Vibrant Vancouver

  • Day 1: Stanley Park
    20 minutes (7.1 km) from Vancouver Downtown

    Start your trip in Vancouver with a visit to Stanley Park - a beautiful green space with a large forest, famous seawall, and several attractions including the Vancouver Aquarium and Brockton Oval. Enjoy a picnic at one of the parks clearings or dine at one of the parks restaurants, all while taking in the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

  • Day 2: Granville Island
    13 minutes (5.5 km) from Stanley Park

    Visit Granville Island, a peninsula and shopping district with a public market, artisans studios, and theatres. Take a water taxi to the island to see the city from a different perspective. Have a lunch at the Granville Island Public Market with all kinds of delicious foods available.

  • Day 3: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
    18 minutes (6.2 km) from Granville Island

    Experience the adrenaline rush by walking on the narrow pedestrian suspension bridge that is 70 meters above the Capilano River. Test your sense of balance by walking on the suspension bridges and enjoy lovely views while being surrounded by grand tall trees. You can also experience cliff walks and tree-top adventures. Make sure to bring your camera for all the Instagrammable moments!

  • Day 4: Grouse Mountain
    23 minutes (13 km) from Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

    Take a 15 minute Skyride that takes you 1,110m above sea level to Grouse Mountain. You can experience breathtaking views of the city from the Grouse Mountain and its famous grizzly bears. Also, take advantage of the mountains many adventure activities such as zip-lining, mountain biking, and paragliding. If you're visiting around Christmas time, make sure to visit their famous Peak of Christmas event!

  • Day 5: Museum of Anthropology
    16 minutes (8.7 km) from Grouse Mountain

    The Museum of Anthropology, situated at the University of British Columbia, displays the archaeological objects and ethnographic material of the First Nations of British Columbia. You can learn about West Coast Aboriginal art, history and culture. The jaw-dropping architecture of the museum building will catch your eye the moment you see it.

  • Day 6: Lynn Canyon Park
    35 minutes (15 km) from the Museum of Anthropology

    A short drive from the city is the Lynn Canyon Park, which offers swimming holes, hiking trails, and moss-covered forests. The suspension bridge at the park crosses the canyon and is a great place to take pictures with amazing greenery in the background. You can also spot salmon jumping in the river at certain times of the year.

  • Day 7: Vancouver Art Gallery
    10 minutes (400 m) from Lynn Canyon Park

    With an exhibition of over 11,000 contemporary artworks, Vancouver Art Gallery is a great spot for art lovers. The galleries collection includes works by celebrated Canadian artists such as Emily Carr and Vancouver’s Jeff Wall, alongside many international artists from around the world.

  • Day 8: Vancouver Lookout
    5 minutes (750 m) from Vancouver Art Gallery

    The Vancouver Lookout is a glass viewing deck that sticks out of the top of Harbour Centre Tower downtown. You can have an amazing bird’s-eye view of the city and see Mount Baker across the border. Vancouver Lookout provides fascinating viewpoints, along with insights and history of the city's past and present, also offering an outstanding 360-degree view of the city skyline.

  • Day 9: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
    11 minutes (3 km) from Vancouver Lookout

    Visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a garden inspired by the Ming Dynasty-era architecture in the heart of Chinatown. Take a guided tour or walk around to see its various gardens that feature rocks, courtyards, and ponds. The serene sceneries, classical design, and the abundance of peaceful greenery, make it the perfect spot to escape the city chaos of Vancouver.

  • Day 10: Whistler Mountain
    1 hour 45 minutes ( 126 km) from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

    Enjoy your last day trip by taking a breathtaking drive to Whistler, British Columbia's paradise destination for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts. Whistler Mountain provides endless opportunities for exploration, from mountain biking to skiing. Get the perfect end to your Vancouver trip by visiting the iconic Whistler Village and taking a photo of the inflatable mascots dotted around the village.

Time and Costs Estimates

  • Stanley Park (4-6 hours, Free)
  • Granville Island (3-4 hours, CAD 20-30)
  • Capilano Suspension Bridge Park (3-4 hours, CAD 40-50)
  • Grouse Mountain (4-5 hours, CAD 70-100)
  • Museum of Anthropology (2-3 hours, CAD 18-21)
  • Lynn Canyon Park (2-3 hours, Free)
  • Vancouver Art Gallery (2-3 hours, CAD 20-25)
  • Vancouver Lookout (1-2 hours, CAD 17-20)
  • Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (1-2 hours, CAD 15-18)
  • Total Estimated Costs (CAD 220-302)

Transportation

From the airport, you can choose a taxi, shuttle, rental car or public transportation like the SkyTrain to reach the city center. Usually, round trip fare for SkyTrain would be CAD 18. Taxi services generally charge around CAD 38-45 to reach the city center, while shuttle and bus services cost around CAD 15-18 per person. To avoid the city traffic, renting a car is a wise option if you plan to travel outside the city.

Useful Tips

If you have extra time, you can add a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, Science World or the Tikaram West Boutique. You can also visit some famous beaches like Kitsilano beach, English Bay beach or Jericho beach to enjoy the sunset. With less time, skip Granville Island or Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Also, if you are interested in night activities, you can go to series of bars and restaurants in the Gastown district.

Airports

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) serves Vancouver and its surrounding area in the province of British Columbia. The airport is 14km from the center of Vancouver, and it's accessible via Skytrain or taxi. Vancouver International Airport is known to be one of the best airports in the world, famous for its artwork, architecture and variety of food and shopping options.

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