Why this guide: about 33,100 people a month search Google for “things to do in vancouver” (US, DataForSEO Labs, September 2026). This is the answer we would give a client, written to be booked from.
The short answer
- Do firstThe Stanley Park seawall by bike, Granville Island Public Market, and Lynn Canyon's free suspension bridge
- FreeThe seawall, Kitsilano and English Bay beaches, Lynn Canyon, Queen Elizabeth Park, Gastown's steam clock, the Lighthouse Park trails
- SkipCapilano's ticket price if Lynn Canyon will do, and the Lookout tower
Stanley Park and the seawall
Rent a bike at Denman Street and ride the 9 km seawall counter-clockwise: the totem poles at Brockton Point, the Lions Gate Bridge, Siwash Rock, Third Beach, and back along English Bay. The Vancouver Aquarium and the rose garden are inside the park; the seawall continues around False Creek to Granville Island and Kitsilano if you have the legs. Sunset at English Bay or Third Beach is the city's evening.
Granville Island and the neighbourhoods
Granville Island Public Market (under the bridge, by Aquabus ferry) for lunch — the salmon, the cheese counters, the Lee's donuts — plus the artisan studios and the Granville Island Brewing taproom. Gastown's Victorian blocks and the steam clock; Chinatown's Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden; Yaletown's converted warehouses; Commercial Drive's Italian and Latin cafés; Main Street's vintage shops; Kitsilano's beach, pool and Fourth Avenue.
The North Shore
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (ticketed; the Cliffwalk and treetop walk) or Lynn Canyon (free suspension bridge, swimming holes, 30 minutes on transit). Grouse Mountain: the Skyride gondola or the Grouse Grind's 2,830 steps, then the grizzly refuge and the city view; Cypress and Seymour are the ski hills in winter. Deep Cove's kayaks and Honey's donuts; Lighthouse Park's old-growth trails in West Vancouver.
Day trips
The Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish (the Sea to Sky Gondola, the Chief hike) and Whistler (2 hours; the Peak 2 Peak gondola, mountain biking in summer, the ski season November–April). Victoria by BC Ferries from Tsawwassen (90 minutes sailing; the Inner Harbour, Butchart Gardens) or by floatplane from the harbour. Whale watching from Steveston or Granville Island, April–October, for orcas and humpbacks.
Eat, and get there
Sushi is the city's everyday food (Tojo's for the original omakase; Miku for aburi), Richmond's Alexandra Road for Cantonese, a JapaDog from the cart, Vij's for Indian, and the Granville Island market for everything else. Vancouver International (YVR) is 25–35 minutes from downtown; the engine's Vancouver page carries the hotels, and a chauffeur from YVR is the clean start. See our Capilano guide and the best time to visit.
Three things to get right
- Bike the seawall counter-clockwise (it is one-way for bikes).
- Lynn Canyon is free; Capilano is a ticket — pick one.
- Whistler is a day trip in summer and a stay in winter.
Book it
Featured destination: Vancouver — hotels, airport and activities on one engine page.
