The City of Vancouver is known for its stunning natural beauty and walkable downtown. Vancouver has been ranked one of the most livable cities in the world for the past decade and was ranked as having the 4th highest quality of living in the world as of 2010, on par with cities such as Melbourne, Vienna, and Toronto.
Vancouver is bursting with iconic experiences that characterize this multifaceted city. Any of these must-sees will kick-start your Vancouver sightseeing—and you’re sure to stumble upon plenty of other Vancouver treasures along the way.
The late-night scene in Vancouver is a thriving mix of lounges, laid-back pubs and energetic music venues. Some of the trendiest lounges are found in many of the downtown hotels. Live music is never hard to find in Vancouver. Local bands and international touring acts set up regularly in the clubs and venues around town.
Exploring the city is a lot easier when you’re familiar with the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Here are the highlights of Vancouver’s most popular areas for sightseeing and shopping. There are many places to shop in Vancouver, from small boutiques to large malls. Major shopping streets include Robson Street, Granville Street, and Burrard Street. Along with typical weekday hours, most shopping locations are also open on weekends and public holidays, typically around 12pm–5pm.
Robson is Vancouver’s leading shopping and strolling thoroughfare—where high-fashion boutiques intermix with music stores, beauty shops and bookstores. You can recharge at a coffee shop or enjoy a more leisurely stop at one of the restaurants or bars.
Home-goods stores, art galleries and high-end apparel shops occupy the stalwart former warehouses; in the smaller spots, cosy boutiques sell everything from First nations art to custom diamond bracelets. Charming restaurants and chic nightspots add to the energy.
Glimpses of Vancouver’s origins are preserved in the Victorian buildings and cobblestone streets of this once-bawdy frontier post. Today, it’s an official historic area with antique streetlamps, shops and bars, and the famous two-tonne Gastown Steam Clock.
“Young, hip, and happening” aptly describes this urban neighborhood. English Bay Beach is a popular sunbathing and sunset-watching spot, and Denman and Robson streets attract shoppers and diners.
The first wave of Chinese immigrants arrived in Vancouver in the 1800s to build railroads. Today, the city has Canada’s largest Chinese population and a thriving Chinatown, full of authentic restaurants, shopping, leisure and culture. During summer evenings, shoppers browse the goods and taste the food in the stalls lining the streets of the Chinatown Night Market.
The market itself is often described as a “food lover’s paradise,” and an impromptu picnic is easily picked up between vendors offering cheese, charcuterie, bread and fresh produce. If you’re looking for something casual but already put together, try the popular food court at the end of the market building. If a restaurant is more your style, there are some great seafood offerings down here, and there’s nothing like dining by the waterfront. Don’t forget to fill your glass while you’re down here! The area is home to an artisan sake maker (the first in Canada), a spirits distillery, and two breweries. One of the best ways to get to Granville Island is one of the adorable mini-tugboat ferries that crisscross False Creek—they’re favorites among young and old! Once you’re there, the biggest attraction on Granville Island is the Public Market. Housed indoors, there are endless rows of stalls that feature fresh produce, gourmet foods, baked goods, and seafood. For the food-focused, a walking tour of the market can be a great way to get an insider’s insight. Outside of the market, catch a show at one of the many theatres on the island, browse an art gallery show, or appeal to your outdoorsy side with a kayaking or paddle boarding tour. For more information, visit Granville Island online.
