Whether you happen to visit Vancouver in the glorious summer or under the blanket of winter, it’s the spectacular setting that will strike you. The coastal city is blessed with a stunning backdrop of majestic mountains and the shimmering waters of the Strait of Georgia, with beaches, marinas, and deep green forests lining its shores.
Wander into the historic heart of the city in Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood. It might appear touristy, but the cobblestone streets will reveal many architectural treasures, interesting shops and great restaurants. You won’t be able to miss the musical steam clock, one of only a few in the world, which whistles and shoots steam every 15 minutes.
Just two blocks outside of Gastown, a former steel warehouse called The Settlement Building makes for an ideal pit stop on your walking tour. Inside you’ll find Vancouver Urban Winery (producing hand-crafted wine from British Columbian grapes in the heart of Vancouver), Belgard Kitchen (for creative small plates and gourmet pizzas) and…
…Postmark Brewing, an award-winning craft brewery offering tasting flights and pints of their incredibly tasty beers.
For something sweet, Gastown is home to Soft Peaks Organic, Vancouver’s first soft serve ice cream shop and a dessert staple in the neighborhood. Local, organic milk is at the base of the lightly sweet ice cream, with all-natural toppings to customize your dream treat.
Venture a bit south to pass through Chinatown, a vibrant neighborhood with food markets, an increasing number of hip restaurants and bars, and a good dose of grittiness mixed with beautiful street art.
Wherever you are when hunger strikes, Vancouver has something to satisfy your cravings with a diverse and exciting food scene reaching every corner. Cafe Medina downtown has been a favorite of the brunch crowd for a while for a good reason. Don’t mind the queue to get a taste of their Mediterranean/Middle Eastern take on classic dishes, here feasting on their paella made with orzo, chorizo, avocado, poached egg and roasted tomato salsa…
One of the biggest foodie destination though has to be Granville Island.
The peninsula just south of downtown is exploding with tasty food, hosting an incredible farmer’s market with over 150 vendors competing for the best visual display.
Food stands as well as sit down restaurants complete the tableau, making Granville one of the best places to grab lunch in the city. Take a seat at Edible Canada for an immediate taste of the local produce you’ve just been drooling over, here feasting on a local salmon cake benedict.
Besides food, Granville Island is also a top cultural hub with its quaint shops, artists studios, theaters and events of all kinds.
I was thrilled to see that one of my favorite street artists – Os Gemeos from Brazil – had chosen Granville for one of their famous murals.
Exiting Granville, you’ll find yourself in Fishermen’s Wharf with a lovely stroll in front of you, perfect for walking off all that food you just ingested. The harbour with Downtown Vancouver as a background is a lovely view and if, by miracle, you still have room in your belly there are a few unassuming seafood joints that are well worth trying out – you won’t find fresher catches around. If you’re lucky enough to be here in May, this is the place to get your hands on tasty BC Spot Prawns coming right out of the water…
Some lovely condos facing the wharf.
Keep on walking along the water going West, passing through Vanier Park with a few museums and the start of those postcard views of Downtown with the mountains behind.
You’ll soon reach Kitsilano (Kits) Beach, an activity-packed stretch of sand facing English Bay. With a heated saltwater pool, all kinds of water sports, and a boathouse with a restaurant, locals love it for their exercise and social gatherings.
Get your urban groove back by heading East to South Main (SoMa), one of Vancouver’s hottest neighborhoods. You’ve seen these artsy hubs before – mix of industrial buildings covered in beautiful murals, small boutiques and second hand stores, breweries and up and coming restaurants…
Walk down Main Street where you can shop and snack to your heart’s content and eventually settle on one of the popular restaurants for dinner, such as The Acorn.
The refined vegetarian restaurant has a cool tropical vibe and a cuisine that’s anything but your boring grain burgers and cold noodles salads. Order one of their craft cocktails while you peruse their menu of seasonal small plates.
Kelp Salt Roasted King Oyster Mushrooms, Confit Wild Garlic, Smoked Onion Kelp Sauce, Leeks, Sea Asparagus
Beer Battered Halloumi, Zucchini + Potato Pancake, Smashed Peas, Mint Yogurt, Acorn Garden Lemon Balm
You could also walk over to Cambie Street, a 10-15 minutes walk, to eat at the legendary Vij’s.
The splendid Indian restaurant has been around since 1994 and has gathered praise for its fresh interpretation of classic Indian dishes and innovative cocktail and wine menu. Sample plenty of both by spending some time in the lounge (waiting area) before settling down for a terrific meal in their comfortable dining room.
The menu is quite long and even more so considering that every dish can be served as a half portion, multiplying the possibilities! Trust your waiter as I did and you won’t be disappointed. My meal at Vij’s was the best I had this side of Canada so add it to your list pronto!
Eggplant in thick yogurt curry
Garam masala portobello mushrooms in porcini cream curry
Naan bread
Wine marinated ‘lamb popsicles’ in fenugreek curry
After a good night rest, I can’t think of a better way to start the day than by heading straight to Vancouver’s shining jewel of Stanley Park. You can start or end at English Bay Beach and get an even bigger grin on your face by passing through these smile-inducing statues right outside.
Walking around the periphery of Stanley Park (you can also run or bike) is honestly one of the most enjoyable activities to do in the city and will fill 1.5 hrs of your time (walking) with vistas you will never forget. That Vancouver Seawall was literally made for a postcard and you’ll probably end up walking backwards just to keep staring at it for a little bit longer…
The oldest park in all of Vancouver has over 1,000 acres of forest, wetlands and beaches and you could easily spend the day here exploring the many trails that criss-cross its interior, stumbling upon totems and other hidden treasures along the way.
The ‘Girl in A Wet Suit Statue’ will greet you close to the halfway point.
And so will the Lions Gate Bridge which connects the city of Vancouver with North and West Vancouver on the north shore.
Siwash Rock is probably the most famous landmark of the park. The rocky outcrop is a stunning and unique formation caused by water erosion from 32 million years ago…yep! Interestingly, in First Nations culture, the rock represents a warrior, who to ensure his child’s future, was turned to stone to stand as a symbol of his purity and dedication to fatherhood.
Right near the rock is Third Beach, another glorious sandy stretch perfect for a pit-stop as it has a food stand and restrooms. Add to this spectacular views of Vancouver Bay which by then you’ll be almost too jaded to fully appreciate…
When you’re done with Stanley Park, hop on a bus to cross that Lions Gate Bridge you recently passed as the North Shore has one other park well worth visiting: The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.
The main attraction is the suspension bridge that crosses the Capilano River underneath. At 140 m long and 70 m high, it’s a thrilling experience to cross it.
On the other side, a series of seven footbridges suspended between old-growth Douglas Fir trees called Treetops Adventures will allow you to see the forest from a new perspective. It’s all about heights here and if you’ve never seen say, the giant redwoods or sequoias in California, these giant trees will totally blow your mind.
Don’t forget to look up… feeling minuscule aren’t we?
You’ll get to learn about some of the forest’s inhabitants too, here admiring a beautiful hawk.
A Great Blue Heron might also grace you with its calming presence by the pond.
Take your time exploring the park, detoxing in nature, and recognizing that Vancouver is truly such a cool coastal town mostly thanks to its extravagant nature and setting (and food too!).
Great post! Vancouver is one of the most beautiful, super cool cities in the world. A fabulous place to vacation and I assume to live as well. Your photos of the city were beautiful!
Thanks, Katie! I totally agree about the fabulousness…