After visiting Victoria on Vancouver Island, we then took a bus and a ferry and headed north to Vancouver, British Columbia for a short while before we made our way to our final stop in Whistler. Vancouver is well-known for the food scene, scenic mountain and ocean views, and the variety of outdoor activities you can do in beautiful (mostly) weather. It is like a crossover between city living and coastal living. With the high quality of life, being rated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, easy access to the beaches, and the abundance of wildlife nearby, it’s no wonder this city is the most expensive to live in, in Canada!
Although I’ve made this itinerary for 3 days so that you can visit the surrounding areas, within Vancouver itself, you can technically see everything you need in around 2 days. But you’ll be tempted to stay longer solely to try the plethora of food menus there. It is extremely delicious and fresh and you’ll know why they’re a culinary heaven for foodies.
When To Visit Vancouver, British Columbia
As you’ve noticed above, I said “mostly” beautiful weather. Due to the large amount of rain Vancouver, British Columbia gets, it can get quite gloomy and overcast. The mountains attract large amounts of precipitation and it rains for about half the year, especially in the months of November and December.
The best time to visit Vancouver is between March to June and September to the end of October or early November when the weather is milder. July and August are the hottest months, but it is also high season so prices will be higher. My first time visiting Vancouver was in the month of September and my most recent trip was taken in the month of July. The temperature was occasionally hot, but it wasn’t uncomfortable in July in the mid to high 20s.
When To Book Your Trip To Vancouver, British Columbia
The months of June to early September are high season. As this trip was a part of a longer one that I took to Canmore and Banff, Alberta as well, I had booked my flights and hotels at the beginning of February and traveled in mid-June. Since June to early September is high season, I do suggest booking a few months earlier in order to save some money on your tickets and lodging.
To help you plan your trip more specifically to your preferences, use my free Pre-Trip Planner and Checklist as well as The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Trip Abroad so you don’t forget anything and avoid a stressful vacation.
How To Get To Vancouver, British Columbia
If you’re coming from outside of British Columbia, you’ll probably be flying into the Vancouver International Airport (YVR). If you’re in neighboring cities, provinces, or States, it is easily driveable and makes for a really scenic road trip. If you’re coming from Vancouver Island or the capital city Victoria like I did and don’t have your own vehicle, you can take a connector bus and ferry to Vancouver.
Here are the Best Ways To Save Money On Flights For Your Next Vacation and the Top Websites To Get The Best Flight Deals.
How To Get Around Vancouver, British Columbia
Like Victoria, walking, biking, and public transportation is usually the preferred method of transportation. Vancouver’s public transportation is probably the best in Canada so that makes things a lot easier! For those who need to go longer distances or would just prefer to drive, a car is very useful to get around, especially if you plan to visit the surrounding areas and really enjoy the nature that’s around. Uber or Lyft is available but they’re still getting used to the system since they only got it about 2 years ago, so it takes a long time to get your driver or for them to know where they’re going. However, if you do choose to use Lyft, for $50 CAD in ride credit, use my Lyft referral link.
Where To Stay In Vancouver, British Columbia
As with many places you travel to, staying in the core Downtown area is usually the best choice. This is also true for Vancouver, British Columbia. If you do stay in this area, it does make it much easier for you to get around since you can walk everywhere.
We had actually stayed in Burnaby this time around and needed an Uber or Lyft to get from place to place and let me tell you, it was not convenient!
Most of the time, I prefer booking with Hotels.com since they have great prices (including secret prices if you’re a member) and the ability to redeem a free night’s stay after every 10 stays. I do advise always shopping around for the best prices and the type of accommodations with the amenities you prefer. Here are the Best Ways To Save Money On Hotels For Your Next Vacation.
Where To Eat In Vancouver, British Columbia
This is hard to answer since there are so many amazing restaurants in the Vancouver area. If you only have a couple of days, research your favorite culinary styles or restaurants you want to try and make it a point to go. Don’t forget to make reservations ahead of time, especially for omakase (multiple course) meals!
I’ve eaten at a few restaurants on both my trips to Vancouver but there are still so many more on my list that I want to visit. Vancouver, British Columbia is truly a food haven and if you love seafood or Japanese food, it’s probably the closest you can get to the authentic thing in Japan in Canada.
Below are some of the restaurants I really liked, but if you want a highly rated list, I love looking at Time Out for their recommendations.
Raisu
Cuisine – Japanese
Price Range – $$
Why They’re Good – They have a great variety of coffee blends, freshly baked bagels with delicious flavors, in-house-made cream cheese, and an assortment of yummy pastries. We ate here a few times for breakfast before we started our day.
Go Fish
Cuisine – Seafood
Price Range – $$
Why They’re Good – Right by the water, this food stall has a simple menu that provides sustainable seafood and uses light, non-greasy batter with the local beer, Granville Island Brewery in it. They’re also open year-round and you can eat there on the porch or take it to go. The oyster po-boy is amazing and you definitely need to try it out!
The Pie Hole
Cuisine – Dessert
Price Range – $$
Why They’re Good – Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, this specialty pie shop offers both savory and sweet pies in a variety of uniquely mixed flavors. They also occasionally have pie-eating contests that you won’t want to miss watching – or participating in!
Miku and Minami Restaurant are also popular and highly-rated Japanese restaurants, but they are also available in Toronto so we didn’t end up dining here. If you haven’t visited Toronto yet or been to these restaurants, these are exceptional options as well.
3 Day Itinerary To Visit The Best Places In Vancouver, British Columbia
There is so much to see and do in Vancouver, British Columbia and a majority of it is the beautiful outdoors including multiple parks and botanical gardens and numerous restaurants with fresh seafood and local produce. Not to mention, the luxury of having the ocean and beaches that are easily accessible. Below are the best places to visit in Vancouver and as usual, feel free to mix and match or add and remove the locations below to make your perfect itinerary if needed. However, I do plan the days according to location so that it is efficient, saves you time from going back and forth between places, and helps you make your trip as smooth as possible.
First Day In Vancouver, British Columbia
1 – Queen Elizabeth Park
Time Spent – 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – This 130-acre park was 125 meters above sea level and is the highest point in Vancouver. It was previously a basalt quarry which was used to get materials to build roads for the city. Now it’s a beautiful garden with breathtaking views of the mountains and the city itself along with multiple attractions including an arboretum, a floral conservatory, a pavilion, sculptures, and more. There are also many activities to do such as tai chi, bowling, golf course, and tennis.
2 – VanDusen Botanical Garden
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – This garden is operated by 2 non-profit organizations and has a multi-award-winning Visitor Centre and is named the Most Sustainable Building of the Year in 2014. They also achieved the LEED Platinum status as well. There are self-guided tours available throughout the year and you can also tour the mazes and stone garden at this garden. You can also choose to wind down further at their on-site restaurant and gift shop as well.
3 – UBC Botanical Garden
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – On the grounds of the University of British Columbia, this botanical garden was established in 1916. It is also the oldest botanical garden at a university in Canada with over 8,000 kinds of plants and 5 different gardens.
4 – Nitobe Memorial Park
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Interesting Facts – Part of the UBC Botanical Garden is their off-site Japanese Tea and Stroll Garden. This memorial park is one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan and provides a window into the Japanese culture. Connecting Japanese and Canadian history, visitors come from around the world to partake in this traditional tea ceremony.
5 – Kitsilano Beach
Time Spent – 2 hours
Interesting Facts – It is one of Vancouver’s most popular beaches for its sandy beaches and the longest saltwater swimming pool in Canada. You also get great views of English Bay and the mountains.
6 – Granville Island / Granville Island Public Market
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Interesting Facts – Granville Island has many activities for every type of visitor to enjoy – from its thriving art community to many dining opportunities and shopping for unique handcrafted products, and more. Granville Island also has a brewery, chances to watch live performances, and even attend festivals. Its not-so-hidden gem, Granville Island Public Market, is a large indoor market with local vendors offering fresh food choices.
Second Day In Vancouver, British Columbia
On the second day in Vancouver, British Columbia, I suggest renting a car for the below itinerary otherwise you won’t be able to get around! In this part of your travels, you’ll be visiting North Vancouver and seeing more of the gorgeous nature that this culturally and activity-diverse city has to offer.
1 – Lonsdale Quay Market
Time Spent – 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Lonsdale Quay Market and Food Hall is the place to indulge in local food and drinks right by the water. Built in 1986, it now hosts over 80 vendors for food, shops, art stalls as well as a boutique hotel. During May to October, they have a farmers market in the front on Saturdays.
2 – Park & Tilford Gardens
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – Park & Tilford Gardens is a botanic garden that was established in 1969 and has 8 gardens. It is always free to the public and is a garden oasis in the middle of a busy shopping centre. It was originally built so that the employees of Park & Tilford Distilleries have a nice place to have lunch.
3 – Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
Time Spent – 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Opened in 1912, this park is the largest in North Vancouver boasting 617 acres. To see the suspension bridge, you’ll want to take the Baden-Powell Trail. When the bridge first opened, you had to pay 10 cents to cross. Then eventually the price was reduced to 5 cents, and then it became free. Because of its beautiful and natural landscape, there were a couple of TV shows and movies filmed here as well. On the other hand, you should probably avoid cliff-diving here as there have been 20 deaths in the past 25 years.
4 – Capilano Suspension Bridge
Time Spent – 2 to 2.5 hours
Interesting Facts – The most popular suspension bridge (not pictured because there were way too many tourists in my shot!) in the Vancouver area and one of the biggest tourist attractions, it runs over the Capilano River and is 140 metres long. Thrilling visitors since 1889, you are also able to do a cliff walk, treetop adventures, visit the raptor education centre, walk through the story centre with artifact displays, and much more.
5 – Grouse Grind Trail
Time Spent – 2 to 2.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Going up Grouse Mountain, you have to climb almost 3,000 stairs and it is a pretty steep climb so make sure you’re wearing the right footwear. It is also known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”, so that’s telling you something! To help you prepare, here are 13 Things You Absolutely Need To Bring On A Hike.
6 – Lighthouse Park
Time Spent – 1.5 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – You can hike the Lighthouse Park trail here or just head straight to the lighthouse and beach which will take about an hour there and back. The lighthouse and grounds are a National Historic Site and one of the most photographed landmarks in the area.
Third Day In Vancouver, British Columbia
1 – Stanley Park / Vancouver Seawall
Time Spent – 2 hours
Interesting Facts – Right next to the city, you have a beautiful scenic escape to enjoy the outdoors by the ocean and mountains. Located in the northwest part of Downtown, Vancouver, you can walk or bike (probably best since there is a lot to cover) through it and reach the Vancouver Seawall which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. As you walk/bike through the park, you’ll also see the First Nations’ totem poles, famous landmarks, and monuments. You can also drive through Stanley Park and it will take about 45 to 60 minutes.
2 – Vancouver Aquarium
Time Spent – 1.5 to 2.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Located in Stanley Park, you can also visit the Vancouver Aquarium. Not only is it an aquarium, but it’s also a centre for marine research, a conservation to rehab marine animals as well as a place to educate on ocean literacy. It is one of the first facilities to have professional naturalists to interpret animal behavior. There are currently 11 exhibits and 4 experiences where you can get up close with the marine life.
3 – Marine Building
Time Spent – 15 to 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – Opened in 1930, this skyscraper is known for its art-deco architecture and its worth snapping some photos of its picturesque lobby. With marine-themed decorations on the building, its beautiful interiors have also attracted TV shows and movies being filmed here. Some of them are Smallville, Blade: Trinity and Fantastic Four.
4 – Canada Place
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Interesting Facts – Located right on the waterfront, it makes for a picturesque scenic backdrop for any Vancouver, British Columbia tourist photos you’d like to take! Canada Place is a convention center and cruise ship terminal so there are often events and other experiences taking place year-round. It also has beautiful night views when Canada Place lights up.
5 – Gastown / Gastown Steam Clock
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Interesting Facts – This very hip part of Vancouver is known for the Gastown Steam Clock which was built in 1977 and is powered by steam and whistles to tell time. This area also has many souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants, and other stores with a Victorian vibe.
6 – Chinatown
Time Spent – 45 minutes to 1 hour
Interesting Facts – Established in the 1890s, Chinatown is now full of authentic and delicious Chinese restaurants and bakeries and offers old-school Asian vibes. It is Canada’s largest Chinatown because of the large amounts of Chinese immigrants during the 1800s and it is the part of Canada that’s closest to China.
7 – Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens
Time Spent – 1 to 1.5 hours
Interesting Facts – Located in Chinatown, this beautiful Chinese garden is the first Chinese scholar’s garden built outside of China in 1986. Sun Yat-Sen was a physician and political philosopher who was the first provisional president of the Republic of China and the first leader of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party of China) which he and my ancestor Hu Han Min established in Japan. They also had a role in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and Sun Yat-Sen was later succeeded by Hu Han Min as the Generalissimo of the National Government of Nationalist China.
You can visit the traditional Chinese gardens here as well as participate in a tea ceremony or even join a yoga class here these days. You can basically visit a part of China without leaving Canada!
8 – Downtown, Vancouver
Time Spent – 3 hours
Interesting Facts – As we all know by now, Downtown is usually the city centre and has the most vibrant of everything – whether it is shopping, business, food, and more. Downtown Vancouver is buzzing with life and you’ll feel more of a modern city vibe here.
9 – Yaletown
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Interesting Facts – Known for its old warehouse buildings, now it is full of restaurants, bars, and lounges. As you can probably tell by now, it’s a running theme that Vancouver has a flourishing food scene. With oceanfront views, award-winning restaurants and boutiques to visit, and nearby concerts and sporting events, it is another neighborhood in Vancouver, British Columbia to visit if you want to see what this city is all about!