24 Hours in Vancouver
A 1,000-acre park bigger than Central Park, a swaying bridge 70 metres above a rainforest canyon, and a public market built into a former industrial site, one proper day where the mountains meet the ocean.
Vancouver packs an unusual amount into a single day, an enormous urban park, a rainforest canyon crossing unlike anywhere else nearby, and a public market that’s become the heart of the city’s food scene. Here’s how I’d spend 24 hours here.
Stanley Park
Start at Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, its 1,000 acres of coastal rainforest ringed by the Seawall, a paved path with genuinely sweeping water and mountain views. Rent a bike for the full 8.8-kilometre loop, or walk the section near the totem poles at Brockton Point, a proper highlight of the park.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Head to North Vancouver for the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a 137-metre-long bridge swaying 70 metres above the Capilano River, alongside the Treetops Adventure and the cliffside Cliffwalk. A free shuttle runs from several downtown stops, included with admission.
Getting there Free shuttle from downtown, included with admission
Granville Island and seafood
End the day at Granville Island, a former industrial site turned public market, artisan shops and waterfront restaurants. Fresh seafood is widely a Vancouver signature, a proper spot on the island or nearby Yaletown makes for a genuinely satisfying end to the day.
Getting around
Stanley Park and downtown are genuinely walkable or bikeable, most central sights sit within a comfortable ride of each other. Capilano requires the free shuttle or a car, and a False Creek ferry or short walk gets you to Granville Island.
If you only have time for one thing
Make it Stanley Park. It’s the single most defining feature of the city, and the Seawall is a proper introduction to Vancouver’s mountains-meet-ocean setting before you’ve even left the park.
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.
