We\u2019ve lived in Vancouver for over 20 years now. During this time, we\u2019ve hosted many first time visitors to the city. We\u2019re often asked the same question; \u201cWhat are the most popular things to do in Vancouver?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Our response varies depending on the time of year. However, there are a few places in Vancouver that we always recommend to first time visitors. The must see<\/em> attractions that make Vancouver an awesome city.<\/p>\n We wrote a detailed post that highlights 25 Awesome Day Trips from Vancouver<\/a>. It\u2019s become a popular post on this travel blog and we\u2019ve been getting a lot of inquiries about Vancouver ever since.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t often write about our hometown because it feels so familiar. However, to non-residents of Vancouver, this beautiful waterfront city is often considered to be a world class travel destination.<\/p>\n Vancouver is not cheap, so this post will focus on the less expensive side of Vancouver. We love this city and try to get outside and enjoy it as much as we can. The list below highlights the things we like do in Vancouver when we have time to get outside and play.<\/p>\n You will not have enough time for all of these 25 attractions and activities, so we\u2019re going to start with the must see attractions. If you only have a few days, start with these first.<\/p>\n Stanley Park is arguably Vancouver\u2019s top tourist attraction. It is Vancouver\u2019s first, largest, and most beloved urban park. You could easily spend an entire day in this 1,000 acre public park. Stanley Park is almost entirely surrounded by the waters of Vancouver Harbour and English Bay.<\/p>\n To get the full Stanley Park experience, we recommend you walk or bike around the Stanley Park Seawall, a 10 km loop around Vancouver\u2019s most celebrated outdoor space. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to walk around the Stanley Park Seawall and about 1 hour to bike around it (assuming a leisurely pace).<\/p>\n Above is the Stanley Park Seawall. At the top of the cliff is Prospect Point Lookout.<\/p>\n Granville Island<\/a> is one of Vancouver\u2019s most popular tourist attractions, especially for first time visitors. You can do Granville Island on the cheap by simply wandering around the market and soaking up the stunning waterfront views of False Creek and the Burrard Bridge.<\/p>\n Granville Island Public Market is open daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm and is home to over 50 merchants selling a variety of food. If you\u2019re visiting on a sunny day, you\u2019re sure to come across a live busker performance.<\/p>\n Check out the schedule of Granville Island Busker performances<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are plenty of Granville Island restaurants to choose from, including the popular patio at Bridges Restaurant and the upscale Sandbar Seafood Restaurant.<\/p>\n However, given that we\u2019re focusing on doing Vancouver on the cheap, we\u2019d recommend you grab food from the Public Market Food Court and take it outside to enjoy on the waterfront (be mindful of the birds, they are sneaky!).<\/p>\n If you like beer, we recommend a visit to Granville Island Brewing. It was founded in 1984 and claims to be \u2018Canada\u2019s first microbrewery\u2019. Brewery tours and tastings occur daily.<\/p>\n The Aquabus is a small water taxi that travels around False Creek. The Granville Island ferry<\/a> runs every 15 minutes. Schedules, price and dock locations can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve finished wandering around Granville Island, walk across the Granville Street Bridge and continue north towards Vancouver\u2019s Entertainment District. No matter the time of day, there\u2019s always something happening on Granville Street.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a great place to people watch. The Entertainment District is home to the Commodore Ballroom (renowned music venue), Orpheum Theatre (home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra) and the legendary Roxy Cabaret (long-standing club with live bands).<\/p>\n Fun fact<\/strong> \u2013 The Granville Street strip was once believed to have the highest concentration of neon in the world behind only Shanghai, China.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re in the neighbourhood, check out Robson Square<\/a> and the Vancouver Art Gallery<\/a>. If the weather in Vancouver is rainy during your visit (highly likely from November to April), you can take shelter in the massive Pacific Centre Mall.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of Vancouver\u2019s top attractions is Grouse Mountain, self-described as The Peak of Vancouver<\/em>.<\/p>\n The FREE<\/em> way to reach the summit of Grouse Mountain is to hike up the Grouse Grind<\/a>, also known as Mother Nature\u2019s Stairmaster. Be forewarned, the Grouse Grind is challenging and the trail can get very busy in the summer months, especially on the weekends. Note \u2013 you will need to pay a fee to take the gondola or tram down.<\/p>\n This famous Grouse Mountain hike is 3 kilometers straight up, with an elevation gain of 2,800 feet (853 metres). It\u2019s not recommended for novice hikers or casual sightseers. We\u2019ve witnessed countless tourists attempting to hike the Grouse Grind in jeans and dress shoes, with no water or snacks. Don\u2019t do that. This is a legit hike.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong> \u2013 The Grouse Grind is closed during the winter months.<\/p>\n The other way to reach the summit is to take the Grouse Mountain gondola (the Skyride)<\/a>. The Skyride operates 365 days a year, departing every 15 minutes from 8:45 am to 10:00 pm.<\/p>\n Grouse Mountain tickets will vary depending on the season. Check this website<\/a> for prices.<\/p>\n To get off the mountain, you will either need to take the Skyride (it costs $15 per person as of 2018) or walk back down mountain. Rather than go back down the steep Grouse Grind, take the BCMC trail<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n The main Grouse Mountain restaurant is Altitudes Bistro<\/a>. It has one of the best patios in Vancouver with endless views of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. The Observatory Restaurant<\/a> is a more upscale, fine dining restaurant that is only open in the evenings for dinner.<\/p>\n Sticking with the theme of keeping things cheap, we recommend you pack a lunch instead of dining at one of the Grouse Mountain restaurants. There are plenty of spots to sit back and enjoy the views for free.<\/p>\n Not to be confused with Capilano Suspension Bridge<\/a>, the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge<\/a> is a pedestrian bridge located in Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver.<\/p>\n Unlike Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Lynn Canyon Park is free to enter and explore.<\/p>\n The suspension bridge is 160 feet (50 meters) high from the bottom of the canyon. It\u2019s a narrow bridge that can get quite bouncy when you reach the center.<\/p>\n While the bridge is the star attraction of Lynn Canyon Park, we prefer to spend our time hiking the park\u2019s extensive network of forest trails. The park encompasses over 600 acres of temperate rainforest.<\/p>\n You can walk the trails near Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge or the 50 kilometres (31 miles) of roads and trails in nearby Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, including the more challenging Lynn Peak hike<\/a> and the easier Twin Falls hike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Parking at Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge can be challenging on the weekends, so it\u2019s best to arrive early. Before you cross the bridge, take a moment to check out the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hiking in Lynn Canyon Park is a great family activity for all ages.<\/p>\n We love Deep Cove. It\u2019s a quaint community in the easternmost part of North Vancouver. It has a cute village with a restaurants, shops and the popular Honey\u2019s Doughnuts<\/a> (be careful \u2013 these donuts are highly addictive).<\/p>\n The popular Quarry Rock hike<\/a> is an easy hike that takes about 1.5 hours round trip. The views from the top of Quarry Rock<\/strong> are worth the effort.<\/p>\n Deep Cove is also known for its marina and kayaking.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have your own equipment you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and surf-skis from Deep Cove Kayak<\/a>. This shop gets very busy in the summer, especially on the weekends. It\u2019s best to make reservations for equipment rentals.<\/p>\n Parking at Deep Cove is challenging. It\u2019s best to arrive early (before 8:00 AM), otherwise you might have to park a few km\u2019s away and walk into the village. You can also take public transit from Lonsdale Quay Market to Deep Cove.<\/p>\n The season and weather conditions will decide what you do in Cypress Provincial Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the summer, you can access a variety of hiking trails<\/a> with incredible views of Howe Sound and the North Shore Mountains. In the winter, you can go snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, tubing and cross-country skiing at the Cypress Mountain Ski Area.<\/p>\n The hiking and snowshoe trails in Cypress Provincial Park<\/strong> are free to access. However, if you plan to ski or snowboard, you\u2019ll need to purchase a day pass to use the chair lifts (Not Free). Here\u2019s the Cypress Mountain ticket prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n Located in North Vancouver, Cypress Mountain<\/a> co-hosted events for the 2010 Winter Olympics. It\u2019s actually the venue where Canada won it\u2019s first Winter Olympics Gold Medal on home soil.<\/p>\n Views from the Eagle Bluffs hike<\/a> that starts at the Cypress Mountain parking lot.<\/p>\n The North Shore mountains offer world-class mountain bike trials for all skill levels. You have access to easy cross-country trails and more technical trails with obstacles like bridges, ladders, and teeter-totters.<\/p>\n Mount Seymour has the most extensive network of trails on the North Shore. One of the most popular mountain biking trails is the CBC trail<\/a>, a 2 kilometre trail that begins at the top of Seymour Parkway.<\/p>\n If you don\u2019t have a mountain bike you can rent one at Lynn Valley Bikes<\/a> or Endless Biking<\/a>. Rates will vary depending on the model and length of rental.<\/p>\n Located near Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver, the iconic Gastown Steam Clock has been attracting tourists for decades. Originally built in 1977, this working steam clock is one of the only functioning steam-powered clocks in the world.<\/p>\n The Gastown Steam Clock whistles and blows its steam every 15 minutes, to the delight of onlookers.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a cheesy touristy thing to do, but you\u2019ll be glad you took a few minutes to check it out.<\/p>\n While in Gastown<\/a>, admire its old cobblestone roads and unique architecture before wandering inside the many shops, art galleries and restaurants in Gastown. We like to grab a pint of craft beer at Steamworks Brew Pub<\/a>. It\u2019s one of our favourite brewpubs in Vancouver.<\/p>\n The Olympic Cauldron from the 2010 Winter Olympics<\/a> is located at Jack Poole Plaza. It\u2019s located beside the Vancouver Convention Centre, one of Canada\u2019s largest convention centres.<\/p>\n The plaza offers stunning views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains. From here you can witness dozens of float planes departing and arriving at Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre (see photo below).<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also find several public pieces of art here, including the Digital Orca<\/a> and The Drop<\/a>.<\/p>\n Float planes docked in front of Jack Poole Plaza.<\/p>\n The Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Canada Place<\/a> is home to the iconic white sails that dominate Vancouver\u2019s skyline (see above photo). From here, visitors are treated to unobstructed views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains.<\/p>\n It\u2019s located beside the Vancouver Convention Centre and Jack Poole Plaza (to the west) and Gastown (to the East).<\/p>\n You can easily include all of these Vancouver attractions in your sightseeing tour. You can walk from Coal Harbour to Gastown in less than an hour (at a moderate pace).<\/p>\n Canada Place is also home to the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal<\/strong>, so it gets quite busy during the summer months. This cruise ship terminal can hold up to four luxury cruise ships at one time. It\u2019s the home port for many of the Alaska cruises that depart from Vancouver.<\/p>\n Inside Canada Place is the popular virtual flight ride FlyOver Canada<\/a>. The experience lasts approximately 20 minutes. FlyOver Canada is NOT free. Check prices and hours here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Did you know Vancouver has the world\u2019s longest uninterrupted waterfront path? This Seaside Greenway stretches 28 km in length, connecting Coal Harbour<\/a> to English Bay<\/a> to Kitsilano.<\/p>\n Earlier in this post, we mentioned you should walk the Stanley Park Seawall. We highly recommend you do that section first, if you\u2019re limited on time. However, if you have a few days in Vancouver we recommend you explore other sections of the Vancouver Seawall<\/a>.<\/p>\n Walking or cycling the Seawall will have you pass many of Vancouver\u2019s famous landmarks, including the Lions Gate Bridge,\u00a0Siwash Rock<\/a>,\u00a0A-maze-ing Laughter<\/a>\u00a0public art display,\u00a0Science World<\/a>\u00a0(picture above), BC Place (Football and soccer stadium), Rogers Arena (NHL hockey stadium), Olympic Village, Granville Island, Burrard Bridge and Kitsilano Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n Colourful autumn trees on the Seawall in Yaletown, a downtown Vancouver neighbourhood.<\/p>\n Walking across the Lions Gate Bridge is a different way to experience the city. Lions Gate Bridge connects Stanley Park and Downtown Vancouver with the North Shore, including the city of North Vancouver and West Vancouver.<\/p>\n Lions Gate Bridge has cycling and walking lanes on both sides of the bridge. We recommend you walk north on one side of the bridge, and south on the opposite side. This will give you a variety of photo opportunities.<\/p>\n If you have a vehicle, plan to park at Prospect Point in Stanley Park<\/a>. From here its a short walk to the south side of the bridge.<\/p>\n You can also park your vehicle at Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver if you plan to start from the north side of the bridge.<\/p>\n Above \u2013 south side of the Lions Gate Bridge.<\/p>\n There are several urban beaches in Vancouver. The most popular Vancouver beaches are located in either Stanley Park or English Bay.<\/p>\n All of these beaches are free to access, but you may have to pay for parking.<\/p>\n Ambleside Park is located in West Vancouver, across the Burrard Inlet from Stanley Park. We selected Ambleside Beach because it\u2019s an alternative to the main Vancouver beaches. The park has over 8 km (5 miles) of walking trails and the west facing views are perfect for enjoying sunsets.<\/p>\n Yes, you can swim in the Vancouver beaches. However, we wouldn\u2019t recommend you spend a lot of time in the water. As with all city beaches, there\u2019s risk of sewage and pollution from boat\/ship traffic.<\/p>\n Popular swimming beaches, including Kitsilano Beach, Jericho Beach and English Bay, were closed in the summer of 2018 to unsafe levels of E. coli bacteria<\/a>.<\/p>\n While you\u2019re in West Vancouver, we recommend you make a visit to Lighthouse Park<\/a>, a National Historic Site of Canada<\/a>.<\/p>\n To view the famous Point Atkinson Lighthouse (see short video here<\/a>), you will take an easy forest hike on the Lighthouse Park trail<\/a>, passing some of the largest Douglas Fir trees in Greater Vancouver.<\/p>\n There are several well-marked hiking trails in the park, which are open year-round. Plan to spend 2 hours in the park.<\/p>\n We recommend you bring a light picnic or snacks and enjoy the stunning ocean views.<\/p>\n Another great place to view the impressive Vancouver skyline is Lonsdale Quay Market<\/strong> in North Vancouver<\/a>. The market has a variety of shops that selling everything from fresh produce to craft beer to souvenirs.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a list of vendors in the Lonsdale Quay Market<\/a>.<\/p>\n We recommend you grab a bowl of freshly made soup at The Soup Meister\u2019s Nephew<\/a> (formerly The Soup Meister), a local favourite, and enjoy it outside on the boardwalk (pictured below).<\/p>\n After lunch at Lonsdale Quay Market, walk to nearby The Shipyards District<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In the summer, the Shipyards hosts a Night Market on Friday evenings. In the winter, it hosts a popular Christmas Market.<\/p>\n For the best sunset views, climb to the top of the lookout tower at Lonsdale Quay (see above picture \u2013 under the big Q) or walk to nearby\u00a0Waterfront Park.<\/p>\n To get from Vancouver to the Lonsdale Quay, hop on the 15 minute Seabus ferry at Waterfront Station.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Cleveland Dam, located in the Capilano River Regional Park<\/strong>, is a popular free tourist attraction in North Vancouver<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are several hiking trails in the park that lead to views of the dam and Capilano Lake<\/strong> (pictured below). We often hike these trails with our boys and they are fine with the terrain.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Capilano Salmon Hatchery<\/a> is another popular free attraction. It\u2019s a short walk from the Cleveland Dam to the Hatchery or you can drive down Capilano Road to get there. The hatchery is open year round, but late August to November is a good time to view returning salmon, leaping up the river.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re driving, there\u2019s parking at the Cleveland Dam parking lot on Capilano Road. You can also take public transit from the Lonsdale Quay Market or Park Royal Mall.<\/p>\n Views of Grouse Mountain and Capilano Lake from the Cleveland Dam.<\/p>\n Kitsilano Beach Park, often called \u2018Kits\u2019, is one of the most popular beaches in Vancouver, for both locals and visitors. You can access Kitsilano Beach on foot or bike via the Seawall.<\/p>\n Located at the north edge of the Kitsilano neighbourhood<\/a>, the beach faces English Bay, downtown Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains (pictured above).<\/p>\n Kitsilano is also home to the outdoor Kitsilano Pool<\/a>, the longest swimming pool in Canada and Vancouver\u2019s only saltwater swimming pool. The pool is open annually from May to September.<\/p>\n For the best city views, head to Elsje Point<\/strong>. While there, check out the nearby Vancouver Maritime Museum (adult admission is $13.50) and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre<\/a> (adult admission is $22.75).<\/p>\n The Richmond Night Market<\/a> is open from April to October. It\u2019s a fun attraction that\u2019s become an annual summer tradition for many Vancouverites.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong> \u2013 entrance to the market is NOT<\/strong> free for adults (it\u2019s free for seniors and kids under 7 years old). However, it only costs $8.50 to enter. Therefore, we feel that price point fits the theme of this blog post.\u00a0<\/p>\n Richmond Night Market is inspired by the bustling night markets found in Asia. It hosts over 100 food stalls and over 200 retail vendors.<\/p>\n We enjoy sampling a variety of street food, like tornado potatoes (pictured above), grilled meat on a stick (see below), takoyaki, steamed dumplings, blooming onions and sweet mango desserts. Prices range between $3-$15 per item.<\/p>\n Richmond Night Market parking is free but it can get quite full on the weekends. We recommend you take the SkyTrain\u2019s Canada Line to Bridgeport Station. Then walk west on River Road. The market is only a couple blocks from the station.\u00a0<\/p>\n Did you know that Vancouver\u2019s Chinatown is actually the third largest in North America by population (behind San Francisco and New York)?<\/p>\n Vancouver Chinatown is located east of the downtown core. It\u2019s home to many historic sites, retail stores, specialty grocery stores and cafes.<\/p>\n Chinatown attractions include the ornate Chinatown Millennium Gate on Pender Street and the Sun Yat-Sen Park, which is the free alternative to the popular Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden<\/a> (admission is $16 per adult in the summer).<\/p>\n There are plenty of Chinatown restaurants to choose from. A few of our favourite restaurants in Vancouver Chinatown are Phnom Penh<\/a>, Ramen Butcher<\/a> and Sai Woo<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you want to get outside the big city, the New Westminster Quay and boardwalk is a fun ![\"aquabus](\"https:\/\/travelingcanucks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/vancouver-false-creek-granville-british-columbia-22.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nFREE Things to do in Vancouver\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s your Local\u2019s Guide to the Best Things to do in Vancouver.<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\nTop things to do in Vancouver<\/h2>\n
1. Explore Stanley Park and The Seawall<\/h2>\n
Things to do in Stanley Park (some are not free):<\/h3>\n
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Here\u2019s a downloadable map of Stanley Park in Vancouver<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n2. Visit Granville Island<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s a downloadable Granville Island map<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
A fun way to get to Granville Island is to hop on an Aquabus, pictured below.<\/h4>\n
Here\u2019s information about how to get to Granville Island<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n3. Granville Street Entertainment District<\/h2>\n
Granville is the place to be if you\u2019re looking for the best nightlife in Vancouver.<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Grouse Mountain and the Grouse Grind<\/h2>\n
Grouse Mountain Skyride<\/h3>\n
Grouse Mountain Restaurants<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n5. Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge<\/h2>\n
Related \u2013\u00a0Cliffwalk at Capilano Suspension Bridge<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n6. Hiking <\/span>and Kayaking <\/span>in Deep Cove<\/span><\/h2>\n
Related \u2013 The best road trip from Vancouver<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Explore Cypress Provincial Park<\/h2>\n
Related \u2013 Snowboarding at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n8. Mountain biking in North Vancouver<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s a map of Mount Seymour Biking Trails<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
<\/a>9. Gastown Steam Clock<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n10. Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n11. Canada Place<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n12. Walk, run or cycle the Vancouver Seawall<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s a printable map of the Seawall<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n13. Walk across the Lions Gate Bridge<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n14. Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver<\/h2>\n
More popular Vancouver Beaches<\/h3>\n
Can you swim in Vancouver beaches?<\/h3>\n
Related \u2013 Best Things to do Along the Sea to Sky Highway<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n15. Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s a map of Lighthouse Park<\/a> in West Vancouver.<\/h4>\n
<\/h3>\n16. Lonsdale Quay Market & Shipyards District\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Related \u2013 The best 10 Day road trip from Vancouver<\/a><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n18. Cleveland Dam & Capilano Canyon<\/h2>\n
Related \u2013 Things to do in North Vancouver, BC<\/a>\u00a0<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n19. Kitsilano Beach Park<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s more info about Kitsilano Beach Park<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n20. Richmond Night Market<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n21. Vancouver Chinatown<\/h2>\n
Here\u2019s a map of Vancouver Chinatown<\/a>.<\/h4>\n
22. New Westminster Quay and Boardwalk<\/h2>\n