One day in Vancouver

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      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. Allow Half a day.

   2. Late morning

      Vancouver Aquarium

      Plan your visit around the sea otter feeding and talks listed on the daily schedule. Allow 2–3 hours.

   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

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

   5. Late afternoon

      Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

      Go at opening time or late in the day to avoid tour groups, and wear grippy shoes on the damp boardwalks. Allow 2 hours.

   6. Evening

      Gastown and the steam clock

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

Before you go

• Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: Book online in summer and during the winter lights season, when time slots fill.

If it rains

• Swap in Museum of Anthropology at UBC (University of British Columbia): Leave time for the visible-storage galleries, where thousands of objects from around the world fill glass cases and drawers.
• Swap in Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory (Little Mountain): The park is free; pay only for the conservatory, which makes a warm rainy-day stop.
• Swap in Science World (False Creek): Arrive by SkyTrain to Main Street–Science World station, or by mini-ferry along False Creek.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 11–15 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: 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.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Vancouver
• 3 days in Vancouver
• 4 days in Vancouver
• 5 days in Vancouver
• 7 days in Vancouver

Questions travellers ask