As one of Canada’s most vibrant cities, it’s no wonder Vancouver has such a smorgasbord of traveler-friendly activities. From mornings on the beach spent surfing and swimming to evenings dining at world-class restaurants, every day in Vancouver is teeming with possibilities.
Visitors looking for a restorative vacation will find an atmosphere that benefits both body and mind. Foodies will also feel right at home — this is a truly international city, which translates to a melting pot of restaurants that pride themselves on creative cooking and local sourcing.
You could do little more than stroll around Vancouver and still have a great vacation; after all, those dramatic mountain backdrops are seriously scenic, and there’s a reason the Los Angeles crowd turned it into “Hollywood North.” But the real pleasure lies in exploring all the quirky corners of this city by the sea. Here’s how to make the most of a three-day visit.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: Spend the Morning Walking Around Davie Village
Start your weekend trip with breakfast at Melriches Coffeehouse, a cozy haunt known for its baked goods — don’t leave without grabbing a cookie for the road. You’re already in Davie Village, one of the most popular spots for visitors to Vancouver thanks to its welcoming atmosphere, diverse shopping and food scene, and incredible walkability. This area, just over a mile wide, is a part of the larger downtown neighborhood, making it a dream for pedestrian visitors.
Your unofficial morning walking tour begins with a stroll to The Paper Hound bookshop to pick up a unique souvenir (like a vintage bookmark); stroll aisles of secondhand, rare, and new books; and find something to read for your beach day tomorrow. If the downtown streets are a bit too packed for your liking, duck into the nearby Vancouver Art Gallery for some respite and explore thousands of works from Canadian and international artists.
Once your stomach starts growling, grab lunch at Legendary Noodle House. In colder weather, opt for some noodle soup; otherwise, you can’t go wrong with the stir-fried cut noodles.
Hop in the car for a 20-minute drive to VanDusen Botanical Garden. The garden has a lineup of seasonal self-guided tours, each showcasing different blooms, so you can take in peak botanical splendor no matter when you’re visiting.
While in the area, check out the Bloedel Conservatory, which is located atop the city’s highest point, in Queen Elizabeth Park. Inside the geodesic dome, you’ll find a year-round tropical paradise with more than 500 exotic plants and colorful tropical birds and koi fish.
For dinner, head back to Davie Village for a meal at Elisa. Get ready for all of the steakhouse classics, plus seafood so fresh it could swim off the plate and produce from local farms. Favorites include the smoked-bison tartare, whole branzino, Canadian porterhouse, and baked Alaska.
For a nightcap, check out Bayside Lounge, steps from the beach. The menu of rotating seasonal cocktails is unmatched, and the thoughtful mocktail menu ensures everyone (19+) can join in the fun.
Saturday: Hit the Beach in Kitsilano
One of the city’s biggest draws is its natural beauty — each neighborhood in Vancouver has at least one heart-stoppingly gorgeous bit of scenery to take you by surprise. But nowhere is this more apparent than the waterfront escape of Kitsilano. Many of the attractions here involve the beach, so plan to spend a large portion of your day by the water.
To start the day off right, grab breakfast at Sunshine Diner. The seafood Benedict is a local favorite. From here, it’s a 20-minute walk to the water, but the scenery makes the trip a pleasure — views from Kitsilano into the center of Vancouver can’t be beat. Find a spot on the Kitsilano Beach sand for a morning of reading, relaxing, soaking in the sun, and, for the boldest travelers, a dip in the bracing Pacific. This is also a great spot for a game of Frisbee, so bring one along and get ready to make some friends.
The area has a number of popular walking trails worth exploring, including those in Jericho Beach Park. Directly to the west of Kitsilano, the park offers a verdant shoreline and a lovely pond in addition to the beach. Kitsilano’s West Fourth Avenue also offers some great shopping. Find stylish home goods at Briers Home Furnishings and a fantastic selection of loose-leaf teas at Silk Road Tea Store.
For lunch, head down to the Granville Island Public Market, full of local artisans and food stalls. Stop by Kaisereck Delicatessen for brats and hot dogs piled high with caramelized onions and Alimentaria Mexicana for excellent regional Mexican dishes and locally sourced and imported goods in their retail space.
To end the day with more natural beauty, check out the planetarium show at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, a Vancouver institution since 1968. With your mind sufficiently blown by the magic of space, you’ll be ready for a meal to decompress.
Dinner favorites include the high-end AnnaLena, serving up an evolving tasting menu of contemporary Canadian fare with a range of creative cocktails, and Delara, a Persian spot with family-style plates.
Sunday: Embed Yourself in Vancouver’s Oldest Community
Wrap up your weekend getaway in the city’s most historic neighborhood. Like most of the city, Gastown was almost completely leveled by the 1886 Great Vancouver Fire, but the area quickly rebuilt and is now a haven for creative entrepreneurs. Stop for a quick breakfast bite at Nelson the Seagull, a bright little spot serving classic tartines on house-baked sourdough.
Gastown is filled with glimpses into the city’s past, complete with cobblestone streets and Victorian-era architecture, but the modern shops are wonderful as well. Wander into One of a Few for designer clothing and accessories, Dutil Denim for high-quality jeans, or Old Faithful Shop for general-store vibes and artisan goods.
Once you’ve got shopping marked off the list, head a bit northwest, where the city seawall is a perfect spot for a bike ride or stroll along the shore. Stanley Park is packed with lush West Coast rainforest trails, waterfront views, and attractions like the Vancouver Aquarium.
The afternoon is all about the eats, so book your ticket on the Taste Vancouver Gastown Food Tour, which in addition to highlighting some of the best food in the city, also takes visitors to several historic sites across a three-hour tour.
Follow up the snacking with a hike: Venture beyond the neighborhood limits and check out the classically beautiful Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver.
For dinner, check out Pourhouse Restaurant for seasonal dining in an old warehouse or Petrichor French Farmhouse for homestyle French fare and local beer and wine. Alternatively, just south of Gastown is the famous Robson Street, home to hundreds of stores and restaurants jam-packed into a few historic blocks.
End the day on a spooky note by taking an evening ghost tour. It’s a great way to round out your Vancouver history lesson and maybe even spot a Gastown resident from long ago.
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