In British Columbia, located between the mountains and the Pacific coast, is the city of Vancouver. The city is beautiful and there are many interesting places to visit.
It has a large stretch of beaches to the west and is surrounded by natural parks to the east. It is considered the most expensive city in North America but also one of the safest cities in the world.
In this post I tell you about the 30 Essential things to do in Vancouver, I add some interesting accommodation options and some tips for you to prepare your trip to Canada.
30 MUST SEE AND DO IN VANCOUVER, CANADA
1. Start getting to know the city with a guided tour
To begin with, you can book a free tour of Vancouver, completely free and with a Spanish or English speaking guide. Although it is a bit short, but it is interesting and curious.
Although if you want to tour the city with a guide, who will explain many more things to you and take you through the most outstanding places in the city, it is worth booking a guided tour, it lasts 4 hours and you make the most of your time.
2. Stroll through Standley Park
It is my favorite part of the city. Standley park is the largest urban park in all of Canada. It has two lakes and kilometers and kilometers of roads and trails to ride a bike, skate or walk while enjoying the views of the bay.
Stanley Park is located in the northern part of the peninsula and right next to the city center, which makes it a perfect place to visit at any time. Within the park are Beaver Lake and the Lost Lagoon. At the southeastern tip of the peninsula we find the totem poles, replicas of the original ones carved by the natives of the region centuries ago.
3. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium and the Vancouver Seawall
The aquarium and the promenade are other places that we can visit in Stanley Park. To the north is Pospect Point, a restaurant with a terrace and a cozy atmosphere where we can enjoy a quiet meal with beautiful views.
In addition, it is easy to observe the native fauna of the area: some two hundred species of birds as well as raccoons, hares or squirrels.
Whether you are traveling with children or only adults, the option of visiting the Vancouver Aquarium is a must. It is one of the most beautiful aquariums I have seen, and although it is not very cheap, it is a place that you cannot miss. Tickets can be purchased online.
4. Do not miss the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary
It is located in the heart of the metropolitan area, between Richards and Dunsmuir streets. It is in the French, late Gothic style. It opened in December 1900 and was built on the same site where the church with the same name rested. It is striking to find this construction together with the rest of the buildings full of glass and steel.
5. The Chinese Garden is the perfect place to disconnect in Vancouver
It is the only life-size garden of its kind outside of China. It was built in 1985 in the Chinatown of the city of Vancouver, created by landscapers from the country of the rising sun. It is advisable to check the visiting hours because they vary depending on the season of the year. The garden offers guided tours as well as temporary exhibitions and various celebrations such as the Chinese New Year. In the park we can enjoy typical Chinese flora, including bamboo trees and in the center of the park we will find a small pond populated with Koi fish.
6. English Bay
English Bay is located between the Strait of Georgia and the center of the city.
It is a place famous for its beaches and for the Celebration of Light festival, which is held annually. The most popular beach in the area is English Bay Beach, home to the Inukshuk monument, a symbol of the Canadian Inuit. In English Bay we can also find other monuments to visit such as the A-maze-ing Laughter, a sculpture of giant humanoid statues with funny gestures, the work of Yue Minjun, located at the entrance to Stanley Park.
7. Visit the Anthropology Museum
The MOA has a large collection of historical objects from Canada; among them you can find aboriginal sculptures, totems or light masks. If what you want is to know in depth the culture of the natives who inhabited those lands, you cannot miss this museum. In addition to having permanent exhibitions on Canadian culture, the MOA also has objects from Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe.
8. Chinatown, an essential place to see in Vancouver
Once you arrive in this fabulous neighborhood, you will think that you have changed continents right away. This neighborhood is located between the financial district and Gastown. If you are also lucky enough to arrive in Vancouver between December and January, you will be in luck as the Chinese Festival is celebrated. A celebration full of light and color that will transport you to the Far East for a few days.
9. Enjoy the art at Vancouver Art Gallery
Art is one of the most important spaces in this avant-garde Canadian city. The Vancouver Art Gallery is one of the greatest exponents of modern art in the entire country, which, in addition to its large permanent and traveling collections, stands out for being located in an impressive neoclassical-style building, specifically in the old provincial court. Whether you are an art lover or not, the Vancouver Art Gallery is a must-see.
10. Stroll through Queen Elizabeth Park
If you like gardens, you will fall in love with Queen Elizabeth Park. It is filled with gardens that are fantastically manicured down to the smallest detail. The landscapes that the gardening specialists who care for this park manage to create are a work of art, in fact, many couples who get married in Vancouver come to this place to take their wedding photos. This park is also one of the highest points from the city, so the views you can get from there will make the visit worthwhile. Inside the enclosure you will find the Bloedel Conservatory, a glass dome that recreates a tropical landscape with more than 140 free exotic birds and 500 plants and trees in a climate specially designed for this purpose.
11. Enjoy nature in its purest form at Grouse Mountain
This mountain is one of the most accessible in Vancouver and is located in the north of the city. It stands out for having a highly visited ski resort during the winter months, as well as being a refuge for wild animals. We can access Grouse Mountain by chairlift or hiking, although we recommend that if it's your first time you don't go up on foot as you can find slopes of up to 800 meters. Once up, you can enjoy wonderful views of this beautiful Canadian city.
If you are a fan of skiing or snowboarding, it is an excellent option to end the day, after touring the city you can enjoy some descents and spectacular night views of the city.
12. Cross the Capilano Bridge
This well-known bridge is located in an adventure park north of the city of Vancouver. It owes its name to the fact that it is suspended above the Capilano River and is so impressive due to its dimensions. It measures over 130 meters in length and hangs approximately 70 meters from the Capilano River. There is the option of booking an excursion where you visit this spectacular bridge among other activities and it is a good option if you do not rent a car.
13. Eat a dog at BC PLACE enjoying a game of Canadian football
BC Place is a well-known soccer stadium, but especially Canadian soccer, something you have to see in Vancouver is one of these matches, you will be amazed by its roof as it is part of the city's landscape. You can also visit the library that is public.
14. Come to photograph Canada Place
Canada Place has a roof in the shape of five ship sails, it's incredible, that's why it's one of the things to see in Vancouver, it's one of the emblems of the city.
This building is located on the Burrard Inlet waterfront in Vancouver. The building houses the convention center, a hotel, the city's World Trade Center and the FlyOver Canada cirtual flight.
15. Get lost in Lynn Canyon
This is a fantastic natural park that you must visit in Vancouver. It is located in the North Vancouver district and has more than 250 hectares of land full of exuberant vegetation. In the park there are numerous routes and paths of different difficulties for hiking. In addition, the Baden-Powell trail crosses the Lynn Canyon on a fantastic suspension bridge.
16. Walk down Gran Ville Street
Most of the streets in Vancouver are very long and kilometer long, Granville Street is no exception. It crosses the entire city from north to south. This street gets its name from the first settlement that took place in the current area of the city. It is the most central area, the main one in Vancouver and surely the street that you will pass through the most during your stay.
17. Go see a Vancouver Canucks game at Rogers Arena
As you already know, ice hockey is the country's sport par excellence. Despite the high ticket prices, watching a Vancouver Canucks game at Rogers Arena is a worthwhile Vancouver experience. It will help you get infected with the sporting spirit of Vancouverites and their devotion to ice hockey. In case you want to choose a cheaper option, the sports bars are full of atmosphere and people, fans of the Canucks, true fans, who will make your night a unique and fun experience. Drinking beer in liter jugs, eating fried chicken wings and potatoes with dressing, complement the perfect night to finish enjoying the experience.
18. Visit the University of British Columbia
The university campus of one of the most prestigious universities in North America is just a bus ride from the city. Both the exterior and interior study areas are worth visiting. You will be able to admire the architecture of the main building and the renovated library as well as the green space that surrounds it all.
19. Take in the views from Vancouver Lookout
It is located on top of the Harbor Centre, a skyscraper located in the financial district of the city and one of the most emblematic points of Vancouver. It is located in the crown of the building at 168m high and offers a 360 degree panoramic view from where you can admire the city and the port. Tickets can be bought at the tourist information office in front of the Vancouver Convention Center and also at its Web page. With this ticket you can access the building throughout the day, the most recommended hours to visit the skyscraper being first thing in the morning and last thing in the afternoon, to observe the illuminated city and in the evening light.
20. Learn more about science at Science World Vancouver
It is located to the east of False Creek, it is an interactive science museum, if you are a lover of science and technology you will surely enjoy your visit. From the outside you can admire the spherical construction of the building, which is surprisingly illuminated at night. The activities and experiments in the exhibition are ideal for the enjoyment of children and adults.
21. Orca Watching, an incredible thing to do in Vancouver
It is a unique and highly recommended experience. Although it is an excursion that costs its own, I loved being able to enjoy this show. We were very lucky to be able to see a couple of them and they will be playful and eager to greet us.
22. Get to know the oldest part of the city, Gastown
Gastown is the oldest part of the city. With a more classical architecture, with buildings with a maximum height of four stories, wide sidewalks and trees. In this area we can find cafeterias, craft workshops and small shops. On Water Street, in the center of the Gastown neighborhood, is the Steam Clock, which has become an icon of the city more casually than deliberately. It is a grandfather clock, of Victorian design but of current manufacture (1977) whose main function was to cover a steam vent from the street. Approximately every thirty minutes we can see steam rising from the chimneys located on the small roof that covers the clock. Everyone who visits the city has to make an appointment with the Steam Clock, even if it is only to take the courtesy photo.
Vancouver is a beautiful, modern city, full of glass, steel and lots of greenery. His intention to create a natural environment makes the city of Vancouver a very beautiful place. There are many options to get away from the city for half an hour or forty minutes and find natural parks, trails, rivers, and magical forests... So if you have enough time in the city, I recommend you get to know the surroundings.
23. Enjoy strolling through the West Point Gray
West Point Gray is a former hippie neighborhood and one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Vancouver. Here are some of the most expensive streets in the city.
In West Point Gray is the Zitsilano area, one of the main hippie centers in the 60s and the place where Greenpeace was born.
In the neighborhood are the beautiful beaches of Jericho and Spanish Banks.
In addition, in the same neighborhood is the University of British Columbia and the Museum of Anthropology.
24. Vancouver Bike Tour
A different way to get to know the surroundings of Vancouver is to take a bike tour. With this tour a route is made through the natural environments of Vancouver such as Stanley Park and the Vancouver forest from where you can appreciate spectacular views of the Lions Gate Bridge.
25. Lions Gate
This suspension bridge is one of the most popular on the west coast of Canada. Vaguely reminiscent of the San Francisco Bridge, but in this case in military green. Crossing the bridge, enjoying the views and taking a walk through the natural environment that surrounds it is one of the perfect activities to disconnect in Vancouver.
26. Take a trip to Whistler
North of Vancouver lie the fjords and mountains of British Columbia. Between mountains is Whistler, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Along the way to reach Whistler you will discover a mountainous landscape that leaves your mouth open. The British Columbia Coastal Range is beautiful. You cannot miss visiting the Shannon waterfalls, with more than 300 meters high.
In my case, I have traveled to Whistler twice and both times have been to spend a few days skiing. I tell you about what to do in Whistler in this post.
27. Visit the Grandville Island Market
This small market is full of fruit and vegetable stalls, fresh produce, local produce, bakeries, and souvenirs. It is located on the island of Grandville, which was formerly an industrial area and has been converted into a leisure area.
28. Stroll through Davie Village, Vancouver's LGTBIQ+ area
The neighborhood is a very warm area with a lot of atmosphere in the city. Its famous rainbow-colored crosswalks have become famous on all social networks.
In the neighborhood there are many accommodation options, many cafes, pubs... if you feel like staying in an area and going out at night, this is your area.
29. Take a trip to Victoria
If your intention is to get to know Vancouver Island, I advise you to dedicate 3 to 4 days to it. However, if you don't have that much time, you can take a 12-13h excursion from Vancouver.
On this tour you will visit Victoria and learn about its history as you walk through its historic center, visit the Parliament of British Columbia and the famous Fairmont Empress hotel.
30. Meet the British Columbia Coast
Hitting the Sea to Sky route or the Sunshine Coast route is one of the best things to do in British Columbia,
Along the way you will enjoy the British Columbia coastal range and fjords. The entire coast has small coves and beaches, detours to enjoy impressive waterfalls and plenty of trails for trekking.
If you don't want to go it alone, you can book a day trip that takes the Sea to Sky route.
BRITISH COLUMBIA POSTS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to Vancouver very much and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
If you liked this article, subscribe to the blog so you don't miss out on upcoming destinations, curiosities, travel tips and inspiration for your trips.
A hug and see you soon!
Comments