The 10 Best Things to do in Vancouver, Canada!

Vancouver is considered one of the top cities to visit in Canada, offering a wide range of exciting and enjoyable activities. There are countless options for how to spend your time in this lively city, so we have put together a list of what we believe to be the 10 best things to do. So, without further ado, let's begin!

Science World

One of the most iconic structures you'll come across in Vancouver is the Science World Geodesic Dome. But there's much more to explore beyond the exterior; the inside offers a truly enjoyable experience. You'll find a variety of different exhibitions to explore, with our favourite being the optical illusion area. The centre also features various science shows throughout the day, which are primarily aimed at children but are still quite entertaining. Additionally, there's an OMNIMAX theatre that showcases incredible films on the world’s largest domed movie screen. Overall, this centre is a fantastic place to visit with family or friends, offering a good 2-3 hours of exploration. The cost of admission is quite reasonable as well at $34.85 CAD per adult.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is one of the most popular parks to visit in Vancouver, offering large areas of natural scenery where you can relax and take in the fresh air. There are plenty of low-level trails in the park that you can walk through which are quite enjoyable. A popular activity at Stanley Park is riding a bike along the beautiful coastline. If you're interested in doing so but don't have your own bike then there are few options you can do. First, you'll find many different types of bike rentals just outside the park in the downtown area, so it's a good idea to shop around for the best option. Another convenient option is to utilise the 'Roger E-bikes,' which you can rent through the mobile app and pay for by the minute.

In our opinion, the must-see spot in the park is the Prospect Point Lookout, which offers an amazing view of North Vancouver, and the Lions Gate Bridge. Overall, you can definitely spend a good half-day here enjoying the surroundings, making it a definite must-visit during your trip to Vancouver!

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

The beautiful Lynn Canyon is home to an impressive suspension bridge that provides breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. In addition, there is the 30 foot pool which is an amazing spot for swimming and cliff jumping! It's worth noting that the natural pool is quite popular, so if you're looking for a more peaceful alternative, consider walking further along the Baden Powell Trail to the Twin Falls Bridge, where you can find a less crowded place to swim nearby. Overall, exploring Lynn Canyon was a truly beautiful place to explore and relax making it a great summer activity!

The best part as well is that to enjoy all of this, it will cost you absolutely nothing! In our opinion, this makes it a much better option than the popular Capilano Suspension Bridge, which charges $75 CAD. Locals have shared that the Capilano Suspension Bridge, while it offers beautiful views, is considered a so called tourist trap. Therefore, we would recommend that you avoid it and instead visit the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.

Queen Elizabeth Park

Just 20 minutes from Downtown Vancouver, you'll find the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Park. You can take your time to wander through the stunning gardens and take in the incredible view of the city from the top. While you're there, don't miss the opportunity to visit the Bloedel Conservatory, a captivating glass-domed aviary housing a diverse array of exotic birds and unique plants. The cost of admission is only $8.50 CAD, making it an affordable addition to your exploration of the park. If you're looking for a peaceful spot to unwind and immerse yourself in nature, make sure to include this in your list of places to visit in Vancouver!

Escape Rooms

Bree and I absolutely love escape rooms, so no trip to Vancouver would be complete without exploring what they have to offer. We decided to visit Canada's largest escape room brand, 'Exit', during our time in Vancouver. They have 2 locations in the city, and the first one we visited was in the Gastown area of Downtown. At this location, we tried the 'Lost in Space' escape room and to be honest, we weren't very impressed with this room. It seemed a bit run down, and the puzzles were quite confusing. We would therefore recommend instead to try their 'Nightmare' room which we learned from other escape room enthusiasts was meant to be there best one. Afterward, we headed to the 'Exit' location at West Broadway and decided to play 'CSI: The Chopping Block'. Now this room was a complete contrast to 'Lost in Space' - it was beautifully decorated with well-thought-out puzzles which got us really invested from the get go. It is however their most challenging room, so safe to say we failed, but we would still highly recommend this experience to others.

Note: If you are wanting to do an escape room for you birthday, you can play for free at any Exit locations once. As there were two in Vancouver we utilised that deal at both venues, all you need is a proof of ID!

Glitch Bar & Gaming Lounge

If you're looking for a place that not only serves fantastic drinks but also offers arcade and retro games, then the Glitch bar in Kitsilano is the perfect spot for you! To enjoy their gaming facilities, you'll need to pay $5CAD for unlimited access to the console games, while the arcade games require $2 coins to play. Additionally, the Glitch bar hosts special events on various days, including Jackbox night, Trivia, and DJ nights. Overall, it's a really fun spot to hang out with friends and play some entertaining games, so we highly recommend checking it out!

Grouse mountain

Are you looking for incredible views of Vancouver along with some fantastic entertainment? If so, the scenic gondola ride up to Grouse Mountain is the perfect choice for you. Grouse Mountain is conveniently located about 40 minutes away from Downtown Vancouver by bus, and there's even a free shuttle from Canada Place making it easily accessible for visitors (Click here for the exact schedule).

During the day, an adult roundtrip Gondola ticket costs $80 CAD, which includes access to a variety of entertaining activities such as a Lumberjack show, Birds of Prey show, Ranger talks, and a visit to the Grizzly Bear enclosure. You can find more details about these and more on the Grouse Mountain website. For those who are primarily interested in the breathtaking view, Grouse Mountain offers a sunset ticket for just $25 CAD, providing a round trip on the gondola starting from 6:45pm onwards. During this time, the grizzly bear enclosure and the restaurant are also open for visitors to explore. Additionally, special sunset ticket events, such as movie under the stars and pub trivia happen on select nights to add even more excitement to the experience - click here to find out more! Overall, we found the sunset ticket to be a much better value for money and thoroughly enjoyed our time at Grouse Mountain.

Extra: If you're looking for a way where you can save money and still enjoy all the daytime entertainment, then you're in luck! Grouse Mountain offers a challenging hiking trail called the 'Grouse Grind', which is a 2-3 hour, 2.5km uphill hike with 2,830 steps. If you enjoy a good challenge, this is definitely something we recommend, as it's one of the most popular trails to conquer. If you start your hike in the morning, you'll reach the top in time to enjoy all the daytime entertainment. Additionally, you can easily book a gondola return ticket online for just $20CAD, allowing you to experience everything at a very affordable price. You just have to 'grind' your way up to get there!

Granville Island

Granville Island is a beautiful destination located just 20 minutes from Downtown Vancouver. You'll find numerous souvenir and artisan shops, along with the very popular Public Market. The market offers a wide variety of shops, including fruit & vegetable vendors, coffee shops, dessert options, and fast food stalls. It's definitely a place worth checking out, and you can enjoy your food along the boardwalk, but do keep an eye out for seagulls who may try to steal your food! In addition to the market, there are also entertaining theatre shows such as comedy or improv on select nights. Families can also enjoy a children's outdoor water park, which is perfect for hot days. You can easily spend a decent amount of time exploring the many great aspects Granville Island has to offer!

Day trip to Bowen Island

If you're looking for a day of relaxation or adventure, spending time on beautiful Bowen Island is a must! The island is conveniently located about an hour and 15 minutes from Downtown Vancouver. To get there, you can either drive or catch the 257 bus to Horseshoe Bay and then board a ferry. The ferry can accommodate both foot passengers and cars, so if you have your own vehicle, you have the option to bring it along. Ferry tickets cannot be purchased in advance, so you'll need to buy them at the port. The cost of tickets is $11.60 CAD per adult return, and they operate approximately every hour from 5:50am to 10:20pm. On peak days such as weekends or during the summer, it's advisable to arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss the ferry you want.

During our visit, we had a wonderful time exploring the harbour and nearby shops, including the Catching Stars Gallery where we admired the work of local artists. We then strolled over to Artisan Square, a charming area with a variety of shops showcasing homemade products. A visit to Cocoa West Chocolatier is a must if you're eager to savour some delicious chocolate. We also took the time to visit Killarney Lake and enjoyed a lovely picnic by the water. Overall, Bowen Island proved to be a very relaxing and enjoyable place to explore, and we highly recommend including it in your trip to Vancouver!

Day trip to Whistler

Whistler is a truly fantastic place to spend a few days, immersing yourself in the breathtaking scenery. If you're unable to stay for an extended period, then a day trip is a wonderful alternative. Having a car allowed us to see and do more, so we highly recommend considering the same if it's feasible for you. In Vancouver, there are convenient car-sharing apps like Evo and Modo, where you can easily rent a car through a mobile app. There's also an app called Turo, known as the Airbnb of cars, which allows you to rent someone's car for the duration you need. If you prefer not to drive, another option is to catch the bus. Companies like 'SkyLynx' and 'Epic Rides' offer a return ticket for only $42-$44CAD, with the earliest departure from Downtown Vancouver at 8am and 7pm when departing from Whistler. The drive takes roughly 1.5-2 hours, providing ample time to explore some of the main highlights Whistler has to offer.

We highly recommend starting your exploration of the town itself, which is surrounded by stunning mountains, making it a truly beautiful sight. One popular activity in town is taking the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, offering breathtaking views. Although it was out of our budget at $99CAD per adult, it is definitely a great way to see Whistler from above! When it comes to dining, we suggest trying out El Furniture Warehouse for delicious and affordable food. If you want to venture outside the village, you can hop on the buses that can take you to other parts of the area. Due to the lake of parking, we personally took the free shuttle (#8) to Lost Lake and for convenience we would recommend you do the same. Visiting Green Lake from Whistler is a must if you can find a way to get there. The lake's stunning blue-green water is irresistible, although be prepared as it's quite chilly for swimming. No matter what activities you choose to do in Whistler, we genuinely believe it's an unmissable destination, and we can guarantee you'll have a fantastic time!

Summary

So there you have it, those are in our opinion the 10 best things to do in Vancouver, Canada. If our blog has inspired you or helped you any way we would really appreciate if you left a like, comment and share it using the buttons below.

If you want to read about the 8 best dessert places in Vancouver then read our blog by clicking here!

Until next time,

Bree & Aiden