Famous for its mountains, Vancouver is an ideal destination for relaxation, as it is surrounded by mountains and entertainment. The city offers an impressive contrast between old streets with Victorian buildings and modern neighborhoods with elegant art galleries . During your visit, don't miss Stanley Park, a hidden gem offering beaches, lakes and outdoor steam pools. You can also escape to the wooded areas and mountains, where you'll feel like you're at the North Pole.
Another memorable activity is a floatplane flight over Vancouver, which offers breathtaking views and makes it possible to reach neighboring cities in no time. For a taste of local cuisine, head to Robson Street or stop off at the Granville Island Market. Family activities are a must: the UBC Art Gallery, Aquarium and Botanical Gardens. Here's a complete itinerary to make the most of your stay in Vancouver!
1. Stroll through Stanley Park and along Vancouver's waterfront
Stanley Park is one of Canada's largest parks. We recommend that you start by admiring its natural and man-made lakes, then continue your stroll by heading to the marina, better known as Coal Harbour, to enjoy the bike paths and skating rinks. If you're on a family vacation, head to Brockton Point to see the replicas of totem poles, sacred objects used by indigenous people, which were found years ago in this park.
You can also visit :
- The Vancouver Aquarium, a research center located inside the park where you can discover marine species and learn more about their conservation.
- The Shakespeare Garden, a wonderful experience, where plants mentioned in some of the writer's most famous works are grown.
- The Marion Malkin Memorial Bowl Theatre, an open-air theater featuring Broadway shows, screenings and concerts under the stars.
- Rose Garden, famous for its floral displays. From June to September, dozens of different types of roses are on display.
- Prospect Point, a waterfront area with views of the Canadian Lion's Gate Bridge and Burrad Islet.
In summer, you can also enjoy its beaches, the largest of which, Second Beach, even boasts a heated outdoor pool. You can also continue walking to Third Beach or English Bay, the latter being the most popular for renting kayaks or playing beach volleyball.
2. Escape to Granville Island
Granville Island is a magical place located fifteen minutes from downtown Vancouver. This former factory was transformed into an art center in the 1970s and offers entertainment for the whole family.
We recommend a visit to Vancouver's Granville Island Market, which has been in existence since 1979. The atmosphere is festive, with street music, food stalls, arts and crafts. If you're planning a family outing, stop by the Children's Market, with its wide variety of toy and candy stores.
And don't miss the Local Brewery, Canada's largest brewery, which offers guided tours and beer tastings.
3. Attend a Vancouver Canucks game
Attending a Vancouver Canucks game is a must-do activity in Vancouver. These field hockey games usually take place at Rogers Arena. The atmosphere is very festive, you'll see fans with their faces painted in the team colors, and you can experience some of the special events that are organized to celebrate victories or support the team.
To get tickets to see the Vancouver Canucks at the best price, it' s advisable to buy them in advance. The season runs from October to April, and the games are very popular, being broadcast in most of the city's squares and bars. Plan your trip around this period to make sure you don't miss any of the matches.
4. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium
Located in Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium is a must-see attraction for the whole family. It's aworld-renowned marine life preservation institution . Inside, you'll find rehabilitation zones, conservation areas for endangered speciesand a safe habitat for over 50,000 animals.
If you're going with children, we recommend a visit to the penguin zone, as well as the Clownfish Cove room, where little ones can enjoy interactive games and demonstrations. In the "Tropical Zone" exhibition, you can see Asian turtles, corals and seahorses, as well as species from the Caribbean, Africa and Central America.
Admission is around 25 euros for adults, 15 euros for children and teenagers, and free for children under 3.
The aquarium also offers other themed areas, such as :
- Steller Bay , where you can see sea lions that were removed from their original bay due to the mass extinction of the herds in the area.
- Arctic Canada , where you can see a beluga whale, a popular Arctic species.
- Graham Amazonia, a reconstruction of Amazonian ecosystems and species.
- Treasures of the British Columbia Coast, where you'll find rare and precious Canadian species that live in the sea, such as redfish and purple hagfish.
- The Wild Coast, an area with outdoor facilities, where you can see sea lions, sea otters, seals and dolphins.
- Pacific Canada Pavilion , the best place to observe fish species of all kinds.
- Frogs Forever, where you can see 22 species of frogs and toads, which are protected because they are endangered in their native habitat.
5. Take a trip to Whistler from Vancouver
For a change of scenery, there's nothing likea trip to Canada's North Pole: an hour and a half's drive from Vancouver, Whistler is an ideal place to enjoy winter attractions such as skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing. Whistler hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics (you can still see the Olympic rings)
If you'd like to organize an excursion to Whistler from Vancouver, you'll find guided options starting at around 138 euros. Here are some of the most popular activities you can enjoy:
- The chairlift, a great way to see Whistler and Vancouver from above, which can be used in summer or winter.
- Ziplining: if you want to feel the adrenalin rush through your body, there's nothing better than taking off on one of America's highest ziplines. The course usually departs from Blackcomb Mountain at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
- Take a floatplane or helicopter tour: you can enjoy a floatplane tour of Vancouver, or take the experience directly from Whistler. This type of experience costs around 120 euros.
- Hiking: Whistler offers a wide variety of trails, surrounded by forests and waterfalls. There are options for beginners and experts alike, with the most recommended routes being Rainbow Falls, High Note Trail and Train Wreck Trail: the latter takes you to an abandoned train carriage located near a high suspension bridge.
6. Visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
This is one of Vancouver's main attractions: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, with its famous suspension bridge 70 metres above the river. To get there, you can drive about 20 minutes along BC-1A/BC-99 N or take the bus. The trail offers some of the best views in British Columbia, and you'll enjoy a wooded setting surrounded by flora and fauna. From here, you can see the Vancouver Gorge and stroll along the wooden walkways and platforms that span the cliffs. Don't miss a visit to "The Living Forest", an interactive exhibition ideal for discovering a wealth of important information about the forest.
Entrance to the park costs around 35 euros, and it's advisable to arrive early to avoid the queues and crowds.
7. Climbing Grouse Mountain
Located a thirty-minute drive from Vancouver, Grouse Mountain is a must-do if you want to enjoy an alpine walk with panoramic views over the city! You can get there by taking the free Canada Place bus, which is a good option but fills up quickly.
In winter, you can enjoy its ski resort, as well as interactive bird exhibitions. In summer, you can attend lectures, access bear habitat, take chairlift rides and see lumberjack shows.
You can also hike in the snow or ride the Skyride cable car, the longest in North America (entry to the cable car costs around 65 euros, but family passes are available from 180 euros) We recommend buying tickets for Grouse Mountain in Vancouver, which cost around 60 euros and generally include: use of the Skyride and chairlift, access to Theatre in the Sky shows and access to winter and summer activities.
8. Take a whale-watching cruise from Vancouver to Victoria
The capital of British Columbia, Victoria is known for its Victorian buildings and outdoor activities, including whale watching. Located south of Vancouver, it takes about four hours by ferry or bus to get there, but if you take a floatplane to Victoria, you'll get there in about half an hour. It's a breathtaking journey over the Haro Strait, a body of water that separates the oceans of the United States and Canada. This type of experience starts at around 414 euros , and the main advantage is that it generally allows you to admire whales up close. If you want to increase your chances of seeing them, it's advisable to take advantage of the April to October season, when the most humpback whales are seen .
9. Stop off at the Vancouver Art Gallery
Your stay in Vancouver is also an opportunity to visit the Vancouver Art Gallery and its photography exhibition with over 11,000 works of art on display, including the collections of Emily Carr, a Canadian artist who drew inspiration from local indigenous peoples. Tickets start at 20 euros, and can easily be purchased online. Founded in 1931, the Vancouver Art Gallery has quickly become an emblematic venue for Canadian art, offering programs for the preservation of contemporary art and, above all, cultural events to promote the city's cultural interest.
10. Discover Gastown and the Steam Clock
Gastown is a lively district, known for its magnificent Victorian buildings and offering a contrast between modern and old spaces. It's an interesting walk, as it's the oldest part of the city. It's also the perfect opportunity to take a look at the steam clock, a local icon built in 1977 that is powered by a steam engine and tells the time every fifteen minutes. And if you love mysteries, nothing beats Vancouver's Gastown Lost Souls Tour, a theatrical adventure that lets you explore the neighborhood while listening to untold stories. You can visit the city's oldest hotel, learn about the Great Fire, the smallpox epidemic and the scariest unsolved cases.
11. Explore Robson Street, go shopping and taste the local cuisine
Robson Street, also known as Robsonstrasse, is the ideal place for shopping in Vancouver. From luxury boutiques and vintage stores to cafés and local markets, there's something for everyone! If you want to sample the local cuisine, we recommend a stop at Robson Public Market: the food is generally varied, and you'll find upscale restaurants serving Asian, Canadian, Latin American and other dishes. If you prefer shopping in a mall, you can head to the Royal Centre, a five-minute walk away.
12. Relax on Kitsilano beach and take a dip in the Kitsilano pool
Kitsilano Beach is one of Vancouver's favorite beaches, especially in summer. It's surrounded by vintage boutiques, ethnic food stalls, barbecue areas and much more. You can play beach field hockey, take a beach volleyball lesson, windsurf and skimboard, all of which are fun options, especially if you go with family or friends. The main attraction is the outdoor Kits pool, where you can take a dip in the salt water (open only from late May to September).
13. Fresh air at the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden
Founded in 1916, the UBC Botanical Garden is a peaceful spot located at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Here you can admire collections of magnolias and maples, as well as explore the Asian garden wing for an interesting tour of Chinese herbal medicine. A few meters away, you'll also find the Nitobe Garden, where you can witness a mythical ceremony in an authentic teahouse.
Admission costs around €4. In addition to the Asian garden and the Nitobe garden, you'll also find other collections divided into sections (plants are grouped by species and country of origin). Specifically, you can visit
- The contemporary garden.
- Asian garden.
- The alpine garden.
- The food garden.
- North American gardens.
- The British Columbia rainforest garden.
- The Carolina forest garden.
- The forest garden.
- The Pacific Slope Garden.
