10 Must See Attractions in Vancouver, Canada

I’ve been wanting to visit Vancouver for ages as it looks like the perfect mixture of urban city and the great outdoors. You can spend time in the hustle and bustle of the city with its shops and restaurants but also take in the beautiful sights of the mountains, ocean and great outdoors. Read on to find out my top 10 must see attractions, that will make you want to book a Vancouver holiday today.

Go Window Shopping in Gastown

The trendy neighbourhood of Gastown is a great area for shopping and eating. Home to many European eateries, cocktail lounges and flashy boutiques. 

Kayaking in Deep Cove

Ocean kayaking is very popular in Vancouver and Deep Cove is one of the best places to do this. It’s only a 20 minute drive from the centre, making it the perfect spot to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a paddle up the picturesque fjord.

Vancouver Lookout

Located in the downtown Harbour Centre the Vancouver Lookout is the best place to go at sunset, for incredible 360 views of the city. A 40 second elevator ride will take you to the lookout point at 147 metres high. A ticket will cost you $18.25.

Take a Drive up to the Sea-to-Sky Highway

Rated as one of the most beautiful drives in the world, the Sea-to-sky highway is not to be missed. It takes around 1.5 hours from the heart of downtown Vancouver to the incredible ski town of Whistler. During the journey you’ll pass jaw dropping waterfalls, a suspension bridge and amazing viewpoints. 

Grouse Mountain

During winter, Grouse Mountain is a magical destination to go skiing and ice skating. In summer you can go hiking and ziplining. Try out the Grouse Grind, a 1.8 mile trail that takes you 2,800 feet up the mountain. You could also hop on the gondola for amazing views of the city and ocean.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Take a walk on the wild side on this suspension bridge, set at 230 feet high this suspension bridge isn’t for the faint hearted. As you walk across this bridge you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the rainforest. 

Whale Watching

Go on a whale watching boat tour for the opportunity to see plenty of marine life such as orcas, humpbacks, dolphins and seals. You can also learn about whale biology and migration, marine conservation, and more as you witness the beauty of Vancouver’s waters.

Cycle around Stanley Park

Stanley park is Vancouver’s largest and oldest park. At this huge park you can cycle around ancient Aboriginal village sites, have a picnic by a rose garden, sunbathe by the beach and get up close with sea lions and dolphins. If you get hungry there’s also a few restaurants and cafes in the park. You can find bicycles to rent in Denham Street. 

Relax on one of the beaches

You might not associate Vancouver with beaches, but there’s plenty of them around. If you’re looking to relax, sunbathe or play volleyball, here are some beaches you can do these at. Head to Kitsilano beach if you want to play volleyball, there’s also Kit’s pool which is an outdoor heated salt water pool with a wraparound view of the ocean, mountains and city. Jericho beach is ideal for an evening picnic or sailing, surfing and sea kayaking. West End beach is also very popular and is no more than a 30 minute walk from most downtown hotels.

Science World

Located in the iconic ‘golf ball dome’ this interactive family friendly museum is fun for all ages. You can spend a few hours here as there’s so many interactive games and plenty of things to learn.