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British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver

Stay 3 nights for the seawall, markets and North Shore mountains. We have mapped 2 sights, 2 activities and 2 outdoor spots here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Vancouver with friendsBrowse 10 places
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Places
10

2 See · 2 Do · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Shop

Curated routes
1

Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria

Best season
Jun – Sep

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

24°C / 75°F avg high

Coolest month
December

5°C / 40°F avg high

Wettest month
November

about 348 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Vancouver

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

2 sights worth building a day around across Gastown and UBC.

  • Gastown in VancouverPhoto: Lee Coursey from Decatur, GA · CC BY 2.0
    See

    Gastown

    Oldest neighbourhood of brick warehouses, the steam clock and restaurants on cobbled Water Street.

    • Gastown
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Museum of Anthropology at UBC in VancouverPhoto: Louis Yang · Google
    See

    Museum of Anthropology at UBC

    Arthur Erickson building holding Northwest Coast totem poles and Bill Reid carvings.

    • UBC
    • $$
    • 2 hr
    • Afternoon

Do

2 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across West End and North Vancouver.

  • Stanley Park Seawall in VancouverPhoto: Simon Blizzard · Google
    Do

    Stanley Park Seawall

    Ten-kilometre waterfront path around a forested park, with totem poles at Brockton Point.

    Tip Rent bikes on Denman St and ride counterclockwise as required.

    • West End
    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning
  • Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in VancouverPhoto: Markus Säynevirta · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Do

    Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

    137-metre bridge over a canyon plus treetop walkways and a cliffside walk.

    Tip Lynn Canyon's bridge nearby is free but shorter.

    • North Vancouver
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Morning

Outdoors

2 outdoor spots for fresh air across North Vancouver and Kitsilano.

  • Grouse Mountain in VancouverPhoto: Pburka at English Wikipedia · Public domain
    Outdoors

    Grouse Mountain

    Gondola to city-and-ocean views, grizzly refuge and the steep Grouse Grind hike.

    • North Vancouver
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Clear afternoon
  • Kitsilano Beach in VancouverPhoto: Monowar Hossain · Google
    Outdoors

    Kitsilano Beach

    Sandy city beach with mountain views and a long saltwater outdoor pool.

    • Kitsilano
    • Free
    • 2 hr
    • Sunset

Eat

Where we would book a table in Vancouver across Cambie and Coal Harbour.

  • Vij's in VancouverPhoto: Vij's · Google
    Eat

    Vij's

    Landmark Indian restaurant famous for lamb popsicles in fenugreek cream curry.

    • Cambie
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Dinner
  • Miku in VancouverPhoto: Miku Vancouver · Google
    Eat

    Miku

    Waterfront sushi restaurant known for flame-seared aburi oshi sushi.

    • Coal Harbour
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Vancouver in Chinatown.

  • The Keefer Bar in VancouverPhoto: The Keefer Bar · Google
    Drink

    The Keefer Bar

    Dim Chinatown cocktail bar using teas, herbs and apothecary-style tinctures in its drinks.

    Tip Weeknights before 9pm are calmer; weekends often have live music.

    • Chinatown
    • $$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Evening

Shop

Markets and shops worth the detour in Granville Island.

  • Granville Island Public Market in VancouverPhoto: Carbo Kuo (BYVoid) · Google
    Shop

    Granville Island Public Market

    Covered market under the bridge with fish, produce, bakeries and food stalls.

    Tip Take the tiny Aquabus ferry across False Creek.

    • Granville Island
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Late morning

How to fit Vancouver into a trip

Vancouver is stop 1 of 3 on our Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route. Follow it as-is or lift Vancouver into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Vancouver month by month

Average daily highs run from 5°C / 40°F in December to 24°C / 75°F in July. November is the wettest month, with about 348 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Vancouver weather and the best time to visit →

Near Vancouver

8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

Vancouver questions, answered

How many days do you need in Vancouver?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Vancouver. On our Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 19 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Vancouver best known for?

Stay 3 nights for the seawall, markets and North Shore mountains. Standouts on our list: Gastown (Oldest neighbourhood of brick warehouses, the steam clock and restaurants on cobbled Water Street); Museum of Anthropology at UBC (Arthur Erickson building holding Northwest Coast totem poles and Bill Reid carvings); Grouse Mountain (Gondola to city-and-ocean views, grizzly refuge and the steep Grouse Grind hike).

When is the best time to visit Vancouver?

Our Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route is best Jun – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (24°C / 75°F), the coolest in December (5°C / 40°F) and the most rain in November (about 348 mm).

What are the best things to do in Vancouver?

Start with Stanley Park Seawall, Gastown, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Grouse Mountain. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 shop.

Where should a group eat in Vancouver?

Our picks: Vij's (Cambie); Miku (Coal Harbour).

What is near Vancouver?

The closest destinations in our guides are San Juan Island (about 84 km / 52 mi), Whistler (about 93 km / 58 mi) and Victoria (about 97 km / 60 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Vancouver with your crew

Open the Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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