Visiting a new place usually comes with a long list of spots you want to see, making it hard to parse through them all. While some tourist attractions are all hype and very little payoff, Vancouver is home to some sites that are worth every bit of praise they get.
Living in the city for a year meant weekends exploring some of the most talked about attractions, and while some took my breath away others fell flat. The best part is that most of my favourite places to go in the city are free, so you don’t need to make your trip that much more expensive with overprices activities.
If you only have a short visit to explore the city, and not a full year, then have no fear — here’s which Vancouver attractions you should actually spend your time and money checking out.
This Opinion article is part of a Narcity content series. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.
The seawall
Price: Free
Address: Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: Walk, scooter, run, bike, whatever — just make it to the seawall if you’re going to Vancouver. You can rent a bike or a scooter if you want, or opt for walking around the path that hugs the coastline of Stanley Park. Along the way you’ll pass by sandy beaches, ancient trees, and picturesque views that make the West Coast unique.
On a sunny day, this is the spot to go.
The Grouse Grind
Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way., North Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: Not everyone is going to agree with me on this one, but hear me out. It’s touristy, often swarmed with people, but it’s one of those things you just need to do if you’re going to Vancouver. It’s a legendary climb up a mountain with gruelling stairs that require many breaks. You get a fantastic view from the top though, and feel a sense of camaraderie with the other travellers who made the journey up alongside you.
You can explore the top of Grouse Mountain once you get there and have a well-deserved drink as you look out on the city and ocean below. The only downside is that you need to pay for the gondola ride to get down.
You could do another hike with equally great views, but there’s something about being able to say you did the Grind that makes it special.
VanDusen Botanical Garden
Price: $14
Address: 5251 Oak St, Vancouver, BC
Why You Need To Go: You can spend hours winding your way through the lush greenery of this garden. Even though it’s in the middle of the city there’s a serenity here that you can’t really find anywhere else. The beautiful oasis has over 7,500 species of plants, which are all uniquely stunning. Cherry blossom season is an especially magical time to visit of course — when the pink flowers take the city by storm.
I went here on a whim with some friends and was super impressed by the peacefulness of the gardens and how relaxing it was to wander around here. It’s the ideal afternoon activity for anyone visiting the city.
Taking the ferry to Bowen Island
Price: $12.05 for walk-on.
Why You Need To Go: If you want to explore some of the most picturesque parts surrounding Vancouver, you need to go for a ride on BC Ferries. You can sail out into the ocean, getting a view of the mountains and ocean, breathing in the salty air along the way.
Bowen Island is perfect for a shorter trip since it’s only a 20-minute ferry ride over. You can experience BC Ferries and then spend a day exploring the tiny island. There are cute shops and cafes in the community and stunning trails throughout so you can explore the nature there. It’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and the perfect way to mix up your trip.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Price: Free
Why You Need To Go: A little bit away from the downtown area of Vancouver this park is the perfect place to get a view of the city with the mountains as the backdrop. You can look out at the tall buildings all while being surrounded by the flourishing plants and flowers of the park. The gardens here are stunning and extremely well-kept, and there are green spaces where you can lay out and have a picnic on a sunny day. Bloedel Conservatory is here too, which is a fun spot to spend the day if it’s rainy outside.
The park is also right by the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, which is a super cool area to explore, especially if you love thrift shops. I’d definitely recommend an afternoon checking out the boutiques and shops around here after strolling through the park.
Lynn Valley suspension bridge
Price: Free
Why You Need To Go: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park gets all the hype when it comes to tourist attractions, but this park is also in North Vancouver and has its own beautiful suspension bridge nestled within. You don’t have to pay the admission cost of Capilano but you can walk 50 meters above a canyon here and explore the incredible trails throughout the park. There are deep pools, waterfalls and rushing creeks here, all enclosed by massive trees and rich greenery.
The incredible nature is what really makes Vancouver special, and while you want those ocean views you shouldn’t miss out on the magical forests all around, and this park is the perfect spot to experience it.
Now you know where to go if you’re planning a trip to the West Coast city, but also make sure to avoid all the tourist hot spots that aren’t exactly worth the hype they get.
Happy travels!
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