia Shipyards, which are both now National Historic Sites. If you have time when you’ve finished your Steveston visit, detour to the peaceful International Buddhist Temple, one of the largest traditional temples in North America.
Return to the Golden Village on Number 3 Road to sit down for dinner at one of Richmond’s hundreds of Chinese eateries. If you’re a spicy food fan, go Hunan-style at Bushuair Restaurant or sample the Sichuan cuisine at New Spicy Chili Restaurant. For milder fare, Bamboo Grove is an excellent upscale Cantonese option. Alternatively, graze your way through the Asian food stalls at the Richmond Night Market, near the Bridgeport Canada Line station.
Take the Canada Line back to downtown Vancouver for a nightcap at a Japanese izakaya like Guu Garden, or at The Keefer Bar, an Asian-inspired lounge in Chinatown. Or if you’re ready for a late-night snack, stop for a unique-to-Vancouver Japanese-style hot dog at Japadog.