Travel guide · Canada
Vancouver travel guide
Seawall walks, mountains across the harbour and Pacific seafood
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Vancouver sits on a peninsula between Burrard Inlet and False Creek, with the North Shore mountains rising across the water and Stanley Park's forest at the end of downtown. Visitors come for the seawall, beaches and mountain trails within minutes of the centre, for Pacific seafood and Asian food, and for First Nations art at the Museum of Anthropology. Most stay downtown, in the West End or Yaletown and get around on foot, by SkyTrain and on the SeaBus. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are June–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Canada
- Best time to visit
- June–September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- YVR
- Mid-range daily budget
- $200–$350 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean, Seafood and sushi and Granville Island
Why visit Vancouver
- Mountains, sea and rainforest meet the city: in spring you can ski on the North Shore and walk on a beach on the same day.
- The Stanley Park seawall, ringed by beaches and forest, is one of the finest urban walks or bike rides in North America.
- Japanese, Chinese and Pacific seafood traditions make it a standout city for sushi, dim sum and wild salmon.
- The Museum of Anthropology and the city's galleries show the art and culture of the Northwest Coast First Nations.
- Whistler, Victoria and the Sea-to-Sky Highway are within day-trip range.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Park · Stanley Park
Stanley Park and the seawall
This 400-hectare peninsula of rainforest, beaches and gardens is circled by a seawall path of about 9 km used by walkers, runners and cyclists.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
Market · Granville Island
Granville Island
Beneath the Granville Street Bridge, this former industrial island is home to the Granville Island Public Market — produce, seafood, bakeries and food counters — plus artists' studios, a brewery, theatres and a Kids Market of toy shops.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
- Free
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Nature · North Vancouver
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
First built in 1889, the suspension bridge spans 140 metres across the Capilano River canyon at a height of about 70 metres.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
Museum · University of British Columbia
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Arthur Erickson's concrete-and-glass building at the University of British Columbia holds one of the world's finest collections of Northwest Coast First Nations art, with towering totem poles in the Great Hall and Bill Reid's yellow-cedar sculpture The Raven and the First Men.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Landmark · Coal Harbour
Canada Place
The white, sail-shaped roofs of Canada Place, built for Expo 86, cover the cruise terminal and convention centre.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
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Aquarium · Stanley Park
Vancouver Aquarium
Inside Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium focuses on the waters of the Pacific Northwest and the Arctic, with sea otters, sea lions, jellyfish and a tropical gallery, plus a 4D theatre.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Where to stay
Downtown and Coal Harbour is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, families and shopping
Downtown and Coal Harbour
Waterfront towers, Canada Place and the seawall towards Stanley Park
$$$ · Best for couples, beach, nightlife and solo travellers
West End
Leafy residential streets between Stanley Park and English Bay
$$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and nightlife
Yaletown
Converted warehouses, raised patios and the False Creek seawall
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, culture and shopping
Gastown
Cobbled streets, the steam clock and the city's oldest buildings
What to eat
- Sushi and the BC roll — Vancouver has a deep Japanese food culture and sushi restaurants at every price.
- Wild Pacific salmon — Sockeye, coho and spring (chinook) salmon are central to BC cooking and to the region's First Nations, served grilled, cedar-planked, smoked or as sweet candied salmon strips.
- Spot prawns — Sweet local prawns caught in a short season that usually starts in May, sold live from fishing boats and served simply grilled, in pasta or as sashimi.
- Japadog — Hot dogs topped with Japanese ingredients such as teriyaki sauce, seaweed, bonito flakes and wasabi mayonnaise, from a cart that started on Burrard Street in 2005 and became a city icon.
- Richmond dim sum — Richmond, the suburb next to the airport, has one of North America's densest concentrations of Chinese restaurants, and weekend dim sum there is a local ritual.
- Ramen and izakaya plates — Japanese noodle shops and izakaya bars serving small plates and sake cluster in the West End, where a late bowl of ramen is a popular end to the evening.
When to go
The best time to visit Vancouver is June to September, when the weather is dry, sunny and mild, beaches and patios are busy and mountain trails are clear of snow. April and May bring cherry blossoms and lower prices but frequent showers, while December to March is wet in the city but good for skiing on the North Shore and at Whistler.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Cherry blossoms, greening parks and mild temperatures, with frequent showers and snow lingering on higher mountain trails. |
| Summer | June–August | Dry, sunny and rarely hot, with long evenings; peak season for beaches, hiking and festivals, and the highest hotel prices. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled and golden in September, then increasingly wet and grey from October, with autumn colour and lower prices. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild and very rainy at sea level, with snow on the North Shore mountains for skiing within about 30 minutes of downtown. |
Getting there and around
Vancouver International (YVR) is on Sea Island in Richmond, about 15 km south of downtown. The Canada Line reaches Waterfront station in about 25 minutes, and taxis take about 25–40 minutes. Seaplanes from the downtown harbour serve Victoria and coastal towns.
Downtown Vancouver is compact and walkable, ringed by the seawall, and TransLink's SkyTrain, buses and SeaBus link it to the airport, the North Shore and the suburbs. Fares depend on zones on weekdays, but one zone covers most visitor trips within the city.
Plan your days
Three days covers Stanley Park and the seawall, Granville Island, Gastown and a North Shore trip to Capilano or Grouse Mountain. A fourth day adds the Museum of Anthropology and the beaches; with a week you can add Whistler, Victoria or the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Practical information
- Currency
- CAD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink and comes from protected reservoirs in the North Shore mountains.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tip 15–20% in restaurants and bars and about 10–15% for taxis; card machines will prompt you.
Car break-ins are common, so leave nothing visible in parked cars. The streets around East Hastings between Gastown and Chinatown have visible homelessness and drug use; pass through by day with normal awareness and take a taxi at night. In the mountains, weather changes quickly, and the sea stays cold even in summer.
Flights to Vancouver
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Vancouver?
Three days covers Stanley Park and the seawall, Granville Island, Gastown and a North Shore trip to Capilano or Grouse Mountain. A fourth day adds the Museum of Anthropology and the beaches; with a week you can add Whistler, Victoria or the Sea-to-Sky Highway. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Vancouver?
The best time to visit Vancouver is June to September, when the weather is dry, sunny and mild, beaches and patios are busy and mountain trails are clear of snow. April and May bring cherry blossoms and lower prices but frequent showers, while December to March is wet in the city but good for skiing on the North Shore and at Whistler.
+What is Vancouver known for?
Stanley Park, Mountains and ocean, Seafood and sushi, Granville Island, Outdoor lifestyle, Rainy winters and Gateway to Whistler. Mountains, sea and rainforest meet the city: in spring you can ski on the North Shore and walk on a beach on the same day.
+Is Vancouver expensive?
Vancouver is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $200–$350 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Vancouver?
Not for the city: SkyTrain, buses, the SeaBus and walking cover the main sights. A car helps for the Sea-to-Sky Highway, Whistler on your own schedule and some North Shore trailheads, though buses and shuttles serve many of them.