Things to Do in Vancouver
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Vancouver, Canada, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Vancouver. Mountains and ocean both visible from downtown, often on the same afternoon if the weather cooperates, a west coast city consistently ranked among the world's most liveable, home to one of the largest urban parks in North America, and host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, split between the city and a nearby mountain resort. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Vancouver: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits deserve the walk. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Vancouver's Mountains-and-Ocean Setting
Vancouver is frequently ranked among the world's most liveable cities, partly due to its combination of mountains and ocean, skiing and beach walks are both realistically possible within the same day here, an unusual geography by most cities' standards, few major cities anywhere let you access serious ski terrain and a proper ocean beach within such a short distance of each other.
Grouse Mountain, reachable by gondola from within the city, offers both skiing in winter and hiking trails the rest of the year, a great option for sweeping views over the whole city and out toward the ocean.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–10pm
Getting there About 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver
Stanley Park
Vancouver's Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, located on a peninsula near downtown, a properly huge green space sitting right at the edge of the city's dense downtown core, allow half a day at least, the seawall path circling the park's perimeter offers roughly 9 kilometres of walking or cycling with sweeping ocean and mountain views throughout.
It's a good idea to rent a bike for a fuller loop of the seawall, considerably more efficient than walking the whole route, and the park's totem poles and old-growth forest sections reward a stop along the way.
Best time Any time; morning or evening for calmer paths
Address Stanley Park, Vancouver
The 2010 Winter Olympics
Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010, events were split between the city itself and the nearby mountain resort of Whistler, an interesting bit of history to know before you visit, several Olympic venues remain in active use today, including facilities at Whistler, roughly two hours from the city, a solid day trip or longer stay if winter sports interest you specifically.
The Olympic Cauldron, still standing near the downtown waterfront, makes for a good brief stop for context on this significant recent chapter of the city's history, and it combines nicely with a wider waterfront walk.
Address Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver
Best time to visit Vancouver
June through September gives the most comfortable, driest weather for the amount of walking this list involves, considerably less rain than the rest of the year.
Vancouver's famous rain runs roughly October through May, pack accordingly if you visit then, though the mountains offer real skiing during these wetter, colder months if that specifically interests you.
Getting around Vancouver
Vancouver's SkyTrain covers key routes, and central areas, including Stanley Park and the downtown waterfront, are walkable.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Vancouver worth visiting?
- Yes, easily, few cities anywhere combine mountains and ocean this seamlessly, Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain together give real access to both within a short distance of downtown.
- How many days do you need in Vancouver?
- Three days covers Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain, and the downtown waterfront comfortably.
- Is Vancouver expensive?
- Yes, one of the pricier Canadian cities, particularly for accommodation and dining, though Stanley Park itself remains free.
- What is Vancouver famous for?
- Being frequently ranked among the world's most liveable cities for its combination of mountains and ocean, Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, and hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
