Vancouver travel guides
In-depth guides to plan every part of your Vancouver trip, from the city and the North Shore to Whistler, Victoria and the Okanagan
Sightseeing and city highlights (15)
Canada Place
A guide to Canada Place, Vancouver's sail-roofed waterfront landmark — the cruise terminal, FlyOver Canada, and how to see it without paying anything.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
How to visit Capilano Suspension Bridge Park — admission, opening hours, getting there without a car, and how to time it around crowds.
English Bay
A guide to English Bay Beach in Vancouver's West End — swimming, sunset views, the Inukshuk statue, nearby food, and how it connects to Stanley Park.
FlyOver Canada
What FlyOver Canada actually is, how much it costs, how long the whole visit takes, and whether the flight-simulator ride is worth it on a Vancouver trip.
Gastown
A practical guide to Gastown — the steam clock, Victorian architecture, walking routes, food, and how to avoid the neighborhood's tourist traps.
Granville Island Public Market
How to visit Granville Island Public Market — best vendors, getting there without a car, and how to avoid the worst weekend crowds.
Grouse Mountain
A practical guide to Grouse Mountain — Skyride prices and timing, the Grouse Grind, grizzly bear viewing, winter skiing, and how to pair it with Capilano.
Hop-on hop-off Vancouver
How Vancouver's hop-on hop-off bus tours work — routes, stops, ticket prices, and whether it beats using TransLink for a first-time sightseeing day.
Queen Elizabeth Park
A guide to Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver — the Bloedel Conservatory, quarry gardens, city viewpoint, and how it compares to VanDusen Garden nearby.
Science World
A practical guide to Science World — the geodesic dome, exhibits, OMNIMAX theatre, current admission, and how to get there by SkyTrain.
Stanley Park
A practical guide to Stanley Park — the seawall loop, biking versus walking, beaches, viewpoints, wildlife, and how much time to actually budget.
Stanley Park Seawall guide
A practical guide to the Stanley Park Seawall, covering the 8.8-kilometre loop, walking vs cycling, key stops, bike rentals, and realistic time budgets.
Vancouver in one day
A realistic one-day Vancouver sightseeing plan covering Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown and the downtown waterfront, with honest timing notes.
Vancouver Lookout
A guide to the Vancouver Lookout observation deck — ticket prices, the 360-degree view, best time to visit, and how it compares to free viewpoints.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
A guide to VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver — the Elizabethan hedge maze, seasonal highlights, admission prices, and nearby Queen Elizabeth Park.
Nature and outdoors (10)
Best hikes near Vancouver
A ranked, honest guide to the best day hikes around Vancouver, from the punishing Grouse Grind to easy rainforest loops and stretch trips to Joffre Lakes.
Cypress Lookout viewpoint guide
Cypress Lookout is a free roadside viewpoint on Cypress Mountain with sweeping views over Howe Sound, the North Shore, and the city — here's how to reach
Garibaldi Lake hiking guide
What to know before hiking to Garibaldi Lake near Squamish — distance, elevation gain, camping, Black Tusk views, and why it's a serious backcountry
The Grouse Grind hiking guide
The Grouse Grind is a 2.9 km, 850 m elevation-gain hike up Grouse Mountain, free but one-way only and seasonally closed — here's what to know before you
Lighthouse Park guide
Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver has 75 hectares of old-growth Douglas fir, a working lighthouse, and free rocky shoreline viewpoints — a quiet
Lynn Canyon guide
A practical guide to Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver, covering the free suspension bridge, Twin Falls Loop, swimming holes, and how to get there.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park guide
Pacific Spirit Regional Park near UBC has roughly 73 km of forest trails and beach access down to Spanish Banks and Wreck Beach, free and quieter than
Quarry Rock hike guide
A practical guide to the Quarry Rock hike from Deep Cove, covering distance, difficulty, crowds, and parking on this popular North Shore viewpoint trail.
Rainforest walks on the North Shore
A guide to temperate rainforest walking trails across North and West Vancouver, comparing Lynn Canyon, Capilano's forest trails, and Lighthouse Park's old
Sea to Sky Gondola guide
A practical guide to the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, covering the ride, the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge, hiking trails, and how it compares to Grouse
Mountains and hiking (5)
Blackcomb Mountain guide
What sets Blackcomb Mountain apart from its sister peak Whistler Mountain — terrain, glacier skiing, summer activities, and when to choose each side.
Cypress Mountain guide
A guide to Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver's Olympic ski venue — terrain, snowshoeing, summer hiking to the lookout, and access without a gondola.
Mount Seymour guide
A guide to Mount Seymour Provincial Park in North Vancouver — hiking trails, beginner skiing, and why it's the North Shore's least commercial mountain.
Peak 2 Peak Gondola guide
How the Peak 2 Peak Gondola connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains — distance, ride time, ticket requirements, and when to ride it.
Whistler in summer
What Whistler offers in summer — mountain biking, alpine hiking, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, lake swimming, and how to get there from Vancouver.
Wildlife and whale watching (10)
Black bear viewing near Whistler
How to see black bears around Whistler — the guided scenic tours, best months, and how this compares honestly to Grouse Mountain and Campbell River.
Best time for whale watching in British Columbia
A month-by-month guide to whale watching season in BC — when orcas peak, when humpbacks arrive, and which region gives you the best odds each month.
Bald eagle watching near Squamish
When and where to see wintering bald eagles at Brackendale near Squamish — season, viewing spots, and what's honestly bookable while you're there.
Grizzly bear watching near Campbell River, Vancouver Island
Wild grizzly bear tours from Campbell River, Vancouver Island — how they differ from Grouse Mountain's captive bears, season, cost and logistics.
Orca vs. humpback whale season in BC
Orcas peak June to September, humpbacks July to October. A practical comparison of season, behavior and where each is more likely in BC.
BC's salmon run — where and when to see it near Vancouver
When and where to see BC's salmon run — the Capilano River hatchery in North Vancouver, plus honest notes on Goldstream and the Adams River.
Vancouver Aquarium visitor guide
How to visit the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park — hours, tickets, what's inside, and how it fits with a broader Stanley Park day.
Whale watching from Vancouver
What to expect from a whale watching tour departing Vancouver itself — boat types, prices, realistic sighting odds, and how it compares to Victoria.
Whale watching from Victoria
Why Victoria is one of the best whale watching bases in the world, how to plan the trip from Vancouver, and which boat type to pick.
Wildlife watching in Vancouver — a starting guide
Wildlife watching options based in Vancouver itself — whale watching, seal encounters, Grouse Mountain's grizzlies, and free spots to see eagles and seals.
Water activities (9)
Bowen Island as a day trip from Vancouver
How to do Bowen Island as a day trip, on foot or with a car, plus what to actually do once you're there, from Snug Cove's village to the Killarney Lake
Kayaking from Deep Cove, the easiest launch point on the North Shore
Deep Cove is BC's best-known kayak launch village. How to rent independently or book a guided tour, get there without a car, and pair it with Quarry Rock.
Kayaking False Creek and Granville Island
Paddling False Creek around Granville Island is calm and beginner-friendly. What you'll see, how it compares to the Aquabus, and what to pair it with.
Kayaking Indian Arm, what to know before you go
Indian Arm is a dramatic fjord north of Vancouver. What a genuine kayak expedition involves, and why most visitors do better with a guided boat tour.
Jet boating in Vancouver
Vancouver has no dedicated jet boat product — here's what's actually bookable for a fast, thrill-boat experience, and how it compares.
Kayaking in Vancouver, a complete guide
Where to kayak around Vancouver, guided tours vs independent rentals, skill level needed, and honest tips on cold water, tides, and gear.
Paddleboarding in Vancouver
Where to paddleboard in Vancouver, why most rentals are independent shops rather than tours, and what a first-timer should know before renting.
Sailing in Vancouver
What a guided sailboat cruise from North Vancouver actually involves, how it compares to a motorized harbour cruise, and when to go.
Snorkeling with salmon in BC
Where salmon-run snorkeling genuinely happens in BC, when it runs, and the closest seal-snorkel alternative actually bookable near Vancouver.
Adventure (8)
ATV and off-road tours in Whistler
No bookable ATV tour exists for Whistler through GetYourGuide yet. Local operators, typical pricing, and bookable backcountry alternatives to consider.
Bungee jumping near Whistler
WildPlay runs bungee near Whistler-Squamish, but it isn't bookable through GetYourGuide. Typical logistics and bookable adjacent thrill activities inside.
Canyoning on Vancouver's North Shore
Canyoning near Lynn Canyon isn't bookable through GetYourGuide yet. What canyoning involves, the terrain, safety, and bookable North Shore alternatives.
White-water rafting near Squamish
White-water rafting on the Elaho and Squamish rivers — season, rapid class, what to bring, and how to combine it with the Sea to Sky Gondola.
Rock climbing in Squamish
Squamish is one of Canada's best-known climbing destinations. The Stawamus Chief, Murrin Park, and how non-climbers can still see the terrain from above.
Sea-to-Sky adventure activities guide
Planning a Sea-to-Sky adventure trip — ziplining, via ferrata, rafting, climbing, and the gondola across Squamish and Whistler, by season and budget.
Via ferrata near Squamish and Whistler
The only bookable via ferrata in the Sea-to-Sky corridor sits on Whistler Mountain, not Squamish. What via ferrata is, where to book it, and the season.
Ziplining in Whistler
Whistler ziplining compared — Ziptrek's canopy circuits vs the Longest Zipline in North America, prices, restrictions, and which tour suits your group.
Food and drink (10)
Best restaurants in Vancouver
A use-case guide to Vancouver's restaurant scene — splurge dinners, budget eats, seafood, Asian cuisine and view dining, organized by what you need.
Chinatown food guide
How to eat well in Vancouver's historic Chinatown, from cart-style dim sum to Cantonese bakeries, plus how it compares to Richmond's food scene.
Craft beer and breweries in Vancouver
Vancouver's craft beer scene, from Granville Island Brewing's 1984 origins to Mount Pleasant's “Yeast Van” cluster, plus which guided tastings are worth
Gastown food tour guide
How Vancouver's Gastown food tours work, what the standard and elite versions include, and how to build your own tasting walk through Water Street instead.
Granville Island food guide
How to eat through Granville Island's Public Market and brewery — real vendors, prices, and whether the guided food tour beats browsing solo.
Richmond Night Market guide
How to visit Richmond Night Market, one of North America's largest night markets, including transit, admission, what to eat, and crowd timing.
Okanagan wine tours from Vancouver
Okanagan wine country is a 4-5 hour drive or 1-hour flight from Vancouver, not a day trip. How to actually plan a wine trip to Kelowna and West Kelowna.
Richmond dumpling trail
How to build a self-guided dumpling crawl through Richmond's Alexandra Road Food Street, near YVR, with prices, xiao long bao tips, and transit logistics.
Vancouver's coffee culture
A guide to Vancouver's independent third-wave coffee scene, the neighborhoods that define it, typical prices, and a self-guided coffee crawl route.
Best food tours in Vancouver
Vancouver's guided food-tasting tours compared by neighborhood — Gastown, Granville Island, North Van and Little Italy — with honest DIY advice.
Culture and history (8)
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art — what to expect and how to visit
A visitor's guide to the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in downtown Vancouver — hours, admission, what's inside, and who it's worth visiting for.
Chinatown Vancouver — history, the classical garden, and what to see
Vancouver's Chinatown carries a history of discrimination and resilience — the head tax, the 1907 riot, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, and what to see today.
First Nations experiences in Vancouver — bookable, hands-on ways to connect with local culture
Beyond museums — guided canoe tours, cultural walks, and Indigenous-led experiences in Vancouver led directly by First Nations guides and operators.
Gastown history — from sawmill saloon to Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood
The real history behind Gastown's Victorian streets, the steam clock, and Gassy Jack's statue — how a sawmill-town saloon became Vancouver's origin point.
Granville Island artisans — the studios and makers behind the market
Beyond the Public Market — Granville Island's working artist studios, glassblowing, ceramics, and the industrial history behind its arts community.
Indigenous culture in Vancouver — museums, art, and experiences worth your time
Where to experience Coast Salish and Northwest Coast Indigenous culture in Vancouver — museums, public art, and guided experiences.
Museum of Anthropology at UBC — what to see and how to plan your visit
A visitor's guide to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC — the Great Hall, admission, hours, and getting there from downtown Vancouver.
Vancouver Art Gallery — what's inside and whether it's worth your time
A visitor's guide to the Vancouver Art Gallery downtown — the building's courthouse history, the Emily Carr collection, admission, and hours.
Day trips from Vancouver (11)
Bowen Island day trip from Vancouver — the easiest ferry escape
A short BC Ferries hop from Horseshoe Bay makes Bowen Island one of Vancouver's easiest half-day or full-day escapes. Here's how to plan it.
Butchart Gardens day trip from Vancouver — full planning guide
Getting from Vancouver to Butchart Gardens in a day — ferry and tour options, admission prices, seasonal hours, and how much time to budget.
Fraser Valley day trip from Vancouver — Fort Langley, farms, and back roads
A slower-paced Vancouver day trip through the Fraser Valley — Fort Langley's history, farm stands, and small towns, without a ferry or a mountain highway.
Harrison Hot Springs day trip from Vancouver — lake, mineral pools, and mountains
Planning a Harrison Hot Springs day trip from Vancouver — driving times, the mineral hot springs, the lake, and whether it's worth an overnight instead.
Joffre Lakes Provincial Park guide
Joffre Lakes has three turquoise glacier-fed lakes past Pemberton, roughly 2.5-3 hours from Vancouver, with a permit system in peak season and a genuine
Okanagan from Vancouver — why it's not a day trip and how to plan the visit
Getting from Vancouver to the Okanagan — driving and flight times, why it needs at least two days, and how to plan a Kelowna wine country visit.
Sea-to-Sky day trip from Vancouver — Squamish and the gondola without Whistler
A half-day to full-day trip along the Sea-to-Sky Highway covering Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola, and Squamish, without pushing on to Whistler.
Squamish day trip from Vancouver — climbing, waterfalls, and the gondola
Planning a Squamish day trip from Vancouver — driving times, the Stawamus Chief, Shannon Falls, the gondola, and where to eat in town.
Tofino trip from Vancouver — why it's not a day trip and how to plan it
Getting from Vancouver to Tofino, real travel times by ferry, road, and air, and why this Pacific coast destination needs at least two days.
Victoria day trip from Vancouver — ferry times, costs, and what to see
Planning a Victoria day trip from Vancouver — BC Ferries schedules, driving times, seaplane options, real costs, and whether the crossing is worth it.
Whistler day trip from Vancouver — is it worth doing in one day
How to do Whistler as a day trip from Vancouver — driving times, tour options, real costs, and an honest verdict on whether one day is enough.
Skiing and winter sports (7)
Cypress Mountain skiing — Vancouver's steepest local hill
What to know about skiing Cypress Mountain — terrain difficulty, prices, its 2010 Winter Olympics legacy, and how it compares to Grouse and Whistler.
Grouse Mountain in winter — skiing, night skiing and snow season
What Grouse Mountain offers once it switches from sightseeing to a ski hill — season dates, lift prices, night skiing, and how it compares to Whistler.
Mount Seymour in winter — Vancouver's quietest ski hill
What Mount Seymour offers in winter — beginner-friendly terrain, low prices, snowshoeing and tubing, and how it compares to Grouse and Cypress.
BC ski season near Vancouver — a complete overview
Everything about skiing near Vancouver — season dates, how Whistler compares to the North Shore hills, prices, and how to plan a winter trip around snow.
Snowshoeing near Vancouver — trails, rentals and prices
Where to snowshoe near Vancouver — the Sea to Sky Gondola, Grouse, Cypress and Mount Seymour — with rental prices, difficulty levels, and what to wear.
Whistler skiing — season, prices and what to expect
A practical guide to skiing Whistler Blackcomb — season dates, lift ticket prices, terrain by ability, getting there without a car, and how it compares
Whistler vs Grouse for skiing — which one for your trip
An honest comparison of skiing Whistler Blackcomb versus Grouse Mountain — terrain, prices, travel time, and which suits a short Vancouver trip.
Family travel (6)
Capilano Suspension Bridge with kids — what to know
A family-focused guide to visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge Park — which sections suit which ages, safety, prices, and how to pace a visit with kids.
Grouse Mountain with kids — grizzlies, coaster and pacing tips
A family-focused guide to Grouse Mountain — the grizzly bear refuge, alpine coaster, lumberjack show, prices, and how to pace a visit with kids.
Playland and the PNE — Vancouver's amusement park
What to know about Playland and the PNE Fair — season dates, rides, prices, and how it compares to other Vancouver family attractions.
Stanley Park with kids — free and low-cost family activities
A family-focused guide to Stanley Park — the Seawall, the mini train, Second Beach pool, and how to plan a full day with kids largely for free.
Vancouver Aquarium with kids — what to expect
A family-focused guide to the Vancouver Aquarium — exhibits kids love, prices, timing, and how it fits into a Stanley Park day.
Vancouver with kids — a practical family planning guide
A practical guide to visiting Vancouver with children — top attractions by age, rainy-day options, getting around with a stroller, and realistic pacing.
Seasonal guides (8)
Best time to visit Vancouver — a season-by-season breakdown
When to visit Vancouver depends on the goal — this guide compares all four seasons on weather, crowds, price, and what's actually worth doing in each.
Cherry blossoms in Vancouver — when and where to see them
When Vancouver's cherry blossoms peak, which neighborhoods have the most trees, and how to plan around a bloom window that shifts every year.
Vancouver festivals — the year's events, month by month
A month-by-month calendar of Vancouver's main festivals and events, from Dine Out Vancouver in January to the Christmas Market in December.
Vancouver in fall — weather, whales, and the shoulder-season sweet spot
What September-October in Vancouver looks like — near-summer weather in September, humpback whale season, fewer crowds, and when the rain really returns.
Vancouver in spring — weather, cherry blossoms, and what to plan around
What spring in Vancouver actually looks like — rainfall, temperatures, cherry blossom timing, and which activities are worth planning around in March-May.
Vancouver in summer — weather, whales, and what to book ahead
What June-August in Vancouver actually looks like — reliable dry weather, peak crowds and prices, and what to book ahead versus what to leave flexible.
Vancouver in winter — rain, Whistler skiing, and what actually works
What November-February in Vancouver looks like — the wettest months of the year in the city, offset by Whistler's ski season and the lowest prices
Vancouver rain guide — how wet it really gets and how to plan around it
How much it actually rains in Vancouver by month, and the indoor and near-indoor activities that make a wet day work rather than wreck a trip.
Trip planning (8)
First time in Vancouver — what to know before you go
A first-timer's orientation to Vancouver — layout, must-sees, entry requirements, transit basics, and common mistakes before your first visit.
Getting around Vancouver — transit, driving, and day-trip logistics
How to get around Vancouver — TransLink fares and the Compass Card, SkyTrain and SeaBus routes, when to rent a car, and getting to Whistler and Victoria.
Is Vancouver expensive? A real look at the numbers
Where Vancouver is genuinely expensive (hotels, dining out, parking) and where it isn't (transit, free attractions), with real CAD numbers.
The perfect 3 days in Vancouver — a day-by-day plan
A day-by-day 3-day Vancouver plan — Stanley Park and downtown, Granville Island and Gastown, and a North Shore day at Capilano and Grouse Mountain.
How many days do you need in Vancouver?
Whether to plan 2, 4, or 7 days in Vancouver depends on how much of the region — Whistler, Victoria, Sea-to-Sky — you want to fold in beyond the city
Vancouver neighborhoods guide — what each area is actually like
A guide to Vancouver's main neighborhoods — Gastown, Yaletown, Kitsilano, the West End, and more — by character, food, and what to expect.
Vancouver on a budget — realistic costs and how to cut them
Realistic daily budgets for Vancouver by travel style, plus concrete ways to cut costs on accommodation, transit, food, and attractions without missing
Where to stay in Vancouver — a neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide
Which Vancouver neighborhood to book — downtown, Yaletown, the West End, Kitsilano, and Gastown compared for first-timers, families, couples,
Getting around (6)
BC Ferries guide — getting to Vancouver Island
How BC Ferries works for visitors heading from Vancouver to Victoria and Vancouver Island — routes, fares, reservations, and getting to the terminal.
Car rental in Vancouver — when you need one and when you don't
Honest guidance on renting a car in Vancouver — daily costs, parking, when a rental actually pays off for day trips, and when it's a waste of money.
Driving the Sea-to-Sky Highway — a practical guide
How to drive Highway 99 from Vancouver to Whistler — drive times, the best stops in Squamish, road conditions, and self-drive vs a guided tour.
SeaBus guide — crossing to the North Shore
How to use Vancouver's SeaBus harbour ferry to reach the North Shore — fares, crossing time, schedule, and connecting to Grouse Mountain and Capilano.
TransLink and SkyTrain guide for visitors
How to use Vancouver's TransLink system — SkyTrain lines, Compass Card fares and zones, buses, SeaBus, and tips for getting around without a car.
Getting from YVR to downtown Vancouver
How to get from YVR to downtown Vancouver — SkyTrain fares and timing, taxi and rideshare costs, and which option makes the most sense.
Comparisons (8)
Capilano vs Lynn Canyon — which suspension bridge is worth it
An honest comparison of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park and Lynn Canyon Park, covering price, crowds, bridge size, and which one actually suits your trip.
Capilano or Lynn Canyon — how to actually decide
A decision framework for choosing Capilano Suspension Bridge or Lynn Canyon Park, built around traveler type rather than a feature comparison.
Grouse Mountain vs Capilano — which North Shore attraction to pick
An honest comparison of Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge — price, experience, crowds, and whether you actually need to do both.
Grouse Mountain vs Cypress Mountain vs Mount Seymour
A factual comparison of Vancouver's three North Shore mountains — access, cost, crowds, and which one suits which kind of visitor.
Sea to Sky Gondola vs Grouse Mountain
A balanced comparison of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish and Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver — distance, cost, crowds, and which suits which
Summer vs winter in Vancouver — which season fits your trip
An honest comparison of visiting Vancouver in summer versus winter — weather, crowds, prices, and which activities each season actually supports.
Vancouver vs Victoria — which city to prioritize
An honest comparison of Vancouver and Victoria as travel destinations — atmosphere, cost, things to do, and how to decide how much time to give each.
Whistler vs Victoria as a day trip from Vancouver
An honest comparison of Whistler and Victoria as day trips from Vancouver — travel time, cost, what you actually see, and which suits your trip better.
The honest planner (6)
How to avoid crowds in Vancouver
Practical timing strategies for avoiding crowds at Vancouver's busiest attractions — Stanley Park, Capilano, Granville Island, and cruise-ship days.
Is Capilano Suspension Bridge worth it? An honest verdict
Is Capilano Suspension Bridge Park worth CAD 65-70? An honest breakdown of what you get and when the free Lynn Canyon alternative makes more sense.
Overrated vs worth it in Vancouver — an honest head-to-head
An honest, head-to-head look at which Vancouver attractions live up to the hype and which are genuinely overrated, from the Seawall to the steam clock.
Vancouver scams to avoid
The real scams and rip-offs to watch for as a Vancouver visitor — unlicensed transport, fake tickets, timeshare pitches, and overcharging patterns.
Vancouver tourist traps worth skipping (and what to do instead)
An honest rundown of Vancouver's real tourist traps — overpriced attractions, restaurant zones, and rip-offs — with better alternatives for each.
When to skip the Victoria day trip from Vancouver
An honest look at when a Victoria day trip from Vancouver isn't worth it — the real 10-13 hour time cost, and when to stay overnight instead.