Vancouver

Main sights

• Stanley Park

  A large forested park ringed by the seawall, with totem poles a short detour from the path, Siwash Rock, Third and Second Beaches and a shoreline view of Lions Gate Bridge.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Stanley Park (opens in a new tab)
• Gastown

  The original townsite, with cobbles, heritage buildings and the steam clock at Cambie and Water streets, which whistles every 15 minutes.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Gastown (opens in a new tab)
• Granville Island Public Market

  A food market usually open from 9am, reached by small ferries across False Creek. It closes on 25 and 26 December, 1 January and Mondays in January.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Granville Island Public Market (opens in a new tab)
• Canada Place

  The cruise terminal with sail-like roofs, and a good place to join the waterfront walk to Coal Harbour.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Canada Place (opens in a new tab)
• Chinatown

  Historically one of the largest Chinatowns in North America. It is best seen in daylight, as it empties out in the evening.

  Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide for Chinatown (opens in a new tab)

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

• Gastown

  Restored Victorian buildings, bars and shops at the east end of downtown. It borders the Downtown Eastside, so pay attention to where you are as you walk east.

• Yaletown

  Former industrial land with old warehouses turned into restaurants, next to the False Creek stretch of the seawall.

• West End

  A popular residential area between downtown and Stanley Park, with beaches, small shops and places to eat.

• Kitsilano

  Beaches and a relaxed shopping street on 4th Avenue. Kitsilano Beach is very popular, and the seawall route continues through Vanier Park to reach it.

Best areas to explore on foot

1. Stanley Park seawall

   About 9 km around the park, with Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains on one side and Lions Gate Bridge and the beaches further round. Destination Vancouver suggests two to three hours on foot, and walkers can go either way.

2. Coal Harbour

   A level waterfront stretch from Canada Place to Stanley Park. It is the natural way to approach the park from downtown.

3. False Creek

   The seawall continues around the inlet and past the Burrard Street Bridge towards Vanier Park. Use the small ferries to cross to Granville Island, or to cut the walk short.

4. Gastown and Chinatown

   Short and urban, better done by day. Stay on the main tourist streets, because the stretch of Hastings Street between Abbott and Gore has serious problems with drug use and violence.

Practical walking notes

• Terrain

  Flat and paved along the seawall; gentle hills downtown; cobbles in Gastown.

• Rain

  December and January are the coldest, wettest months, with daytime highs of around 5 to 8°C. Bring a proper rain jacket from late autumn to early spring. Spring and summer are drier.

• Seawall rules

  Cyclists must ride counter-clockwise around Stanley Park and have their own lane. Walkers can go in either direction, so stay on the pedestrian side. The path is fully accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

• Daylight

  In late June it stays light until about 9:15pm, so a long evening seawall walk is realistic in summer.

• Downtown Eastside

  The area around East Hastings has high rates of homelessness, drug use and violence. Keep to the busier tourist streets in Gastown, and avoid Chinatown after dark.

• Free or paid tour

  Tip-based walks of Gastown and Chinatown are listed online. They work well for history, and a paid tour suits a specialism such as Stanley Park. The seawall is simple to walk yourself, and our self-guided route gets you there.

When to visit

• Summer

  Dry and warm, the best time.

• Spring and autumn

  Mild with showers.

• Winter

  Wet in the city, snowy in the mountains.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

• By air

  Vancouver International Airport is linked to downtown by the Canada Line train.

Local transport

• SkyTrain

  Automated trains cover the city.

• Aquabus

  Small ferries cross False Creek.