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Things to Do in Vancouver (from a Vancouverite)

vancouvertravelguidelocal

Influencing you to go to the places that are worth it and de-influencing you from going to the places that aren’t.

How to use this guide:
This is a practical, no-nonsense overview of Vancouver from someone who actually lives here. It’s meant to help you spend your time on things that are genuinely good and skip the stuff that looks good on Instagram but isn’t worth the detour. Everything here is transit-friendly, easy to slot into a day plan, and doable without a car.

The guide is organized by neighbourhood so you can mix and match depending on where you’re staying, how much energy you have, and how many steps you’re willing to commit to.

Table of Contents

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North Vancouver

Duration: 4–8 hours
How to get there: Take the Seabus from Waterfront Station.
Overview: Some of the best city views — mountains, water, and breweries.

Highlights

Grouse Mountain — Hike or Gondola (3–6h)
From the North Vancouver bus loop, take the 236 bus to Grouse Mountain (terminus).
If you’re feeling ambitious, the Grouse Grind is the classic challenge: steep, direct, and more workout than hike. Wear trail runners, bring water, and expect a non-stop climb. It’s not exactly fun, but it’s a Vancouver rite of passage.
If the trail is closed (usually in winter) or you’re not in the mood for self-inflicted suffering, take the Skyride gondola up. At the top: short walking trails, the Grizzly Bear Habitat, and the campy-but-entertaining Lumberjack Show. Ride down or take the BCMC Trail.

North Van Brewery District (2–3h)
Near the Seabus terminal, the brewery cluster is compact and walkable. Streetcar, House of Funk, and Beere Brewing are my top picks.

Food & Drink Picks

  • Coffee: Nemesis Coffee
  • Lunch/Dinner: Anatoli Souvlaki, Burgoo
  • Dessert: Earnest Ice Cream

UBC

Duration: 6–10 hours
How to get there: Canada Line to Broadway–City Centre, then the 99 B-Line to UBC.
Overview: A great museum, a quiet garden, and one of the best beaches in Vancouver.

Highlights

Museum of Anthropology (2–3h)
One of my favourite museums in the city. The Multiversity Galleries hold an incredible range of artifacts. Outside, walk from the longhouses toward the museum and listen for a cool echo effect.

Nitobe Memorial Garden (0.5–1h)
A quiet Japanese garden that feels far removed from the city. They occasionally host tea ceremonies.

Main Mall & University Boulevard (0.5–1h)
Worth a walk for the architecture alone. Food options nearby at the AMS Nest and University Boulevard.

Wreck Beach
A long staircase down, but one of Vancouver’s best beaches. Any time of day is great, especially at sunset.

Food & Drink Picks

  • Lunch/Dinner: DownLow Chicken Shack, Jamjar
  • Dessert: Rain or Shine Ice Cream

Granville Island & Kits Point Loop

Duration: 4–6 hours
How to get there: Take the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries from anywhere along False Creek. I usually just board whichever shows up first.

Overview: A waterfront loop with a market, parks, and one of the city’s busiest beaches.

Highlights

Granville Island (0.5–1h)
More of a waypoint than a destination. Worth a walk through the Public Market and artisan studios, but it can feel tourist-heavy and chaotic.

Kits Point Loop (2–3h)
Walk the seawall through Vanier Park, past Kits Beach, then loop up to 4th Avenue. Kits Beach is great for picnics but very busy in summer. 4th Ave has lots of food — classic Vancouver energy.

Museum of Vancouver (1–2h)
A smaller, local museum near Vanier Park. If choosing between museums, MOA wins, but this is an easy add-on.

Food & Drink Picks

  • Coffee & Bakeries: Enroute Coffee, Purebread Bakery, Siegel’s Bagels
  • Lunch/Dinner: Raisu, Chewies Oyster Bar, Maenam, AnnaLena
  • Dessert: Rain or Shine Ice Cream

Stanley Park & West End

Duration: 2–6 hours
How to get there: SkyTrain to Waterfront, then walk the seawall through Coal Harbour (~30 min) or rent a bike.

Overview: No visit to Vancouver is complete without a loop around Stanley Park.

Highlights

Bike or Walk the Seawall (1–3h)
Always busy, always worth it. Totem Poles, Brockton Point, and the Big Yellow Pile of Sulphur across the inlet are all worth stops. Don’t leave your bike unattended.

Vancouver Aquarium (2–4h)
Well-run and conservation-focused — more substance than spectacle.

West End (0.5–1h)
Great for strolling, food, and drinks. Walk Davie Street and stop by English Bay or Sunset Beach.

Food & Drink Picks

  • Lunch/Dinner: Kintaro Ramen, The Red Accordion, La Belle Patate, Dan Dan Noodles
  • Drinks: Stanley Park Brewing

Main & Commercial Streets

Duration: 2–8 hours
How to get there: SkyTrain to Main Street–Science World or Commercial–Broadway.

Overview: The best food and drink neighbourhoods in Vancouver, hands down.

Highlights

Window Shopping (1–4h)
Great vintage and independent shops. Favourites: Murata Home Goods, The Sellution, Welk’s General Store, Mintage, F as in Frank.

Brewery Tour (2–6h)
Two hubs:

  • Main Street / Olympic Village: Faculty, Electric Bicycle, 33 Acres, R&B, Main Street Brewing, Brassneck
  • East Van: Parallel 49, Storm Brewing, Lupollo, Superflux, Container

Food & Drink Picks

  • Coffee: Foglifter, Forecast, Purebread, Nemesis, Kafka’s, Slo
  • Lunch: Baby Dhal Roti Shop, Mogu Fried Chicken, Downlow, Fable Diner, Industry Apizza, AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza, La Grotta Del Formaggio, Ba Le Deli, The Lunch Lady, Toshi Sushi, Sun Sui Wah, Silom Thai
  • Dinner: Anh and Chi, Bonjour Vietnam Bistro, Restaurant Yugo, Osteria Savio Volpe, Zarak
  • Dessert: Trafiq, Earnest Ice Cream
  • Drinks: Mount Pleasant Vintage & Provisions, Shameful Tiki, Good Thief, Hail Mary’s

Metrotown & Crystal Mall (Burnaby)

Duration: 1–4 hours
How to get there: SkyTrain to Metrotown Station.

Overview: A wet market inside a mall, plus two underrated parks.

Highlights

Crystal Mall (1–2h)
A culture shock in the best way. Excellent, inexpensive Chinese food — bring cash.
Favourites: Shanghai Dimsum House (XLB, pan-fried dumplings) and Cheung Fun from any busy stall.

Parks (1–3h)

  • Central Park: Urban park with solid walking paths
  • Deer Lake Park: Quiet boardwalk loop around the lake

Whistler

Throw a dart and you’ll hit a travel blog with Whistler recommendations, so while I definitely endorse going, I don’t have anything new to add. The drive is the highlight: Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and the Britannia Mine Museum are all worth stopping for.