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The list of things to do in Vancouver runs quite long, with a plethora of activities to indulge in. The mountainscapes of the city are best viewed while soaring through the sky on a zip line. Whale watching tours – where you can spot migrating orcas, humpbacks and other ocean wildlife – are quite popular too. For a day trip, consider driving down the Sea-to-Sky Highway that passes through lush forests and along the picturesque Howe Sound coast.

Proximity to the mountains and ocean is the hallmark of Vancouver tourism. You can go skiing at Grouse Mountain and hiking or camping at the Coast Mountains. Vancouver's North Shore neighbourhood is renowned for its mountain biking trails, while kayaking can be enjoyed at False Creek. If you like fishing, you’ll find both freshwater and saltwater fishing spots off the city’s coast.

On your Vancouver trip, head to the sprawling Stanley Park to explore its landscaped gardens, historical landmarks and First Nations monuments. At Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, you can wander across its bridges and walkways passing through dense vegetation and savour scenic views from tree-top platforms.

The food, wine and beer scene of Vancouver is burgeoning with delectable options. And Granville Island Public Market is a great place to sample everything that the city has to offer – from fresh seafood like sushi to maple syrup-based snacks and treats. A glass of British Columbia’s famous icewine or a mug of local craft beer is the ideal accompaniment to any meal.

Tonight

From £138 per night

This weekend

From £312 per night

Next weekend

From £504 per night

Most popular time to visit October–December
Cheapest time to visit January–March
Local currency CAD 10 = £5.83
Language French
Average weekend price £114 per night
Average weekday price £121 per night
Typical stay 2 nights

Points of interest in Vancouver

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Vancouver

Vancouver reviews

What other travellers say about Vancouver

10

This is a beautiful city with beautiful views of the...

6 May 2024

This is a beautiful city with beautiful views of the mountains and sea. There are cultural, sport and shopping facilities in the area. Stanley park is well worth a visit particularly to walk or bicycle and there are lots of cycle hire shops nearby for the purpose. China town isn't as vibrant as it was last time we visited over 20 years ago, confirmed by the bus driver who spoke about its decline. He also advised that we shouldn't walk between China town and the Steam clock destination for personal safety. Otherwise I walked alone around my hotel and felt safe. There is a good transport system around Vancouver although I generally walked locally to Stanley park, to the Waterfront and the downtown shopping area.

Diane
Diane United Kingdom
10

Granville Island is very much worth a visit before 7pm...

5 May 2024

Granville Island is very much worth a visit before 7pm whilst the food market and small shops are still open. Coal Harbour is a lovely area and we walked to Stanley Park from there. Stanley Park is brilliant, loads to do and see. The Totem Poles are spectacular. The Vancouver Lookout is well worth a visit for views all over the city. We had breakfast all 3 morning at Yolks on Davie, fabulous place and the breakfasts are amazing. Try a local gin in Mahoneys on the waterfront. We used the buses to get around, they are on time and easy to use but can be very full. Steamworks Brewery is Gastown does great beers. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is a must visit, its amazing.

Liz
Liz United Kingdom
8.0

Beautiful place, the city have a nice balance between nature...

3 May 2024

Beautiful place, the city have a nice balance between nature and civilization. Many shops and malls, a ton different culture so there is a lot of restaurant with different origins. The people are polite and the transport system is good enough to get you anywhere you want. The next time I would avoid going on raining season. It rains a lot.

jin
jin United States
8.0

We were essentially visiting old friends.

25 April 2024

We were essentially visiting old friends. We did some exploring of downtown. Granville Market, crowded, but it was a Saturday. The best thing we found was the public transit system. Their daily compass card was a bargain as it allowed us multiple trips including the water bus between Vancouver and North Vancouver. A restaurant bar to not be missed is Rogue Kitcen and Wet Bar 601 Cordoba St in Gastown area. The food court at City Center Market is wonderful. Looking forward to a trip there in the future, again.

Bill
Bill Canada
10

I love the view of mountains and water in Vancouver.

21 April 2024

I love the view of mountains and water in Vancouver. Lots of areas to visit, and lots of places to visit for eating. The gardens are really pretty. Taking ferries to get to various areas is a great way of transport. I would recommend to stay possibly on Vancouver Island or set off really early, as we hit traffic getting to Twassen so had to wait another hour for next ferry. Enjoyed what we did though.

Jenni
Jenni Canada
10

A great city for walking, clean and well designed, loved the...

16 April 2024

A great city for walking, clean and well designed, loved the library and small contemporary art gallery near Yaletown. Vancouver playhouse only steps away from our hotel. We also found a tasty ice cream shop.

Kathryn
Kathryn United States

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