Top 10 Vancouver Attractions You Need To Do

A trip to Vancouver Canada is not just about exploring the city itself, but also about the nearby escapes to nature.

That’s why I included both city and nature activities in my top Vancouver attractions.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

How To Get To The Top Things To Do In Vancouver?

Vancouver city is small and very easy to navigate. The downtown area is so small that you can walk almost everywhere you need to go.

But if you aren’t into walking, the city also has a good public transit system that includes both buses and (sky)trains. You can plan your route with Translink here.

If you would like to experience some Vancouver nature (which I highly recommend), you will most likely need a car. Or depending on where you’re going, you might be able to take a shuttle or even book an organized tour.

You can see Viator organized tours around Vancouver here.

Top Vancouver Attractions

1. Visit Stanley Park (& Bike Around!)

Stanley Park is Vancouver’s largest city park, it’s actually bigger than Central Park in New York City.

Don’t believe me? I have the stats to prove it! Stanley Park is 1000 acres, making it one fifth bigger than Central Park, which is only 840 acres.

I would set aside an entire day to explore Stanley Park, there are SO many Vancouver attractions here. is have so many activities in this giant park that you can easily spend a whole day here.

You want to come here on a nice day, that way you can either walk or bike around the Stanley Park Seawall Path. The park is almost entirely surrounded by water (the English Bay and Vancouver Harbour on either side), with a city and mountainous skyline views in the distance.

The entire route around the park is 9 km, which would take you about two to three hours to walk, or one hour to bike the entire way.

But if you aren’t interested in going around the Stanley Park Seawall Path, or it’s raining, you can also escape inside to the Vancouver Aquarium, visit their website here.

Points of Interest Around Stanley Park Seawall Path – Vancouver Canada

There are so many places to stop on the Stanley Park Seawall Path that I’ll just share my favourites!

You don’t want to miss the Brockton Point Lighthouse and the Totem Poles. You will have to go slightly of course to see the Totem Poles, but not by too much.

Continuing along the path, stop at S.S. Empress of Japan Figurehead Replica.

Be sure to look up at you bike underneath the Lions Gate Bridge and then pass the Prospect Point Lighthouse.

Around the bend, the landscape begins to change and you’ll encounter some beaches, like Third Beach, where you can even stop for a break! And you’ll pass by Siwash Rock sticking out from the water.

P.S. If you decide to bike, there are a few bike rental shops just before the entrance to Stanley Park on Denman Street, for example, Yes Cycle Bike Rental. Or you can book an organized bike tour around Stanley Park here. It’s also mandatory in Vancouver to wear a helmet, so if you’re uneasy about using their helmets, like me, be sure to bring a hat or bandana to wear underneath, like this one from Amazon!

2. Top Things To Do In Vancouver: Eat Sushi

Vancouver British Columbia has the benefit of being along the coast, which means they get a lot of fresh fish – perfect for sushi!

You can get delicious fresh sushi even at the cheapest restaurants in Vancouver! And then if you’re willing to pay a bit more it just gets better.

I didn’t even like raw fish before I visited but forced myself to try some in Vancouver. Let’s just say I was pleasantly surprised!

So even if you’re not a big sushi eater (I definitely wasn’t), you have to try it at least once. And like I said, you don’t have to break the bank to get good sushi here which is very nice.

3. Walk Around Gastown In Downtown Vancouver Canada

Gastown is Old Vancouver, and one of the top things to do in Vancouver! Instead of high rise buildings, you’re greeted with small Victorian style architecture in Gastown.

You’ll also find local shopping boutiques, souvenir shops, and indie art galleries. But what shocked me the most was that the boutiques weren’t all incredibly over-priced, and I was actually able to afford some things.

Gastown is also a perfect spot to come for lunch with local eateries.

But! The main attraction in Gastown Vancouver is actually a clock! It’s not just any clock but a whistling steam clock, that you guessed it, whistles to tell time! You can find it on the corner of Cambie and Water Street.

4. Explore Downtown Vancouver (Robson Street)

Just because downtown Vancouver is small, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth exploring.

It’s actually very nice because you have small town vibes in a city! So it’s worth walking around downtown Vancouver, and one of the best streets to do that is Robson Street!

You’ll have all the best downtown restaurants and shopping scene along this street.

5. Go To A Local Brewery (Or A Few) In Vancouver Canada

As I said, Vancouver is more about small town vibes in a city. So instead of going to any pub and getting any beer, head to a local Vancouver Microbrewery.

Vancouver Canada has such a large craft beer scene that there’s an entire district dedicated to it in East Vancouver. In fact, it’s now nicknamed Yeast Van (get it!).  

I will admit, it’s not the nicest part of town, but it is convenient to get around once you’re there and go bar hopping because they’re all within walking distance of each other!

Click here to see is my recommended Yeast Van brewery tour, but if you’re worried about drinking and driving, you can also book an organized tour, like this Vancouver Beer tour on Viator.

P.S. Have fun tasting all the beers on your Vancouver brewery guide with my beer tasting journal on Etsy!

6. What To Do In Vancouver: Spend The Afternoon On Granville Island

Granville Island is a peninsula across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver. Although the island looks quite small there’s shockingly a lot to do here!

For starters, they have an indoor market where you’ll find jewelry, to fresh produce, and tea!

There’s also a big art scene on Granville Island. Head to one of the official galleries, or wander through the island spotting the different outdoor wall art. 

And because this is Vancouver British Columbia, they even have their own brewery. So you can pick up a pint (or a flight to taste) after a successful day of shopping.

7. Admire The Skyline View Of & Around Vancouver Canada!

Vancouver is one of the most incredible cities I’ve been to because of it’s proximity to nature.

Even when you’re in the city itself, you’re surrounded by giant mountains, making for amazing views and that constant connection!

The main place to go for the best 360 degree view is the Vancouver Lookout in the harbour centre (a skyscraper in Downtown Vancouver!).

But if you want to see the mountains with a skyline view of the city, head to Queen Elizabeth Park.

8. Hang Out & Watch Sunset At English Bay Beach

One of the top things to do in Vancouver is sit back, relax with a beer, and watch the sunset on the beach.

And that’s exactly what you’ll do at the English Bay Beach!

Of course, you can go to the Engish Bay Beach for the beach, but really you’ll want to come here for sunset. Either walk along the beach (the Stanley Park Seawall continues here!), or go to a restaurant with a view.

We went to The Three Brits Public House, ordered a drink and just watched the sun set across the street!

9. Explore Lynn Canyon Park (Alt. To Capilano Suspension Bridge)

A very popular nature spot from Vancouver is the Capilano Suspension Bridge. But a less touristy, more local spot is Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver, which is where I went!

Lynn Canyon Park is a tad further than the Capilano suspension bridge, but it’s still only a 30 minute drive max!

Lynn Canyon is a nature park with a river running through a canyon and, the main attraction, a suspension bridge to cross it! Just don’t look down, it’s quite a big drop to the river below.

It’s a great place to go for a hike, take a dip in the freezing cold glacier water, and have a much-needed break from city life.

Find out more on their website here.

P.S. If you don’t have a car, you can book a shuttle with an entrance ticket to the Capilano Suspension Bridge here. Or you can actually take public transport to Lynn Canyon Park, here’s how. 

10. For Rainy Days In Vancouver British Columbia: Fly Over Canada!

Fly Over Canada is a virtual reality 4D experience (almost like a roller coaster).

You’re “flying” through the air, above Canada. They show you the main hotspots and how beautiful Canada really is.

The price is a bit steep for this attraction (30$ for 25 minutes) but I’d say it’s definitely worth it to do at least once, and it’s perfect to stay dry on one of Vancouver’s many rainy days!

Find more information here.

Bonus! Go On A Day Trip To Whistler B.C.

Whistler is about an hour and a half away from Vancouver by car, but it’s definitely worth the drive.

Whistler is home to the Whistler and Blackcomb mountain, and is the biggest ski resort in North America. So needless to say it’s a must do, especially in the winter!

But even if you don’t ski or snowboard, or it’s the off season, there’s still no shortage of activities at Whistler.

In Whistler itself, there’s shopping and restaurants. But you should really go up the mountain, even if you don’t hike or ski, just take the gondola…

You can either buy a lift ticket to ride the Gondola to the second highest peak. Or you can go on Peak2Peak which takes you from Whistler mountain to Blackcomb mountain.

This attraction is typically closed during the low season, so double check on their website if’s open when you want to go. 

Or if you feel like being pampered, relax at the surreal Scandinavian Spa in the mountains. 

P.S. If you don’t have a car in Vancouver Canada, WhistlerRides offers shuttles from Vancouver to Whistler, see updated prices here. Or you can book an organized tour with Viator here.

Where To Stay In Vancouver Canada: Hotel Recommendations

We stayed at an Airbnb close to Gastown in Vancouver, so it wasn’t directly in the city centre, but nothing in Vancouver is real that far (especially with public transit!).

If you’re interested in an apartment in Gastown, stay at Full Throttle on Plum Guide. It’s a fully furnished rustic apartment with a private parking spot and shared outdoor spaces! See availability and room rates here.

Looking for a boutique luxury hotel? Stay at Vancouver Opus Hotel in Yaletown, a trendy neighbourhood just outside the city centre and close to Granville Island. They offer bikes to guests, and free valet parking to green cars! See availability and room rates here.

Opt for a truly unique stay at the Hotel Granville Island literally on Granville Island – you can’t get a better location than being on the Island itself! See availability and room rates here.

For more accommodation options on Plum Guide, click here. For more accommodation options on Booking, click here.

My Vancouver Must Haves On Amazon

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Last update on 2024-05-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API