Vancouver is one of Canada’s most popular cities to visit and for a good reason. This bustling metropolitan on the West Coast is home to some of Canada’s most beautiful natural landscapes, with the Rocky Mountains and North Pacific Ocean encompassing the city. There is really no shortage of fantastic outdoor and indoor things to do in the area and we here at Road Affair want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of these incredible attractions. That is why we have dug our heels in and crafted this list of the best things to do in Vancouver. Now what are you waiting for? Start scrolling to plan your ultimate Vancouver vacation!
Go For a Stroll in Stanley Park
Stanley Park is the city’s largest public park and a must-see in Vancouver for tourists. The green space is covered in towering Douglas Fir trees and plenty of walking trails to enjoy a stroll. However, that’s not all this popular park has to offer! Stanley Park is also home to the Vancouver Aquarium, the Naval Museum at HMCS Discovery, and plenty of beaches.
So what is the best way to explore this large greenspace? Well, that’s up to you! If you want to cover the most ground, consider renting a bike or using one of the shared bikes in the city. You could also opt to book this three-hour guided bike tour of Stanley Park.
Once in the park, you should walk or bike along the Vancouver Seawall as it follows the waterways around the park passing several attractions like the Nine O’Clock Gun, the Brockton Point Lighthouse, the Totem Poles, Prospect Point Lighthouse, and the famous Lion’s Gate Bridge. Once you reach Prospect Point Lighthouse, make your way up the hill to Prospect Point Lookout. Here, you’ll get an outstanding view of the Lion’s Gate Bridge, Burrard Inlet, and West Vancouver.
Along the west side of the park, there are several beaches where you can set up for a picnic, along with interesting natural attractions like Siwash Rock and the Hollow Tree. Finish your tour of Stanley Park off with a refreshing pint or bite to eat at Stanley Park Brewing Restaurant & Brewpub.
Conquer Your Fear of Heights at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
This landmark bridge in North Vancouver is one of the best places to visit in Vancouver for tourists who enjoy a good thrill. The Capilano Suspension Bridge stretches 450 feet long and hovers 230 feet above the Capilano River, offering incredible views of the canyon, West Coast rainforest, and the surrounding nature. If you’re visiting from mid-November to January, then you have the opportunity to experience the Canyon Lights, when the park lights the forest and bridge up with dazzling colors for the holiday season.
A ticket to the Capilano Suspension Bridge includes access to the Cliffwalk, a cantilevered path with two glass platforms that extend over the Capilano Canyon. If you’re not renting a car during your stay in Vancouver, don’t sweat it. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers a free shuttle to and from Downtown Vancouver!
Check Out the Food Stalls at the Richmond Night Market
The Richmond Night Market is an absolute must-see while in Vancouver, especially for foodies, as it’s the largest night market in all of North America. This family-friendly and pet-friendly night market features over 110 vendors serving over 600 international, Canadian, and fusion dishes like Japanese poutine, Afghan bolani, barbecued squid, butter beer, and much more.
And if that’s not enough to get your butt down to the market then you’ll be happy to hear the market also has loads of entertainment for adults and kids, like carnival games, massive inflatable bouncy houses, and live music and dance performances on the main stage.
The Richmond Night Market is open from the end of April until the beginning of October every Friday to Sunday starting at 7 p.m. Admission is free for children under seven years old and seniors 60 years old or older.
Grab Lunch at Granville Island Public Market
A trip to Granville Island to hit up the Granville Island Public Market and explore the artists’ studios is a great free thing to do in Vancouver. Granville Island is a lovely neighborhood to explore, with shops and studios you can pop into, and there is even a small free waterpark for little ones, Granville Island Waterpark.
However, the main attraction on this small island is the indoor public market. Around 50 vendors make up the Granville Island Public Market, offering everything from fresh produce to handcrafted souvenirs and excellent food. Some of the best and most popular foods to try in the market are the soups from The Stock Market, fresh donuts from Lee’s Donuts, and a cup of coffee from Petit Ami!
You can also choose to visit the market on a guided tour with a local to explore all the best the market has to offer. If this sounds more up your alley, then check out this three-hour guided market tour.
Visit the Steam Clock in Gastown
Where are all the travelers who enjoy a good quirky and fun attraction? If you raised your hand, then make your way to Vancouver’s famed neighborhood of Gastown to see the Gastown Steam Clock!
The Gastown Steam Clock, designed by Canadian clockmaker Raymond Saunders, is one of the only working steam clocks in the world. This unique Vancouver attraction was installed in Gastown back in 1977 and has since inspired many other cities, like the city of Otaru, Japan, to purchase one of Saunders’ steam clocks. The antique-style clock is powered by both steam and a small electric motor. It goes off every 15 minutes with small chimes and every hour with a whistle.
Gastown is a beautiful old area of Vancouver that you should spend some time exploring. Wander the cobblestone streets to marvel at 19th-century architecture and pop into boutique shops and trendy cafés. Finish your tour of Gastown at the Vancouver Lookout, where you’ll enjoy exceptional panoramic views of the city!
Take the Kids to Burnaby Village Museum
This 1920s living museum is easily one of the best places to take the kids while visiting Vancouver. Visitors can watch history come to life at this 10-acre museum with full-scale replicas of 1920s stores and businesses, along with period actors. Oh, and the best part? It’s completely free!
Tourists will find plenty to see and do inside the museum walls. Take a ride on the 1912 C.W. Parker Carousel or visit “Old Curly,” the oldest surviving steam engine in the province. Visitors can even catch a film in an old-timey movie theater or see how the blacksmith shop is run! With so many interactive exhibits, it’s best to plan to spend the whole day here. Burnaby Village Museum is open seasonally from May to September, but also hosts special events around holidays like Halloween and Christmas.
Learn About City History at the Museum of Vancouver
The Museum of Vancouver is an excellent attraction for tourists who want to learn more about the history of the city. This massive museum is the largest civic museum in Canada and has been open to visitors since 1894. Inside, visitors will find plenty of fascinating exhibits on the history, present, and possible future of Vancouver. The exhibits are broken down by time periods, creating a seamless museum path through time to showcase the city through the ages.
Enjoy a Walk in Queen Elizabeth Park
Located on the top of Little Mountain, Queen Elizabeth Park is a gorgeous green space that’s worth a visit. The park is actually located on the highest point in the city, offering fantastic views of the mountains, sea, and city. But great views aren’t all this 130-acre park offers. It is a horticultural gem, featuring a beautiful arboretum, a duck pond, a rose garden, and a landscaped quarry garden.
The park is also home to the Bloedel Conservatory, a massive glass-domed tropical conservatory with over 500 plants and over 200 exotic birds. Other activities in the park include mini golf, disc golf, roller hockey, tennis, and lawn bowling.
Check Out Science World
If you’re wondering what to do in Vancouver with little ones, then look no further than Science World. This excellent interactive museum boasts a plethora of interactive exhibits and films aimed to get kids excited about science. You can catch a documentary film in the IMAX theater, learn about the scientific process during hands-on activities in the Living Lab, or let the kids run wild with curiosity in the 3,300-square-foot Wonder Gallery. Trust us, by the end of the day at Science World, your kids will be fast asleep on the ride home!
Go on a Whale Watching Tour
The marine life around Vancouver is filled with beautiful creatures and vibrant wildlife, so why not head out on a whale-watching tour to get a glimpse of the friendly sea creatures?
This five-hour guided whale-watching tour is the ideal excursion for the whole family. The tour takes place on a three-story catamaran with two open levels, and a heated indoor level.
You’ll start your tour from Granville Island and enjoy live commentary while you pass by Downtown Vancouver and through the English Bay all the way to the Strait of Georgia. Here, you’ll get the chance to see orcas, minke, gray whales, seabirds, and much more. In fact, the tour company guarantees you will see a whale during your tour!
Included in the tour package are a photo package, hot beverages, and a kid’s educational coloring book.
Soak Up the Sun at Kitsilano Beach or Jericho Beach
If you’re wondering what to do on a hot day in Vancouver, then why not head to one of the many sandy city beaches to enjoy a day by the sea?
Kitsilano Beach and Jericho Beach are two of the most popular beaches in Vancouver and are actually just right down the road from one another. At Kitsilano Beach, you can opt to set up on the beach or head over to Kitsilano Pool, a heated saltwater swimming pool right beside the bay. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent and there is also a playground, basketball courts, public toilets, and an on-site restaurant.
Jericho Beach Park is larger than Kitsilano, offering tennis courts, a rugby field, a sailing center, and kayak rentals. There are plenty of trails to enjoy a leisurely walk, and chances are, you’ll see a lot of the famous park bunnies hopping around!
Rent Kayaks or Canoes at Deep Cove Kayak Center
Get out of the hustle and bustle of Vancouver and head north to the beautiful community of Deep Cove. This is the ideal place to enjoy kayaking and canoeing as the bay offers a protected area for small boats.
Deep Cove Kayak Center offers several different rentals, including single and tandem kayaks, canoes, surfski, stand-up paddleboards, and starship boards (giant stand-up paddleboards for multiple paddlers).
If you’re a little bit timid about hitting the water on your own, then consider signing up for one of the rental shop’s tours or lessons!
Hit the Slopes at Grouse Mountain or Cypress Mountain
Skiing and snowboarding in the mountains are part of what attracts so many tourists to the Vancouver area, so it’s no surprise that this made our list. Both Grouse Mountain and Cypress Mountain are the closest ski resorts to the city and offer fantastic runs for riders of all levels.
You really can’t go wrong with visiting either of these ski areas, but the best one depends on what you plan on doing. Cypress Mountain offers more runs, longer runs, higher elevation, better terrain, and the biggest vertical drop on the North Shore. However, it’s a bit tougher to reach than Grouse without a vehicle. Grouse Mountain offers more activities, such as sleigh rides, skating, snow tubing, and snowshoeing.
Go for a Hike
With the mountains right there, it’s no secret that Vancouver has some pretty incredible hiking trails. The real question is which ones to hike! If you only have a limited amount of time in the city, then you’ll probably only have time for one or two hikes. If so, make sure to hike the Grouse Grind Trail. This 2.9-kilometer out-and-back trail features a steep wooden staircase that leads to the top of Grouse Mountain, offering jaw-dropping views of Vancouver below.
Another gorgeous hiking trail is the Lynn Canyon Trail, which will lead you over the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and give you some great views of Twin Falls and the 10-Meter Pool. This loop trail takes about an hour to complete and is 2.3 kilometers long.
If you’re looking for a longer, slightly more challenging hike, then consider hiking to Norvan Falls in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park. This 14-kilometer out-and-back trail is well-marked and features very little incline. It takes just under four hours to hike roundtrip and the stunning waterfall at the end is well worth the trek!
Enjoy an Afternoon at Playland Amusement Park
Spend an afternoon devouring carnival food and riding the rides at Playland Amusement Park! This seasonal amusement park offers plenty of old-school traditional rides, like wooden roller coasters, carousels, and swings. There are over 30 rides at the park, as well as a mini-putt course, a climbing wall, midway games, and a haunted house.
Playland Amusement Park is open seasonally from June until mid-August (when the PNE fair takes over).
Roam the Artworks at the Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Art Gallery is the largest public art museum in Western Canada and should definitely be put on your list of places to visit in the city. The museum is home to a massive collection of contemporary pieces from international artists, as well as historical artworks and local artworks, including First Nations artists. There are over 12,000 pieces on display, including works done by Canada’s most recognizable artists like Emily Carr and the Group of Seven.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is open Wednesday through Monday and is free for those aged 18 or younger.
Take a Guided Tour of the City
Taking a guided tour of Vancouver is the best way to get familiar with a city and also a fun way to learn more about the history and cultural landscape. There are several city tours to consider when booking an outing for your group, but the best one depends on what your interests are.
For an all-encompassing tour that touches on a bit of everything, consider booking this guided city highlights tour with a bus or this five-hour guided bicycle tour of Vancouver. If you’re a foodie looking to explore the city’s best cuisine, then check out this fantastic three-hour guided food and history tour. Another few great tours to consider are this guided Vancouver TV and movie tour, this LGBTQ2+ history tour with a guide, and this guided dark history prohibition-era tour.
Visit the Museum of Anthropology
Another outstanding museum to add to your bucket list while in Vancouver is the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. Some 10,000 years ago, long before Vancouver was built or the British colonized, the area was populated by the Indigenous. The museum focuses on highlighting contemporary and ancient artifacts of the First Nations to help build a better, all-encompassing idea of Vancouver’s identity.
But the museum doesn’t just focus on Indigenous artifacts from British Columbia. They have a large collection of ancient artifacts from several Indigenous groups around the world, creating a place to compare and understand the ancient world.
Enjoy a Scenic Walk in the VanDusen Botanical Garden
If you’re sightseeing in Vancouver, make sure to stop in at VanDusen Botanical Garden to admire the manicured gardens and lush grounds. The VanDusen Botanical Garden is a stunning park that features 50 acres of stunning attractions and gardens, like the Elizabethan Hedge Maze, a meditation garden, and an apple orchard. The botanical gardens feature flora and fauna from several different countries, creating a diverse walking experience that will take you around the world without leaving the park.
This is an especially cool place to visit near Christmas time as the botanical gardens transform into a magical light paradise that is sure to dazzle you. You can even tour the light festival with a guide!
Catch a Canucks Game
Ah, those crazy canucks and their hockey! While hockey might not be the go-to sport for other countries, it is ingrained in Canadian culture as much as maple syrup. So why not join the locals in an electrifying atmosphere while cheering on the home team? This is a great activity in Vancouver for the whole family as the cheering and music is sure to have you joining in!
The Vancouver Canucks are an NHL hockey team that plays at the Rogers Arena near Chinatown. Games start at the beginning of October and run until April (depending if they make the playoffs).
Visit the PNE Fair or Vancouver Christmas Market
There are several amazing seasonal events that take place during the year in Vancouver, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be visiting during one of them!
The PNE Fair has been running for over 100 years and is one of the most anticipated events of the year. The event runs from mid-August to the beginning of September and features tons of rides, midway games, concerts, shows, and farm animals. Another popular event hosted at the PNE grounds is Fright Nights, where you can join in the spooky fun with haunted houses, rides, midway games, and concerts.
If you’re visiting the city in December, make sure to stop by the Vancouver Christmas Market. The outdoor Christmas market takes its inspiration from Europe and features 80+ vendors selling classic European fare, along with artisan works and quirky trinkets. There are also holiday entertainers and fun workshops to check out.
That brings this list of fun things to do in Vancouver to an end. We know it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by how many awesome tourist attractions in Vancouver there are but with the help of this article you should be able to build a pretty amazing and memorable itinerary for your trip to Vancouver.
If you’re eager to explore even more unforgettable attractions just a short journey away, be sure to check out our article on the best day trips from Vancouver next!
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