Things to do · Vancouver · Canada
20 best things to do in Vancouver
20 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Markus Säynevirta, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Vancouver are Stanley Park and the seawall, Granville Island and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Of the 20 picks below, 9 are free, 5 work on a rainy day and 12 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Stanley Park and the seawall
- Free sights
- 9
- Good on a rainy day
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Park and the seawall | Stanley Park | Half a day | Free |
| Granville Island | Granville Island | Half a day | Free |
| Capilano Suspension Bridge Park | North Vancouver | 2 hours | Expensive |
| Museum of Anthropology at UBC | University of British Columbia | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Canada Place | Coal Harbour | 1 hour | Free |
| Vancouver Aquarium | Stanley Park | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Lynn Canyon Park | North Vancouver | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Grouse Mountain | North Vancouver | Half a day | Expensive |
| Gastown and the steam clock | Gastown | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden | Chinatown | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory | Little Mountain | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
| VanDusen Botanical Garden | Shaughnessy | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Science World | False Creek | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Vancouver Art Gallery | Downtown | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Pacific Spirit Regional Park | Point Grey | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Lighthouse Park | West Vancouver | 2 hours | Free |
| SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay | Burrard Inlet | 1–2 hours | Low cost |
| Deep Cove and Quarry Rock | North Vancouver | Half a day | Free |
| Kitsilano Beach and Kits Pool | Kitsilano | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Richmond Night Market | Richmond | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
The 20 best things to do
Park · Stanley Park
1.Stanley Park and the seawall
This 400-hectare peninsula of rainforest, beaches and gardens is circled by a seawall path of about 9 km used by walkers, runners and cyclists. Stops include the totem poles at Brockton Point, Siwash Rock, the Prospect Point lookout under the Lions Gate Bridge and Second and Third beaches on the western shore.
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
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. Small Aquabus and False Creek Ferries boats shuttle across from downtown and Yaletown.
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
Nature · North Vancouver
3.Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
First built in 1889, the suspension bridge spans 140 metres across the Capilano River canyon at a height of about 70 metres. The private park adds Treetops Adventure, a chain of footbridges between tall Douglas firs, and Cliffwalk, a walkway bolted to the canyon wall.
Go at opening time or late in the day to avoid tour groups, and wear grippy shoes on the damp boardwalks.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Book online in summer and during the winter lights season, when time slots fill.
- Iconic
- Kids
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
Museum · University of British Columbia
4.Museum of Anthropology at UBC
Arthur Erickson's concrete-and-glass building at the University of British Columbia holds one of the world's finest collections of Northwest Coast First Nations art, with towering totem poles in the Great Hall and Bill Reid's yellow-cedar sculpture The Raven and the First Men. Outside, Haida houses and poles overlook the sea.
Leave time for the visible-storage galleries, where thousands of objects from around the world fill glass cases and drawers.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Landmark · Coal Harbour
5.Canada Place
The white, sail-shaped roofs of Canada Place, built for Expo 86, cover the cruise terminal and convention centre. Its promenade looks over Burrard Inlet to the North Shore mountains and floatplanes landing in Coal Harbour, and the FlyOver Canada flight-simulation ride is inside.
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
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Aquarium · Stanley Park
6.Vancouver Aquarium
Inside Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium focuses on the waters of the Pacific Northwest and the Arctic, with sea otters, sea lions, jellyfish and a tropical gallery, plus a 4D theatre. It is one of the city's main family attractions on a rainy day.
Plan your visit around the sea otter feeding and talks listed on the daily schedule.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Park · North Vancouver
7.Lynn Canyon Park
A free alternative to Capilano, Lynn Canyon Park has a suspension bridge about 50 metres above a rocky gorge, short rainforest loop trails and the 30 Foot Pool, a swimming hole popular in summer. The small Ecology Centre has exhibits for children.
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
Viewpoint · North Vancouver
8.Grouse Mountain
The Skyride gondola climbs to about 1,100 metres for views over the city, the Strait of Georgia and, on clear days, Mount Baker. 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.
If you hike the Grind, buy a one-way gondola ticket down; the trail is uphill-only and closes in winter.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Views
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Active
- Nature
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Neighbourhood · Gastown
1.Gastown and the steam clock
Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood keeps cobbled Water Street, Victorian brick buildings and the steam clock, built in 1977, which whistles on the quarter hour. Maple Tree Square marks the spot where Gassy Jack Deighton opened the saloon around which the city grew.
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
Garden · Chinatown
2.Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Built in 1986 by craftsmen from Suzhou, this was the first full-scale classical Chinese garden constructed outside China. Pavilions, covered walkways, limestone rocks and a jade-green pond follow Ming dynasty principles, and a free public park next door shares the same pond.
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
3.Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory
The city's highest point, about 150 metres up, has a former quarry turned into a sunken garden and a lookout over the downtown towers to the North Shore mountains. On the summit, the domed Bloedel Conservatory houses tropical plants and more than 100 free-flying birds.
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
Garden · Shaughnessy
4.VanDusen Botanical Garden
Laid out on a former golf course, this 22-hectare botanical garden has lakes, a hedge maze, a heritage rhododendron walk and plants from six continents. In December the Festival of Lights covers the grounds in coloured lights.
Visit in May for rhododendrons and magnolias, or in December for the lights, booking evening slots ahead.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Museum · False Creek
5.Science World
The silver geodesic dome built for Expo 86 houses a hands-on science centre with galleries on the body, nature and engineering, an outdoor science park and a large dome cinema at the eastern end of False Creek.
Arrive by SkyTrain to Main Street–Science World station, or by mini-ferry along False Creek.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
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Gallery · Downtown
6.Vancouver Art Gallery
Housed in the neoclassical former provincial courthouse on Robson Square, the gallery holds the largest collection of works by Emily Carr, the BC painter of coastal forests and First Nations villages, alongside contemporary and photo-based art.
Check the current shows before you go, as much of the space is given to temporary exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Nature · Point Grey
7.Pacific Spirit Regional Park
More than 700 hectares of second-growth forest on the Point Grey peninsula, Pacific Spirit Regional Park has some 70 km of trails for walking and cycling between the city and UBC. Below the cliffs on its western edge, long flights of steep steps lead down to Wreck Beach, a clothing-optional beach.
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
8.Lighthouse Park
Some of the region's largest old-growth Douglas firs stand in this 75-hectare park at the entrance to Howe Sound, where short trails lead to granite outcrops below the Point Atkinson lighthouse, with views back to Stanley Park and downtown.
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
Experience · Burrard Inlet
9.SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay
The SeaBus passenger ferry crosses Burrard Inlet from Waterfront station to Lonsdale Quay in about 12 minutes on a regular transit fare, with harbour views of the skyline, cruise ships and floatplanes. Lonsdale Quay has a market hall with food stalls, and the Shipyards waterfront is next door.
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
Waterfront · North Vancouver
10.Deep Cove and Quarry Rock
This village on the Indian Arm fjord is the base for kayaking and paddleboarding along forested shores, and for the Quarry Rock trail, a walk of about 3.8 km return to a granite viewpoint over the water. Doughnuts from Honey's in the village are a post-hike tradition.
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
11.Kitsilano Beach and Kits Pool
Kits Beach faces downtown and the North Shore mountains across English Bay, with volleyball courts, a grassy park and Kitsilano Pool, a heated outdoor saltwater pool 137 metres long that opens in summer. It is one of the city's liveliest beaches on warm days.
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
Market · Richmond
12.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.
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
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Science World and Vancouver Art Gallery |
| History | Gastown and the steam clock, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Museum of Anthropology at UBC |
| Views | Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Grouse Mountain, Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory and Canada Place |
| Outdoors and nature | Stanley Park and the seawall, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver Aquarium and Lynn Canyon Park |
| Food and markets | Granville Island, Gastown and the steam clock, SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay and Richmond Night Market |
| After dark | Gastown and the steam clock and Richmond Night Market |
| With children | Stanley Park and the seawall, Vancouver Aquarium, Granville Island and Capilano Suspension Bridge Park |
| On a rainy day | Vancouver Aquarium, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory and Science World |
What to book ahead
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: Book online in summer and during the winter lights season, when time slots fill.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Vancouver?
Stanley Park and the seawall. This 400-hectare peninsula of rainforest, beaches and gardens is circled by a seawall path of about 9 km used by walkers, runners and cyclists.
+What can you do for free in Vancouver?
Stanley Park and the seawall, Granville Island, Canada Place, Lynn Canyon Park and Gastown and the steam clock. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Vancouver when it rains?
Head indoors to Vancouver Aquarium, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory and Science World.
+What is there to do in Vancouver at night?
Gastown and the steam clock and Richmond Night Market are best after dark.