Last updated on September 13th, 2026
False Creek
Visit Vancouver
Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. Some of the factors influencing this include the cleanliness of the city, the diversity of its attractions, the lovely beaches, the mild climate, the fabulous water and mountain views, the variety of dining options and the accessibility of public transit. People in Vancouver exhibit respect toward each other in an abundance of nationalities and languages.
Visit Vancouver – Waterfront
Canada Place is distinguished by its “white sails” architecture and is home to the cruise ship terminal. You don’t have to be a cruise passenger to enjoy Canada Place though. You can walk along its public decks and also see the FlyOver Canada interactive experience.
You will find lots of great restaurants and high end hotels with great water and mountain views here. Canada Place is a great location to begin your Vancouver visit.
Canada Place, Vancouver Harbor
Visit Vancouver – Downtown
Vancouver Lookout – 360 degree views of the city from this downtown tower. Have dinner in the revolving restaurant.
Yaletown used to be a warehouse district, but it has become a trendy modern area with high rise condos along the water. Yaletown has lots of restaurants and bars for busy people to spend their time after work.
Robson St – Stroll the street where everyone accumulates in the downtown core. Shops stay open late into the evening every day to accommodate the crowds.
Gastown – Cobble stone lanes and the world’s first steam clock still operates. Don’t wander too much farther east of Gastown though, as you will end up in an area of town called the east end, which is not a safe area of town.
Chinatown is third largest in North America. Visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the Sam Kee Building (world’s narrowest commercial building) and the Chinese Cultural Centre.
Kitsilano Beach – a great beach on English Bay with shops and restaurants nearby. Enjoy views of the city and the freighters waiting to enter the port.
Punjabi Market – five blocks located at Main and East 49th.
Stanley Park Seawall
Visit Vancouver – Stanley Park
Stanley Park is an extremely popular area for tourists and locals alike, with over 1,000 acres on the downtown waterfront. Stanley Park includes the Vancouver Aquarium, a waterpark, playground and a waterfront Seawall path. The views near the Vancouver Aquarium face the downtown skyline. This area is fabulous for views of the city at night too. As you travel to the north side of Stanley Park you get views of Burrard Inlet, the North Shore Mountains and the Lions Gate Bridge. On the western edge you look out toward Kitsilano Beach and the freighters in English Bay.
Totem Poles, Stanley Park, © Can Stock / payphoto
Don’t miss a host of attractions in addition to the Vancouver Aquarium, including the Totem Poles, the Brockton Point Lighthouse, Lost Lagoon, the HMCS Discovery Cairn, the Second Beach Swimming Pool, the Stanley Park Rose Garden, the Naval Museum at H.M.C.S. Discovery, the Hollow Tree and the Prospect Point Lookout. Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium will easily consume a full day of your time.
Burrard St Bridge, © Can Stock / Rigucci
The Seawall
A walk around Stanley Park on the Seawall pathway is 9 km (6 miles) and will take you over 2 hours, so consider jogging, biking or roller blading the Stanley Park Loop instead. Plus you can continue all the way east to Canada Place or west to Kitsilano Beach, Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks. The entire route is 28 km (17 miles), but near Jericho Beach you do have to make your way inland at times.
Science World, © Can Stock / sgoodwin4813
Science World
A very popular destination for children is Science World on False Creek. Kids love all the numerous interactive displays and will discover hours of enjoyment. Parents and grandparents will be exhausted long before their children are finished exploring this venue. You can easily access Science World without a car. Take the SkyTrain Expo Line to the Science World Station or arrive by water on either the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries that operate in False Creek.
Downtown Vancouver, © Can Stock / jpldesigns
Museums, Gardens & Theaters
- Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. See the Great Hall of Northwest Coast totem poles, the Raven and the First Men cedar sculpture, the Multiversity Galleries, Haida houses and totem poles on the museum grounds, and Arthur Erickson Place. Then cross the street to admire the UBC Rose Garden.
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Maritime Museum
- Bloedell Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park
- VanDusen Botanical Garden – try the hedge maze
- the Orpheum and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Granville Island Map
Visit Vancouver – Granville Island
Granville Island is a very popular 37 acre island next to the downtown core. The site has a well known public market, craft shops, galleries, a theater and restaurants. Children can enjoy the outdoor waterpark and the indoor Kids Market. The Kids Market includes an adventure zone, toy stores. You will also find open-air public spaces with street performers, making Granville Island one of the city’s top family destinations.
False Creek
While parking might be a challenge, there are lots of ways to get to Granville Island without using your car. The Aquabus and False Creek Ferries both stop at Granville Island. Just get off the Expo Line at Science World, the Canada Line at Yaletown or the Canada Line at Olympic Village. Then walk a short distance to a nearby ferry dock. You will find more information below about using the numerous tiny ferries on False Creek. The #50 Bus from Waterfront stops at Anderson Street and West 2nd Avenue, right in front of the famous Granville Island red neon sign.
The waterfront walk from Olympic Village Station to Granville Island is beautiful and very popular. You can also rent a Mobi bike for a one way ride along False Creek.
Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain is popular with tourists in the summer and local skiers in the winter. Choose the iconic Red Skyride option for your ascent. This gondola is much larger than the Blue Grouse Gondola and although you have to wait for it to fill up, you get to enjoy views of Vancouver and scream with your fellow passengers as the gondola sways over the tower near the summit. You can pay extra to ride on the open top of the Red Skyride. Watch below for locals doing the Grouse Grind by hiking up the steep mountain instead of taking the gondola. Take the Blue Grouse Gondola on the way back down. It’s smaller and runs continuously, so you don’t have to wait as long.
Grouse Mountain Skyride – mikecranephotography.com
At the top you will find lots of things to do in summer, including Grouse Mountain’s: gravity coaster, dual circuit zip lines, kids tree canopy adventure, bike park, grizzly bear habitat with resident rescue grizzlies, lumberjack show and live birds shows. Enjoy a meal at the Rusty Rail BBQ & Grill or more formal dining with a fabulous view at the Observatory. Head up even higher on the Peak Chairlift. In winter three chairlifts are available for skiing.
North Vancouver Snowfall, © Can Stock / GrahamT
During the summer a free shuttle bus operates from Canada Place at the downtown waterfront. If the free shuttle isn’t operating, you can still take the Seabus from Waterfront Station to the Lonsdale Quay and then connect with Bus #236 directly to Grouse Mountain.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Capilano Suspension Bridge
The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has a lot more than just a suspension bridge to offer visitors, but the admission is quite expensive. From 5-7 pm a discounted rate is offered and you can enjoy the lighting at dusk. Sometimes discounted tickets are available on PassForLess. The park includes their: Treetops Adventure, Cliff Walk, Living Forest, Raptors Ridge, Kia’palano indigenous centre and a kids activity centre. The suspension bridge is longer than a football field and sits 23 stories above the river. It is very wobbly, so expect quite the adrenaline rush if you are scared of heights. If you are able to handle the suspension bridge, try the Cliff Walk next, at 30 stories above the river.
In the summer Capilano offers ticket holders a free shuttle between Canada Place on the downtown waterfront. You will also find adequate paid parking for vehicles. If the shuttle isn’t running, ride the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay first and then take the #236 bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. That’s the same bus line that will also get you to the Grouse Mountain gondola.
Lynn Canyon Park
If you are looking for a hike in Vancouver that comes with its own free suspension bridge crossing, head to Lynn Canyon Park. The Suspension Bridge is only about a 5 minute hike down from the cafe at the top edge of the canyon. At the other side you can descend into the canyon by going left down to the 30 Foot Pool. Alternately you can descend to the right to the Twin Falls Bridge. Check the maps at the park for hours more hiking or use All Trails to plan an extended hike.
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
Increase your chances of getting a parking spot at Lynn Canyon Park by arriving as early and also by avoiding weekends. Consider taking an Uber to the Pipe Bridge and then finishing your hike with another Uber ride out from the Lynn Canyon Cafe parking lot area. Another option is the #228 Bus, which will get you from Lonsdale Quay to the Lynn Canyon parking lot in about 30 minutes.
Capilano or Lynn Canyon?
The experience at Capilano Suspension Bridge has been compared to a trip to Disneyland. The park is well thought out, clean and fun. There are good places to eat, nice activities for children and easy pathways. If you want a free suspension bridge and a real nature hike, head to Lynn Canyon instead. Most people agree that the river flowing under the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is the more beautiful.
Visit Vancouver – Getting There
The gateway to Vancouver is through Vancouver International Airport. From the airport, the Canada Line subway runs from directly from the airport to the Vancouver Harbour at the Waterfront Station in the heart of downtown. The fare is inexpensive and you can tap on and off with a credit card. The trip takes about 25 minutes. Cruise ship passengers who travel light, like Rick Steves, won’t need to bother buying a transfer from their cruise ship company. The trip on the Canada Line to the Canada Place Cruise Terminal is faster than taking a cab.
Stanley Park & Downtown, © Can Stock / Josefhanus
From the United States, vehicles can enter Canada at Blaine, Washington via the Peace Arch or the nearby Pacific Highway Truck Crossing. Personal vehicles are welcome at the truck crossing too, so pick the entry point with the shortest wait time.
You can also get to Vancouver from Vancouver Island by arriving at the Horseshoe Bay Terminal northwest of Vancouver or the Tsawwassen Terminal to the southwest of the city. Foot passengers at Tsawwassen can catch the #620 Express at the ferry and ride to Bridgeport Station by tapping on with a credit card. At the Bridgeport Station don’t tap off the bus, but catch the Canada Line SkyTrain by tapping on again. The Translink system automatically adjust this to a transfer. You always are forced tap off the Canada line at the end of your ride.
Visit Vancouver – Getting Around
Vancouver has a very good transit system, so you don’t really need your own vehicle to see many of the sights. If you aren’t confident, try a Big Bus Hop-on-Hop-Off instead. The backbone of the transit system are the two SkyTrain lines. Tourists can use the Canada line between the airport and Waterfront Station to reach Canada Place. Use the Expo Line to get from Waterfront Station to Science World Station. The SkyTrains always accept tap on & tap off by credit card. Ticket machines are located at every station if you need to buy tickets for members of your group who don’t have a credit card.
All the buses in Vancouver also accept tap with credit cards. You never need to tap off of buses though. The #620 Express Bus links the Bridgeport Canada Line Station with the Tsawassen Ferry. The transit system also includes the SeaBus which runs across Vancouver Harbour between Waterfront Station & Lonsdale Quay. The SeaBus is tap on too. Kids 12 and under are free on SkyTrains, Buses and the SeaBus.
False Creek Ferries
Two companies operate the tiny ferries that you will see traveling up and down False Creek: Aquabus and False Creek Ferries. These are a fun adventure for kids and a great way to get to Granville Island. They both have similar pricing and although they make almost all the same stops, there are some differences. Only False Creek Ferries stops at the Aquatic Centre (Sunset Beach) and the Maritime Museum. Plus False Creek Ferries has multi-colored routes, so they don’t stop at all the docks in one sequence. Only Aquabus stops at Hornby Street and Aquabus stops at all the docks in one sequence.
When any ferry arrives at a dock, the captain will always ask you what your destination happens to be. You can pay with a credit card after you board. If you buy return tickets, pay attention to whether you will be returning on a rainbow colored Aquabus or a blue and white False Creek Ferry, since they do not honor each others tickets.
Stanley Park and Canada Place
Visit Vancouver – Hotels
Along the Waterfront you will find upper end hotels with views across Burrard Inlet to the North Shore Mountains. The Pan Pacific Vancouver sits directly opposite Canada Place. The Fairmont Waterfront has an outdoor heated swimming pool on the third floor.
For intermediate pricing try the area around Broadway-City Hall on the Canada Line SkyTrain. You will find the Holiday Inn Vancouver-Centre Broadway here. Another good intermediate choice is the River Rock Resort and Casino, which has easy access to downtown and the airport via the Canada Line Bridgeport Station.
If you are looking for economy pricing, head to the area around Richmond-Brighouse on the Canada Line. Hotels in this area offer the lowest pricing and often include a shuttle to the Vancouver Airport.
Vancouver Weather
Vancouver weather has two distinct seasons. The dry season extends from May to September with the best weather occurring in July and August. That makes summer the height of the tourist season and draws visitors who want to enjoy the comfortable summer temperatures.
Noordam Stern Pool Deck, Vancouver
The rainy season extends from November to February. During this period temperatures can reach highs of 50 F or 10 C with heavy rainfall. Clear skies in winter are a sign of nearby Arctic air and temperatures can drop slightly below freezing. Snowfall is extremely rare in the city, but does regularly cover the tops of the mountains for skiers.
From Vancouver – Visit Whistler
Take a bus or rent a car to reach visit Whistler, which is 1.5 hours north of Vancouver on the Sea to Sky Highway. Spend some time enjoying the pedestrian areas of the village, as well as the Whistler / Blackcomb and Peak to Peak Gondolas. Whistler is an international ski destination and was the host location for portions of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Expand your journey to Whistler in your own vehicle by visiting some of these sights along the way: the Sea to Sky Gondola near Squamish, the Britannia Mine Museum, Porteau Cove Provincial Park, Tantalus Lookout, Shannon Falls, Brandywine Falls and the Whistler Train Wreck. Pull out on Highway #99 northbound halfway between the Sea to Sky Gondola entrance and the main Stawamus Chief parking lot in order to spot rock climbers on the Grand Wall of the Stawamus Chief (“the Chief”).
From Vancouver – Visit Victoria
If you want to visit Victoria on Vancouver Island inexpensively, take the Canada Line to Bridgeport. Then transfer to the express bus #620 to the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. At the ferry terminal, BC Ferries provides hourly summer service to Swartz Bay near Victoria. Once you arrive in Swartz Bay, the local Victoria express bus is always waiting for the ferry and will take you to the inner harbour in Victoria. The entire trip can be made by tapping your credit card.
Victoria, Oak Bay Golf Course
Enjoy the 1.5 hour ferry trip through the Gulf Islands (3 hours return) on your journey and then spend time in the inner harbour of Victoria. If you intend to visit the Butchart Gardens, you are probably better off booking a tour. You can also take your vehicle on the ferry and stay over night instead. Make ferry reservations for your vehicle with BC Ferries online to avoid long line ups at the ferry.
Visit Vancouver – Background
Vancouver is named after Captain George Vancouver, who explored its bays in 1792. The Coast Salish First Nations were well established in the area at that time. The first European settlement was at Gastown in 1867. When Vancouver became the Pacific terminal for the trans Canadian railway in the late 1800s, the population and the economy boomed. Today that same railway system takes tourists from Vancouver into the Canadian Rockies. In 2010 Vancouver hosted the Olympics. Many venues were built within the city but Whistler was also a major part of its hosting bid. Immigration has significantly influenced Vancouver and more than half of its residents speak English as their second language.
