31 Tips I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Vancouver, Canada

Grouse Mountain is an unbelievable destination only 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver, offering spectacular views, wonderful hikes, a grizzly bear habitat, and the option to take ski lifts to admire the scenery.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a well-curated, albeit pricey, attraction featuring not only the bridge itself but also beautifully curated nature areas, bridges attached to trees for treetop walks, and a cliff walk.

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge is a free, more local alternative to Capilano, offering a suspension bridge experience within a natural setting, a beautiful river, and a swimming hole.

Stanley Park is a large preserved forest, similar to Central Park, offering great hikes and other attractions, surrounded by the seawall.

The seawall in Vancouver is a gorgeous path around Stanley Park where locals walk, bike, and rollerblade.

The Vancouver Aquarium, located in Stanley Park, is a well-done aquarium that is enjoyable for those with children.

Granville Island is a cute and charming, but mostly touristy, area with a big market that is fun to walk through, accessible by a unique ferry experience.

Sunset Beach is a beach hugging the coast right along the seawall and is a beautiful, mostly local area.

English Bay is a beautiful beach hugging the coast right along the seawall and is mostly a local area.

Kitsilano Beach is a beautiful local beach that provides a great view of the city with mountains in the background.

West End Farmers Market is a cute little farmers market on a cute street with a local feel that happens on the weekends.

Gastown is a really popular and trendy area of town with cute cobblestone streets.

The Gastown Steam Clock is the main attraction in Gastown, performing a steam performance with a song every hour and every 15 minutes on the top of the hour.

Mcle Books is a fantastic bookstore in Gastown owned by people who really care about books.

Livia Forno al Vino is a wonderful casual Italian joint that serves as a pastry shop in the morning and offers dinner options.

Garden Strathcona is a cute restaurant offering healthy bowls and vegan options.

Number e food is a hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop with a friendly owner who makes a killer sandwich.

Kissa Tanto is a fantastic, fancy restaurant on the Michelin guide, offering one of the best meals.

Lee's Donuts is a standard donut place with long lines and a lot of tourists that the speaker found overrated.

Revolver Coffee is a coffee place in Gastown with great vibes and wonderful coffee.

Timbertrain Coffee Roasters is a coffee place with the best aesthetic and a really cool vibe.

Nemesis Coffee is a coffee place with a good vibe that also serves really good food.

Yaletown gives good access to places like Gastown but is more residential and upscale.

Commercial Drive is near the Grandview Woodland area and offers great access to many of the top restaurants with a local feel.

North Vancouver is the best option for access to nature, close to Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Lynn Canyon.

The West End is a wonderful residential area with access to nature, a short walk to Stanley Park, and the seawall in places like Sunset Beach and English Bay, with easy access to Gastown.