All citiesVancouver Things to do and walking itinerary
Canada Vancouver travel guide
16 things to do in Vancouver, where to stay, airport transfers, 6 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Vancouver
- Granville Island — Former industrial peninsula with a public market, artisan studios and buskers, reached by tiny ferries. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Stanley Park — park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Vancouver Art Gallery — art museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Vancouver — Catholic cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Queen Elizabeth Park — city park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Vancouver Aquarium — public aquarium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 150 min)
- VanDusen Botanical Garden — botanical garden in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Christ Church Cathedral — cathedral church in Vancouver, British Columbia (visit ≈ 35 min)
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden — classical Chinese garden located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; adjacent to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Orpheum — performing arts building and former movie theatre in Vancouver, Canada (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Museum of Vancouver — museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Science World — science museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Robson Square — civic centre and plaza in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver — Gurdwara in Vancouver (visit ≈ 30 min)
- St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church — church building in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Hastings Mill — sawmill in Vancouver, Canada (visit ≈ 120 min)
2-day Vancouver walking itinerary
Starting point: Downtown. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.9 km · 13,380 steps · 2 h 11 min on the way): Granville Island → Stanley Park → Vancouver Aquarium → Christ Church Cathedral
- Day 2 (≈ 5.0 km · 6,690 steps · 1 h 6 min on the way): Vancouver Art Gallery → Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Vancouver → Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden → Orpheum
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Vancouver
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park — A swaying suspension bridge over a deep rainforest canyon, plus treetop walkways. (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Lynn Canyon Park — A quieter forest canyon with a free suspension bridge, waterfalls and swimming pools. (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Grouse Mountain — A mountain reached by gondola with sweeping views of city, harbour and islands; skiing in winter. (visit ≈ 180 min)
- Stanley Park Totem Poles — Carved totem poles of First Nations at Brockton Point, with the skyline behind them. (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Stawamus Chief — A giant granite dome at Squamish with steep trails to summits overlooking Howe Sound. (visit ≈ 240 min)
Where to stay in Vancouver
- Downtown: Shops, hotels and easy Canada Line access.
- Gastown: A cobbled historic area with bars and the steam clock.
- Yaletown: Restaurants in old warehouses near False Creek.
- West End: A calm area a walk from Stanley Park and English Bay.
- Kitsilano: Beaches, yoga studios and relaxed cafés.
Getting from the airport to Vancouver
- Vancouver (YVR): Canada Line train, no change ≈ 26 min.
Getting around
SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus connect the city; use a Compass or contactless card. The centre and seawall are great by bike.
Classic places to eat
- Vij’s: Modern Indian cooking since 1994; famous lamb popsicles.
- Phnom Penh: Cambodian-Vietnamese spot in Chinatown famous for chicken wings.
- Joe Fortes: Oyster bar and seafood since 1985.
- Tojo’s: Sushi from the chef who popularised the California roll.
- Granville Island Public Market: A covered waterfront market with snack stalls.
- Revolver: A Gastown café known for carefully brewed filter coffee.
MICHELIN-starred restaurants
Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- Published on Main — 1 MICHELIN star, Contemporary
- Masayoshi — 1 MICHELIN star, Sushi
- Kissa Tanto — 1 MICHELIN star, Japanese-Italian
- AnnaLena — 1 MICHELIN star, Contemporary
- Burdock & Co — 1 MICHELIN star, Contemporary Canadian
- Okeya Kyujiro — 1 MICHELIN star, Sushi
Romantic views
- English Bay Beach (Sunset): Sit on the driftwood logs and watch the sunset.
- Stanley Park Seawall (Afternoon): A shoreline path facing the mountains and sea.
- Queen Elizabeth Park (Sunset): Flower gardens and views from the city’s highest point.
- Prospect Point (Sunset): A lookout high above the Lions Gate Bridge.
Football stadiums in Vancouver
- BC Place: Home of Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Good to know before visiting Vancouver
- Fine: Cannabis is legal, but carrying it across any border, including to the US, is a crime.
- Fine: Open alcohol in public is banned in most places.
- Fine: Declare all food, plant and animal products at customs.
- Warning: Follow wildlife rules in nature: bears are real, never leave food out.
- Warning: Winters bring extreme cold and snow; dress for it.
- Price tags exclude sales tax, added at the till.
Extra rules for British Columbia
- Warning: The legal age for cannabis is 19.
- Some Vancouver beaches and parks allow alcohol in designated areas.
- Transit uses the Compass card or contactless payment.
- Emergency: 911
- Plugs: A/B, 120V
- Tap water: Tap water is safe to drink.
- Tipping: Tipping 15–20% is expected in restaurants.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Canada, Wikivoyage — Canada, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Vancouver travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Vancouver?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 2 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 13 places within walking distance.
- What are the top things to do in Vancouver?
- Highlights: Granville Island, Stanley Park, Vancouver Art Gallery, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Vancouver and Queen Elizabeth Park. The map has 16 things to do in total.
- Where to stay in Vancouver?
- Downtown: Shops, hotels and easy Canada Line access. Other options: Gastown, Yaletown, West End and Kitsilano.
- How do you get from the airport to Vancouver city centre?
- Vancouver (YVR): Canada Line train, no change ≈ 26 min.
- How do you get around Vancouver?
- SkyTrain, buses and the SeaBus connect the city; use a Compass or contactless card. The centre and seawall are great by bike.
- Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Vancouver?
- According to the last known data there are 6 starred restaurants: Published on Main (1 star), Masayoshi (1 star), Kissa Tanto (1 star), AnnaLena (1 star), Burdock & Co (1 star) and 1 more. Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
- What is the emergency number in Vancouver?
- Emergency: 911.
- Do you tip in Vancouver?
- Tipping 15–20% is expected in restaurants.
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