52 Coolest Things to Do in Vancouver
Whatever the season of your visit, there are so many cool things to do in Vancouver. Many people hear ‘Vancouver’ and think snow. I mean, yeah, one of the main things to do in Vancouver is to head out and hit the mountains, but there’s a lot more to Van City than skiing or snowboarding.
Vancouver is one of the biggest Canadian cities, surrounded by mountains and located on the coast, rich in indigenous history and has access to endless seafood, there’s enough activities in Vancouver to keep you busy for days (or weeks and months, if you have them).
I’ve been to Vancouver a few times now, and loved it more every time. Here are some of the best activities to keep you entertained in Vancouver…
Coolest things to do in Vancouver
1. Go for a walk in Stanley Park and quickly get lost in amongst 1,000 acres.
2. Blow your budget but feel like it was completely with a seaplane ride over downtown Vancouver.
3. Make the money up with a Toonie Tours free walking tour.
4. Then work hard to resist temptation as you wander around the boutique stores of Gastown.
5. Check out the Abbott & Cordova, 7 August 1971 photomural and learn the story behind it.
6. Do brunch at the Cactus Club Cafe.
7. Learn more about the story of Gassy Jack and get your pic with his statue.
8. Rent a kayak from Coal Harbour and see the city from the water.
9. Flip flop between whether to go nude or stay a proud prude on Wreck Beach.
10. Taste some of the best locally brewed beers with a Vancouver Brewery Tour.
11. Wander around the Lonsdale Quay Market.
12. Picnic at Deep Cove.
13. Once it reopens in 2020, test your nerves with a ride on the Sea to Sky Gondola over the Howe Sound.
14. Get lost in the hedge maze at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
15. Enjoy a happy hour cocktail at The Pourhouse.
16. Then maybe go feast on Italian food at Ask for Luigi.
17. Take a ferry over to Granville Island and visit the public market and art studios.
18. Don’t forget to blow up your Insta with a picture of the Giants mural while you’re there.
19. Dress up for a few drinks at The Diamond.
20. Weather permitting, read your book in Robson Square.
21. Be on your best behaviour with a visit to the Vancouver Police Museum.
22. Stop by The Sam Kee Jack Chow Building, aka the narrowest office building in the world.
23. Be your best detective self as you try to find the secret Cambie climbing tree.
24. If you’re successful, climb to the top for the best city views.
25. Do a day trip to Victoria.
READ MORE: How to Do a Road Trip from Vancouver to Banff
Check out my video of my day trip to Victoria with V2V Vacations
26. Grab some breakfast at Nelson the Seagull.
27. Try and catch a concert at the Commodore Ballroom, which has been a city staple since the 1920s.
28. Do dinner at Tacofino.
29. Burn off all that food with a 2.9km Grouse Grind hike up Grouse mountain.
30. Set your watch to the nightly 9pm cannon in Stanley Park.
31. Walk around the beautiful Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park for free.
32. Then consider paying the $10 to enter the even more impressive Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden next door.
33. Listen to a story by the indegenous storyteller in residence at the Vancouver Public Library.
34. Enjoy some of the best Asian fusion food at Bao-Bei.
35. Play a game of pool at Brickhouse Bar.
36. Stand by the Gastown steam clock for one of its hourly whistles.
37. Wander around Davie Village in the day time.
38. And then come back again once the clubs and pubs open.
39. Wrap up warm when you go on a whale watching excursion.
40. Go for grilled squid and gyozas at the summer Richmond Night Market.
41. Visit at Canada Place at sunrise and watch as the seaplanes take off.
42. Stretch your legs with a walk along the 17.5-mile seawall.
43. Check out some of the most amazing totem poles at the Museum of Anthropology.
44. Learn the story of Terry Fox and visit his statues in the Terry Fox Plaza.
45. Make a small donation to enter the GMS Observatory for some stargazing.
46. Watch a sunset from English Bay.
47. Stop by the Museum of Vancouver’s Neon Vancouver exhibit.
48. Shake off the nerves and brave a walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge through the rainforest on Vancouver’s North Shore.
49. Browse the Pacific Arts Market for souvenirs you don’t need.
50. Feel a little Canadian as you cheer at a Canucks ice hockey game at Rogers Arena.
51. Once it’s wrapped up, do a tour of the arena.
52. Venture to the top of The Lookout for the essential birds eye view of the city.
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