25 Famous Sightseeing Places to Visit and Things to Do in Vancouver, British Columbia

October 15, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 1175 Views 0 Comments

Vancouver is a city in the British Columbia Province of Canada. The city sits on the Burrard Peninsula and faces the Strait of Georgia. The majority of the fun things to do in Vancouver, BC are aligned with the city’s coastline. You can enjoy beaches, public pools, coastal parks, amusement parks, markets, water sports, adventure activities, nature retreats, and more. The coastline is home to several historical Vancouver tourist attractions including old buildings, monuments, museums, art galleries, and archeological sites.

The history of human settlement in this region began 10,000 years ago with several indigenous tribes making this land their home. Museums, cultural centers, and archeological sites are the best places to visit in Vancouver to learn about the early history of the region. Aside from its own history, Vancouver has a variety of museums dedicated to culture, art, and sciences.

The establishment of the city began during the 1800s around Hastings Mill. Back then it was called Gastown after the proprietor of the mill, Gassy Jack. The Gastown steam clock, one of the top downtown Vancouver attractions marks the location of the mill.

Vancouver is also a hub for shopping, entertainment, amusement, and festivals. You will find all sorts of places to shop during Vancouver sightseeing including markets, malls, shopping streets, boutique stores, and so on. The parks and entertainment complexes are packed with fun activities in Vancouver concerning music, dining, cinema, games, art, experiences, and more.

The city is also blessed with rich natural heritage all around it from forests, plains, valleys, rivers, mountains, beaches, cliffs, and so on. There are several outdoor activities to do in Vancouver for nature lovers. There are also a few forests and nature trails within the city. These places are home to vibrant wildlife. Animal spotting and birdwatching are quite popular at these Vancouver tourist places.

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Table of Contents

Top 25 Tourist Places to Visit in Vancouver in 5 Days (Trip Itinerary)

Day 1

1. Stanley Park

This seaside park is the largest one in the city. It is also a National Historical Site. Spread over 400 hectares, the park has a lot of fun things to do in Vancouver, BC. The geography of this park includes rainforests, mountains, coastlines, seawalls, and beaches. Stanley Park is facilitated with a seaside promenade, green spaces, play areas, sports facilities, and restaurants. People come here for outdoor activities to do in Vancouver including hiking, camping, picnic, cycling, horseback riding, carriage ride, and nature walks. The park also has a lot of birds and a few wild animals. Aside from nature, this park is home to historical sites as well. You will need about 2 hours to explore this park.

Here below, I am suggesting a couple of activities that you should do at Stanley Park:

2. Vancouver Aquarium

This aquarium houses a variety of marine animals from different places around the world. Some of the highlight animals of this aquarium include dolphins, penguins, jellyfish, seals, otters, porpoises, beluga whales, false killer whales, and more. It is among the popular Vancouver tourist attractions for families. The aquarium also has a 4D movie theatre where you can get a glimpse of the underwater world. You will need about an hour for this place when you visit Vancouver.

I suggest you should book your Entry Ticket to Vancouver Aquarium in advance.

3. Robson Square

This public plaza was designed by Arthur Erikson and is considered the heart of the city. It is one of the top downtown Vancouver attractions for its glass and steel dome. There is an outdoor ice-skating rink inside the dome which is open to the public for free between December & February. The dome is also used for several major events including Christmas, New Year, Dance events, Concerts, Music Festivals, and Movie Screenings. You will need 30 to 45 minutes from Vancouver travel for this square.

4. Vancouver Art Gallery

With more than 10,000 pieces of art in its collection, this is one of the largest galleries in Canada. This gallery exhibits both contemporary and classical artworks. It is also home to several important historical artifacts. It has a large collection dedicated to historical and contemporary artworks of the British Columbia region. People also get to see several artworks from North America and Europe. You will need about 2 hours from Vancouver sightseeing to tour this art gallery.

I suggest you should get your Entrance Ticket to Vancouver Art Gallery in advance.

5. Christ Church Cathedral

The church was built in 1888 and is the oldest church in the city. The church is known for its classic colonial architecture and interior decor. The stained glass windows are one of the most beautiful things to see in Vancouver. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to explore this church.

6. Vancouver LookOut

This lookout point sits on the 28th floor of Harbour Center. This lookout was inaugurated in 1977 by Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. At 168 meters above the ground, this lookout point is popular among Vancouver tourist spots for a 360-degree view of the city. You also get a scenic view of the city from the glass elevator that takes you up the building. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to admire the view from this lookout.

I suggest you should get an All Day Admission Ticket to Vancouver LookOut.

7. Canada Place

Canada Place is a convention center known for its unique architecture and fun activities in Vancouver. The center is designed like the sails of a ship. The complex has entertainment facilities, restaurants, shopping stores, and convention space. But, Canada Place is best known for the FlyOver experience. It is perhaps one of the best things to do in downtown Vancouver. It is a multi-sensory 4D experience wherein you fly over to Canada and visit famous places in the city. The experience includes sight, sound, smell, mist, water sprays, and winds. You will need at least an hour to tour Canada Place.

8. The Olympic Cauldron

This iconic monument was first lit for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The monument has 4 shiny steel arms holding up a silver cauldron. It is one of the best places to visit in Vancouver at night when the cauldron is lit up. You will need 15 to 20 minutes to admire this monument.

Day 2

1. Science World at TELUS World of Science

This science center is built to educate and entertain people with practical science experiments and exhibits. It is one of the best places to go in Vancouver for family tourists. The center sits in a geodesic dome with a variety of exhibits, entertainment facilities, IMAX theatre, and OMNIMAX theatre. You will need 2 hours to tour this place.

You should get your Ticket to the Science World at TELUS World of Science in advance.

2. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

This park replicates a 15th-century Chinese garden. It has four sections representing 4 elements. It is one of the most serene places to see in Vancouver. Some of the Tai Hu rocks in this garden were imported from China and are believed to have spiritual properties. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this garden.

I suggest getting your Admission Ticket to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in advance.

3. Police Museum

This is the oldest Police Museum in North America. It dives into the history of law enforcement in Vancouver. The museum has a collection of 20,000 historical artifacts. It is one of the most interesting tourist places in Vancouver. The artifacts include weapons, uniforms, technology, dog squad taxidermy, band equipment, and more. The museum also celebrates several of the city’s heroes in the police force. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

You should book your Ticket to Police Museum in advance.

4. Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

This museum is named after Haida Canadian artist William Ronald Reid Junior OBC. The museum exhibits jewelry, paintings, screen prints, and sculptures crafted in the traditional Haida style. It is one of the must-see places in Vancouver to learn about Haida Gwaii culture. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

5. Museum of Vancouver

This museum covers historic, cultural, artistic, archeological, and natural aspects of the city. The museum has a collection of more than 65,000 items with the oldest one dating from 3,500 BCE. It also has artifacts from North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The museum is among the top things to do in Vancouver, BC for history and art enthusiasts. You will need about 2 hours to tour this museum.

I suggest that you should get your Admission Ticket to the Museum of Vancouver in advance.

Day 3

1. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

This walking suspension bridge stretches along the Capilano river. It is part of the nature park and you get to explore nature from the tree-top level. Some of the trees supporting this bridge are 1,300 years old. This nature walk is one of the best outdoor activities to do in Vancouver. You can watch the forest, river, canyon and several ponds. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this nature tour.

Here below I am suggesting some of the best options that you should try for a tour of Capilano Suspension Bridge Park:

2. Grouse Mountain

This mountain is popular for a variety of fun activities in Vancouver. During winter, people come here for skiing, snowboarding, winter games, ice skating, sleigh rides, and other snow activities. The mountain is also a nature and wildlife reserve with beautiful hiking and trekking trails. You can easily get to the top in an aerial tram while enjoying the amazing view of the valley. You can easily spend 3 to 4 hours enjoying several Vancouver tourist attractions of this mountain.

Either you can book an Admission Ticket to Grouse Mountain or you can combine your visit to Grouse Mountain with Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.

Day 4

1. VanDusen Botanical Gardens

This garden is spread over 22 hectares and is divided into themed sections. It is one of the best places to visit in Vancouver. The garden has a pond, maze, sculptures, gift shop, cafe, and restaurant. You will need about an hour to tour this place.

I suggest you should get your Admission Ticket to VanDusen Botanical Garden in advance.

2. Granville Island

This area is known for shopping, dining, street food, and entertainment. Though Granville Island is the most popular aspect of the area. You will see specialty stores, fish food market, bakeries, butchers, flower stalls, food joints, and more. The area also has several indoor activities to do in Vancouver including a waterpark and an adventure zone. It is also a major hub for artists. Granville Island has studios, galleries, theatres, workshops, and more. This area has enough attractions that you can take 2 to 3 hours from Vancouver travel to enjoy here.

I suggest you should try a Food Tour at Granville Island Public Market.

3. Vancouver Maritime Museum

The museum talks about the maritime history of Canada, especially the exploration of the Arctic. The museum has more than 15,000 artifacts that narrate the history of maritime exploration. It also has 100,000 images from different voyages. The main attraction of this museum is the St. Roch vessel that sailed the Northwestern Passage. It is one of the most interesting things to see in Vancouver. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

You should book your Ticket to Vancouver Maritime Museum in advance.

4. Kitsilano Beach

This white sand shore is one of the best Vancouver beaches. It is facilitated with playgrounds, swimming rafts, basketball courts, tennis courts, and water sports. It is also home to the Kitsilano pool, the only seawater pool in the city. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying this beach.

I suggest either you should go for a Vancouver City and Seals Scenic Boat Tour or you should go for a Sailing Experience on a 50’ Sailboat.

Day 5

1. Museum of Anthropology

This museum focuses on anthropology, archeology, and ethnography. It is about the evolution of human culture and civilization in different places. The museum has more than 40,00 artifacts and 90,000 photographs to trace the journey of several ethnicities over the ages. You will need an hour from Vancouver sightseeing to tour this museum.

2. Notibe Japanese Garden

This is one of the finest Japanese gardens in Canada. It is home to several plants and trees native to Japan. The garden has beautiful oriental horticulture with several artistic and architectural elements. It is among the few Vancouver attractions where you can witness traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It will take you 30 to 45 minutes to tour this garden.

3. Beaty Biodiversity Museum

This museum exhibits the biological collection of the University of British Columbia. It has more than 500 exhibits of skeletons, photographs, preserved samples, and taxidermy. The biggest attraction of the museum is the skeleton of a blue whale. It is one of the most interesting Vancouver tourist spots for people interested in biology and the animal kingdom. You will need an hour to tour this museum.

4. Pacific Spirit Regional Park

This recreational nature park has a forest, beaches, nature trails, picnic areas, pet-friendly gardens, and more. It is one of the most fun places to go in Vancouver. One of the beaches of this park follows the “Clothing Optional” rule. You can easily spend a couple of hours enjoying various activities in this park.

5. Queen Elizabeth Park

This 130 acres park has an arboretum, quarry gardens, fountains, rose gardens, a pavilion, a painter’s corner, a geodesic observatory, and a tropical garden. You will get to see many birds in the tropical garden and exotic plants. It is one of the most serene Vancouver sights. You will need about an hour to explore this park.

6. Spanish Banks Beach

This is another one of the popular beaches in Vancouver. It was the meeting place of English and Spanish forces. The beach has BBQ spaces, volleyball courts, picnic spaces, and more. It is also popular for surfing, kite surfing, skimboarding, and other water sports. You can easily spend a few hours enjoying the facilities and activities at this beach.

If you are looking for more places to see in Vancouver, check out the sections below. We have put together an exhaustive list of places and things to do in the city and around it.

Things to do in Vancouver

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Vancouver

Vancouver Art Gallery
Museum of Anthropology
Brockton Point Lighthouse
Museum of Vancouver
Gastown Steam Clock
Vancouver Maritime Museum
Burnaby Village Museum
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
Vancouver Police Museum
Contemporary Art Gallery
Roedde House Museum
Totem Poles
Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Christ Church Cathedral
BC Sports Hall of Fame & Museum
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Center

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge
Cliffwalk Suspension Bridge
Capilano River Regional Park
Grouse Mountain
Lynn Canyon
Cypress Mountain
English Bay
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
False Creek
Gouse Grind
Deer Lake
Iona Beach Regional Park
Quarry Rock
Burnaby Lake
Cleveland Dam
Cypress Falls Park
Lost Lagoon
Lynn Headwater Regional Park
Baden Powell Forest
Siwash Rock
Capilano River Hatchery
Burnaby Mountain

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Places in Vancouver

Stanley Park
Granville Island
Vancouver Aquarium
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Queen Elizabeth Park
Science World
Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Canada Place
Kitsilano Pool
Lighthouse Park
FlyOver Canada Flying Theatre
Playland Amusement Park
Jericho Beach Park
Bloedel Conservatory
Sunset Beach Park
John Hendry Park
HR Macmillan Space Center
Hastings Park
Vanier Park
UBC Botanical Garden
Ambleside Park
Nitobe Memorial Garden
Kitsilano Beach Park
Central Park
Maplewood Farm
Belcarra Regional Park
Deer Lake Park
Treetops Adventure Park
Cates Park
Granville Island Water Park
Second Beach Swimming Pool
Barnet Marine Park
Burnaby Mountain Park
David Lam Park

Shopping in Vancouver

Granville Island Public Market
Richmond Night Market
Commercial Drive
Main Street
Vancouver Christmas Market
Denman Street
Alberni Street
Gastown
West 4th Avenue
Chinatown
Metropolis
Davie Village
Punjabi Market
South Main Street
Yaletown

Beaches & Islands in Vancouver

Kitsilano Beach
English Bay Beach
Jericho Beach
Sunset Beach
Spanish Banks Beach
Wreck Beach
Third Beach
Second Beach
Vanier Beach
Iona Beach
Locarno Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Activities in Vancouver

Hiking
Trekking
Nature Trails
Mountain Climbing
Kayaking
Water Sports
Boat Cruise
Walking Tours
Bicycle Tours
Skiing
Snowboarding
Ice Skating
Cable Car Ride
Fishing
Flight Tour
Helicopter Tour

Sightseeing in Vancouver

Canada Place
Vancouver Seawall
Vancouver Lookout
Lions Gate Bridge
Robson Street
Commercial Drive
Main Street
Prospect Point Lookout
Burrad Street Bridge
Lonsdale Quay
Capilano Road
Granville Bridge
Digital Orca Sculpture
The Shipyards
Vancouver City Hall

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Vancouver

Au Comptoir
The Acorn
Rain or Shine
Marutama
Buckstop
Miku
Golden Paramount
Kissa Tanto
Guu with Garlic
Tojo’s
Marutama Ramen
St. Lawrence
Maxine’s Cafe
AnnaLena
Sashimiya
Heritage Asian Eatery
Forage
Chambar
Chancho Tortilleria
Savio Volpe
Boulevard Kitchen
Burdock & Co
Dynasty Seafood
Blue Water Cafe
Bread x Butter
Hawksworth
Botanist
Bacaro
Remi Patisserie

Where to Stay in Vancouver?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Vancouver. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Vancouver.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Vancouver

How to Reach Vancouver?

By Air

The city is served by the Vancouver International Airport. It is the second busiest airport in Canada. You can get direct flights to visit Vancouver from Mexico City, Auckland, Austin, Beijing, Brisbane, Calgary, Chicago, Denver, Delhi, Halifax, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, Newark, Ottawa, San Diego, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo, Winnipeg, Toronto, Zurich, Osaka, Dublin, Frankfurt, San Fransisco, Quebec City, Paris, and many more cities in Asia, North America, South America, and Asia.

You can get the metro train, buses, and cabs to get to the city from the airport.

By Road

You can get direct trains for Vancouver to travel from Toronto, Banff, Jasper, Calgary, and Seattle. People can reach Vancouver by bus. There are several direct buses from several cities and towns in Canada. You can also get buses to reach Vancouver from Seattle, Bellingham, Portland, Washington DC, Whistler, and Squamish.

If you are planning to travel to Vancouver by car, you can choose between highway routes 1, 99, or 91.

By Water

You can get ferries to reach Vancouver from Nanaimo, Victoria, Bowen Island, and Sunshine Coast. The city also receives a lot of cruise ships which include tours of Vancouver sights in their itinerary.

Image Reference

Stanley Park – Cornelia Schneider-Frank / PixaBay
Vancouver Aquarium – abdallahh / Flickr
Robson Square – Miguel Garcia / Flickr
Vancouver Art Gallery – GoToVan / Flickr
Christ Church Cathedral – Colin Knowles / Flickr
Vancouver LookOut – Vlad Vasnetsov / PixaBay
Canada Place – abdallahh / Flickr
The Olympic Cauldron – Scazon / Flickr
Science World at TELUS World of Science – ActiveSteve / Flickr
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden – Ingi Finnsson / PixaBay
Police Museum – adrienblanc / Flickr
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art – Karl Schultz / Flickr
Museum of Vancouver – Guilhem Vellut / Flickr
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – Tjflex2 / Flickr
Grouse Mountain – James Wheeler / PixaBay
VanDusen Botanical Gardens – Flickred! / Flickr
Granville Island – Neale Bacon / PixaBay
Vancouver Maritime Museum – Finn Pröpper / Flickr
Kitsilano Beach – dronepicr / Flickr
Museum of Anthropology – *MandyJ* / Flickr
Nitobe Japanese Garden – C. / Flickr
Beaty Biodiversity Museum – Xicotencatl / Wikimedia Commons
Pacific Spirit Regional Park – Viv Lynch / Flickr
Queen Elizabeth Park – s.yume / Flickr
Spanish Banks Beach – Guilhem Vellut / Flickr