Beaches · Vancouver · Canada
The best beaches in and near Vancouver
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Xicotencatl, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is English Bay Beach (West End, downtown).
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 7
- Warmest sea
- 15°C (59°F)
The beaches
West End, downtown · Sunsets
1.English Bay Beach
Downtown's main beach in the West End, known for sunsets, driftwood logs and the summer fireworks, with the Inukshuk sculpture nearby.
Kitsilano, about 15 minutes by bus from downtown · Active beach days
2.Kitsilano Beach
A sandy beach with volleyball courts and views of downtown and the mountains, beside the heated outdoor Kits Pool.
Stanley Park · Sunset picnics
3.Third Beach
A sheltered beach on the west side of Stanley Park, popular for picnics and summer drum circles at sunset.
About 20 minutes by car from downtown · Families and low-tide walks
4.Spanish Banks
A long, shallow beach on Point Grey where low tide exposes huge sand flats; quieter than Kitsilano.
West Point Grey · Sailing and picnics
5.Jericho Beach
A park-backed beach with a sailing centre, grassy picnic areas and views across to downtown.
Below the UBC campus · Free spirits and sunsets
6.Wreck Beach
A clothing-optional beach below the UBC cliffs, reached by several hundred steep steps.
West Vancouver, about 20 minutes by bus · Quiet walks
7.Ambleside Beach
A West Vancouver beach with views of the Lions Gate Bridge and Stanley Park, linked to a long seaside walkway.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C (46°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
| February | 8°C (46°F) | 8°C (46°F) |
| March | 8°C (46°F) | 10°C (50°F) |
| April | 9°C (48°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| May | 11°C (52°F) | 17°C (63°F) |
| June | 13°C (55°F) | 20°C (68°F) |
| July | 15°C (59°F) | 22°C (72°F) |
| August | 15°C (59°F) | 22°C (72°F) |
| September | 14°C (57°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| October | 12°C (54°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| November | 10°C (50°F) | 9°C (48°F) |
| December | 9°C (48°F) | 7°C (45°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for couples, beach, nightlife and solo travellers
West End
One of Canada's most densely populated neighbourhoods still feels green, with tree-lined streets, Davie Village's LGBTQ+ bars and rainbow crosswalks, and Denman Street's casual restaurants leading to English Bay Beach and Stanley Park. Smaller hotels and apartment rentals make it a good base for walkers.
- Good
- Beach and Stanley Park on the doorstep; Good casual restaurants; Lively but residential
- Watch out
- Few large hotels; A bus ride or long walk to SkyTrain
- Nearby
- English Bay Beach, Stanley Park, Davie Village, Denman Street
Getting to the beaches
- Metro — SkyTrain's driverless trains run on three lines: the Canada Line to the airport and Richmond, and the Expo and Millennium lines east towards Burnaby and Surrey.
- Ferry — The SeaBus crosses Burrard Inlet to Lonsdale Quay in about 12 minutes on a normal transit fare, and private mini-ferries (Aquabus and False Creek Ferries) link downtown, Yaletown and Granville Island.
- Bus — Buses cover areas SkyTrain doesn't reach, including Kitsilano, UBC, Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains, and every bus trip is charged as one zone.
Beach-weather months
Air temperatures rarely reach classic beach weather here: the warmest month, July, averages 22°C (72°F).
Beach safety
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. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Vancouver have beaches?
Yes: English Bay Beach, Kitsilano Beach, Third Beach, Spanish Banks, Jericho Beach, Wreck Beach and Ambleside Beach.
+What is the best beach near Vancouver?
English Bay Beach: Downtown's main beach in the West End, known for sunsets, driftwood logs and the summer fireworks, with the Inukshuk sculpture nearby.