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Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route inspiration

Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria

Sea to Sky peaks and island gardens

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8 days through Vancouver, Whistler, Victoria.

Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria is a 8-day curated route with 3 destinations and 29 places to eat, see, and do. Preview stops and timing, then plan it in TripsCircle.

  1. 1
    Vancouver on the Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route

    Destination 01

    Vancouver

    10 places

    Stay 3 nights for the seawall, markets and North Shore mountains.

    • Stanley Park Seawall near VancouverPhoto: Simon Blizzard · Google

      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.

      DoWest EndFree2.5 hrMorning
    • Granville Island Public Market near VancouverPhoto: Carbo Kuo (BYVoid) · Google

      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.

      ShopGranville Island$1.5 hrLate morning
    • Gastown near VancouverPhoto: Lee Coursey from Decatur, GA · CC BY 2.0

      Gastown

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

      SeeGastownFree1.5 hrEvening
    • Museum of Anthropology at UBC near VancouverPhoto: Louis Yang · Google

      Museum of Anthropology at UBC

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

      SeeUBC$$2 hrAfternoon
    • Capilano Suspension Bridge Park near VancouverPhoto: Markus Säynevirta · CC BY-SA 4.0

      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.

      DoNorth Vancouver$$$2 hrMorning
    • Grouse Mountain near VancouverPhoto: Pburka at English Wikipedia · Public domain

      Grouse Mountain

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

      OutdoorsNorth Vancouver$$$3 hrClear afternoon
    • Kitsilano Beach near VancouverPhoto: Monowar Hossain · Google

      Kitsilano Beach

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

      OutdoorsKitsilanoFree2 hrSunset
    • Vij's near VancouverPhoto: Vij's · Google

      Vij's

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

      EatCambie$$$1.5 hrDinner
    • Miku near VancouverPhoto: Miku Vancouver · Google

      Miku

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

      EatCoal Harbour$$$1.5 hrLunch
    • The Keefer Bar near VancouverPhoto: The Keefer Bar · Google

      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.

      DrinkChinatown$$1.5 hrEvening
  2. 2
    Whistler on the Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route

    Destination 02

    Whistler

    10 places

    Two nights fits the gondolas, a lake day and the Sea to Sky stops on the way up.

  3. 3
    Victoria on the Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria route

    Destination 03

    Victoria

    9 places

    Stay 2 nights for the harbour, museums and gardens; the city is compact and walkable.

    • Inner Harbour near VictoriaPhoto: ConifersOfGnarnia · CC BY 4.0

      Inner Harbour

      Harbour framed by the Parliament Buildings and the Fairmont Empress, busy with floatplanes and buskers.

      Tip Return after dark when the Parliament is lit up.

      SeeDowntownFree60 minEvening
    • Royal BC Museum near VictoriaPhoto: JP Anderson · Google

      Royal BC Museum

      Provincial museum of natural and human history, including First Peoples galleries.

      Tip Some galleries are being renewed; check what is open.

      SeeDowntown$$2.5 hrAfternoon
    • Butchart Gardens near VictoriaPhoto: w4nn3s · CC BY-SA 3.0

      Butchart Gardens

      Century-old gardens in a former quarry, with the Sunken Garden and summer fireworks.

      Tip Go at opening or after 3 pm to miss tour buses.

      OutdoorsBrentwood Bay$$$3 hrMorning
    • Craigdarroch Castle near VictoriaPhoto: Julio Montes · Google

      Craigdarroch Castle

      1890 Victorian mansion of a coal baron, with stained glass and period rooms.

      SeeRockland$$75 minMorning
    • Fisherman's Wharf near VictoriaPhoto: Lady Lexyluxy · Google

      Fisherman's Wharf

      Floating homes and seafood stands; harbour seals often surface for scraps.

      SeeJames Bay$60 minAfternoon
    • Dallas Road Waterfront near VictoriaPhoto: Mariko Ishikawa · Google

      Dallas Road Waterfront

      Clifftop walk with Olympic Mountain views, ending near Mile Zero of the Trans-Canada.

      OutdoorsJames BayFree1.5 hrSunset
    • Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress near VictoriaPhoto: Fairmont Empress · Google

      Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress

      Long-running tea service in the Lobby Lounge of the 1908 harbourfront hotel.

      Tip Book ahead; smart casual dress.

      EatDowntown$$$$2 hrAfternoon
    • Red Fish Blue Fish near VictoriaPhoto: Negin E · Google

      Red Fish Blue Fish

      Takeout fish-and-chip shack built from a shipping container on the harbour pier.

      Tip Expect a line at lunch; eat on the dock.

      EatDowntown$$45 minLunch
    • Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub near VictoriaPhoto: Lynn Stout · Google

      Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

      Canada's oldest brewpub, opened in 1984, with harbour views and house ales.

      DrinkVic West$$1.5 hrEvening

The moments that shape this trip.

Planning Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria.

Begin in Vancouver with a bike loop of the Stanley Park Seawall, lunch at Granville Island Public Market and an evening in Gastown. Drive the Sea to Sky Highway past the Sea to Sky Gondola and Brandywine Falls to Whistler, where the Peak 2 Peak Gondola links two mountains and the Audain Art Museum shows West Coast and Indigenous art. Return south and take the BC Ferries crossing to Victoria for the Inner Harbour, the Royal BC Museum and Butchart Gardens.

Good for Travellers who want city food, mountain hikes and island gardens in one week.

When to go

July to September has the driest weather and full alpine access at Whistler. December to April is ski season. Spring brings blossoms in Vancouver and Victoria but rain is common.

Getting around

Vancouver has good transit, and the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler is a two-hour drive or bus ride. BC Ferries sails Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay in about 95 minutes, or take a floatplane harbour-to-harbour.

Tips for your crew

  • Reserve BC Ferries vehicle space on summer weekends.
  • Whistler's alpine lifts run in summer but check the schedule; some close for shoulder season in spring and late fall.
  • Pack layers and a rain shell even in summer; the coast changes fast.

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