Discover Four Stunning Places To Visit In Vancouver

Vancouver has a lot to offer whatever time of year you visit, but if you only have a day or two, then you will need to be selective. Here’s my top picks for four stunning places to visit in Vancouver if you only have a few days in Vancouver.

Four places to visit in Vancouver

Vancouver Lookout

In Gastown, you can take the elevator 553 ft up to the panoramic Vancouver Lookout. This platform provides far reaching views towards the mountains, as well as a birds eye view of downtown Vancouver.

Your ticket is valid for a day, meaning that you can visit multiple times on the same day. We visited during the day and returned at night to see the city lit from above. We didn’t have a particularly bright day, but I wouldn’t let this put you off, as it is still interesting enough to warrant a visit. However, on a bright sunny day this trip definitely should not be missed, as you will gain a bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains.

Tickets cost $18.25 for adults, $13?25 for children and students and $15.25 for seniors.

False Creek at dawn

Force yourself out of bed before dawn on a clear morning for sublime views across False Creek towards the mountains. Kaleidoscopic skies reflect in the waters, creating breathtaking sights. Just check out these photos taken on my camera no less (no filter!)

Then, come back later in the day and hop on a Mobibike to cycle the entire circuit of the creek and take in Granville Island.

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How To Easily Get Around Vancouver

Granville island

Nestled beneath the Granville Street Bridge, this island packs a punch. It’s colourful, eclectic and a place where you could easily while away an afternoon. A bohemian mix of art shops, studios, Indian cultural heritage stores and a diverse mix of eateries are crammed into this small area.

Next to the water taxi stop, at the western tip of the island is an irresistible public market with an array of enticing food options. This is not the place to go when you are on a diet! The mouthwatering selection of juicy fish, huge succulent fruit baskets, pastries, bagels, quiches and soups is pure heaven. A myriad of smells waft through the building, tempting your taste buds.

We visited on a day when it was heavily raining but even the elements failed to spoil the ambience. In any case, you can hide out in one of the many little cafes or bars if the weather gets too much!

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a 400 hectare parkland on the tip of Vancouver. It hugs the coastline around English Bay and the entrance to the Burrard Inlet. It’s a true wilderness, just a stone’s throw from the city centre. Roads wind through the park, as do 27km of cycling and hiking paths and I can only imagine how wonderful this park must be in summer.

Although we visited on a cold and rainy February day, there’s still no denying the Park’s beauty however. There’s a variety of sights to see such as the Lion’s Gateway Bridge which whisks avid skiers towards Whistler, Totem Poles, the Vancouver Aquarium and memorial sites.

Getting around Vancouver

Everything you need to know about getting around is in this post, but I strongly recommend hiring a Mobibike as I mentioned earlier.

You can easily do Granville Island, Stanley Park and False Creek on a Mobibike, as clearly marked cycle paths connect all these locations. Although we did the route in February in the rain, and were pretty soaked and miserable by the time we finished, it honestly didn’t detract from the gorgeous views.

You can also download an offline version of this post to help you recreate our trip during your visit to Vancouver. Just visit GPSmyCity to find out moreGPSmyCity to find out more.

What do you think?

So those are my top tips for four top things to do in Vancouver. Maybe you have been and have some other tips, in which case please feel free to share them below.