Things to see in Vancouver
Attractions
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
This 140m-long (450ft) suspension bridge offers a stomach-churning view into the gorge, some 70m (230ft) below. On-site attractions include Treetops Adventure (an elevated rainforest walk) and Cliffwalk, a heart-pumping series of cantilevered narrow walkways jutting out from a cliff with nothing but glass between you and the canyon in some places.
Address: , 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver, V7R 4J1Telephone: +1 604 985 7474.
Opening times:
Daily 0900-1700 (early Jan-mid-Mar, mid-Oct-Nov); daily 0900-1800 (mid-Mar-late Apr and Sep-mid-Oct); daily 0900-1900 (late Apr-May); daily 0830-2000 (Jun-Aug); daily 1000-2100 (Dec-early Jan).
Website: http://www.capbridge.comAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: NoUNESCO: No
Gastown District
The revitalised old centre of Vancouver is a pleasant array of cobblestone streets, cafés and shops. It's also the site of the Steam Clock, driven by steam from the system used to heat Downtown's office buildings. Rapid regeneration has transformed Gastown into a hipster hub – previously seedy side streets are now lined with designer stores and cool eateries.
Address: Gastown, Gastown, Vancouver,Telephone:
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website: http://www.gastown.orgAdmission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Granville Island
This former industrial district is home to a lively mix of entertainment and eating spots, shops, a large public market and a kids' market. You can watch artisans at work and listen to outdoor buskers in summer. The best way to get to Granville Island is on one of the tiny ferryboats that connect various points along False Creek.
Address: , Johnston Street, Vancouver,Telephone:
Opening times:
Daily 24 hours.
Website: http://www.granvilleisland.comAdmission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Grouse Mountain
Lying immediately north of the city, Grouse Mountain is the ultimate outdoor playground. You can ski here in winter, and hike, mountain bike, speed along ziplines or paraglide in summer. The Skyride gondola whisks you uphill (you can 'surf' on its roof if you dare), or there's the steep 'Grouse Grind' hike up if you're feeling fit.
Address: North Vancouver, 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, V7R 4K9Telephone: +1 604 984 0661.
Opening times:
Daily 0845-2200 (Skyride); daily 0900-2200 (ski and snowboard trails, Nov-Apr).
Website: http://www.grousemountain.comAdmission Fees:
Yes (Skyride and on-mountain attractions)
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Chinatown and Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Vancouver's Chinatown district centres on Pender and Main streets, and is crammed with speciality shops and dim sum restaurants. Chinese Canadians are just as likely to shop at the Asian malls in the southern suburb of Richmond however. At the western edge of Chinatown, the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden was the first full-sized, classical Chinese garden to be built outside of China.
Address: , Chinatown, Vancouver,Telephone: +1 602 662 3207 (Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden).
Opening times:
Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden: daily 0930-1900 (mid-Jun-Aug); daily 1000-1800 (May-mid-Jun and Sep); daily 1000-1630 (Oct); Tues-Sun 1000-1630 (Nov-Apr).
Website: http://www.vancouverchinatown.cahttp://www.vancouverchinesegarden.comAdmission Fees:
Yes (Dr Sun Yat-Sen Garden).
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Museum of Anthropology (MOA)
MOA is a striking building on the UBC campus designed by Arthur Erickson for the purpose of displaying a collection of British Columbia's First Nations heritage. The simple concrete forms allow the star attraction, totem poles, to stand out against the view of the ocean visible through the expanse of glass walls. The museum also celebrates world arts and cultures.
Address: Point Grey, 6393 Northwest Marine Drive, Vancouver, V6T 1Z2Telephone: +1 604 827 5932.
Opening times:
Fri-Wed 1000-1700, Thurs 1000-2100.
Website: http://moa.ubc.caAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Vanier Park
This waterside Kitsilano park is home to three museums. The Museum of Vancouver (or MOV) charts the city's history. The HR MacMillan Space Centre hosts informative live demos and planetarium shows. The Vancouver Maritime Museum's thousands of nautical artefacts include St Roch, the first ship to sail the Northwest Passage from west to east.
Address: Kitsilano, 1000 Chestnut Street, Vancouver, V6J 3J9Telephone: +1 604 736 4431 (MOV); +1 604 738 7827 (Space Centre); +1 604 257 8300 (Maritime Museum).
Opening times:
MOV: Sun-Wed 1000-1700, Thurs-Fri 1000-2000, Sat 1000-2100. Space Centre: Mon-Fri 1000-1500, Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700. Maritime Museum: Tues-Sat 1000-1700, Sun 1200-1700 (winter); daily 1000-1700 (summer); admission by donation Thurs 1700-2000.
Website: http://covapp.vancouver.ca/parkfinder/parkdetail.aspx?inparkid=120Admission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Science World at Telus World of Science
Housed in a distinctive silver geodesic dome, this interactive museum appeals to kids and adults alike with its hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations. It's also the site of Vancouver's OMNIMAX cinema, with its enormous dome screen. Outdoors, the state-of-the-art Ken Spencer Science Park features displays on sustainability and a brood of resident hens.
Address: , 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver, V6A 3Z7Telephone: +1 604 443 7440.
Opening times:
Tues-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1000-1800 (winter); daily 1000-1800, Thurs until 2000 (summer).
Website: http://www.scienceworld.caAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Stanley Park and Vancouver Aquarium
The long seawall that circles Vancouver's immense downtown park provides sweeping ocean views for strollers, joggers and cyclists. Trails crisscross the sprawling rainforest and parkland, connecting the seawall and beaches with an open-air pool, a totem pole park and the Vancouver Aquarium. The aquarium's diverse inhabitants include beluga whales, sea otters and African penguins.
Address: Downtown, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, V6G 3E2Telephone: +1 604 659 3474.
Opening times:
Daily 0930-1800 (late Jun-early Sep); daily 1000-1700 (early Sep-late Jun).
Website: http://www.vanaqua.orgAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Vancouver Art Gallery
Housed in the former provincial courthouse (though a new home is in the pipeline), the gallery's collection includes international artworks as well as paintings by Canadian artists such as Emily Carr. The gallery's outdoor public art space, Offsite, hosts a rotating programme of contemporary installations (on West Georgia Street between Thurlow and Bute Streets).
Address: Downtown, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver, V6Z 2H7Telephone: +1 604 662 4719.
Opening times:
Daily 1000-1700 (until 2100 Tues).
Website: http://www.vanartgallery.bc.caAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre
Address: Downtown, Plaza Level, 200 Burrard Street, Vancouver, V6C 3L6Telephone: +1 604 683 2000.
Opening times:
Daily 0900-1700.
Website: http://www.tourismvancouver.comVancouver's tourist office provides free brochures, itinerary planning and reservation services. There's also a Tickets Tonight outlet within the centre, selling events tickets (www.ticketstonight.ca).
Tourist passes
The Vancouver Attractions Passport offers discounts and two-for-one deals at more than 50 attractions and experiences. The pass is valid for well over a year (for example, a pass bought in 2016 expires in April 2018.) You can buy it online from City Passports (www.citypassports.com).
The Explore Pass covers entry to the Museum of Vancouver, HR MacMillan Space Centre and Vancouver Maritime Museum and is available from any of these attractions. It's valid over multiple days.
You can also save money by buying the UBC Museum and Gardens Pass, which allows entry to the Museum of Anthropology, UBC Botanical Garden, Nitobe Garden and Beaty Biodiversity Museum. You can pick it up at any participating attraction. Passes are valid for six months for the museums and 12 months for the garden (one visit per attraction).
