Have you found that you took the place you grew up for granted until you moved away? That’s the experience I had when I moved from Vancouver to Northern California. Not that California isn’t an incredible place to live, but I only noticed how truly stunning Vancouver’s topography, landscape, and overall livability is once I started becoming a “visitor” of the city. Daily viewings of snowcapped mountains towering over shiny buildings and the Burrard Inlet just seemed like the norm growing up.

There were actually numerous Greater Vancouver activities I never tried until I started having to introduce the city to Roger when he’d visit during our long distance days. Living abroad, I’m often asked by friends here what the best things to do in Vancouver are. Having been a resident and “tourist” in the city, I’ve decided to put together a handy list of best things to do in Vancouver and where the best shopping hubs and walkable areas are for those with upcoming trips. And don’t get me wrong, even though I’ve lived away for almost four years, I definitely still consider myself a Vancouverite.

The Best Things to Do in Vancouver

VanDusen Botanical Garden – A gorgeous spot year-round in central Vancouver. The former golf course is a beautiful spot for taking a stroll through a wide variety of flowers, trees, and more.

VanDusen Botanical Garden in December during their Festival of Light event

Bloedel Conservatory – Perched atop the highest point in the city on Queen Elizabeth Park, the Bloedel Conservatory is a wonderland of greenery and exotic birds. I think this may be my favorite place in Vancouver.

Inside the Bloedel Conservatory

Playland (at the PNE) – This is probably a childhood favorite of most Vancouverites’. It is the largest theme park in the province and is open from May to mid-September. It hosts a great Fright Nights event during the month of October too.

The Atmosfear ride at Playland. Photo courtesy of pne.ca. 

Stanley Park – Potentially the most popular tourist destination in the city, Stanley Park is host to a huge variety of activities. Take in local history by viewing the park’s towering First Nations totem poles and/or spend an entire day at some of the park’s many attractions, such as the Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park Train. There are even restaurants in the park too! Stanley Park was named “Best Park in the World” by Trip Advisor users in 2014.

Aerial view of Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. Photo courtesy of pacificseaplanes.ca.

The Seawall – Stroll, bike, or rollerblade along the Seawall while taking in Vancouver’s variable landscape and nature views. A whole day along the 28km-long Seawall will give you a really rich picture of what Vancouver has to offer.

Part of Vancouver’s picturesque Seawall. Photo courtesy of tourismvancouver.com.

Explore Granville Island – Akin to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Vancouver’s colorful Granville Island offers a bustling market, vibrant art scene, trendy eateries, and even its own Granville Island Brewing.

Waterfront dining on Vancouver’s Granville Island. Photo courtesy of travelandleisure.com.

EAT SUSHI (if you like sushi) – one of the things I miss the most about Vancouver is its enormous selection of Japanese restaurants. This is not an exaggeration. A single block can have 2-3 sushi restaurants! Not only is there a huge variety, but the prices are low and the quality is excellent! Gotta love that Pacific Northwest seafood. Some of my favorite sushi spots are Sushi Star and Sushi Dragon (both of which are very affordable).

Sushi at downtown Vancouver’s Black Rice Izakaya, where I dined at in December.

Brewery hop – It’s been pretty great witnessing the emergence of the Vancouver craft beer scene over the past few years. I’ve been fortunate enough to try a new one each time I visit throughout the past couple years. Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood and Main Street area make it particularly easy to beer hop with various breweries being a few blocks from each other. Here is a guide to some of Vancouver’s best breweries.

The very hip, 33 Acres Brewing Company, in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighborhood. Photo courtesy of bookaparty.ca.

Best Neighborhoods to Explore 

Gastown – Historic, waterfront Gastown is a must-see if you wish to get a glimpse into Vancouver’s past. Surrounding its landmark Steam Clock are trendy shops, souvenir stores, and hip bars and restaurants.

Tourists surrounding Gastown’s historic Steam Clock. Photo courtesy of tourismvancouver.com.

Yaletown – What once used to be an industrial area full of warehouses is now one of Vancouver’s more upscale neighborhoods (and certainly one of the most expensive to live in), which offers trendy cocktail bars and restaurants, and upscale boutiques.

Yaletown’s brick-laden buildings. Photo courtesy of tourismvancouver.com.

Olympic Village – Not only did the 2010 Vancouver Olympics provide me with some of my fondest Vancouver memories, but the event also led to a transformation of the city’s False Creek neighborhood and what became the Olympic Village. Today, the waterfront area is home to some of the city’s most beautiful condos, hip restaurants, and picturesque green spaces. Take a nice stroll through Olympic Village to Vancouver’s iconic Science World.

One of the bird statues at Vancouver’s Olympic Village. Photo courtesy of vacay.ca.

The Best Things to Do Just Outside Vancouver

Explore Whistler – the ski resort town is activity-filled year-round! Hit the slopes in the winter and partake in zip-lining and kayaking in the warmer months. Whistler Village offers a plethora of good eats, bars, and apparel/gear shops.

Whistler as the sun goes down. Photo courtesy of whistler.com.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park – One of the most highly photographed attractions in the greater Vancouver area, and it’s easy to see why. $40 will get you access to the park’s famous bridge, tree walk, and new Sky Walk feature. A walk through the park also provides a look into the area’s rich past.

The famous bridge at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Lynn Canyon Park – Yet another popular park featuring a very photogenic suspension bridge, but unlike Capilano this park offers a list of trails and hikes.

The bridge at Lynn Canyon Park. Photo courtesy of cbc.ca. 

Grouse Mountain – This is the destination for you if you are seeking an outdoor adventure. Unsurprisingly, Grouse Mountain is one of the top ski and snowboard spots in the area, but it also offers unique experiences such as lumberjack shows and birds of prey shows. A very popular activity for locals and tourists is the Grouse Grind, which is a very steep 2.9km hike to the top. I am not great at stairs and suffered greatly on the climb’s last half all three times I conquered it.

Grouse Mountain’s scenic chairlift ride. Photo courtesy of grousemountain.com. 

Where to Shop in Vancouver 

For Boutique Shopping 

• Main Street
• West 4th Street in Kitsilano
• Gastown

Big Store / Mall Shopping 

• Robson Street
• Metrotown (in Burnaby, which is the quickly growing city east of Vancouver)
• Richmond Centre (in Richmond, which is where the Vancouver International Airport is located)
• Pacific Centre
• Park Royal (in West Vancouver)

Have any questions about Vancouver or suggestions for best things to do in Vancouver?

Let us know in the comments below!