Discover the Best of Vancouver Canada: 2024 Guide
Vancouver, Canada, is a city that effortlessly combines natural beauty with vibrant urban life. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains, this bustling metropolis offers a diverse range of activities for all types of travelers. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie, or a culture lover, Vancouver Canada has something for everyone. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you explore the best of what this incredible city has to offer.
Planning Your Trip to Vancouver Canada
How Many Days to Spend in Vancouver
You need at least one full day to visit Vancouver, ideally 2. One full day will allow you to see all the top sites and get a quick taste of the food scene. Two days would be better to have more time for restaurants, nightlife, and other activities. Whale watching and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park can take up half days each, so if you’re tight on time, you may need to pick one over the other.
At least 1 full day, ideally 2 or more.
Best Time to Visit Vancouver
The activities Vancouver has to offer varies by season, so there isn’t necessarily a “best time” to visit. We opted to visit in the summer, with the warmest weather as we planned on walking and biking around. However, springtime features cherry blossoms, fall features beautiful fall foliage, and winter offers great skiing in the nearby mountains. Take your pick!
Visit in summer for the warmest weather, spring for cherry blossoms, fall for foliage, or winter for skiing.
How to Get Around Vancouver
Vancouver, Canada, is known for its accessibility and easy-to-navigate layout. Here are some tips on how to get around:
1. Walking (recommended)
One of the best ways to explore Vancouver, Canada, is on foot or by bike. If you stay in Gastown or Chinatown, you can easily walk to many of the top spots.
2. Biking (recommended)
Biking is also a popular way to get around, with many dedicated bike lanes and paths, including the famous Seawall that loops around Stanley Park. You can rent bikes from several locations around the city, making it easy to explore at your own pace.
We recommend renting bikes from Cycle City. They also have a very convenient guided tour of Vancouver that takes you to the top spots in the city.
3. Public Transit
Vancouver’s public transit system, operated by TransLink, is efficient and easy to use. The SkyTrain, Vancouver’s rapid transit system, connects downtown with neighboring cities and the Vancouver International Airport. Buses and SeaBus (a ferry service) provide additional options for getting around. A Compass Card is a convenient way to pay for transit fares and can be used on all forms of public transportation in Vancouver, Canada.
4. Driving
While driving is not necessary in downtown Vancouver, it can be useful if you plan to explore areas outside the city, such as the North Shore mountains or nearby Whistler. Parking can be expensive and difficult to find in the downtown area.
We opted to stick with bikes, walking, and ubers and had no problems getting around.
Where to Stay in Vancouver, Canada
Choosing the right place to stay is essential to making the most of your visit to Vancouver, Canada. Here are some of the best neighborhoods to consider:
1. Gastown If you want to be in the heart of the action, Gastown is a fantastic choice. This historic neighborhood is home to some of Vancouver’s trendiest bars, restaurants, and shops. Its central location makes it easy to explore other parts of the city, and the area’s cobblestone streets and historic buildings add to its charm.
2. Chinatown Staying in Chinatown offers a unique cultural experience in Vancouver, Canada. This vibrant neighborhood is known for its rich history, bustling markets, and delicious cuisine. Accommodations in Chinatown range from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels. Staying here also puts you within walking distance of Gastown and downtown Vancouver, making it a convenient base for exploring the city.
3. Yaletown/Downtown For a more upscale experience, consider staying in Yaletown or “Downtown”. Yaletown is also home to some of Vancouver’s most luxurious hotels, offering stunning views of False Creek and easy access to the Seawall. It’s still walking distance to Gastown and Chinatown, where we recommend spending most of your time.
Google Map of Vancouver Canada
As with all or our travel destinations, we save all of our spots in a convenient Google Map. You can find all of our maps on our Travel Maps page. Find the map of Vancouver Canada below:
Top Things to Do in Vancouver, Canada
1. Enjoy the Cultural Food Scene of Vancouver
No trip to Vancouver is complete without experiencing the unforgettable food Vancouver Canada has to offer. Vancouver is known for it’s blend of asian, French Canadian, and western cuisine. Coming from Chicago, we get plenty of Italian, French, and western food, so we prioritized tasting some of the best asian cuisine the city can offer. Outside of our recommendations, anything with over 4.2 starts and 1000+ reviews on Google is a solid choice, as is anything on the Vancouver Michelin Guide.
Here are our Vancouver food favorites
- Bao Bei: this Chinese Brasserie (Taiwanese/Chinese & French fusion) is one of our top 10 restaurant meals (of our lives?) thus far. The flavors were unique, complementary, and unforgettable. The menu changes slightly, but the beef cheek bao with raclette (mantou buns), minced lamb sandwich (shao bing), and fried eggplant are some of the greatest dishes we’ve ever had.
- Phnom Penh: this Cambodian and Vietnamese spot has won a ton of awards and made it to the Michellin Bib Gourmand list in 2023. They’re known for their fried chicken wings, but we were very happy with their beef stew hot pot and Amok (steamed fish in coconut milk).
2. Explore Stanley Park
Stanley Park is Vancouver’s most iconic landmark, offering over 1,000 acres of lush greenery, scenic trails, and stunning waterfront views. Whether you’re walking, cycling, or even rollerblading, the Seawall that encircles the park provides breathtaking views of the city, mountains, and ocean. Here are some don’t-miss spots to checkout in Stanley Park:
- Totem Poles
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Lost Lagoon
- Stanley Park Seawall
Tips: Rent bikes to go around the park as this will be faster and way more fun! This guided tour by Cycle City is a perfect way to hit all the highlights of Vancouver.
3. Experience the Thrill of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
A quick trip north of Vancouver, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a must. This park features the famous Capilano Suspension Bridge, which stretches 450 feet across and 230 feet above the Capilano River. The park also offers Treetops Adventure and the Cliffwalk, which provide unique perspectives of the lush rainforest below. We also enjoyed the animal/critter exhibits featuring a couple hawks and a banana slug!
Tips: go early to avoid crowds and bring snacks or you’ll have to wait in line for some Otter Balls (mini pancakes) or Bearly Waffles.
4. Wander (and eat & drink!) Through Gastown
Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, known for its cobblestone streets, historic architecture, and trendy boutiques. The area is home to the famous Gastown Steam Clock, which draws visitors with its quaint charm. As you explore Gastown, you’ll find an array of stylish shops, art galleries, and cozy cafés. Gastown is also a great place to experience Vancouver’s nightlife, with a variety of bars and restaurants offering everything from craft cocktails to gourmet cuisine.
If you’re interested in a guided tour, we highly recommend this historic Gastown food tour which “walks” you through the Gastown history and food (plus alcohol) scene.
5. Discover Chinatown & the Chinese Garden
Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the largest in North America and a vibrant part of the city’s cultural fabric. As you wander through the bustling streets, you’ll find a mix of traditional Chinese markets, herbal medicine shops, and modern eateries. Your main destination in Chinatown should be Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which features a very beautiful and peaceful traditional Chinese Garden with complimentary tea sampling.
If you love food, we highly recommend this Wok Around Chinatown food & walking tour that gets you the perfect mix of walking, history, food – and includes a guided tour of the gardens.
6. Visit Granville Island and Public Market
Granville Island is a food lover’s paradise, known for its bustling Public Market and vibrant arts scene. The island is home to numerous artisan shops, galleries, and theaters, making it a cultural hub in Vancouver, Canada. The Public Market is the heart of the island, offering fresh produce, gourmet foods, and unique crafts. It’s the perfect place to sample local delicacies or pick up a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Granville Island also offers stunning views of the city skyline, making it a favorite spot for both locals and tourists.
While at the Public Market, be sure to stop by Lee’s Donuts, one of the most famous donut shops in Vancouver. The churro donut is delicious (but soaked in oil) and the ube coconut is super unique and fluffy.
If you want to combine a walking tour with some awesome food samples, we highly recommend this guided food tour of Granville Island.
7. Go Whale Watching from Vancouver
Vancouver’s coastal location makes it one of the best places in the world for whale watching. From spring to fall, you can embark on a whale watching tour to see orcas, humpback whales, and gray whales in their natural habitat. Many tours depart from downtown Vancouver, making it a convenient and unforgettable experience. We recommend this half-day tour.
8. Join a Food Tour of Vancouver Canada
Vancouver’s culinary scene is as diverse as its population, and there’s no better way to experience it than by joining a food tour. From the fresh seafood of the Pacific Northwest to the rich flavors of Asian cuisine, Vancouver’s food scene is a reflection of its multicultural community.
Here are a couple food tour options:
- Granville Island Food Tour: if you want to sample all the best choices from the Public Market (including Lee’s Donuts!)
- Gastown Historic Food Tour: good way to taste food & alcohol while getting a historic tour of Gastown
- A Wok Around Chinatown: perfect way to see both the Chinese Gardens and eat your way through Chinatown.
Additional Things to Do in Vancouver Canada
If you need some more things to fill your time, or truly don’t want to miss out on anything the city has to offer. Here is a list of some more things you can do while in Vancouver, that didn’t make our top 8:
- Vancouver Lookout: like any other tall city building with a lookout or rotating restaurant (CN Tower, Space Needle, etc) – the Vancouver Lookout offers sweeping views of the city, for about $13-15 USD/person. Or, opt to have a meal at the restaurant or quick drink at the bar (no ticket required).
- Street Art: if you head to the corner of 4th Ave and Main Street and head south, each avenue will feature a different street art mural. We recommend doing this as part of a bike tour of the city.
- Grouse Mountain Skyride: the longest tramway in North America, with sweeping views of BC.
- Junction Public Market: cool concept of having different food and merchandise vendors operating out of recycled shipping containers. This market is open during the summer, right by the Vancouver sign.
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