9 of the top things to do in Vancouver

What do you get if you build a major city in the middle of a temperate rainforest? In a word: Vancouver, Canada.

This west coast metropolis feels almost greedy when it comes to natural beauty. There’s a downtown core surrounded on three sides by ocean, neighbourhood beaches, and the forested oasis that is Stanley Park – not to mention the purple, often snow-capped peaks of the North Shore Mountains.

Then there are world-class institutions – from the Vancouver Art Gallery to the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia – plus neighbourhoods filled with markets and trending food spots.

Perhaps it’s these extremes that has produced a city that feels equal parts cosmopolitan and off-beat – a little hippy, a little rock n roll, but always irreverent, Vancouver marches to the beat of its own drum. There’s always something to do in this captivating city. 

The green lung of the city, majestic Stanley Park sits on the northern tip of Vancouver’s downtown peninsula. Today its 1,000 acres are filled with cedar, hemlock and fir trees, as well as bathing beaches and miles of trails wiggling through the dense forest.

Whether scorching summer or frigid winter, it’s always a soothing year-round retreat from the urban. Make time to bike the sea wall, which wraps the perimeter. 

Claire’s insider tip: A trip with Indigenous-owned Talaysay Tours helps visitors explore Stanley Park a little more deeply. Walk the hiking trails and pass towering totems while learning about the art, medicine and stories of the Coast Salish peoples, who have been present here for millennia. 

Kayak, stand-up paddleboard, boat – choose your vessel and hit the waves. Vancouver is defined by its coastal position. So, if you only see it from the land, you’re only seeing half of it. Vancouver Island protects the city from the open Pacific Ocean, meaning the water is mostly calm. 

From Downtown, Granville Island Boat Rentals offers self-drive options – head up the peaceful Howe Sound ocean fjord for spectacular views. Use paddle power at Jericho Beach Kayak Centre to explore Kitsilano and English Bay, or head further inland to Deep Cove to ride a paddleboard on the spectacular Indian Arm fjord, wrapped by the North Shore Mountains. For whale watching, boats depart from Steveston to the Georgia Strait in search of humpback and orca.

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Vancouver Art Gallery is the largest art museum in Western Canada, home to classic and contemporary works by Canadian, Indigenous and internationally acclaimed artists. The Gallery’s Institute of Asian Art explores works from Asia Pacific in particular, focusing on works relevant to Vancouver’s unique location on the Pacific Rim.

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Vancouver is a foodie city. There’s a diverse range of venues, from fine dining spots to neighbourhood sushi bars, and a broad scope of influences, including pan-Asian and Indigenous – that’s what makes eating out here so exciting.

In 2022, Michelin released its first guide to the city, recognising its quality and fresh ingredients. The tourist hub of Granville Island Public Market is foodie fun, especially if you want to try a number of bites – perogies are a big deal, so stock up.

Chinatown is a must, too. Or for the ultimate fusion, head to Richmond Night Market for everything from ramen donuts to Japanese-inspired poutine and sushi tacos.  

Get out of downtown – there’s so much more to the city.

Each of Vancouver’s neighbourhoods have a distinct differently vibe. Edgy East Van and the slightly punk, old Italian neighbourhood of Commercial Drive are an interesting blend of old-school coffee shops and quirky tie-dye emporiums filled with incense.

Increasingly hip Mount Pleasant blends artisan shops, trending dive bars, and brew pubs, while istoric Gastown – the city’s first downtown core – is known for upmarket coffee shops and its famous steam clock. In yoga-loving beachside Kitsilano, wellness is practiced like a second job. 

You have to – it’s a rite of passage. Grouse Mountain is just a 15-minute drive or shuttle bus from the city centre, but it feels a world away.

The mountain towers 1,200m above the ocean, and in the summer, you can climb every step of that yourself – not for the faint-hearted, the infamous Grouse Grind is a one-way hiking trail to the top.

The mountain is open year-round, so you can tackle winter snowshoe trails (alongside skiing) too. On a clear day, you’ll gaze back down over the city from the ‘peak of Vancouver’. 

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What’s not to love about a bouncy 137m long suspension bridge gently swaying above a 70m drop to the river canyon below? Exactly.

Capilano makes a show of its natural beauty, with a cliffwalk along – and platforms over – a granite precipice, walks through old-growth trees, and guided talks on the ecology of the temperate rainforest. 

Claire’s expert tip: While Capilano is a ticketed attraction, nearby Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is free. In fact, it’s the only free suspension bridge in Metro Vancouver. It’s smaller, but offers a scenic starting point to some incredible hikes into the rainforest. 

Frankly, Vancouver doesn’t get enough praise for its beaches. There’s ten, right in the heart of the city. For the brave and free-at-heart, Wreck Beach is Canada’s first clothing-optional public space. Every sunny Tuesday in summer, drummers gather in Stanley Park’s Third Beach to jam and salute the sunset too. But the best sunset spot is nearby English Bay. Watch the sky glow yellow, pink and purple as the ember-red sun finally dips behind Vancouver Island. 

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The view of seaplanes landing in Coal Harbour is one of the most iconic sights in the city. But that vista pales in comparison to the one you’ll get if you book a sightseeing flight.

Tours with Harbour Air – from 20-minute flights to all-day excursions – take you above the seemingly endless ripple of the Coastal mountains with their glacial peaks, sparkling ocean, successive deep fjords and smattering of islands. Plus, frankly, landing on the water just feels really cool. 

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