Exploring Vancouver’s Stunning Sights and Delicious Bites
Story by David Burke and Nikki Bayley | Images by Joern Rohde
If you only have a couple of days, start by getting your bearings on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour that visits the key attractions — Stanley Park, including its beaches and beautiful totem poles, the famed Seawall and Vancouver Aquarium, as well as Yaletown and Chinatown. The tours leave from near the Vancouver Convention Centre, close to Gastown and its famous steam clock.
westcoastsightseeing.com
STANLEY PARK TOTEM POLES
Learn more about the original inhabitants of this land with a First Nations guide from Talaysay Tours, an authentic Indigenous company that specializes in outdoor cultural tours of Stanley Park and the Salish Sea. Try a 90-minute Talking Trees tour or immerse yourself on a three-hour Forest Bathing walk connecting with nature through your senses. talaysay.com
Vancouver Art Gallery.
Downtown, art lovers should visit the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) and the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. The VAG includes works by well-known Canadian, Indigenous and acclaimed international artists, as well as visiting exhibitions. vanartgallery.bc.ca
Nearby, the Bill Reid Gallery dazzles with contemporary works of Northwest Coast Indigenous artists. It includes a collection of creations by its namesake, best known for his two- and three-dimensional depictions of Haida mythology and legends. billreidgallery.ca
Science World — under the geodesic dome at the eastern end of False Creek — is a great place for young and old to engage one’s inner scientist. It includes interactive, indoor and outdoor displays and demonstrations. Plus, galleries and a theatre focus on life sciences and the animal kingdom. scienceworld.ca
False creek with views toward Science World at dusk.
To connect with local artisans or look for the perfect souvenir or gift, Granville Island is the place to find shops, studios and galleries where you can visit with the creators and browse for everything from silk to jewellery to custom-built canoes. The Public Market is a must-visit for foodies and one of Canada’s most-visited attractions.
granvilleisland.com
Queen Elizabeth Park and MacMillan Bloedel Conservatory in winter sunshine.
Queen Elizabeth Park, in the heart of the city, is best known for its formal, sunken gardens complete with waterfall, and the Bloedel Conservatory, a triodetic dome that houses a display of tropical and sub-tropical plants. The sunken garden, which was built in the depression left by the decommissioning of two rock quarries, is a lovely urban oasis, even in winter. vancouver.ca/parks
The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
The UBC Botanical Garden is a great place to stroll through coastal rainforest, including internationally recognized collections of rhododendrons, maples and magnolias. Children will enjoy the Greenheart TreeWalk, an adventure on swinging bridges through the forest canopy. The nearby Nitobe Memorial Garden is a traditional Japanese tea garden designed in memory of Dr. Inazo Nitobe. botanicalgarden.ubc.ca
Vanier Park, just across False Creek from downtown, is home to the Museum of Vancouver (MOV). MOV explores the city’s history through permanent and temporary exhibits. museumofvancouver.ca
Next door, the family-centred H.R. MacMillan Space Centre includes exhibits on the wonders of space, including a planetarium. spacecentre.ca
Food lovers will find a delectable variety of choices and fun culinary events from among the more than 350 restaurants participating in the 21st annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival, Jan. 22 to Feb. 9, 2025. dineoutvancouver.com
Vancouver is blessed with a deliciously diverse dining scene that covers everything from some of the best pan-Asian cuisine outside Asia and locavore farm-to-table cooking celebrating the bounty of the Pacific Northwest to plenty of Michelin-recommended options for a special occasion. destinationvancouver.com/explore-vancouver/places-to-eat
A foodie trip to Vancouver can feel like a trip into kitchens worldwide. Try Chinese pork buns at the family-run New Town Bakery & Restaurant, enjoy one of the late Anthony Bourdain’s favourite Japanese hot dogs at JapaDog, sample modern Asian cuisine at Bao Bei, slurp incredible hand-made noodles at Maruhachi Ramen, and fall in love with plant-based Indian-inspired food at Lila.
Each Vancouver neighbourhood shines with its own unique character and flavours. Explore wine bars like Bar Tartare and fusion cuisine in Gastown at Pidgin. Try Indigenous cuisine at Salmon n' Bannock on Broadway, and eat a healthy brunch with the yoga lovers and trail runners in Kitsilano at Aphrodite's Café & Pie Shop.
Hit up Yaletown for secret Speakeasy bars behind burger joints at Hundy and The Stock Room, explore East Vancouver’s brewery and distillery district, and fall in love with the flavours of the Pacific Northwest at Odd Society Spirits and Container Brewing Ltd.
After exploring the beauty of English Bay and Stanley Park, indulge in Korean-fried chicken at Zabu and then find your new favourite late-night karaoke bar on Robson Street in the West End.
Visit destinationvancouver.com for more information.
Robson Square Skating Rink