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Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, thanks to its stunning waterways and dramatic mountainous backdrop. It’s the perfect travel destination for those who love sightseeing because there’s no shortage of fascinating historic sites, cultural attractions, and fun things to do.
If you’re planning a vacation to Vancouver and wondering what to get up to on your trip, check out these 23 must-see tourist attractions.
1. Stanley Park
- Website: vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park
- Address: Vancouver, BC V6G 1Z4, Canada
- Opening hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily
Stanley Park is a peninsula adjacent to Downtown Vancouver and is the perfect place to escape into nature. A paved seawall path lies around the perimeter of the 1000-acre park, so you can enjoy fantastic views out to the ocean or toward the city. You can walk the seawall path in around three hours, but bike rentals are available if you want a faster pace. Look out for the Brockton Point Totem Poles along the way.
2. Granville Island Public Market
- Website: granvilleisland.com/public-market
- Address: 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
- Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm daily
Granville Island was once an industrial area but its warehouses have since been converted into cool studios, galleries, stores, restaurants, and micro-breweries. The biggest attraction here is the Public Market, where fresh produce, artisanal food and drink, and handmade arts and crafts are up for sale daily.
3. Grouse Mountain
- Website: grousemountain.com
- Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9
- Opening hours: Skyride operates 9 am – 9 pm daily
Grouse Mountain offers awesome panoramic views from its peak, and you can reach it within minutes when you take the Skyride gondola that operates year-round. You can try skating, skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing at the mountain’s peak. Hikers will love the challenging Grouse Grind trail, which locals know as Mother Nature’s StairMaster.
4. Vancouver Aquarium
- Website: vanaqua.org
- Address: 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5.30 pm daily
Set within the natural haven of Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium is a fantastic attraction for families. You’ll learn much about Canadian and international wildlife and get to see various marine animals, such as sea otters, seals, and turtles.
5. Museum of Anthropology
- Website: moa.ubc.ca
- Address: 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
The Museum of Anthropology is part of the University of British Columbia and has a variety of exhibits showcasing cultures from all over the world, but it specializes in the British Columbia First Nations. You’ll see a fantastic collection of indigenous artifacts and artworks, including an impressive display of large totem poles. The museum is temporarily closed for upgrades until June 2024, but it looks set to be even more insightful when it reopens.
6. Kitsilano Beach
- Website: vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/kitsilano-beach
- Address: 2305 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1B6
Kits Beach is where locals and tourists flock to sunbathe, take a dip, and play frisbee and volleyball. It also offers impressive views of the North Shore and its mountainous backdrop. If you’re serious about swimming, you may find it more comfortable in the heated Kistilano Pool, which is the largest outdoor saltwater pool in the world.
7. Canada Place
- Website: canadaplace.ca
- Address: 999 Canada Place Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3T4
Canada Place is an ultra-modern structure that serves as a cruise ship terminal, a convention center, and a sightseeing bus tour hub. It’s also home to FlyOver Canada, a unique flight stimulator that provides a birds-eye view of the country.
8. Gastown Steam Clock
Address: 305 Water St, Vancouver, BC V6B 1B9
Gastown is the most historic part of Vancouver and boasts fantastic Victorian architecture, cobblestone streets, and iron lamposts. There are lots of fantastic eateries, boutique stores, and points of interest here. Look out for the renowned Vancouver attraction the Steam Clock, which whistles every 15 minutes and runs on steam generated by plants in Georgia and Beatty Streets.
9. Chinatown
Chinatown, marked by the unmistakable Millenium Gate at its entrance, has been bustling with life for more than a century. You’ll eat some of the best authentic Asian food in the city here, and there are lots of traditional Chinese stores, historic buildings, and attractions to keep you busy.
10. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
- Website: vancouverchinesegarden.com
- Address: 578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2
- Opening hours: 9.30 am – 4 pm daily
This tranquil ‘garden of ease’ represents Ming Dynasty-era beauty and tradition with its water lilies, pagoda, rock forms, and lush plants. Take the 45-minute guided tour to learn about the Taoist principles upon which the garden was designed.
11. Capilano River Regional Park & Cleveland Dam
- Website: metrovancouver.org/capilano-river-regional-park
- Address: 5077 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K4, Canada
- Opening hours: 7 am – 5 pm
Capilano Lake is one of Vancouver’s main water reservoirs, and although you can’t reach the water itself, you can admire it from the Cleveland Dam. You’ll also get fantastic views of Lion Mountain and the Lower Mainland. Some excellent biking and hiking trails begin from Cleveland Dam, and you’ll find some fun water-based activities to try in the Capilano River Regional Park, including kayaking and fishing.
12. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
- Website: capbridge.com
- Address: 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7R 4J1
- Opening hours: Various; check the website before visiting.
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is Vancouver’s original tourist attraction. This 140-metre bridge hangs 70 meters above the Capilano Canyon and sways with each step you take. Although it’s perfectly safe, this bridge is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s a fantastic attraction for adrenaline junkies. For a real challenge, take a stroll on the Cliffwalk, a thrilling transparent suspended platform.
13. English Bay Beach
- Website: vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/english-bay-beach
- Address: Beach Ave, Vancouver, BC V6C 3C1
English Bay Beach is one of Vancouver’s prettiest and busiest beaches. There are lots of large trees dotted along the beachfront, which can offer cooling shade in the summer when you want to relax with a picnic or a book. If you’re visiting at the end of July, look out for the Celebration of Light, when an impressive fireworks display takes place here.
14. Museum of Vancouver
- Website: museumofvancouver.ca
- Address: 1100 Chestnut Street, Vanier Park in Kitsilano, Vancouver BC, V6J 3J9
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Sunday to Wednesday / 10 am – 8 pm Thursday to Saturday
The Museum of Vancouver lies in Vanier Park which is situated on the other side of False Creek from Downtown. It’s the best place in the city to learn about Vancouver’s history, and it’s conveniently situated in the same building as the Maritime Museum and the HR MacMillan Space Center. This is a great place to come for a family-friendly day of learning.
15. Queen Elizabeth Park
- Website: vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/queen-elizabeth-park
- Address: 4600 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V5Z 2Z1, Canada
- Opening hours: 6 am – 10 pm daily
Queen Elizabeth Park is home to several attractions, including a pitch-and-putt golf course, tennis courts, an outdoor arboretum, Bloedel Conservatory, and Little Mountain which is the highest point in Vancouver. You’ll enjoy fantastic views of the city here from 450 feet above sea level.
16. Science World
- Website: scienceworld.ca
- Address: 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 3Z7
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily
Kids love the interactive exhibits and demos on offer at Science World, which is set within a distinctive sphere-shaped building situated on Vancouver’s waterfront. Highlights include a real beaver lodge, a T. Rex skeleton, and a human-sized hamster wheel that teaches about kinetic energy.
17. VanDusen Botanical Garden
- Website: vandusengarden.org
- Address: 5151 Oak Street Vancouver BC V6M 4H1
- Opening hours: November – February: 10 am – 2 pm / March – April: 10 am 5 pm / May: 9 am – 6 pm / June – August: 9 am – 7 pm / September – October: 9 am – 5 pm
This 55-acre natural oasis is home to more than 7,500 plant species and features a hedge maze, a restaurant, and a cafe. You’ll spot owls, herons, and turtles living in the garden’s trees and ponds. Springtime sees the beautiful cherry trees in full bloom, and summertime brings a riot of color from flowering laburnums and rhododendrons. Fall is when the Japanese maples, rudbeckia, and ginkgo trees steal the show.
18. Vancouver Art Gallery
- Website: vanartgallery.bc.ca
- Address: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H7
- Opening hours: 10 am – 5 pm Monday, Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday / 10 am – 8 pm Thursday & Friday
Vancouver Art Gallery has a fantastic array of permanent exhibits celebrating contemporary and historic Asia-Pacific and First Nations artists. A major highlight is the collection of paintings by renowned British Columbian artist Emily Carr.
19. Vancouver Lookout
- Website: vancouverlookout.com
- Address: 555 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6, Canada
- Opening hours: 10 am – 6 pm daily
This 550-foot viewing tower offers incredible 360-degree views of the city. A glass elevator takes you to the observation deck, where historic photo panels let you see how much Vancouver has evolved over the years.
20. Sea to Sky Highway & Gondola
- Website: seatoskygondola.com
Address: W Cordova St &, Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6C 3N2, Canada
Opening hours: 9 – 5 pm daily
A popular road trip from Vancouver is the Sea to Sky Highway which takes you 80 miles to the town of Lillooet via Squamish and Whistler. The route is considered one of the most beautiful in North America, thanks to its incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountain Range.
Don’t miss out on the chance to take the Sea to Sky Gondola from Squamish to the summit of Mount Habrich for breathtaking views.
21. Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge and Park
- Website: lynncanyon.ca
- Address: 3663 Park Rd, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3K2, Canada
- Opening hours: 7 am – 6 pm daily
Lynn Canyon Park and its Ecology Centre is a fantastic place to learn about North Vancouver’s ecosystem and wildlife. Hike and walk around the park’s trails and boardwalks, and take an adrenaline-pumping stroll over the canyon’s suspension bridge, which hangs 167 feet above the crystal clear rivers and pools of Lynn Creek.
22. Richmond
Richmond is an eclectic town south of Vancouver and is considered the city’s second Chinatown. You’ll find some fantastic authentic Chinese food here and plenty of attractions, including a Buddhist temple, a historic fishing village, and opportunities to go whale watching.
23. Robson Street
Robson Street is one of Vancouver’s best-known shopping districts. More than 150 stores and restaurants are packed into three blocks between Burrard and Jarvis Streets. You’ll spot well-known brand names as well as independent boutiques, and you can enjoy fantastic eateries, coffee shops, and cocktail bars along the way.
Plan Your Vancouver Vacation
Now you’re up to speed with Vancouver’s top attractions; you can get started planning your itinerary for your upcoming trip. Which spots will you check out once you arrive in this spectacular city?
