VANCOUVER CITY GUIDE

Vancouver is a wonderful place to live and an even better place to visit. This vibrant and multicultural city boasts diverse neighborhoods, fantastic restaurants, microbreweries, parks, cafés, exciting events, and an active cultural scene. It’s easy to explore with its bike-friendly streets, walkable areas, and one of the world’s most comprehensive public transit systems. We receive many inquiries about what to do in Vancouver and love sharing our recommendations. Reflecting on these suggestions reminds us of all the great places in our backyard and the reasons we love living here. This guide summarizes our favorite Vancouver activities, which we think you’ll enjoy.

Exploring the City

One of the best ways to experience Vancouver is by wandering through its various neighborhoods. If you only have a couple of days, we recommend spending a good portion of your time walking around or using a bikeshare to explore, eat, and drink at your own pace. Sometimes the best way to discover a city is on your terms, rather than treating it like a checklist. However, visiting a new city can be overwhelming, so here are some ideas to get you started.

Stanley Park & The Seawall

Stanley Park is a must-visit, and it’s the crown jewel of Vancouver. There are many reasons to check it out: you can walk the trails through the woods, enjoy the lawns for sports and picnics, or relax on the beaches. Stroll through the gardens, catch views from Prospect Point and Lost Lagoon, or our favorite activity—bike or walk the Sea Wall and go for a sunset swim at Third Beach. Don’t forget to grab a hot dog or ice cream.

While the most popular section of the Sea Wall is around Stanley Park, you can ride from the Convention Centre in downtown Coal Harbour to Science World, then continue to Granville Island and Kitsilano. From there, you can follow mostly separated bike routes to Jericho Beach, the Spanish Banks, and up to UBC. It’s a fantastic ride and a great way to see some of the city’s best sights. Vancouver’s bikeshare program, Mobi, is convenient, with bikes parked all over the city. Traditional rental places, especially near Stanley Park and the Convention Centre, are also plentiful.

Beyond the City

While Vancouver is a fantastic city, sometimes the best experiences are found just outside of it. Its proximity to ocean beaches, isolated islands, temperate rainforests, and rugged mountain backcountry make it a perfect base for exploring some of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes. If you’re looking to venture out of the city, check out our Vancouver Adventure Guide for more ideas.