Composing the ideal Vancouver itinerary was surprisingly easy because it’s truly a city with something for everyone. We stop by every year on our way to Whistler for our annual ski trip, so I’m always revisiting my favorite spots and discovering something new.
Vancouver may not be as big a city as Seattle, but it’s dense and filled with unique neighborhoods, tons of greenery, and worldly restaurants. With so much to keep you busy, it can be easy to get overwhelmed when planning your trip.
Having an itinerary is key to making the most of your vacation in Vancouver. Whether you’re eager to go whale watching, try delicious food, go shopping, or touch some grass and explore nature, my itinerary will come in handy as you plan your trip!
Vancouver Itinerary
In this post, I’ll answer some common questions about Vancouver, like why it’s worth visiting, when you should plan your trip, and how long you’ll need to get the most out of your experience. Then I’ll list my favorite things to do in Vancouver BC and share a day-by-day itinerary you can customize to suit your travel needs.
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Is Vancouver worth visiting?
Absolutely! Vancouver is a wholly unique city with a proper mix of gorgeous landscapes. There’s coastline, mountain views, and plenty of greenery for the kids to romp around or couples to enjoy a romantic rendezvous.
As for food, there are award-winning restaurants on every corner, and the rich cultural diversity means authentic restaurants are within reach wherever you find yourself. In short, there’s something for every kind of traveler, whether you’re traveling solo, as a group, or with kids in tow.
When is the best time to visit Vancouver?
I always visit Vancouver during the winter because that’s when we head north to ski. It’s also when the hotels have more affordable rates and the crowds are virtually nonexistent. Of course, this time may not be ideal for everyone since it tends to be rainier. But if you’re from the Pacific Northwest, it’s not unlike Seattle or Portland in winter!
I also like visiting Vancouver in the summer through fall months May through October because the city comes alive during the warmer weather. People are biking or hanging on the beaches, there’s whale watching, and there are a ton of fun festivals. The only downside is it’ll be more crowded with tourists, particularly during cruise ship season.
How many days in Vancouver is enough?
Not counting days for travel, I recommend at least three days in Vancouver. This gives you plenty of time to explore the iconic parks and museums, plus the freedom to dive into the unique neighborhoods and seek out the best restaurants (not just the convenient ones!).
If time allows, you could easily use an extra day to explore the towns on the outskirts of Vancouver. Namely, Richmond for their incredible Asian food or Whistler for the winter activities and hidden gem restaurants.
What to do in Vancouver Canada
Save this to Pinterest for later, as I’ll add more things to do in Vancouver BC as I discover them!
Visit Stanley Park
website | get directions | price: free | best for: paved walking paths
Stanley Park is Vancouver’s largest public park, even bigger than New York’s Central Park. There are nearly 1,000 acres of paved biking and hiking trails, coastline, and natural forest. From mid-March to October, you can even take a horse drawn carriage around the park for a more unique experience.
Prefer to bike in groups? Check out this Stanley Park & Downtown Vancouver bike tour, which includes the bike rental and a curated tours of the city.
Go on a bike ride
Anyone who’s visited Vancouver knows it’s a bike friendly city with countless car-free trails to choose from. We love to rent e-bikes from Jo-E Bikes and bike the Seawall. It starts in Stanley Park and extends for 28 km (17 miles) of uninterrupted waterfront pathway. This route can get pretty crowded, so Arbutus Greenway is a good backup.
Want to take a bike tour? This Downtown and Stanley Park Vancouver Bike Tour takes you along the water pathways. Or check out other sites like Granville Island and Chinatown on this Vancouver Highlights Small Group Bike Tour.
Explore the beaches
There aren’t many big cities with beaches that allow you to chillax on the shore while overlooking skyscrapers and mountainscapes, but Vancouver is one of them. Kits Beach is my go-to beach for its heated saltwater pool and picturesque ocean view. Bonus points for being within walking distance to other popular beaches, like Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks.
Want to do more than lounging on the beach? Here are some scenic city tours to check out:
Check out Granville Island
website | neighborhood: Fairview (get directions) | price: free to enter | best for: food vendors
Granville Island is basically the Pike Place Market of Vancouver, but it’s an even bigger public market if you can imagine that. There are tons of food vendors selling everything from produce to fine cheeses and pastries. The best way to experience it is on a Granville Island Food Tour so you can try as much as possible!
Explore Downtown Vancouver
Vancouver, BC’s downtown is alive and well with many shops and restaurants to explore. Many of the best restaurants in Vancouver BC are located downtown, like Medina Cafe for Middle Eastern brunch JAPADOG for Japanese-inspired hot dogs. The Vancouver Public Library is also worth a stop, if for no other reason than admiring the stunning architecture and rooftop deck.
You can also hop on a Vancouver Sightseeing Tour that takes you to the Vancouver Tower.
Shop around Gastown
Gastown is the oldest commercial district in Vancouver, British Columbia and is best known for its stunning Victorian architecture, small makers’ shops, and art galleries. It can get touristy in peak season, but it’s worth visiting stores like Out & About Boutique for their stylish Japanese pieces or Coastal Peoples for their Indigenous artworks.
Love food? Gastown has a ton of good restaurants. You can experience a bunch on this Gastown Food Tour. Or hit up restaurants on your own and take this nighttime Gastown Ghost Tour.
Taste your way through Chinatown
Vancouver’s Chinatown is the second largest in North America and is known for having the only Chinese garden built outside of China, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. As you can imagine, this is also a haven for authentic Asian restaurants, like Bao Bei for dim sum or Phnom Penh for Cambodian food.
If you want to check out the area with a chef, take this Chef-Guided Chinatown Tasting Tour that also takes you to the botanical gardens.
Visit the museums
I don’t consider myself a big museum person, but I could easily spend the better part of a day exploring the unique museums of Vancouver BC. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Museum of Vancouver (MOV) – Vancouver’s civic history
- Vancouver Aquarium – Canada’s largest aquarium, located in Stanley Park
- Museum of Anthropology (MOA) – Indigenous art museum
- Beaty Biodiversity Museum – Natural history with a focus on Vancouver’s naturescape
- Chinese Canadian Museum – Canadian Chinese history museum
Walk a suspension bridge
Another one of my favorite things to do in Vancouver BC is exploring the suspension bridges. Yes, that’s right, there are multiple suspension bridges in British Columbia. The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is iconic to Vancouver. It stretches 450 feet across the Canadian wilderness and rainforest.
That said, I’m partial to Lynn Canyon’s Bridge, which is shorter and covers less ground, but it’s far less expensive, and the crowds are usually a fraction of the size.
Don’t plan on renting a car? This Vancouver Full-Day Sightseeing Tour includes pick-up from your hotel and delivery to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Go on a shopping spree
Being the most popular city in Western Canada, it’s not surprising that Vancouver boasts a remarkable shopping scene. Main Street in Riley Park near Queen Elizabeth Park is an iconic street for cute cafes and locally-owned shops, like Timeless Antiques or The Sellution Quality Consignment. 4th Street in Kitsilano is another good option with both modern and vintage mid-century furnishings.
Check out the local breweries
No Vancouver itinerary is complete without grabbing a pint at a BC brewery, and there are enough here to even give Seattle a run for its money. I’m a fan of 33 Acres Brewing Company for their hipster decor, beer, and equally yummy coffee drinks. From there, walk over to Brassneck Brewery for their industrial-meets-western vibe and excellent microbrews.
Visit Vancouver’s best parks
Vancouver is a green city with parks that rival many of Seattle’s parks. One of my favorites, Queen Elizabeth Park, is beloved by visitors and locals for its expansive view, rolling hills, and tropical greenhouse. Or check out Lighthouse Park in west Vancouver for old growth forest, bird watching, and an iconic lighthouse viewpoint.
Eat your way around Richmond
Richmond is a short jaunt from Vancouver proper and 100% worth it if you’re hungry for authentic Asian food (no offense, Chinatown!). If you only have time for one stop, let it be the Richmond Public Market. It’s an Asian food hall with options across different types of Asian cuisine. Note that most places are Canadian cash only, so stop by an ATM!
If you are visiting in the summertime, check out the Richmond Night Market. It’s a massive food market with games for kids, rides, and dozens of creative food vendors.
Go whale watching
If whale watching is on your Pacific Northwest bucket list, you’ll want to visit Vancouver BC, around April through October (ideally May through September) to have the best odds. Here are some tours to book your next adventure:
Vancouver Canada itinerary
Now that I walked through everything you should do in Vancouver, here’s my suggested itinerary for spending three epic days in Vancouver, BC. You can always tack on more days if you want to include extra day trips.
1st Day: Peruse Vancouver’s cool neighborhoods
- Grab brunch at the Granville Island Public Market
- Take the False Creek ferries (which depart the market every 15 minutes) and ride to the Plaza of Nations
- Walk through Chinatown, stopping to explore the Chinese botanical gardens
- Dinner, drinks, and shopping in Gastown
2nd Day: Hang by the Water
- Rent e-bikes and bike the Sea Wall at Stanley Park
- Check out the Vancouver Aquarium
- Spend the day at Kits Beach or go on a whale watching tour
- End with beers and bites at Mt. Pleasant breweries
3rd Day: Explore the parks & Richmond
- Explore Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory
- Drive out to spend the day in Richmond
- End with a sunset walk at Lighthouse Park
More to do around Vancouver
After you plan your Vancouver itinerary, check out my other guides to nearby destinations.
