4 days in Vancouver

Day by day

1. Day 1: Stanley Park and the seawall and Vancouver Aquarium

   Stanley Park and the seawall, Vancouver Aquarium and Granville Island, then Gastown and the steam clock in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Stanley Park and the seawall

      Allow Half a day (free). Rent a bike on Denman Street and ride the seawall counter-clockwise, the required direction for cyclists, allowing about an hour plus stops.

   2. Late morning

      Vancouver Aquarium

      It is one of the city's main family attractions on a rainy day.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sushi and the BC roll

      Sushi bars throughout downtown, Kitsilano and Richmond, from takeaway counters to omakase restaurants.

   4. Afternoon

      Granville Island

      Allow Half a day (free). Arrive by mini-ferry rather than by car, as parking fills quickly, and eat lunch on the docks behind the market.

   5. Evening

      Gastown and the steam clock

      Combine an evening walk with dinner and cocktails; Gastown is at its best after dark.

2. Day 2: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Lynn Canyon Park

   Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Lynn Canyon Park and Grouse Mountain, then Richmond Night Market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

      The private park adds Treetops Adventure, a chain of footbridges between tall Douglas firs, and Cliffwalk, a walkway bolted to the canyon wall.

   2. Late morning

      Lynn Canyon Park

      Allow 1.5–2 hours (free). Stay on marked trails and never jump from the cliffs into the pools; the river is colder and stronger than it looks.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Wild Pacific salmon

      Seafood restaurants and the Granville Island Public Market, which sells smoked and candied salmon for travel.

   4. Afternoon

      Grouse Mountain

      In summer there are grizzly bears in a wildlife refuge, lumberjack shows and hiking; in winter, skiing and snowshoeing. Fit hikers climb the Grouse Grind, a 2.9 km staircase-like trail with about 850 metres of ascent.

   5. Evening

      Richmond Night Market

      Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport station and arrive early in the evening to avoid the longest queues.

3. Day 3: Deep Cove and Quarry Rock and Museum of Anthropology at UBC

   Deep Cove and Quarry Rock, Museum of Anthropology at UBC and Canada Place, then Gastown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Deep Cove and Quarry Rock

      Allow Half a day (free). Go on a weekday or early in the morning; parking and the Quarry Rock trail are very busy on summer weekends.

   2. Late morning

      Museum of Anthropology at UBC

      Outside, Haida houses and poles overlook the sea.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spot prawns

      Fisherman's Wharf near Granville Island, where boats sell direct during the season, and seafood restaurants citywide.

   4. Afternoon

      Canada Place

      Allow 1 hour (free). Walk the promenade at sunset, then continue west along the Coal Harbour seawall towards Stanley Park.

   5. Evening

      Gastown

      Cocktail bars and restaurants in Victorian buildings along Water and Cordova streets.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Whistler

   About 2 hours by car or coach each way. Getting there: Sea-to-Sky Highway by car, coach or shuttle.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Whistler

      About 2 hours by car or coach (Sea-to-Sky Highway by car, coach or shuttle); about 125 km.

   2. Day

      Whistler

      The resort town that co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics has one of North America's largest ski areas and, in summer, mountain biking, hiking and the Peak 2 Peak Gondola between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The drive along Howe Sound is one of the most scenic in Canada.

   3. Evening

      Back in Vancouver

      Dinner: try Japadog.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Capilano Suspension Bridge Park before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 nights, Downtown and Coal Harbour keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, West End ($$$) suits couples, beach, nightlife and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–32 hours of visiting over 4 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.2 hours in December to 16.2 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Vancouver
• 2 days in Vancouver
• 3 days in Vancouver
• 5 days in Vancouver
• 7 days in Vancouver

Questions travellers ask