Vancouver walking tour & city guide

Stanley Park and the seawall

Stanley Park, a 400-hectare forest at the edge of downtown, is wrapped by a seawall path loved by walkers and cyclists. Totem poles at Brockton Point honor the First Nations, and beaches line English Bay.

Gastown and Granville Island

Gastown, the oldest neighborhood, has cobbled streets and a famous steam clock. Granville Island, reached by tiny ferries, has a public market, artists' studios and a brewery. Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain are just north of the city.

A day in Vancouver

Rent a bike and ride the Stanley Park seawall in the morning; the full loop is about ten kilometers, with views of the mountains, the Lions Gate Bridge and the ocean. Stop at the totem poles at Brockton Point before heading back into the West End.

In the afternoon, walk to Gastown for the cobbled streets and the steam clock, then take a little aquabus across False Creek to Granville Island. The public market there is a feast of fresh seafood, bakeries and local produce, perfect for an early dinner by the water.

Good to know

Vancouver's weather is mild but wet: from November to March it rains often, so bring a waterproof jacket. Summer is dry and sunny, and the best time for beaches and hikes.

The SkyTrain connects the airport to downtown in about 25 minutes. The North Shore mountains are close: the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Grouse Mountain gondola are both reachable in under half an hour.