Free things to do · Vancouver · Canada
9 free things to do in Vancouver
Vancouver without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Xicotencatl, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Vancouver without paying an entry fee: Stanley Park and the seawall, Granville Island, Canada Place and Lynn Canyon Park are all free. Lynn Canyon Park's suspension bridge is free and a good alternative to Capilano.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 9
- Low-cost extras
- 4
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Free sights and experiences
Park · Stanley Park
1.Stanley Park and the seawall
Rent a bike on Denman Street and ride the seawall counter-clockwise, the required direction for cyclists, allowing about an hour plus stops.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
Market · Granville Island
2.Granville Island
Arrive by mini-ferry rather than by car, as parking fills quickly, and eat lunch on the docks behind the market.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Shopping
- Kids
- Free
Landmark · Coal Harbour
3.Canada Place
Walk the promenade at sunset, then continue west along the Coal Harbour seawall towards Stanley Park.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Park · North Vancouver
4.Lynn Canyon Park
Stay on marked trails and never jump from the cliffs into the pools; the river is colder and stronger than it looks.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
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Neighbourhood · Gastown
5.Gastown and the steam clock
Combine an evening walk with dinner and cocktails; Gastown is at its best after dark.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Food
Nature · Point Grey
6.Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Combine a forest walk with the Museum of Anthropology, which sits on the edge of the park.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Nature · West Vancouver
7.Lighthouse Park
Arrive early on sunny weekends, when the small car park fills, and bring a picnic for the rocks.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Waterfront · North Vancouver
8.Deep Cove and Quarry Rock
Go on a weekday or early in the morning; parking and the Quarry Rock trail are very busy on summer weekends.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Free
Beach · Kitsilano
9.Kitsilano Beach and Kits Pool
Come for sunset, then walk the seawall to Vanier Park and the Maritime Museum.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Views
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley Park | Stanley Park and the seawall | Half a day |
| Granville Island | Granville Island | Half a day |
| Coal Harbour | Canada Place | 1 hour |
| North Vancouver | Lynn Canyon Park and Deep Cove and Quarry Rock | 1.5–2 hours + Half a day |
| Gastown | Gastown and the steam clock | 1–2 hours |
| Point Grey | Pacific Spirit Regional Park | 2–3 hours |
| West Vancouver | Lighthouse Park | 2 hours |
| Kitsilano | Kitsilano Beach and Kits Pool | 2–3 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Garden · Chinatown
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Join a guided tour to understand the symbolism of the rocks, water and plants.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Couples
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Garden · Little Mountain
Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory
The park is free; pay only for the conservatory, which makes a warm rainy-day stop.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
- Couples
Experience · Burrard Inlet
SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay
Sit by the front or rear windows on the way over and return at dusk for the city lights.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Food
Market · Richmond
Richmond Night Market
Take the Canada Line to Bridgeport station and arrive early in the evening to avoid the longest queues.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
More ways to save
- Lynn Canyon Park's suspension bridge is free and a good alternative to Capilano.
- Stanley Park, the seawall, the beaches, Gastown and Queen Elizabeth Park cost nothing.
- On weekday evenings and at weekends every transit trip counts as one zone, so longer rides cost less then.
- Happy hours at many bars and oyster bars cut food and drink prices in the late afternoon.
- Hotel prices drop sharply from October to March, outside ski holidays.
- Add 5% GST (and 10% PST on alcohol and many goods) plus tips to menu and shelf prices when budgeting.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Vancouver expensive to visit?
Vancouver is expensive for most visitors, but 9 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Vancouver?
Stanley Park and the seawall: Rent a bike on Denman Street and ride the seawall counter-clockwise, the required direction for cyclists, allowing about an hour plus stops.