Vancouver may not be the city where you want to live, but it surely is a city to add to your Canadian bucket list. Its high cost of living and astronomical housing prices may be a set back for its potential residents. However, Vancouver’s sensual allure and countless attractions inspires visitors like few other cities do.
There are not many places in the world where the bustling city life blends so perfectly with the natural scenery. Vancouver is a colorful and fun place to visit. From walking, cycling, boating, whale watching, fishing, eating, shopping, drinking, you can do almost anything here. Here are my recommendations for the top things to do in Vancouver:
Table of Contents
Vancouver Attractions
[1] Capilano State Park
One of the biggest tourist attractions in Vancouver is the Capilano State Park. Located just a little outside the city, the Park features three attractions: the Capilano Suspension Bridge, the Cliffwalk and the Treetop Adventure.
There is plenty to see and do at the park, so allow yourself a couple of hours to wander through. Capilano State Park runs a free shuttle from downtown Vancouver hotels or from Canada Place. When you enter the Park, singers dressed in period costumes will transport you back to the days of the pioneers.
Capilano Suspension Bridge started as an access bridge built by civil engineer George Grant Mackay 1889. The bridge was meant to give him access the forest land that he purchased. However, soon the bridge turned into one of Vancouver’s most beloved attractions.
The original bridge was suspended on rope, but todays 450 feet bridge is suspended by 2″ thick steel cables. They say that the bridge can support the weight of two fully loaded 747 airplanes. Wow, that’s a lot of weight!
The Cliffwalk is a very narrow walk that takes you around the cliffs and high above the forest. The walk may be a little scary if you are afraid of heights. Nonetheless, is very thrilling to find yourself 300 feet above the river and the canyon below.
The Treetop Adventure is a series of walks, viewing platforms and suspension bridges that take you around the rainforest. This is a great adventure for younger kids, that find it very entertaining to run around the suspension bridges. From the platforms you get a bird-eye view of the forest around.
[2] Stanley Park
Vancouver has lots of green space areas, but Stanley Park is by far the most beloved one of them. Its 1000 acres of forest trails, children’s play areas, beaches and lakes create a magnificent green oasis in the midst of this heavily built city.
The park occupies the tip of the Downtown Vancouver and has amazing views of the water and the downtown area. Some of the most popular attractions in Stanley Park are the aquarium, the renowned totem pole display, the Brockton Point Lighthouse and the seawall, a 5-mile long walk that goes all around the park.
[3] Granville Island
Perhaps the best know of the tourist attractions in Vancouver is the Granville Island. Located just across from Downtown Vancouver, Granville Island is actually a peninsula. The place was was once an industrial manufacturing area, but today is the city’s shopping mecca, with nice trendy shops, restaurants and a huge farmers’ market.
I absolutely love farmers’ markets and Granville exceeds in size and quality any other market that I have ever visited. The area is bustling with lots of vendors, fresh produce, meats, fish, baked goods, cheeses, breads, flowers, antiques, clothing and everything else you can imagine.
You could easily spend half a day here wandering around and sampling the tempting foods that are on display, or just enjoying the gorgeous views of the Downtown from across the water.
[4] Vancouver Lookout
If you want to know which is where, or how to get from here to there in Vancouver, is best if you have a vantage point.
And what better place to find yourself high up and above the city than the Lookout Tower at the Harbor Center? The 360º view is absolutely spectacular and if it’s a clear day you can see for miles and miles away. What makes it even better than I expected is the amount of information posted everywhere about the history behind many of the buildings and neighborhoods of Vancouver.
This iconic landmark is not the highest building in the world, but it’s high enough to give you a great panoramic view of the entire city. Really worth a visit if you are in the city for the first time. This is a great place to take bird-eye photos of the area. Because of the way the observation deck windows are tilted you’ll get very little glare from the glass which is a big plus.
[5] Grouse Mountain
Just a short distance from Vancouver’s downtown is the Grouse Mountain, a place that must be a skiers’ paradise in winter, but seemed beautiful in summer too.
To reach it you have to take the Skyride Gondola for a 2 km ride rising 2700 feet up and gliding above the Douglas firs and the breathtaking views of the city. Up on the mountain there is a wildlife refuge for the endangered animals that is home to two orphaned Grizzly bears and a timber wolf.
Up on the top there is also a lodge and a nice restaurant with a beautiful terrace. The city views are breathtaking, especially at dusk. The ticket is a bit pricey, but there is a lot to do up on the mountain, so you can easily spend at least half a day there.
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A Final Note
Our 3-day visit to Vancouver was too short. There is so much more to see and do in this great city than we had time for. The city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere and breathtaking natural beauty makes it a very desirable vacation place.
Vancouver Facts and First Impressions
Amara Paul
Vancouver is such a stunning city, and this guide highlights some of its best attractions! I love how it captures the mix of urban charm and natural beauty, from Stanley Park to Capilano Suspension Bridge. Definitely adding these spots to my must-visit list. Thanks for the great recommendations!
Canada Airlines
Very nice post, this article is very informative for travel lovers.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
This brings back such happy memories from my own family’s visit to Vancouver. It was our first trip that was purely for fun and not to visit relatives. I’d love to return there some day since, as you point out, a few days is not enough.
Sally@Toddlers on Tour
Those bridges sure look nerve racking with the amount of people standing on them. Though I am sure they provide a great outlook for the spectacular scenery.
Anda Galffy
It was less scary than it looks, Sally.
Esther
Oh, I love this! My husband and me have been wanting to visit Cananda for years now 🙂
Allison
I went to Vancouver a few times as a kid growing up near Seattle. My husband and I are actually planning a trip back with the kids when we go to Washington next summer. It really has been too long.
Anda Galffy
You are lucky to live so close to Vancouver, Allison. I’d go more often if I lived closer.
Jim ~ ReflectionsEnroute
The view from the top of the Sky Ride is spectacular! I would definitely do this! Thanks for all the great tips on Vancouver; we go to the Pacific Northwest regularly so a trip to Vancouver is definitely in our future.
Anda Galffy
I’d love to return to Vancouver too, Jim. Maybe we can meet there sometimes.
Anisa
I love Vancouver. When I was there, we actually did the Grouse Grind – which is a challenging hike to the top of Grouse Mountain. That was probably my favorite thing. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Anda Galffy
I’d love to do that hike, Anisa. I didn’t know anything about it. Well, maybe next time we are in Vancouver.
Natasha
Ive always wanted to go to Vancouver. Thanks for writing this list of attractions. Maybe will go when I get back to the US.
Supriya
Wow! You’ve covered some of our favorites – forests/hiking trails, a farmers market and roof top views 🙂 Vancouver sounds like so much fun, and I also love the use of the phrase “squirrel’s eye view.”
Bookmarking this!
Supriya
Lara Dunning
Considering how close I live to Vancouver I don’t get up there much at all. I want to explore that area more. This is a great list. I’m going to save it.
Carly Moore
Hahahahahahahaha nope, just nope. That suspension bridge – I’d die. I just did the rope bridge in Ireland and it was intense at only 60 feet long lol. My boyfriend want’s me to start doing those treetop adventure things to work on my fear of heights but damn, it’s so high!
Anda Galffy
It’s actually less scary that it seems, Carly. I’m very scared of heights and things like that bridge, but this particular one wasn’t bad at all.
Ray
Love Vancouver! I’ve been a few times because one of my childhood best friends moved there in the early 2000s. And yes, I have been to every one of these attractions that you recommended and couldn’t agree with you more! Just further up the road from the Capilano Suspension Bridge is a small salmon hatchery that educates visitors on Pacific coast salmon and conservation efforts to protect them in the wild. Definitely recommended if you ever visit Vancouver again in the future!
Anda Galffy
Vancouver is just the perfect balance between a metropolis and nature at its best.
Anda Galffy
So you get to visit Vancouver whenever you want, Brina. That’s great! I love this city.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
We visited Vancouver when my oldest child was 8 years old. As a teen, he still remembers it fondly and asks to return. Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain were favorites. Now that the youngster are older, I think that they’d enjoy a visit to Capilano.
Anda Galffy
Oh, I’m sure they will, Michele.
Vicki Green
I love Vancouver and have visited many times. Since I have a fear of heights, I’m still mustering up my courage to cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge – maybe next time!
Vlad
Vancouver looks so beautiful, the view from the Lookout Tower is breathtaking! Your photos are truly making me wish I was there! 🙂
Jackie
Vancouver is such a beautiful city! The trip up to Grouse Mountain looks like a great way to see view of the city. I’m not too sure I’d like to be on that suspension bridge with that many people, though! Thanks for sharing!
Anda Galffy
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is actually less scary in reality that it looks in the pictures. I thought I’d be scared to walk on it too, but it wasn’t bad.
Ruth
When in Vancouver, I visited the market, park and Grouse Mountain. Would like to go back since I feel there is much more to do. I also would like to drive the Sea to Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler. Like you mentioned, Vancouver may not be the place you want to live but my husband will move there in a second. He loved the city.
Anda Galffy
I’d love to live in a place like that too, Ruth. I always loved big cities, but my husband hates them.
Amanda
Wow, the cliffwalk and suspension bridge looks both terrifying and exhilarating. We are intrigued and will certainly put those activities top of our list when we get to visit Vancouver! You certainly made the most of your short time there.
Anda Galffy
Capilano Suspension Bridge is actually not terrifying at all, it just seems so in the photos.
Paula McInerney
We are having our first visit to Canada next month, but unfortunately can’t make it to Vancouver. I definitely want to visit this city though, so may have to make a second trip.
Anda Galffy
Who knows, Paula, maybe you’ll make it to Vancouver later on this year. It’s really beautiful.
John
Vancouver is where my wife is from and I love the city. Still have to get up Grouse Mountain when the weather is fine. Stanley Park is always so nice to visit, we always hire a bike and cycle around it when we visit. Great post.
Anda Galffy
Thank you, John. So glad to hear you have strong ties to this great city.