Shopping · Vancouver · Canada
Shopping in Vancouver
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ~riley, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Vancouver shopping is strongest for outdoor gear, Indigenous art, local design and food gifts such as smoked salmon and maple products. Robson Street and Pacific Centre cover the chains, while Gastown, Main Street and Granville Island have the independent shops. Best souvenirs: Smoked salmon, Northwest Coast art and Outdoor gear.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Smoked salmon
Where to shop
Robson Street and Pacific Centre
International brands along Robson and in the downtown Pacific Centre mall, connected to SkyTrain.
Gastown
Independent fashion, homeware and Indigenous art galleries in Victorian storefronts.
Main Street
Vintage clothing, local designers and record shops south of Broadway.
West 4th Avenue
Outdoor, running and yoga shops in Kitsilano, including flagships of Vancouver-born brands.
Markets
Granville Island Public Market
A daily food market with smoked salmon, local produce, bakeries and crafts.
Richmond Night Market
A summer weekend night market of Asian street food and stalls.
Vancouver Christmas Market
A German-style holiday market at Jack Poole Plaza from late November to Christmas Eve.
What to buy
Smoked salmon
Vacuum-packed or canned wild BC salmon travels well; check your home country's import rules.
Northwest Coast art
Prints, carvings and silver jewellery by Indigenous artists, from artist-run and reputable galleries.
Outdoor gear
Rain jackets and technical clothing from Vancouver-born outdoor and athletic brands.
Maple treats and icewine
Maple syrup, maple cookies and icewine from British Columbia's Okanagan wineries.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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
Market · Richmond
Richmond Night Market
On summer weekend evenings this outdoor market near Bridgeport station fills with more than 100 food stalls selling Asian street food — skewers, dumplings, bubble tea and dragon's beard candy — alongside games and merchandise stalls.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Kids
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Nanaimo bar, Bannock and Craft beer. Bakeries and cafés across the city and at Granville Island. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown and Coal Harbour | $$$$ | Waterfront towers, Canada Place and the seawall towards Stanley Park |
| Yaletown | $$$$ | Converted warehouses, raised patios and the False Creek seawall |
| Gastown | $$$ | Cobbled streets, the steam clock and the city's oldest buildings |
| Kitsilano | $$$ | Beach, yoga studios and West 4th Avenue cafés |
| Mount Pleasant and Main Street | $$ | Breweries, vintage shops and independent cafés |
| Commercial Drive | $$ | Italian cafés, global restaurants and a laid-back east-side scene |
| Lower Lonsdale | $$ | SeaBus terminal, market hall and the Shipyards waterfront in North Vancouver |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CAD. Tip 15–20% in restaurants and bars and about 10–15% for taxis; card machines will prompt you. Tipping at counter-service cafés is optional.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- January: Dine Out Vancouver — city-wide restaurant festival (usually late January to early February)
- April: Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (usually April)
- May: Spot Prawn Festival (usually May)
- June: Vancouver International Jazz Festival (usually late June to early July)
- July: Vancouver Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach (usually mid-July)
- August: PNE Fair at Hastings Park (mid-August to Labour Day)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, families and shopping
Downtown and Coal Harbour
Waterfront towers, Canada Place and the seawall towards Stanley Park
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Vancouver?
Smoked salmon, Northwest Coast art, Outdoor gear and Maple treats and icewine.
+Where is the best shopping in Vancouver?
Robson Street and Pacific Centre: International brands along Robson and in the downtown Pacific Centre mall, connected to SkyTrain.
+What are the best markets in Vancouver?
Granville Island Public Market, Richmond Night Market and Vancouver Christmas Market.